There’s a huge tree in entrance of the balcony of my second-floor condominium that shelters many birds. I get the chance to watch them at completely different occasions of the day and all through the seasons. The very specific conduct patterns of those birds, and different animals together with a stray cat or two in my yard elevate insightful questions for me about proper and flawed actions (karma).

Paramhansa Yogananda usually mentioned that animals don’t incur sin or karma as they don’t act by ego motivation. They as an alternative are instinctive and comply with nature’s legal guidelines. Yogananda explains that sin is an ignorance – an ignorance in regards to the legal guidelines of nature. I puzzled, bearing all of this in thoughts if I might dispel ignorance and keep away from creating destructive karma by attuning to and following nature’s legal guidelines. I wished to discover the chance and provides myself the possibility!

Within the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna’s aim is to realize the state of nishkam karma (appearing with out ego motivation) that brings moksha (liberation). So, the needle of liberation on the non secular compass at all times factors to nishkam karma. That is the purpose the place we rise above the realm of karmic legislation and discover freedom within the Infinite Spirit.

Going again to the Grasp’s (Yogananda’s) quote about animals and the aim of life to realize liberation within the midst of performing actions, I puzzled what I might be taught from the egoless exercise of animals. I needed to work on the planet and exercise could be a day by day matter of concern.

People are, the truth is, residents of the animal kingdom however with some refined distinctions – We now have a completely developed occult spinal system (chakras) and we’ve the boon of free will.

Regardless of these benefits, I discover that man is commonly fearful and sad about one factor or one other. In my yard, the birds chirp fortunately and the animals seemingly roam carefree. I contemplated the validity of free will as a boon for us as a result of it so usually turns to our drawback when utilized by the ego.

Why will we battle a lot?

If life is a tapestry — woven threads of days and nights, I wish to take note of the way in which that animals undergo their days with out creating destructive karma. A few of us, alternatively, battle evening and day to keep away from the karma monster.

Yogananda mentioned that bodily wrongdoing brings bodily illnesses, psychological misbehavior brings psychological disharmony, and non secular ignorance brings non secular darkness. By now, desirous about these phrases, my ideas are spinning like a wheel, however I finally uncover a guidepost in Yogananda’s poem, “God! God! God!” Within the poem, he divides the day and its actions into waking, consuming, working, dreaming, and sleeping…

In waking, consuming, working, dreaming, sleeping,
Serving, meditating, chanting, divinely loving,
My soul will consistently hum, unheard by any:
God! God! God!

This cycle of exercise and motion gave me some sensible route.

Waking

On the waking entrance, birds and animals begin their day at daybreak and finish it at sundown. Many animals stretch proper after waking.  Many people have seen cats stretching instantly upon waking within the morning and at completely different occasions all through the day. Curiously, Yogananda developed the Energization Workouts after observing the way in which a cat stretches.

Within the Autobiography of a Yogi, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri generally mentioned, “The darkness of Maya is silently approaching. Allow us to hie homeward inside.” Grasp commonly reminded his disciples at nightfall with these phrases about their have to shift their consideration from exercise to their night meditation apply and Kriya Yoga. It has usually been confirmed for me that the phrases of an avatar are eternally true.

I discover that disciplined or spiritually awake individuals attempt to keep up a dharmic routine till it turns into second nature, whereas worldly individuals work all by the day, and their recreation and leisure usually begin at evening. Grasp recommends that the evening be reserved for God communion when every thing is quiet. The start and finish of the day are quieter occasions so finest for connecting with the upper Self.

Consuming

Animals additionally comply with a pure consuming sample: herbivorous animals eat crops similar to grass, frugivores thrive on fruits, and carnivores are pleased with meat and flesh, and as soon as they’re full, they don’t seem fascinated by or have cravings for a good friend’s full plate of meals! A saint as soon as mentioned that you simply received’t see a tiger too fats to run or a sparrow too fats to fly, as they eat solely when hungry.

Many people, however, habitually really feel starvation every time meals is seen. As a substitute of following the wants of the physique, we regularly comply with the calls for of the senses, managed by the ego.

We like to think about ourselves as being good and fashionable. We eat all types of meals: pure, natural, cooked, raw, overcooked, meat, vegetarian, processed, junk meals, artificially flavored meals, and meals that’s utterly unnatural for us. I’ve to ask myself, am I a complete exception to all this? I’m actually not. I’ve to do my finest to comply with the appropriate guidelines to remain wholesome.

Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, a Gyanavatar, gave scientific causes explaining that man is actually a frugivorous animal and would comply with a pure consuming sample to maintain wholesome. Yogananda humorously mentioned that most individuals dig their very own graves with a knife and fork!

Working

I discover that within the office, the ego tries to sneak into our actions, rising alternatives for working into destructive karma. It’s fascinating how within the animal kingdom probably the most aggressive conduct revolves round securing meals. On the human aspect, we regularly step into the world of labor with aspirations of main a significant and honorable life, although usually discover ourselves entangled in traps of energy, identify, and fame.

For myself, it’s essential to carry onto the belief that my true essence stay aligned with my real wants.

Propagation

Nature’s methods are really fascinating. Animals, pushed by their instincts, mate just for propagation to make sure the pure cycle of life. Animals procreate inside their species throughout seasons of abundance, guaranteeing an ample meals provide for his or her offspring.

This raises a query for me: are we, as people, attuned to this delicate internal steerage? Non secular teachings emphasize a vital level— extreme indulgence in sensory pleasures can disrupt our psychological and bodily well-being.

Reflecting on this, I’ve come to know that if I align myself extra carefully with nature’s legal guidelines (delicate legislation working across the clock) I shall be extra possible capable of take pleasure in each bodily and psychological well being. Following pure legislation may very well be a blueprint for a harmonious existence resulting in a life in attunement with the essence of our bodily and non secular selves. It’s a fragile steadiness that nature appears inherently eager on to information her creatures.

Our nervous system with its seven chakras is the royal pathway to liberation.

At this level, ideas in regards to the absolutely developed occult spinal system and the importance of the chakras emerge. Swami Kriyananda’s phrases within the Pageant of Mild resonate deeply with me. There may be such a profound sense of divine grace and redemption in his phrases. “For now, by God’s grace, our redemption is at hand.” Our nervous system with its seven chakras is the royal pathway to liberation.

Utilizing the strategies of Kriya Yoga handed down by our line of Gurus, we’ve the facility to expend destructive karma and clear our means. I’ve the important thing to eradicating dangerous karma with the highly effective move of life power (prana-shakti) generated by Kriya Yoga!

The topic of eradicating karma appears overwhelming, but I notice with out a lot brainstorming that it’s straightforward for me to attract steerage and inspiration from the pure rhythms of the animal kingdom about how one can align my day by day actions with much less ego attachment. By means of the advantages of Kriya Yoga, I can navigate past the entanglements of karma and go quick ahead on the freeway of Self-realization.

-Nayaswami Suvarna

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In 2011 after assembly Swami Kriyanandaji for the primary time and along with his loving invitation to come back and stay in Watunde (Pune), Nayaswami Suvarna moved to the ashram there from Mumbai. She was a Kriyaban earlier than this time and was additionally a member of Ananda Sangha Pune.

Suvarna served in Mumbai together with her son Nayaswami Sagar for practically 3 years. She has labored on translations (English into Marathi) of Autobiography of a Yogi, Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, The Essence of Self-Realization, Dialog with Yogananda, and The Artwork & Science of Raja-Yoga. Marathi is the third most spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali.

Along with her seva on the Pune and Pimpri facilities, she additionally helps with the Ananda Kriya Yoga House Research Course and the Kriya Sangha (Hindi). Suvarna additionally loves taking part in the harmonium and singing Grasp and Swamiji’s music.