If it weren't for the last minute nothing would get done. -- Anon

To be in the moment is to be practicing Zen and to be aware of the repercussions of the moment is to be practicing karma.  Karma yoga (one of the eight branches of yoga) is the conscious awareness of how our thoughts, words, and deeds become our karma.  We think of karma as being good or bad when in fact it is just an effect that results from a cause.  If your thoughts, words, and actions reflect anger your karma will be anger. So it is wise to be aware of how in each moment of our lives we determine the next and subsequent moments. Awareness allows us to choose the best possible action to produce the greatest good.

So called “good” karma comes into our lives when we practice non-violence.  Our intellectual selves are the keeper of non-violence because it is within the energies of our minds that we either choose to live harmoniously or inharmoniously. As we choose our actions follow. Therefore choosing a non-violent life means removing violent thoughts, words, and actions. Often when we think of violence we think of physical abuse towards others. Physical violence can also mean abuse of your own person through poor diet, drugs, stealing, lying or any other mode of violent living.

The practice of non-violence produces a number of effects:

1. It brings good karma into your life as well as into succeeding lifetimes
2. It brings about a non-agitated mind so that focus and concentration are possible. It is only through concentration that it is possible to fully realize the merits of meditation. Meditation is the doorway to enlightenment, awareness, and wisdom.
3. It magnetically and mystically draws into your life non-violent people and events. Your social exchange becomes filled with happiness and pleasure and there is an effortless exchange of human emotions, thoughts, and sharing.

The more you realize that everything is spiritually connected the more easily and the more fully you become established in non-violence. When your life becomes permeated with harmony and peace your intellect is not disturbed even when others act violently against you. You are no longer hurt by insults. This brings about a peaceful and quiet mind which allows you to concentrate more fully on the beauty and wonders of life.  This cosmic consciousness brings fullness to your life and you begin to realize that what you do in this moment determines the outcome of the next moment.

Before performing any mental or physical action you should always reflect upon the consequences. When you move forward living a life of conscious living you will discover compassion and fearlessness which opens the doorway to wisdom and bliss. And this is the purpose of yoga.  Remember that the last moment created the present and the present moment creates the next. What we hope to “get done” is to live each moment consciously so that each proceeding moment is filled with love and peace.

Doctor Lynn
www.doctorlynn.com