Greetings, Sat Nam and Welcome! Today I am starting a seven week written series here in my Musings, entitled Seven Steps to Happiness, written by Haribhajan S. Khalsa, based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, PhD.
I will be providing excerpts and quotes from the original text, as well as inserting some of my personal thoughts and experiences gained through my practice and teaching. Each week, I will provide a specific meditation to practice, with a link to the music that can be downloaded should you desire. To receive maximum benefit from this series, I invite you to read and explore the principles, and practice the meditation for seven days, until the next step is posted. The main intention for this series is to help us discover what hinders and blocks us from experiencing our own true happiness, and provide some insight and tools that will allow us to not only discover what makes us happy, but that allow us to reside in a permanent state of our own happiness, as opposed to visiting there occasionally. After all, It is our destiny to live as sovereign beings and to walk with grace, joy and HAPPINESS upon this planet.
I will be with you every step of the way, and practicing along with you – so please contact me via email should you need any assistance along the way. Remember, we are all in this together, and as our beloved teacher, Yogi Bhajan reminds us, “ We are on this planet to love each other, to serve each other, and to uplift each other. We have come to this Earth to give, not to take”
These steps we will walk in the next 7 weeks together are:
1. Commitment - The first step is commitment. In every life you are meant to commit. Be committed to kindness and compassion. There is no other commitment. Commitment gives you Character.
I will be providing excerpts and quotes from the original text, as well as inserting some of my personal thoughts and experiences gained through my practice and teaching. Each week, I will provide a specific meditation to practice, with a link to the music that can be downloaded should you desire. To receive maximum benefit from this series, I invite you to read and explore the principles, and practice the meditation for seven days, until the next step is posted. The main intention for this series is to help us discover what hinders and blocks us from experiencing our own true happiness, and provide some insight and tools that will allow us to not only discover what makes us happy, but that allow us to reside in a permanent state of our own happiness, as opposed to visiting there occasionally. After all, It is our destiny to live as sovereign beings and to walk with grace, joy and HAPPINESS upon this planet.
I will be with you every step of the way, and practicing along with you – so please contact me via email should you need any assistance along the way. Remember, we are all in this together, and as our beloved teacher, Yogi Bhajan reminds us, “ We are on this planet to love each other, to serve each other, and to uplift each other. We have come to this Earth to give, not to take”
These steps we will walk in the next 7 weeks together are:
1. Commitment - The first step is commitment. In every life you are meant to commit. Be committed to kindness and compassion. There is no other commitment. Commitment gives you Character.
2. Character - Character is when all of your characteristics are under your control and you are totally balanced. Character is a set of behaviors which you have adopted so you can answer to yourself with a clear conscious. It is how you act when no one is watching. Character gives you Dignity.
3. Dignity - Dignity is very simple. People trust you, like you, respect you and want to be like you. Dignity will give you Divinity.
4. Divinity - Divinity is when you put yourself and your life on the line to serve others. Divinity gives you Grace.
5. Grace - Where there is grace, there is no interference, no gap between you and others and no hidden agenda. Grace is when you have developed a presence that works. Grace gives you the Power to Sacrifice.
6. Sacrifice – you can stand any pain for that person. Sacrifice (selflessness/giving) brings Happiness.
7. Happiness
3. Dignity - Dignity is very simple. People trust you, like you, respect you and want to be like you. Dignity will give you Divinity.
4. Divinity - Divinity is when you put yourself and your life on the line to serve others. Divinity gives you Grace.
5. Grace - Where there is grace, there is no interference, no gap between you and others and no hidden agenda. Grace is when you have developed a presence that works. Grace gives you the Power to Sacrifice.
6. Sacrifice – you can stand any pain for that person. Sacrifice (selflessness/giving) brings Happiness.
7. Happiness
Everyone is seeking happiness and fulfillment of their deepest desires, and rightfully so – Happiness is our birthright as human beings. But in today’s world, happiness seems to be an undefined elusive commodity or a misunderstood “thing” that we search everywhere for but never find – mainly because we are looking to the outside. But it is really quite simple. Happiness is not something that happens on the outside of you or which you can attain and get from the outside. It is the very essence of YOU already.
Let’s begin with that sometimes elusive word, Commitment. Before you can commit, it is important to be clear about your intentions. Taking your cues from the outside world only leads to disappointments because contentment never happens from the outside in. Clarity of intention comes from going within and listening deeply so that you can begin to know and hear what it is that you truly desire. Meditation and breath work are two very effective tools you can use to do this. Knowing what you want is a simple matter of connecting with spirit within and feeling what IT wants to express and experience as you and through you. When you have made this connection, you will feel it, and the Universe will unleash floods of opportunity, carrying you to the fulfillment of your intentions with ease, grace and joy. These seven steps, if followed faithfully, can bring hope to the hopeless, uplift those in despair and serve as a lighthouse in a world where the darkness of the ego rules the day. The best news is that this process can be done by anyone of any age, and at any stage of life – it is NEVER too late to start! The time to begin is NOW.
We waste a lot of our precious life energy avoiding and resisting commitment. When we just commit, this life energy is freed up and channeled into other pursuits, making our lives more enjoyable and productive. We avoid commitment because the ego believes this is the way to avoid difficulties or challenges. It is only the trickery of the mind that would have you believe life should be without challenges. The day you have no challenges is the day you are dead. The first step of commitment contains two key components:
Commit to keep Your Word
The most fundamental commitment you can make is to keep your word. Your word is your power; you literally create your reality with every word you speak. When you keep your word, you follow through on the promises you make to yourself and to others.
Every thought and word spoken is recorded in the subconscious mind. This part of the mind haunts us with reminders of broken promises from the past in perfect detail. There is no escaping the subconscious mind; it is like being under surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The subconscious mind communicates through dreams and nightmares. Most people are not aware of their subconscious mind, because it is below the surface of the conscious mind and drives 85 % of all our behavior.
You only harm yourself when you don’t keep your word. Every word you speak is a cause and every cause must have an effect. This is the Universal law of karma. If you do not commit to your word you will attract people who will not commit to you over and over again until you learn this lesson. You are creating your tomorrow with the words you speak today.
Let’s begin with that sometimes elusive word, Commitment. Before you can commit, it is important to be clear about your intentions. Taking your cues from the outside world only leads to disappointments because contentment never happens from the outside in. Clarity of intention comes from going within and listening deeply so that you can begin to know and hear what it is that you truly desire. Meditation and breath work are two very effective tools you can use to do this. Knowing what you want is a simple matter of connecting with spirit within and feeling what IT wants to express and experience as you and through you. When you have made this connection, you will feel it, and the Universe will unleash floods of opportunity, carrying you to the fulfillment of your intentions with ease, grace and joy. These seven steps, if followed faithfully, can bring hope to the hopeless, uplift those in despair and serve as a lighthouse in a world where the darkness of the ego rules the day. The best news is that this process can be done by anyone of any age, and at any stage of life – it is NEVER too late to start! The time to begin is NOW.
We waste a lot of our precious life energy avoiding and resisting commitment. When we just commit, this life energy is freed up and channeled into other pursuits, making our lives more enjoyable and productive. We avoid commitment because the ego believes this is the way to avoid difficulties or challenges. It is only the trickery of the mind that would have you believe life should be without challenges. The day you have no challenges is the day you are dead. The first step of commitment contains two key components:
Commit to keep Your Word
The most fundamental commitment you can make is to keep your word. Your word is your power; you literally create your reality with every word you speak. When you keep your word, you follow through on the promises you make to yourself and to others.
Every thought and word spoken is recorded in the subconscious mind. This part of the mind haunts us with reminders of broken promises from the past in perfect detail. There is no escaping the subconscious mind; it is like being under surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The subconscious mind communicates through dreams and nightmares. Most people are not aware of their subconscious mind, because it is below the surface of the conscious mind and drives 85 % of all our behavior.
You only harm yourself when you don’t keep your word. Every word you speak is a cause and every cause must have an effect. This is the Universal law of karma. If you do not commit to your word you will attract people who will not commit to you over and over again until you learn this lesson. You are creating your tomorrow with the words you speak today.
Commit to Being Fully Alive
The ultimate freedom is to commit to being fully alive. You bring your self into each and every moment of your life. You stop hurrying from one moment to the next. You are no longer lost in the on-going commentary of the mind and incessant needs of the ego.
To be committed to the present moment is to be here now - bringing your full attention to other people and events in your life. When you are present you feel an aliveness in your body. One of the best ways to commit to life is to commit to your breath. Become aware of consciously breathing: inhaling for 10 seconds, holding for 10 seconds and exhaling for 10 seconds. This will bring your essence – the real you - forward. When you are committed to being fully present and conscious, your life energy is not lost in the past or the future. It is fully in the now – where Infinity lives – the ultimate freedom.
The ultimate freedom is to commit to being fully alive. You bring your self into each and every moment of your life. You stop hurrying from one moment to the next. You are no longer lost in the on-going commentary of the mind and incessant needs of the ego.
To be committed to the present moment is to be here now - bringing your full attention to other people and events in your life. When you are present you feel an aliveness in your body. One of the best ways to commit to life is to commit to your breath. Become aware of consciously breathing: inhaling for 10 seconds, holding for 10 seconds and exhaling for 10 seconds. This will bring your essence – the real you - forward. When you are committed to being fully present and conscious, your life energy is not lost in the past or the future. It is fully in the now – where Infinity lives – the ultimate freedom.
The Universe Will Respond To Your Commitment
When you commit to your spiritual journey, the energies of the Universe move to support you. This does not mean you will not be tested. When you commit to make changes and move forward in your life, the Universe asks “Are you really sure?”. For example, you choose to commit to going to yoga class three times a week for your spiritual, mental and emotional well-being. Class starts at 5:30pm. At 4 pm, your panicking boss asks you to work late or the ex-partner that broke your heart calls and wants to talk. Perhaps your mother calls with an emotional emergency. You get the picture. It usually involves old energy aligned with an old you. The Universe creates these scenarios so that you can commit.
Sometimes, to say NO to others is the equivalent of saying YES to you
When you pass the test, the Universe will respond to support your commitment in ways that you could never dream possible. Your life will be filled with synchronicities. Magically, you will meet the right people at the right time and everything you need to support your commitment will be made available to you.
“Life is a commitment. All of nature is committed except you. Commit! And live that commitment. Beyond that you will find there is absolute, infinite freedom.” - Yogi Bhajan
When you commit to your spiritual journey, the energies of the Universe move to support you. This does not mean you will not be tested. When you commit to make changes and move forward in your life, the Universe asks “Are you really sure?”. For example, you choose to commit to going to yoga class three times a week for your spiritual, mental and emotional well-being. Class starts at 5:30pm. At 4 pm, your panicking boss asks you to work late or the ex-partner that broke your heart calls and wants to talk. Perhaps your mother calls with an emotional emergency. You get the picture. It usually involves old energy aligned with an old you. The Universe creates these scenarios so that you can commit.
Sometimes, to say NO to others is the equivalent of saying YES to you
When you pass the test, the Universe will respond to support your commitment in ways that you could never dream possible. Your life will be filled with synchronicities. Magically, you will meet the right people at the right time and everything you need to support your commitment will be made available to you.
“Life is a commitment. All of nature is committed except you. Commit! And live that commitment. Beyond that you will find there is absolute, infinite freedom.” - Yogi Bhajan
Commitment Meditation
Tune in first with the Adi Mantra 3 times:
Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo
MUDRA: Bring your hands together in Prayer Pose at the chest level
EYES: Focused at the tip of your nose
MANTRA: HUMMEE HUM BRAHM HUM **
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS:
As you chant each word of the mantra - PRESS the hands together and pull in the navel - then release. The hand compression is like the BEAT OF A HEART
END: INHALE - hold the breath - pull in the navel and press your tongue against the roof of the mouth -- HOLD 15 seconds. REPEAT 2 more times
**if you would like music for this mantra, click Here to download or listen to a beautiful version
Tune in first with the Adi Mantra 3 times:
Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo
MUDRA: Bring your hands together in Prayer Pose at the chest level
EYES: Focused at the tip of your nose
MANTRA: HUMMEE HUM BRAHM HUM **
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS:
As you chant each word of the mantra - PRESS the hands together and pull in the navel - then release. The hand compression is like the BEAT OF A HEART
END: INHALE - hold the breath - pull in the navel and press your tongue against the roof of the mouth -- HOLD 15 seconds. REPEAT 2 more times
**if you would like music for this mantra, click Here to download or listen to a beautiful version
Next week is Character! Remember, I will be with you every step of the way, and practicing along with you – so please contact me via email should you need any assistance in the journey to happiness.
BLESSINGS!
Vikki
BLESSINGS!
Vikki
