M E D I TA T I O N
at home in the late afternoon or evening,
it may take a while for the nervous
system to settle. This may be the cause
of some frustration, but keep in mind
that it is also a normal reaction, given the
pace most people maintain in their life. It
is difficult to shift gears after
experiencing a frenetic workday.
People who merge their spiritual
practice with their work are truly
blessed. Those who teach yoga and
meditation, and are able to support
themselves financially through this
activity, are living a very favorable karma.
Those who have enough money and do
not need to work at all are likewise
fortunate, but only if they spend their
time wisely in uplifting pursuits. There
are many wealthy people who have not
necessarily pursued deeper, more
meaningful lives, although it is difficult to
generalize in this respect. The bottom
line is that having money can free up
your time, and eliminate financial
struggles or exposure to stressful work
conditions, but it does not guarantee
that you will make spiritual expansion an
important focus of your attention.
As a further reflection on the demands of
work, consider that some spiritual souls
who are currently incarnating here are
not used to the pace and intensity of
Western life. They have spent previous
lifetimes in the East where the rhythm
had been more gentle and serene. If this
is the case, they will likely feel out of
place, longing for a quieter existence and
even suffering imbalance or illness as a
result.
Their souls may actually be reeling from
the shock of such a displacement, and
they will likely not have a choice but to
search for spiritual succor in this lifetime.
A desire to visit the East, or to feel some
strong connection with an Eastern
religion or people, is often indicative of
this situation. Often spiritual souls
incarnate in the West not to be
encumbered by difficult material
conditions, such as lacking the basic
necessities of life. Ironically, the
demands of their work life may also turn
out to be a burden for them.
Of course, not all work is burdensome.
Many people find their occupation
interesting and enjoyable. They may be
helping others or simply finding
challenges through their jobs. The point
is more to have a well-rounded lifestyle
and to pursue the inward journey as
well. I have never known a meditator to
pass through a mid-life crisis or
depression. There is too much richness
in the quality of their experience to feel
any lack in, or remorse about what they
have done or where they are headed.
I have never
known a meditator to
pass through a mid-life
crisis or depression.
There is too much
richness in the quality
of their experience to
feel any lack in, or
remorse about what
they have done or where
they are headed.
MEDITATION &
FAMILY LIFE
Aside from work, raising a family
can have a different set of obligations
that are no less demanding. If you
decide to incorporate meditation into
your lifestyle there is no doubt that it
will benefit everyone around you; not
just close family, but friends and
relatives as well. For those who are
most immediately in your aura, subtle
changes will take place in them,
whether they themselves actually
meditate or not. The presence of a
meditator in their life will always be
uplifting if they are open to it.
A particularly desirable situation is when
both partners in a relationship are
meditators. They can provide strong
support for one another. Their practice
will become more focused, and the
relationship itself will develop in ways
that transcend the limited bounds of two
interacting personalities. The vibrations
in the home of such a couple will have a
quality of softness and serenity, which
visitors will immediately remark on.
If only one of the partners meditates the
situation is still favorable provided
50 www.yogicherald.com Dec. 2018