Do They Have an Office Here?

It seems that many of us who are looking to and

practicing Yoga seem to have one overriding interest

in practicing it and that is our health.

This is of course a noble and wise thing to pursue.

It is quite obvious to many that our health these days

in all countries and cultures is being influenced and compromised by factors beyond our management and even

 awareness.

But with this interest in, and at times preoccupation

with health we sometimes lose sight of other things

that both Yoga and Buddhism are advising us to do.

One of the major teachings of both Yoga and Buddhism

is to act towards others and the world in a spirit of

non – violence, loving kindness and compassion.

In Yoga, this sort of mental and physical mindfulness

and action is commonly known as Karma Yoga.

The dynamics of Buddhism, as it is practiced and

influenced in various countries and cultures may make

this practice and manifestation of non – violence,

loving kindness and compassion somewhat different then

in Yoga and Karma Yoga.

If Buddhism is primarily practiced and thought of as a

religion and the monks and priests in Buddhism are

treated as a kind of special person and clergy, energy

may be directed to worshipping or making merit to

monks, instead of to helping the less fortunate or

mindful in the environment and society.

The practice of a spiritual path and discipline can be

a selfish one, whether it is just thinking about one’s

health in practicing Yoga or thinking that one will be

bestowed with some special earthly or material favor

by giving alms and offerings to the clergy.

This writer has had many opportunities to reflect on

this, practicing and teaching Yoga for a number of

years, living in a country and culture that thinks of

itself as being Buddhist, and through his own efforts

to practice Karma Yoga and Buddhism in a way that is

based on non – violence, loving kindness and

compassion to others in thought, word and action.

During a recent journey to Cambodia, in doing some

independent volunteer development work, I was asked

who I work for.

My response was simple one.

“I work for the Buddha”.

The reply that I got from the Cambodian teacher of

English that I was talking with was an interesting and

humorous one.

“Do they have an office here”?

His response was based on the fact that in Cambodia

there are so many organizations that are

internationally, locally, privately and government

funded that are there to assist the people in both

their basic and development needs.

Sometimes there is this idea that if we are open,

loving and compassionate to others, our actions will

be greeted with suspicion and distrust.

Sometimes that sincere interest in assisting others

can not acted on in the most skillful way.

Sometimes we might think that it is not worth our time

and effort or we just do not know what is the best

thing for us to do.

Sometimes there is not a need in our environment for

things such as basic health care.

In fact, most of us live in environments that are

quite wealthy and comfortable.

And sadly, how we live in that environment is not

always based on wisdom, but instead based on our own

ignorance, desires and the fluctuating states of our consciousness, where our moods, emotions and feelings at

 the moment are the sole determiners of what and how we think, speak and act.

We do not reflect on living a life where we work for

the Buddha, or for Jesus, or for the teachings of

Yoga.

We may focus more on what will bring us more money, or

fame, or prestige.

In living in a way that we work for these teachers and teachings, we can do it quietly and gently.

We do not have to set up an NGO (Non – Governmental

Organization) that assists all the people in Cambodia,

Sri Lanka or Ethiopia.

We can just live and act more compassionately and

gently within whatever environment and situation that

we find ourselves in day to day.

For most of us, this means home and work.

For long - term students and practitioners of Yoga and Buddhism, part of the progress in their practice is

 arriving to a state of living where non – violence, loving kindness and compassion are very much a part of their

 day to day living.

They understand that such a way of living is one that

promotes health and a purified way of being.

They understand that such a way of living brings them

personal joy.

They understand that such a way of living is an asset

to those that they meet and interact with each day.

They understand that such a way of living is the

truest and highest manifestation of the practice of

Yoga and Buddhism.

The practice of postures is very important in Yoga as

is the offering of alms to the monks in some countries

and Buddhist cultures, but these are only smaller

steps and aspects of Yoga and Buddhism.

Both Yoga and Buddhism are there to lead us to an

evolution of consciousness where we are living a life

24 hours a day, based on non – violence, loving

kindness and compassion in all that we think, say and

do.

Such a way of being and living is not unreachable or impractical.

It is such a way of living that we can benefit from

being mindful about and making some sort of effort to

aspire to.

©204 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)