How Are We Dealing with the Issues That We Face

It seems that one of the frequent experiences that

this writer has had in sharing the teachings of Yoga

and Buddhism in a formal setting, that being a teacher

- student relationship, is acting as a listening and

feedback facilitator as an individual shares some of

their mental and physical problems and issues with me.

Mental issues for all of are a result of negative and unwholesome conditioning, attachments that disturb our consciousness,

 disappointments and frustrations with life, and the unexpected problems and the sudden realizations and challenges that can

 arise from living.

Physical issues include bodily changes and states,

acute and chronic health concerns and problems, and

behaviors that compromise our mental and physical

balance.

Sometimes individuals want me to do little more then

listen to them but are reluctant to take or listen to

any feedback.

Their exploration of their thoughts, feelings and

problems is rather one – sided.

In situations such as this, the most that one can do

to expand their horizons in understanding and dealing

with these issues is to ask skillful questions that

redirect their awareness from one of confusion, self –

pity and frustration to areas of their consciousness

that can deal with these issues with insight and

wisdom.

Others are more open to listening to feedback and are

better able to discuss and pick up on things that

address their concerns.

They can ask questions and mutually explore both their

issues and my issues so we both grow from the

interaction.

But a recurring phenomenon is that although the

session that brings about our getting together is one

of Yoga, their reluctance to look at and make an

effort to better understand and embrace the teachings

of Yoga or Buddhism can be quite strong.

It is not a resentful or impatient kind of reluctance,

but instead seems to be an inability to grasp what the teachings share or to see how they can apply them to their lives and the

 issues that they are facing.

Of course, many of us who are new to the practice of

Yoga and Buddhism still think that the world and

others should be changing in order to suit us, and can

not bring ourselves to understand that we need to

bring about changes to ourselves.

In addition, we are sometimes not fully clear about,

or fear as to what making these changes will consist

of or require from us.

This can be good if someone is a teacher who needs

students in order to have an income or wants their

students to be dependent on them.

Neither approach by the teacher would be within the

true spirit and teachings of either Yoga or Buddhism.

The teacher of either one of these disciplines wants

the student and practitioner to become free of him or

herself as soon as possible.

But what happens in some situations and with some

people is that the student or practitioner carries on

in a manner where she gets emotional support and

feedback from the teacher, but has a hard time

bringing the teachings into their lives in such a way

as they can work through issues on their own, based on

the teachings.

Teachers need to be clear and mindful about what it is

they want achieve in teaching, and students and

practitioners need to make more of an effort to learn

and apply the teachings.

Too many times, people fear what the teachings require

from them.

This fear is unreasonable and is based on a lack of

any real understanding and examination of what the

teachings are and what they ask of us.

To a large extent, we can continue to live our lives

in a similar fashion as we have been used to, just

cutting down on excessiveness in some things and

perhaps in who we associate with.

We all seem to or have seemed at once to think that a

lot of excitement, action and activity, indulgence in

sensual pleasures and involvement’s with many things

and people is living life to the fullest.

This is not true.

It is more a matter of what our state of consciousness

is, whether we live a busy and active life, or a life

that is quieter and less involved.

The teachings of Yoga and Buddhism give us skillful

guidelines for dealing with life issues.

They are worth the time and effort that we make to

learn and apply them.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

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

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)