In Yoga and Buddhism, Part 2 – Taking the Good with

the Bad

The practice of either Yoga and Buddhism should bring

about a number of changes in how we think, feel, speak

and act. This change is referred to as being an

evolution of our consciousness.

This evolution is something that can be experienced

directly, though it does not consist of flying in the

clouds, always seeing stars and flashing lights, or

being recognized, loved and admired by others as being

a great spiritual practitioner or teacher.

It does consist of seeing things more clearly and

being more mindful so that we act and react with

greater wisdom.

One important change that comes about in the practice

of either Yoga and Buddhism or both of them is that we

have a better ability to take both the good and bad

with a state of acceptance and equanimity.

If we look at ourselves, and others, we may see that

much of the suffering that they and we experience is

because of an inability to handle disappointments or

drawbacks in life.

We have all at one time or another become dependent on

someone else or something else to bring us a measure

of fulfillment or joy.

If it is a person, the results can almost be deadly,

and if it is a thing, the results can be a slower

kind, such as the development of sluggishness in

thoughts and actions.

Maybe one of the reasons for our attachment to some

material things is that we feel we can control or

predict what will happen if we engage ourselves in

them.

With people, we can never really have an idea of how

they will be until we have spent sometime with them,

and even then we may find that they may one day

suddenly change in way that we did not expect or we

find disturbing or threatening.

Both Yoga and Buddhism can give is a refuge and

foundation for understanding and handling such

disappointments and at the same time, still provide us

with a means to gather greater mental and physical

strength and wisdom.

Taking the good with the bad is one of the real

challenges that we all face in life, regardless of

where we are from and what our social – economic

situation is.

With the clarity and purity of consciousness that we

can achieve and cultivate through the practice of Yoga

and Buddhism, that ability will be strengthened and at

the same time, not lead us into unwise expectations

from others and life.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

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

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)