“Someone asked me, ‘What do you like the most?’ And I said, ‘sincerity.’ What I like most is sincerity, because I know if you have sincerity, everything else will come. Sincerity means you are completely true. You have a true heart, an open heart, you are completely sincere. What else do you need? Everything else will come. Love will come. Joy will come, happiness… everything will come. Sincerity of heart, true sincerity… Truth. That is important.”
— Dr Swami Purna
— Dr Swami Purna
Health and happiness have ascended the agenda of many organisations in terms of their human resources policy, including law firms, particularly through the experience of COVID-19 pandemic. The legal profession is rather prone to stress, mental concerns and related issues that impact on one’s general health. The way in which law is practiced and efforts rewarded – specifically the traditional reference to chargeable hours and related targets – to achieve advancement within the firm has had major negative impacts on female lawyers in particular as they try to balance professional and personal responsibilities with little time for their own needs. It is important to take time to find balance according to one’s individual priorities.
In the Founder’s words: “My travels to India over the last 35 years have also given me an unusual perspective as regards enabling health and happiness regardless of the ups and downs in life, including economic challenges. In these changing and perhaps turbulent economic times the philosophy from the Vedic tradition that I have learned by assisting the Foundation that I support as part of my personal balance has been extremely enlightening in clarifying the personal ability to create one’s own stability regardless of the circumstances that occur around and the strength to deal more effectively with the impacts of events that often appear to be beyond one’s control.” Below are set out some pointers regarding Yoga practice that originated in India: more information can be found at www.adhyatmik.org.
Yoga Practice
The foundation of all happiness is the first two stages of practice of yoga, known as yama (Yoga Sutra II.30) and niyama (Yoga Sutra II.32). Yama refers to universal ethical/moral restraints (what not to do) and niyama are universal observances (what to do).
According to Vedic science breach of the ethical principles leads to unhappiness, whereas compliance with them leads to good fortune and to happiness (the law of karma). So, why not to start fresh or again on another level with implementing the Eightfold Path of Patanjali’s Yoga System Yama is a description of a series of social behaviour, on how you treat others and the world around you.
Niyama is inner discipline and responsibility, how we treat ourselves.
This forms part of the highly respected Eightfold Path of Patanjali’s Yoga System.
Yoga Practice
The foundation of all happiness is the first two stages of practice of yoga, known as yama (Yoga Sutra II.30) and niyama (Yoga Sutra II.32). Yama refers to universal ethical/moral restraints (what not to do) and niyama are universal observances (what to do).
According to Vedic science breach of the ethical principles leads to unhappiness, whereas compliance with them leads to good fortune and to happiness (the law of karma). So, why not to start fresh or again on another level with implementing the Eightfold Path of Patanjali’s Yoga System Yama is a description of a series of social behaviour, on how you treat others and the world around you.
- Nonviolence (ahimsa). Do no harm principle that protects all beings and extends beyond the physical violence to thought or deed.
- Truth and honesty (satya).
- Nonstealing (asteya).
- Nonlust (brahmacharya).
- Nonpossessiveness (aparigraha).
Niyama is inner discipline and responsibility, how we treat ourselves.
- Purity (shauca). Purity is achieved through the practice of the five yamas, which help clear away the negative physical and mental states of being. Keep yourself, your clothing, and your surroundings clean. Eat fresh and healthy food. The next time you joke about treating your body like a temple, think of this niyama.
- Contentment (santosha). Cultivate contentment and tranquility by finding happiness with what you have and who you are. Seek happiness in the moment, take responsibility for where you are, and choose to grow from there.
- Austerity (tapas). Show discipline in body, speech, and mind. The purpose of developing self-discipline is not to become ascetic, but to control and direct the mind and body for higher spiritual aims or purposes.
- Study of the sacred text (svadhyaya). Study sacred texts, which are whatever books are relevant to you and inspire and teach you. Education changes a person’s outlook on life.
- Living with an awareness of the Divine (ishvara-pranidhana). Be devoted to whatever you consider divine or higher being.
This forms part of the highly respected Eightfold Path of Patanjali’s Yoga System.