There’s a massive tree in entrance of the balcony of my second-floor condominium that shelters many birds. I get the chance to look at them at completely different occasions of the day and all through the seasons. The very specific habits patterns of those birds, and different animals together with a stray cat or two in my yard increase insightful questions for me about proper and incorrect actions (karma).
Paramhansa Yogananda typically mentioned that animals don’t incur sin or karma as they don’t act by means of ego motivation. They as a substitute are instinctive and comply with nature’s legal guidelines. Yogananda explains that sin is an ignorance – an ignorance concerning the legal guidelines of nature. I questioned, bearing all of this in thoughts if I may dispel ignorance and keep away from creating detrimental karma by attuning to and following nature’s legal guidelines. I wished to discover the likelihood and provides myself the prospect!
Within the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna’s purpose is to realize the state of nishkam karma (performing with out ego motivation) that brings moksha (liberation). So, the needle of liberation on the non secular compass at all times factors to nishkam karma. That is the purpose the place we rise above the realm of karmic legislation and discover freedom within the Infinite Spirit.
Going again to the Grasp’s (Yogananda’s) quote about animals and the aim of life to realize liberation within the midst of performing actions, I questioned what I may study from the egoless exercise of animals. I needed to work on this planet and exercise can be a every day matter of concern.
People are, the truth is, residents of the animal kingdom however with some refined distinctions – Now we have a totally developed occult spinal system (chakras) and we have now the boon of free will.
Regardless of these benefits, I discover that man is usually fearful and sad about one factor or one other. In my yard, the birds chirp fortunately and the animals seemingly roam carefree. I contemplated the validity of free will as a boon for us as a result of it so typically turns to our drawback when utilized by means of the ego.
Why will we battle a lot?
If life is a tapestry — woven threads of days and nights, I wish to take note of the best way that animals undergo their days with out creating detrimental karma. A few of us, however, battle night time and day to keep away from the karma monster.
Yogananda mentioned that bodily wrongdoing brings bodily illnesses, psychological misbehavior brings psychological disharmony, and non secular ignorance brings non secular darkness. By now, occupied with these phrases, my ideas are spinning like a wheel, however I in the end uncover a guidepost in Yogananda’s poem, “God! God! God!” Within the poem, he divides the day and its actions into waking, consuming, working, dreaming, and sleeping…
In waking, consuming, working, dreaming, sleeping,
Serving, meditating, chanting, divinely loving,
My soul will always hum, unheard by any:
God! God! God!
This cycle of exercise and motion gave me some sensible path.
Waking
On the waking entrance, birds and animals begin their day at daybreak and finish it at sundown. Many animals stretch proper after waking. Many people have seen cats stretching instantly upon waking within the morning and at completely different occasions all through the day. Apparently, Yogananda developed the Energization Workouts after observing the best way a cat stretches. 
Within the Autobiography of a Yogi, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri generally mentioned, “The darkness of Maya is silently approaching. Allow us to hie homeward inside.” Grasp usually reminded his disciples at nightfall with these phrases about their have to shift their consideration from exercise to their night meditation observe and Kriya Yoga. It has typically been confirmed for me that the phrases of an avatar are eternally true.
I discover that disciplined or spiritually awake folks attempt to take care of a dharmic routine till it turns into second nature, whereas worldly folks work all by means of the day, and their recreation and leisure typically begin at night time. Grasp recommends that the night time be reserved for God communion when every part is quiet. The start and finish of the day are quieter occasions so finest for connecting with the upper Self.
Consuming
Animals additionally comply with a pure consuming sample: herbivorous animals eat vegetation corresponding to grass, frugivores thrive on fruits, and carnivores are proud of meat and flesh, and as soon as they’re full, they don’t seem interested by or have cravings for a buddy’s full plate of meals! A saint as soon as mentioned that you just received’t see a tiger too fats to run or a sparrow too fats to fly, as they eat solely when hungry.
Many people, nonetheless, habitually really feel starvation at any time when meals is seen. As an alternative of following the wants of the physique, we frequently comply with the calls for of the senses, managed by the ego.
We like to think about ourselves as being sensible and trendy. We eat every kind of meals: pure, natural, cooked, raw, overcooked, meat, vegetarian, processed, junk meals, artificially flavored meals, and meals that’s fully unnatural for us. I’ve to ask myself, am I a complete exception to all this? I’m definitely not. I’ve to do my finest to comply with the best guidelines to remain wholesome.
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, a Gyanavatar, gave scientific causes explaining that man is basically a frugivorous animal and would comply with a pure consuming sample to maintain wholesome. Yogananda humorously mentioned that most individuals dig their very own graves with a knife and fork!
Working
I discover that within the office, the ego tries to sneak into our actions, growing alternatives for working into detrimental karma. It’s fascinating how within the animal kingdom essentially the most aggressive habits revolves round securing meals. On the human facet, we frequently step into the world of labor with aspirations of main a significant and honorable life, although typically discover ourselves entangled in traps of energy, identify, and fame.
For myself, it’s essential to carry onto the conclusion that my true essence stay aligned with my real wants.
Propagation
Nature’s methods are really fascinating. Animals, pushed by their instincts, mate just for propagation to make sure the pure cycle of life. Animals procreate inside their species throughout seasons of abundance, guaranteeing an ample meals provide for his or her offspring.
This raises a query for me: are we, as people, attuned to this refined inside steering? Religious teachings emphasize an important level— extreme indulgence in sensory pleasures can disrupt our psychological and bodily well-being.
Reflecting on this, I’ve come to know that if I align myself extra carefully with nature’s legal guidelines (refined legislation working across the clock) I can be extra possible in a position to take pleasure in each bodily and psychological well being. Following pure legislation could possibly be a blueprint for a harmonious existence resulting in a life in attunement with the essence of our bodily and non secular selves. It’s a fragile stability that nature appears inherently eager on to information her creatures.
Our nervous system with its seven chakras is the royal pathway to liberation.
At this level, ideas concerning the absolutely developed occult spinal system and the importance of the chakras emerge. Swami Kriyananda’s phrases within the Pageant of Mild resonate deeply with me. There’s such a profound sense of divine grace and redemption in his phrases. “For now, by God’s grace, our redemption is at hand.” Our nervous system with its seven chakras is the royal pathway to liberation.
Utilizing the methods of Kriya Yoga handed down by our line of Gurus, we have now the facility to expend detrimental karma and clear our manner. I’ve the important thing to eradicating unhealthy karma with the highly effective movement of life drive (prana-shakti) generated by Kriya Yoga!
The topic of eradicating karma appears overwhelming, but I notice with out a lot brainstorming that it’s simple for me to attract steering and inspiration from the pure rhythms of the animal kingdom about easy methods to align my every day actions with much less ego attachment. Via the advantages of Kriya Yoga, I can navigate past the entanglements of karma and go quick ahead on the freeway of Self-realization.
-Nayaswami Suvarna
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In 2011 after assembly Swami Kriyanandaji for the primary time and together with his loving invitation to come back and dwell in Watunde (Pune), Nayaswami Suvarna moved to the ashram there from Mumbai. She was a Kriyaban earlier than this time and was additionally a member of Ananda Sangha Pune.
Suvarna served in Mumbai along with her son Nayaswami Sagar for practically 3 years. She has labored on translations (English into Marathi) of Autobiography of a Yogi, Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, The Essence of Self-Realization, Dialog with Yogananda, and The Artwork & Science of Raja-Yoga. Marathi is the third most spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali.
Along with her seva on the Pune and Pimpri facilities, she additionally helps with the Ananda Kriya Yoga Residence Research Course and the Kriya Sangha (Hindi). Suvarna additionally loves enjoying the harmonium and singing Grasp and Swamiji’s music.
