Dharma is personal, it's circumstancial

I feel I have been taking shots in the dark at my Dharma target and getting close through the years... and yet have not hit the mark.  I am reading Stephen Cope's latest book, "The Great Work of Your Life".. about just that... Dharma as told through the story of the Bhagavad Gita and through the personal stories of ordinary and extraordinary folks like Walt Whitman, Jane Goodall, and Beethoven to name just a few.

As a gemini-type person, always lured away to shiny new things, interests and topics it is difficult for me to anchor in just one pursuit or career.  Yoga has been the longest yet.. 19 years. (yikes).. this is common for me as well in relationships too.. people come and go.. bored, disinterested.. something new around the corner.

Tonight I read this... which made me ponder the circumstances of my current position in the geography of life:

W.A. Murray writes, "Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness."

And he continues, "Concerning all acts of initiative, and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:  That the moment one definitely commits oneself then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would never othewise have occurred.  A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would come his way.  I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's concepts:  'Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, Begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.' "

This of course is very profound...

So what will I commit too?  Is it yoga teachings, writing, workshopping/lecturing... I'm close to the mark and maybe within that context, that field, I can move the pieces around in an order that makes Dharma-sense of it all.  Then I can commit without hesitancy, to become effective in my life... in giving of my life in service to others.

With the Hurricane eminent, I'm lingering in Summer Vibes!

May those in the path of the storm, weather it well. And that Hurricane Sandy too..

Searching for Sugar Man ( & ourselves)

Have you ever felt that you weren't being heard, seen, witnessed or respected?  What is the meaning of true success?

If we are on our path fully and precisely but don't reap the benefits of wealth monetarily or otherwise can we still feel fulfilled? Yes of course. But we have to be willing to do our Dharma (path, intention in life) without judgement about how it 'lands' in the world but that we are following it and  being true to ourselves.That's tough and not common.  We can also think we have hit the mark of our path/Dharma but in actuality not quite be there yet.. and feel the truth of the matter...which is that we do feel off-center, off the mark and not quite fulfilled by what we are doing.

Sitting, meditating, yoga, qi-gong or some tool/exercise that allow you to be still and listen deeply to the inner workings of ego mind vs gut feeling (intuition, insight). And as we listen more deeply, there is clarity and ultimately decisions can be made about what to do or not next.. walking our true path.

The movie, "Searching for Sugar Man" showed me a man that has been doing just that.  I don't want to be a spoiler and lay out the movie in detail.  Is he still alive or dead.. does his music still live and where?  SPOILER ALERT:  Do not watch the Trailer if you don't want to know the twist of the movie!!  Otherwise enjoy.

Review: "Searching for Sugar Man"

If you want to reflect or practice Self Observation there are good books and stories to assist you along the way:

The Great Work of Your Life       by Stephen Cope
  (about the Bhagavad Gita and Dharma through the stories of ordinary and extraordinary people like Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, and Gandhi)

Self Observation    by Red Hawk

thank you for reading and please give feedback and follow if you like!!

Mark