Excellence Reporter: Nischaladevi, what is the meaning of life?

Nischala Joy Devi: The question “What is the meaning of life?” morphs into “what brings meaning to life?”

Life seems more meaningful when we embrace love and joy, in every moment.

We are all searching for something to bring us meaning. Perhaps, when we become still, we remember it is all within.

By directing our first conscious thought in the early morning and supplanting the last one at night with love and joy, the question “what is the meaning of life”, becomes moot. When light dawns within us, and we are able to extend it outward to embraces others the reason for our existence is revealed.

Life often seems meaningless if our hearts are closed to the joy and love which emanates from each plant, animal and human being. Let’s look past the shadows and wrinkles on an old face to the sparkling eyes, or overlook the wrongdoings and thoughtless words of others, remembering we are all the essence of Divine light and love.

If our own expectations are thwarted yet we hold firm, we may miss the possible bounty awaiting us in the next moment.

A wise friend once offered me this advice on how to view our world in order to keep wonder and joy alive.

These are three simple words in the English language that when put into action bring us closer or further away from joy.

The First is the word — NO

Using NO liberally we play it safe in life, not taking many risks or turns. We are safely cocooned in our belief system. Our sense of adventure heeds to caution. Our world is contained and manageable. Adventure is supplanted by safety.

The next is YES

Sprinkling our life with YES, is not as safe as NO, but allows the sense of adventure to spring forth, bringing us new experiences often pleasant, sometimes not. We are open to meeting new people and visiting unfamiliar places and situations, often very different from our previous experiences. This expansion allows us to feel lighter and more joyful.

And the best is WOW

WOW-Restores our sense of wonder. Like the openness and innocence of a child experiencing snowflakes for the first time. When used freely, WOW opens us to gratitude and a sense of amazement revealing a world of new ideas, adventures and a communion with people and things, normally not in our realm.

By focusing on joy, we are fortified during the times of discontent, instead we embrace the harmonious meaning of life at every turn

We then experience the meaning of Namaste,

“When I am that place of oneness, and you are in that place of oneness, we are ONE.”  

That to me is the “meaning of life”.

Namaste

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~Nischala Joy Devi is a masterful teacher and healer. For over 30 years she has been highly respected as an international advocate for her innovative way of expressing Yoga and its subtle uses for spiritual growth and complete healing. Her dynamic delivery and deep inner conviction empower each individual, allowing the teachings to expand beyond boundaries and limitations of any one tradition enabling her to touch people’s hearts.

She was graced to spend over 25 years as a monastic disciple with the world renowned, Yogiraj Sri Swami Satchidanandaji, receiving his direct guidance and teachings. She also was blessed with teachings from great Yoga masters in US, India and worldwide.

Originally trained in Western medicine, she began to blend western medicine with Yoga offered her expertise in developing the yoga portion of The Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease and co-founded the award-winning Commonweal Cancer Help Program. Her book “The Healing Path of Yoga,” now in its sixth printing, expresses these teachings.

With her knowledge of yoga and her experience in assisting those with life-threatening diseases, she created Yoga of the Heart, a training and certification program for Yoga teachers and health professionals designed to adapt Yoga practices to the special needs of that population.

She is now dedicated to bringing the Feminine back into spirituality and the scriptures, in her book, The Secret Power of Yoga, a woman’s guide to the heart and spirit of the Yoga Sutras, and Secret Power of Yoga Audio book (Nautilus Book Award Winner).
www.AbundantWellbeing.com

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