Dharma Talk w/ Aadil Palkhivala “Spirit & Wealth”
September 7, 2012
Recommended Reading: “Fire of Love” by Aadil Palkhivala
Recommended Listening: www.aliveandshine.com
About Aadil: Aadil Palkhivala began his study of yoga with B. K. S. Iyengar at the age of seven. Recognized as one of the world’s top yoga teachers, Aadil is also a federally certified naturopath, a certified Ayurvedic health science practitioner, clinical hypnotherapist, certified shiatsu and Swedish bodywork therapist, lawyer, and internationally sponsored public speaker on the mind-body-energy connection. He is the founder and director of the College of Purna Yoga, an advanced teacher training program licensed by the State of Washington and Yoga Alliance-certified. Aadil has a reputation as a “teacher of teachers,” and is the author of the book, Fire of Love. www.aadil.com
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· Dharma
· Artha
· Kama
· Moksha
These are the reasons all people have latent divinity
Dharma: Life purpose (Mission)
· ”ma” translates to “me”…what is MY life’s purpose?
Artha: Means (e.g., money/wealth)
Kama: Pleasure; specifically, the pursuit of pleasure
Moksha: Spirit; specifically, pursuit of the spirit
· Artha, Kama, and Moksha are conditioned BY Dharma.
Question: “How much money (Artha) do I need?”
Answer: As much to fulfill by life’s purpose/mission (Dharma)
We disregard Artha, Kama and Moksha because we don’t know or understand our Dharma.
Importance of clarity: Even if you believe something, if it is not clear in your mind, you will fight yourself.
4 Ways We Are Controlled:
· Sick
· Poor
· Unhappy
· Fearful
“If you want to control people, give them a common enemy.”
4 Conditions of Freedom:
· Healthy
· Wealthy
· Joyous
· Powerful
The process (goal) of yoga is moving from controlled to free.
Greed: Taking something for myself without consideration of its dual effect on others and my spirit.
Svadhyaya: Self-knowledge
· Until I know myself, my work on my means, pleasure and spirit is all for the EGO (superficial; “the IMAGE of spirituality”). I must know myself and my purpose so that my means, pleasure and spirit are focused and aligned to it.
Question: Am I afraid to create wealth, pleasure and spirituality because of ____________?
Lovha: The negative aspect of desire
· How do we know we have enough?
o Svadhyaya: Get to know myself
o Dharma: As I am earning money, does it feel like it is a part of my mission to have it?
o Hriday: Heart opening (the heart = home)
An example of dealing with lack or a mindset of lack: I have a purpose and I need to do something related to my purpose, but don’t have enough money – This means I am out of sync w/ my purpose. A shift needs to be made. Ask, “How can I change myself to make the money come?”
In ancient times, yogis were the most wealthy people. Every need was met.
Questions:
· What part of my life would be more fulfilling if I had wealth?
· Why do I stop myself from having wealth?
The only reason for money is the exchange of energy.
Money is just a medium of energy.
Change my perspective on money; think of it as “thank you notes”.
Whatever I think about EXPANDS; it makes no sense to give money stingily
Whatever we are, we mirror (outside of ourselves)
Hriday: Heart opening – The heart is only partly muscle; it is mostly neuro tissue
I must operate from my heart’s desire.
Heart’s desire is an actual energy emanating from the heart. It sends an actual pulse into the Universe.
I am the creator and destroyer of my life = Power
Victims and victimizers CANNOT create = No power
How do we get our wealth by understanding our heart?
· Make decisions: That is all we do all the time, every moment
Yoga and Asana (poses) are NOT the same! Asana is only a part of yoga.
Question: Do I have the freedom and power to live the reason I was born (my Dharma)?
How to make decisions:
· Find a quiet place to meditate
· Touch the middle finger of your right hand to your heart center. Go inside yourself.
· In this space, ask yourself any questions you need answers to. Three key questions to ask every day are (1) Who am I? (2) What is my purpose (3) Where am I going? If you feel your heart expanding, that is a ‘yes’.
Old programs/beliefs about myself run in the brain, not the heart.
You cannot attract something that you shrink away from. You can only attract what you open up to.
Two major reasons people jeopardize themselves from living their dharma:
1. Insecurity: “I won’t get it, so why dream or set myself up for failure?”
o Stems from a lack of self-esteem from past experiences
2. “If I get it, I’m afraid I will be one of ‘them’.; I will not sue it wisely b/c I’m unsure of myself; I don’t know my dharma; I don’t know myself
In yoga, we MUST be abundantly wealthy. If not, that is NOT yoga!