Will Bowen Audio

JumpStart - Niyama #3 – TAPAS

No, I’m not talking about small dishes of Spanish food.

As the third of the Hindu Niyamas (thou SHALT do this), Tapas refers to self-discipline -- to improving one’s self through deliberate mental, physical, and spiritual practice.

Could you imagine what the world would be like if all cultures believed that to improve one’s self was a sacred “must do”?

Today, I’m going to unpack this powerful admonition and explain how to make it part of your life.

Remember to post your questions and comments -- I respond to them all personally.

BTW, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t accept outside advertising -- that’s because cool people like you share these messages with coworkers, friends, and family who will often hire me for speeches, and/or purchase my books, Complaint FreeⓇ bracelets, and online programs.

So if this post inspired you, touched your heart, or expanded your mind, please do everyone a favor and share it with at least one other person whom you think would like it as well.

Thanks!

JumpStart - Niyama #2 – SANTOSHA

As I’ve said many times before my favorite book of all time is Illusions by Richard Bach.

The foreword for the book tells the story of a Messiah preaching to a crowd and the audience becoming so inspired that they swear, en masse, to do anything -- ANYTHING -- to serve God.

To which the Messiah asks: what if God’s one and only commandment was that you be happy for the rest of your life?

In other words, what if your purpose were ultimately to quit-yer-bellyachin’ and just ENJOY LIFE?

To Hindus, being content is a not an ideal -- it’s a sacred commandment.

SANTOSHA literally means “thou shalt be content.”

Today let’s explore ways of being content and accepting this challenge to “be content” as a sacred admonition.

Remember to post your questions and comments -- I respond to them all personally.

BTW, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t accept outside advertising -- that’s because cool people like you share these messages with coworkers, friends, and family who will often hire me for speeches, and/or purchase my books, Complaint FreeⓇ bracelets, and online programs.

So if this post inspired you, touched your heart, or expanded your mind, please do everyone a favor and share it with at least one other person whom you think would like it as well.

Thanks!

JumpStart - Niyama #1 – SAUCHA

As I mentioned in previous JumpStarts, unlike the 10 commandments, which are a list of “Thou Shalt Nots,” the Hindu Yamas tell one what NOT to do and the Niyamas tells us what we SHOULD do.

The first Niyama is SAUCHA - be pure.

Purity in body, mind, heart, ethics, and intention.

The rewards of purity are sound sleep, loving friends, a clear conscience, less anxiety, and the greatest benefit of all -- increased happiness.

Let’s discuss SAUCHA -- “thou shalt be pure” -- today and discover the benefits of living a pure life.

Remember to post your questions and comments -- I respond to them all personally.

BTW, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t accept outside advertising -- that’s because cool people like you share these messages with coworkers, friends, and family who will often hire me for speeches, and/or purchase my books, Complaint FreeⓇ bracelets, and online programs.

So if this post inspired you, touched your heart, or expanded your mind, please do everyone a favor and share it with at least one other person whom you think would like it as well.

Thanks!

JumpStart - Yama #5 - APARIGRAHA

“She’s got that Midas touch” someone says when a coworker scratches off her second winning lottery game card of the week.

“Everything she touches turns to gold.”

People use King Midas as an example of someone who was very lucky because literally everything he touched turned to gold.

However, King Midas’s story is actually a quite sad.

Because everything Midas touched turned to gold, when touched his beloved daughter he killed her.

In the end, “Lucky Ol’ King Midas” starved to death because any food he touched changed into gold.

It’s normal to want MORE but being attached to stuff never brings us happiness – – it just brings more craving.

Today, let’s discuss the fifth and final Hindu Yama (“thou shalt not”) APARIGRAHA and the benefits of living a life of non-possessiveness and non-greed.

Remember to post your questions and comments -- I respond to them all personally.

BTW, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t accept outside advertising -- that’s because cool people like you share these messages with coworkers, friends, and family who will often hire me for speeches, purchase my books, Complaint FreeⓇ bracelets, and online programs.

So if this post inspired you, touched your heart, or expanded your mind, please do everyone a favor and share it with at least one other person whom you think would like it as well.

Thanks!

JumpStart - Yama #4 - BRAHMACAHRYA

The fourth of the Hindu Yamas is BRAHMACAHRYA — appropriate sexuality.

You might be wondering why so many religions put constraints on sexuality.

For some, the primary main reason was so that priests could have no legitimate progeny. (I’ll explain why in the video.)

Within the context of BRAHMACAHRYA we look at sex that is appropriate and respectful to all.

Unlike the 10 Commandments, the Yamas address sexuality right up front.

It’s another interesting thing about Hindus — to them sex is not taboo it’s sacred and therefore should be practiced within healthy boundaries.

So, let’s talk sex…

Remember to post your questions and comments -- I respond to them all personally.

BTW, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t accept outside advertising -- that’s because cool people like you share these messages with coworkers, friends, and family who will often hire me for speeches, purchase my books, Complaint FreeⓇ bracelets, and online programs.

So if this post inspired you, touched your heart, or expanded your mind, please do everyone a favor and share it with at least one other person whom you think would like it as well.

Thanks!

JumpStart - Yama #3 - ASTEYA

The third of the Hindu Yamas is ASTEYA — non-stealing.

In the sense of this ancient tradition, not stealing means more than not taking people's stuff.

It means not stealing their ideas, not stealing their good name by spreading gossip, not stealing their sense of self-worth by being critical, and more.

When we begin to consider other actions rather than the physical taking of property as stealing, we open ourselves up to the concept of ASTEYA.

And because we live in a Karmic Universe (we get what we put out), not stealing from others protects us energetically and draws us toward greater prosperity.

Where might you (unknowingly) be stealing and how can you stop?

Good questions that we answer in today’s message.

Remember to post your questions and comments -- I respond to them all personally.

BTW, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t accept outside advertising -- that’s because cool people like you share these messages with coworkers, friends, and family who will often hire me for speeches, purchase my books, Complaint FreeⓇ bracelets, and online programs.

So if this post inspired you, touched your heart, or expanded your mind, please do everyone a favor and share it with at least one other person whom you think would like it as well.

Thanks!

JumpStart - Yama #2 - SATYA

The second of the Hindu Yamas is SATYA — truthfulness.

Whenever we consider truthfulness we must remember that the idea of “brutal honesty“ is a myth.

There is brutality.

And, there is honesty.

The two cannot go together.

We can be honest with others without being hurtful.

How can you begin to be more truthful in both small and big ways starting now?

Practice SATYA as much as you can, starting today.

JumpStart - Yama #1 - AHIMSA

Many people are familiar with the 10 Commandments.

However, most Westerners are not familiar The Yamas and Niyamas, which are the Hindu guides o the ideal conduct.

Unlike the 10 Commandments, which are just a list of “ don’ts,” the Yamas and Niyamas are a list of both “dos” and “don’ts”.

Today, let’s begin with the first don’t – – AHIMSA.

AHIMSA Means, “Don't injure.“

Don’t hurt anyone or anything.

Do not hurt people's spirits with harsh words, do not hurt their bodies with unwanted or hurtful touch, do not hurt their minds with critical words .

In short, remember the words of the Hippocratic oath, “First, do no harm.“

How would your life change if everything you did was with the intention of causing no harm to anyone in anything?

Consider ways you could begin to bring your light in alignment with the concept of AHIMSA.

To You; Love God Tuesday - Opportunities

Ann Landers famously said, “Problems are opportunities in work clothes.”

If you look back on your life, you’ll probably find many times when something went wrong; then, as a result you discovered something that could be SIGNIFICANTLY improved — something you’d never have seen without the problem guiding you to the opportunity.

The challenge is that when we’re in the middle of a problem, it’s hard to step back and say, “Oh good, this is an opportunity.”

But when we do (even if through gritted teeth) we open ourselves up to new and better ways of living.

Starting today.

JumpStart - Maintaining Focus

Just the day I was in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina and I was staying at an Airbnb near the University of South Carolina when I heard some disconcerting news.

My fraternity, Sigma Chi had been kicked off the USC campus for a minimum of six years.

When I asked a friend what had happened he responded, “Hazing.“

This blew my mind!

When I was at USC and part of that Sigma Chi chapter, the main thing we were focused on was ANTI-HAZING!

In fact, our anti-hazing policies were considered the best and were adopted by others.

How in just a few short decades could the leaders of caring for new members become the leaders in tormenting them?

The answer is: slow and incremental acceptance.

What are you rationalizing as “ok” today that in the past was not cool?

Good question for us all.