Letters to a Yogi - Questions About Existence and Purpose

The longer we practice Yoga - the more we will see the meaning in the concept of uniting the mind, body, and spirit. No matter what our religion is, or if we practice Yoga, many of us ask the same questions regarding our spiritual, physical, and mental existence. Ever since humans learned to communicate with one another, there have been three common questions people ask.

(1) Where are we from? We know that each of us is an energy field, and the same atoms and molecules, which make us up, are also part of the stars, planets, moons, etc., which make up the universe. Even after we die, the energy within us will transcend into something else, because energy fields exist in all objects, gases, and fluids.

The miracle of life needs more than a scientific explanation, but the case could be made that an energy field is also a soul or our spiritual existence. Science is a wonderful thing, but science cannot fully explain the spiritual world.

(2) Why are we here? We are here to do no harm. This is a very difficult task, but we should do our best to leave this earth in good condition. We should not harm another being mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. This requires us to behave according to the Niyamas and Yamas.

This is why we should leave good memories in the minds of anyone who we meet. Every moral code in existence will agree with the Niyamas and Yamas. Good behavior is a universal concept.

(3) Where will we go after death? Nobody has the answer to this question. I had a near death experience, when I was 17. As luck would have it, my life was saved, which left me with a very deep sense, and vision, that I was going to a good place.

That experience was more than 34 years ago, at the time of this writing, but it left a deep impression in my mind. It was not my time to leave this earth, but if we treat this world, and the beings on it, with respect, we will go to a good place.

We cannot instantly change old habits, which we have practiced for years and decades. Yet, if we become mindful of our effect on others, and this world, we can take corrective action for the common good. If all of us practiced mindfulness, we would leave a peaceful planet behind, and continue our journey to complete bliss.

Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications