The Mayan Calendar comes to a
close, and many predict the end of times.
But I see that 2012 is a year that promises change, new beginnings, a
shift in thinking. We are moving
away from the information age, and moving towards an inspiration age. And as we are transitioning our
behaviors from those of consumers to those of citizens, we are looking at what
is really important in our lives, and asking ourselves big question - such as:
what is my purpose in life?
In the west, we think of yoga
primarily as a form of exercise.
Although physical postures make up one branch of this philosophy, yoga
in general is so much more. The
Sanskrit word “yoga” means to yoke, or to unite. In Vedanta there are four different yogas, or spiritual
practices, to help us to accomplish a feeling of connection, body, mind, and
spirit. The yogas can be practiced
individually or in combination, as each one balances and strengthens the
others.
The four yoga paths could be
thought of as bridges, bringing us from a limited understanding of who we think
we are, to the greater understanding of who we really are. These paths help us to be aware of, and
express, our purpose, our dharma, through love, work, knowledge and meditation.
Bhakti Yoga
is the path of love and devotion. Bhakti is the love of all
creation. It is about loving what
is, without expectation.
Through our relationships with people we can experience a greater
awareness. There is a power, a
positive energy that comes with love, that we can utilize for our spiritual
growth. With Bhakti Yoga, we learn
through our relationships, and through our primary relationship, which is with
ourselves. 
