"The Words" inspire. "Giving the Example" drags
- Mike Zillo -
Seeing the contest about the human things I like and dislike, I could not miss mentioning the Yama and Niyama principle of the Integral Yoga tradition.
Source: from the Author. Me and Mary on a giant bench in the province of Verona (Italy). Se meaning of this pictures is that both Teams and Families have to be built on specific principles, Honesty, Austerity and many more, like in Yoga are stated.
Yama has 5 different principles mainly referred to our relationship with others.
Niyama has again 5 different principles mainly referred to the relationship with ourselves.
With 10 (almost) simple principles, Yoga tradition could summarize thousands of legal statements of law.
Anyway:
Asteya means honesty
Tapas means austerity
What I really like from people I am surrounded with is Honesty. I find that me, acting in a good way, reflects the results on the people surrounding, having people around me that are behaving better than some years ago.
An approach I also use when I coach the wheelchair basketball guys is:
Am I telling this thing because I am bringing some value to them or simply to please my Ego?”.
I always try to work and act for a greater good than my own micro-sphere. And honesty is an attitude I like very much seeing in the people when working/dealing with them.
Source: the Author. The class performing Trikonasana with me improving the Asana of a student. Asteya, even if it can be uncomfortable (on both sides), brings the best results on the long run.
Honesty is not simply sincerity.
Honesty is acting in an ethical and correct way even when other people are not watching you.
What I do not like from people is that they overvalue what they can do in few months and underestimate what they can do in 5 years of dedication.
When I got accepted to the Teacher Path into our Yoga school, I received a Yoga Sadana (Daily Practice) that lasts about 90 minutes each day. And I will have this “homework” for some years.
Why is that? How dare they give me tasks to be done each day for such a long time?
Well, I know it’s for my greater good: becoming fitter and increasing mind activity directly connected to the 6th chakra AND other resonances that will harmonize my physical body (with other non-physical bodies).
Tapas from Sanskrit means Austerity as it refers to the results obtained. What I do not like in the people is that they lack in consistency. They make a commitment BUT then they hardly fill it and when the game becomes harder, they start to falter, missing deadlines, working at the minimum threshold completely forgetting the initial aspiration.
Source: the Author: me leading the class trough Ananda Balasana. Tapas performed together amplifies the results.
Austerity can be managed and lived very peacefully together. A balance between life and dedication towards the target (in the work, physical, relationship, spiritual and so on).
An example of Austerity for me is doing my best to reach the target I settled for my account, to reach 5000HP by December 31st. I started from 1000 HP on the 1st January and the rush is going quite well so far. But even during highs and lows (like Stratovarius sang) I have to keep my motivation and consistency high! I want to be coherent to myself at first, and then I can try to inspire other people, through my example!
"The Words" inspire. "Giving the Example" drags