A Noble Undertaking

"For fear of obstacles, low-spirited people do not begin anything at all. Ordinary people begin things but stop when the first difficulties arise. But the best of men, though repeatedly felled by adversities, do not abandon a noble undertaking." - Bhartrihari

Eating a yogic diet is a noble undertaking. Eating a diet that is gentle on the digestive and nervous systems is critical for feeling highly energetic and being physically and emotional well. "Yogic" diet may sound so severe like one would have to live on air, carrots, and grasses, but that is not the truth. The truth is that too much animal protein, animal fat, sugar, wheat, and processed food are making people ill. A yogic diet is a move toward increasing water, herbal teas, fruits, dried fruits, vegetables, and plant protein like beans and nuts. A move like this could be a sensation and experience of heaven on earth. It's just a move, a shift.

But changing what we eat is only half of the equation. We also have to change what we think. Is my life based around building values and examining my life's situations in order to bring a positive approach for change or am I wasting my time, distracting myself, and trying to escape? The problem is that when we escape by over-eating, drinking, overdosing on TV and facebook, or compulsively shopping, our problems do not go anywhere. In fact, our problems grow each time we don't face them. Yogic practices of meditation, contemplation, positive thinking, self study, hatha yoga, and eating a yogic diet can bring us back to the noble undertaking of building the values, character, integrity, and mental fortitude that we need to be victorious on the battlefield of life.

We all want the same things: energy, health, vitality, beauty, radiance, abundance, patience, security, self-confidence, trust in the universe, and overflowing love. Yoga is a system that can take us toward these sacred goals. Reaching for these high energy qualities and steady practices is a very noble undertaking.