Exploring Dharma through Kriya Yoga and Purposeful Living

Living Consciously as a Spiritual Practice

I was drawn to the idea that our spiritual practice is not something to take us out of the world but rather something that helps us become more effective at living our lives in a higher way.

Dharma, the first of the four Vedic goals for spiritually conscious living, is about that. It means “living with higher purpose.” It is learning to live our life in harmony with the Infinite. The benefit of this is that we come to live in a very different way—one in which life is seen as holy and sacred. It's not just an idea that we're living in the aliveness of God and in a cooperative relationship with the Infinite; it’s the reality of our life.

Understanding Dharma in Depth

Dharma is a Sanskrit word, and the literal translation is, "what holds together." Dharma is also sometimes called the “way of righteousness” or simply The Way. It refers to the fundamental sense of divine order, That which upholds all life. That which is the basis of all things working together in harmony. Although Dharma also has to do with purpose, the purpose is secondary to its reference to the order of things. Dharma is that which makes life what it is—that divine order of which we are a part.

Usually, until we wake up, we don't pay much attention to Dharma, but when we wake up, we start asking, "How do I live in harmony with this divine order?" Dharma touches every area of our life—the moral conscience, the social order, the family order. Sometimes, it's also defined as duty or religious duty. When used in this way, Dharma is about what is specifically ours to do in the overall, fundamental, divine order of things. Dharma is less something we need to go and do and more about what we are becoming, what we are to be, and how the divine qualities of God can express through us.

When hearing about Dharma or living with higher purpose, some people become concerned that they are not sure what their purpose is. There is no need for us to worry about our Dharma because when we follow our spiritual practice and meditate, and the mind gets quieter, our intuition gets stronger and we begin to naturally live into the question, right? What is mine to do and to be, and who do I need to be in order for God to be God in me? When we meditate, our intuition awakens, and we remove some of the obstructions that keep us from bumping into divine support. Divine support is always there, and when we stop fussing and worrying so much, we can just sit down and get clear. I remember my teacher saying early on, "If you don't know what is yours to do, then serve someone doing something that inspires you." That worked like magic for me.

The Multi-Dimensional Life through Yoga

The four goals of life, as outlined in the Vedas, are to help us learn how to live a fulfilled life, how to live a purposeful life, and a life in harmony with the Infinite. The greatest benefit for me is that my life with yoga has become multi-dimensional. No longer two-dimensional, as though I am separate from everything. Now, it is more connected and congruent—like being in the midst of this shimmering one Reality, this aliveness that is everything.