For Compassion
“The most violent weapon on earth is the table fork.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Isn’t it interesting that a simple table fork violently takes more life than any other weapon on the planet!? Take a moment to consider what kind of vibration you are creating when you eat.
Every thought, word, and action vibrates, and as yogis we may practice to actively create a vibration of compassion and inner peace. When we focus on kind, loving thoughts, and practice elevated speech, we project this energetic vibration out into the world. We contemplate our daily choices, including what kind of music to listen to, what books to read, how to entertain ourselves, and what to eat. These actions may either create vibrations of stress, violence, and frustration, or vibrations of love, peace, and calmness.
As the numbers of practicing yogis grow, we have the opportunity to raise the collective consciousness so that it may eventually vibrate within a state of oneness. An essential part of this practice is to do our best to maintain equanimous thoughts. Being in a state of equanimity creates the understanding of non-preferential interconnectedness, which means that we equally love all beings. As a result, a yogi’s words and methods of communication are kind, loving, and compassionate toward others. A yogi’s actions are mindful. Everything possesses a quality of vibration, or frequency, that exudes from all forms of communication, whether verbal or nonverbal. This includes everything a yogi, sees, hears, wears, and consumes. All matter in the universe is energy, and all energy is vibration with a specific frequency. What is your frequency?
“When we eat an egg or a chicken, we know that the egg or chicken can also contain a lot of anger. We are eating anger, and therefore we express anger…So be aware. Be careful what you eat. If you eat anger, you will become and express anger. If you eat despair, you will express despair. If you eat frustration, you will express frustration.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
Read Chapter 8 of World Peace Yoga: Yoga for People Who Breathe by Anna Ferguson.
Watch the “Yamas and Niyamas and Veganism” and “A Prayer for Compassion.”
Additional Resources