By Claire Diab and Dennis Boyle
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is a beautiful book written by Deepak Chopra, founder of The Chopra Center for Well Being and world renowned author and physician. I have been studying, living, and teaching these principles for the past 19 years, since the book was published in 1994. It is amazing how beautifully Deepak has translated this ancient wisdom into a comprehensive, practical guide for everyday living. I have been using this book at Seton Hall University in my Asian Studies Course : Zen and Yoga: The Art of Living. It has been a wonderful experience watching the students transform and evolve as they applied these principles each week. I was also fortunate enough to help in the creation of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Teacher Training with Drs. Deepak Chopra and David Simon at The Chopra Center for Well Being in San Diego, California.
Living the principle of Giving and Receiving is easy and fun to do. It will open you up to an abundant well of energy of love, harmony, and laughter. Realizing that there is a constant and dynamic exchange of energy continually going on around us, and even within us, is the first step to understanding this principle. I suggest spending the month of January emphasizing this principle. Giving and Receiving is not just something that we do around the holidays; it is a way of life, a way of being. What we sew is what we reap.
To implement this into your daily life, give every person you come in contact with a gift. Every time you meet someone, silently wish them love, happiness, joy, and laughter. You will notice an incredible shift in your awareness; it’s amazing. You can silently wish your fellow workers, family, friends, and everyone you come across each day–the grocery store clerk, the bank teller, the garbage collectors (Thank God for them)–peace and happiness, or you can silently say “Namaste,” a Yoga term commonly used in yoga class that means, “I honor the light in you that is the same in me, I honor your beautiful soul that shines through your eyes,” and connect into the eyes of everyone you encounter. And, of course, a material present is fine too. Make a commitment to keep wealth circulating in your life by giving and receiving life’s most precious gifts of all, those of love, caring, affection, appreciation, and time. It is important to remember that Receiving is the same thing as Giving; they are just different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. You want to always accept any gift anyone may give to you with open arms and gratitude. Look at nature and receive all the gifts that surround you. Look at the beautiful sunset, a snowstorm, the sound of wind blowing, the rain, or even the birds singing. There are gifts all around us. Be present and notice the beauty that surrounds you.
A great example of Giving and Receiving is witnessing the breath moving in and out of the body. If you hold your breath in, you will notice how uncomfortable it becomes. Even holding the breath out without inhaling becomes uncomfortable too. If you stop the flow of either giving or receiving, you interfere with the natural flow of life.
Practice these applications for the next 2 weeks:
- Wherever I go, and whoever I encounter, I will bring them a gift. The gift may be a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. Today, I will give something to everyone I come in contact with, and so I will begin the process of circulating joy, wealth, and affluence in my life and in the lives of others.
- Today I will gratefully receive all the gifts life has to offer me. I will receive the gifts of nature: sunlight and the sound of the birds singing, spring showers, and the first snow of winter. I will also be open to receiving from others, whether it is in the form of a material gift, money, or a compliment.
- I will make a commitment to keep wealth circulating in my life by giving and receiving life’s most precious gifts: the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love. Each time I meet someone, I will silently wish them happiness, joy, and laughter.
Here is a pose that allows you to strengthen and lengthen your spine. Be aware of the Giving and Receiving/Strengthening and Lengthening.
Enjoy!
Claire Diab is an internationally recognized Yoga therapist. She is the director of the Yoga Program for the Chopra Center founded by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon. She is an adjunct professor of Asian Studies at Seton Hall University. She is the author of several books and DVDs on Yoga including “Yoga For Firefighters.”
Dennis Boyle is a retired fire director and acting chief with the West Orange (NJ) Fire Department. He was the recipient of the 1999 New Jersey Deputy Fire Chiefs “Fire Officer of the Year” award.