Topic Guiding Our Minds Toward Hope, Not Fear

Sometimes, when life challenges us, it’s easy to dwell on everything that could go wrong.

Brian Tracy wrote, “The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire, not things we fear.” From a Buddhist Yoga viewpoint, what we consistently focus on shapes our reality—our thoughts plant seeds for our experiences. If we pour energy into fear, fear tends to grow. But when we direct our focus toward hope, kindness, and compassion, these qualities blossom in our lives. By aligning our minds with what we wish to bring forth—a peaceful heart, a caring community, a sense of purpose—we strengthen our capacity to realize those goals. Fear may bang on the door, but we do not have to answer. By repeatedly turning our thoughts to the good we seek, we become more resilient, open-hearted, and ready to share our gifts with the world.

Metaphor: The Sunrise
Picture standing at dawn, watching the sky transition from darkness to light. Initially, the horizon is dim, but then the first rays appear, illuminating everything. Our positive intentions work the same way: when we direct our focus away from doubt and fear, it’s like ushering in the sunrise of our potential. Even one ray of hope can change the landscape of our dark thoughts, making space for warmth, possibility, and growth.

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” – Buddha (paraphrased)

“Fear is the path to the dark side… Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” – Yoda (Star Wars)

“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” – Peace Pilgrim

Embracing Impermanence—Flow with Change

Life is like a rolling wave—always shifting, never standing still. In Buddhist thought, this truth of impermanence can feel unsettling at first, but it’s also what makes growth and healing possible. When we resist change, we cling to illusions of permanence, inviting stress and fear. But when we accept that nothing stays the same, we learn to ride life’s waves with more grace. We discover resilience and compassion for ourselves and others because we see that each moment is precious—and fleeting.

Personal Note & Call to Action:
This week, each day, notice something that has changed—perhaps in your body, your relationships, or the natural world. Ask: “How can I meet this change with openness rather than resistance?” Practice softening your grip on “how things should be,” allowing life’s natural flow to guide you toward greater adaptability and compassion.

Metaphor: The Changing Seasons
Think of the seasons cycling through the year. Can you feel the changes happeneing? Spring’s blossoms give way to summer’s warmth, then autumn’s falling leaves, and finally winter’s rest. Much like the seasons, our lives move through phases of growth, abundance, decline, and renewal. By embracing each shift, we stay aligned with nature’s rhythm and cultivate a calm acceptance of life’s inevitable changes.

“Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” – Rumi

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki

“Accept—then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.” – Eckhart Tolle

Topic – The Gift of Giving to Others

Imagine walking through your day and offering each person a small gift—a warm smile, a kind word, or a moment of genuine attention. We often think “gifts” must cost money, but some of the most meaningful ones are free: our time, our kindness, and our presence. By being generous in these simple ways, we brighten someone’s day and open our own hearts. Each act of giving, no matter how small, strengthens our connection to others. It’s like watering flowers: as you nurture the happiness in someone else, your own joy blossoms. Tonight, I invite you to notice every person who crosses your path, whether at home or in class, and share at least one small act of kindness. These gifts are within your power to give—and they make the world a more compassionate place.

Metaphor: Our Community Tapestry
Think of our community as a beautiful tapestry. Each of us is a vibrant thread, and every time we offer kindness, it’s like weaving a bright, new color into the design. Our generosity—no matter how small—adds warmth and brightness to the shared fabric of our lives, making the entire tapestry shine with unity.

Quotes to Reinforce the Message

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – Dalai Lama
“Give, even if you only have a little.” – Buddha
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” – Maya Angelou
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank

Topic – Cultivating Inner Luck and Compassion (Saint Patrick’s Day)

When I was a kid, I would stop at every patch of clover, hunting for that elusive four-leaf variety. They’re rare—only about 1 in 10,000 grow that extra leaf. I never found one. At some point, I realized I’d been looking outside myself for a “lucky ticket,” when all the real ingredients for success—like persistence, compassion, and curiosity—were within me. The more I cultivated these inner qualities, the “luckier” I became.

On Saint Patrick’s Day, we see symbols of fortune everywhere. From a Buddhist Yoga perspective, green can also remind us of the heart chakra, symbolizing the compassion and mindfulness within each of us. By turning inward to nurture these qualities, we create our own good fortune and share it with the world around us. Our actions, thoughts, and intentions become the four-leaf clover we never found outside, transforming our daily life into a field of possibility.

Metaphor: The Shamrock in the Field
Picture an open field of clovers. You pause, hoping to find that special four-leaf gem. But remember: every clover is vibrant, resilient, and nourished by the same rain. Like those clovers, we’re rooted in shared humanity; that “specialness” we seek out there is often the very strength growing within us. By cultivating compassion and mindfulness, each one of us can shine like the rare find we hoped to discover.

Four to Five Quotes to Reinforce the Message

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – Dalai Lama
“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded; it’s a relationship between equals.” – Pema Chödrön
“May our daily choices create the luck we often hope to find.” – Anonymous
Use this Saint Patrick’s Day to remember: real luck is grown from the inside out. By tending to our inner world with kindness and mindful action, we create our own field of possibilities—and share that good fortune with everyone we meet.

Topic: We Are All Works in Progress

We often forget that each of us is on a journey of growth, healing, and discovery. None of us is “finished” or “perfect,” and that’s the beauty of it. In Buddhism, our imperfections are seen as gateways to compassion—both for ourselves and for others. Every stumble or triumph teaches us something new about who we are. By acknowledging that we’re all works in progress, we find patience within ourselves and learn to show empathy for the struggles of the people around us.

Personal Note & Call to Action:
This week, whenever you catch yourself feeling “behind” or “not good enough,” pause. Recall that life is an ongoing process. Approach yourself with the same understanding and support you’d give a friend. Then, take a small action—maybe it’s a mindful breath, a moment of reflection, or offering someone a word of kindness—to honor your step-by-step growth and the interconnectedness that binds us all.

Metaphor: The Unpolished Gem
Visualize a gem that appears rough and dull at first glance. Over time and with care, it’s refined and polished, revealing a brilliant, unique inner light. Our journeys are much the same: each challenge, each moment of learning, helps polish away what conceals our true nature. Eventually, the gem that was always there is free to shine.

Four to Five Quotes to Reinforce the Message
Stephen Hawking – “One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist… Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.”
Thich Nhat Hanh – “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.”
Pema Chödrön – “Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.”
Dalai Lama – “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
Rumi – “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
Placing This Topic

You can open your series with this topic to set a tone of compassion and continuous growth, reminding everyone that we’re learning together.
Or you can close with it, bringing all lessons together under the simple truth that we are forever “in progress,” weaving hope, gratitude, compassion, generosity, and inner luck into our practice and daily lives.

Holi (Full Moon in March) – Triumph of good over evil – Demon King Hiranayakashyap, Sister Holika & Son Prahlad

If we talk about Holi, Its all about celebration of overcoming your fears or transformation of negativities to positivity’s in life, whether it’s repairing broken relationships, Victory Of Good Over Evil, End Of Winter season over arrival of spring, Play and laugh, Forget and forgive etc.

Story of Holi

There are many stories throughout India that are associated with Holi. Every state in India has a different story to tell. In some regions, this festival is associated with Lord Krishna playing colour with Radha and gopis.

But the most famous story behind this festival is that of Prahlad and King Hiranyakashyap. Hiranyakashyap was a demon king who believed that he was all-powerful. He ordered in his kingdom that people should stop praying to God and pray to him instead. But his own son Prahlad, who had heard his mother praying to Lord Vishnu in her womb, and was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused to do so. An angry Hiranayakashyap plots to kill his own son with the help of his sister Holika .Holika had earlier been granted a protection from Lord Brahma that no fire could burn her. She had a divine shawl that protected her from fire Hiranayakashyap asks his sister to sit by the fire taking Prahlad on her lap. Holika was confident that she will remain unharmed by fire. But the reverse happens. The magic cape (shawl) flies up and protects Prahlad instead. Holika gets burnt down to ashes and Prahlad remains safe.

Thus, a bonfire by the name of ‘Holika Dahan’ is organized a day of Holi. This ritual symbolises victory of love and devotion over evil.

Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika. And, is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil.

Holi is also celebrated as the triumph of a devotee. As the legend depicts that anybody, howsoever strong, cannot harm a true devotee. And, those who dare torture a true devotee of god shall be reduced to ashes.

Why the color?

In Vrindavan and Mathura, Holi is celebrated in memory of the divine love of Radha and Krishna. It is believed that when Lord Krishna was young, he often complained to Mother Yashoda about his dark complexion and wondered why Radha was so fair. One day, his mother playfully suggested that he can smear color on Radha’s face and change her complexion to any color he wanted.

Fascinated by the idea, Krishna smeared Radha’s face with colors and thus, introduced the colorful festival of Holi. Owing to this history, the festival of Holi, even today retains its flavor of naughtiness: smearing your loved one with bright colors and playing pranks on each other. Youngsters also engage in singing and dancing which is reminiscent of Shri Krishna’s Raas-leela with Radha and the gopis, during his time.

Holi reminds us that there is joy to be found in our imperfections.

“If you try to catch two rabbits you end up catching none….

“Aim Small Miss Small”

As we settle into our practice today, I invite you to consider the wisdom of aiming not just broadly, but with precision and intention. In the world outside, there’s a saying that touches closely on the principles of our yoga journey: If you aim for a large target, you might miss big; but if you aim for a small piece of that target, your miss may be slight.

In the context of our mats, this wisdom can be a powerful guide. Each posture, each breath, is an opportunity to aim with greater precision—not just at the physical alignment, but at the deeper intentions behind our practice. When we focus our minds on a specific aspect of our posture, or a particular quality of our breath, we bring a heightened awareness to our practice. This focus, this precision, becomes a form of meditation.

Just as an archer draws the bow with mindful precision, aiming at the smallest point for the truest shot, so too can we approach our practice. Let each asana be an arrow, each breath a moment of aiming with the utmost care. Even when we waver, even when we fall short, our miss is but slight—for it is in the act of precise aiming that our practice deepens, and our journey inward unfolds.

As we move through our sequence today, let’s embody this principle. Aim with precision in your intentions—whether it’s to deepen your breath, to soften a tense space within, or to simply be present. And observe how this accuracy illuminates your practice, guiding you towards the true target of yoga: harmony, insight, and peace within.

The Story of a Mustard Seed

In the serene foothills, a young monk named Metta (which means loving Kindness) learned the essence of focus and intention from his wise master. One morning, the master illustrated the importance of focusing on a single goal through the metaphor of catching rabbits in a field: aim for one, and your chances of success increase. Aim for two and you miss both.

He then gave Metta a tiny mustard seed, not much bigger than a grain of sand, instructing him to plant it with utmost care and attention, treating it as his singular focus. Metta nurtured this seed with dedication, and in time, it grew into a flourishing mustard plant, yielding both spice for culinary use and greens for nourishment.

This experience taught Metta the profound lesson of aiming with precision. The master explained that just as Metta focused on the mustard seed, focusing on a single point in life, meditation, or yoga practice can lead to significant achievements. This principle, he said, is true across all aspects of one’s journey.

Metta understood that the power of a singular focus could guide him towards inner peace and harmony. As we practice today, let’s embody this lesson from Metta and the mighty mustard seed: aim with precision and intention, finding success and peace in the focus on the small yet significant.

“Energy flows where attention goes.” – Michael Beckwith

“The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire, not things we fear.” – Brian Tracy

Buddhist view that the nature of our intentions—whether they are rooted in kindness, compassion, and mindfulness—greatly influences the outcome of our actions and our overall experience of life.

“Intention is one of the most powerful forces there is. What you are focusing on in your mind while you are working on a task, greatly influences the success or failure of the outcome.” – David Scott

“What you stay focused on will grow. What is measured gets done.” – David Scott

Every Diamond has a flaw and is imperfect. “Be happy with being you. Love your flaws. Own your quirks. And know that you are just as perfect as anyone else, exactly as you are.” – Ariana Grande

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” – Buddha

“Try to let go of the idea that you need to do yoga perfectly in order to see its benefits. Rather, let it be a process of waking up to who you really are. If you do this, you will know joy. And that joy will be your gift to a world that very much needs our healing,” ~ Darren Main

“Those that chase perfection, never attain it and are never satisfied. The path of the perfectionist only leads to disappointment.” – David Scott

“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist…..Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” – Stephen Hawking

“Practice is about patience, control, and breath. Enjoy the moments when it clicks and the moments when everything unravels — they are both phenomenal teachers.” ~ Kathryn Budig

“Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.” ~ Alan Cohen

“On this path no effort is wasted, no gain is ever reversed; even a little of this practice will shelter you from great sorrow. Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”– The Bhagavad Gita

“Yoga teaches us to master the chaos inside us, creating a life that feels good on the inside and not just the outside.” – David Scott

“Beauty catches the attention but character catches the heart.”

“Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence.”

“The good man is free, even if he is a slave. The evil man is a slave, even if he is a king.” – Saint Augustine, 354-430

“There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” – Martin Luther King, 1929-1968

“Our attention follows our attention. Focus on the possibilities for success, not on the potential for failure and you will hit your mark.” – David Scott

“A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Zen Shin

“Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.” – Henry Van Dyke

Remember what Christopher Robin said to Winnie the Pooh… “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin

“We are who we believe we are.” C.S Lewis

If you seek peace, be still. If you seek wisdom, be silent. If you seek love, be yourself.

“I’ve come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.” – Tony Robbins

“Why do we return to the same people or places that made us feel sick and somehow expect to feel better? Believe in yourself instead. Confidence is the ability to feel powerful without anyone’s approval or blessing. Believe in yourself enough and there will soon come a day when they simply will have no choice but to believe with you, instead of against your success. ” – David Scott