WEEK 46.1 (NOV 15 – NOV 21) – “What is your soul craving differently in your life?”
Topic 1 – “Savoring the Journey”
“Happiness is not a destination—it’s something we encounter along the way, like flowers blooming unexpectedly on the path we travel. The happiest people are those who can find joy even in life’s detours, seeing beauty in the twists and turns instead of longing for a straight road.
In Buddhism, we learn the importance of mindfulness—being fully present in the moment. Imagine life as a meal. When we savor each bite, tasting its flavors and textures, we experience the fullness of the feast. But if we rush through the meal, waiting only for the last bite to enjoy it, we miss the joy entirely.
Life is the same. If we focus only on the destination, we lose sight of the present—the laughter, the challenges, the small victories. Even the detours, the unexpected turns, have gifts to offer if we are present enough to receive them.
As you move through today’s practice, treat each pose like a bite of a delicious meal. Be mindful of the effort, the sensations, and the breath. Happiness is here, in this moment, waiting to be tasted. Don’t wait for the end of the practice or the ‘perfect pose’ to find it. Instead, savor the joy of the journey, right here, right now.”
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
“The journey itself is the reward.” – Steve Jobs
“When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lao Tzu
“Happiness is a state of activity.” – Aristotle
Topic 2 – “Honoring Your Soul’s Cravings: Building a Life of Strength and Clarity”
“What is your soul craving right now? Imagine your soul as a compass, quietly guiding you toward what truly nourishes your body, mind, and spirit. Yet, in the noise of daily tasks, jobs, and to-do lists, we often mistake movement for progress. When you hold a magnet near a compass, it disrupts its accuracy, pulling it away from true north. In the same way, the stresses of modern life distort the guidance of our inner compass, making it harder to find our way.
Take a moment to pause and listen—really listen—to the quiet call of your inner compass. Only when the magnet is removed can the compass recalibrate and point true north. Likewise, only when we quiet the external noise can we chart a course that aligns with our deepest truth.
In Buddhism, there’s a principle called Samma Ditthi—right view or vision. Developing a vision for your soul begins with clarity: what is your purpose, and what path will take you there? Without direction, life becomes like shooting arrows in the dark. But when you stand tall, shoulders back, and face your challenges with intention, you align with your inner strength. Confidence doesn’t just transform your outlook; it empowers you to meet life’s challenges with grace and resilience.” – David Scott
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
“Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
Topic 3 – Navigating Life’s Storms
“Imagine your life as a river. When the water is smooth, it’s easy to steer your boat and stay on course. But when storms hit and the waves grow turbulent, it’s tempting to panic or make rash decisions. In Buddhism, we are reminded of impermanence—anicca. Storms will pass, and calm waters will return, but only if we steady the boat and wait for the storm to subside.
Never make permanent decisions in temporary storms. Instead, anchor yourself in what’s eternal—your soul. When the skies clear, you can rebuild with clarity and purpose. Remember: where your intention goes, your energy flows. Spend it wisely on what aligns with your destination, not the distractions that pull you off course.” – David Scott
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
Topic 4 – Fear
“Determination is the wind in our sails pushing us onward, over and through the waves of fear and doubt.”
FEAR by: Khalil Gibran (was a Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist, also considered a philosopher)
It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear.
She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages. And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.
But there is no other way. The river cannot go back. Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence. The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that’s where the river will know it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean.
Mixed Bag
Being aware is the first stage of being present.
“Here and now is where yoga begins” – The Yoga Sutras
“Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.” — B.K.S. Iyengar
“The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness into the darkest corners of the body.” – Jason Crandell
The Dalai Lama was asked what the purpose was of life….“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” — Dalai Lama.
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills
“The two hardest things in life to handle, are failure and success.”
Friedrich Nietzsche wrote “The person that has a “why” to live can bear almost any how.”
“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to live, love, and laugh.”
“My biggest struggles have been my biggest teachers.” – Kathryn Budig
“Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness. A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”
“The yoga pose you avoid the most you need the most.”
“I bend so I don’t break.”
“We should not wait until the body and mind craves yoga. The best time to water a plant is before it withers up from thirst and becomes weak.”- David Scott
“That’s exactly how it is in yoga. The places where you have the most resistance are actually the places that are going to be the areas of the greatest liberation.” – Rodney Yee
“One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.”
Yoga teaches us to create a life that feels good on the inside and not just the outside.
“Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love.”
“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it’s all over. “- Octavia Butler
“At some point you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening.”
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” – Nelson Mandela
“If you are depressed, you are living in the past, if you are anxious, you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.”- Lao Tzu
“If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is to be present in the present. Gratefully.” – Maya Angelou
“Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” Dalai Lama