WEEK 5.1 (JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4TH) – FINDING OUR GOLDEN BUDDHA
Mantra “”Uncover the light within, let it shine without fear, and trust the beauty of new beginnings.”
Opening Topic: The Light Within
Reflection:
Each of us carries an inner light, a spark of wisdom, compassion, and creativity that guides us through life. This light, like the sun breaking through the clouds, may sometimes feel obscured by challenges or self-doubt. But even on the cloudiest days, the light remains—it just takes a moment of stillness to wait for the clouds to clear so we can rediscover it.
Tonight, allow yourself to connect with this light. Imagine it expanding with each breath, filling you with warmth and clarity. How might you let this light shine brighter, not just for yourself but for others?
Metaphor:
When I was a young boy, my parents would take me to morning daily mass before school. I remember how we would arrive when it was still dark outside, and the stained-glass windows seemed dull and lifeless. They were beautiful in their own way, but the colors were muted, their brilliance hidden by the lack of light.
But then, as the service went on, the sun would rise. Its rays would shine through the windows, illuminating them in vibrant, breathtaking colors. Suddenly, the hidden beauty became clear, and the entire church seemed to glow with life.
We are the same way. The beauty within each of us is always there, but sometimes it’s hidden in the shadows—waiting for the light to rise and shine through without obscurity. Your light is within you, just like the sunlight waiting to illuminate the stained glass. All it takes is allowing it to rise and shine freely.
The Golden Compass
Imagine a golden compass that sank to the bottom of the sea long ago. Over the years, it became covered with coral, barnacles, and layers of ocean growth. At first glance, it seemed like just a crusty old artifact, its beauty and purpose forgotten.
But when it was retrieved and carefully cleaned, the golden compass was revealed, shining brightly and ready to guide once again. Beneath the layers of time, its brilliance and precision had been preserved all along.
We are like that compass—sometimes life’s layers cover our potential, but with care and effort, we can remove what’s hiding our true selves and let our inner light shine again.
Quotes:
“The light in you is what the world needs. Let it shine.” – Marianne Williamson
Call to Action:
As you move through tonight’s practice, visualize uncovering your inner light. Let your breath and movements blowing away the dust of doubt or distraction that has accumulated.
Topic: Trusting the Wisdom of Falling Apart
Life often has a way of undoing what we’ve worked hard to hold together. It’s natural to feel fear or sadness when things fall apart, but Buddhist teachings remind us that impermanence is a path to growth. When we let go of the old, we create space for the new.
Think of a garden in late autumn. The plants wither, the flowers fade, and it might seem like the beauty is gone. But beneath the surface, the soil is resting, gathering nutrients, and preparing for new growth in the spring. What looks like an ending is really a season of transition. How can you trust the process of letting go, even when it feels uncertain?
Imagine an old pottery vase that has cracked and broken over time. At first, it may seem like it’s no longer useful, just pieces of something that once was. But in the hands of a skilled artist, those broken pieces can be transformed into a beautiful mosaic. The cracks and fragments are not the end—they become part of something new, stronger, and more beautiful than before.
Sometimes, when things fall apart, it’s not destruction but the beginning of a new creation.
Quotes:
“Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together.” – Marilyn Monroe
“Whatever is happening, let it happen. Don’t cling to what is gone. Letting go is the path to freedom.” – Buddha
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu
Call to Action:
In your practice, let go of control and embrace the uncertainty of the present. With each exhale, release any need to hold onto the old. Off the mat, reflect on an area of your life that feels like it’s falling apart. Ask yourself: What new opportunities might this create?
Topic: The Freedom in Letting Go of Sunk Costs
Reflection:
We often hold onto mistakes or commitments because of how much we’ve invested in them. But clinging to something that no longer serves us only prolongs our suffering. Buddhist teachings remind us that attachment is the root of suffering—and freedom comes from letting go.
Picture yourself tending a dying plant. No matter how much you water it, it won’t thrive. Accepting this allows you to clear space for something new to grow.
Metaphor:
Think of a bird in a cage with the door wide open. At first, the bird hesitates, fearful of leaving the cage because it feels familiar and safe. But once it takes the leap, it finds freedom in the open sky.
Quotes:
“Attachment is the root of suffering.” – Buddha
“You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are full of yesterday’s junk.” – Louise Smith
“In the process of letting go, you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.” – Deepak Chopra
Call to Action:
As you move tonight, release tension in your body and mind. Ask yourself, What am I clinging to out of habit or fear? How can I begin to let it go?
Topic: Embracing the Wisdom of Starting Over
Reflection:
Starting over is an act of courage. It’s not about failure but about resilience and growth. Each time we begin again, we bring the wisdom of our past experiences with us, making us stronger and more prepared.
Reflect on a time when you feared starting over but found it led to something better. How can you embrace this moment with confidence and trust in your journey?
Metaphor:
Think about the journey of a mountain climber. Alan Hinkes, the first Briton to climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks, didn’t succeed on his first try with every mountain. For example, he tried to climb K2, the second-highest mountain in the world, three times before he finally made it to the top. Each time he failed, he learned something new—about the mountain, about himself, and about how to approach the challenge differently.
His story reminds us that starting over isn’t failure—it’s how we grow. With each new attempt, we carry the wisdom we’ve gained, and that’s what leads us to success.
Quotes:
“Don’t fear starting over; this time you’re beginning with the wisdom of experience.” – Unknown
“Sometimes we hold on to suffering because it is familiar” is often attributed to Thich Nhat Hanh
“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha
“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.” – Lao Tzu
Call to Action:
View tonight’s practice as a fresh start. Let each pose and breath feel like a new beginning, an opportunity to learn and grow. Off the mat, reflect on a new chapter in your life and how you can step into it with courage and wisdom.
Closing Topic: Finding Our Golden Buddha
Summary:
Golden Buddha – Built in 1,403, where it was revered for over 300 hundred years at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand. 9’8″ tall – 5.5 tons – worth 250 million in gold.
1,757 Invading Burmese Army was about to take over the monastery
Monks who were all later murdered, quickly covered the Golden Buddha in muddy clay and broken pieces of glass to make it look unvaluable.
1957 Temple was being relocated and it was rediscovered.
In Bangkok there is a golden statue of the Buddha that is 9’8” tall, weighs 5.5 tons and is worth approximatively 250 million in its gold.
The statue was thought to be built in 1,403 and was revered by Buddhist for many hundreds of years. In 1,757 the Burmese Army was invading Thailand. Facing complete annihilation, the Buddhist monks at the monastery hastily began covering their Golden Buddha with plaster which was painted and inlaid with bits of colored glass, to make it look of little or no value to the invading army. During the invasion all the Buddhist monks were tragically murdered, but the Golden Buddha was left undiscovered.
In 1957 an entire Monastery in Thailand was being relocated by a group of monks. One day they were moving a giant clay Buddha when one of the monks noticed a large crack in the clay. On closer investigation he saw there was a golden light emanating from the crack. The monk used a hammer and a chisel to chip away at the clay exterior until he revealed that the statue was in fact made of solid gold.
Reflection:
Inside each of us lies a golden treasure, hidden beneath layers we’ve built to protect ourselves—layers of fear, doubt, and conditioning. Like the Golden Buddha of Thailand, these layers can make us forget the brilliance and strength within us.
The practice of yoga is like chiseling away at those layers, rediscovering our light. How can you begin to uncover your inner treasure and let it shine?
Metaphor:
The Golden Buddha, covered in clay to hide its value, remained hidden for centuries. Only when the clay cracked was its brilliance revealed. Similarly, life’s challenges often crack open the layers we’ve built around ourselves, reminding us of the beauty within.
Quotes:
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” – Rumi
“Ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd
“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” – Caroline Myss
Call to Action:
Let tonight’s practice be a way of chipping away at the layers that keep you from your true self. With each pose, imagine uncovering your inner light. Off the mat, reflect on one thing that brings you closer to your Golden Buddha.
“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” – Susan Gale
“Water due to it density is very heavy, 1 gallon of water is 8.33 pounds. But when you hold a ball filled with air under water, the positive buoyancy inside the ball propels it upward, overcoming the pressure. As long as we keep positive energy inside of us we can rise up and overcome any obstacle that tries to hold us down.” – David Scott
“Softening your attitude opens your heart.”
When you are evolving to your higher self, the road is long and lonesome, but you’re simply shedding energies that no longer match the frequency of your destiny. The hardest walk is walking alone, but it’s also the walk that makes you the strongest.”
“A meaningful silence is always better than meaningless words.”
ACCEPTANCE: Buddhism teaches us the principle of acceptance, which is about acknowledging and embracing the reality of our lives as they are. It encourages us to accept the things we cannot control, such as the impermanence of life, the inevitability of aging, and the presence of suffering. This acceptance is not a form of resignation or defeat, but rather a profound understanding that allows us to live in harmony with the realities of life.
Acceptance does not mean that we should tolerate injustice, harm, or any form of negativity that we have the power to change. Buddhism also teaches us about the power of action and the importance of making positive changes in our lives. If there are aspects of our lives that cause harm or hinder our path to enlightenment, we are encouraged to take action to change these circumstances.
“When you find no solution to a problem, it’s probably not a problem to be solved, but rather a truth to be accepted.”
“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
“With no desire for success, no anxiety about failure, indifferent to results, he burns up his actions in the fire of wisdom. Surrendering all thoughts of outcome, unperturbed, self-reliant, he does nothing at all, even when fully engaged in actions. There’s nothing that he expects, nothing that he fears. Serene, free from possessions, untainted, acting with the body alone.” The Gita
“People know your name, not your story. They’ve heard what you’ve done, but not what you’ve been through. So take their opinions of you with a grain of salt. In the end, it’s not what others think, it’s what you think about yourself that counts. Sometimes you have to do exactly what’s best for you and your life, not what’s best for everyone else.”
“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.” – R.J. Palacio, Wonder
Character is not a virtue we are not born with. Character does not develop in the protected safety of the womb of the uterus, or a cocoon. Character is forged by the fire of challenges we face in life and overcome. Our birth was our first great transformation. The battle scars of character, like our belly button, our first scar of the birth process, should be honored, for they made us who we are.” – David Scott
“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” William Blake
“Sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams you never thought you had.”
“Don’t carry your mistakes around with you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones to rise above them.”
“Nothing glows brighter than the heart awakened to the light of love that lives within it.” – Guy Finley
“Some people will not love you regardless of what you do. Other people will love you regardless of what you do. Go towards the love “
“Everyone says love hurts, but that is not true. Loneliness hurts. Rejection hurts. Losing someone hurts. Envy hurts. Everyone gets these things confused with love, but in reality love is the only thing in this world that covers up all pain and makes someone feel wonderful again. Love is the only thing in this world that does not hurt.” Liam Neeson
“Don’t move the way fear makes you move. Move the way love makes you move. Move the way joy makes you move.”- Osho
Two things everyone seeks in communications.. “Did you hear me and did what I say matter.”
“Operate from your heart and not your hurt.”
“Perhaps the biggest mistake I made in the past was that I believed love was about finding the right person. In reality, love is about becoming the right person. Don’t look for the person you want to spend your life with. Become the person you want to spend your life with.”