I bought a cute journal called “642 Things To Write About Me” and have decided to approach it from the perspective of being a yogi and share. A random flip started me with the following: When did you first experience hypocrisy? I’ve added the word “spiritual” because it interests me more.
Hypocrisy is a funny thing in yoga because yogis are held to moral standards and do have a specific spiritual path known as the 8 Limbs of Yoga to adhere to. However, yogis are met exactly where they are in each moment. So, you intellectually understand the limbs, you do your best to implement the limbs and you also give yourself a huge friggin’ break and allow yourself to gently unfold. One of my teachers calls yoga a gentle art. I like that. So, there is no hypocrisy in yoga. It doesn’t exist.
I can think of gurus who have seemingly fell from grace in scandalous ways. I don’t have to name names because if you can think of a famous yogi, guru, or saint you can pretty much assume they have fallen from grace at some point. After all they are human. I also think of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Sage Patanjali says if you directly perceive something you can believe it without questioning and direct perception includes the direction of a guru. So, as long as it is said (not as long as it is done) you can believe it. The gurus don’t have to actually follow their own teachings for the teachings to be universally true.
On a funny note, for me to label another as a hypocrite would be very judgmental and I therefore would 
become a hypocrite. It’s a karmic loop. So, the lesson is not to judge others.
“Many people excuse their own faults but judge other persons harshly. We should reverse this attitude by excusing others’ shortcomings and by harshly examining our own.” ~ Paramahansa Yogananda (1893 – 1952).
Peace, Pamela
Assigned Meditation
Here is the meditation to allow you to become a great yogi and integrate the personality. It’s call So Hung Praanayam. Basically you sit comfortable with the spine straight and the chin and chest out. Hands are in Gyan Mudra meaning the thumb and index finger is touching with the other fingers straight and hands rested on the back of the knees. The inhale is through an “o” mouth and takes about 1 second and the exhale is through the nose and is powerful and takes about 1 second. As you inhale, think “So” and as you exhale, think “Hung.” So Hung is the sound of the breath and the name of God. Start with 2.5 minutes working up to 11 minutes, but not more than 11 minutes. To end the meditation Inhale deeply holding the breath for 5 seconds and then exhale and relax.
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