Yoga philosophy is deeply rooted in taking mindful action towards our own liberation from suffering, and the suffering of all beings everywhere. Yoga is deeply rooted in service to the greater good. This is called Karma Yoga.

Seeds are a useful metaphor for understanding the relationship between our present actions and future outcomes - including the concept of 'karma' in Yoga philosophy. Every thought, word or deed is a seed – it sprouts a consequence for ourselves and often others. Some of those seeds eventually bear fruit, shaping our lives and those of us around us.

Venerable had messages for me this morning that I needed to hear. As we sat in the sunny kitchen of Sangha House, their deep compassion and wise guidance landed in my heart. We talked of the work of clearing karma from oppressive and oppressed ancestors and ending cycles of suffering for our families. They explained why it was so important to approach activism and social justice from love rather than anger.

A wall carving at the Shiva temple reminds us that to be here on this planet as a human being is an improbable karmic miracle not to be squandered. As spiritual beings in a human body we have a unique opportunity that other life forms do not have: to learn, heal, grow and transcend.