Playing Your Part

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Law Of Leela

You can learn a lot about life by spending time with the children in your life. Children are always in the process of learning from the world around them, but they rarely do it in a conscious, methodic way. While sliding at the park or watching a worm crawl under a rock, kids make connections and understand things. Their artwork is often amazingly bold and complex, as they use their informal learning to be productive. Watching children, we are actually watching the law of Leela, one of the spiritual truths taught in Hinduism. The law of Leela states that maximum productivity or efficiency is gained when our minds are relaxed and playful. When we let go of our adult defenses, we can make room for self-exploration and creative expression.

In Indian tradition, the creation of the world is a form of divine play - Leela. Likewise, our entire existence in the world is mired in illusion. It may help to think of it in terms of a stage play in which we are all actors. Just as a play begins and ends, so does life. What matters most is how we "act" during the course of the production. Instead of wishing for the best part, we would do better to accept our karma and play our own part using all our resources. Understanding that there is an illusionary aspect to the world, helps us have a sense of detachment from our lives. Following the law of Leela, we don't expend too much energy facing challenges and problems. Instead, we feel that 'the show must go on' and we return to our playful natures. When we feel ourselves return to this state, we are most able to accept our fate and create our lives.

Leela is the practice of playing the game of life consciously. You can connect to the law of Leela by becoming aware of your own playful nature. Getting involved in theater, musical expression or any forms of dance can allow you to enter into a space for creative expression. Working with or caring for children will also allow you to drop those grown-up defenses and relax your mind. Simultaneously a form of relaxation and a method of enlightenment, connecting to the Leela in the world may help you face challenges in a new and satisfying way.

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