top of page
Search

What’s Greater: To Receive Love or to Share It?

sumit685

One of the most common questions I hear from students who are considering becoming yoga teachers is this: "Sumit, I love the practice, but I’m afraid that if I start teaching, it won’t feel the same, and I might lose the joy of practicing." I completely understand where they’re coming from, and to answer this, I want to share a story about the power of giving and how it multiplies the love we feel.


There’s a quote that has always resonated with me: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mahatma Gandhi.





And this story beautifully illustrates the deeper meaning of that.


There was a father, Tom, who wanted to teach his 5-year-old son, Ben, an important lesson about love. It was Ben’s birthday, and like any 5-year-old, he was beyond excited for all the presents he would get. Tom told Ben, "This is going to be your best birthday ever! We’re inviting everyone we know, and I’ve asked them to double the gifts—so you’re going to receive more than you’ve ever imagined."


You can picture little Ben’s eyes lighting up at this idea. The thought of double the gifts filled him with so much joy that he could hardly wait for the big day to arrive.


But then, Tom added a twist. "There’s just one condition, Ben," he said. Curious, Ben asked, "What’s that?"

“You can’t open the gifts right away,” Tom replied. “You’ll have to wait, and we’ll open them together at a special place.” Though a bit puzzled, Ben eagerly agreed—after all, he was still going to get all those presents.


The big day came, and it was everything Ben had hoped for. The party was huge, the gifts piled high, and love from friends and family filled the room. You could see the pure joy on Ben’s face as he looked at the mountain of gifts. Each one was a symbol of love he was receiving, and he couldn’t wait to tear into them.


But Tom reminded him to wait.


After everyone left, Tom took Ben to his grandma’s senior living center. "This is where we’re going to open your gifts," Tom said. Ben was a little confused, but he trusted his dad. As they walked in, the room was filled with elderly people who lived there, many of whom hadn’t had visitors or celebrations in a long time.

Tom smiled at Ben and said, "Now, let’s open the gifts—but there’s something else. I want you to share them with everyone here." Ben’s eyes widened. "But these are my birthday presents," he thought, but then something shifted in his heart. He slowly began to hand out the gifts—one by one—to the elderly residents.


The moment was profound. The joy that lit up the faces of the elderly as they received these gifts was more than Ben had ever imagined. It wasn’t just about the presents—it was about the connection, the kindness, the love that was being shared in that room. As Ben looked into their eyes—some filled with tears—he felt a deeper joy than he had ever known. It was no longer about what he was receiving; it was about what he was giving. The love he felt in that moment, by sharing, was far greater than any joy he felt when receiving.


This is what teaching yoga is like. Your practice is your gift—it’s how you receive love from yourself, your body, and your spirit. But teaching, sharing it with others—that is where the magic multiplies. The love you give when you guide others through their practice is a reflection of all the love you’ve received. And just like Ben learned on his birthday, when you give, you don’t lose the gift—you amplify it.


So, to those of you who worry that teaching will take away from your own practice, I want you to remember: teaching is simply sharing the love you’ve already received. And in doing so, that love will only grow.


What about you?

What’s a moment in your life where you felt that love multiplied when you gave more than you received?


Love

Sumit

3 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

The Purpose of Yoga –

If someone were to ask, "What is the purpose of yoga?"  they might expect a simple answer. To get flexible? To de-stress? To get stronger?...

Comments


We are located at:

Sumits Yoga Scottsdale

10405 E McDowell Mountain Ranch Road Suite 130

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • TikTok

©2023 by Soulful Tribe.

bottom of page