I started thinking that there must be something beyond this world when I was about 10 years old.
By which I don’t just mean beyond planet Earth. I mean beyond the limits of the physical universe.
I started thinking that there must be other dimensions of time and space and other states of consciousness that I could learn how to access.
Eventually, I realized that there was something just as, if not more, important than being able to access higher states of consciousness: applying the principles of higher consciousness to this world.
And, beyond that, sharing knowledge of those principles so that others could apply them as well.
Spiritual life operates like a gift economy: the more you give away, the more you receive. It’s like magic: No matter how much you give away, you never run out. In fact, the more you give away, the more your supply increases.
There’s a certain logic to it. As the saying goes, if you really want to learn something, teach it to someone else.
But in the case of spiritual knowledge, I think there’s even more to it than that.
Sharing and teaching is an expression of gratitude.
This is the main reason I became a yoga teacher: to express my gratitude to my teacher by serving his mission of distributing spiritual knowledge.
Along the way, I had to acquire a different kind of knowledge: knowledge of effective communication.
In the process, I came across a book on public speaking that featured an idea that stuck with me over the years: that there are six messages every audience wants to hear.
I wish I could remember the title of the book, but I definitely remember the six messages:
- I know who you are: saying something to indicate that you know who your audience is, understand the world they live in, the problem they need to solve, or the goal they want to achieve is how you establish a sense of connection.
- I won’t waste your time: Let your audience know that you’re going to share something that has real value for them. Now, more than ever, people just want to show up, do what they came to do, and get on with their lives. They need to know you won’t fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way.
- I’m well organized: Give your audience a preview of what you’ll teach or talk about. If your audience knows that you came prepared to help them reach their goal in a systematic fashion, you’ll inspire confidence and they’ll pay attention.
- I’m qualified to speak about this topic: If you’ve had an education, training, or experiences that have provided you with special knowledge or unique insights into the subject at hand, find a way to say so that doesn’t sound like bragging. Whether your presenting at a conference or taking the seat of the teacher, your audience will want to know what you’re bringing to the table.
- This is the most important thing: Try to convey just one big idea at a time and make sure your audience knows what that idea is by saying something like, “If you only remember one thing that I say today, remember this: (boom!).”
- I’m finished: Don’t end with, “Well, I guess that’s all I have to say.” If you don’t know, who does? People want to know when they can release their attention and express their gratitude. Thiggaduh thiggaduh thuh thuh that’s all, folks!
I hope this list is helpful to you in whatever field of work you’re in or with whatever you need to communicate to someone.
If you’re a yoga teacher and you want to learn about how to apply these six messaging techniques and more in your classes and workshops, please join me for How to Deliver a Great Dharma Talk, a live online workshop that will show you a simple system for sharing personal insights in a way that feels natural, engaging, and meaningful—regardless of how much or how little philosophy you’ve studied. You’ll learn how to deliver short, impactful Dharma Talks that resonate with your students and keep them coming back—not just for the movement, but for the meaning. CLICK HERE for full info and registration.
Wishing you all good fortune,
– Hari-k