Violence doesn't have to be a physical act. It is a state of mind and can be emotional, Reema Datta said. Founder of Usha Yoga Foundation, Datta has taught yoga since 2003 in Africa, South America, Asia, Europe and throughout North America.

In her workshops and retreats, Datta shares her practice of mantra, asana, pranayama, ayurvedic cooking and her explorations of spiritual practices and philosophies from around the world. A busy weekend for Datta ended Sunday evening at All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick where she discussed ancient Indian and Tibetan perspectives on peace and violence.

Violence can be subtle. It can manifest itself in what and how we think, Datta said. "We believe that everything comes from our mind. There's violence in this world because we haven't learned to control our mind," Datta said. "If the only emotion in the heart is love, everything else dissolves."

Violence is speaking to someone harshly or looking at someone in a certain way that hurts their feelings, thus making that person feel bad all day, she said. "If there's violence in the world, we have created it. Even if we think thoughts that hurt ourselves, that's violence," Datta said. "Small acts grow exponentially."

Everyone who comes into her world is an extension of herself, she said. "Everyone's pain is my pain and everyone's joy is mine. It's called equalizing the self with others. It's like developing equanimity."These teachings from the philosophy of Yoga have come to be known as Buddhism, Datta said.

"It's an illusion to believe that we are separate from each other. People often say 'we are one' but if we really understand what that means, we would have love and compassion for one another and feel each other's pain," she said.

Feeling a sense of pride for helping others is flawed thinking, Datta said. "Our minds have become so selfish, we come up with clever ways to justify how we think."

Even though religion is sometimes used to separate people, similarities in religion abound. Christianity teaches you reap what you sow, So does Buddhism, she said.

Mary Magdeline in the Bible had seven nervous breakdowns. Another version of the story suggests that she had seven mental afflictions, Datta said.

"Those same afflictions are described in Buddhism: envy, pride, doubt, anger, delusions, attachment to material things and an incorrect world view," Datta said.

"Every time we do something, say something or think something, we plant a seed that flowers. That flowering, good or bad, makes for our life experience, and it's not about feeling guilty, it's about being aware and repositioning our mind," she said. "Developing a loving heart is basically extending the definition of who you are."

Yoga teachers encourage people to be skeptical of what they teach. "We would much rather have people doubt what we're saying and try it. Even I was skeptical. The oldest Buddhist said don't believe anything unless you experience it," Datta said.

People may feel a lot of fear and believe the world is a prison or they may change their mindset and consider the world is full of possibilities.

She recalled a quote from Yoga Master Shantideva: "Every ounce of pain I see comes from trying to serve myself and any happiness I see comes from serving others."

"The root of our suffering comes from thinking we are disconnected from each other," Datta said.

Yoga has become popular in Western countries because it produces positive results, she said.

"Yoga can end pain permanently. I have seen so many people come off pain medication doing Yoga consistently. It's better to do 20 minutes a day everyday rather than two hours at once," she said.

Tim Brady, publisher of Be Well magazine, Frederick , invited Datta to the city.

"She was inspiring. We had a wonderful weekend through her meditation and yoga workshops, speaking to our charity dinner. She reminded us to all be one and of the need to be in service to each other," Brady said.

The magazine sponsored a fundraiser that netted $4,300 that will be used to teach yoga to marginalized communities as a tool of empowerment, Brady said.