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True Love
“Concern about the feelings of others and the happiness of others is true love. True love knows no bargains. It is one-way traffic: giving, giving, giving.
“God bless you. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.” —Sri Swami Satchidananda
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Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
By Swami Satchidananda
Daily we pray: Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya, which means “Lead us from darkness to light.” In a way, it is the darkness that makes us look for light. If the light is always there, we won’t be worried about it. So, it is the darkness that makes us cry for light. Every faith worships the light of divine wisdom. Everyone wants to become light physically and mentally. To become light physically, what would you do? You fast. In the same way, if you want light in the mental field, the mind should learn to fast—to reduce its thoughts so it's not so crowded. Thiruvalluvar, in his Tirukkural, says, “People do not even know how to live a single minute well, but their thoughts are millions and millions and millions.” So, we have to reduce our many thoughts. When you think anything, think only that, and that will bring good results. One thing at a time, and that done well, will bring good results. Let us learn to think well, one thought at a time, and make the mind stronger. That will bring light to the mind. When your body and mind become light, you are enlightened. Enlightenment is nothing but making yourself light. I think that is the message for Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Let us get de-lighted in light!
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Yoga and Kabbalah: The Mystical Connection
The wisdom of these ancient traditions share many common boundaries in their approach to enlightenment. In honor of Hanukkah, Prahaladan Mandelkorn, a teacher of Yoga and Kabbalah, explores parallels between these two traditions.
In 1978, a group of us are high in the Himalayas with Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev) on the eastern bank of the headwaters of a clear blue, fresh mountain spring that flows south through India to the sea. He had taken us by small boat across this mountain stream to a grassy place where a slender, unassuming, brown-skinned man was walking about barefoot, feeding cows. “He’s called the Cow Baba,” Sri Gurudev told us. “He feeds the cows and the natives feed him.” Later, as we were re-boarding the boat, one of the students asked, “Why is he here, Gurudev? Why does he do what he does?” Sri Gurudev looked at her. Then he reached down into the water edge and from the riverbank picked up a white stone that had been smoothed by sand and water over thousands of years. He held it in his palm before us. “Why is this stone here?” he said, and answered his own question. “It’s just here.” At the burning bush, Moses asked God to please tell His or Her name. “I am the I AM,” replies the Divine to each of us. “I am That.” Things just are what they are....We make things good or bad, wise or foolish, tragic or glorious. MORE
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Do you wish you could create a business that had, at its core, spiritual principles? Here's one example of how to do just that. Waylon Lewis (founder of Elephant Journal) toured Namasté Solar, one of the most successful solar companies on the planet with Blake, the founder. They discussed how to create a yogic, mindful business where employees are inspired to do great work.
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Are you getting enough sleep? Are you tired of being tired? Could you be suffering from sleep deprivation? Well, you’re not alone. Most of us aren’t getting enough sleep. I don’t know about you, but it’s just irresistible to stay up late, even when I must get up early the next day. Our busy lives make it so tempting to skimp on sleep. Lots of us have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. If you ever feel only half-awake and half-asleep all night, here’s an explanation of why that happens with suggestions to help. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 7 hours of sleep in every 24 hours for adults. It’s 9 to 12 hours for children 6 to 12 years old and teens need 8 to 10 hours daily on a regular basis. Establishing good sleep hygiene habits are important to getting a full night’s sleep. The art and science of Yoga has plenty to offer, including postures, breathing techniques, meditation practices, and lifestyle recommendations for sleep improvement....Students often say that they get their best sleep on the nights they attend Yoga class. Having a regular personal home practice is ideal. Here are some of the many ways that Yoga supports healthy sleep. MORE
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Rev. Jaganath, Integral Yoga Minister and Raja Yoga master teacher, has spent a lifetime delving into the deepest layers of meaning in Patanjali's words within the Yoga Sutras. In the final part of our series on the word "nirodaḥ," he examines nirodha as the root of intuitive insight.
One of the major themes in the Sutras is the ability to distinguish between the mind, even the completely tranquil mind – and the Self, our True Nature. This ability is called viveka (discriminative discernment) or Yoga pratyaksha (yogic vision). It is first presented in sutra 2.26 as the requirement to overcome ignorance. Viveka can be cultivated by following the eight limbs of Yoga (2.29). Together, these eight limbs keep the mind focused and moving toward our center. Although Yoga pratyaksha is not mentioned in the Sutras, pratyaksha – direct perception – is given as one of the means to attain reliable knowledge. Yoga pratyaksha, the highest order of direct perception occurs without the aid of the senses. This degree of insight is needed to distinguish between the calm, clear mind, which is still founded on a quiet subtle ego, and the Self. The good news is that Yoga pratyaksha is developed through a multi-faceted collection of practices and lifestyle changes. MORE
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The Buddhist Snoozeletter
By Sam Littlefair
Buddhist teachers often describe our deluded experience of life as a “waking sleep,” in which we fixate on our illusory perceptions and remain oblivious to reality. This metaphor goes back to Siddhartha Gautama, who is said to have “woken up” with his enlightenment, earning the name “Buddha,” which means “one who is awake.” It can be useful to understand waking life as akin to a dream. By recognizing our experiences as illusory, we can train ourselves to wake up to the reality of life. In this article, two Buddhist teachers talk about just that. First, Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche explains Milarepa’s “eight bardos,” or transitional states, including the bardo of dreams, in which one can develop an understanding of the nature of reality. Then, Andrew Holecek explains how to do it. When we meditate, we’re trying to wake up from the dream of our ignorance. But what is awareness when we’re actually asleep? Holecek says that “we’re actually the most spiritually awake in deep dreamless sleep and the most asleep in so-called waking reality.” As such, in the Buddhist tradition there are practices for fostering awareness in deep slumber in order to learn to wake up after you’ve woken up. MORE
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Integral Yoga teacher, India Henson's new book Surfing with a Rookie Yogi has just been published. Here, she gives an overview of it. Congratulations India!
My new book is both a memoir and informational resource for readers that will deepen their understanding of Yoga beyond the studio and into their daily lives. Coming to Yoga later in life upon entering into the empty nest years, I realized the spiritual transformative value of Yoga, particularly at this time of life. When the decades of parenting at breakneck pace finally end, and homes are quieter than they have been in years, many empty-nesters find themselves getting to know themselves in a whole new way. My training at Satchidananda Ashram gave me the space to rediscover my faith and identity, which I didn’t even realize had been lost. Though I found a local home in the Episcopal Church, I still consider my spiritual home with Satchidananda Ashram. This book reveals the changes that can result from transitioning into middle age and beyond with the help and guidance of many generous, wise, and loving people.
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The Integral Yoga Centre at George N. Harilela Hall in Sotogrande, Spain, was the location for a recent music video by Centre director Nalanie Chellaram's grandaughter — Natasha (Tasha) Hamilton (age 16). Tasha covers Calum Scott's "Dancing on My Own." She is joined in this video by her friend and gifted dancer Jae Guthrie (age 15). In addition to the artistry showcased in this video, the elegance of the Centre's main hall is also highlighted. Both Tasha and Jae clearly have bright futures as budding artists and we wish them all success! Beautifully filmed by Les Anand Roberts.
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A few weeks ago, Marielle Heller, whose parents are longtime Integral Yogis, was featured on the Vanity Fair website, as she's in Oscar contention! Mari, who as a child, spent time with Swami Satchidananda in California and Yogaville, has become one of Hollywood's brightest lights. A talented actress and now successful director, we wish her all the best!
“Wait, wait, wait,” said Tom Hanks, barreling through the the most star-studded crowd ever not to be televised. He was at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 10th annual Governors Awards Sunday night, rushing to greet Marielle Heller—the director of his upcoming Mister Rogers film, the tentatively titled You Are My Friend, and a contender in this year’s Oscar race for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, her acerbic character study starring Melissa McCarthy. His wife, Rita Wilson, was with him, profusely apologizing for not meeting Heller when she and Hanks were filming in Pittsburgh; his pal Steven Spielberg was there, too. MORE (photo left to right: Marielle Heller, Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant).
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Guests, residents and community members celebrated Thanksgiving last week. In addition to the inspirational Light of Truth Universal Service (photo) and the delicious vegetarian feast that followed, Shanti Das (playing the guitar), accompanied by Bhuvaneshwari Pipitone, offered music in which they covered the India Arie song "I Am Light."
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Inspiring Meme of the Week
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