We Care For The Self Alone Maitreyi stopped her husband, the fabled Sage Yajnavalkya, as he headed out to the fourth stage of life, having willed his considerable wealth to his two wives equally. She didn’t seek after money– what use is money if everyone dies eventually? She wanted to know what he had learned about immortality. His heart gladdened at the question, and he answered her question carefully. He said, “The husband is dear not for the sake of... Read more
Religion is everywhere in India. Growing up, I didn’t think much about the question in the title, “What is ‘spiritual but not religious?'” Myriad Gods with their own stories, sundry festivals with their rituals. Temples, mosques, and churches all around, some old and forgotten and some newly marked on the side of the road, just as an orange blob on a stone with flowers. Religious leaders, the Gurus, the Shankaracharyas, the Fathers, and the Moulavis… were all representatives of some... Read more
A few weeks ago, I was returning from Trader Joe’s and noticed a young man at a traffic stop. He was holding a sign, “Karma for a Dollar.” He was asking for money as a payment into the Bank of Karma. In goes US money– Out comes absolution or good fortune. Something seemed odd– the G word was missing. Nature is healing. It used to be common to see people use the name of their religious overlord to ask... Read more
It’s International Women’s Day in March, and for many years, the women of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan take out a march for women. In 2023, the organizers published media guidelines with a striking image– a woman with many hands. One holding a book, another cooking utensils, a baby, one in chains and another with a hammer. This was a familiar image. An old memory is returning. These are the Media guidelines for tomorrow#AuratMarch2023 #AuratMarchISB #HalSirfFeminism pic.twitter.com/ivfnlhQRSE —... Read more
In 2016, November 14 is Gurpurab, the full-moon night celebrating the enlightenment of Guru Nanak Dev ji, the first Sikh Guru. It is also a Supermoon, the largest the moon will appear in a generation because it’s closest to the Earth today. My private diaries are filled with doodles on the self, wholeness, and infinity, and today seems the appropriate to get some out; a whole-some part. The Full Moon and Yoga. Of the heavenly bodies that light up our skies,... Read more
It’s October, and each day is now shorter, and every night longer. As the shadows extend, we reach for the light that guides us. On the first moonless night of this season, we celebrate the darkness and the light within. In the Indian tradition, this night is the festival of lights, Diwali. The western pagan tradition celebrated the time as all-hallows-eve, where prayers, candles and treats welcome the souls of the dead. It’s a time for rebirth. A time to think about... Read more
We close our yoga classes with a prayer for universal well being. It’s about a lot more than world peace. Here’s what it means. Sanskrit, Transliteration, Translation ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥ Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah | Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu, Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet | Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih || may every one be happy, may every one be free from all diseases may every one see goodness... Read more
Yoga classes begin with Shanti (peace) mantras in Sanskrit. Here’s what the most popular opening mantra means. Here’s the verse. Om Saha Nau-Avatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu, Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai, Tejasvi Nau-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai, Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih|| ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥ Literal translation. Aum! May we (both) be protected; may we (both) be nourished; May we work together with great energy, May our knowledge be... Read more
PC: http://www.boomsbeat.com/articles/116/20140118/tianzi-mountains-china.htm Some pray to forget. Some pray to remember. Stories help us remember for long. Sometimes for many many generations. — The storyteller’s craft is to bring the audience into the story. To take sides. To fear the enemy, and to rise above that fear into action. To be frustrated by the many persistent obstacles. To fill hearts with love and sacrifice. The storyteller’s job is to transport us into other lives, and to make us bigger than we are.... Read more
Photo Credit: Flickr Metanoia. “Metanoia”…the word came to mind silently one morning in that period between sleep and wakefulness, and stayed around after one was awake. What does this word mean, and why was it ringing in the ear? The dictionary says it means a change in one’s way of life resulting from penitence or a spiritual conversion. The word is Greek, and the English versions of the Christian Bible’s New Testament often translated this Greek word as “repentance”, and a whole... Read more
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