Buddha Mini Series

Decontaminating Yourself (Vajasattra)

AUM. Indestructible Being,

Purify my body, speech, and mind.

Energizing Yourself with the Life Force

(Green Tara)

AUM. Homage to Tara, swift heroine, whose mantra 

Tutare dispels all fear, and Ture, which fulfills all needs.

Invoking Healing Energy (Medicine Buddha)

This is how it is. AUM. Healing, healing,

Great Noble Healing within,

Permeate everywhere. So be it!

AUM. The Jewel is in the Lotus!

AUM Mani Padme Hung

Dedicating Your Activities (Karmapa)

Karmapa Chenno

Source of all awakened activities, remember me.

Surrendering to Beauty (Krishna)

Gopala Govinda Govinda Gopala

Devakinandana Gopala

Master of the Cows, Protector.

Joyful Shining God, Son of the Goddess.

Magnifying Self-Giving Love (Jai Shree Devi)

Jai Shree Devi Namo Namah

Hooray fo the Feminine Glory, the Goddess!

I bow to you again and again.

Invoking the Formless Supreme (Shiva)

Aum Namah Shivaya

AUM. I bow down to Shiva (the Auspicious One).

Kailash, Kurt A. Bruder. Following Sound into Silence. Hay House Inc. 2008.

Kripalu Share Circle

When I walk over to the boards to check what's happen around the Krip today, I am sucked in by the Share Circle. This is what the description reads:

Practice this classic Kripalu methodology that employs the principle "the key to my
heart rests in the heart of another." Through this meditative listening and conscious
speaking technique, savor the concept of safe and sacred space. Relax, access, and
witness the power of your moment and others.

Today I am feeling overwhelmed by the influx of bubbly guests coming all over the world looking to turn into liquid with Shiva Rea or break boards with Goddess to the Core. Sometimes I find myself thinking, who do these people think they are? Where do they come from? Why are they in my space? What could have possibly happened to them to make them think that it's okay to act like that? Why didn't someone teach them they don't have to talk all the time? Why can't they look where they're going? What could possibly make her cry so hard? I have to get out of here...I have to escape...

Today, I stayed. I decided I needed a good ol' fashioned Kripalu Share Circle to try to connect back to the guests. To try to connect to myself again. To be fully present. To really listen to someone. And, maybe even to inspire. To change.

At 11am we came in and sat down on black cushions all alined for us in a circular formation. There are about fifteen of us. I look around the circle as we introduce ourselves, just a brief name and where we're from. There is a couple that oozes happiness and I can smell the sweetness of new love radiating from their every pore. There is a blond woman that had a halo surrounding her, but she gazes down at the floor and speaks every so softly. There is a big, strong man with piercing black eyes sitting directly across from me. He folds his hands in his lap, sits crossed legged and closes his eyes. There is a skinny, hyped-up woman with a crazed look in her eyes. The leader today is a confident, gentle soul. She sits at the front of the room and makes surface conversation with guests as they slowly trickle in. And, lastly I sit in my half lotus on the edge of my black cushion (krip-pillow as we jokingly refer to them) that was recently stuffed and feels too thick for comfort, I am wearing my red strapless flowing shirt, just trying to root myself into the ground. I close my eyes and just feel the energy in the room. I feel the people I am with. Deep breath in, sigh breath out.

The leader begins with a meditation on gratitude and an OM to open. We go around the circle one by one and say what we are grateful for today. I say I am grateful for waking up. How revolutionary. Ha.

There are a few basic guidelines the leader now goes over with us: What happens in the Share Circle, stays in the share circle. This is not a conversation, do not reply to anyone's share, the practice is in simply holding space. No one needs to be fixed. And, let out a breath together as each person finishes their share. This is just a safe place to be heard. Say whatever you want.
*NOTE no names will be used in this to respect the privacy of the individuals.

WE BEGIN.
The woman with the crazy eyes starts her share. She has worked for a company for thirty years. She was promised a pension after her thirty years and dreamed of returning to Nursing School. The company has gone back on their promise, no pension. Her husband's business has just failed. Does she still follow her dreams to return to school?

breath in. sigh out

I share next. I share that the guests make me nervous sometimes. I tell them that I want to be present, but my pattern is to run away. I am scared of what's next. I'm overwhelmed. And I am ever grateful for this place.
I close my eyes again.

breath in. sigh out

The man sitting directly across from me opens his eyes and his lips. He tells his story. Drugs, alcohol, lost his job/family/life. Rock bottom. He is building his life again. Grateful for all he has, but fearful it will be taken just as fast as it came. Great ups are always accompanied by great loss.
He closes his eyes.

breath in. sigh out

The woman with the halo meekly raises her hand to speak. My body automatically tenses and I don't even know why, yet. She says she is here for healing. She is here to let go. To be herself in whatever way she shows up. She starts sobbing. Her five year old son has died of the H1N1 virus. Five years old. She says she has cried, she has grieved. She is grateful of the time she got to spend with him. I am convinced she is an Angel.
We all close our eyes, praying I suppose, and I visualize light surrounding and comforting her.

breath in. sigh out

The next woman responds. This apparently triggered something within her. She says she is happy someone else has cried. I think, why are we so afraid of tears? Her daughter has just lost her legs in a car accident. She has been taking care of her grandchildren. She is sad. It is hard for her.

breath in. sigh out

There is a silence that comes across the room. The leader looks to the happy couple to share. The man just celebrates his woman sitting beside him. He is so excited. He can't contain it.

breath in. sigh out

We all discuss how yoga has helped lift us from the darkness. Maybe not lift, but more so find a sense of comfort within the darkness. A greater sense of self and spirit.

The leader shares this story:
It was back in the days when Kripalu was an ashram. There was silent breakfast... emphasis on silent. She was overweight. A child walked up to her as she was eating her breakfast and loudly asked, "Why are you so fat?". The whole dining hall gasped in awe. She replied, "God gave us all something to work on, and this is what I got." The dining hall gasped again, this time in relief.

We are all in this together. We are all "working on something". We are all going through something. I hope these stories can inspire at least a pause for reflection before passing judgement on another. Maybe an opportunity to practice patience. I know I would appreciate that for myself.

Jai Bhagwan

(Victory to Spirit)

Karma

Karma
By Nikki Jaya Prock

In classical yoga Karma literally translates as action or deed. Karma is also referred to as the law of cause and affect. Hindu scriptures divide Karma into three types: sanchita, prarabha, and kriyamana. Karma in Western culture is usually set in the context of how our present actions will affect the outcome of the future, as opposed to yogic belief that karma accumulates over lifetimes and will continue until all the past karmas are exhausted. The concept that threads these two views together is that every action will have a reaction, whether that exists in the past, present, or future. Karma can be good or bad. We have the freedom of choice in our actions and those choices will directly affect our current and future situation.

Karma is produced by our thoughts, words, the actions we perform, and the actions others do under our instruction. Newton’s third law of motion states; that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In essence, everything we put out into the world creates a ripple effect on everything around us. Even thinking something creates energy for that thought and sends it out into the word. There is a saying that says every prayer lasts forever. Karma confirms that everything we think, do, say or have others do for us is eternal and everlasting in the universe.
There is karma produced in the past called sanchita, karma that appears in the present called prarabha, and karma that is produced in our present life that manifests in the future called kriyamana. Sanchita is the accumulation of karma from past lifetimes. There is so much built up karma from all of our past lives that only a portion of it shows up in our present life. Prarabha is all of our current problems and life circumstances we are facing. The things we have done in the past bring us to the reality of what we are now experiences. Moving forward from what now exists for us, we have the choice of what action to take next. This karma we are building is the kriyamana.

For the jiva, or soul, to attain moksha, or enlightenment, all karma must be exhausted. The Autobiography of a Yogi speaks to this by describing sadguru, or
acting on god’s behalf. Sadguru can work out some karma of the disciple and help them move closer to enlightenment. Taking away karma strips the layers of identities, stories, and illusions. The true nature can shine through, without the clouds hanging over the jiva, it can be set free and awaken to its union with all that is.

No matter what we have done in the past to get us where we are at today, we still have the freedom to create our future. Each thought, word, and action has a consequence, and will directly affect what happens next. This idea of karma is another reiteration of how important it is that we our mindful and compassionate with our fragile lives. Another translation of karma is the enjoyment of the fruits of one’s labors. Go into the world with an open and joyful heart and it will surely circulate throughout this realm of existence.


Gates, Rolf and Katrina Kenison, Meditations from the Mat, Anchor Books, 2002
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda , The hidden power in humans, Ibera Verlag
Swami Nikahilananda, The Bhagavad Gita, New York, 1979
Yogananda, Paramahansa, Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 2

Satya

Satya
By Nikki Jaya Prock

Satya, or truthfulness, is the second Yama in the Eight Limbed Path. The Yoga Sutras state, “When the practitioner is firmly established in the practice of truth, his words become so potent that whatever he says comes to realization.” In studying satya in my life I have found there are three stages of awareness. The first stage is external, observing speech and actions. The second stage is the internal awareness, looking at thoughts and defining truth. The last stage of satya is when action, speech, and thought align and our truth becomes all there is.

At first the practice of truthfulness feels almost elementary. It starts by observing and evaluating external actions. We can begin to look at speech on a surface level. Am I purposefully lying to someone? Am I making something up? Do my words match my actions? These questions may serve as reminders in our daily lives of the power of our words to create our reality and how we may use them to manipulate others. Sometimes it is best to stay silent to really observe how the words you speak actually affect the situation.

The second stage of satya is when we look into what is going on under the obvious outer layers. By examining our thoughts we can see where there are inconsistencies between what we are thinking and what we believe to be true. In this stage it is important to consider what our underling truth is. What do we want to create in our life? What would that look like? After establishing and visualizing our ideal truth, we move into training the thoughts to align. The thoughts are the root points to how we are living and creating our lives. Establishment of truth only comes with an absolutely honest mind.

Moving from gross awareness into more a more subtle stage, our actions, speech, and thoughts can join together to create the truth in our reality. Every common activity can propose a pause for reflection. Are we thinking, acting, and speaking in a way that supports our ideal truth? In this stage our words and actions become so powerful that we can actually manifest certain results. When this happens, there is no more separation between our self and our truth, we embody our truth and act as a vessel for its light. Rolf Gates says, “Our truth becomes all there is. Truth becomes our essence and our reality, our deepest desire, and the air we breathe.”

Introducing awareness of truth in our life is a huge step toward discovering our innate nature of bliss. First observing how we communicate externally, then noticing our internal dialogue, and finally threading our truth throughout our life and presenting that truth to others. Old habits and thought patterns dissipate when seen in the eyes of truth. A state of confidence and fearlessness comes with establishment of satya. There is a confidence that surrounds truthfulness. People are drawn towards the safety and honesty that truth casts. We will find that the more we practice living in satya, the more good will come into our life, and the easier it will be to continue the practice. Truth helps us live and interact peacefully in the world around us.Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat. Speak what is truth, speak what is pleasant. (Vedic II-1)


Gates, Rolf and Katrina Kenison. Meditations from the Mat. Anchor Books, 2002.
Shri Swami Satchidananda. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Yogaville, 1990.

Burn, baby, burn

My thoughts for you:

I fear if you move too slowly you'll get so caught up in the details of your mindless existence that you will never have a chance to experience the substantial, spontaneous, and raw emotion that rests at your feet. Moving so slow you will miss out on the reality of your innate human potential and your light will never fully shine, my dear.

I know I would rather shine bright and burn out, than to slowly fade away.

I ask you to take a chance with me. Place yourself outside of your comfort zone. Stay here with me, fall into me, live for this breath that we share, and do what it is that scares you with grace and simplicity. Go out into the world and live with passion and zest. This is it. This is all we will ever be, and this is all we will ever have. Everything lies within this moment. Let the past go.


“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” Jack London

With eternal love,

My Teacher

Lately I have been asked and have found myself talking about "my teacher" a lot. When I refer to "my teacher" I am imagining all of those people it took to get me to grasp a concept or lesson. So, maybe it's not one concrete person but a collection of helping words, open hearts, and interactions all streaming from the same source.

I find my teachers in everything I do and everything I am, equally. It could be in the traditional sense of a student/guru relationship, a parent/child, a friend/enemy, or even a source deep within myself.

"There is a light in our heart that is beyond all sorrow" I believe that it is when we can notice this light that is innate in all of us that we may become open enough to receive the teachings of the eternal source. Therefore: We are all teachers, and we are all students. All is that, and that is us.

Ashtanga Yoga Inspiration

The Impossible Becomes Possible
by Kino MacGregor

The promise of inner peace does not come at a cheap price. You cannot beg, borrow or cheat your way along the inner journey. Whenever you strive to create a new way of being it is simply not a matter of flipping a switch. Instead you stand at the mountain of new desire and look ahead to a long and sometimes arduous road to the top. But with years of work, patience and diligence anything is possible. Yet when faced with such adversity most people quit or take the easy, known route to average results. While there is nothing wrong with this method of interacting with life, there is a much more powerful way to actually live your life to its maximum potential. Yoga leads the way through disbelief into an accomplished life.

Within the parameters of a sticky mat yoga practitioners are asked repeatedly to perform challenging movements while uniting their breathe, posture and gaze. Sri T. Krishnamacharya described yoga as the process where the impossible becomes possible and the possible over a long period of time becomes easy. The place where many practitioners fall off the path is when they try for easy straight from impossible. If you experience a movement as impossible and want it to be easy immediately, you will certainly fail because change does not happen so quickly. Instead start with the impossible and allow its difficulty to teach you. Stay in those ugly places where learning happens and soon the impossible starts to show you how it one day might be possible. Almost no one gets it gracefully on the first try. Held within the outward form of every light, free and easy posture is years of difficulty, failure and even pain. When you embark on the inner quest of yoga it is the very process of starting at the bottom of a seemingly impossible mountain and then with slow, steady perseverance climbing the mammoth against insurmountable odds that holds the power of transformation. By facing the unfaceable, conquering the unconquerable and confronting the absolutely terrifying places within you necessarily gain access to an experience of yourself that is beyond the struggle itself. It is the experience of a place within yourself as eternally peaceful, powerful and loving that yoga is actually about. The light, free and easy asana is just a matter of seduction. Yoga teaches that only by transcending the illusory world of limitations can you actually move past these false boundaries in your practice and in your life. Every posture, every movement and every breathe you take along the way redefines the very essence of your being. In a sense yoga is the most basic path of self-empowerment.

When you practice a particularly challenging series of postures you have the opportunity to face and move past numerous obstacles along the inner journey including doubt, fear, pain, hatred, boredom, frustration and egotism. These difficult states of mind often evoke deeply ingrained reactionary patterns such as panic, denial and escapism. Some people even pray for a savior to literally do it for them. But yoga is a path of humility where you only gain the results if you put in the work yourself. There is no salvific deity that will do your postures or your practice for you. There are teachers for guidance and inspiration but they can only help you to the extent that you are willing to unroll your mat and help yourself.

Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic form of hatha yoga that asks you to unroll your mat a staggering six days a week. Sometimes Ashtanga yoga is so demanding that it can be intimidating. When I started practicing Ashtanga Yoga I, like most people, was sore all over and not particularly good at it. Many people assume that because they cannot easily bend their bodies into the pretzel-like positions of the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series that Ashtanga Yoga is not for them. When I started I also did not have the superhuman strength it asks for nor the Gumbi-limberness that Ashtanga Yoga requires. But I learned it through years of sincere practice. The sole qualification for the practice of Ashtanga Yoga is your love of the practice and your ability to show up on your mat as much as possible. It does not matter what level of posture you perform because the inner work of yoga is fueled by the authentic search for inner peace.

Sometimes one of the first things you experience along the quest of yoga is just how far away you are from your stated intention. Whether it is a peaceful life or a challenging posture yoga works from the inside out and helps you develop the confidence and faith in yourself necessary to accomplish your goals. The postures are hard not because the harder the posture, the deeper the yoga but instead because you grow exponentially when you challenge your borders. The depth of yoga happens in the heart and is irrelevant to physical form. The real yoga always happens on the internal level and it is through devotion and dedication to spiritual practice that the transformation of yoga happens. Ashtanga yoga asks tightness to bend and softness to be strong. It challenges the limits of the mind and the body beyond popular medical notions of safety, possibility and comfort. In doing so practitioners literally expand their consciousness and learn that they can do whatever they set their minds to. But yoga is no magic pill for it is through your own effort that you purify your body and expand your mind. Yoga is as strong as you make it and takes you as deep as you are willing to go.


“Every decision you make - every decision - is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do."
~Neale Donald Walsch

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