tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49942547440197868142024-03-05T15:05:30.557-08:00YOGA LIFEyoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-3704026167968585062016-01-09T18:06:00.001-08:002016-01-09T18:06:26.374-08:00Shots to burn the fats <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
How about some healthy shots for a change ha??<br />want to boost your metabolism?<br />well here we go!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHweQhy8S0ciDTep7vXfzjR2Rhbm0GLd8zfSY99PyPUwBOjlREHpPbghWTWeVZrykYitBFYSTNMFIR3msnY0JaykjgGQ2ExqcQUyNCs64jvtdJFX6Lhzy37OvlF79O1o033FlPhTHD34/s1600/fat+burning+drink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHweQhy8S0ciDTep7vXfzjR2Rhbm0GLd8zfSY99PyPUwBOjlREHpPbghWTWeVZrykYitBFYSTNMFIR3msnY0JaykjgGQ2ExqcQUyNCs64jvtdJFX6Lhzy37OvlF79O1o033FlPhTHD34/s320/fat+burning+drink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>8 glasses of water</li>
<li>1 tbsp grated ginger root ( or more if your like me and LOVE ginger )</li>
<li>1 fresh cucumber peeled and cut. ( no need to peel )</li>
<li>cut lemon pieces</li>
<li>some mint leaves ( the more the merrier ) </li>
</ul>
put all in a jar, bottle, whatever... in fridge over night.<br />
the next day - start doing your shots!<br />1or 2 in morning before anything.<br />and between meals. can also have one at night before bed.<br /><br />DO THIS FOR AT LEAST 4 DAYS !!!<br /><br />now, boys and girls, let's keep it real here for a sec.<br />if your eating a whole bunch of crap you know you should not be eating AND/OR are a couch potato <br />then -<br />
A. stop eating crap and B. move your ass off the couch. <br />THEN GET BUSY MAKING THESE DRINKS to help you burn some fat.<br /><br />peace out<br />off to do some yoga in our beautiful studio in Seminyak, Bali<br />SjD<br /><br />NAMASTE<br /> <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-75604344643296496952015-07-14T02:05:00.002-07:002015-07-14T02:05:47.305-07:00Are you ready to meet God?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPeToSmMyxi5PiyRwaONaF6QOvPNP0LH_o9UR7TSNXy8PNZm4Z0wLNPLweYUEjqvRwuuUOATvMwhrD6VTpnS6PCOF-1uKRuujCNdlOlXO8Gt4I_lLeA1OpGOczyEXAHR8XZ51znDJf7g/s1600/yoga+bali+meditaion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPeToSmMyxi5PiyRwaONaF6QOvPNP0LH_o9UR7TSNXy8PNZm4Z0wLNPLweYUEjqvRwuuUOATvMwhrD6VTpnS6PCOF-1uKRuujCNdlOlXO8Gt4I_lLeA1OpGOczyEXAHR8XZ51znDJf7g/s640/yoga+bali+meditaion.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div>
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<b>Are you ready to meet God?<br /> Then, right now, don't touch anything, not any idea—neither good nor bad.<br /> Don't get involved in anything at all.<br /> Anything that appear<span class="text_exposed_show">s, just leave it.<br /> Don't hold onto anything, including your self-image.<br /> And don't be too busy leaving things.<br /> At a certain point you leave them as they come—no pockets to store things.<br /> Be free of all involvements.<br /> No name, no shape, no form, no intention, no dreams, no aspirations.<br /> Neither mix nor associate with anything.<br /> If someone comes and taps you on the shoulder and needs help with anything, <br /> do what needs to be done, but don't identify. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="text_exposed_show">Remain inwardly empty. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="text_exposed_show">Tell no one.<br /> When you leave everything, He will come to meet you.<br /> You will know Him who is your Self.<br /> But you won't be able to talk about it.<br /> It must not be an experience that 'you' have.<br /> The personal self, the ego, must not survive this inquiry.<br /> So there must not be somebody who has attained or achieved anything.<br /> No name. No signature.<br /> Let everything be burnt or washed away.<br /> Master said: Die but don't be dead.<br /> Meaning, die to all your personal notions of God, the world, and yourself.<br /> Then you will find that which is Unborn.<br /> This is your God Self.<br /> Do this.<br /> Sit by yourself and simply keep quiet.<br /> This is my invitation.<br /> Don't talk to me or anyone about it.<br /> I will meet you there.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<b> ~ Mooji, Sahaja 2015</b></div>
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yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-8413162525272334592014-10-28T22:38:00.003-07:002014-10-28T22:39:41.796-07:00Clean your liver with one sip. Amazingly simple! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="st">Healthy liver = vitality = energy = look and feel great = life is amazing! Soooo....</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihghzMcSFoFrZoSUMK3xthqG_gZGf1j4WcHk9-Idao_lVMh4ytJYY16zyPflp2BQ0WtsKaD5C1aWykhMhjNPfvJgRgoeYiiaCuUbyRpBa4kfsdZdDvo4550dxKBMsGIRQs2OdtnCqWzdM/s1600/olive+oil+and+lemon+juice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihghzMcSFoFrZoSUMK3xthqG_gZGf1j4WcHk9-Idao_lVMh4ytJYY16zyPflp2BQ0WtsKaD5C1aWykhMhjNPfvJgRgoeYiiaCuUbyRpBa4kfsdZdDvo4550dxKBMsGIRQs2OdtnCqWzdM/s1600/olive+oil+and+lemon+juice.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So your liver is "kinda" impotent, it does all sort of amazing things for us like <span class="st">helps digest stuff, make proteins and gets rid of bad stuff.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
Now I know most of us ( me too ) don't like the idea of these long detox programs that take weeks or months to go through and most of us ( me too ) like a quick fix solution.<br />
<br />
So here it is.<br />
<br />
Lemon. Olive oil. DONE!<br />
<br />
Mix equal parts and drink, best in morning before any other food or drink.<br />
1 table spoon is good and all you need.<br />
<br />
you will feel better and look better in no time ;)<br />
do it for a few days.<br />
I would just like to add that doing those long detox programs are AMAZING and you should if you can as well, this is more of a good maintenance plan.<br />
<br />
Namaste and Cheers!<br />
drink uP<br />
<br />
SjD @ <a href="http://www.yoga108bali.com/" target="_blank">yoga108bali</a></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-85979688168970295572014-09-28T00:25:00.000-07:002014-09-28T00:25:11.300-07:00Clear Your Body Of Toxins with One Glass <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvDFUa-LkVnAhDq1H9AbnKuZaJO1ZceHn-tSSlA6v7n17L1-J-aQimGNpaZ-BNSy293nEG0tWqqiy9yaOWKCYYRMVff17p3I5aY3fKjMDLRJIEuqc1lWS0lHQ4d_8WK7lQJ34rmbQK5Y/s1600/toxins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvDFUa-LkVnAhDq1H9AbnKuZaJO1ZceHn-tSSlA6v7n17L1-J-aQimGNpaZ-BNSy293nEG0tWqqiy9yaOWKCYYRMVff17p3I5aY3fKjMDLRJIEuqc1lWS0lHQ4d_8WK7lQJ34rmbQK5Y/s1600/toxins.jpg" height="268" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<div class="copy-paste-block">
This is an extremely simple drink that
will help your body clean out all of the toxins it has accumulated. It
will begin to take effect immediately after consumption! It will attack
the toxins, destroying them, leaving you feeling fresh and replenished!
It will also aid the digestive system, keeping you full of energy
throughout the day!
<h3>
Ingredients:</h3>
<ul style="color: black;">
<li>1 whole lemon (peel and all!)</li>
<li>4 apples (preferably green, any will do however!)</li>
<li>1" of fresh ginger root</li>
<li>1 cup water (optional)</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Preparation:</h3>
<strong>Please make sure you're using only organic ingredients if you are not peeling. </strong>Blend
the lemon, apples, and ginger in your blender. Water is optional if you
prefer a less viscous drink. Prepare early in the morning and drink
fresh on an empty stomach before breakfast!<span><br /></span></div>
<br /></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-55621491162015467362014-08-15T18:16:00.000-07:002014-08-15T18:18:55.172-07:00What is Buddhism? by LAMA YESHE. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>"You go to the toilet
every day but that doesn’t mean you’re tied to it; </b><br />
<b>you’re not too
attached to your toilet, are you?" </b><br />
<br />
From a public talk in Plummer Park, L.A. CA by <br />
LAMA YESHE. 1975.<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
<b>What is Buddhism?</b><br />
Although different people have different views of what Buddhism is, I
think it’s difficult to say, “Buddhism is this, therefore it should be
like that.” It’s difficult to summarize Buddhism in a simplistic way.
However, I can say that Buddhism is different from what most Westerners
consider to be religion.<br />
<br />
<b> First of all, when you study Buddhism
you’re studying yourself</b>—the nature of your body, speech and mind—the
main emphasis being on the nature of your mind and how it works in
everyday life. The main topic is not something else, like what is
Buddha? What is the nature of God? Things like that.<br />
<b> Why is it so
important to know the nature of our own mind?</b> Since we all want
happiness, enjoyment, peace and satisfaction and these things do not
come from ice-cream but from wisdom and the mind, we have to understand
what our mind is and how it works.<br />
<br />
One thing about Buddhism is
that it’s very simple and practical in that it explains logically how
satisfaction comes from the mind, not from some kind of supernatural
being in whom you have to believe.<br />
I understand that this idea
can be difficult to accept because, in the West, from the moment you’re
born, extreme emphasis is placed on the belief that the source of
happiness lies outside of yourself in external objects. Therefore your
sense perception and consciousness have an extreme orientation toward
the sense world and you come to value external objects above all else,
even your life. This extreme view that over-values material things is a
misconception, the result of unreasonable, illogical thought.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXUeCu2SJKBNxDe0IIPzm66rd38_xv_8Ep0o8zIhhD87AFJOpDgWbvenKDkLH8N2KLVWAJda8HumMrJrfBPhLXLkXoOt0L-BUhYy8WBbaGEumKxHf7t8iGQqquhQzfAIzdmCn09lFXo/s1600/Buddhist-monk-teaching-novi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXUeCu2SJKBNxDe0IIPzm66rd38_xv_8Ep0o8zIhhD87AFJOpDgWbvenKDkLH8N2KLVWAJda8HumMrJrfBPhLXLkXoOt0L-BUhYy8WBbaGEumKxHf7t8iGQqquhQzfAIzdmCn09lFXo/s1600/Buddhist-monk-teaching-novi.jpg" height="441" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Therefore, <b>if you want true peace, happiness and joy, you need to
realize that happiness and satisfaction come from within you and stop
searching so fanatically outside.</b> You can never find real happiness out
there. Whoever has?<br />
<br />
Ever since people came into existence they
have never found true happiness in the external world, even though
modern scientific technology seems to think that that’s where the
solution to human happiness lies. That’s a totally wrong conception.
It’s impossible. Of course, technology is necessary and good, as long as
it’s used skillfully. Religion is not against technology; nor is
external development contrary to the practice of religion—although in
the West there are religious extremists who oppose external development
and scientific advancement, and we also find non-believers pitted
against religious believers. It’s all misconception.<br />
<br />
First let me
raise a question. Where in the world can we find somebody who doesn’t
believe?<br />
Who among us is a true non-believer?<br />
In asking this I’m not
suggesting some kind of conceptual belief.<br />
The person who says “I don’t
believe” thinks he’s intellectually superior but all you have to do to
puncture his pride is ask two or three of the right questions:<br />
“What do
you like? What don’t you like?” He’ll come up with a hundred things he
likes. “Why do you like them?” Questions like that immediately expose
everybody as a believer.<br />
Anyway, in order to live in harmony we
need to balance external and internal development; failure to do so
leads to mental conflict.<br />
So Buddhism finds no contradiction in
advocating both external scientific and inner mental development. Both
are correct. But each can be either positive or negative as well. That
depends on mental attitude—there’s no such thing as absolute, eternally
existent total positivity or absolute, eternally existent, total
negativity. Positive and negative depend on the background from which
they arise.<br />
<br />
<b> Therefore it’s very important to avoid extreme views</b>
because extreme emotional attachment to sense objects—“This is good;
this makes me happy”—only causes mental illness. What we need to learn
instead is how to remain in the middle, between the extremes of
exaggeration and underestimation.<br />
But that doesn’t mean giving
everything up. I’m not asking you to get rid of all your possessions.<br />
<b>It’s extreme emotional attachment to any object—external or
internal—that makes you mentally ill</b>. And Western medicine has few
answers to that kind of sickness.<br />
There’s nothing you can take; it’s
very hard to cure. Psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists…I doubt that
they can solve the problems of attachment. Most of you probably have
experience of that. That’s the actual problem.<br />
The reason that
Western health professionals can’t treat attachment effectively is that
they don’t investigate the reality of the mind.<b> The function of
attachment is to bring frustration and misery</b>.<br />
We all know this. It’s
not that difficult to grasp; in fact it’s rather simple.<br />
But Buddhism
has ways of revealing the psychology of attachment and how it functions
in everyday life. <b>The method is meditation</b>.<br />
The real culprit, however,
is a lack of knowledge-wisdom.<br />
<br />
<b> Too much concern for your own
comfort and pleasure driven by the exaggerations of attachment
automatically leads to feelings of hatred for others</b>.<br />
Those two
incompatible feelings—attachment and hatred—naturally clash in your mind
and, from the Buddhist point of view, a mind in this kind of conflict
is sick and unbalanced in nature.<br />
Going to church or temple once a
week is not enough to deal with this. You have to examine your mind all
day long, maintaining constant awareness of the way you speak and act.<br />
We usually hurt others unconsciously.<br />
In order to observe the actions of
our unconscious mind we need to develop powerful wisdom energy, but
that’s easier said than done; it takes work to be constantly aware of
what’s going on in our mind all the time.<br />
Most religious and
non-religious people agree that loving kindness for others is important.<br />
<b>How do we acquire loving kindness?</b><br />
It comes from understanding how and
why others suffer, what’s the best kind of happiness for them to have,
and how they can get it. That’s what we have to check.<br />
But our emotions
get the better of us.<br />
We project our attachments onto others.<br />
We think
that others like the same things we do; that people’s main problems are
hunger and thirst and that food and water will solve them.<br />
<b>The human
problem is not hunger and thirst; it’s misconception and mental
pollution</b>.<br />
Therefore it’s very important that you make your mind
clear.<br />
When it is, the ups and downs of the external world don’t bother
you; whatever happens out there, your mind remains peaceful and joyous.<br />
If you get too caught up in watching the up and down world you finish up
going up and down yourself: “Oh, that’s so good! Oh, that’s so bad!” If
that world is your only source of happiness and its natural
fluctuations disturb your peace of mind, you’ll never be happy, no
matter how long you live. It’s impossible.<br />
But if you understand
that the world is up and down by nature—sometimes up, sometimes down—you
expect it to happen and when it does you don’t get upset.<br />
Whenever your
mind is balanced and peaceful, there’s wisdom and control.<br />
Perhaps you think, “Oh, control! Buddhism is all about control. Who
wants control?<br />
That’s a Himalayan trip, not a Western one.” But in our
experience, control is natural. As long as you have the wisdom that
knows how the uncontrolled mind functions and where it comes from,
control is natural.<br />
All people have equal potential to control
and develop their mind.<br />
There’s no distinction according to race, color
or nationality.<br />
Equally, all can experience mental peace and joy.<br />
<b>Our
human ability is great—if we use it with wisdom, it’s worthwhile; if we
use it with ignorance and emotional attachment, we waste your life. </b><br />
Therefore be careful.<br />
Lord Buddha’s teaching greatly emphasizes
understanding over the hallucinated fantasies of our ordinary mind.
Emotional projections and hallucinations due to unrealistic perceptions
are wrong conceptions. As long as our mind is polluted by wrong
conceptions it’s impossible to avoid frustration.<br />
The clean clear
mind is simultaneously joyful.<br />
That’s simple to see. When your mind is
under the control of extreme attachment on one side and extreme hatred
on the other, you have to examine it to see why you grasp at happiness
and why you hate. When you check your objects of attachment and hatred
logically, you’ll see that the fundamental reason for these opposite
emotions is basically the same thing: emotional attachment projects a
hallucinatory object; emotional hatred projects a hallucinatory object.<br />
And either way, you believe in the hallucination.<br />
As I said
before, it’s not an intellectual, “Oh, yes, I believe.” And by the way,
just saying you believe in something doesn’t actually mean you do.
However, belief has deep roots in your subconscious, and as long as
you’re under the influence of attachment, you’re a believer.<br />
Belief
doesn’t necessarily have to be in the supernatural, in something beyond
logic.<br />
There are many ways to believe.<br />
<br />
From the standpoint of
Buddhist psychology, <b>in order to have love or compassion for all living
beings, first you have to develop equilibrium—a feeling that all beings
are equal. </b><br />
This is not a radical sort of, “I have a piece of candy; I
need to cut it up and share it with everybody else,” but rather
something you have to work with in your mind.<br />
An unbalanced mind is an
unhealthy mind.<br />
So equalizing sentient beings is not something we
do externally; that’s impossible.<br />
The equality advocated by Buddhists
is completely different from that which communists talk about; ours is
the inner balance derived from training the mind.<br />
When your mind
is even and balanced you can generate loving kindness for all beings in
the universe without discrimination. At the same time, emotional
attachment automatically decreases. If you have the right method, it’s
not difficult; when right method and right wisdom come together, solving
problems is easy.<br />
<br />
But we humans suffer from a shortage of
intensive knowledge-wisdom.<br />
We search for happiness where it doesn’t
exist; it’s here, but we look over there.<br />
It’s actually very simple.
True peace, happiness and joy lie within you; therefore, if you meditate
correctly and investigate the nature of your mind you can discover the
everlasting happiness and joy within. It’s always with you; it’s mental,
not external material energy, which always fizzles out. Mental energy
coupled with right method and right wisdom is unlimited and always with
you.<br />
That’s incredible! And explains why human beings are so powerful.<br />
Materialists think that people are powerful because of their amazing
external constructions, but all that actually comes from the human mind.
Without the skill of the human mind there’s no external supermarket,
therefore,<b> instead of placing extreme value on the normal supermarket we
should try to discover our own internal supermarket</b>. That’s much more
useful and leads to a balanced, even mind.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned before,
it sounds as if Buddhism is telling you to renounce all your
possessions because extreme attachment is bad for you emotionally, but
renunciation doesn’t mean physically giving up. <b>You go to the toilet
every day but that doesn’t mean you’re tied to it; you’re not too
attached to your toilet, are you? </b><br />
We should have the same attitude to
all the material things we use—give them a reasonable value according to
their usefulness for human existence, not an extreme one.<br />
If a
boy runs crazily over dangerous ground to get an apple, trips, falls and
breaks his leg, we think he’s foolish, exaggerating the value of the
apple and putting his well-being at risk for the sake of achieving his
goal. But we’re the same.<br />
<b>We project extreme attachment onto objects of
desire, exaggerating their beauty, which blinds us to our true
potential. </b>This is dangerous; it’s the same as the boy risking his life
for an apple. Looking at objects with emotional attachment and chasing
that hallucinated vision definitely destroys our own nature.<br />
Human potential is great but we have to use our energy skillfully; we
have to know how to put our lives in the right direction.<br />
This is
extremely important.</div>
</div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-16161471343753254482014-07-08T21:32:00.000-07:002014-07-08T21:32:08.792-07:00Mind - Body - Mind - conection <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When we think of "I AM", ( and I think you should spend sometime meditating on this, ((there are some good meditation practices in my blogs)) ) and we find this multifaceted, multidimensional aspects of the "SELF", we cannot leave the body out of the picture!<br />
it is a part of us, of who and what we are AND it is a direct link to how we feel and think.<br />
<br />
Thoughts/feelings affect body and body affects thoughts/feelings<br />
Have a look at this nice chart and see if it makes any scene to you ;) <br />
<br />
<h1>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Buddhism: 50% of your State of Mind is dependent on your Posture.</span></span></span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hUvOMu0gqQ7CYy0lrNuXPmDP2tuu7CksPkCa87MwBRsATCzsppalVhvceC7OeS8rpPYOBKmAS_2Jst1CsnWw-sFBZW3Ucltuun0F_5W1IE5XJ41k1ApP700zWIJ_NnTb-lEmht91r7U/s1600/mindbody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hUvOMu0gqQ7CYy0lrNuXPmDP2tuu7CksPkCa87MwBRsATCzsppalVhvceC7OeS8rpPYOBKmAS_2Jst1CsnWw-sFBZW3Ucltuun0F_5W1IE5XJ41k1ApP700zWIJ_NnTb-lEmht91r7U/s1600/mindbody.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
Namaste<br />SjD @ <a href="http://www.yoga108bali.com/" target="_blank">yoga108Bali</a></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-7957571128441676372014-07-08T07:23:00.001-07:002014-07-08T07:23:07.358-07:00Ross Sisters 1944. amazing!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aNGO1D01jH8" width="459"></iframe>yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-51486737503520912592014-06-19T22:54:00.001-07:002014-06-19T22:55:42.668-07:00pineal gland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Lets leave for a moment the mythical aspects and power of out 3ed eye and look at the anatomy behind it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">More</span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b> </b></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">and </span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">more importance is being given to the glands of the <b>endocrine system</b> and the necessity of their proper functioning<b> </b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">as</span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> advances in healthcare progress,</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Much is still to be researched and understood about the body’s <b>endocrine system,</b> particularly the glands located in the the brain. </span></b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNLzkE2kTor3KR-9aPeq3WNfk6nQQNkHIl0SwlxfiW6E5tEXgOqrn2KC9YRgOfh_5MaWyq5HWO3MUdEjgjHyUGFNxho3BhG8ROfgcMyOwmWbGbX8-yEjo0SF2T1anybg8fc14n4dwrs4/s1600/stangor_2_0-fig03_023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNLzkE2kTor3KR-9aPeq3WNfk6nQQNkHIl0SwlxfiW6E5tEXgOqrn2KC9YRgOfh_5MaWyq5HWO3MUdEjgjHyUGFNxho3BhG8ROfgcMyOwmWbGbX8-yEjo0SF2T1anybg8fc14n4dwrs4/s1600/stangor_2_0-fig03_023.jpg" height="390" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">E</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ndocrine system</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The endocrine system consists of a series of glands that secrete particular hormones into the bloodstream. These horm</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ones send messages to the cells of the body, which in turn help to regulate a variety of functions including metabolism, growth and development, tissue function and mood. From its unique perch between the brain’s two hemispheres, the endocrine system’s pineal gland secretes melatonin, a derivative of serotonin, which generally contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The tiny, pine cone–shaped gland is joined by the habenular trigone and the posterior commissure to make up the epithalamus, which serves to connect the limbic system to other parts of the brain. </span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o3Ujk0Ypxh8O9tLB0-rbBrrTdGjNW_jC78YsqopSjktaVNDQXtp8NxGZc6387tEfUNBcO6mYOws0MZcnjUQyzXtRQ8rhnUVqoIb0BXiWfMjjb05Fxd61_q1CAt6U-dml7wAcBuay2X4/s1600/1966729_679888918734923_1078344661_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o3Ujk0Ypxh8O9tLB0-rbBrrTdGjNW_jC78YsqopSjktaVNDQXtp8NxGZc6387tEfUNBcO6mYOws0MZcnjUQyzXtRQ8rhnUVqoIb0BXiWfMjjb05Fxd61_q1CAt6U-dml7wAcBuay2X4/s1600/1966729_679888918734923_1078344661_n.jpg" height="400" width="391" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The<b> limbic system</b> influences both the <b>endocrine system</b> and the <b>autonomic nervous system</b> and seems to have involvement (which is not entirely well understood) with emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory and olfaction (our sense of smell). </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Just in this brief description, we get a glimpse of the inextricable relationships amongst our organs, systems and their functions. </span></b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBiQOYiSH88AkdCABJqHpqA67JCb-8va0TJFDnlQ-voLUDWFcPVOZz_eZJjXh72gLDmc22n9gvSTgf7lIoy2F6FBk9TL4VqnZEa2V2GSY0d4EenN-j78TZmm4dbLWaheJZN_zfH_cIjU/s1600/Clayman67a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBiQOYiSH88AkdCABJqHpqA67JCb-8va0TJFDnlQ-voLUDWFcPVOZz_eZJjXh72gLDmc22n9gvSTgf7lIoy2F6FBk9TL4VqnZEa2V2GSY0d4EenN-j78TZmm4dbLWaheJZN_zfH_cIjU/s1600/Clayman67a.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Limbic system</b></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Released by the pineal gland’s pinealocyte cells, melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals that damage neurons (or any cells, for that matter). </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The amount of melatonin found in spinal fluid is much higher than the amount in our bloodstream, and it controls our circadian rhythm—our sleep and wake cycle. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The pineal gland creates more of the antioxidant at night, in the absence of light, which helps to dictate our sleeping patterns. Studies on the pineal gland and melatonin have contributed to chronobiology, the branch of science which explores rhythms in living organisms. We all know people who strongly identify with being a “morning person” or “night owl,” and chronobiology has ways of assessing these chronotypes. In the dark months of winter, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) seems to be the result of low melatonin levels. Interestingly, aside from our eyes, the pineal gland is the only other organ in our body that detects light.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Melatonin is produced in response to another hormone called norepinephrine. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Recent research shows that while the norepinephrine complex turns up melatonin in the evening (and the resulting sleepiness), dopamine and its receptor form a complex of proteins that does the opposite in the morning. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The dopamine receptor on the outside of the pineal gland works alongside norepinephrine receptors to slow the melatonin-secretion signal in the early morning. </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Several diseases and conditions are affiliated with melatonin, including insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and, most recently, cancer. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Since melatonin protects white blood cells against radiation damage, they provide a boost for the immune system. The blood flow through the pineal gland is very high and second only to the kidney, the body’s natural blood filter. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This counts as another unique aspect of the pineal gland, as most other parts of the brain are separated from the bloodstream by the blood-brain barrier system (a separation of circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid). </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The pineal gland also has an effect on our reproductive system. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">High levels of melatonin in children are thought to inhibit their sexual development, and pineal gland tumors have been linked to the onset of early puberty. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In addition, when the gland is damaged, accelerated growth of sexual organs occurs. Dr. Rick Strassman, who conducted extensive research on near-death experiences in the 1990s, asserts that the pineal gland is also responsible for secreting the naturally occurring psychedelic hormone dimethyltryptamine (DMT). </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Structurally analogous to both serotonin and melatonin, it is believed DMT might help contribute to the visual effects of natural dreaming, near-death experiences, religious visions or other altered states. As we have attempted to understand its functions throughout history, the pineal gland has been associated with mystery and myth. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">René Descartes, for example, dubbed it the “principal seat of the soul,” suggesting it connected the body and intellect. Further, the philosophy of French writer Georges Bataille holds that the pineal gland can be thought of as a blind spot in Western rationality. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This could serve to explain why science has merely a partial understanding of its function and secretory activity. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">From a profound sense of clarity and presence to an increase in physical and mental health and balance, the effects of its proper functioning are wide-ranging and can be difficult to communicate. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Further study will provide the elusive link between science and spirituality.</span></b></span></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-53919672789297688302014-05-08T01:03:00.000-07:002014-05-08T01:03:01.460-07:00Ending negitive karma <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwtmT-FmkVnv2Ro9fC5Fel0l6L9sMYS2tBzQcZXrNQR_Wi7KaAtr4X8dqGkoX4oj7evlT_ILYUp5taOyiNFyNu8DjSI6mzpCGxmj2GqmuiZ24og07nUKayS_t9OoTYH9yEP6kZPSz7lQ/s1600/984087_10203859998046198_1820833385276226347_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwtmT-FmkVnv2Ro9fC5Fel0l6L9sMYS2tBzQcZXrNQR_Wi7KaAtr4X8dqGkoX4oj7evlT_ILYUp5taOyiNFyNu8DjSI6mzpCGxmj2GqmuiZ24og07nUKayS_t9OoTYH9yEP6kZPSz7lQ/s1600/984087_10203859998046198_1820833385276226347_n.jpg" height="523" width="640" /></a><br />
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It should not be important how people treat us.<br />
Important is how we treat our self and how we treat others. <br /> In Buddhism there are many positive way to react when people treat us bad. <br />
First, it is an opportunity to practice patient and tolerance.<br />
Try to
understand that these people are also suffering under the power of their
desire, aggression, ignorance, pride, jealousy, etc. etc.<br /> They have no control over themselves and we should not take these experience personally.<br /> Second<span class="text_exposed_show">, we can take these difficult people as our Teacher giving us the opportunity to practice what has been just said.<br />
Third, sometimes when we are hurt, it is our ego being hurt. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Being hurt are just
feelings and feelings come because of our ego thoughts. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">We should learn
to 'let go' of these thoughts. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">This is easier if when have some kind of
meditation experience. <br /> Fourth is to accept the fact as stated by
Buddha and Masters; that whatever happen to us is the result of our
karmic result from past lives and this one. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">If we react negatively, the negative
karma will continue into future lives. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">When we react positively, we will
end the continuous round of negative karma</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Bottom lineis, we should not be moved by the 8 worldly winds of;<br /> praise and blame, gain and loss, pain and pleasure, fame and disrepute.</span></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-43157120832196662092014-04-28T06:38:00.001-07:002014-04-28T06:38:20.974-07:00A poor man asked the Buddha...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="uiScaledImageContainer _4-ep" id="u_jsonp_3_1v" style="height: 245px; width: 470px;">
<img alt="A poor man asked the Buddha,
“Why am I so poor?”
The Buddha said, “you do not learn to give.”
So the poor man said, “If I’m not having anything?”
Buddha said: “You have a few things,
The Face, which can give a smile;
Mouth: you can praise or comfort others;
The Heart: it can open up to others;
Eyes: who can look the other with the eyes of goodness;
Body: which can be used to help others.”
So, actually we are not poor at all, poverty of spirit is the real poverty.
Via The ManKind Project" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="334" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10150611_699323710124777_4729651394895095138_n.jpg" width="640" /></div>
</div>
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</div>
<br />
“Why am I so poor?”<br />
<br />
The Buddha said, “you do not learn to give.”<br />
<br />
So the poor man said, “If I’m not having anything?”<br />
<br />
Buddha said: “You have a few things,<br />
<br />
The Face, which can give a smile;<br />
<br />
Mouth: you can praise or comfort others;<br />
<br />
The Heart: it can open up to others;<br />
<br />
Eyes: who can look the other with the eyes of goodness;<br />
<br />
Body: which can be used to help others.”<br />
<br />
So, actually we are not poor at all, poverty of spirit is the real poverty.<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <br />
<br />
There is ALWAYS something to GIVE.<br />GIVE GIVE GIVE</div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-70549430818882637832014-04-07T16:32:00.001-07:002014-04-07T16:32:43.470-07:00How I strat my day; Dalai Lama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em>I
believe a good morning is the beginning of a good day. </em></div>
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<em>If we wake up in
the morning and are happy, even if we face small irritants, we can cope
with them.</em></div>
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<em> </em></div>
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<em> </em> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil74xykypNgl17JGlz_RtB0Zdiw3GwXU7C94fdfZxpCG1j_-Rk3nt8PAlbPB9zNsRTan3yopLeXis0G2MgKPvhorzIlSMjCltHWWlkH2G9DmNFA0i-SFDOlGQyZ9LRB8mfZrXJP1eYp2I/s1600/dalai-lama-happy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil74xykypNgl17JGlz_RtB0Zdiw3GwXU7C94fdfZxpCG1j_-Rk3nt8PAlbPB9zNsRTan3yopLeXis0G2MgKPvhorzIlSMjCltHWWlkH2G9DmNFA0i-SFDOlGQyZ9LRB8mfZrXJP1eYp2I/s1600/dalai-lama-happy.png" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /><br /> If we wake up in a bad mood or are unhappy,
even the smallest problem will make us angry. </div>
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Mental attitude is very
important. </div>
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So, train your mind through meditation, and let your mornings
be the best time to bring peace into your lives. We must remain in the
'thoughtlessness' zone if we want to be calm. </div>
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Focus on how to create a
happy life.<br /> <br /> Ask yourself every morning, if you wish to live a meaningful life or a frivolous one.<br />
Don't think about the past or future. Every moment is an opportunity to
create a life with peace and compassion. We need hygiene of emotions.
Reach out to others, it will make you <em>self confident</em> and give you inner
strength. When we show concern, we will be able to win people's trust,
and this trust creates friendship of a lifetime. It helps us develop
inner peace, we create peaceful families, peaceful cities and peaceful
societies. Doing things for others will reduce your stress and give you
good physical health.<br /> <br /> Try not to bring conflict in your morning
and your day. If there is conflict in your relationships, try to
resolve it with a dialogue. Talk. Don't distance yourself from people
and create barriers; living a self-centred life leads to stress and
anxiety. Live simply. Some days will be difficult and some easy, but if
you spend your days with purpose, you will be mentally satisfied. <br /> <em>His Holiness the Dalai Lama, SPIRITUAL LEADER </em></div>
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<em> </em></div>
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<em>Shared from<br />The times of india</em></div>
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<em>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com </em> </div>
</div>
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yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-79600303003719455872014-03-31T03:19:00.002-07:002014-03-31T03:19:33.517-07:00you are more then this body ( the 5 Koshas )<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify" class="body">
<b>A Bit of an intro.</b></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
According to yoga,
individual consciousness is a partial expression of cosmic
consciousness. </div>
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Cosmic consciousness and individual
consciousness are one. </div>
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Only subjectivity separates them. it is out of Consciousness that the ultimate reality of which mind and matter proceed. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P2gL-Z4D2PP6nAH9YScuOWo48h-Z0QgWZBfS2mUaj_BzTM4pCsUsQLMLNIKVAb6DsN8avtzdEvhVFw5y4L_cqFt-NvhFytfvVuEMu8gR2DxmM8Qco6qomtTzCIRtrTu25wsNQW2XmTo/s1600/Koshas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P2gL-Z4D2PP6nAH9YScuOWo48h-Z0QgWZBfS2mUaj_BzTM4pCsUsQLMLNIKVAb6DsN8avtzdEvhVFw5y4L_cqFt-NvhFytfvVuEMu8gR2DxmM8Qco6qomtTzCIRtrTu25wsNQW2XmTo/s1600/Koshas.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
consciousness exists in everything, from minerals to man. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
the human body is the most highly evolved Of all existing bodies that express themselves
through behavior. It is
capable of self-expression and the realization of Truth beyond the realm
of sensory perception. With the help of memory, imagination and
intuition, the human organism can understand laws inherent in nature and
use them for its growth and development. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKm-WoP6dh4TjcZ4eKc7MiNiX4roQ3CSzEhjW4f24t2XJZMwGSHeTkGrcOy1bT4zOLMN7jPtCg5oeRr3wuELF1VPwg1_zdl_KdeA9cJEKA_rWdS1aQGk3H01LQ2e9lK4Ail31sH8agho/s1600/panchkosha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKm-WoP6dh4TjcZ4eKc7MiNiX4roQ3CSzEhjW4f24t2XJZMwGSHeTkGrcOy1bT4zOLMN7jPtCg5oeRr3wuELF1VPwg1_zdl_KdeA9cJEKA_rWdS1aQGk3H01LQ2e9lK4Ail31sH8agho/s1600/panchkosha.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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When consciousness
desires expression as an organism, it needs tools to control and work
with the physical body. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<b> Annamayi Kosha</b><b> (Sheath of Matter</b><b>)</b></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
The main centers of
consciousness in the human body are in the
brain and the spine. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
The cerebrospinal system is the first part of the
organism to be developed after conception. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
From it the entire bodily
form comes out. This system is a great generator of electrical energy
that is constantly supplied to the internal organs by a network of
nerves that serve as connectors. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
The functiong of the entire human body
is controlled by the cerebrospinal system, and the <b>psychic centers</b> are
located in it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVRNo2ZSbvs-8DnJuOGIhqSKm84899fNBfaKJ-e1mxdw-uwP2dsckIZhYVb3_Ao1YgK2brIENRd-TtgFl_-Be01Esyqi4fry2YJN9-eWQlmi_d8NxmwjOE0IbefTQbL-JRFn6GM6OLDg/s1600/15166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVRNo2ZSbvs-8DnJuOGIhqSKm84899fNBfaKJ-e1mxdw-uwP2dsckIZhYVb3_Ao1YgK2brIENRd-TtgFl_-Be01Esyqi4fry2YJN9-eWQlmi_d8NxmwjOE0IbefTQbL-JRFn6GM6OLDg/s1600/15166.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Inside the big company
of the body there is a branch, a side office, in which mind is the boss. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Mind has a practical tool in the body which is the brain. Brain uses
breath, and breath uses nerves, and nerves are dealing with the five
sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin), and the five work
organs (anus, genitals, legs, hands, and vocal chords). </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
So the
combination of brain, breath, nerves, sense organs, and work organs form
a unit inside the body which is working with the mind. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<b> Pranamayi Kosha</b><b> (Sheath of Vital Air</b><b>)</b></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Prana or energy is the
moving force. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
This sheath of Vital Air
supplies energy to the whole system and keeps it alive. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Prana refers not
only to the flow of oxygen but to all components of life force. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
This
energy enters each and every cell and each and every pore. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Breath is the
physical counterpart of the mind. All neuromotor activities, all
sensory and motor functions of the body, are performed with the help of
the breath. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oUqKE_PSgo4JkUhmgCEsw4GGfa4yWkDZhkRinUhS_F43ijrBddBziIg3KGLcJ5HrbPjZoapvOKwacUHzvJQgtkRf61h5ngdO9PdmWNdHqjd1QDYjAZrKohDf1xhNZpFmIq9pkZDB960/s1600/prana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oUqKE_PSgo4JkUhmgCEsw4GGfa4yWkDZhkRinUhS_F43ijrBddBziIg3KGLcJ5HrbPjZoapvOKwacUHzvJQgtkRf61h5ngdO9PdmWNdHqjd1QDYjAZrKohDf1xhNZpFmIq9pkZDB960/s1600/prana.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Breath provides the pranic force to the organism. This
pranic force, working as the Air element, creates movement, pulsation,
vibration and life. The science of controlling prana is known as
pranayama, a branch of Hatha Yoga. <b>By mastering prana one can master the
mind</b>. By practicing pranayama, the breath becomes calm, images do not
disturb the mind, and the internal dialogue stops</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<b> Manomayi Kosha (</b><b>Sheath of Mind</b><b>)</b></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Mind
is the tool of consciousness that enables us to perceive the world and
process the incoming information. The world exists in front of us,
because of our five senses. There are organisms without brain and eyes
and ears, only tactile sensation is there through the skin. If you touch
them, they react. Even though they have no brain these organisms have
perception of the world because they have mind. Most of the time, people
think that mind is the functional aspect of brain, however, <b>mind and
brain are two different things</b>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Bp8JVlUp54WwmwjkL2t_0LrZ3TACsjVLP1Ok6Txs9uI50E2MG4LTIqv3HAiIPJypoH6p3Mt9QZ1WRp95P7fKxsBga0HY_-CPE0bWjUpZ1htbKd6bgrO2T-WIzFze6YV2xd7wuz-kV3s/s1600/mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Bp8JVlUp54WwmwjkL2t_0LrZ3TACsjVLP1Ok6Txs9uI50E2MG4LTIqv3HAiIPJypoH6p3Mt9QZ1WRp95P7fKxsBga0HY_-CPE0bWjUpZ1htbKd6bgrO2T-WIzFze6YV2xd7wuz-kV3s/s1600/mind.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Mind is using brain as tool. Mind is
pervaded in everything, it's in every cell, everywhere, it has no
specific seat. It's not the same as god, but it has similar character
being present everywhere. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Mind is the greatest
obstacle in the way of systematic thinking. It jumps from one point to
other point by finding similarity in that point. Anything which is
similar immediately reminds the mind of something else, and from this
field he jumps into some other field, and then he starts talking about
something else and the whole point is being lost. Most of the time only
one is dominant and that is mind. But sometimes ego is also very
dominant. And intellect is only in the beginning, when you start, at
that time it comes and tries to show you how to go, but after that,
mostly it is the mind which takes the lead. </div>
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<div align="justify" class="body">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Ego, mind, intellect,
and the self (together 3 of 5 koshas), travel from one body to other
body, from one life to other life, as long as there are attachments,
likes and dislikes, ego continues for the fulfillment of desires.</div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<b>Vigyanamayi Kosha</b><b> (Sheath of Ego and Intellect </b><b>)</b></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Within the 5 koshas
division of our psychology, around the sheath of Bliss is sheath of
Knowledge, that combines ego and intellect. Ego
is the tool of consciousness which links all events in life together.
Ego is the illusion that I exist as a separate individual being, it is
false identification. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRikEosVTNKOnRpoI2vUhmKrDuF4ctJpKvfGRp_Upajc2LSjM0fP_hqIlH_qNUViQVrr11dh66gEtr9dmfIhflnlhKmOyZYiClsxMZNi1dySmIko1vR8pEUlYEM00wF2RN70N4upRNIM/s1600/ego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRikEosVTNKOnRpoI2vUhmKrDuF4ctJpKvfGRp_Upajc2LSjM0fP_hqIlH_qNUViQVrr11dh66gEtr9dmfIhflnlhKmOyZYiClsxMZNi1dySmIko1vR8pEUlYEM00wF2RN70N4upRNIM/s1600/ego.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Ego is the one which assumes the responsibility
for the body. Ego says, "This body is mine". When the body breathes, he
says, "I am breathing". And if you close his nose then he says, "You are
suffocating me, I am dying". Ego is very sensitive and the fear of
death is always there. Ego takes a name, and becomes Mr. such and such
and it interacts with others. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Whatever you experience
in this life or in past lives, and whatever information you got from
your parents, from your society, from the race, from the country to
which you belong, all that information combined together becomes <b>
intellect</b>. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
It gets a part of the genetic information from seven
generations of the father, and seven generations of the mother.
Intellect carries with it the past and the present, and also speculates
about the future. Intellect helps ego with advice and comments but the
final decision comes from ego. Ego can say, "I like it" and although
intellect may disapprove ego may decide "O.k., I don't believe that this
is right, but I don´t want to follow all these rules and regulations,
I'll break the law". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIr2uxzXuh3XB744MAtZVDogi5CWhBG62EmU9dh5lOAtYp5_MYzd_Mt4ZbGMyk6J43ArMCaSGOsCkXQJPQyocvsH__wZZn5SlXvNES86ycvJhZd7oy1Du9JnRnAjKAjC5fzAhNijnJ1Pw/s1600/Ego.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIr2uxzXuh3XB744MAtZVDogi5CWhBG62EmU9dh5lOAtYp5_MYzd_Mt4ZbGMyk6J43ArMCaSGOsCkXQJPQyocvsH__wZZn5SlXvNES86ycvJhZd7oy1Du9JnRnAjKAjC5fzAhNijnJ1Pw/s1600/Ego.jpeg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Strong attachments and
the struggle for survival increase the ego. In modern schools there is
competition all the time. Who does it first? Who is the best? Ego always
tries to say, "I am better than you", "I am holier than you". In
ancient days they had an education system that did not let the ego grow
beyond a particular limit. The child had to go and live with the family
of a teacher as a member of the family (gurukul). The wife of the
teacher was responsible for providing all food, and nobody was allowed
to bring other food. And parents were not allowed to bring gifts in
order to treat all pupils equal, and make them feel that everyone is
equal.</div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
<b>Anandamayi Kosha (Self seated in Sheath of Bliss) </b></div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
The human consciousness is folded in these five layers, or sheaths, (koshas)
around the central point, containing the self (chitta). The self is
enveloped in the sheath of bliss. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
Both the self and the bliss are not
experienced although they are always there, and always protected from
all sides. Nothing is disturbing to the self, because nothing is real for
the self. </div>
<div align="justify" class="body">
The self is the truth, and truth is never changing. Whatever
else is happening, is all changing every minute. </div>
The self knows this is
not real, this is ever changing, this is illusion. <br />in other words, the self is watching the movie that you THINK you're in. ;)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="justify" class="body">
NAMASTE<br /> </div>
</div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-48418025734135063952014-03-17T01:29:00.000-07:002014-03-17T01:31:20.503-07:006 yoga poses for pain relief<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many people suffer from back pain<br />
Yes, some of us have injuries from accidents or physical strain related causes, BUT, many of us are feeling pain as a result of mental and emotional stresses that over time lead to pain due to holding on to stress IN OUR BODY'S. pore posture habits sometimes as a result of long hours in chairs at work or home also lead to pain.<br />
SOOOOOOO... the pain I am refering to here is BACK pain DUE TO pressure on the SPINE and/or NERVES.<br />
<br />
Yoga is more of a preventive practice, an opportunity to LET GO of things and at the same time keep the body and mind active and healthy but it can be used for therapy as well and even pain relief in some cases, even some practices of meditations can heal the body but this is another Blog altogether, I'll just say this for now; "MIND OVER MATER" (it's the mind the caused the pain to begin with)<br />
ANYWAY...<br />
YOGA POSES to relieve PAIN<br />
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<b>1. Downward-Facing Dog</b><br />
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<b> </b><img alt="Downward-Facing Dog" class="alignright" src="http://www.joycerey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/downward-dog.jpg" height="369" width="500" /><br />
This classic pose is excellent for total body stretch, spinal traction and maintaining lower back health.<br />
keep your spine neutral. Tilt your tailbone towards your heels, push heels to floor and press
back through your legs.<br />
Extend
your spine and head towards the space between your hands.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Uttanasana - Forwards bend</b><br />
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there
are MANY variations, as with all yoga poses, and the main thing to keep
in mind is EASY DOSE IT!! don't push the pose, let it happen, if you
are tight, keep knees bent and even rest your hands on thighs above
knees. try to relax the neck and slowly let go... lifting tail bone to
sky, dropping head down and stay for a while... in the breath. This will
lengthen and relax the back mussels, relieving tension from the
vertebra's as well. <br />
<br />
<b>3. Plank (Modified for Standing)</b><br />
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<br />
Stand in front of a wall with your hands flat against it. Keep your fingers wide, fingertips pointing towards the ceiling.<br />
Draw your navel back as you lengthen your tailbone towards the floor.
Lift your ribs from the pelvis. The goal here is to keep your low back
as neutral as possible, using your core muscles to help stabilize your
posture.<br />
Keep your spine aligned while you walk your legs back. Bend at the
waist and walk your hands down the wall as you go. Eventually your body
will form the shape of an ‘L’. If you feel any pain or stress in your
lower back, bend your knees to maintain the proper spinal alignment.<br />
Maintain this pose for the length of 10-15 breaths. It will help
build strength in your core muscles, thereby taking some of the load off
of your spine, while supporting length and flexibility in your back
muscles.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita karani)</b><br />
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If you are using a bolster or
pillow, place it under your hips and lift your legs up a wall.
Otherwise, lie with your tailbone as close as possible to the wall and
lift your legs.<br />
Flex your toes towards your body and extend your arms
out to your sides with your shoulders pulled back so that your shoulder
blades are as flat against your mat as possible.<br />
Relax and breathe deep
into your belly.<br />
This pose releases low back pressure, elongates the spine, and
develops flexibility of the leg muscles and ligaments that helps support
a natural, back-healthy gait.<br />
<br />
<b>5. CAT COW POSE</b><br />
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Inhale look up, drop belly and lift tail bone<br />
Exhale forehead to hips, hips to forehead and arch back to sky<br />
do a few SLOW rounds and rest in Child's pose.. then again...<br />
This
pose incises mobility of the spine, stretches the front torso and neck
and even Provides a gentle massage to the belly organs. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>6. Child POSE</b><br />
<img alt="Child" class="alignleft" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/health/img/web/2013/08/slides/child-pose-400x400.jpg" height="400" width="400" /><br />
Use any variation for this pose and even some pillows or bolsters to make yourself comfortable.<br />
Your knees can be wide apart or closed, arms stretching or folded next to feet, palms up.<br />
head on floor, or pillow... what ever, just make it so you are RELAXED<br />
Breathe into your back
as you inhale and exhale deeply. <br />
Breath in to the belly and lower back... go deeper with each breath and release tension with each exhale<br />
Feel the space between each vertebra
grow as you relax deeper into the pose.<br />
<br />
"pain is inevitable suffering is optional"<br />
may all beings be free from suffering! <br />
Namaste ;)<br />
SjD<br />
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yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-80212350979120442092014-03-10T08:06:00.000-07:002014-03-10T16:48:13.210-07:00Things to know about Shiva<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<span class="Lkb">Lord Shiva:<br />Maheshwara...Shankara.<br />Attributes:
Unclad body smeared with ashes: This form of Lord Shiva symbolizes the
transcendental aspect of his nature and indicates that his presence is
much higher than this physical phenomenon.<br /><br />Jata (Matted Hair):
The flow of his matted hair represents Shiva as the Lord of Wind or
Vayu, who is the subtle form of breath present in all living beings. It
shows that Shiva is Pashupatinath, Lord Of All Living Beings.<br /><br />Sacred
Ganga: The river Ganga (or Ganges) is the most sacred river for pious
Hindus. According to a legend, the river Ganga has its source in Shiva
and flows from his matted hair. This is symbolically represented by
depicting Ganga as a jet of water sprinkling out of the head of the Lord
and falling on the ground.<br /><br />The Third Eye: In the great Hindu
epic Mahabharata, Lord Shiva is depicted as a three-eyed God. Hence, he
is often referred to as Tryambaka Deva, meaning "three-eyed Lord". The
sun is said to be his right eye, the moon the left eye while fire is his
third eye.<br /><br />Half-Open Eyes: The half-open eyes signify that
creation is going through an eternal cyclic process, with no beginning
and no end.<br /><br />Crescent: Lord Shiva is typically pictured as wearing
a crescent-shaped ornament on one side of his head. This is why he is
often called 'Chandrasekhara' meaning "Having the moon as his crest".
The Crescent is actually the moon in its fifth day phase and symbolizes
the time cycle through which creation evolves from the beginning to the
end.<br /><br />The Snake around the neck: Lord Shiva is often shown with a
snake curled three times around His neck and looking towards His right
side. The three coils of the snake symbolize the past, present and
future - time in cycles.<br /><br />Vibhuti: The three line of ashes drawn
on the forehead of the Lord is known as the Vibhuti. It signifies the
Immortality of the Lord and his manifested glory.<br /><br />Tiger Skin:
Hindu mythology states that the tiger is the vehicle of Shakti, the
Goddess of power and force. Lord Shiva is often shown seated upon or
wearing a tiger skin, which emphasizes the fact that he is the master of
Shakti and is beyond and above any kind of force.<br /><br />The Elephant
and Deer Skin: The Lord also wears elephant and deer skins. Elephants
stand in for pride while deer represent the flickering mind. Wearing
elephant and deer skin shows that Lord Shiva has conquered both these
vices.<br /><br />Rudraksha Necklace: He is almost always shown as wearing a
necklace having 108 beads made with seeds of the Rudraksha tree. The
beads represent the elements used in the creation of the world.<br /><br />Damaru
(Drum): It is the small hourglass-shaped drum that the Lord holds in
one of his hands in a specific gesture called 'damaru-hasta'.When a
damaru is shaken, it produces Nada, the cosmic sound of AUM, which can
be heard during deep meditation. According to Hindu scriptures, Nada is
the source of creation. This is one of the attributes of Shiva in his
famous dancing representation known as Nataraja.<br /><br />Trishul
(Trident): The trident, or the spear with three prongs, is one of the
accessories of the Lord and symbolizes His three fundamental powers
iccha(will), kriya(action) and jnana(knowledge).<br /><br />Kamandalu: The
water pot (Kamandalu) often shown adjacent to the Lord is another of his
accessories. It is said to be made from a dry pumpkin and containing
amrit (nectar).<br /><br />Kundalas: The Kundalas refer to the two ear
rings, Alakshya (meaning "which cannot be shown by any sign") and
Niranjan (meaning "which cannot be seen by mortal eyes"), worn by the
Lord. The ornaments in the ears of the Lord signify that He is beyond
ordinary perception. It is noteworthy that the kundala in the left ear
of the Lord is of the type used by women and the one in His right ear is
of the type used by men. The dual type of Kundalas represent the Shiva
and Shakti (male and female) principle of creation.<br /><br />Mount
Kailasa: Lord Shiva is most often shown to be seated with the beautiful
Himalayas serving as his backdrop. Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is
said to be His traditional abode. In Hindu mythology, Mount Kailasa is
said to represent the center of the universe. This denotes that Lord
Shiva is 'Kailas' - the bestower of peace and also 'Kailashadhipati'
meaning "Lord Of Mount Kailash".<br /><br />Nandi, the Bull: Nandi is the
Bull of Lord Shiva and is said to be his vehicle. The bull is a symbol
both of power and ignorance which suggests that Lord Shiva removes
ignorance of his devotees and gives them the power of wisdom. In
Sanskrit a bull is called "Vrisha" which also means "righteousness". The
Nandi bull beside Lord Shiva indicates that He is the eternal companion
of righteousness.</span><br />
<br />
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<span class="Lkb"></span><br />
<span class="Lkb"><br />SHARED BY ; Durai Rajan @ guggle +<br />https://plus.google.com/u/0/+durairajantvvn/posts<br /><br />Namaste ;)</span></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-43160289870951253012014-03-02T15:23:00.000-08:002014-03-02T15:33:07.065-08:00The meaning of Om<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="userContent"><br /> </span><br />
<span class="userContent">What is OM?<br /> <br /> <span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> OM is the beginning of the universe<br /> <br /> In the beginning there was only Brahman. <br /> Brahman is infinite. <br /> Brahman is the absolute.<br /> Brahman is the Supreme Self. <br /> Brahman is beyond space, time and causation. <br /> Brahman is satchidananda: being, consciousness and bliss.<br /> <br /> Brahman is our individual true Self. <br /> All is Brahman.<br /> <br /> Brahman brought forth the universe and everything in it. <br /> From Brahman came the many. <br /> <br /> This is beautifully described in the words of the Chandogya Upanishad:<br /> <br />
“In the beginning was only Being, One without a second. Out of himself
he brought forth the cosmos and entered into everything in it. There is
nothing that does not come from him. Of everything he is the inmost
Self. He is the truth; he is the Self Supreme. You are that, Svetaketu,
you are that.”<br /> <br /> <br /> OM is the sound of the beginning of creation.<br /> OM is the first vibration that came from Brahman. <br /> OM is the primal sound. <br /> <br /> With OM Brahman created the universe and everything in it. <br /> The name of Brahman and everything in creation is OM.<br /> <br />
We do not create OM by chanting the name, but our chants produce a
vibration that is in harmony with the cosmic sound that has been
vibrating from the beginning. That is the secret of the power of OM. <br /> <br /> Our chanting of OM resonates with the eternal vibration of Brahman. Om is like a divine tuning fork vibrating into eternity. <br /> <br /> Why do we chant OM?<br /> <br />
We chant OM to connect with our true Self. Since our true Self is the
same as the Supreme Self, when we connect with our true Self we connect
with the Supreme Self. <br /> <br /> When we chant OM it produces a
vibration in us which resonates with the universal vibration of OM, and
we are elevated from our everyday minds to relationship with our true
Self. We chant OM to be in tune with the true Self.<br /> <br /> When we chant OM it puts us in a meditative mood. When we chant OM our minds become calm and we can rest in our true Self. <br /> <br /> OM is the supreme mantra<br /> <br /> All mantras begin with OM. OM is the supreme mantra. <br /> <br /> Chanting OM calms and purifies our minds and helps us rest in our true Self. <br /> If we chant OM we become filled with divine energy. It is like taking divine medicine. <br /> <br />
In Yoga Sutra 1.28, Patanjali said “Let there by chanting of OM with
meditation on its meaning.” By chanting OM our minds become still, and
our true Self shines forth. <br /> <br /> Chanting OM is the path of bhakti yoga or the path of devotion. Chanting OM helps us unite with the Supreme Being. <br /> <br /> OM is a trilogy of meaning meanings<br /> <br />
OM is comprised of three sounds: “A”, “U” and “M”. There is also a
fourth sound which is a universal vibration and is the essence of all
other sounds. This fourth sound is known as the un-struck sound.<br /> <br /> OM is comprised of three letters and represents many trilogies of meanings.<br /> <br /> Here are some examples:<br /> <br /> A U M<br /> Brahma Vishnu Shiva<br /> Creation Preservation Destruction<br /> Body Mind Soul<br /> Rajas Sattva Tamas<br /> Sat Chit Ananda<br /> Past Present Future<br /> Birth Life Death<br /> Jagrat Svapna Sushupti<br /> Father Mother Sun<br /> Fire Sun Wind<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> OM is consciousness<br /> <br /> OM is the four states of consciousness.<br /> <br /> OM is the waking state or jagrat.<br /> OM is the dreaming state or svapna<br /> OM is the deep sleep state or sushupti.<br /> Om is the transcendental state or turiya. <br /> <br /> The three curves of the OM symbol represent jagrat, svapna and sushupti.<br /> <br />
The large curve at the bottom represents jagrat. It is the largest
curve because we spend most of our time in the waking state. <br /> <br /> The smaller curve above it represents the deep, dreamless state or sushupti.<br /> <br />
The curve in the middle represents the dreaming state or svapna because
it is an intermediate state between the waking state and the dreamless
state. <br /> <br /> The dot (or bindu) signifies the fourth state of
consciousness or turiya. In this state consciousness looks neither
outward nor inward. This peaceful and blissful state is the ultimate
aim of all spiritual activity. This state illuminates the other three
states.<br /> <br /> Finally, the semi-circle symbolizes maya and separates
the dot from the other three curves. It is the illusion of maya that
prevents us from the realization of this highest state of bliss. The
semi-circle is open at the top and does not touch the dot. This means
that this highest state is not affected by maya. Maya only affects the
manifested phenomenon. <br /> <br /> Chanting OM causes our mind to become
still, sets up harmonious vibrations in our mind and subtle body,
elevates our mind to divinity, and raises our consciousness to the
transcendental state of turiya. We unite with the Supreme Self. <br /> <br /> Resources<br /> <br />
One of the best resources on OM is the Mandukya Upanishad. It is quite
short- only 12 stanzas- but is considered one of the deepest and most
important of the Upanishads. Swami Krishnananda has published a free
book in PDF form which contains the Mandukya Upanishad and his
commentary. Here is the link to the book:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.swami-krishnananda.org%2Fmand%2FMandukya_Upanishad.pdf&h=DAQGLIhcj&enc=AZPRi-OPijIwBuu_Je-jiWEM7x9x51N4ANRtR9YzcS-4RIOV8aIVsot6tN6TUOVsMq9IDhhnols5Xz0ppIjoiNHqwHTnymbN8Nf0ZH-34j-ttpH6dOKvgpan6gtHJGv9CEywJnLWE2ZCSESyvCgR6tE0&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.swami-krishnananda.org/mand/Mandukya_Upanishad.pdf</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> <br /> <br /> The Yoga Sutras contain two Sutras on OM: Sutra 1.27 and Sutra 1.28. <br /> <br /> Sutra 1.27 states that the sacred word representing Isvara (the Supreme Being) is OM (pranava). <br /> <br />
In Sutra 1.28 Patanjali gives us an important teaching for our
practice: “Let there be the chanting of OM with meditation on its
meaning.” If we read the two together we learn that meditation on the
Supreme Being is an important path to realizing our true Self. It is the
path of bhakti yoga or the yoga of devotion. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I sat alone on a block of stone <br /> On the banks of the Ganges. <br /> Mother Ganges blessed me. <br /> <br /> I meditated on OM and its meaning– <br /> The Word that is the symbol of Brahman. <br /> <br /> The little personality was lost. <br /> The mortal limit of the self was loosened. <br /> <br /> But there was infinite extension. <br /> I entered into the Nameless beyond; <br /> I realized the unity of bliss. <br /> <br /> No words can describe the thrill of joy, <br /> The mystic experiences, <br /> The supreme and divine height of felicity! <br /> <br /> The little “I” fused into the incandescent brilliance. <br /> <br /> Two become one now, <br /> It was all Tejomaya Ananda– <br /> One mass of transcendental light bliss. <br /> <br /> Sri Swami Sivananda</span></span></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-31506361794633658822014-02-27T07:11:00.002-08:002014-02-28T08:40:08.240-08:00Chakras in the Body by Ram Dass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you think in terms of chakras, or energy systems in the body or
connected with the body, there is the first, second, third, fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh, which are called the <i>muladhara, sradhishthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddha, anja, and sahasrara</i>.
The first one is in the bottom of the spine, the second is sort of
below the navel, the third is at the navel, the fourth is in the heart
region, the fifth is at the throat, the sixth is between the eyebrows,
the seventh is on the top of the head. These don’t necessarily have any
physiological correlates. They’re just psychic localizations of psychic
energy, let’s put it that way, in this Hindu system, a Sanskrit, Hindu
system I was talking about. Now, instead of doing an MMPI or a Rorschach
you could also do a chakra chart, just like you could do an
astrological chart. And these all tell you certain things. An
astrological chart is like an MMPI one level back in abstraction. In the
same way, a chakra chart tells, in a way, where the energy is fixed or
localized in a person, where it’s stuck.<br />
<br />
For most people in the
Western universe, in fact most people in the world, almost all of the
energy is located either in the first, second, or third chakras. The
first chakra can be characterized crudely as being connected with
survival and the survival of the individual as a separate being. It’s
like we’re in the jungle and there’s one piece of meat and who’s going
to get it, you or me? It’s a survival-of-the-fittest type model. It’s a
Darwinian assumption about the motivations of beings. When you’re at
that chakra, your motivation is to protect yourself as a separate being,
your separateness. And the channel up which this is all going is called
the <i>Sushumna</i> – think of it as a big river. You go in the river
from Africa and the next stop is like the Riviera. See, you’ve got your
security under control and now you start to go into sensual
gratification and sexual desires and reproduction. You can’t be busy
reproducing if you’re protecting your life, but the minute your life’s
protected a little bit, then you can concern yourself with the next
matter, which is reproducing the species. So the second chakra is
primarily concerned with sexual actions, reactions, and so on – at the
reproduction level. Procreative. Sex.<br />
<br />
The third chakra, that’s
like Wall Street and Washington and London. It’s primarily connected
with power, with mastery, with ego control. Most of the world that we
think of is connected with those particular centers. All the energy’s
located there. People justify their lives in terms of reproduction or
sexual gratification or power or mastery. And it’s interesting that
pretty much any act we know of in the Western world can be done in the
service of any one of those energies. So that a man can build a huge
dynamic industry or we can say, “Aha, phallic,” meaning second chakra.
Or a person can seduce many women in order to have mastery and power
over them and we say, “Aha, concerned with power and mastery,” meaning
third chakra. Doing sex in the service of third chakra.<br />
<br />
Jung is
primarily concerned with the fourth chakra.<br />
I would point out that there
are still the fifth, sixth and seventh chakras, and these are in terms
of other kinds of psychic spaces and ways of organizing the universe and
understanding what’s happening. There are many theories that are
nonmystical and there are theories that are mystical; there are theories
that deal with transcendent states and there are theories that don’t.
And when Jung starts to deal with his archetypes, collective unconscious
and so on, he is starting to deal with the fourth chakra, which is the
same thing as Buddha’s compassion. He is still in astral planes and he
himself is afraid to go on, that’s quite clear. He goes just so far and
then he stops, because he’s afraid that if he goes the next step, he
will no longer be able to do what he does as Carl Jung. That’s a very
tricky place, to be able to surrender to your game which you have
certain mastery in, in order to go for more. But I’m afraid that
everybody is driven to go for more until they can, in the depths of
their inner being, say, “This is enough.” And they can only say that
when it is. So the press of evolution on man’s consciousness is
inevitable. There’s nothing he can do about it. He doesn’t really have
much choice in the matter. He’s just got to wake up at the rate he’s got
to wake up.<br />
- Ram Dass, 1970</div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-11862534262785731732014-02-07T17:15:00.001-08:002014-02-11T05:36:21.988-08:00Are you on your way to Bodhisattva?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">A Bodhisattva is someone who says from the depth of his or her heart, </span></span></div>
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</span></span><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
</div>
</span></span></b><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
“I
want to be liberated and find ways to overcome </div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
all the problems of the
world. </div>
</span></span></b><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span></b><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span></b><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
I want to help all my fellow beings to do likewise. </div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
I long to
attain the highest state of everlasting peace and happiness,</div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
in which
all suffering has ceased, </div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
and I want to do so for myself and for all
sentient beings.” </div>
</span></span></b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
A<span class="text_exposed_show">ccording to the
Buddha’s teaching, anyone who makes this firm and heartfelt commitment
is a Bodhisattva. We become Bodhisattvas from the moment we have this
vast and open heart, called <b>Bodhichitta</b> ( </span><span class="text_exposed_show">is a compassion for all beings, accompanied by a falling away of the attachment to the illusion of an inherently existing self.) , the mind bent on bringing
lasting happiness to all sentient beings.<br /> <br /> Buddhist literature
defines three types of bodhisattvas: </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show">the <b>king</b>like bodhisattva, </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show">the
<b>captain</b>like bodhisattva, </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show">and the <b>shepherd</b>like bodhisattva.<br /> <br /> A <b>
kinglike bodhisattva</b> is like a good king who first wants everything
luxurious for himself, like a big palace, a large entourage, a beautiful
queen, and so on. But once his happiness has been achieved, he also
wants to help and support his subjects as much as possible. </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show">Accordingly,
a kinglike bodhisattva has the motivation, </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show"><b>“First, I want to free
myself from samsara and attain perfect enlightenment. As soon as I have
reached buddhahood, I will help all other sentient beings to become
buddhas as well.”</b><br /> <br /> </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show">A <b>captainlike bodhisattva</b> would say, </span></div>
</span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show"><b>“I would
like to become a Buddha, and I will take all other sentient beings
along with me so that we reach enlightenment together.”</b> </span></div>
</span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show">This is just as
the captain of a ship crosses the sea, he takes his passengers with him,
and they reach the far shore simultaneously.<br /> <br /> A <b>shepherdlike
bodhisattva</b> is inspired by thinking, </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show"><b>“I want to help all sentient beings
to reach enlightenment and see the truth. Only when this is achieved
and samsara is emptied will I become a buddha myself.”</b> </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_52f57db16f0c00140831472">
<span class="text_exposed_show">In actual fact it
may not happen this way, but anyone who has this motivation is called a
“shepherdlike bodhisattva.” In the old days, sheep were not kept in
fenced pastures, and the shepherds had to bring them down from the
mountains to protect them from wolves. They would follow behind the
sheep, guiding them into their pen and lock them in. A shepherd would
take care of his sheep first, and only then would he go home and eat.<br /> <br />
The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara developed this shepherdlike motivation
and is therefore considered to be the most courageous and compassionate
of beings. He vowed, “I will not attain complete enlightenment until I
have led all sentient beings to liberation without leaving a single one
behind.”<br /> <br /> Ringu Tulku Rinpoche</span></div>
</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> —</span></span></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-86643164925670694842014-02-06T02:04:00.000-08:002014-02-06T02:04:20.327-08:00Words of a Tibeten master <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">"Masters of the Oral Tradition, victorious buddhas and bodhisattvas,</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Powerful Avalokiteshvara and precious Tara, hold with your compassion</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">One who, forgetting death, thinks only of the business of this life,</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Squandering his freedoms and favorable conditions!</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />This human life is fleeting as a dream:</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Whether it is happy or unhappy,<br />May I, without caring about joys and sorrows,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This human life is like a flame exposed to the wind:<br />Whether it is long or short, may I,<br />Without letting my ego tighten its grip,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The reasonings of the intellect are deceptive illusions:<br />Whether they are right or wrong, may I, disdaining them<br />As the trifles of the eight worldly preoccupations,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Companions are like a flock of birds perched on a tree:<br />Whether they be united or dispersed,<br />May I, taking the reins of my destiny,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This body is like an old ruin:<br />Whether it is robust or decrepit, may I,<br />Unhampered by seeking clothes, food, and medicines,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />As for knowledge that is useless in time of need,<br />Like a deer's antlers, never mind if I know it or not.<br />May I, without placing my trust in ordinary knowledge,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The trappings of a lama make me look<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Like a dog turd wrapped in brocade.<br />Whether I have them or not, may I,<br />By seeing the rottenness of my own head,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Friends and relatives are like visitors to a market:<br />Whether they are friendly or hostile, may I,<br />Cutting the ropes of attachment from the bottom of my heart,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Material goods are like a treasure found in a dream:<br />Whether I have them or not, may I,<br />Without seeking profit by flattering those around me,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Social rank is like a baby bird landing on the top of a tree:<br />Whether it is high or low, may I,<br />Without yearning for the cause of my own problems,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Quickness to analyze is like the snout of a pig:<br />Whether it is sharp or blunt, may I,<br />Without vainly spouting the foam of anger or enthusiasm,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Meditative experiences come and go like a summer torrent:<br />Whether they increase or decrease,<br />May I, without being like a child chasing a rainbow,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />These freedoms and favorable conditions are like the wish-fulfilling gem:<br />Without them, I would be unable to apply the instructions.<br />May I, without wasting them while I still have them,<br />Sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The glorious master illuminates the path of liberation:<br />Without having met him, I would have no means<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />To comprehend the ultimate nature of things.<br />Not jumping into the abyss, now I know where I'm going,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The supreme teaching is like a panacea:<br />Without hearing it, there is no way to know what to do or not do.<br />No longer swallowing deadly poison, now I can distinguish the beneficial from the harmful.<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This alternation of joys and sufferings is like cycle of the seasons:<br />Without realizing that, how could I get tired of cyclic existence?<br />With the certainty that suffering will again be my lot,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Like a stone in water, one sinks to the bottom of samsara:<br />Now if I do not seize the rope of compassion<br />That the Three Jewels offer me, later it will be impossible.<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The qualities of liberation are as precious as an island of jewels:<br />Without knowing them, there is no way to arouse one's courage.<br />Recognizing the unassailable gains of the conquerors,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The life stories of enlightened beings are like ambrosia:<br />Without reading them, one cannot develop faith.<br />Knowing where lies victory or defeat,<br />And no longer buying my own suffering,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Altruistic aspiration to enlightenment is like a fertile field:<br />If one does not develop it, there is no way to attain buddhahood.<br />Without abandoning through indifference the accomplishment of the noble goal,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This mind is like a turbulent monkey:<br />Without taming it, there is no way to correct the negative emotions.<br />Ceasing to indulge in foolish pantomimes,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This belief in an "I" accompanies me like a shadow:<br />Without getting rid of it, there is no way to reach the land of bliss.<br />Never fraternizing with the enemy once it is captured,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />These five mental poisons are like a fire smoldering under the ashes:<br />Without extinguishing them, one cannot rest in the unaltered nature of the mind.<br />Ceasing to harbor venomous snakes in my breast,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This rigid character is like the old leather of a butter bag:<br />Without softening it, I cannot mix my mind with the Dharma.<br />Not letting my own child do whatever it likes,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />These inveterate bad habits are like the flow of a river:<br />Without interrupting them, I will always do what is opposed to the Dharma.<br />Ceasing to supply arms to my enemies,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />These perpetual distractions are like endless ripples on water:<br />Without renouncing them, I cannot stabilize my mind.<br />Ceasing to give birth to samsara while I am free to choose,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The master's blessings are like the heat that warms the earth and water:<br />Unless they enter me, I cannot recognize my own nature.<br />While this shortcut is possible, without following a thousand detours,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This solitary place is like a summer valley of medicinal herbs:<br />Without staying here, I cannot develop spiritual qualities.<br />Now that I"m in the mountains, without wandering in the sad villages,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />This desire for comfort is like the demon of poverty living in my own home:<br />Without separating from it, I will always find ways to create suffering.<br />By not making offerings to a hungry devil as if he were a god,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Attention and vigilance are like the door-bars of a fortress:<br />Without them, the comings and going of illusions will never stop.<br />Never leaving the latch undone in the presence of thieves,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The natural state of mind is like immutable space:<br />Unless one discovers it, efforts to apply antidotes will never end.<br />Instead of putting fetters on my own legs,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The nature of pure awareness is like a stainless crystal:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Without realizing it, one does not acquire the certainty that it has no root or foundation.<br />Not seeking elsewhere what is already within,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />The natural simplicity of mind is like an old friend:<br />If its face is unfamiliar,<br />Any practice is just deceptive illusion.<br />Instead of groping my way with my eyes closed,<br />May I sincerely practice the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />May the two aspects of the mind of enlightenment arise in my mind<br />Thanks to the Buddha's essential instructions transmitted by Atisha<br />And practiced by holders of the oral lineage.<br />May all my actions be in harmony with the supreme Dharma!<br /><br />Our ordinary actions are as useless as wandering in the desert,<br />Our efforts only make the mind more rigid,<br />Our thoughts just reinforce delusion,<br />And everything that ordinary people claim to be Dharma is a cause of entanglement.<br /><br />Multitudes of activities that never succeed,<br />Crowds of thoughts without any meaning,<br />Thousands of needs with no time to cater to them:<br />May I abandon all this agitation and practice the oral instructions!<br /><br />If I want to act, I will take the words of the conqueror as my witness.<br />If I do something, I will mingle my mind with the Dharma.<br />If I want to practice, I will read the lives of the masters of the Oral Lineage.<br />Indulgent habits, what else can I do with you?<br /><br />Taking the most humble place, with the wealth of satisfaction,<br />Freed from the shackles of the eight ordinary concerns, courageously engaged in practice,<br />Receiving the master's blessings and achieving realization as vast as space,<br />May I enter the lineage of the Oral Tradition!"<br /><br />~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />*Translated by Matthieu Ricard in 'On The Path To Enlightenment'<br /> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBf8R4wCkok9j3dFoR6-yuI2KuafegtFso_glBz8356OeHboWBnOMKGZu92M6wQQZTDvC5rHrrInlQbv_bHJn9BJR9EMeWg0d9Ek0d3xnHOwyqO7b6SJMiemYGkpqnEZ34_aZzfbxoRZA/s1600/24312_3899964874371_897484241_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBf8R4wCkok9j3dFoR6-yuI2KuafegtFso_glBz8356OeHboWBnOMKGZu92M6wQQZTDvC5rHrrInlQbv_bHJn9BJR9EMeWg0d9Ek0d3xnHOwyqO7b6SJMiemYGkpqnEZ34_aZzfbxoRZA/s1600/24312_3899964874371_897484241_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">*Image of the living embodiment Mingyur Rinpoche, sitting in a retreat cave, September 2013. Photo by Lama Tashi.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuupl38GMuX2zgs1d_bB2ZmUhtqbFvF1DDh0Ki8fTkIoCR-XK4k9y2UfLKCOHBXzrjDabKs49rXkOMsDVETvkilkPOr3fEVLi7r6sGxmwtzcNwS_aSYpiL-0e8Zm1i8VVV-sEmAezcCc/s1600/asanga1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuupl38GMuX2zgs1d_bB2ZmUhtqbFvF1DDh0Ki8fTkIoCR-XK4k9y2UfLKCOHBXzrjDabKs49rXkOMsDVETvkilkPOr3fEVLi7r6sGxmwtzcNwS_aSYpiL-0e8Zm1i8VVV-sEmAezcCc/s1600/asanga1.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">"As soon as you think of meditating, immediately enter the flow of mindfulness of the present moment of awareness. If you maintain that continuously, there is no risk of the slightest mistake, the slightest confusion, or wrong direction. It is unawareness that leads to wandering in the cycle of suffering.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">If you recognize this mindfulness, your mental confusion will disappear of itself. Whatev</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">er thoughts arise from within that mindfulness, simple remain in the recognition of the observer that notices that a thought is happening without following the thoughts or rejecting the arising of thoughts. In that way not only are thoughts liberated by themselves, but they become a support of the path.<br /><br />Undercurrents of thoughts that go unnoticed are as if set in stone. They establish repetitive patterns that solidify to perpetuate the endless cycle of existence.<br /><br />Thoughts recognized by mindfulness are like drawings on the surface of water, which disappear as soon as they are drawn. They vanish without contributing to the creation of proliferating tendencies and do not reinforce the cycle of suffering."<br /><br />~ Jigme Lingpa<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
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<b>Namaste</b></div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-9109138904561554052014-02-04T17:15:00.001-08:002014-02-04T17:15:51.116-08:00Who am I? part two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi" border="1" src="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/images/rona188.jpg" height="400" width="315" /></div>
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<i>Sri Ramana Maharshi</i></div>
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The next section is a continuation of the answer to the previous
question: 'Are there any other means for making the mind quiescent?'
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<b>Like breath control, meditation on a form of God,
repetition of sacred words and regulation of diet are mere aids for
controlling the mind. Through meditation on a form of God and through
the repetition of sacred words the mind becomes focused on one point. An
elephant's trunk is always moving around, but when a chain is given to
it to hold in its trunk, that elephant will go on its way, holding onto
the chain instead of trying to catch other things with it. Similarly,
when the mind, which is always wandering, is trained to hold onto any
name or form of God, it will only cling to that. Because the mind
branches out into innumerable thoughts, each thought becomes very weak.
As thoughts subside more and more, one-pointedness [of mind] is gained. A
mind that has gained strength in this way will easily succeed in
self-enquiry. Of all regulations taking sattvic food in moderate
quantities is the best. Through [this], the sattvic quality of the mind
gets enhanced and becomes an aid to self-enquiry. </b>
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A sattvic diet is one which is vegetarian and which also
excludes stimulating substances - such as chillies, tobacco, alcohol -
and food that is excessively sour, salty or pungent.
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Some Indian systems of thought maintain that the mind is composed of three fluctuating components called gunas:
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(a) <i>sattva</i>, purity or harmony.
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(b) <i>rajas</i>, activity.
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(c) <i>tamas</i>, inertia or sluggishness.
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Since the type of food eaten affects the quality of the mind, non-sattvic foods promote
<i> rajas</i> and <i>tamas</i>. The sattvic mind is the most
desirable. One of the aims of spiritual practice is to increase the
sattvic component at the expense of
<i> rajas</i> and <i>tamas</i>.
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Question: Is it possible for the <i> vishaya vasanas</i>, which come from beginningless time, to be resolved, and for one to remain as the pure Self?
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<b>Although <i> vishaya vasanas</i>, which have been
recurring down the ages, rise in countless numbers like the waves of an
ocean, they will all perish as meditation on one's real nature becomes
more and more intense. Without giving room even to the doubting thought,
'Is it possible to destroy all these
<i> vasanas</i> and remain as Self alone?' one should persistently
and tightly hold onto meditation on one's real nature. However great a
sinner one may be, one should, instead of lamenting, 'Oh, I am a sinner!
How can I attain liberation?' completely give up even the thought of
being a sinner. One steadfast in meditation on one's real nature will
surely be saved. </b>
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Question: How long should enquiry be practised? What is non-attachment?
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<b>As long as there are <i> vishaya vasanas</i> in the mind,
the enquiry 'Who am I?' is necessary. As and when thoughts arise, one
should, then and there, annihilate them all through self-enquiry in the
very place of their origin. Not giving attention to anything other than
oneself is non-attachment or desirelessness; not leaving the Self is
<i> jnana</i> [true knowledge]. In truth, these two
[non-attachment and desirelessness] are one and the same. Just as a
pearl diver, tying a stone to his waist, dives into the sea and takes
the pearl lying on the bottom, so everyone, diving deeply within himself
in a detached way can obtain the pearl of the Self. If one resorts
uninterruptedly to remembrance of one's real nature until one attains
the Self, that alone will be sufficient. As long as there are enemies
within the fort, they will continue to come out. If one continues to cut
all of them down as and when they emerge, the fort will fall into our
hands.</b>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bk1">Question</a>: Is it not possible for God or the Guru to effect the release of the soul?
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<b>God and Guru are, in truth, not different. Just as the
prey that has fallen into the jaws of the tiger cannot escape, so those
who have come under the glance of the Guru's grace will never be
forsaken. Nevertheless, one should follow without fail the path shown by
the Guru.</b>
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<b> Remaining firmly in Self-abidance, without giving the
least scope for the rising of any thought other than the thought of the
Self, is surrendering oneself to God. However much of a burden we throw
on God, He bears it all. Since the one supreme ruling power is
performing all activities, why should we, instead of yielding ourselves
to it, think, 'I should not act in this way; I should act in that way'?
When we know that the train is carrying all the freight, why should we,
who travel in it, suffer by keeping our own small luggage on our heads
instead of putting it down and remaining happily at ease? </b>
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In the last three sections Bhagavan has used three terms,
<i> swarupa dhyanam</i> (meditation on one's real nature), <i> swarupa smaranai</i> (remembrance of one's real nature), and
<i> atma chintanai</i> (the thought of the Self) to indicate the
process by which one becomes aware of the Self. They should not be
understood to mean that one should try to focus one's attention on the
Self, for the real Self can never be an object of thought. The
benedictory verse of
<i> Ulladu Narpadu</i> explains what Bhagavan meant by such terms.
It asks the question, 'How to meditate on that reality which is called
the Heart?' since that reality alone exists, and it answers by saying,
'To abide in the Heart as it really is, is truly meditating.' That is to
say, one can be the Heart by 'abiding as it is', but one cannot
experience it as an object of attention.
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This interpretation is confirmed by the sentence in the last extract from
<i> Who Am I?</i> in which Bhagavan equates <i> atma chintanai</i> (the thought of the Self) with
<i> atma nishta</i> (Self-abidance).
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In a similar vein Bhagavan remarks later in the essay that
'always keeping the mind fixed in the Self alone can be called
self-enquiry'.
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Question: What is happiness?
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<b>What is called happiness is merely the nature of the Self.
Happiness and the Self are not different. The happiness of the Self
alone exists; that alone is real. There is no happiness at all in even a
single one of the [many] things in the world. We believe that we derive
happiness from them on account of
<i> aviveka</i> [a lack of discrimination, an inability to
ascertain what is correct]. When the mind is externalised, it
experiences misery. The truth is, whenever our thoughts [that is, our
desires] get fulfilled, the mind turns back to its source and
experiences Self-happiness alone. In this way the mind wanders without
rest, emerging and abandoning the Self and [later] returning within. The
shade under a tree is very pleasant. Away from it the sun's heat is
scorching. A person who is wandering around outside reaches the shade
and is cooled. After a while he goes out again, but unable to bear the
scorching heat, returns to the tree. In this way he is engaged in going
from the shade into the hot sunshine and in coming back from the hot
sunshine into the shade. A person who acts like this is an
<i> aviveki</i> [someone who lacks discrimination], for a discriminating person would never leave the shade. By analogy, the mind of a
<i> jnani</i> never leaves <i>Brahman</i>, whereas the mind of
someone who has not realised the Self is such that it suffers by
wandering in the world before turning back to
<i> Brahman</i> for a while to enjoy happiness. What is called
'the world' is only thoughts. When the world disappears, that is, when
there are no thoughts, the mind experiences bliss; when the world
appears, it experiences suffering.</b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: Is not everything the work of God?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>In the mere presence of the sun, which rises without
desire, intention or effort, the magnifying glass emits hot light, the
lotus blossoms and people begin, perform and cease their work. In front
of a magnet a needle moves. Likewise, through the mere influence of the
presence of God, who has no
<i> sankalpa</i> [intention to accomplish anything], souls, who
are governed by the three or five divine functions, perform and cease
their activities in accordance with their respective karmas. Even so, He
[God] is not someone who has
<i>sankalpa</i>, nor will a single act ever touch him. This
[untouchability] can be compared to the actions of the world not
touching the sun, or to the good and bad qualities of the elements
[earth, water, fire and air] not affecting the immanent space. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<i>Sankalpa</i> means 'resolve', 'will', or 'intention'. God has no personal
<i>sankalpa</i>. That is to say, He does not decide or even think
about what he should do. Though mature devotees 'bloom' on account of
his presence, it is not because He has decided to bestow His grace on
these fortunate few. His presence is available to all, but only the
mature convert it into realisation.
</div>
<div class="text">
The three divine functions are creation, sustenance and
destruction. The five divine functions are these three plus veiling and
grace. According to many Hindu scriptures, God creates, preserves and
eventually destroys the world. While it exists, He hides His true nature
from the people in it through the veiling power of
<i>maya</i>, illusion, while simultaneously emanating grace so
that mature devotees can lift the veils of illusion and become aware of
Him as He really is.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: For those who long for release, is it useful to read books?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>It is said in all the scriptures that to attain liberation
one should make the mind subside. After realising that mind control is
the ultimate injunction of the scriptures, it is pointless to read
scriptures endlessly. In order to know the mind, it is necessary to know
who one is. How [can one know who one is] by researching instead in the
scriptures? One should know oneself through one's own eye of knowledge.
For [a man called] Rama to know himself to be Rama, is a mirror
necessary? One's self exists within the five sheaths, whereas the
scriptures are outside them. This self is the one to be enquired into.
Therefore, researching in the scriptures, ignoring even the five
sheaths, is futile. Enquiring 'Who am I that am in bondage?' and knowing
one's real nature is alone liberation. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
In self-enquiry one is enquiring into the nature and origin of the individual self, not the all-pervasive
<i>Atman</i>. When Self appears in capitals, it denotes <i>Atman</i>, the real Self. When self it appears in lower case, it refers to the individual.
</div>
<div class="text">
The five sheaths or <i> kosas</i> envelop and contain the individual self. They are:
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
(1) <i>annamayakosa</i>, the food sheath, which corresponds to the physical body.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
(2) <i>pranamayakosa</i>, the sheath made of <i>prana</i>.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
(3) <i>manomayakosa</i>, the sheath of the mind.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
(4) <i>vijnanmayakosa</i>, the sheath of the intellect.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
(5) <i>anandamayakosa</i>, the sheath of bliss.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Sheaths two, three and four comprise the subtle body
(<i>sukshma sarira</i>) while the fifth sheath, called the causal body, corresponds to the state of the individual self during sleep.
</div>
<div class="text">
The individual 'I' functions through the five sheaths. Practitioners of the
<i> neti-neti</i> '(not this, not this') type of <i> sadhana</i> reject their association with the five sheaths in the way described in the second paragraph of
<i> Who Am I?</i> The idea behind this practice is that if one
rejects all thoughts, feelings and sensations as 'not I', the real 'I'
will eventually shine in a form that is unlimited by or to the sheaths.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>Keeping the mind fixed in the Self at all times is called self-enquiry, whereas thinking oneself to be
<i>Brahman</i>, which is <i> sat-chit-ananda</i> [being-consciousness-bliss], is meditation. Eventually, all that one has learnt will have to be
forgotten</b>.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
One can distinguish different levels of experience in the
practice of self-enquiry. In the beginning one attempts to eliminate all
transient thoughts by concentrating on or looking for the primal
'I'-thought. This corresponds to the stage Bhagavan described earlier in
the essay when one cuts down all the enemies, the thoughts, as they
emerge from the fortress of the mind. If one achieves success in this
for any length of time, the 'I'-thought, deprived of new thoughts to
attach itself to, begins to subside, and one then moves to a deeper
level of experience. The 'I'-thought descends into the Heart and remains
there temporarily until the residual
<i> vasanas</i> cause it to rise again. It is this second stage
that Bhagavan refers to when he says that 'keeping the mind fixed in the
Self alone can be called self-enquiry'. Most practitioners of
self-enquiry will readily admit that this rarely happens to them, but
nevertheless, according to Bhagavan's teachings, fixing the mind in the
Self should be regarded as an intermediate goal on the path to full
realisation.
</div>
<div class="text">
It is interesting to note that Bhagavan restricts the term
'self-enquiry' to this phase of the practice. This unusual definition
was more or less repeated in an answer he gave to Kapali Sastri:
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: If I go on rejecting thoughts, can I call it <i> vichara</i> [self-enquiry]?
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: It may be a stepping stone. But real <i> vichara</i> begins when you cling to yourself and are already off the mental movements, the thought
waves.(<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami2.shtml#ftnref8" name="ftn8">8</a>)
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
The following optimistic answers by Bhagavan, on keeping the
mind in the Heart, may provide encouragement to those practitioners who
often feel that such experiences may never come their way:
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: How long can the mind stay or be kept in the Heart?
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: The period extends by practice.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: What will happen at the end of that period?
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: The mind returns to the present normal state. Unity in the
Heart is replaced by a variety of perceived phenomena. This is called
the outgoing mind. The Heart-going mind is called the resting mind.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
When one daily practises more and more in this manner, the mind
will become extremely pure due to the removal of its defects and the
practice will become so easy that the purified mind will plunge into the
Heart as soon as the enquiry is
commenced. (<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami2.shtml#ftnref9" name="ftn9">9</a>)
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Bhagavan noted that 'thinking oneself to be <i> Brahman</i>… is meditation', not enquiry. Traditional advaitic<i> sadhana
</i> follows the path of negation and affirmation. In the negative
approach, one continuously rejects all thoughts, feelings and sensations
as 'not I'. On the affirmative route one attempts to cultivate the
attitude 'I am
<i>Brahman</i>' or 'I am the Self'. Bhagavan called this latter
approach, and all other techniques in which one concentrates on an idea
or a form, 'meditation', and regarded all such methods as being indirect
and inferior to self-enquiry.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: Is not affirmation of God more effective than the quest 'Who
am I?' Affirmation is positive, whereas the other is negation. Moreover,
it indicates separateness.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: So long as you seek to know how to realise, this advice is
given to find your Self. Your seeking the method denotes your
separateness.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: Is it not better to say 'I am the Supreme Being' than ask 'Who am I?'
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: Who affirms? There must be one to do it. Find that one. <b>Q</b>: Is not meditation better than investigation?
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: Meditation implies mental imagery, whereas investigation is
for the reality. The former is objective, whereas the latter is
subjective.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: There must be a scientific approach to this subject.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: To eschew unreality and seek the reality is scientific.(<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami2.shtml#ftnref10" name="ftn10">10</a>)
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: Is it necessary for one who longs for release to enquire into the nature of the
<i>tattvas</i>?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>Just as it is futile to examine the garbage that has to be
collectively thrown away, so it is fruitless for one who is to know
himself to count the numbers and scrutinise the properties of the
<i> tattvas</i> that are veiling the Self, instead of collectively throwing them all away. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Indian philosophers have split the phenomenal world up into many different entities or categories which are called
<i>tattvas</i>. Different schools of thought have different lists of <i>tattvas</i>,
some being inordinately long and complicated. Bhagavan encouraged his
devotees to disregard all such classifications on the grounds that,
since the appearance of the world is itself an illusion, examining its
component parts one by one is an exercise in futility.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bk2">Question</a>: Is there no difference between waking and dream?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>
One should consider the universe to be like a dream. Except that waking
is long and dreams are short, there is no difference [between the two
states]. To the extent to which all the events which happen while one is
awake appear to be real, to that same extent even the events that
happen in dreams appear at that time to be real. In dreams, the mind
assumes another body. In both the dream and the waking [states] thoughts
and names-and-forms come into existence simultaneously. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
The final two paragraphs of the essay are taken from an answer to a question that has already been given:
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: Is it possible for the <i> vishaya vasanas</i>, which come from beginningless time, to be resolved, and for one to remain as the pure Self?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>There are not two minds, one good and another evil. The mind is only one. It is only the
<i> vasanas</i> that are either auspicious or inauspicious. When the
mind is under the influence of auspicious tendencies, it is called a
good mind, and when it is under the influence of inauspicious
tendencies, a bad mind. However evil people may appear, one should not
hate them. Likes and dislikes are both to be disliked. One should not
allow the mind to dwell much on worldly matters. As far as possible, one
should not interfere in the affairs of others. All that one gives to
others, one gives only to oneself. If this truth is known, who indeed
will not give to others?
If the individual self rises, all will rise. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
<b> If the individual self subsides, all will subside. To the extent
that we behave with humility, to that extent will good result. If one
can continuously control the mind, one can live anywhere. </b>
</div>
</div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-56386568581440285722014-01-30T16:09:00.000-08:002014-01-30T16:09:43.669-08:00Enter the Matrix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h1 class="yt" id="watch-headline-title" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: normal;">
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="-webkit-user-select: auto; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: black; cursor: auto; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="The PARADOX of CHOICE vs CAUSALITY"> </span></h1>
<h1 class="yt" id="watch-headline-title" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: normal;">
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="-webkit-user-select: auto; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: black; cursor: auto; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Purpose"> </span></h1>
<h1 class="yt" id="watch-headline-title" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: normal;">
<span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="-webkit-user-select: auto; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: black; cursor: auto; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Purpose"> </span></h1>
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yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-7281944661842437472013-12-30T05:53:00.000-08:002013-12-30T05:57:59.344-08:00RESPONSE - ABILITY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Our beloved Master,<br /> ...It seems that the mind gives us<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> the illusion of control over life, while<br /> awareness makes us responsible<br /> for our lives.....Is not the turning point<br /> recognizing the difference between<br /> being in control and being responsible?<br /> <br /> Manisha, even the word " responsible " is a <br /> different name for control.<br /> ...A man of consciousness drops both<br /> control and responsibility. That does not<br /> mean that he is irresponsible; it simply<br /> means he becomes spontanious...<br /> ...The word " responsible " is contaminated<br /> by the missionaries of all the religions; <br /> hence, I would like not to use the word<br /> " responsible " I would like to use the<br /> word " spontanious "....<br /> ...When the mind is dropped you function<br /> spontaniously.... Your song, your dance,<br /> your silence, your words...all comes out of <br /> spontaneity. They are not irresponsible; <br /> they cannot be....But I don't want to use<br /> the word " responsibility ". The word is <br /> perfectly good, but it has become<br /> contaminated in its use by religions to force<br /> things upon you...<br /> " THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY " - <br /> responsibility towards your parents,<br /> responsibility towards your children,<br /> responsibility towards society....<br /> responsibility towards everything !<br /> And they have used responsibilty<br /> just to repress your spontaneity...<br /> ...Otherwise, the word in itself is <br /> very beautiful. If it can be cleaned off<br /> - a good dry cleaning ! - then it has<br /> to be broken in two parts:<br /> RESPONSE - ABILITY ..Then it will be<br /> equivalent to spontaneity....<br /> ...But why unnecessarily dry clean<br /> when a fresh word is available.....<br /> <br /> OSHO</span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></span></span></b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /><b>' If we penetrate deeply into all aspects and all areas of life, we will find that<br /> hidden behind everything is love....we will discover that love is the force,<br /> the power and inspiration behind every word and every action. This applies<br /> to all people. irrespective of race, caste, creed, sect, religion or what work<br /> people do....'<br /> <br /> Amrithanandamayi ~ Amma.</b></span></span></div>
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yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-89763810343904336812013-12-27T16:38:00.002-08:002013-12-27T16:40:14.863-08:00 Seeing Beyond the Illusion of Separateness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Most members of the human family experience their lives as individuals, separate from others and the rest of the Universe. We identify with our names, nationalities, race, careers, family or religious group.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">What many fail to experience and realize is our deeper unity and relationship with All That Is. At a physical level we are formed by the atoms and</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> molecules of the earth, water and air- taken in as we eat, drink and breathe. Our bodies are composed of elements forged in the heart of stars that were themselves born in the spinning arms of our galaxy.<br /><br />The star closest to us keeps all beings on our planet alive. Photons streaming down every day are captured by the leaves of trees and plants. That energy is what animates our cells, organs and muscles, allowing us to live. We are both biological and solar beings, in a sense, children of Nature and the stars.<br /><br />This is not something society normally encourages us to think about, but at a very deep and physical level, this is who we are.<br /><br />And what of our spiritual identity? Various religions speak of this in different ways- telling us we are souls, awakening buddhas, spirit beings from another realm, localized awarenesses. Children of God or the Tao, inhabiting Planet Eden, lost in dreams of war, politics, careers, economics and mass consumption.<br /><br />One "Spiritual Hypothesis" is that we are all expressions of a Single Unified Awareness, a Universal MInd, dreaming and creating all that we see around us. Like molecules of water that rise up out of the oceans and then fall back as rain, we are expressions of this One, individualizing during our lifetimes and then returning.<br /><br />Whatever the truth may be, the fact that we are here now, together, sharing this world, seems to be quite a miracle. Experiencing life this way, and joyfully sharing that experience with others, is what many spiritual traditions refer to as enlightenment or awakening.<br /><br />~Christopher:<br />Tao & Zen Community Forum</span> <br />
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DEEP ECOLOGY REQUIRES NOT JUST A SHIFT IN VALUES OR IDEOLOGY, BUT A SHIFT IN CONSCIOUSNESS<br />
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"Once we step into the reality of a holistic consciousness that is truly in “interrelationship” with the whole, we will find our self in a very different world in which everything is interacting with us in a continually dynamic state. Even our consciousness is affecting the physical world. The question then<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>becomes what is our role in this truly interdependent reality? Even our present image of “deep ecology” primarily sees the world through a consciousness of separation—the analytic and rational framework of our education and conditioning. We rarely experience our consciousness merged into the oneness of the world around us, as for example exists with indigenous peoples for whom even the idea of an individual being separate from their environment does not exist.<br /><br />Sadly separation is so embedded into our present Western consciousness that we are not even aware of the limitations of our perception, or how our problem-solving mentality has a determining effect on how we see and interact with our environment. We have been educated to see the parts rather than the whole, and to think and act from an attitude of separation. If we are to truly embrace the reality of an ecological sustainability that recognizes the world as a living whole, we need to make the shift into a holistic consciousness, a consciousness that sees the whole in every part. Only then can we fully respond to the environmental crisis that is being caused by our present Western consciousness and the values it supports. Deep ecology requires not just a shift in values or ideology, but a shift in consciousness."<br /><br />—Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee<br /><br />From Sustainability, Deep Ecology, & the Sacred:<a href="http://tinyurl.com/copr9ux" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/copr9ux</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>With thanks to<a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=344308088799&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/workingwithoneness" id="js_8" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Working with Oneness</a></span></div>
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yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-31444722772269660672013-12-24T20:27:00.001-08:002013-12-24T20:27:55.106-08:00Inspirations # 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-60758791720711031742013-12-19T20:57:00.001-08:002013-12-19T20:57:16.057-08:00 5 Reasons Why Everyone Needs A Tongue Scraper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="body">
What is Tongue Scraping? <em> </em><br />
<em>Jihwa Prakshalana</em>, or the
Ayurvedic self-care ritual known as tongue scraping, is an an oral
hygiene practice that removes bacteria, food debris, fungi, toxins, and
dead cells from the surface of the tongue.<br />
<br />
When we sleep, our digestive system remains awake,<br />
removing toxins
from our body by depositing them onto the surface of our tongue.<br />
If we
don’t scrape away these toxins, they get reabsorbed by the body and can
lead to respiratory difficulties, digestive problems, and a compromised
immune system.<br />
<br />
Dental <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15341360" target="_blank">research</a>
has concluded that a tongue scraper is more effective at removing
toxins and bacteria from the tongue than a toothbrush. Although brushing
and flossing will loosen and move debris around, they do not actually
remove the bacteria.<br />
Almost half of our oral bacteria live on and in the
deep crevices of our tongue; the scraping action of a tongue scraper
collects these toxic tongue coatings (which can range in color from
clear, white, yellow, or green) and removes them from the body.
<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>5 reasons YOU should scrape your tongue</strong>
<br />
<strong><img alt="" src="http://res.mindbodygreen.com/img/ftr/WomanCleaningHerTongue.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 322px;" /></strong><strong> </strong><br />
<strong>1. Halitosis is horrible. </strong>
<br />
Bad breath can have a negative impact on a person’s life,
relationships, and self-esteem. Given that most bad breath comes from
the bacteria at the back of the tongue (an area that's difficult to
reach with a toothbrush), <a href="http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1806-83242008000500007&script=sci_arttext" target="_blank">clinical studies</a> have shown that tongue scraping significantly reduces and removes oral bacteria from the crevices of all areas the tongue.
<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>2. You want to experience the flavors of your food. </strong>
<br />
Proper digestion begins with taste and salivation. If you don't take
steps to remove toxic mucus on the tongue, your taste buds can become
blocked. This may lead to false cravings or an inability to recognize
the taste of food. Removing build-up from the surface of your tongue
will open up its pores and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15191584" target="_blank">better expose your taste buds</a>, allow for greater enjoyment of food flavors, and help your body digest and assimilate food.
<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>3. You want to boost your immunity. </strong>
<br />
The tongue is part of the first line of defense in your immune
system. Scraping your tongue prevents toxins from being reabsorbed into
your body and boosts overall immune function.
<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>4. You're down with dental health. </strong>
<br />
This oral hygiene practice promotes general tooth and gum health and
removes bacteria and toxins responsible for periodontal problems, plaque
build-up, tooth decay, loss of teeth, gum infections, and gum
recession.
<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>5. You'd like to improve your digestive health. </strong>
<br />
In <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/tag/ayurveda.html" target="_blank">Ayurveda</a>,
proper digestion is considered to be the foundation of health. Given
that digestion begins with taste, it's important to remove any toxins
that may obstruct optimal functioning. Scraping also activates saliva
production and promotes agni (the body’s digestive fire) to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15191584" target="_blank">help with digestion </a>throughout the day.
<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>How to scrape your tongue</strong>
<br />
<strong></strong>This Ayurvedic daily routine for maintaining oral
health should be done on a regular basis, in the morning upon rising,
and on an empty stomach. A tongue scraper is a long, thin, flat piece of
metal that is bent in a "U" shape.
<br />
Standing in front of a mirror, you scrape your tongue by simply
holding the two ends of the scraper in both hands, sticking out your
tongue, and placing the scraper as far back on you tongue as possible.
With firm but gentle pressure, scrape the surface of your tongue in one
long stroke. Rinse the scraper and repeat until your tongue feels clean
and is free of coating (usually 5 to 10 times).
<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Where to buy a tongue scraper?</strong>
<br />
<strong></strong>Tongue scrapers are inexpensive, and can be found at
most health food stores as well as online. Chose a stainless steel
scraper because they are easier to clean and are ideal for balancing for
all Ayurvedic constitutions and imbalances. In a pinch, the side of a
metal spoon can be effective.
<br />
<em> </em><br />
<div class="byline">
By <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/wc/gillian-mandich">Gillian Mandich</a> @ http://www.mindbodygreen.com</div>
<em>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/" target="_blank">Shutterstock.com</a></em>
</div>
</div>
yoga108balihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05078999478047617513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994254744019786814.post-78915603273829910492013-12-15T22:20:00.002-08:002013-12-15T22:27:40.974-08:00Who am I? part one<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 align="center" class="head">
<b><i>Who am I?</i></b></h2>
<h3 align="center" class="head">
<b><i>part one </i></b></h3>
<div align="center" class="text">
</div>
<div align="center" class="text">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="text">
</div>
<div align="center" class="text">
</div>
<div align="center" class="text">
<img alt="Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi" border="1" height="400" src="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/images/rona187.jpg" width="299" /></div>
<div align="center">
<i>Sri Ramana Maharshi</i></div>
<div class="text">
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>Every living being longs to be perpetually happy,
without any misery. Since in everyone the highest love is alone felt for
oneself, and since happiness alone is the cause of love, in order to
attain that happiness, which is one's real nature and which is
experienced daily in the mindless state of deep sleep, it is necessary
to know oneself. To achieve that, enquiry in the form 'Who am I?' is the
foremost means. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: Who am I?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b> 'Who am I?' The physical body, composed of the seven
<i>dhatus</i>, is not 'I'. The five sense organs… and the five
types of perception known through the senses… are not 'I'. The five
parts of the body which act… and their functions… are not 'I'. The five
vital airs such as
<i>prana</i>, which perform the five vital functions such as
respiration, are not 'I'. Even the mind that thinks is not 'I'. In the
state of deep sleep
<i> vishaya</i> <i> vasanas</i> remain. Devoid of sensory
knowledge and activity, even this [state] is not 'I'. After negating all
of the above as 'not I, not I', the knowledge that alone remains is
itself 'I'. The nature of knowledge is
<i> sat-chit-ananda</i> [being-consciousness-bliss]. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<i>
Vasanas</i> is a key word in <i> Who am I?</i> It can be defined
as, 'the impressions of anything remaining unconsciously in the mind;
the present consciousness of past perceptions; knowledge derived from
memory; latent tendencies formed by former actions, thoughts and
speech.' It is usually rendered in English as 'latent tendencies'.
<i> Vishaya vasanas</i> are those latent mental tendencies that
impel one to indulge in knowledge or perceptions derived from the five
senses. In a broader context it may also include indulging in any mental
activity such as daydreaming or fantasizing, where the content of the
thoughts is derived from past habits or desires.
</div>
<div class="text">
The seven <i> dhatus</i> are chyle, blood, flesh, fat,
marrow, bone and semen. The five sense organs are the ears, skin, eyes,
tongue and nose, and the five types of perception or knowledge, called
<i>vishayas</i>, are sound, touch, sight, taste and smell. The
five parts of the body that act are the mouth, the legs, the hands, the
anus, and the genitals and their functions are speaking, walking,
giving, excreting and enjoying. All the items on these lists are
included in the original text. I have relegated them to this explanatory
note to facilitate easy reading.
</div>
<div class="text">
The five vital airs (<i>prana vayus</i>) are not listed in
the original text. They are responsible for maintaining the health of
the body. They convert inhaled air and ingested food into the energy
required for the healthy and harmonious functioning of the body.
</div>
<div class="text">
This paragraph of <i> Who am I?</i> has an interesting
history. Sivaprakasam Pillai's original question was 'Who am I?', the
first three words of the paragraph. Bhagavan's reply, which can be found
at the end of the paragraph, was 'Knowledge itself is ''I''. The nature
of knowledge is
<i>sat-chit-ananda</i>.' Everything else in this paragraph was
interpolated later by Sivaprakasam Pillai prior to the first publication
of the question-and-answer version of the text in 1923. The word that
is translated as 'knowledge' is the Tamil equivalent of
'<i>jnana</i>'. So, the answer to that original question 'Who am I?' is,
'<i>Jnana</i> is ''I'' and the nature of <i> jnana</i> is <i>sat-chit-ananda</i>'.
</div>
<div class="text">
When Bhagavan saw the printed text he exclaimed, 'I did not
give this extra portion. How did it find a place here?'
</div>
<div class="text">
He was told that Sivaprakasam Pillai had added the
additional information, including all the long lists of physical organs
and their functions, in order to help him understand the answer more
clearly. When Bhagavan wrote the
<i> Who Am I?</i> answers in an essay form, he retained these
interpolations but had the printer mark the original answer in bold type
so that devotees could distinguish between the two.
</div>
<div class="text">
This interpolation does not give a correct rendering of Bhagavan's teachings on self-enquiry. In the following
exchange(<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml#ftnref1" name="ftn1">1</a>) Bhagavan explains how self-enquiry should be done, and why the 'not I, not I' approach is an unproductive one:
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: I begin to ask myself 'Who am I?', eliminate the body as not
'I', the breath as not 'I', and I am not able to proceed further.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>B</b>: Well, that is as far as the intellect can go. Your process is
only intellectual. Indeed, all the scriptures mention the process only
to guide the seeker to know the truth. The truth cannot be directly
pointed at. Hence, this intellectual process.
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
You see, the one who eliminates the 'not I' cannot eliminate the
'I'. To say 'I am not this' or 'I am that' there must be an 'I'. This
'I' is only the ego or the 'I'-thought. After the rising up of this
'I'-thought, all other thoughts arise. The 'I'-thought is therefore the
root thought. If the root is pulled out all others are at the same time
uprooted. Therefore, seek the root 'I', question yourself 'Who am I?'
Find the source and then all these other ideas will vanish and the pure
Self will remain.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bk1">Question</a>: Will there be realization of the Self even while the world is there, and taken to be real?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>If the mind, which is the cause of all knowledge and all
actions, subsides, the perception of the world will cease. [If one
perceives a rope, imagining it to be a snake] perception of the rope,
which is the substratum, will not occur unless the perception of the
snake, which has been superimposed on it, goes. Similarly, the
perception of one's real nature, the substratum, will not be obtained
unless the perception of the world, which is a superimposition, ceases. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: What is the nature of the mind?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>That which is called 'mind', which projects all thoughts, is an
awesome power existing within the Self, one's real nature. If we discard
all thoughts and look [to see what remains when there are no thoughts,
it will be found that] there is no such entity as mind remaining
separate [from those thoughts]. Therefore, thought itself is the nature
of the mind. There is no such thing as 'the world' independent of
thoughts. There are no thoughts in deep sleep, and there is no world. In
waking and dream there are thoughts, and there is also the world. Just
as a spider emits the thread of a web from within itself and withdraws
it again into itself, in the same way the mind projects the world from
within itself and later reabsorbs it into itself. When the mind emanates
from the Self, the world appears. Consequently, when the world appears,
the Self is not seen, and when the Self appears or shines, the world
will not appear. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
<b> If one goes on examining the nature of the mind, it will finally
be discovered that [what was taken to be] the mind is really only one's
self. That which is called one's self is really
<i>Atman</i>, one's real nature. The mind always depends for its
existence on something tangible. It cannot subsist by itself. It is the
mind that is called
<i> sukshma sarira </i> [the subtle body] or <i> jiva</i> [the soul].</b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: What is the path of enquiry for understanding the nature of the mind?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>That which arises in the physical body as 'I' is the mind. If
one enquires, 'In what place in the body does this ''I'' first arise?'
it will be known to be in the
<i> hridayam</i>. That is the birthplace of the mind. Even if one
incessantly thinks 'I, I', it will lead to that place. Of all thoughts
that arise in the mind, the thought 'I' is the first one. It is only
after the rise of this [thought] that other thoughts arise. It is only
after the first personal pronoun arises that the second and third
personal pronouns appear. Without the first person, the second and third
persons cannot exist.</b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<i>Hridayam</i> is usually translated as 'Heart', but it has no
connection with the physical heart. Bhagavan used it as a synonym for
the Self, pointing out on several occasions that it could be split up
into two parts,
<i> hrit</i> and <i> ayam</i>, which together mean, 'this is the centre'. Sometimes he would say that the 'I'-thought arises from the
<i> hridayam</i> and eventually subsides there again. He would also
sometimes indicate that the spiritual Heart was inside the body on the
right aside of the chest, but he would often qualify this by saying that
this was only true from the standpoint of those who identified
themselves with a body. For a
<i> jnani</i>, one who has realised the Self, the <i> hridayam</i> or Heart is not located anywhere, or even everywhere, because it is beyond all spatial concepts. The following
answer (<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml#ftnref2" name="ftn2">2</a>) summarises Bhagavan's views on this matter:
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
I ask you to see where the 'I' arises in your body, but it is not really
quite true to say that the 'I' rises from and merges on the right side
of the chest. The Heart is another name for the reality, and it is
neither inside nor outside the body. There can be no in or out for it
since it alone is… so long as one identifies with the body and thinks
that he is in the body, he is advised to see where in the body the
'I'-thought rises and merges again.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
A hint of this can also be found in this paragraph of
<i> Who am I? </i> in the sentence in which Bhagavan asks devotees to enquire 'In what place in the body does this ''I'' first arise?'
</div>
<div class="text">
Ordinarily, <i>idam</i>, which is translated here as 'place',
means only that, but Bhagavan often gave it a broader meaning by using
it to signify the state of the Self. Later in the essay, for example, he
writes, 'The place
[<i>idam</i>] where even the slightest trace of ''I'' does not exist is <i> swarupa</i> [one's real nature]'.
</div>
<div class="text">
Sadhu Natanananda, on the flyleaf of his Tamil work
<i> Sri Ramana Darshanam</i>, records a similar statement from Bhagavan: 'Those who resort to this place
[<i>idam</i>] will obtain <i> Atma-jnana</i> automatically.'
Clearly, he cannot be speaking of the physical environment of his ashram
because paying a visit there didn't necessarily result in
enlightenment.
</div>
<div class="text">
So, when Bhagavan writes 'In what place…' he is not
necessarily indicating that one should look for the 'I' in a particular
location. He is instead saying that that the 'I' rises from the
dimensionless Self, and that one should seek its source there.
</div>
<div class="text">
As he once told Kapali Sastri, (<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml#ftnref3" name="ftn3">3</a>) 'You should try to have rather than locate the experience'.
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
Question: How will the mind become quiescent?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>The mind will only subside by means of the enquiry 'Who am
I?' The thought 'Who am I?', destroying all other thoughts, will itself
be finally destroyed like the stick used for stirring the funeral pyre. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bk2">Question</a>: What is the means for constantly holding on to the thought 'Who am I?' And what is
<i> jnana drishti</i>?
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
<b> If other thoughts arise, one should, without attempting to
complete them, enquire, 'To whom did they occur?' What does it matter if
ever so many thoughts arise? At the very moment that each thought
rises, if one vigilantly enquires 'To whom did this appear?' it will be
known 'To me'. If one then enquires 'Who am I?' the mind will turn back
to its source and the thought that had arisen will also subside. By
repeatedly practising in this way, the mind will increasingly acquire
the power to abide at its source. When the mind, which is subtle, is
externalised via the brain and the sense organs, names and forms, which
are material, appear. When it abides in the Heart, names and forms
disappear. Keeping the mind in the Heart, not allowing it to go out, is
called 'facing the Self' or 'facing inwards'. Allowing it to go out from
the Heart is termed 'facing outwards' When the mind abides in the Heart
in this way, the 'I', the root of all thoughts, [vanishes]. Having
vanished, the ever-existing Self alone will shine. The state where not
even the slightest trace of the thought 'I' remains is alone
<i> swarupa</i> [one's real nature]. This alone is called <i> mauna</i> [silence]. Being still in this way can alone be called
<i> jnana drishti</i> [seeing through true knowledge]. Making the
mind subside into the Self is 'being still'. On the other hand, knowing
the thoughts of others, knowing the three times [past present and
future] and knowing events in distant places - these can never be
<i> jnana drishti</i>. </b>
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="text">
The word <i> swarupa</i> is another key word in the text. It
means 'one's real nature' or 'one's real form'. Each time the phrase
'one's real nature' appears in this text, it is a translation of
<i>swarupa</i>. Bhagavan's repeated use of the word as a synonym
for the Self indicates that the Self is not something that is reached or
attained. Rather, it is what one really is, and what one always has
been.
</div>
<div class="text">
<i>Mauna</i> is another of the synonyms Bhagavan used to describe the Self:
</div>
<div class="text">
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>Q</b>: What is <i> mauna</i> [silence]?
</div>
<div class="indentedtext">
<b>A</b>: That state which transcends speech and thought is <i> mauna</i>…. That which is, is
<i>mauna</i>. Sages say that the state in which the thought 'I' does not rise even in the least, alone is
<i>swarupa</i>, which means <i>mauna</i>. That silent Self is alone God…(<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml#ftnref4" name="ftn4">4</a>)
</div>
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In <i>jnana</i>, the state of Self-knowledge or
Self-realisation, there is no one who sees, nor are there objects that
are seen. There is only seeing. The seeing that takes place in this
state, called
<i> jnana drishti</i>, is both true seeing and true knowing. It is therefore called 'seeing through true knowledge'.
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In <i> Day by Day with Bhagavan</i> (17.10.46) Bhagavan points
out that this seeing is really being and should not be confused with or
limited to the sensory activity that goes under the same name: 'You are
the Self. You exist always. Nothing more can be predicated of the Self
than it exists. Seeing God or the Self is only being God or your Self.
Seeing is being.'
The same concept was elegantly formulated by Meister Eckart, the
medieval German mystic, when he remarked, during one of his sermons,
'The eye by which I see God is the same eye by which God sees me. My eye
and God's eye are one and the same, one in seeing, one in knowing…'
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Question: What is the nature of the Self?
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<b>The Self, one's real nature, alone exists and is real. The
world, the soul and God are superimpositions on it like [the illusory
appearance of] silver in mother-of-pearl. These three appear and
disappear simultaneously. Self itself is the world; Self itself is the
'I'; Self itself is God; all is Siva, the Self. </b>
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At the beginning of this paragraph Bhagavan says, in effect,
that the world, the soul and God are illusory appearances. Later he says
that all three are the Self, and therefore real. This should be seen as
a paradox rather than a contradiction. The following
answer (<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml#ftnref5" name="ftn5">5</a>) clarifies Bhagavan's views:
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Sankara was criticised for his views on <i> maya</i> [illusion] without understanding him. He said that (1)
<i> Brahman</i> [the Self] is real (2) the universe is unreal, and (3) <i> Brahman</i>
is the universe. He did not stop at the second because the third
explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if
perceived as the Self and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self.
Hence
<i> maya</i> and reality are one and the same.
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The seeing of names and forms is a misperception because, in the
Self, the one reality, none exist. Therefore, if a world of names and
forms is seen, it must necessarily be an illusory one. Bhagavan explains
this in verse 49 of
<i> Guru Vachaka Kovai</i>:
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Just as fire is obscured by smoke, the shining light of consciousness is
obscured by the assemblage of names and forms. When, by compassionate
divine grace, the mind becomes clear, the nature of the world will be
known to be not illusory forms, but only the reality.
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Question: Are there any other means for making the mind quiescent?
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<b>To make the mind subside, there is no adequate means except
enquiry. If controlled by other means, the mind will remain in an
apparent state of subsidence, but will rise again. For example, through
<i> pranayama</i> [breath control] the mind will subside. However, the mind will remain controlled only as long as the
<i> prana</i> [see the following note] is controlled. When the <i> prana</i> comes out, the mind will also come out and wander under the influence of
<i>vasanas</i>. The source of the mind and the <i> prana</i> is one
and the same. Thought itself is the nature of the mind, and the thought
'I' which indeed is the mind's primal thought, is itself the
<i> ahankara</i> [the ego]. From where the ego originates, from there alone the breath also rises. Therefore, when the mind subsides, the
<i> prana</i> will also subside, and when <i> prana</i> subsides, the mind will also subside. However, although the mind subsides in deep sleep, the
<i> prana</i> does not subside. It is arranged in this way as a
divine plan for the protection of the body and so that others do not
take the body to be dead. When the mind subsides in the waking state and
in
<i>samadhi</i>, the <i> prana</i> also subsides. The <i> prana</i> is the gross form of the mind. Until the time of death, the mind retains the
<i> prana</i> in the body. When the body dies, the mind forcibly carries away the
<i>prana</i>. Therefore, <i> pranayama</i> is only an aid for controlling the mind; it will not bring about its destruction. </b>
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According to the <i>Upanishads</i>, <i> prana</i> is the
principle of life and consciousness. It is the life breath of all the
beings in the universe. They are born through it, live by it, and when
they die, their individual
<i> prana</i> dissolves into the cosmic
<i>prana</i>. <i> Prana</i> is usually translated as 'breath' or
'vital breath', but this is only one of many of its manifestations in
the human body. It is absorbed by both breathing and eating and by the
<i> prana vayus</i> (mentioned earlier) into energy that sustains
the body. Since it is assimilated through breathing, it is widely held
that one can control the
<i> prana</i> in the body by controlling the breathing.
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According to yoga philosophy, and other schools of thought agree, mind and
<i> prana</i> are intimately connected. The collective name for all the mental faculties is
<i>chitta</i>, which is divided into:
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(a) <i> manas</i> (the mind), which has the faculties of attention and choosing.
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(b) <i> buddhi</i> (the intellect), which reasons and determines distinctions.
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(c) <i>ahankara</i>, the individual feeling of 'I', sometimes merely translated as ego.
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<i>Chitta</i>, according to yoga philosophy, is propelled by
<i> prana</i> and <i> vasanas</i> and moves in the direction of
whichever force is more powerful. Thus, the yogis maintain that by
controlling the breath, which indirectly controls the flow of
<i>pranas</i>, the <i> chitta</i> can be controlled. Bhagavan gives his own views on this later in the essay.
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The reference to <i> samadhi</i> needs some explanation. According to
Bhagavan,(<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml#ftnref6" name="ftn6">6</a>) '<i>Samadhi</i> is the state in which the unbroken experience of existence is attained by the still mind.'
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Elsewhere he has said, more simply, 'Holding onto reality is
<i>samadhi</i>.' (<a href="http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml#ftnref7" name="ftn7">7</a>)
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Though Bhagavan would sometimes say that a person in
<i> samadhi</i> is experiencing the Self, these <i> samadhis</i> do
not constitute permanent realisation. They are temporary states in
which the mind is either completely still or in abeyance. </div>
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This essay, composed by Bhagavan in the mid-1920s, is the work
that originated with answers written in the sand in 1901. For many years
it was the standard introduction to Bhagavan's teachings. Its
publication was subsidized and copies in many languages were always
available in the ashram's bookstore, enabling new visitors to acquaint
themselves with Bhagavan's practical advice.
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Although it continues to be a standard primer for those who want to know what Bhagavan taught, parts of
<i> Who Am I?</i> are quite technical. Since Sivaprakasam
Pillai, the devotee who asked the questions in 1901, was well acquainted
with philosophical terminology, Bhagavan freely used technical terms in
many of his answers. I have explained many of these in notes that
alternate with the text. The words of the original essay are printed in
bold type. Everything else is my own commentary or explanation.
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Since these explanations were originally answers to
Sivaprakasam Pillai's questions, I have included some of the original
questions in my own notes. Before each new section of
<i> Who am I?</i> begins, I give, if possible, the question that
prompted it. Towards the end of the essay Bhagavan took portions from
different answers and amalgamated them into single paragraphs, making it
hard to know for sure whether he is answering a particular question or
merely giving a teaching statement.
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The paragraph that begins the essay was not given out in
response to a question. It was composed by Bhagavan when he was
rewriting the work in the 1920s. Many philosophical works begin with a
statement about the nature of happiness and the means by which it can be
attained or discovered. Bhagavan has followed this tradition in this
presentation
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