Copy of Daily OM referenced in today's class

September 20, 2012 An Exercise in Self Seeking Advice from Yourself by Madisyn Taylor A helpful exercise is to set up an advisory panel of your past, present, and future selves. Since we probably know ourselves better than anyone else does, then we may very well be the best person to ask for advice when we are in a quandary. One interesting exercise is to try asking for advice from your past and future selves. There is the younger self that you used to be and the older, more mature self that you will become. You can gain a different perspective when you view present situations through your younger self’s eyes or your mature self’s more experienced point of view. Perhaps, your younger self would view a current dilemma in a more innocent, less cynical way. Likewise, your older, hopefully wiser, self may offer advice from a more compassionate, experienced perspective. Think back to how you viewed the world when you were younger. What were your thoughts on happiness, love, and injustice? Think about how you would have reacted to a dilemma you are currently facing. The perspective may shed a different light on relationships, money matters, or life decisions. Likewise, think about the person you will become. A more mature version of you might mull a problem or conflict over carefully before taking action right away… or perhaps not. Maybe your older self would be more willing to take risks, care less about what other people think, and want to enjoy life more. You can even set up an advisory panel of your past, present, and future selves. You might even want to try to have a written dialogue with your selves to record the thoughts, feelings, and advice that your younger and older selves might have for your present self regarding a current situation. Your different selves can give you some invaluable answers. After all, no one can know you better than your selves. You are your wisest guide.

Kirtan this Sunday in Glen Rock

We are planning to attend this event.  See you there?

 

Sunday 4pm Kirtan with Rasa Lila at Naturally Yoga

175 Rock Road, Glen Rock NJ  201-612-7330

 suggested donation $15

Come join us for an afternoon of chant and great music.

 
In the offering of Yoga, the path of beauty and joy revolve around the graceful gift of Rasa. Rasa is our emotions that we lay at the foot of the Divine. We may call out in longing to unite with the source of all delight or we may lay our head at the feet of the Divine in exhaustion. Whatever the emotion, we allow our mind's wall to crumble and stand naked before the beloved whose sweetness (madhurya) knows no end. Lila is the play with the Divine. Come chant with Rasa Lila and dive head first into your sweetness.

Dharana (Concentation)

This month we have been contemplating Dharana (Concentration), the sixth of the eight limbs of yoga from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.  We have been chanting the seed sounds of the seven chakras with awareness on those energy centers in the body as our concentration practice.  This has prepared us beautifully for seated meditation and for our asana practice.  

Having cultivated a deep awareness of the subtle body, we are prepared to proceed into asana with grace and awareness to further deepen our focus and the benefits of our practice.  When we go so deep inside, we find a space within to take refuge.  We feel our pulsation that creates a buffer or boundary and at the same time an extension of our energy and compassion to all.  With that pulsation, we can remain at peace when a challenge comes our way and choose to act skillfully rather than react from our primitive brain.  With the pulsation as a boundary, since we are so attuned to our wisdom and the universal truths, we are able to choose not to engage with people or situations that would not serve us well.

May we continue to cultivate this awareness for the benefit of ourselves and all beings.

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings be filled with peace and joy, love and light.

The following image is from this website.

http://sukhavatinews.tumblr.com/post/27566450575/chant-the-chakra-bija-mantras

 The following information is taken from The Daily OM - Bija Mantras.
www.dailyom.com/articles/2005/411.html

In traditional Hatha Yoga, the seven cleansing bija mantras associated with the chakras are:

LAM for the earth chakra (1)   Root
VAM for the water chakra (2)   Sacrum
RAM for the fire chakra (3)      Solar Plexus
YAM for the heart chakra (4)
HAM for the throat chakra (5)
AUM for the third eye (6)
AH for the crown chakra (7)

Om Namah Shivaya by Krishna Das

Our chant this month to support our practice of Pratyahara is Om Namah Shivaya.  We chant it in this melody as supplied by Krishna Das.  This recording can be found on his CD Pilgrim Heart which is an awesome CD.

Below definition found from this website:   

http://www.meditationiseasy.com/mCorner/techniques/Om_namah_shivaya.htm

 

"It means  "I bow to Shiva." Shiva is the supreme reality, the inner Self. It  is the name given to consciousness that dwells in all. Shiva is the name of your true identity- your self. 

According to Hindu mythology there are three Gods who run this creation. The Brahma - who creates the universe, the Vishnu - who preserves the Universe and the Shiva- who in the end destroys the universe. Among the three deities, Shiva, though considered as destroyer, also symbolize the  - the inner self which remains intact even after everything ends. "

Come to Starseed Yoga in Verona at their new location for an awesome evening of kirtan. Daniel McBride, Sheryl Edsall, and Penni Feiner will be there performing. Three of my favorite and most inspiring yogis. Makes me wanna travel all the way down there to see them. See you there?

 

 

Special Starseed Summer Concert Event!

13 Hands & Friends: World Music/Chant & 

Community Concert

 

Thursday, July 26th 

Doors open at 7:30PM/Event at 8:00PM 

Pre-Reg Rate: $20

Evening of the concert: $25

Family Rate: $40

A 13 HANDS concert /Kirtan experience is blend of contemporary, 

Bhakti, spiritual, meditative and world chant music.    

With a whole array of instruments from Native Flutes to Hang Drum 

and other world percussion and guitars, he shares an uplifting, 

mesmerizing and healing community experience that is family friendly 

and allows your heart and voice to shine and illuminate!  

Come prepared to sing, celebrate and be part of the STARSEED 

Tribe and community.....

cause we've got some wonderful special guests this amazing night!!!! 

BRING A DRUM!

BEAUTIFUL KIRTAN & SHAMANIC CAMEOS BY

SHERYL EDSALL & PENNI FEINER - 

OF RASA LILA, AND JUST TWO BEAUTIFULLY HEARTED YOGINIS AND 

TEACHERS WHO'LL MAKE YOUR HEART SMILE WITH LOVE!      

ABOUT 13 HANDS, aka DALIEN, is a two-time Grammy nominee and yogi who has been immersed in various styles of contemporary/ world music/devotional chant for over 20 years, sharing his gifts at numerous conferences, festivals, events and retreat centers like Kripalu, Omega, Yoga @ the Great Lawn event in Central Park and Wanderlust.   He's had the honor to teach, chant, speak and/or perform alongside other world-renowned artists, teachers, spiritual leaders, bhakti yogis & authors like The Dali Lama, Dr. Masaru Emoto, Seane Corn, Dharma Mitra, Elena Brower, RUN DMC, Ani DiFranco, Ours, Paula Cole, Laurie Anderson, the late Pheobe Snow, Krishna Das, WAH!, Shyamdas, Dave Stringer, John D Kadt 

and Gaura Vani.    

 

13 HANDS concert events are pure love, fun, devotional interaction, 

drumming, chanting and communal jam-fests that leave you feeling bright, integrated, happy and peaceful! 

 

www.13hands.com

Adi Shakti, performed by Rasa Lila

This is a video recorded at Naturally Yoga in Glen Rock, NJ.  At the center is my beloved and inspiring teacher Sheryl Edsall.  She is framed by two amazing vocalists and yoga teachers, Penni Feiner on the left and Lillie Kae on the right.  I love being in the room to soak up the vibrations when they perform.  

Here is a taste...

Adi Shakti, performed by Snatam Kaur

Adi Shakti by Snatam Kaur from her CD Feeling Good Today 

Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Namo Namo
Sarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, Namo Namo
Pritham Bhagwati, Pritham Bhagwati, Pritham Bhagwati, Namo Namo
Kundalini Mata Shakti, Mata Shakti, Namo Namo

Translation:

I bow to (or call on) the primal power.
I bow to (or call on) the all encompassing power and energy.
I bow to (or call on) that through which God creates.
I bow to (or call on) the creative power of the Kundalini, the Divine Mother Power.

More Information:

The Adi Shakti Mantra tunes one into the frequency of the Divine Mother, and to the primal protective, generating energy. It is said that chanting it eliminates fears and fulfills desires.

Some quotes Yogi Bhajan gave on this mantra specifically for women:
"Merge in the Maha Shakti. This is enough to take away your misfortune. This will carve out of you a woman. Woman needs her own Shakti, not anybody else will do it. When a woman chants the Kundalini Bhakti mantra, God clears the way. This is not a religion, it is a reality. Woman is not born to suffer, and woman needs her own power."

"When India and Indian women knew this mantra, it dwelt in the land of milk and honey."

Yogi Bhajan taught that after conception, the soul enters into the womb of a mother on the 120th day. This is a day of celebration and when the soul/child is entering the womb this chant is traditional.

 

source of above translation and site where you can purchase Snatam Kaur's CD:    

http://www.spiritvoyage.com/mantra/Adi-Shakti/MAN-000010.aspx

This is one of my favorite CD's.  I have so much fun listening and chanting along in the car.  It is probably available on other sites as well, like Amazon and iTunes.