Musing of the Month

"Nearly all children are quite selfish by nature. They do not want to give anything to others. I was trained to reverse this tendency.

In the mountains I used to take only one meal a day. I would have one chapati, some vegetables, and a glass of milk. One day, when it was almost one o'clock, I washed my hands, sat down, and the food was given to me. I said grace and was about to start eating when my master came in and said, "Wait!" I asked, "What's the matter?" He answered, "An old swami has come. He's hungry and you must give him your food." "No," I argued, "I'm not going to, even if he is a swami. I'm also hungry and I won't get any more food until tomorrow." He said, "You won't die. Give it to him. But don't give it just because I am ordering you. Give it as an offering of love." I said, "I'm hungry. How can I feel love toward someone who is eating my food?"

When he could not convince me to offer my food to the swami, he finally said, "I order you to offer your food!" The swami came in. He was an old man with a white beard. With only a blanket, a walking stick, and wooden sandals, he traveled all alone in the mountains. My master said to him, "I'm so glad that you have come. Will you bless this child for me?" But I said, "I don't need your blessing. I need food. I am hungry." My master said, "If you lose control in this weak moment, you will lose the battle of life. Please offer your food to the swami. First give him water and then wash his feet." I did as I was told, but I did not like it, nor did I understand the meaning of it. I helped him wash his feet and then I asked him to sit down and I gave him my food. Later I found out that he had not had any food for four days.

He took the food and said, "God bless you! You will never feel hunger unless food comes before you. This is my blessing to you." His voice still echoes in my ears. From that very day, I have been free from that urge which had so often led me to childish cravings.

There is a narrow barrier between selfishness and selflessness, love and hatred. After crossing it one enjoys doing things for others, without seeking anything in return. This is the highest of all joys, and an essential step in the path of enlightenment. A selfish man can never imagine this state of realization, for he remains within the limited boundaries built by his ego. A selfless man trains his ego and uses it for higher purposes. Selflessness is one common characteristic that we find among all great men and women of the world. Nothing could be achieved without selfless service. All the rituals and knowledge of the scriptures are in vain if actions are performed without selflessness.”

H.H. Sri Swami Rama

Living with the Himalayan Masters

End of the Year Svadhyaya

Spend time during the month contemplating these questions and find time to answer them without restraint; practice being brutally honest but radically accepting with your answers.

What did 2023 bring me that I am grateful for?

1. What did 2023 bring me that I am grateful for?

2. How and where did I grow this year? How and where did I stumble?

3. Where did I spend most of my resources (time, energy, and money) this year?

4. As I look into 2024, what are three things I want to focus on to make 2024 more successful than 2023?

5. On a scale of 1-10, what is the rating of your undisturbed happiness from 1-10? Now rate your distracted happiness on a scale of 1-10; if you removed all of your distractions (eating, shopping, sex, social media, going out, traveling, to name a few), how happy would you be?

6. How happy are you for others that you perceive are happier than you? Do you get excited about their success? Do you wish they would fall and burn or somewhere in between? 

7. Evaluating yourself and giving yourself a score from 1-10, how often were you able to do your duties with joy with no attachments to the fruits of your labor?

8. What area of your life do you need more courage and less fear? What can you do to cultivate more courage?

9. Examine the yamas ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha; which did you struggle with the most during 2023, and what can you do to improve?

10. Examine the niyamas saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, and Ishvara pranidhana; which did you struggle with the most during 2023, and what can you do to improve?

Asana Corner

How do you stand on your own two feet?

If you feel inclined, give yourself a month to explore tadasana. Observe how the perspective changes as you give yourself a month to explore the pose. Observe the weight distribution between the front and back, the supination and pronation of the feet and ankles as you stand. Notice if there is any swaying as you stand in silence and focus on the breath. Become aware of how the body and stance change if you shut your eyes. Spend time journaling the unfoldment of tadasana over the month. Do you stand on your own two feet, or do you not?

Below, you will find one way to move into the pose, but we learn so much more by exploring the bodies we travel in, so have fun.

1.  Stand erect with the feet together, the heels and big toes touching.

2. Lift and spread the toes, then release them softly to the ground.

3. Rock to the front and back, then side to side, allowing the body to find a point of balance.

4. Firm the thighs and lift the knees, but do not lock them.

5. Roll the shoulder heads over and down the back, allowing them to widen and release toward the kidneys.

6. Allow the arms to hang by the torso.

7. The crown of the head balances over the center of the pelvis; the chin is parallel to the floor, and the tongue gently presses the upper palate while smiling softly to yourself.

Benefits:

1. Improves posture

2. It helps the mind become uplifted

3. Opens the heart 

4. Strengthens the ankles and feet

Adopt-An-Inmate

At TYS, we view giving as an essential part of our practice, akin to serving. With this in mind, we "adopt" an inmate from Madison Correctional Institution in London, Ohio twice a year. We collect money to buy sundries (anything from shower shoes to cough drops) for an inmate who does not have support from family or friends on the outside. We will get a wishlist from him and would love to fulfill it with your help.Our goal is 500.00, and no amount of giving is too small. Help us help another human who deserves love and compassion from his brothers and sisters. Remember, we are all children of God!

Reflections with Kali

This time of year always makes me consider my gratitude. What am I truly grateful for? Do I have enough gratitude? Do I show my gratitude to others? 

November also is our Mahasamadhi celebration, which makes me consider the tradition and what it means to have a tradition behind me. I have been enjoying re-reading Living with the Himalayan Masters and using this season to really think about how special it is to be a part of a living tradition. The sages have promised to be there for us on the path and help us when we are struggling, but they can only help us if we help ourselves. 

In many of Ranjani’s lectures we have discussed the ascending and descending forces. The ascending force is the effort we put in toward knowing God, and the descending force, as I understand it, is God’s grace. Demonstrating complete gratitude, to me, is the ascending force. When I have real gratitude and right knowledge (not right opinion) I behave skillfully. I search deeper. I have been examining where I fall short in demonstrating gratitude for what I have. I know that I do not fully understand the unseen forces and support I have behind me, but reading Swamiji’s books, watching his lectures and being at the ashram is a constant reminder of the love I receive from the tradition and deepening this connection and understanding is something that is on my mind very often. 

As we move into the holiday season, I am feeling ever grateful for Swamiji, the Tradition and my TYS community. I pray that my gratitude may only run deeper.

Exciting News for Shakti & Bhakti!

Get ready; our second release is coming, the Maha Mantra! As for our first release, the Gayatri Mantra, we have close to 10,000 listens, played in 16 countries, and are on several playlists and favorites.

Listen to the Gayatri Mantra

Upcoming Events

December 9: Satsang with Swamiji

December 24: Christmas Eve Practice

December 25: Christmas Day Breakfast + Movie

December 26-28: Kirtan Week

December 31: New Year’s Eve Kirtan at Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Come practice with us!

Mondays: Asana Class with Linda 6 pm -7:30 pm

Tuesdays: Asana with Kali + Chant Hanuman Chalisa 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Wednesdays: Asana Class + Kirtan with Ranjani + Riley 6 pm - 8 pm

Thursdays: Closed

Fridays: Closed

Saturdays: Asana with Ranjani 9 am - 10 am

Mahamrtunjaya Prayer Circle (Names are offered to the power of the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra not to change one's karma but to cultivate the strength to handle it gracefully) 10 am - 10:30 am

*If you want to add a name message Kali or write it on the paper by Ganesha.

Kirtan Band Practice 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Sundays: Asana with Ranjani 9 am - 10am / Kirtan 10am - 11am

We had a busy November…

We would love to see you here!