Musing of the Month

We see things the way we want to see them because the character of the mind is to flow in the grooves of past experiences, including this lifetime and previous lifetimes. We have been thinking, acting, and talking the same way for lifetimes and will continue to do so until we make an effort to change. Reason follows feeling, so when we have a feeling in the heart, it sends that message to the mind, where the mind finds a million reasons to justify that feeling. If one wants to change the way they see the world, then a practice must ensue, and the first place to start is with the breath. By attenuating or alleviating the 4-nos of breathing, we can change the landscape of our minds.

1. No Sound

2. No Jerks

3. No Pause

4. Not shallow

Question of the Month

⁇ How can I practice bhakti in my life?

1. Sit daily and chant songs of praise. It does not have to be loud; sit and chant to open your heart. I suggest you find one chant that resonates with you and do it daily. 

2. Contemplate Swamiji or one of the many aspects of God; pick one or both that resonate with you and make a list of attributes you wish to imbue within yourself—compassion, mercy, graciousness, servant. 

3. Choose a relationship with God that feels natural to you. Servant, Friend, Parent, Lover, child, and foster that relationship with God. Let that be the inner dweller you talk to.

4. Be humble and do things that others don't want to do. You want to eat but don't want to do dishes; you want to use a clean bathroom but don't want to clean. Learn to Serve with humility. Ask yourself why you should not do this, or better yet, why do I need to do this? 

5. Purify your thoughts, speech, and actions by studying and infusing the Yamas (ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha) and the Niyamas (saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, and Ishvara pranidhana) into your life. 

6. Go out of your comfort zone to help someone. Cultivate the feeling of being a servant of God – Learn to develop an attitude of self-sacrifice.

7. Practice forgiveness and compassion for your faults and the faults of others.

8. Say a prayer before all meals, and find time to eat silently.

9. Prayers of Gratitude throughout the day, and learn to be thankful for the challenging aspects of your life. 

10. Give things away. Give to strangers, neighbors, family, and friends, not hoping to gain more love or make a friend but because it is honorable; and above all, give when you seemingly have nothing to share. Give without fear because what is yours, karmically, will always be yours.

11. Reflect on when you felt God's presence throughout the day.

Svadhyaya Corner

Contemplate one question per week and find time to answer it after allowing it to incubate for a week. 

Contemplate one question per week and find time to answer the question after allowing it to incubate for a few days. 

1. How much work or energy have you put into your fellowship/friendship with God?

2. What other areas of your life do you pour more effort into than building your relationship with God?

3. In what areas of your life do you doubt God's existence? Where do you struggle with God's plan? What would your relationship with God look like if you completely trusted her plan?

4. Examine your attachments and aversions (raga & dwesha); if you eradicated them, how would that change your relationship with God?

Asana Corner

If you feel so inclined, give yourself a month to explore Makarāsana. Observe how breathing diaphragmatically in Makarāsana changes your stress levels. At the end of 5 minutes or more a day for 30 days, notice how it has helped ease any anxiety, stress, or tension, and don't forget to journal about it daily. Spending time journaling will allow you to notice how you felt before and after the practice and, more importantly, how doing it for 30 days affects your overall well-being.

 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. Lie prone on the mat.

2. Fold the arms and place each hand on the opposite elbow.

3. Bring the forearms in, lifting the chest off the floor slightly.

4. Rest the forehead on the forearms.

5. Feel free to bring the legs together or separate at a comfortable distance.

6. The feet can turn in or out depending on what feels appropriate to the body.

7. With the head resting on the forearms, shut the eyes.

8. Now, bring awareness to the face, shoulders, abdomen, and legs and mentally allow them to relax.

9. Bring attention to the breath and feel the body rise with the inhalation, fall with the exhalation, and begin to extend both the inhalation and exhalation.

Benefits

1. Establishes deep diaphragmatic breathing

2. Centers the awareness and brings attention to the present moment via the breath

3. Allows deep relaxation

Contradictions

1. Women in the later trimester of pregnancy should not do this.

Reflections with Kali

Something I have been contemplating is what Ranjani has said a few times recently: We are looking for God in the world, but God is the world. This is a lofty consideration. God really means contentment, peace, everlasting joy. It has become a habit to seek this through worldly gains or experiences, not realizing that all of those things come from within. Once we realize the pinnacle of joy is within, we can see that all the things of the world were manifested from God for our enjoyment. We get trapped when we become attached and addicted to the charms of the world. This has made me consider questions like…how am I seeking God outside of myself? How is my relationship with my mind? What pleasures do I seek the most or have the most desire for? I am thankful when questions like these circulate in my mind. Though self-study can be tough, when I commit to being honest with myself I begin to see glimmers of true contentment instead of band-aids of temporary joys.

Animal Sanctuary Donation

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. While this was our first donation drive to Our Farm Sanctuary, it will not be our last. Check the photos below for some of the loot we collected for our 4-legged brothers and sisters!

Upcoming Events

September 2: Animal Sanctuary Tour

September 24: Silent Sunday and Vegan Potluck

September 29: TYS Planetarium Show with Scott

September 30: Satsang with Swamiji

Come practice with us!

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

Tuesdays: Seva Yoga 6 pm - 8 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: Sunday Celebration OR First Sunday w/ Ranjani & Riley at Devi Ashram 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

We had a busy August…

We would love to see you here!