SEVA Par Excellence

Sincere and heart-felt congratulations to Terry and Ajay Gupta for the marvelous day-long celebration of
Yoga for Peace in Action at their 3rd Annual NH Global Mala (http://yogacaps.org/) held in Nashua on September 18th! They put together an inspiring and spiritually uplifting day-long program blending Eastern and Western Yoga traditions to achieve a rarely seen true Yoga event. Half of the net proceeds of the day will be used to support their Yoga Volunteer Corps who bring Yoga classes to those souls dealing with cancer and the under served in society who can benefit from Yoga practice. The other half will be used to support the Peace and Social Justice program at New Hampshire Community College in Nashua. "The Peace & Social Justice Studies concentration within the Liberal Arts degree program prepares graduates to function as community advocates to help ensure a society in which equity and peace building is embraced and preserved." Two wonderful programs serving humanity and helping to raise the consciousness of students who will shortly be entering society as contributing citizens.
The meaning of the word SEVA  is selfless service: doing something for someone or society without an expectation of reward. True giving from the heart. Ajay and Terry are wonderful torch-bearers of this ideal, not only in putting together this function but in their continued devotion to the concept of selfless service in all their Yoga programs. It is a given they have devoted their energy and lives to this cause.
Watch for future events like this from Yoga Caps and come and join in to know what it's like to feel "your heart soar like an eagle!"

The Psychology of Possibility

The Mindfulness Chronicles

On “the psychology of possibility”

by Cara Feinberg

http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/09/the-mindfulness-chronicles

Sanskrit

Did you know Sanskrit is the language of Yoga? Did you know the Sanskrit sound syllables are distributed through the Cakras? Did you know Sanskrit vibrations can carry one's consciousness beyond the mind to a place described as Nirvikalpa Samadhi? Did you know healing can be accelerated though chanting of Sanskrit sound syllables? Did you know chanting of mantras using Sanskrit can be one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways of experiencing Union with the ultimate reality?
For those of us practicing Yoga as more than physical exercise Sanskrit can be one of the most powerful and effective practices in our kit-bag of Yoga techniques for achieving enlightenment? Okay, call it Self-Realization, Union with the Divine, transcending the thinking mind, Samadhi or any one of many different names. Call it knowing THAT where THAT has many names and there are many paths to THAT and all the paths work. The trick for the seeker is to as quickly as possible find the path that really works and provides good results.
Do you know that if you really want to experience the power of Sanskrit vibration you can attend a two day weekend seminar in Peterborough NH on Columbus Day weekend? Taught by Joe Brill a senior student of Vyaas Houston founder of American Sanskrit Institute. Details are here:

http://www.americansanskrit.com/learn/classes.php?id=100910jb

Practice Yoga for peace, health and happiness.

Hari Om

John

Buddha

The following article is from: WWW.SHUNYAMPRODUCTIONS.COM

Siddhartha Gautama, whom became known as Buddha, was a wealthy prince who renounced his life of luxury in order to contemplate the true meaning of life. After meditating extensively under a banyan tree, he came to some conclusions about life itself.

Buddha's Enlightenment

Buddha's road to enlightenment lasted for seven years. While in a deep meditative state, he looked far into his mind while trying to get to the heart of life and creation itself. After finding out that self-denial wasn't the way to go, he began to take better care of his body and found that meditating in a healthy body brought more clarity. He started to teach and his first speech is known as "The Turning of the Wheel of Truth." With this, he arrived at the Four Noble Truths.

The Four Noble Truths

Different stages of meditation exist. Some people enter into a light meditative state for relaxation. Others go into a deep meditation in an attempt to reach a higher state of consciousness. While deep in meditation, Buddha learned of what he referred to as the Four Noble Truths.

The first one is suffering, also known as dukha. The reality is that everyone suffers during their lifetime. Whether it be physical or mental, no one has a perfect life and ultimately, everyone dies. This may seem like a no brainer to most, but to Buddha, he was shielded from the world while growing up and was quite surprised when he found the world wasn't a perfect place.

The second truth is attachment, (trishna.) People become attached in life without understanding that nothing is permanent. The third truth is liberation that can also be referred to as nirvana. According to author Gary Gach of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism, "Nirvana represents the state of ultimate perfection, beyond dualism, beyond words." Suffering can be eliminated by living for now.

The final truth is known as marga which is when liberation can take place. This is when personal freedom is achieved. It's a way to live one's life without suffering.

Meditation Enlightenment

Through meditation, Siddhartha Gautama was able to reach spiritual enlightenment. He took what he learned and spent the rest of his life teaching others. Buddhism is not a religion, but a philosophy that deals with the teachings of the man who became known as Buddha.

The Four Nobles truths that Buddha taught were all about getting rid of the attachments in life that can cause suffering and live life in the now. This once wealthy prince gave up his luxurious lifestyle in order to seek the true meaning of life and found it through meditation.  

First Blog

There always seems to be an never ending source of Yoga related materials that I would like to share with like-minded individuals. Prior to the creation of this blog, I would send e-mails to students and others in my e-addy book in what some, or many, would have referred to as spam. It is my hope that this blog will provide interested students of Yoga with a source and a forum for the kinds of material which has been sent in the past.

Lets see how it works out.
Hari OM