Last Wednesday, our Meditation/Study group had an extremely lively discussion regarding the movie Zeitgeist. If you haven't seen the movie, it can be viewed online at www.zeitgeistmovie.com.
There had been some comment beforehand that the movie exposed very disturbing views of the world (religion, politics, money, power) and that sensitive people might be actually set back along their healing path. Pretty valid as we yogis are selective as to what we feed our Mano Maya Kosha.
In the end, we focused on this quotation from the movie:
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Sri Chinmoy Ghose
The movie also stipulated that an organism at war with itself was an organism doomed. We loved exploring this sentiment as it fits perfectly with the yogic concept of unification. All religions, all nationalities, all species in harmony, yes!
We finished our meeting with a loving kindness meditation. Here are the words if anyone wishes to repeat it at home.
"May all beings be happy,
May all beings be peaceful,
May all beings enjoy well being;
May all beings be free"
This is repeated silently for at least 3x, then the words altered slightly to
"May all in this room be happy...... free"
And then the words changed again to
"May I be happy..... free".
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday March 16 at 6:30 pm. Watch the website and facebook for topics.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Good Vibrations
The lovely Luisa Caruso led our study group this past month with her specially chosen chants and haunting drum rhythms.
It was discussed during our last meeting (see Nov post) why chanting is often done in Sanskrit. We deepened our exploration this month.
Trayati (that which saves) is the root of -tra in the word man-tra. Mantra can effect vibratory transformation at the core level of matter. All matter is created by, and ruled by, the "gunas". These three forces are universal and recognizable for all. "Rajas" is restlessness, the intiation of creation. "Tamas" is inertia, stability. These two siblings continually create motion in our universe, until at some point "sattva", or balance, is achieved. Sattva cannot last, as rajas always injects that movement to continue in the dance of creation.
Through mantra (chanting), we can detoxify at the causal level, transforming excess rajas or tamas into a more sattvic vibe. In time, our minds (known as "chitta" in yogic philosophy) become more receptive to higher influences.
In sanskrit, the consonants represent matter; the vowels, spirit or consciousness. How they are combined can govern the energetic flow through the chakras. The consonants, in particular, have powers of manifestation.
One of the best measures of your yogic practice is not whether you can stand on your head or do 100 Sun Salutations, it's how you react to everyday stresses. When you start to notice that you are calmer in traffic, can find better words in a meeting, or are less likely to scream at your teenagers, that's when you know you are making progress. Chanting is a key part of the path because it does help refine your mind.
The most challenging mantra that Luisa prepared for us was the following:
"Teyata Om Bekanze;
Bekanze Maha Bekanze;
Radza Samudgate Soha."
This mantra is from the Buddhist tradition and prays for delivery from ignorance. To learn more about the mantra and to hear it chanted, check out this link: http://www.jivanjili.org/medicine_buddha_mantra.html
Our next meeting will be Wed Feb 16 at 6:30. All are welcome. We plan to discuss the internet movie, Zeitgeist, and apply yogic philosophy to this sometimes shocking view of our world. To watch the movie for free, check out this link: http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sound in Yoga
We had an amazing gathering last night at the studio for our monthly meditation/study group. Our mission was to explore mantra.
In verse 1:2 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defines yoga as a practice to reduce the fluctuations, or vrittis, of the mind. Last night we looked at how vrittis occur... creation itself exists due to movement. It is the vibrations in our universe that create matter. Therefore, your mind exists as movement. Vrittis are inevitable and necessary. It is when the movement of the mind, or vrittis, becomes randomized or uncontrolled that we are brought to suffering. Here is where yoga can help.
The movement in the mind, or vrittis, initiates more movement. Vrittis cannot exist without physical expression. Thoughts act upon the glands (hypothalmus, pituitary, etc....) to initiate physical movement. By exercising through yoga asana which are specifically designed to act upon the glands in a targeted manner, we can whittle away at the vrittis systematically. That is one reason why asana is almost sure to leave you feeling quieter and more relaxed.
In yoga philosophy, there are 50 different types of vrittis or categories of thought. When you look at illustrations of the chakra symbols, you will notice a flower like outline around each symbol. Each flower has a different number of petals. For example, the root chakra (muladhara) had four petals. Each petal represents a different vritti or kind of thought. Throughout the chakras (up to the throat chakra), there are increasing numbers of petals and an increasing number of thought types associated with each. As a movement occurs in the mind, if it cannot find adequate expression at that time, it will land as a vritti, represented by one of these petals. You can imagine how crowded these petals can get, philosophically speaking!
We know asana is a great tool for expressing these vrittis, but sound is also invaluable. Each petal has a specific sound associated with it. Chanting these sounds can stimulate the energy of that "petal".
Sounds a little fantastic, doesn't it? But there is even more depth to the philosophy. In sanskrit, the ancient language that we use for yogic chanting, each pronunciation of every syllable is designed to hit your voice making apparatus in a specific way. We viewed a chart, which I am happy to copy for you if you ask, that showed how an "r" or an "ah" sound hit either the back of the throat or tip of the tongue for example. As the sounds are produced in these various areas of the throat and mouth, different areas of the brain are stimulated. The sanskrit alphabet arranges syllables to shake out the vrittis in an artful way, like no other known language. So the very act of speaking the sacred words can reduce movement of the mind.
This is just the most rudimentary of overviews in this fascinating subject of sound & yoga. Tonal vibration, sankalpa (resolve or intention) and bhavana (conscious direction of energy) all play into its power.
To explore the power of mantra to calm the mind for meditation, we chose "Om Namah Shivaya", a powerful yet universal chant that announces our willingness and intention to bow to the inner wisdom - the part of us that remains intact when all else fades. Many of us were delighted to discover how much easier it was to relax into meditation with this practice. For those of you who have wondered why there is 108 beads on the mala or why a chant is traditionally said 108 times, here is a great article to check out.
www.swamij.com/108.htm
Our next meeting is Tuesday Nov 30 where we will begin to explore duality : sun/moon, male/female, Shiva/Shakti. This is yoga's way of helping us understand all those opposites in our lives like joy/pain, rich/poor, dark/light. For more information on membership at the Yoga Centre of Niagara, please consult our website, www.yogacentreniagara.com.
In verse 1:2 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defines yoga as a practice to reduce the fluctuations, or vrittis, of the mind. Last night we looked at how vrittis occur... creation itself exists due to movement. It is the vibrations in our universe that create matter. Therefore, your mind exists as movement. Vrittis are inevitable and necessary. It is when the movement of the mind, or vrittis, becomes randomized or uncontrolled that we are brought to suffering. Here is where yoga can help.
The movement in the mind, or vrittis, initiates more movement. Vrittis cannot exist without physical expression. Thoughts act upon the glands (hypothalmus, pituitary, etc....) to initiate physical movement. By exercising through yoga asana which are specifically designed to act upon the glands in a targeted manner, we can whittle away at the vrittis systematically. That is one reason why asana is almost sure to leave you feeling quieter and more relaxed.
In yoga philosophy, there are 50 different types of vrittis or categories of thought. When you look at illustrations of the chakra symbols, you will notice a flower like outline around each symbol. Each flower has a different number of petals. For example, the root chakra (muladhara) had four petals. Each petal represents a different vritti or kind of thought. Throughout the chakras (up to the throat chakra), there are increasing numbers of petals and an increasing number of thought types associated with each. As a movement occurs in the mind, if it cannot find adequate expression at that time, it will land as a vritti, represented by one of these petals. You can imagine how crowded these petals can get, philosophically speaking!
We know asana is a great tool for expressing these vrittis, but sound is also invaluable. Each petal has a specific sound associated with it. Chanting these sounds can stimulate the energy of that "petal".
Sounds a little fantastic, doesn't it? But there is even more depth to the philosophy. In sanskrit, the ancient language that we use for yogic chanting, each pronunciation of every syllable is designed to hit your voice making apparatus in a specific way. We viewed a chart, which I am happy to copy for you if you ask, that showed how an "r" or an "ah" sound hit either the back of the throat or tip of the tongue for example. As the sounds are produced in these various areas of the throat and mouth, different areas of the brain are stimulated. The sanskrit alphabet arranges syllables to shake out the vrittis in an artful way, like no other known language. So the very act of speaking the sacred words can reduce movement of the mind.
This is just the most rudimentary of overviews in this fascinating subject of sound & yoga. Tonal vibration, sankalpa (resolve or intention) and bhavana (conscious direction of energy) all play into its power.
To explore the power of mantra to calm the mind for meditation, we chose "Om Namah Shivaya", a powerful yet universal chant that announces our willingness and intention to bow to the inner wisdom - the part of us that remains intact when all else fades. Many of us were delighted to discover how much easier it was to relax into meditation with this practice. For those of you who have wondered why there is 108 beads on the mala or why a chant is traditionally said 108 times, here is a great article to check out.
www.swamij.com/108.htm
Our next meeting is Tuesday Nov 30 where we will begin to explore duality : sun/moon, male/female, Shiva/Shakti. This is yoga's way of helping us understand all those opposites in our lives like joy/pain, rich/poor, dark/light. For more information on membership at the Yoga Centre of Niagara, please consult our website, www.yogacentreniagara.com.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Patanjali's Meditation Advice - Relevant today?
Last night we gathered at the studio for our first monthly meditation/study group meeting. Wonderful to share energy with other yoga teachers, meditators and seekers. As promised, here is a summary of the discussion.
Our question of the evening was: What did Patanjali advise regarding meditation, and is his advice still relevant in the complicated world of the 21st century?
First we reviewed some of the Sutras specifically addressing meditation.
1:2 - "The restraint of the fluctuations of the mind stuff is Yoga"
(The whole point of physical stretching, breathwork, going vegetarian, etc is to assist us in calming the "monkey mind". A racing mind prevents us from sleep, keeps us edgey and stressed. A cluttered mind causes us suffering and Patanjali compassionately tries to guide us away from suffering.)
1:12 - "These fluctuations are restrained by practice and non-attachment"
(As with all things in life, practice is required; discipline is necessary to get results. The definition of non-attachment sparked some lively discussion. It is not the same as disinterest. One can still be engaged or interested in something, but not invested in owning it or controlling it.)
1:27 - 32 - "The expression of Ishwara (God) is the mystic sound of Om"
(Patanjali is starting to explain mantra and why it is an acceptable method of meditation. He introduces Om as a universal vibration, the hum of the business of creation: the making, evolving and dissolving of beings and objects.)
"To repeat it in a meditative way reveals its meaning"
"From this practice, the awareness turns inward, and the distracting obstacles vanish"
(The distracting obstacles are defined in the next sutra. When attention is withdrawn from outside distractions, the power they have over us withers like my houseplants.)
"Disease, doubt, dullness, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground gained - these distractions of the mind stuff are the obstacles"
"Accompaniments to the mental distractions include distress, despair, trembling of the body, and disturbed breathing."
"The concentration on a single subject, or the use of one technique, is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniment"
(Who wouldn't want to move away from the obstacles? And their side effects? Patanjali advises that we should stick to one method of meditation, single pointed focus, in order to be effective)
2:3 - "Ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion and clinging to bodily life at the five obstacles to happiness, or causes of suffering"
(Buddhism offers a similar listing of traits that prevent enlightenment. We talked about how the need to earn a living encourages us to attach, practice egoism and operate in ignorance. We looked at ways that our need to control, secure and acquire leads us into suffering.)
The translation that we were using for the Yoga Sutras was "Inside the Yoga Sutras" by Reverend Jaganath Carrera.
Our meditation method was mantra using "Om Shanti"; inhaling on Om and exhaling on Shanti. Next month we decided to explore mantra meditation further by chanting out loud. Anyone have a drum they could play for us????
If anyone needed further incentive to delve into meditation, here are some links to various research studies. The world might be more complicated in the 21st century, but suffering is definitely still a huge issue.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804114102.htm
(article on lowering stress in the workplace)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090609072719.htm
(article on sleep study)
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-02/uow-usr020303.php#
(immune system and meditation)
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/643585.html
(MS & meditation)
Next meeting: Tuesday October 26 at 6:30 pm
Our question of the evening was: What did Patanjali advise regarding meditation, and is his advice still relevant in the complicated world of the 21st century?
First we reviewed some of the Sutras specifically addressing meditation.
1:2 - "The restraint of the fluctuations of the mind stuff is Yoga"
(The whole point of physical stretching, breathwork, going vegetarian, etc is to assist us in calming the "monkey mind". A racing mind prevents us from sleep, keeps us edgey and stressed. A cluttered mind causes us suffering and Patanjali compassionately tries to guide us away from suffering.)
1:12 - "These fluctuations are restrained by practice and non-attachment"
(As with all things in life, practice is required; discipline is necessary to get results. The definition of non-attachment sparked some lively discussion. It is not the same as disinterest. One can still be engaged or interested in something, but not invested in owning it or controlling it.)
1:27 - 32 - "The expression of Ishwara (God) is the mystic sound of Om"
(Patanjali is starting to explain mantra and why it is an acceptable method of meditation. He introduces Om as a universal vibration, the hum of the business of creation: the making, evolving and dissolving of beings and objects.)
"To repeat it in a meditative way reveals its meaning"
"From this practice, the awareness turns inward, and the distracting obstacles vanish"
(The distracting obstacles are defined in the next sutra. When attention is withdrawn from outside distractions, the power they have over us withers like my houseplants.)
"Disease, doubt, dullness, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground gained - these distractions of the mind stuff are the obstacles"
"Accompaniments to the mental distractions include distress, despair, trembling of the body, and disturbed breathing."
"The concentration on a single subject, or the use of one technique, is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniment"
(Who wouldn't want to move away from the obstacles? And their side effects? Patanjali advises that we should stick to one method of meditation, single pointed focus, in order to be effective)
2:3 - "Ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion and clinging to bodily life at the five obstacles to happiness, or causes of suffering"
(Buddhism offers a similar listing of traits that prevent enlightenment. We talked about how the need to earn a living encourages us to attach, practice egoism and operate in ignorance. We looked at ways that our need to control, secure and acquire leads us into suffering.)
The translation that we were using for the Yoga Sutras was "Inside the Yoga Sutras" by Reverend Jaganath Carrera.
Our meditation method was mantra using "Om Shanti"; inhaling on Om and exhaling on Shanti. Next month we decided to explore mantra meditation further by chanting out loud. Anyone have a drum they could play for us????
If anyone needed further incentive to delve into meditation, here are some links to various research studies. The world might be more complicated in the 21st century, but suffering is definitely still a huge issue.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804114102.htm
(article on lowering stress in the workplace)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090609072719.htm
(article on sleep study)
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-02/uow-usr020303.php#
(immune system and meditation)
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/643585.html
(MS & meditation)
Next meeting: Tuesday October 26 at 6:30 pm
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Stuffed Peppers & Apple Cake
It's summer's siren song. We enjoyed an amazing full moon at the fall equinox and the unique alignment of the celestial bodies inspired some serious cooking in the kitchen. Here's some inspiration to make the most of summer's bounty...
Stuffed Peppers
1. Cut the top off six fresh sweet peppers.
2. Saute 2 finely chopped onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil, slowly over medium heat.
3. Add 3 finely chopped garlic cloves, continue to saute.
4. Stir in one cup cooked brown rice, and 1 cup cooked yellow split peas (each take about 45 minutes so this could be done the day before)
5. Add salt and pepper to taste, along with 1 cup grated extra old cheddar cheese and 1 tablespoon parsley.
6. Stuff raw peppers and place upright in greased casserole dish.
7. Top with fresh bread crumbs combined with parmesan cheese and freshly ground pepper.
8. Core and quarter about 3 fresh tomatoes. Process in blender or food processor until just like juice. Don't worry about skinning them. Pour "juice" into bottom of casserole.
9. Cover with tin foil and bake for about one hour at 350 degrees.
(I went crazy and multiplied this recipe by seven, so I would have peppers to freeze. They make wonderful cold weather comfort food)
Apple Cake
Cream 1/4 cup apple sauce or butter with 1 1/2 cups sugar until light coloured. Beat in one egg and 1 tsp vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups whole wheat flour (I love President's Choice Organic, it's so fine and silky!), 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt. Add dry ingredients to butter/apple mixture, alternately with 1 cup soured milk (add some lemon juice or vinegar 10 minutes ahead of time if you don't have any spoilt milk hiding in the back of your fridge). Chop 2 sourish apples into small chunks, don't peel, and toss with one tablespoon flour. Add fruit to the batter, then pour into greased 8" x 13" pan. To make a delicious struesel topping, combine 1 cup rolled oats with 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp ground cloves. Cut in 1/4 cup butter until the mixture resembles crumbs. Distribute struesel topping onto batter evenly and bake in 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Preparing for the Change of Seasons
The gorgeous warm sun is giving way to the spectacular colours of autumn. The drying winds are shaking leaves from trees and blooms from my flower beds. Light is lessening each day and the breezes are cooler. In the hectic pace of our modern world, we have lost our reverence for these natural progressions, but their presence affects our mood and our health.
In times of change, even seasonal change, we can experience a sense of imbalance. We might be a little anxious, more moody, more prone to conflict. Our skin or hair might feel dry and our joints crack more. These are all symptoms of a "vata" provocation, very common as the seasons change, or in any time of change in your life.
Use your yoga practice to help ground, warm and lubricate. Slow down your asana practice and hold postures a few breaths longer. Our class where we use light weights on the ankles in the hands together with yoga postures is an example of this technique. This builds heat in the body, stabilizes the joints and gives you a chance to mentally connect with the solidity of the earth. Cautiously build flexibility from your ankles to your neck, joint by joint, with gentle warm ups. Nurture your spirit with some cuddly restorative poses like supported savasana.
Take this time to review your place, here and now. Maybe today is a good day to start a journal, writing to yourself of your daily joys and finding gratitude for whereever we find ourselves each day.
And try to connect with nature. A hike is a surefire prescription for bliss. Short Hills Provincial Park, where we were last weekend as a family, provides a variety of scenic adventures complete with hills, climbing trees and creeks for tossing stones.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Why meditate?
Check out this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU
We just finished watching this video about a brain scientist who had a stroke. She eloquently and warm heartedly explains her sensory experience. Wait till you hear her describe what happens in the right brain.
If you would like to explore your right brain a little more, come to yoga classes on Monday July 26 when we learn alternate nostril breathing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU
We just finished watching this video about a brain scientist who had a stroke. She eloquently and warm heartedly explains her sensory experience. Wait till you hear her describe what happens in the right brain.
If you would like to explore your right brain a little more, come to yoga classes on Monday July 26 when we learn alternate nostril breathing.
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