The Practice of Yoga

“The practice of yoga is threefold: the state of yoga, the practice of yoga and the experience of yoga. They are not separate from each other. You do not practice to get to a state.” - Anand Mehrotra.

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“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” - Charles R. Swindoll

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"Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice. Better than knowledge is meditation. But better still is surrender of attachment to results, because there follows immediate peace." - Bhagavad Gita

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“Once you realize that the road is the goal and that you are always on the road, not to reach a goal, but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple, in itself an ecstasy.- Nisargadatta Maharaj

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The practice of yoga is sattva, balance. But it is not static balance. It is dynamic. It is flowing. Part of perceiving this balance is cultivating awareness of, and presence of, your Shiva and Shakti qualities. This can been understood as Shiva being pure still consciousness, unbounded. And Shakti being movement, expression of consciousness.

These are not opposing forces but an expression of one intelligence.

Additionally, it can be viewed and experienced as the unity of polarities, the dance within each of us, of our masculine and feminine. Anand Mehrotra suggests we try this exercise:

Observe within your own psyche, in your own being these qualities:

• What is occupying your life more?
• What is the content of your life?
• See where you can balance the masculine and the feminine.
• Integrate, balance and make it present now.

Today's Mantra

SIMPLIFY, PRIORITIZE AND ORGANIZE

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Open Heart, Open Mind.

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Give it an honest effort.

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Simplicity. Peace. Integrity. Community. Equality.

(A Quaker SPICE mantra)

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Thoughts on Intention

from Lillian Benrubi, MSW

(Radical Self Love)

… Your “path has to be aligned with your intention.

We get lost sometimes, distracted by a road here and a road there. And that’s ok.

So today......what is your intention?  An exercise that worked for me years ago in a 7 month intensive program, with an accountability partner, was to set our intentions for the day, not only and sometimes not even in our actions, but in our “being”.  So it sounded like this......today my intention is to be patient, understanding, curious.....or today my intention is to be engaged, excited, and in humor....or today my intention is being grounded in myself, connected to myself, authentic.

The “intention” here is to set the tone, to feel the feeling of the "beingness" you are creating for the day, and to step into it.  It may last all day, it may last 2 minutes.  Just keep recreating the intention.  There were failures of course, but we just got up, wiped off the dirt and started over.  And whenever there was a pattern on not fulfilling on our intention, a block that prevented us from being in our intention, we reached out for coaching.  We arrived, closer and closer, each time, to the core of ourselves, to being in what we created, to the power of our ability to create whatever reality that resonated with us.

Don’t give up, don’t give in.....don’t even fight.....just believe in yourself enough to get up and start over, even if it means you need some extra minutes on the ground to care for the sores and bruises.....so that you can go on.”

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The Simple Writing Exercise Olympian Triathelete Gwen Jorgensen Uses To Succeed

"Every day I write down three things I do well and three things I can improve upon. Looking back at those three things I did well every day is something that can bring me confidence leading into a race." // This is a modified daily practice that is done with the The Five Minute Journal - https://www.facebook.com/FiveMinuteJournal

Goal of Yoga

Goal of Yoga

Yoga is a practice of process.

  That is the goal.

Keep it real. Keep it raw.

  Real is here and now. Being present.

  Raw is authentic. Feeling what is here, now.

It is releasing doing and thinking

It is releasing the past and its stories.

It is releasing the future and its imaginings.

It is noticing what is arising, what is

maintaining, and what is dissolving.

It is non-judgmental awareness,

  clinging to nothing even if pleasurable,

  pushing nothing away even if unpleasant.

It is attention and intention, focus and flow.

It is allowing, a saying yes

  to this breath

  to this movement

  to this feeling

  to this encounter.

It is practicing the Eight Limbs

  with integrity, discipline, and dedication.

It is realizing that paradox is a gateway in

and clarity comes with observation and patience.

It is consistent alignment with joy, kindness, and compassion,

with self and others, in thought, word, and deed.

It is valuing silence, ritual, friends, and quality over quantity.

It is in asking the right questions and remaining open to the unknown.

In this process equanimity is found.

Balanced aliveness is claimed as original innate wholeness.

In this journey the veils of ignorance disappear, freedom (moksha) occurs,

and one finds the forever already existing as states of truth, consciousness,

and bliss (sat-chit-ananda).

The goal of yoga is the journey.

    by Richard Hammer,  10-17-15

Endings and Beginnings

What is being revealed to you in this moment? Have you reached a cul-d-sac?

I just finished reading a post from Spirituality and Health by Mark Nepo, author and poet:

The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have (2000)

And, The One Life We're Given: Finding the Wisdom That Waits in Your Hear (2016)

Here is the last piece of it - http://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/when-its-time-burn-your-map

Seeds to Water

“In your journal, describe an inheritance of values or goals that no longer works for you. Describe your history with this inheritance: how it came to you, how it worked for you, and when it stopped being relevant. Describe how you’re finding your way beyond what others dreamed for you. In conversation with a friend or loved one, describe an expectation you had for yourself that didn’t come true. What happened when you reached the end of your expectation? What did you discover at the end of your pre-imagined path? How do you hold this unfolding?”

The art and craft of yoga asks that you cultivate awareness, wisdom, and action. This can take the form of adherence to the Yamas and Niyamas of yoga, ethical observations and restraints, two of the Eight Limbgs of yoga.

http://www.yogajournal.com/article/yoga-101/live-your-yoga-discover-yamas-niyamas

Out practice is not just physical movement on the island of our mat but off the mat into the integrity of our being in the world. Consistent observance with awareness of our relationships within, without, inter-personal and trans-personal.

Oprah Chopra 21 Day Meditation

Getting Unstuck – Creating a Limitless Life

Summary Thoughts - First Two Weeks

Day 1 - Getting Unstuck Leads to Fulfillment

“Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything.”– George Lois

CENTERING THOUGHT

I am fulfilled when I can be who I want to be.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Om Gum Shreem
My limitless awareness overcomes all obstacles.

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Day 2 - Why Do We Get Stuck?

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, let the mind remain in the present moment.” – Buddha

CENTERING THOUGHT

I am never stuck when I live in the present.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Om Hreem Namah
Life is one unified wholeness.

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Day 3 - Finding the Key to Your Creativity

“Creativity occurs in the moment, and in the moment we are timeless.” – Julia Cameron

CENTERING THOUGHT

I always have access to my inner creativity.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Ananta Swa Bhava
My true self has no limits or boundaries.

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Day 4 - How to Be Renewed Every Day

“I can hardly wait for tomorrow, it means a new life for me each and every day.”

– Stanley Kunitz

CENTERING THOUGHT

I embrace the newness of this day.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Om Sarvatva Namah
The wholeness of the universe is my true nature.

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Day 6 - You Deserve More Than Second-Hand Experiences

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau

CENTERING THOUGHT

Today I am completely free of the past.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Rasa Hum
I am life’s vitality.

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Day 7 - Opening the Doors of Perception

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite.” 

– William Blake

CENTERING THOUGHT

Today I am creating a better version of myself.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Om Hreem Hoom
I am silent awareness transforming itself.

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Day 8 - Let Your Awareness Do the Work

“Because everything happens in the moment of Now we also happen in the moment of Now: continually, effortlessly, truly.” – Joseph Rain 

CENTERING THOUGHT

I am aware of being cared for and supported.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Om Kamakshi Namah
My true self nurtures and supports my life.

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Day 9 - Your Creative Self Is Already Here

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.” – Carl Jung

CENTERING THOUGHT

I find joy in creative living.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Ananda Hum
I am unlimited joy.

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Day 10 - Learn to “Be Here Now”

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh

CENTERING THOUGHT

I rest with comfort and ease in the present moment.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Om Hreem
Pure, transparent awareness is my essential nature.

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Day 11 - Awareness Is a Skill You Can Master

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” 

– Charlotte Brontë

CENTERING THOUGHT

My awareness opens the door to new possibilities.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Om Pragyanam Asmi
My true self is pure intelligence.

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Day 12 - Welcoming Change Is Natural

“Being fully present is being awake to the movement and creation of life, being alive to the process of life itself.” – Pema Chodron

CENTERING THOUGHT

My life is dynamic because I welcome change.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Ahrah Kahrah
I invoke the creativity of the universe in my life.

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Day 13 - The Joy of Finding Self-Worth

“We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.” – Malcolm X

CENTERING THOUGHT

I deserve a life without limitations.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Siddho Hum
I am perfect and complete.

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Day 14 - Finding Your Creative Path

“All great acts are ruled by intention. What you mean is what you get.” – Brenna Yovanoff

CENTERING THOUGHT

Every day unfolds the next step in my journey.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Sharavana Bhava
My awareness is aligned with the creative power of the universe.

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Join free for the third week of daily 20 minute meditations at

https://chopracentermeditation.com

or buy the series at the end of the 21 Days. 

Meditation Resources

One of the 8 limbs of yoga, from Pantanjali's Sutras,

is Mediation, the 7^th Limb, Dhyana.

Here are resources for you to guide you to the 8^th Limb

Samadhi :  Union with the Divine.

- Self Study and Retreats -

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Insight Mediation Society of Washington - http://imcw.org

• Tara Brach - https://www.tarabrach.com/ (free podcasts)
• Jonathan Foust - http://jonathanfoust.com/ - Jonathan was my Kripalu meditation teacher

Susan Piver – Open Heart Project (Buddhist – follows Shambhala orientation) http://susanpiver.com/

Susan is great. OHP has a free section and a member section. See what is right for you.

Amplifield – Introduced in July 2016 – This is really good!! And Free. https://app.amplifield.com/

Wildmind - http://www.wildmind.org/

See the blog - http://www.wildmind.org/category/blogs/on-practice

Kip Mazuy – from New Zealand – music and Saturday afternoon free online guided meditation    – Usually at 6:30 Eastern Time http://www.bliss-music.com/

For back ground music - Calm – there's an app too - https://www.calm.com/

Chopra Center Meditations - http://www.chopra.com/ccl/guided-meditations

There have been eight 21 Day Sessions with Oprah-Chopra, usually twice a year. As of July 2016, the current Oprah-Chopra 21 Day Meditation is “Getting Unstuck: Creating A Limitless Life” (free to access when ongoing).

When you have time:

Check out Dharma Ocean with Reggie Ray https://www.dharmaocean.org/ /

Podcasts - https://www.dharmaocean.org/meditation/podcasts/

Check out – Wild Divine - https://www.wilddivine.com/

If you like to meditate with great background music try youtube – such as Yellow Brick Road series -  6 Hour Deep Healing Music: Relaxing Music, Meditation Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU3SdBgBhmY

Also try iAwake Technologies – works with brain wave synchronization in various formats.

I have the PROFOUND MEDITATION PROGRAM 3.0 and have used it for over over two years.  http://www.iawaketechnologies.com/

Of course there are other styles of meditation, such as Goenka Vipassana. The standard is a 10 Day Silent Retreat at one of the centers. See a sample of Day 2 of 10 Days on youtube here  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYG5VvHry7c

To attend at a 10 Day silent retreat: https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/index

See info on the Southeast Center in GA - http://www.patapa.dhamma.org/

For other retreat programs in the U.S.:

Spirit Rock – Insight Mediation - http://www.spiritrock.org/

Insight Mediation Society – Barre, MA https://www.dharma.org/

Shambhala - http://www.shambhalamountain.org

Art of Living – Boone, NC - https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/

Kripalu Center - Lenox, Ma - https://kripalu.org/

           Listening

What are you listening to, or for?

Some message, inclination, or maybe sign?

Are you open to receiving which requires

a pause, silence, and a limiting of distractions?

Is what you are hearing shouts and commands

of doing, or softer sounds of being?

Is there a pushing away, or a gentle coaxing

of come here, sit down for awhile?

Where are you tickled with joy, entreated

with awe, and pulsed with curiosity?

What is the opening? Can you feel it?

Perhaps as a breeze, or an aromatic like impression,

or maybe a flashed reflection of mirrored light.

The passing ring on the carousel of your life

must be reached for, but timing is important.

Is it now?

Or, maybe now?

Breathe in. Breathe out.

It is now.

    richard hammer

         7-21-16