Posts Tagged ‘enlightenment’

April 30th-May2nd at Omega Institute    Click Here to Register As society moves toward higher consciousness, women must learn how to access the authentic healing power that is their inherent gift to the world. The teachings of Naam Yoga and Universal Kabbalah provide women with the necessary tools to successfully transition to a higher consciousness in self-care, family, and business. During this weekend retreat, Universal Kabbalist and Naam Yoga therapist Kelley Black leads us in daily morning Naam Yoga classes, energetic mapping through the application of the seven creative planets and the moon cycles, customized meditation, and group discussion to help us access our healing power. We learn how to: Recognize the energetic forces at work in our professional and personal lives Take the guesswork out of love relationships Apply stress reduction techniques that work in three minutes or less Heal and open our heart to love and abundance Acquire new levels of vitality, creativity, and intelligence Women of all ages and physical conditioning are welcome to attend this self-healing retreat. Kelley Black, a student of yogi and master Kabbalist Joseph Michael Levry, is certified in Naam Yoga Therapy, Harmonyum Healing, Kundalini Yoga, and classical Pilates. She is founder of Balancing the Executive Life™ and contributor to Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets. A popular keynote speaker, Black regularly facilitates workshops on Universal Kabbalah. balancingexec.com

Health Benefits

Do you know that after age 30 your brain metabolism begins to decline? Bit by bit you lose the optimal balance of neuroplasticity effecting your memory, coordination, attention span, information processing, problem solving and social decision making skills. Moreover, the accumulation of sustained stress in day-to-day life causes you to live from the sympathetic nervous system, triggering imbalances in the ANS and creating the opportunity for disease.

NAAM provides you with the key to cleansing the spiritual body and balancing the ANS.  Through the application of mantra (sacred sound), mudras or hand seals and specific breathing exercises you are able to break the stress cycle that imbalances the ANS.  You address your negative behavioral habits and toxic emotions that trigger imbalances in the ANS at the causality level.   

Because you work on your bio-energetic and neurochemical networks through sound –vibration (NAAM) you are able to relieve chronic and emotional pain, manage stress/burnout, reduce anxiety/ depression and restore neuroimmunoendocrine balance. You can attain benefits in as little as three minutes per day.

Education Benefits

The pressure on your students to succeed in all areas of life continues to grow. Social pressures, academic demands and packed calendars all contribute to generalized stress.

Provide your students with a NAAM Yoga class, meditation lessons and/or NAAM based coaching.  Help them be less self-conscious in all areas of their lives.  In as little as three minutes a day, your students can experience a loss of their sense of self and improve their ability to perform a variety of tasks with greater pleasure. (2).  In sports it’s called being “in the zone” and in psychology this state of optimal experience is called “flow. (3)”

Meditation and a Joyful Life
An Introduction to Buddhist Meditation

with Kadam Morten
(check out the online video teaching with Kadam Morten)

2 Free Talks at 2 Locations

Monday Jan. 18, 7 – 9 PM (free)
At New York New Church, 114 East 35th Street (between Park and Lex. Ave’s)

Please note: the address is East 35th St. and not West 35th St. as was mistakenly printed on the publicity cards.

Thursday Jan. 21, 7 – 9 PM (free)
At Chakrasambara Buddhist Center, 322 8th Ave. Suite 502 (entrance on 26th St.)

Is a joyful life possible? Yes, it is. Through training in the meditation practices taught by Buddha we can developing a peaceful, positive, and joyful mind, a relaxed body, and a flexible, optimistic and compassionate outlook on life. Through learning to meditate correctly we train our mind in letting go of present unhappiness and past hurts and in maintaining a peaceful and happy heart. Gradually we become less judgmental and more empathetic and we come to appreciate the beauty and potential in each moment of our life.  In this talk Kadam Morten will explain the practice of meditation and guide us in simple but profound meditations that we can easily integrate into our daily life.

Everyone is welcome.  Please  note:  the same talk will be given at both venues.  Due  to space considerations please just come to one or the other.

Visit the website at www.meditationinewyork.org.

 A New Opportunity to Join the Teacher Training Program

 with Kadam Morten

The Teacher Training Program (TTP) is an ongoing program of in-depth study and practice based on the study of 14 of Geshe Kelsang’s books on sutra and tantra.

The Program is designed for those who wish to train as teachers of Mahayana Buddhism and/or wish to gain a profound and comprehensive understanding of Dharma.

As the study of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s book Mahamudra Tantra is about to begin, now is an ideal time to join the TTP.  Classes take place on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00pm.

Introduction to the Teacher Training Program

Friday, Jan 22, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

For those who are considering joining, Kadam Morten will give an introduction to the TTP. He will explain the purpose and commitments of studying on the TTP, how the classes are structured, how best to prepare, and so on. Attending this introduction is essential if you wish to join.

The actual study of Mahamudra Tantra will then commence on Tuesday January 26 at 6:30 pm.

As the TTP is a big commitment, in general it is only open to those who already are studying on the Foundation Program, or have been attending General Program classes regularly for at least a year. 

Pre-registration for the introduction is essential. Email Karla at epc@meditationinnewyork.org to discuss your eligibility and to receive the TTP guidelines

When Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 7 – 9pm Where Cafe Event type Workshop About Wellness and spiritual practitioner Kufunya Ife has empowered many to experience transformation and self-healing through the use of energized crystals, guided meditations, sound healing, and essential oils. She leads one of the most sought out workshops at East West Living. This will be the first of her monthly crystal workshops. Each month will be a continuation and bring successive information and topics. Kufunya will be presenting ways to balance oneself through crystal healing to bring about personal and global transformation. The workshop will focus on the healing power of various crystals. She will assist you in choosing the ones that are most beneficial for you based on your intuition; picking the ones that you are most drawn to. She will then teach you how to clear and care for your crystals. Through a variety of techniques, you will learn how to relax, so the body can heal itself. This month the theme will focus on Transformation and Liberation and the celebration of the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. Kufunya is also available for individualized treatments to suit ones specific needs. One such treatment is the ancient art of laying on of stones directly onto the 7 sacred energy centers, called chakras. She also advises on how to co-create your own business venture. Kufunya is a magnified healer, master teacher, spiritual counselor, certified crystal and medical intuitive, a licensed respiratory therapist, and has achieved mastership in a variety of other modalities. Please arrive early to register as the workshop begins promptly at 7pm with a group meditation. Price $30 Category Workshop Location Cafe

When Saturday, January 23, 2010, 3:30 – 5pm Where Cafe Event type Workshop Presenter Brian Schulz About Do you want to love and believe in yourself completely? Many of us long to love ourselves but were never taught how. Opening your heart to YOU leads to a lifetime of inner peace and ever-growing happiness. I LOVE ME! — a unique class and sacred circle — will help you awaken to your own beauty and rightness and learn to love yourself warmly and unconditionally. When you see and feel that there is nothing wrong with you, self-criticism and self-doubt change to self-confidence and self-validation. Anxiety, depression and loneliness all fade away. Walking the path in the company of other seekers is a time-honored way of raising healing energy and sharing our strengths. I LOVE ME! and its leader — psychotherapist , musician and spiritual teacher Brian Schulz — brings people together to encourage, nurture and inspire each other on this beautiful journey. Core practices, taught and developed weekly, will include: 1. Techniques to release self-criticism and self-doubt. 2. Journal work to build and deepen self-awareness. 3. Mirror exercises to boost self-confidence and self-esteem. 4. Practices that heal your Inner Child. 5. Explorations to awaken unconditional self-love. 6. Time for questions, discussion, sharing and being together! PLEASE BRING: A SMALL MIRROR and A JOURNAL. Biography: BRIAN SCHULZ, Lic.Ac., Body-Oriented Psychotherapist is the founder and leader of “I LOVE ME!” He discovered the power of unconditional self-love in the process of completely healing himself from a supposedly incurable, life-threatening disease . Brian is a wise, compassionate, funny and dynamic motivational speaker and spiritual teacher who has conducted workshops on self-love and healing around the world. Brian’s greatest gifts are his inspirational message and his open-hearted relationship with himself, which he radiates in helping others discover their own beauty and strength. Price $10 Category Workshop Location Cafe Note PLEASE BRING: A SMALL MIRROR and A JOURNAL.

When Monday, January 25, 2010, 6:30 – 7:30pm Where East West Cafe Event type Regular Event Presenter Karolina Zaleska About Connecting to the Divine Self within – the teachings of Bhagavad Gita in practice. The soothing poetry of the Bhagavad Gita, or “the Song of God” has the power to awaken the true knowledge of the Self and the Divine Love. Listening, reading, meditating – all are “roads” we travel searching for the Truth. Many scriptures say that the Truth, in form of the Original Sound–original vibration in space–gave birth to the creation of this world, the elements, the senses, all forms of living beings. Can we find that Original Sound reverberating in the “Song of God”, the Bhagavad Gita? What is to be found in the wisdom of these verses? Can you find your own story within its pages? We will meditate on the English translation – as well as the original Sanskrit text. Karolina Zaleska is a long-time student of the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana as well as other Vedic texts. She has practiced reading and reciting the Sanskrit verses as well as the japa, or mantra meditation. Kasandra is also a massage therapist, a certified teacher of Shamballa Multi-Dimentional Healing and a Tarot reader. Price $5 Category Study Group Location Cafe Note All meet-up groups have a $5 entrance fee. Link www.moonlightoracle.com

Reiki is one of the most ancient healing methods known. Its origin is ancient Tibet (2500-year old Sanscrit writings refer to it) and was rediscovered in the nineteenth century by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese monk. Reiki is a natural method of healing utilizing Universal Life Force Energy. The energy flows through the practitioner’s hands into the receiver’s body. A Reiki practitioner acts as a channel to this energy and directs it to the person or animal who desires healing, revitalization or clearing of negative energy.

When one’s energy or “ki,” “chi,” or “prana” is depleted or out of balance, illness and negativity have opportunity to enter the body, mind and/or spirit. Reiki revitalizes one’s own life force and balances energy within the body, mind, emotions and spirit. A balanced person is a healthy person.

Michelle is a Reiki Master Teacher certified to practice and teach all levels of Usui Reiki.

Appointments available for people and pets in the comfort of your home.

Level I Training
Sunday, December 8th at 11am – 5pm

Reiki Level I Training you will:

• Receive four attunements to open and enable your body to receive and transfer this Universal Life Force Energy to others for healing yourself, family, friends, pets, plantlife, food and water.
• Learn what Reiki is, the history of Reiki as well as its uses and benefits.
• Gain knowledge of Chakras and how they are linked to Reiki Healing.
• How to treat yourself and others with Reiki.
• Review the ethical responsibilities when using Reiki.
• How to stay “in-tune” with your attunement and Reiki healing power.
• Practice techniques and hand positions during a Reiki treatment or healing session.
• Be led through guided meditation to ready the body to receive attunements and Reiki energy.

Each student will receive a handbook and certificate at the end stating you are Reiki Level I Certified. Once attuned by a Reiki Master Teacher, you always have access to the Reiki Energy.

Pre-requisites for Reiki Training:

72 hours of cleansing your physical body to help receive the attunements and energy. This includes avoidance and removal of caffeine, alcohol, sugar (mainly sweets/white sugar) and meat (seafood and fish are acceptable, but it’s best to be completely flesh-free prior to attunement). Get a good night’s sleep 24-72 hours prior to attunement.

$175 includes all of the above, plus question and answers and full support as you enter into the world of Reiki Healing. This training is also the pre-requisite and beginning of preparation for Reiki Level II Training.

Space is limited, so please register early. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required.

Thursday Nights

 

Healing the Past, Liberating the Present
Purification and Learning to Live Joyfully in the Moment

with Kadam Morten

Chakrasambara Buddhist Center, 322 8th Ave. Suite 502
7:00 – 9:00 pm ($15 per class/free for cardholders)

Often we feel trapped by the experiences we have had in the past. Our old hurts, feelings of betrayal, and resentments condition our present relationships and ways of acting. We find ourselves stuck in unhelpful, even hurtful, patterns of behavior. Instead of freeing ourselves from the past, we set ourselves up for further problems in the future. But our past is not fixed, and there is no need for us to feel stuck. Using Buddha’s teachings on karma and purification, Kadam Morten will show us how we can heal the wounds of the past, enabling us to live joyfully and creatively in the present, truly making the most of our lives.

Nov 19              Healing the Past, Liberating the Present
Nov 26              No Class – Thanksgiving
Dec 3                Karma and Purification
Dec 10              Living in the Moment
Dec 17              Creating the Future You Want

Followed by two Thursday evening special events:

Dec 24              Christmas Eve Special: Healing the World – a guided meditation on the      Purification Buddha, Vajrasattva

Dec 31               New Year’s Eve Special: Meditation on the Buddha of Compassion

Monday Nights

 

Transforming Fear into Courage

 with Kadam Morten

 New York New Church, 114 East 35th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues
7:00 – 9:00pm $15 per class/ free for cardholders

We fear so many things: rejection, failure, sickness, being hurt, death.  In short, we fear taking full advantage of our life! These fears hold us back, emotionally, socially, professionally, but above all spiritually. However, by practicing the special sequence of Buddha’s teachings known as lam rim, or the stages of the path, we can transform our fear into a powerful encouragement to make the most of our human lives. By taking Buddha’s teachings to heart in meditation we let go of our irrational fears and replace them with a confident, solution-oriented approach based on an authentic understanding of reality. We begin to experience our life as a joyful path to enlightenment.

Nov 23              Transforming Fear into Courage
Nov 30              The Value and Joy of Life
Dec 7                Facing Death, Waking Up to Life
Dec 14              Transforming Insecurity into Confidence
Dec 21              Holiday Special: Refuge for the Heart

 Special Event at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center

 

 Pure Mind, Joyful Heart
Vajrasattava Empowerment

 with Kadam Morten

Click here for on-line registration

Saturday, December 5
Empowerment: 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Commentary to practice* 7:30 – 9:30pm
at the New York New Church

Sunday, December 6
Further commentary and practice*
9:30 – 12:30pm
at Chakrasambara Center 322 8th Ave. Suite 502 (entrance on 26th St.)

Buddha Vajrasattva is the embodiment of the pure mind of all the Buddhas. The empowerment is a blessing ritual and guided meditation through which we make a deep connection with Buddha Vajrasattva and create the cause to actualize Vajrasattva’s enlightened state for ourselves. During the commentary Kadam Morten will teach the purification practice of Vajrasattva. This skillful and creative practice allows us to connect with the natural potential in our mind, to heal the wounds of the past, and to free ourselves from old and painful habits of thinking and acting. Consequently through purifying our mind we free ourselves to live a life based on wisdom and love. We begin to experience a truly joyful heart and feel ourselves becoming the person we really wish to be.

Everyone Welcome!

*Must have received empowerment to attend commentaries
Price $45 ($22.50 for monthly cardholders).

 Click here to make a donation

 
Your Contribution Matters!

Help us reach our goal of raising $40,000 by December 31st. A gift of any size makes an impact!
 

Please make your donation by December 31, 2009.

 
Your gift will directly support our 2010 operating costs as well as our effort to acquire a permanent home in New York City. 
 

 Save the Date! 

 

 Our Good Karma Holiday Party

At Judson Memorial Church
Tuesday December 15, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
(free)
Join us for our annual Holiday party, which this year will be held at the Judson Memorial Church by Washington Sq. Park to ensure that we can comfortably fit everyone in.  Enjoy the companionship of your Sangha community with food, drinks, entertainments and an all new inspiring musical performance on The Birth of Buddha Tara, the Rescuer.

Everyone welcome.

 New Year’s Eve Special

At Chakrasambara Buddhist Center
Wednesday December 31, 9:30pm – midnight,
$10 (free for cardholders)

Our annual New Year’s eve event. From 9:30 to 10:45pm there will be snacks. Then at 10:45 through to midnight there will be a brief introduction followed by Compassion Buddha practice with guided meditation, with plenty of time to develop heartfelt resolutions for the new year. Start the new year in the way you wish to continue it … with a peaceful, compassionate mind, dedicating for the welfare of the whole world. Followed by a non-alcoholic New Year’s toast.

9:30PM – 10:45PM : Snacks  ·  10:45PM – Midnight : Compassion Buddha practice and meditation.

 

 

 

 

 

There are some amazing upcoming classes taking place at The A.R.E of New York Edgar Cayce Center located at 241 West 30th Street.  A Meditation Practice Group meets Tuesday evenings from 6–7 p.m in the A.R.E. of New York Center. The group will meditate together primarily using the methods described within the Cayce readings. Please note that they will begin promptly at 6pm.  Admission is Free.  Here is what the A.R.E. Center says about their meditation group on their website:

Meditation Practice So many of us struggle to have greater depth and discipline in our experience with meditation. Oftentimes having group instruction once a week helps to keep our intention fresh and our practice consistent. The Edgar Cayce readings clearly present meditation as a foundation for spiritual growth and it is in fact the subject of the first chapter in the Search for God books upon which all the material following is built. The group will meditate together primarily using the methods described within the Cayce readings. This will be followed with a short session during which particular issues and individual problems associated with meditation can be brought forth and discussed. We will also look at other diverse meditation methods that could be of assistance to particular individuals.

 

WEEKLY KUNDALINI YOGA CLASS

The yoga of awareness and transformation
Weekly Class and Special Workshops with Monica Pineda
Thursdays, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm

This ancient practice seeks to open the natural flow of life energy through the system of chakras.
Learn the basics of breath, posture, meditation, movement and mantra as they are woven together in ancient kriyas (sets) that invigorate muscular, glandular and nervous systems. Each week, Monica leads a kriya to benefit a specific system of the body, such as the immune system, heart, liver, etc. This ongoing class is an excellent way to practice Kundalini Yoga as brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan.

Single class: $15, Center Members $12,
10-Class Card: $135 Center Members $100

 

Vajradhara Meditation Center was established to provide people in Brooklyn with the opportunity to learn about Meditation and the practice Buddhist teachings. The Center is run by volunteers who themselves are dedicated practitioners. There are many beautiful spaces to meditate at the center including the beautiful meditation room, you can also check out the bookstore and gift shop, or just spend time in the comfortable lounge. If you wish to participate in the activities at the center, it is recommend that you begin with one of their General Program classes.   Unlike most meditation centers in the New York City area the Vajradhara Meditation Center offers programs in meditation for children.

Fall Classes Begin October 11

Next class…. October 25

Every other Sunday, 10 am – 11 am
($8 per child/$12 per family)

This series is meant for children who are just beginning to meditate as well as for children who already meditate with confidence.  Throughout this series, we will show the children one-step at a time how to count their breaths, maintain proper meditation posture, and enjoy the process of calming their minds. In addition, every class will include an interactive component and discussion to relate how meditation will help the children in their every day lives. 

 

Vajradhara Meditation Center is a member of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). The NKT is an International Union of Kadampa Buddhist Centers. There are currently over 1,000 centers worldwide. In the area, we have centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and other locations throughout New York and New Jersey.

The Jivamukti Yoga Center offers their Focus of the Month:

Non-Violent Communication 

        The key to effective spiritual activism is non-violent communication. An activist is someone who actively works for change, and to be spiritual is to feel your connection to all living beings. Spiritual activism is working actively to further the conscious connection of oneself to others in a positive, life-affirming, mutually beneficial way. To be a spiritual activist is to be activated by spirit rather than by a skin-encapsulated ego. Through non-violent communication, a spiritual activist pursues liberation or enlightenment for the benefit of all.
         The biggest obstacle to our spiritual evolution at this time is our perception and treatment of animals and the natural world. When people learn of the horrible animal abuse that goes on day after day, they often feel despairing, overwhelmed and helpless, or they get angry and want to attack the perpetrators. Neither one of these reactions will bring about a positive transformation that will benefit the animals. Only through active, conscious compassion can you affect people’s minds and hearts, with the result that they find it in themselves to be compassionate and to extend that compassion to all beings, including animals. In other words, change must start with you – you must become the embodiment of compassion. Patanjali advises: vitarka-badhane pratipaksha-bhavanam (PYS II.33) – when disturbed by disturbing thoughts, think of the opposite.
         When destructive emotions like hate, anger, or the desire to do violence arise within you, cultivate the opposite state of mind. See the other person’s potential for kindness and bolster your own expression of kindness. View others with hope, seeing them as having overcome their own ignorance. If you see them in a negative way, the power of your perception will only help to keep them that way as you polarize yourself from them, assuming a superior role. You may at first encounter ridicule from others when you speak up for animals, but this ridicule can help you to hone your skills, enabling you to become better at articulating the message of veganism and animal rights in an informed and compassionate way. If you have a desire to be an effective speaker on the subject of yoga, animal rights and veganism – that is, if you have a desire to be a spiritual activist – then these ideas may help you achieve your goals:
         1. Listening: The Heart of Communication. Be sure you want to communicate as opposed to merely expressing yourself. Strive to be a communicator not a professor. To communicate, one must be able to listen and to hear where the other is coming from. Through empathetic listening, you will be able to change underlying causes, not just outward symptoms. Non-violent communication with others whom you would like to inspire toward change will transform you in the process, as it will develop compassion, which dissolves differences and leads to an enlightened existence.
         2. Feeling: The Means of Communication. Before you speak to others, ask yourself: How do I want them to feel about themselves when I talk to them? Martin Luther King, Jr. did not see African-Americans as victims, but as strong, whole, and complete. He didn’t have time for hate, recognizing that it would slow him down on his way to his goal. He envisioned a new world in which all people lived together in harmony, and he spoke from that elevated dream. Black people who heard him felt themselves to be as Dr. King saw them, empowered with vision and hope to take their rightful place in society rather than remain victims of an unjust racist system. Only through humility and respect will you be effective in communicating. When conveying the messages of yoga and vegetarianism to others, don’t make them feel condemned or judged, but rather empowered to make conscious choices that would lead to liberation.
         3. Seeing: The Expression of Communication. To separate the world into good guys and bad guys or victims and perpetrators will only result in more division, not the peaceful unification we seek as yogis. When you speak to others about vegetarianism or animal rights, you must not view them as stupid, callous, or evil. Instead, see them through your eyes of compassion as holy beings, capable of kindness. If the person eats meat, why not view that as a temporary condition? If you can’t see others as potentially kind and compassionate beings, how can you ever expect them to see themselves that way?
         4. Bliss: The Result of Successful Communication. Ecstasy is the true ground of being, and it pulsates within you at all times. Recognize it and celebrate it in others, and you will find it in yourself. By not trying to tame, enslave, and exploit others, you allow them the right to pursue their true natures and, in doing so, you allow yourself the same adventure into bliss. If we are to spiritually evolve and survive as a species, we must liberate ourselves from the lie that we are separate from the rest of life. Recognize the potential within yourself to become liberated and for your life to serve as an instrument of liberation for others. Cultivate your vision by infusing yourself with vast compassion that extends to include everyone. Liberation, or moksha, is the goal of yoga, and ecstasy, or bliss, is its experience.
         -Sharon Gannon, adapted from Yoga and Vegetarianism

Here is the schedule of some upcoming events taking place at Jivamukti Yoga Center:

SUNRISE GITA
with Joshua Greene (Yogesvara) Tuition: $10
$8 for those with Unlimited and/or class packs.
Every Sunday: 9:30am-10:30am

Downtown Center:
841 Broadway, 2nd Floor , New York , NY   10003
Phone: (212) 353-0214

Launch your week with a refreshing Sunday morning service of chanting and study. Each program includes kirtan, verse-by-verse discussion of India’s sacred text Bhagavad Gita, and a personal quality to cultivate in the week ahead.

Nov 1
2.9 – “Govinda, I shall not fight.”
We humans are complicated: often we say the opposite of what we feel. Today’s talk explores how professing repulsion for the difficult journey to self-awareness belies our desire to begin.

Nov 8
Our Sunrise Gita gathering will have a special guest: Karnamrita. http://www.karnamrita.com.
She is coming with a musician accompanist, and we will take the opportunity to relish the sound of kirtan and delve into Gita verse 9.14:
“Bhakti-yogis are always chanting my names and offering me their love, for they have consecrated their lives to me in unceasing devotion.”

Nov 15 no class

Nov 22
2.10 – “Krishna smiled.”
Why? Because Arjuna, a beloved friend, was asking for help. Bhakti Yoga nurtures a healthy cooperation between ourselves and the Divine – a loving exchange that erases doubts and fear.

Nov 29
2.11 – “Wise souls mourn neither the living nor the dead.”
Compassion can be misplaced. Healthy compassion blends concern for others with knowledge of how and why we suffer. Without knowledge, compassion can be an excuse for avoiding our own inner work.

Dec 6
2.12 – “Never was there a time when we did not exist.” Special class on yoga and vegetarianism.
Today we explore the philosophical foundation of the yoga diet. It’s not just about avoiding cruelty. We will look at exceptions to the rule, the karmic consequences of eating out, and discuss tips for staying spiritually fit in a fast-food world.

Dec 11
Sunrise Gita Holiday celebration
Date to be confirmed

Dec 13
Sunrise Gita with special guest Shala Mattingly

Dec 20 no class

Dec 27 no class

The Char Dham, know as the “four abodes,” is the most important pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas, located in the state   of Uttaranchal. With four individual sites, each circuit has an autonomous history and significance that predates and remains distinct  from their status as a whole. Overtime, these four circuits have been caused to be viewed together in popular imagination and actual pilgrimage practice. The origin of the Char Dham is not fully known, but originally the name was reserved for India’s most famous pilgrimage circuit of four important temples grouped together but an 8th century reformer. These four temples make up the All-India pilgrimage circuit to the four cardinal points of the subcontinent. Unlike the original Char Dham, the sites of the Chota Char Dham do not share a single affiliation but instead the three major movements all have representation. Until as late as the twentieth century, the “Chota” designation was still used to define the Himalayan version of the Char Dham.

The circuit was only accessible until recently only after taking a two-month trek exceeding 4000 meters and long dominated by wandering ascetics and religious professionals. The long and tiresome journey was also joined by a handful of devoted retirees and wealthy patrons who could afford an entourage. The individual sites were important to Hindus, but they were not a particularly visible aspect of religious culture.

After the war in 1962 between India and China, the accessibility to the Chota Char Dham improved drastically and pilgrim buses began to arrive. It was around this time that the name became Char Dham, though the prefix of ‘Himalayan’ is often still used to avoid confusion and emphasis.

With the various improvements, the importance of the Char Dhambecame both an actual destination and an object of the national Hindu religious imagination. The Char Dham has become an important destination for pilgrims from South Asia and those sharing the same ethnicity identity.

These days, the Char Dhamhas 250,000 unique visitors in an average pilgrimage season which lasts from April until sometime in November. The heaviest time is in the two-monthperiod before the monsoon. Once the July rains come, the pilgrimage travel is extremely dangerous withdestabilized rocks, fatal landslides and bus or car accidents regularly with mortality rates often surpassing 200 in one season. Despite the danger, pilgrims do continue to visit the Char Dham in the monsoon period, as well as after the rains end.

Although temperatures at the shrines in the early winter months (October and November) are inhospitable, it is said that the incredible mountain scenery that surrounds the sites is most vivid after the rains have had a chance to moisten the dust of the plains below.

This past Friday I had the rare opportunity to see the great teacher, wise speaker and renowned author, Thich Nhat Hanh at The Beacon Theater in New York City.  He was there to give a message of peace and hope and to share with others his practices of daily mindfulness.  Sitting in the audience of such a great presence filled me with such newfound energy, I felt so light yet filled with happiness and dare I say even joy at moments.  When Thich Nhat Hanh came into the room after a ten minute guided meditation led by some of his students, the room fell silent, all whispers and fidgeting came to an abrupt halt as he glided across the room and took his place on a raised platform center stage. I have read many of his books and naturally seen his picture before, but to see the light in his eyes and the love in his smile was well worth the 2 hours of traffic I knew that I would be battling home after the nights festivities.  As he spoke about the face of a small child being as fresh as a flower his face became filled with joy, smiling from ear to ear – for me that is true spiritual enlightenment- to be able to be in the present moment as you are and experiencing the feeling as you are having it.  It was mind blowing and it gave me hope, for my own happiness and for the world because if one man can sit in peace and experience joy to that extent just by recalling a memory then I believe in my heart that there is hope for all of us. 

 Community of Mindfulness New York Metro -Inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh www.mindfulness.org

“Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive and present with those around you and with what you are doing. We bring our body and mind into harmony while we wash the dishes, drive the car or take our morning cup of tea.”