"A saint is a sinner who hasn't given up."
-Unknown (quoted by Swami Radha in one of her many books)
image from here
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
HAWK CAM
The New York Times' Red-Tailed Hawk Cam is back - and live to boot!
Read all about it here.
The New York Times' Red-Tailed Hawk Cam is back - and live to boot!
Watch live streaming video from nytnestcam at livestream.com
Read all about it here.
Monday, March 12, 2012
MONDAY MUSIC
"Tunak Tunak Tun" by Daler Mehndi; one of the best bhangra dance tunes ever...
(and just the thing to take the sting out of March)
the phonetic Buffalex translation:
the correct translation:
and another another phonetic translation:
"Tunak Tunak Tun" by Daler Mehndi; one of the best bhangra dance tunes ever...
(and just the thing to take the sting out of March)
the phonetic Buffalex translation:
the correct translation:
and another another phonetic translation:
Friday, March 09, 2012
Thursday, March 08, 2012
THURSDAY QUOTE
Articles Forbidden
Highly seasoned dishes, hot curries, chutnies, meat, fishes, chillies, sour articles, tamarind, mustard, all kinds of oil, asafoetida, salt, garlic, onions, urad-ki-dal (black gram), all bitter things, dry foods, black sugar, vinegar, alcohol, sour curd, stale foods, acids, astringents, pungent stuff, roasted things, heavy vegetables, over-ripe or unripe fruits, pumpkins, etc., must be avoided. Meat can make man a scientist, but rarely a Philosopher, Yogi or a Tattva Jnani. Onions and garlic are worse than meat. All food-stuffs contain a small quantity of salt. So, even if you do not add salt separately, the system will derive the necessary quantity of salt from other food-stuffs. The giving up of salt will not produce deficiency of hydrochloric acid and dyspepsia as allopathic doctors foolishly imagine. Salt excites passion. No ill-effects are produced by the giving up of salt. Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Yogananda had given up salt for over thirteen years. Giving up salt helps you in controlling the tongue and thereby the mind also and in developing will-power too. You will have good health. Sitting before fire, company of women and worldly-minded people, Yatra [pilgrimage], long walk, carrying heavy burdens, cold bath in the early morning, harsh words, speaking untruth, dishonest practices, theft, killing animals, Himsa [harming] of all kinds either in thought, word or deed, hatred and enmity towards any person, fighting, quarreling, pride, double-dealing, intriguing, back-biting, tale-bearing, crookedness, talks other than those of Atman and Moksha, cruelty towards animals and men, too much fasting or eating only once every day, etc., are not allowed for a Pranayama-practitioner.
-From Sri Swami Sivananda's "The Science of Pranayama"
Which reminds me: I'll lead a Pranayama Workshop on Saturday, 4/28 at Sweet Pea's Studio. It is highly recommended for those who have a regular asana practice and want to go deeper. Register and learn more here.
Articles Forbidden
Highly seasoned dishes, hot curries, chutnies, meat, fishes, chillies, sour articles, tamarind, mustard, all kinds of oil, asafoetida, salt, garlic, onions, urad-ki-dal (black gram), all bitter things, dry foods, black sugar, vinegar, alcohol, sour curd, stale foods, acids, astringents, pungent stuff, roasted things, heavy vegetables, over-ripe or unripe fruits, pumpkins, etc., must be avoided. Meat can make man a scientist, but rarely a Philosopher, Yogi or a Tattva Jnani. Onions and garlic are worse than meat. All food-stuffs contain a small quantity of salt. So, even if you do not add salt separately, the system will derive the necessary quantity of salt from other food-stuffs. The giving up of salt will not produce deficiency of hydrochloric acid and dyspepsia as allopathic doctors foolishly imagine. Salt excites passion. No ill-effects are produced by the giving up of salt. Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Yogananda had given up salt for over thirteen years. Giving up salt helps you in controlling the tongue and thereby the mind also and in developing will-power too. You will have good health. Sitting before fire, company of women and worldly-minded people, Yatra [pilgrimage], long walk, carrying heavy burdens, cold bath in the early morning, harsh words, speaking untruth, dishonest practices, theft, killing animals, Himsa [harming] of all kinds either in thought, word or deed, hatred and enmity towards any person, fighting, quarreling, pride, double-dealing, intriguing, back-biting, tale-bearing, crookedness, talks other than those of Atman and Moksha, cruelty towards animals and men, too much fasting or eating only once every day, etc., are not allowed for a Pranayama-practitioner.
-From Sri Swami Sivananda's "The Science of Pranayama"
Which reminds me: I'll lead a Pranayama Workshop on Saturday, 4/28 at Sweet Pea's Studio. It is highly recommended for those who have a regular asana practice and want to go deeper. Register and learn more here.
Monday, March 05, 2012
RETREAT PHOTOS
The next one is November 3-4 at the same beautiful place. Learn more here.
On the final day, as the morning Maha Sadhana was getting underway (and I was reading a passage from Swami Sivananda), everyone suddenly gasped and looked up. Outside the window, a massive bird gracefully swooped down and perched on a nearby branch. The regal Red-Tailed Hawk stayed there for some time, watching us.
It was a magical ending to a memorable retreat.
Thank you to Felicia for her pictorial contributions, to the karma yogis who provided carpools (Beth and Odie), to the table-movers at the end (Tony, Dorothy and Daisy), to Tina for the book loan, to Kristen for the amazing food and support, the Port for Prayer - and to all the yogis who made the weekend so wonderful!
Om Namah Shivay!
* * *
FULL DISCLOSURE: Upon leaving the Port for Prayer on Sunday, I was mortified - utterly mortified! - to realize that I had unwittingly parked the car in a handicapped spot on Friday night. Yes, it was dark/rainy/sleety when I parked. But it was nonetheless a violation of ahimsa, satya and asteya - which I'd been talking about all weekend. I immediately moved it of course.
* * *
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HAWK, FROM HERE
The color red symbolizes the “kundalini,” the seat of the primal life force, the root chakra (sexuality). Once activated the Hawk may enter and start to show you how to move toward your soul/life purpose more dynamically by empowering and fulfilling your visions.
Hawk teaches you how to soar to great heights while keeping your feet firmly on the ground, to grow spiritually, to live in this earth plane but not be a part of it but to expand to much greater dimensions. As smaller birds occasionally attack hawks, you are likely to be attacked by smaller people who do not understand your lofty beliefs or gifts. These people may try to impede your great ability to soar, to keep you grounded in their version of reality.
Because of this strong Hawk energy, this intensified life force activated by this totem, you must be careful how you express yourself. As the Hawk, you will develop the ability to use your words as he uses his beak and talons to rip the heads off snakes; i.e.,the enemies or disbelievers in your life. Be mindful of your words so as not to shred those who oppose you, but take the higher road and fly above them and their way of thinking. Deliver your messages with tact and patience...
The sky is Hawk’s realm, and through its flight it communicates with Heaven and the Great Creator Spirit, and conveys that knowledge to Earth: Hawk medicine unites Heaven and Earth.
Thank you to Tina for the link.
The next one is November 3-4 at the same beautiful place. Learn more here.
On the final day, as the morning Maha Sadhana was getting underway (and I was reading a passage from Swami Sivananda), everyone suddenly gasped and looked up. Outside the window, a massive bird gracefully swooped down and perched on a nearby branch. The regal Red-Tailed Hawk stayed there for some time, watching us.
It was a magical ending to a memorable retreat.
Thank you to Felicia for her pictorial contributions, to the karma yogis who provided carpools (Beth and Odie), to the table-movers at the end (Tony, Dorothy and Daisy), to Tina for the book loan, to Kristen for the amazing food and support, the Port for Prayer - and to all the yogis who made the weekend so wonderful!
Om Namah Shivay!
* * *
FULL DISCLOSURE: Upon leaving the Port for Prayer on Sunday, I was mortified - utterly mortified! - to realize that I had unwittingly parked the car in a handicapped spot on Friday night. Yes, it was dark/rainy/sleety when I parked. But it was nonetheless a violation of ahimsa, satya and asteya - which I'd been talking about all weekend. I immediately moved it of course.
* * *
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HAWK, FROM HERE
The color red symbolizes the “kundalini,” the seat of the primal life force, the root chakra (sexuality). Once activated the Hawk may enter and start to show you how to move toward your soul/life purpose more dynamically by empowering and fulfilling your visions.
Hawk teaches you how to soar to great heights while keeping your feet firmly on the ground, to grow spiritually, to live in this earth plane but not be a part of it but to expand to much greater dimensions. As smaller birds occasionally attack hawks, you are likely to be attacked by smaller people who do not understand your lofty beliefs or gifts. These people may try to impede your great ability to soar, to keep you grounded in their version of reality.
Because of this strong Hawk energy, this intensified life force activated by this totem, you must be careful how you express yourself. As the Hawk, you will develop the ability to use your words as he uses his beak and talons to rip the heads off snakes; i.e.,the enemies or disbelievers in your life. Be mindful of your words so as not to shred those who oppose you, but take the higher road and fly above them and their way of thinking. Deliver your messages with tact and patience...
The sky is Hawk’s realm, and through its flight it communicates with Heaven and the Great Creator Spirit, and conveys that knowledge to Earth: Hawk medicine unites Heaven and Earth.
Thank you to Tina for the link.
Friday, March 02, 2012
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