Happy Guru Purnima

Click here to learn more about this special day for yogis.












Photo by Natasha Philips

Thursday Quote

"I remember my first visit with my guru. He had shown that he read my mind. So I looked at the grass and I thought, 'My god, he's going to know all the things I don't want people to know.' I was really embarrassed. Then I looked up and he was looking directly at me with unconditional love."

-Ram Dass

Monday Music

Thursday Quote

"Let no man in the world live in delusion. Without a Guru none can cross over to the other shore."

-Guru Nanak

Monday Music

Thursday Quote

The Guest House
By Mowlana Jalal al-Din Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Monday Music

Thursday Quote

"I have no father, no mother, relatives or brothers.
I have broken family ties; who can do anything?
I have spoken of my love through my tears.
Servant Meera has fallen in love with the Lord,
He is now mine. Gopala (Lord Krishna) is mine. No one else!"

-Mirabai

Monday Music

Real Independence

Real independence is freedom from cravings and desires. Learn how to cultivate vairagya (dispassion) in Kali's recent Yoga Chicago column, here.

Thursday Quote

"I was passionate,
filled with longing,
I searched
far and wide.

"But the day
that the Truthful One
found me,
I was at home."


-Lal Ded

Monday Music

Thursday Quote

"Thou art atman, buddhi is thy consort Parvati; the prana is thy attendant; this body is thy house; the act of sensual enjoyment is thy worship; deep sleep is samadhi; walking by my feet is the perambulation around thee; all my speeches are thy praise; whatever actions I perform, are all thy worship, O Lord Siva."

-Prayer for Karma Yogis, by Adi Shankaracharya

Monday Music

Thursday Quote

"Moksha is not an attainment of liberation from an actual state of bondage, but it is the realisation of the liberation which already exists. It is freedom from the false notion of bondage."

-Sri Swami Sivananda, in Bliss Divine

Monday Music

Thursday Quote

"Let's imagine that nothing would exist. No creation took place, nothing. Forever and ever you will never exist. How do you feel? Let's say from your stand point of view there is no forms, no names, no creation, anything. Suppose all these would never take place. You will never be able to exist. How do you feel? Sad, right? Be absorbed forever and ever, never existence. Meditate on that. It could be, it could happen. No creation will take place. Forever and ever, no space, nothing. Void for eternity. Anyone grasp that idea? Now you're really grateful, right, whoever gave you this chance to be. When you think like this, now you appreciate God, this intelligence who create all this and gave us this ego. That's so nice to have this chance of Samadhi, to have all this happiness you are having. And also in the future, eternal bliss, higher and higher, and higher. Now you appreciate. Turn to the Lord. I sometimes spend all day feeling grateful to be here. How did I end up in the United States, teaching yoga? I was born in the north of Brazil. How is all this taking place? How fortunate I have all these chances. now pay attention this. Direct your attention to the core of yourselves, deep inside: 'Thank you.'"


-Sri Dharma Mittra, quoted in The Master Said...

Monday Music

Thursday Quote

I Have Fallen in Love

"I have fallen in love, O mother with the
Beautiful One, who knows no death,
knows no decay and has no form;

"I have fallen in love, O mother with the
Beautiful One, who has no middle, has
no end, has no parts and has no features;

"I have fallen in love, O mother with the
Beautiful One, who knows no birth and
knows no fear.

"I have fallen in love, O mother with the
Beautiful One, who is without any family,
without any country and without any peer;
Chenna Mallikarjuna (Shiva), the Beautiful, is my husband.
Fling into the fire the husbands who are subject
to death and decay."

-Akka Mahadevi

Monday Music