Dear Friends, We all have a multi-leveled, “real world” playground for practicing the spiritual lessons we learn from our Masters. But how about the reverse — the “real world” giving context for spiritual life? Among my immediate family members, there is a guiding principle that governs every waking moment of their lives. I’m referring to that phenomenon in the body-sculpting … Read More
Dear Friends, I recently received some feedback from a respected peer that really landed with me as critical and overly judgmental. Luckily, I have been on this path long enough to recognize that I was overreacting because my ego was ruffled, so I did and said nothing until I could calm down. I’m still working on it! Even though I … Read More
Dear Friends, Earlier this week I was in San Antonio for a work convention about education. As in most conventions, the keynote speaker was inspiring and comedic. She said, “Aren’t we all tired of hearing, ‘we are entering uncertain times’? Uncertain times? When have we ever said to ourselves, ‘Thank God for these certain times we’re entering!’? Never! Bring on … Read More
Dear Ones, We can all relate to the feeling of dropping into a different reality — we do it all the time when we meditate, walk in nature, or go for a swim. Even getting into my car and driving gives me a sense of traveling the in-between space from point A to point B. I find this in-between space … Read More
Dear Friends, As the school year sprints toward its frenzied end-of-year hoopla, in between the parties and last-minute meetings, there is a hurricane of breaking down, packing up, clearing out, and filing away. Students gleefully participate in the classroom destruction — they can be seen in the halls with items on rolling chairs as they assist their teachers in wheeling … Read More
Dear Ones, I owe so much to Swami Kriyananda. While living in Bangalore in 2006 — my husband was on an expat assignment with Texas Instruments at the time — I was so eager, even desperate, for the techniques taught by Paramhansa Yogananda, especially about meditation and Kriya. I was already on the path of Transcendental Meditation, had even started … Read More
Dear Friends, In Autobiography of a Yogi, Sri Yukteswar appears and tells Paramhansa Yogananda in his description of the afterlife, “The astral world is infinitely clean, beautiful, pure, and orderly…. The terrestrial blemishes — weeds, bacteria, insects, snakes — are absent.” I often think of this line when my fingernails are caked with mud and my back is grumbling from … Read More
Hello Friends, Let’s ramp things down. Lower the volume. Take your foot off the pedal. Ease off the gas.Slow this train down. Hold your horses. Take a deep breath. Smell the roses. Feel the breeze. Listen to the birds. Drink it in. Bask in the sun. Embrace the storm. Behold the stars. Let it slide. Let it roll off your … Read More
Dear Friends, Astrologers are excited this week. We had a new moon in the last few minutes (in the last degree) of Aries on Wednesday night — Eid Mubarak, by the way!. The previous new moon was also in Aries on the Spring Equinox, March 21, at 0 degrees of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. That moment has been described by … Read More
Dear Friends, This weekend is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, who Yoganandaji averred was a reincarnated, Self-realized Master who perfectly embodied and radiated Christ Consciousness. Jesus came on special assignment to bring the true teachings of the right relationship with God and with each other. “When virtue declines and wickedness ascends, I will manifest myself on earth,” says … Read More