This morning I received an e-mail from a very dear friend. He had questions about reaching goals and overcoming doubt and fear. I have been wanting to write about this for some time and responding to his questions has allowed me to organize my thoughts on the matter. Here is an abbreviated version of that response:

Failure is entirely in the mind. Once you lose your fear of failure, you can do anything. If, instead of failure, you see every challenge as an opportunity to learn, then you are unstoppable. If you choose to look for blame (yourself or others) you will learn nothing. That's the first part. The second part is ... forgiveness... However, really turning your/my/our attention inward and focusing that love and forgiveness on yourself takes practice. It's okay to love yourself. (You are) a beautiful person inside and out, but the inside is more important. Stop judging others and you will stop judging yourself. Judging is a HUGE obstacle. We all do it...Remember, loyalty and prejudice are no different. They both are forms of judging AND they prevent one from being objective about various situations. If one can be objective, then we realize that events are not happening to us and start to see the opportunities all around us. Also, we need to learn to adjust, adapt and acclimatize to every situation, whether that situation meets our expectations or not. Of course, it would be better not to have expectations @ all.

Some other recommendations:

*Know what you want. Write it down. Make lists of the things you want to accomplish for a day or a lifetime. Those lists may change.
*Every morning, wake up knowing what that day is to be about...(if you) don't meet that particular objective...forgive (yourself), look @ what (you) did that was of benefit and start over the next day.
*Ignore as much negativity as possible and do not let the offhand remarks of others shape your identity. People project their needs, wishes, fears and desires onto others. We can not see  qualities in others if we do not possess them ourselves. If you see (someone) as inspirational then you yourself are indeed inspirational. :-D
*Recognize that no individual is better or worse than (yourself). And, likewise, (you are) no better or worse than anyone.
*Try to not get too hung-up on when (you) reach a particular goal. (You'll) get there.
*Let go of criticism. There is always someone who will tell you that you can not do it. Sometimes (my/your/our) way works out and sometimes it doesn't...learn something, ask the question again and then move forward.
*I knew a swami that said, "We only have 3% free will. Use it." Great advice!
*Know the difference between hoping something will happen and believing it will happen. There is a BIG difference between hoping and believing.
*Find a deep spiritual path that brings you joy and inner peace. Practice it everyday. Meditate everyday. Love yourself and everyone around you. Forgive yourself and everyone around you. Realize how truly amazing you are. Remember that you are loved. Remember your good deeds.

Deepest Shanti and Prem,
  S.

Dear Yoga Meditators,

This evening I have two stories to share. Both of them are simple tales of the law we call Karma.

In the first story, a woman of advancing years had a job she hated. All her life she wanted to be domestic, take care of her home, paint and enjoy a quiet life. So, she decided that when she was old enough to retire she would. And she did. She moved onto her sister's property in order to keep her expenses low. She lived off a tiny social security check every month. She stayed home most days. In the mornings she read spiritual texts and then she went into the kitchen and meditated on the trees that were outside her window. After that she painted for most of the day. At night she ate in front of the TV watching movies until she fell asleep. She got up the next day and did the exact same thing. Sometimes, she would have disagreements with her sister, but then she would come back to her home, do the things that she had waited her entire life to do and forget about it. As it turned out, this woman was also a smoker. She was diagnosed with emphysema, but continued to smoke. People in her family scolded and warned her that she shouldn't. She would say, "I'm 65! I enjoy smoking. Let me do what I want."

One day, the woman's story ended. The sheriff treated her death like a crime scene and did a thorough investigation. His findings were that she was alone, looked as if she passed away peacefully and concluded that the cause of death was "breathing problems." She was 73 years old.

In our second tale, a young man visits a swami to learn the secrets to making his dreams come true. The conversation went this way...
The swami asked, "What is it that you want?"
The young man stated, "I want to be rich!"
The swami asked, "Do you study finance?"
The young man answered, "No."
"Do you study the stock market?"
"No."
"Do you have a savings account."
"No."
The swami looked the young man in the eyes and said, "You do not want to be rich."
"But, I do," the young man insisted, "I want to be rich!"

There is a huge difference between these two stories. The only thing they have in common is karma. Every thought we think, every word we speak, every action creates karma. Karma is simply the law of cause and effect. It's not good or bad, right or wrong. Put simply, as we sew, so shall we reap.

In the first story, the woman understood that she wanted to stay home, paint, keep her peace, watch movies and smoke. She never said that she wanted to be rich or healthy. She visualized what she wanted her life to be about and then she took action to create the life she wanted. It was not the life others wanted for her, but it was her choice.

In the second story, we have someone that clearly does not know what his life is about. No god or guru can give him what he thinks he wants. In most cases, people who want to be rich work hard to earn it.

So, I leave you with these questions to reflect upon: What is your life about? What do you do every day? Do you like what you are doing now or would you like your life to be different? What would you like your life to be about? Are you willing to make the changes it takes in thoughts, words and actions to live the life you want? Or, if you are not willing to make any changes, could you be happy with your life exactly as it is now?

Namaste,
  S.

This evening I'd like to ask you to consider a few questions. When was the last time you really enjoyed every bite of food during a meal without distraction? Did you enjoy preparing the meal? Did someone you love prepare it for you? Did either of you set the table lovingly to make the meal extra special? Did you select the ingredients with anticipation about how the meal was going to look, taste and smell? Really think back to the last time you were aware of the experience of an entire meal. It didn't have to be a fancy meal, just one that you can recall all the way through from beginning to end. One that you truly took the time to enjoy. When you can completely recall that experience hold onto it for a moment. Does it put a smile on your face? Being present in that moment completely was a form of mindfulness. In that moment you were aware. In that moment you were living your life.

Now ask yourself, how many meals do I consume with complete thoughtlessness? How many meals come out of a box made in a factory? How many meals do I eat while completely distracted watching television or talking on the phone? How many times can you honestly say, I have no idea what I ate, what it was like or what I was doing when I ate the meal? Were you living your life or just going through the motions? And if that is true of the food you put in your body, what about all the other activities that take place during the day? Are you there or in auto-pilot?

I don't ask these questions because I need to know what you ate. And I am not suggesting that you should be overly attached to the senses. I use this example to illustrate the way we often move from activity to activity thoughtlessly or, more accurately, mindlessly. And therefore we are not really living @ all.

We. Should. All. Slow. Down.

Unplug. Have a picnic. Or @ least take the time to bite into a crisp, sweet apple and really experience it. Meditation doesn't have to end on the mat. In fact, the purpose of meditation is to learn to live everyday all day long - with awareness.

Shanti,
  S.

If there is one subject that is typically an unwelcome topic of discussion it is the death of the physical body. It is inevitable, and yet, we don't want to talk about it. Then, when a loved one passes, we don't know what to do. I feel that bringing it up here is probably long overdue. I was fortunate to learn years ago a very helpful ritual called the Ritual for the Departed. Every year, usually in November, my Guru and the other disciples gather and do the ritual together as a way of helping our loved ones...and also ourselves. But the ritual can be done any time of year, for anyone. Some people are deeply grieving the recent loss of a relative and feel overwhelmed. Some people are mourning a beloved pet and find that they have no one to talk to that understands just how deep their feelings go and what it is like to live their lives without the adoring look from the loving companion that used to sit @ their feet. And, still others, have grief that is socially unacceptable to mention, like the enormous feeling of loss from a miscarriage or abortion. Yes, these are deaths of loved ones, too, although others may not see it that way.

I bring all of this up, because I've often thought that if I could teach this ritual to others, they might find comfort in it. I had the thought, but did not know how to broach the subject...until today. A person I only recently met mentioned that she might be interested in learning to meditate to help her through her own recent loss. I was moved by her openness. I honor her by doing the same.

If any of you are interested in learning the ritual, please let me know. I will come to your home, if you are comfortable with that. You are also welcome to make an appointment and meet me @ 1415 N. Loop W. Whatever make you most comfortable. And, I promise to offer the ritual to everyone as a group in the fall and make it part of our regular practice.

In Kriya Yoga, we believe that the spirit never dies. Our loved ones never really leave us, only the Mind thinks they do. I believe that deeply, and yet, I understand what it feels like when the story of the person or pet you love comes to an end. They transition. We adjust. Grieving is a natural part of this earth life. It just means that you love them and that you miss them.

Deepest Shanti and Prem,
  S.

This evening I would like to share a short video filmed several years ago @ the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago. In it Goswami Kriyananda explains how meditating on the breath helps us let go of ego and not interfere in the lives of others. This letting go leads to a state of bliss.

Shanti,
  S.

I have a tiny dog that is getting up there in age. He's been exhibiting some peculiar behavior as of late. This evening is a prime example. He took a drink of water and then went to rub his face on the carpet (an icky habit, but he is a dog, after all). He was busy rubbing his face when he completely surprised me by rolling onto the top of his head and doing a forward flip. Unbelievable! Then he walked around in a couple of circles, began to rub his face on the carpet again...and then another forward flip! After which he walked away as if this was the most normal thing that had ever occurred. I stood there perplexed. Never have I ever seen this behavior in another animal. What could it mean? I reasoned that due to his advancing years not only is he losing control of his body, but he is also becoming confused. And then it hit me. I had made a big mistake earlier this evening because I had become confused about the time. My little dog's unusual display, and the practice of observing objects in the environment as symbols, served to "jostle" my awareness.

Everyday we are surrounded by symbols. We can "see" absolutely nothing in our own environment that we are not relative to. When you have an observation or judgement about another person, place or thing, ask yourself, "How does that apply to me?" I can guarantee you that it does.

Symbol awareness is part of the practice of yoga. That's because yogic techniques are largely psychological in nature. It's about understanding and retraining the mind. In addition to becoming aware of our projections concerning others, it is a helpful practice to consciously add symbols to the environment that serve as positive reminders for the subconscious mind. For example, if you want to have more joy, create a joyful environment. Which form of the divine do you attune to? If you are a Buddhist, you may want to hang a painting of the Buddha in a location where you will be reminded of your practice. If you attune to nature, perhaps a bonsai tree where you will be sure to see it. If you want to be more loving, select objects that symbolize love for your consciousness.

A powerful symbol for many yogis is Lord Shiva. I found an interesting webpage that goes into great detail about what this symbol represents. I thought this might be a good example to illustrate symbols. At the very bottom of the page is a video about Samadhi, the 8th limb of yoga.

http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/shiva.htm#.Vbbg-0XfiVq

I hope you enjoy reading about Shiva and will consider taking the time to learn more about the symbols all around us.

Namaste,
  S.

Are you a list maker? Many of us are. Making lists helps us organize our everyday life and feel a sense of accomplishment when we check an item off the list.

Laundry? Check!
Homework? Check!
Groceries? Check!
Meditation? Check!

Whoa! Wait a minute. Slow down a bit. Meditation is sometimes viewed as another task on our to-do list. There are several problems with this. One of them being that when we sit down to meditate we bring with us the unconscious message that when we are finish we can move on to something else. So, when we end our formal practice we might stand up and leave the meditation behind right away. This is not the purpose of our meditation practice. Meditation is not part of a competition. It is a way of quieting the mind and becoming acquainted with the peace that dwells within. It is a tool we can turn to in order to bring peace and equanimity into our lives...everyday, all day. We want to hold the feeling of the meditative state as long as possible. Perhaps even having mini meditation (informal) sessions when we notice the feeling slipping away. However, when we relegate meditation to a task or accomplishment, the benefits of our meditation are quickly forgotten. Or, perhaps, we can not settle down to meditate @ all because we are already planning the next thing "to-do."

Meditation is a state of consciousness. It is not a task. And, for most of us, it takes time, practice and patience to truly begin to have deep meditative experiences. Try to make your formal meditation practice part of your daily routine like waking up in the morning or taking a shower. You don't add those to your to-do list because they are completely integrated into your life. The difference would be that we sometimes begin to do those things unconsciously. Meditation is there to raise our conscious awareness. Eventually, with regular practice, we find ourselves maintaining that intuitive feeling state indefinitely. And that is worth taking time for.

Namaste,
  S.

What is the Truth? There's a story I've heard a couple of times that goes something like this...

Five blind men were lead to an elephant and asked to describe it. The man standing near the elephant's trunk touched it and said, "The elephant is long and flexible." The man standing near one of the elephant's legs felt it and said, "The elephant is round and strong like the trunk of the tree." And, as you might imagine, the men that felt the tusks, ears and tail each had very different impressions.

So, let me ask you, were the blind men telling the truth? How can five people say completely different things about the same animal and still be telling the truth? Is one of them wrong? Misguided? In error? Is one of them right and the others wrong? After all, there is only one elephant.

We each live in physical bodies and most of us view the world through the lens of our own experience which is filtered through the senses. And, it therefore stands to reason, that we each experience "the truth" through a certain perspective which has its limitations. Let me illustrate this a different way...

A long time ago, a Jewish man explained to me that "the Torah does not contain facts, it tells the Truth". I get what he meant. I believe that there is a difference between facts and the Truth. Babaji, Krishna, the Buddha, Christ. It's a way of describing a state of consciousness.

What is the difference between the truth and THE Truth? The Truth is a higher state of consciousness. And what is your truth? I can assure you that I have absolutely no idea. I am working with my own set of filters. Only you know what your truth is. You and no one else. And how do we move from our truth to reach the Truth? We meditate. Meditation allows us to experience Life without the filters.

Shanti,
  S.

Dear Yoga Meditators,

This evening's blog is going to be short and sweet:

Today was the very first day I taught Yoga Meditation for Beginners in our new space. I could not be happier.

Thank you all for hanging in there while we moved from location to location. And most of all, thank you for allowing me to share the teachings. There truly is no greater joy.

One of the best things about having a space with unlimited access is the ability to add more classes to better serve our community @ every level. As always, I am open to your feedback.

I'll close by posting a photo of the Houston skyline shot today from the window of our new home. What a beautiful day.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Namaste,
  S.

There's a book I want to recommend to all of my students. It offers not only the clearest explanation of Zen Buddhism that I've come across, but extremely practical and useful advice about meditating and controlling the mind.
Living Truth: the Path of Light by the Venerable Master Miao Tsan
offers this statement early on:
Master Your Mind,
Master Your Life.

Absolutely. Isn't it interesting the way we move around in our physical bodies without paying the least bit of attention to what we are thinking or how we are feeling? And then we wonder how we got where we are and why our lives are out of control. Where ever the mind goes, the corresponding energy will follow.

In addition to this book, I'd like to suggest a simple way to remind yourself to be mindful of your thoughts. Take a small piece of paper or an index card and on the front write: Every thought I think is creating my future. On the back of the card write: The Universe totally supports every thought I choose to think and believe. I have unlimited choices about what I think. I choose balance, harmony, and peace, and I express it in my Life. Decorate this little piece of paper front and back with symbols that bring a positive feeling. They can be butterflies, stars or anything that makes you smile. Now place this card somewhere that you will see it many times during the day. At least once a day, pick it up, turn it over, and read the back aloud as an affirmation.

The more often you practice changing your thoughts to something positive, the easier it will become. When you notice your mind wandering off to some negative fantasy, gently bring it back and replace those thoughts with something uplifting. I guarantee, over time, you will begin to see a difference in the thoughts your mind produces.

On a final note, I'd like to ask that we all try to let go of worrying about what we imagine others think of us. This habit causes much unhappiness among many people and, the truth of the matter is that what we imagine others think is only our own projection.

Shanti,
  S.