Mar 15, 2013
Mar 10, 2013
Bondage or liberation are in your own mind
As the mind, so the man; bondage or liberation are in your own mind. (Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoho)
Santosha: "At some point we all think to ourselves 'I'd be happy if...' or 'I could practice if...' The truth is that there will always be something that we think is in our way and that if wait for that 'perfect' moment, chances are that it will never come.
The Niyama, Santosha , is about contentment. Seeing things with equanimity and finding the grace in our daily lives. In this way, each moment is a chance for yoga, a chance for liberation, whether we are on a beautiful mountain top or in a teensy cubicle. 'As the mind, so the man; bondage or liberation are in your own mind.'"
Description: Elise Espat , Albuquerque Ashtanga Yoga Shala
Editors: Jessica Walden and Elise Espat
Cartoon guy: Boonchu Tanti, Ashtanga Illustrations by Boonchu
All comics here: http://is.gd/G89IRK
Mar 9, 2013
Weekend Edition #5
Yoga Stops Traffick 2013 was a great success. You can still donate online here.
Here in Albuquerque we chanted "Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu" 108 times. Some people counted with their own japa malas, others counted with their fingers, and we all followed the count of 108 New Mexico pinto beans dropping into a jar.
Before we began chanting, I gave a short talk on "ahimsa". Often defined as "non-harm", an easy way to practice ahimsa is to avoid violent or harmful situations. As we deepen our practice the definition grows to not only avoiding painful actions but actively working to end suffering. Perhaps it could even evolve to healing.
People sometimes wonder how can we say that we practice every day when we take so many days off (moon days, Saturdays, ladies' holiday). The answer is simple: asana is only one component of Ashtanga Yoga. While we practice asanas for just a short while on most days, opportunities to practice ahimsa are always available, both on and off the mat...
Here is a lovely video from the 2013 Ashtanga Yoga Confluence with Dena Kingsberg discussing ahimsa:
Mar 8, 2013
Be Steadfast in Yoga
karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmani sanyugam tyaktvā dhananjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhutvā samatvam yoga ucyate
कर्मण्य् एवाधिकारस् ते मा फलेषु कदाचन
मा कर्मफलहेतुर् भूर् मा ते सङ्गो ऽस्त्व् अकर्मणि
योगस्थः कुरु कर्मनि सन्युगम् त्यक्त्वा धनन्जय
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भुत्वा समत्वम् योग उच्यते
- "Your right is to work only, but never with its fruits; let not the
fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to
inaction. Perform action, O Arjuna, being steadfast in Yoga, abandoning
attachment and balanced in success and failure. Evenness of mind is
called Yoga."
~2.47-48 Bhagavad Gītā
Mar 7, 2013
Yoga Stops Traffick: The Comic
One meaning of Yoga is "to come together", "to unite" and one of the 8 limbs of yoga is Yama, or our relationships with the outside world. Within Yama is Ahimsa, which means non-violence towards others, including working to end violence. Ahimsa means kindness, compassion and thoughtful consideration of others. It also includes our duties and responsibilities.
As yoga practitioners (or even those of us who are new to the asana practice), we can practice the true concept of yoga by coming together and practicing Ahimsa just by getting on the mat and supporting Odanadi's amazing work.
Odanadi:
Over the past 20 years Odanadi Seva Trust has rescued and rehabilitated more than 1850 children, carried out 57 brothel raids and brought 137 traffickers to justice. With your help, compassion and cooperation, Odanadi will continue to provide a place of sanctuary for the survivors of human trafficking and offer them a chance to rebuild their lives.
Closing chant meaning by Sharon Gannon from here:
http://jivamuktiyoga.com/
By Boonchu Tanti via The Yoga Comics
Mar 6, 2013
Yoga Stops Traffick ABQ
YOGA STOPS TRAFFICK 2013
Saturday, March 9th at 9am
at the Albuquerque Ashtanga Yoga Shala
Fundraiser and fruit of our tapas to benefit Odanadi Seva Trust. We'll be chanting a mantra for peace 108 times to take a stand against human trafficking in India.
$20 suggested donation (cash only). All are welcome.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
"May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."
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