I just returned home from Kripalu after spending five glorious days there, including ringing in the New Year "yogi style." Having spent the last two New Year's Eve in similar environments, I must admit that I can't imagine doing it any other way. To my surprise, well not really because I often miss the fine print, I had signed up for a four day program, not just a celebration on New Year's Eve. From Thursday-Sunday I attended "Bhakti Bliss." For those of you unfamiliar with Bhakti or Bhakti Yoga, it loosely means spiritual devotion or love for God and is often practiced via Kirtan or chants. Whether participating in the traditional call and response chants or being part of the drum circle, dancing in the aisles or listening to stories told to music, I was completely absorbed in the experience......but not from the start. As my last one-sentence post indicated, I have been going through some holiday transitions. When I landed at Kripalu on that T...
When considering what my fourth and final inquiry would be, I must admit that I wanted to return to a few I had already practiced.....and practice some more. However, our assignment was to pick a new one each week and since I am the student, not the teacher, I shall be an obedient one or at least try. I will continue to informally address Santosha/contentment and have much to say about my discoveries so stay tuned. In the meantime I shall explore Satya, or commitment to the truth. I have attached the link once again if you wish to gain a better understanding of the Yamas/Niyamas as related to the Eightfold Path. On the surface, this was the last one I thought I would choose for an inquiry as I consider myself to be a pretty open and honest person, straightforward and truthful and not one for gossip or caddy talk. When I looked a bit deeper at the definition given in the readings, I did find the area of Satya in which I struggle and thus, that will ...
I first heard this expression when attending S.E.E.D (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) training a few years ago. S.E.E.D is an amazing program that truly has the ability to bring curricular change, understanding and compassion to any educational institution that chooses to accept its mission. Feel free to check it out. Anyhow, they were referring to the parts of ourselves that we bring to any group or any discussion; we have our book knowledge and we have our lived experience. Both are equally valuable and you are encouraged not to check any parts of yourself at the door...very Burkian, if I do say so myself. I have been thinking about this a lot the past few days as I begin to reflect on this most recent part of my journey. Is there really a separation of self and shelf? At some point, doesn't the shelf knowledge have the potential to become your self-knowledge, if you embrace that which you have read or heard? And finally, are ...
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