P: Chechi ..lot of people are asking of Alliance registration?
Smiling!!!
S: Is that very important? See this..
"Swami Vishnudevananda speaks about Yoga Unions 1985
Many states in the U.S. are regulating Yoga teachers which have sparked a new movement of Yoga Associations, Alliances or Unions which are vying to define Yoga in America. Swami Vishnudevananda, the founder of Yoga Teacher Training Courses in America spoke in 1985 about the danger of any group to authorize who can teach Yoga. "
P: It seems so atleast to some.
S: This ashram was established in 1940's as a place of yoga for the spiritual practices. And all the levels of spiritual evolution varies with each and every person and to this day we are seeing this is true. So can the spirituality of a seeker be registered to be evaluated?
I wonder!
P: So then why do you give Alliance certified teacher training courses?
S: This is a small thing to do in this big world... to reach some of the spiritually evolving seekers... helping them to keep the pure spiritual essence of yoga intact in a lineage of the great masters... through alliance certified courses they find it more comfortable and trusting to approach. (smiling)
Monday, January 4, 2010
2009
P:Can you give me a brief on the classes that were held here at TULASIDALAM in 2009?
S: As you know Prasanna there were classes going on through out the year. And I am blessed to have had the oppurtunity to teach 3-4 very highly evolved yogis among those beautiful yoga seekers who visited the ashram.
P: I know you care for all your shishus and approach of guidance is different for each...can you make it more clearer?
S: We keep the number of students limited for this deep level of personal guidance and each person needs different approach. Especially in this modern age of science the levels of EGO are very strong ( its confidence they say!!!). To move on the path of yoga such a person needs first to know own habits and nature and also should trust the guide.... otherwise this path doesn't really work. And nowadays it is money which is mostly guiding the ego....and they forget to know that this can buy them only a course entirely fixed on a syllabus.( A person once asked ...all the teachings are in books and easily available so why do you need a guru? Swami Chinmayanada said....why don't you go and ask the book?Smiling!!!)Only trust and faith with humility(guruthwam) can direct the energy of the guide which in our tradition we call blessing. Only this combination gives the true results of teaching.
"he whose ego haunts and obstacle the mind is always bound " Sinduchechi
S: As you know Prasanna there were classes going on through out the year. And I am blessed to have had the oppurtunity to teach 3-4 very highly evolved yogis among those beautiful yoga seekers who visited the ashram.
P: I know you care for all your shishus and approach of guidance is different for each...can you make it more clearer?
S: We keep the number of students limited for this deep level of personal guidance and each person needs different approach. Especially in this modern age of science the levels of EGO are very strong ( its confidence they say!!!). To move on the path of yoga such a person needs first to know own habits and nature and also should trust the guide.... otherwise this path doesn't really work. And nowadays it is money which is mostly guiding the ego....and they forget to know that this can buy them only a course entirely fixed on a syllabus.( A person once asked ...all the teachings are in books and easily available so why do you need a guru? Swami Chinmayanada said....why don't you go and ask the book?Smiling!!!)Only trust and faith with humility(guruthwam) can direct the energy of the guide which in our tradition we call blessing. Only this combination gives the true results of teaching.
"he whose ego haunts and obstacle the mind is always bound " Sinduchechi
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
10th March 2009
P:I'm quoting an email we received,
"OM SHANTI. Your teachers Training Course (1 month) Euro 1200 is> so expensive. I do not earn in Euro, I am not European & to pay Euro 1200> for something I consider to be spiritual came as a shock for me. Can you> consider reducing the price. Thank you."
What do you say Chechi?
S: If its truly and only about the spiritual evolvement(like you mentioned)why do you need all these paraphernalia like certificates in the first place?(Smiling!)If then don't be shocked ...I'm ready to teach you for free if you promise yourself never to use what you ever learn in yoga for even a penny...
P:Please note some parts of the reply we received for your email,
"Certificate does not matter to me but even it matters to others.....Why do you want to learn yoga?>> Good to start any camp / workshop with some exercise...."
And read what the reply for your offer for free yoga class is!
"Shall we get a lawyer to draft a contract (Laughing). "
How do you see this? Isn't it sort of hypocritical?
S: Mmmm...don't use so strong words...
P:Really?
S: Smiling!!..well...in the path of spiritual evolvement its just and ONLY about the SELF... the inner peace....from where then did the other people walk in?so why then should what the other people think matter at all...Mmmmm?Ego taking a walk up the aisle of exhibition!
And positions..or postures..what is called asanas is a part...like the physical body...but is that what?About finite?Yoga...Exercise...Mmmm!!! Yes it should open up as an exercise for body,mind and prana.
You do need THE ONLY lawyer who is there right WITHIN you to make the contract of your spiritual path..a courageous one for sure!!Neither unsmiling...nor shocked.A beautiful inner smile is the simplest of asanas ..the toughest to attain..easy to perform without any certification..and by itself opens the infinity of yoga..for you and for those around you...the camp is right around you..always.
caution!A promise you make to yourself if broken is like cursing yourself.
"OM SHANTI. Your teachers Training Course (1 month) Euro 1200 is> so expensive. I do not earn in Euro, I am not European & to pay Euro 1200> for something I consider to be spiritual came as a shock for me. Can you> consider reducing the price. Thank you."
What do you say Chechi?
S: If its truly and only about the spiritual evolvement(like you mentioned)why do you need all these paraphernalia like certificates in the first place?(Smiling!)If then don't be shocked ...I'm ready to teach you for free if you promise yourself never to use what you ever learn in yoga for even a penny...
P:Please note some parts of the reply we received for your email,
"Certificate does not matter to me but even it matters to others.....Why do you want to learn yoga?>> Good to start any camp / workshop with some exercise...."
And read what the reply for your offer for free yoga class is!
"Shall we get a lawyer to draft a contract (Laughing). "
How do you see this? Isn't it sort of hypocritical?
S: Mmmm...don't use so strong words...
P:Really?
S: Smiling!!..well...in the path of spiritual evolvement its just and ONLY about the SELF... the inner peace....from where then did the other people walk in?so why then should what the other people think matter at all...Mmmmm?Ego taking a walk up the aisle of exhibition!
And positions..or postures..what is called asanas is a part...like the physical body...but is that what?About finite?Yoga...Exercise...Mmmm!!! Yes it should open up as an exercise for body,mind and prana.
You do need THE ONLY lawyer who is there right WITHIN you to make the contract of your spiritual path..a courageous one for sure!!Neither unsmiling...nor shocked.A beautiful inner smile is the simplest of asanas ..the toughest to attain..easy to perform without any certification..and by itself opens the infinity of yoga..for you and for those around you...the camp is right around you..always.
caution!A promise you make to yourself if broken is like cursing yourself.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Asana for practice
P:Is it easy to follow the path of yoga when following the path of GRIHASTHASHRAM?
S:Adi Sankara on his path had to experience the worldly life to prove his points in a debate. HE moved into the body of a king to experience the life of a Grihasta.
Again..
Sage Vyasa advised his son Suka to follow the 4 phases of life, but Suka was reluctant as he believed that it was binding. So Vyasa sends Suka to Janaka ,the ruling king of Mithila, a videha.. the liberated one. Suka with doubt goes to meet the king. Janaka tells Suka ..he whose ego haunts and obstacle the mind is always bound even if he moves away from the material world to live alone in a forest.. whereas a Jnani whose is peaceful, calm and constant beyond mind and ego is never bound.. is liberated.. irrespective of the environment and circumstances.
P: Which asana do you recommend for a seeker as an 'anushttan' strict sadhana?
S:The simplest of asanas is the toughest to perfect and is easy to practice any time, any where,its the most beautiful gift to yourself and a charity, a blessing to any person ..and that is your beautiful smile.
P: How to practice non-violence in this modern age?
S:The practice of non-violence starts from within you. This practice should be pursued with calmness and awareness with enjoyment and never as an obsession. As we stop being violent towards ourselves in any form, this quality starts radiating from us by itself. Be firm in your practice but never obsessed. Sort of narrow compulsory attitude towards practice brings about the negative results.. instead of reaching calmness you reach depression. If when you are feeling depressed take care of it with firm loving... calmness and awareness.
S:Adi Sankara on his path had to experience the worldly life to prove his points in a debate. HE moved into the body of a king to experience the life of a Grihasta.
Again..
Sage Vyasa advised his son Suka to follow the 4 phases of life, but Suka was reluctant as he believed that it was binding. So Vyasa sends Suka to Janaka ,the ruling king of Mithila, a videha.. the liberated one. Suka with doubt goes to meet the king. Janaka tells Suka ..he whose ego haunts and obstacle the mind is always bound even if he moves away from the material world to live alone in a forest.. whereas a Jnani whose is peaceful, calm and constant beyond mind and ego is never bound.. is liberated.. irrespective of the environment and circumstances.
P: Which asana do you recommend for a seeker as an 'anushttan' strict sadhana?
S:The simplest of asanas is the toughest to perfect and is easy to practice any time, any where,its the most beautiful gift to yourself and a charity, a blessing to any person ..and that is your beautiful smile.
P: How to practice non-violence in this modern age?
S:The practice of non-violence starts from within you. This practice should be pursued with calmness and awareness with enjoyment and never as an obsession. As we stop being violent towards ourselves in any form, this quality starts radiating from us by itself. Be firm in your practice but never obsessed. Sort of narrow compulsory attitude towards practice brings about the negative results.. instead of reaching calmness you reach depression. If when you are feeling depressed take care of it with firm loving... calmness and awareness.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sindu's Page :May 2008
P:Many who come into the practice of yoga happens to develop an ATTITUDE.What guidance can you give them?
S:Spiritual evolution is natural for every human being,but its period and duration varies according to Karma.
Enquiry into the Self coming to rest on Total Surrender is the path of Liberation. Liberation cannot be reached if even a subtle part of that "I "ness remains in the aspirant. Living in watching is a step into spirituality.Talking about spirituality is also a way of becoming aware of the path. Here the aspirants who are talking or watching on spirituality are actually fellow travellers, so never let the "I"ness come as an hindrance thinking I'm better than the others.
S:Spiritual evolution is natural for every human being,but its period and duration varies according to Karma.
Enquiry into the Self coming to rest on Total Surrender is the path of Liberation. Liberation cannot be reached if even a subtle part of that "I "ness remains in the aspirant. Living in watching is a step into spirituality.Talking about spirituality is also a way of becoming aware of the path. Here the aspirants who are talking or watching on spirituality are actually fellow travellers, so never let the "I"ness come as an hindrance thinking I'm better than the others.
May 15th 2008
As we move across we come to hear a lot on attachments,the afflictions it can cause and of course the detachment.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Sindu's page:April 2008
20th April 2008
P: Why have you come into this mission of Yoga?
S:We know that without the inner calmness, no amount of material evolution can keep us happy.So how can we reach that happiness?The answer, once you find it is so much simpler than the question itself!!First, let's take a look around...the nature is always in action...whether it is creation..operation or destruction.Remember all actions that we do or that goes on in nature come under these three categories. In India we related these three actions to the three GUNAS (qualities)of nature, Rajo, Sattva and Tamas; again to the three beautiful personifications of BRAHMA, VISHNU and SHIVA. But for a seeker of liberation even these are finite! ( *Will talk about their finite nature later).Where ever we look we see kind of order and harmony..as in a chain reaction ..an equation of cause and effect.. governed by Karma*.As we talk about the material evolution we come across the discoveries and inventions ... great people who have the perseverance unveiling some secrets of the nature.All these material knowledge and spiritual wisdom is there right within you..within everyone of us! But with the noise of our thinking..without the silence from within..we cannot hear it! How to commune with this silence..harmony?Start the practice of YOGA.
April21st 2008
P: Who is eligible to be teaching yoga?
S:Yoga is all about the science of union.Practice of yoga is the scientific method..a step by step approach towards cosmic union..a sadhana beyond any objective divisions of place,time or class.A yogi who has attained liberation may rightly teach others about these steps..and he who is a 'jeevanmukta '
P: But nowadays people are looking for registered yoga teachers and organisations.Are all these yoga teachers eligible?
Chechi is Smiling!
S: Are you trying to contradict something or to prove something? Prasanna... you have still not completely accepted the definition on karma. Smiling! All people are eligible in their own rights and levels of spiritual evolution. Yoga has been and will be practised and taught for thousands of years.
April 24th 2008
P: We see many people in saffron posing to be sanyasis yet not.Why is it so?
S:Detachment..renunciation. Renunciation is not just about doning the ochre robe,it is the renunciation of desires,passions and attachments. One whose mind is totally renounced becomes dissloved in the cosmic consciousness that he embraces the whole in cosmic love and oneness. If a particular color of clothing helps an aspirant to keep away the fluctuations let it be so.
P:How would you want us to understand and practice yoga?
S:The realization is there in every atom of existence. But the waves of delusions ….waves of emotions makes the ocean of mind turbulent that we can’t hear the whisperings of the truth! ....pulling us deeper into the depths of this enticing world for that’s the reason and cause of the duality…. the feeling of existence .Letting the thoughts pass through… when the mind is still and calm we start to listen or to hear the truth like a beautiful music…..or the divine dance of a self forgotten dancer….that it never stops !!! the silence !!! it’s high and deep it’s the silence of totality….the enjoyment ..the smile of being!!!
This is the path of Chanting ….this is where it’ll lead to!!!
To live in sadness or happiness…is a relative choice….. what so may be, enjoy it totally!!! Yes, it takes courage to enjoy and this is where all needs a helping hand …a trusting heart ….. a comfortable path. SILENCE! PEACE.. HARMONY…THE SILENCE! That’s Sanyas.. it’s yoga.
P:It is difficult ..very difficult to stay without the thoughts straying in the wild!
S:As it's said to err is human.We are a part of the animal kingdom..the species homosapiens!!! so it's natural ..but again we have to be aware that we are different in a way from other animals with our( DISCRIMINATIVE )power of 'vivecha'.So as you move on in the path with yoga your energy has to be directed for the journey into the self..so slowly and consciously keep watching yourself.Needs do arise ..they are very very dominant so what?you are aware of the emotion NEED..it can hurt..so watch it like a thorn in the rose.Try to channel this NEED don't let it spread ..the reins in your hands it's difficult..just enjoy the feel of the reins of your wild mind ...safe in your hands.It's simple!!You do have the courage to do it!Let your eyes twinkle with enjoyment, holding the reins of that wild mind. Its difficult...but then it means possible!!
P:Even with all this there is still a feeling of voidness...far away from the calm you say!
S: You are with your calmness.. if you indulge in it without awareness you might feel to be alone.. that's fine.. but we are in a world and we have work and live.. so dear float on your calmness but not drown in it.. that's the way to be in it. There is loneliness in everybody.. there is a state of longing.. yearning.. in everybody.. this we recognize as sadness.. we try projecting the loneliness and longing to the very objective level, we try to identify this with somebody or something in the material world.. we think if we find it everything would be fine. If that was true ,the world wouldn't be what it is now.. the families wouldn't fight.. the lovers would never separate.. people wouldn't be so strained and irritated. So you have know that if you identify it in the material level.. work to take it to the level of divinity or you'll be back where you started.. still lonely and longing! There is an option.. a beautiful way to handle it! Take your Patanjali text.. you opened it?? ok now see the 23rd line in the 1st chapter.. "Isvara pranidhanat va" it means, Or surrender to the Supreme Self. There are two words Isvara and Surrender. If you get to realize these two words you become a YOGI, a very happy Yogi!!!Now let me try to explain it.. in India it's easier.. like I told we have a very romantic personification KRISHNA.. at the very beginning of practice the longing, the yearning is identified with this personified SELF.. he is your COSMIC Lover the perfect one who will never go away from you.. is always there for you.. unless or until you wish otherwise.. your longing for him is the CHANT.. you are conscious of him in you always.. like you say the yearning is so deep that it feels so vacant.. empty.. helpless without him.. you cry for him.. you dress for him. Your love for him.. is your energy.. is your beauty.. is the secret on your smiling lips.. the glow in your eyes.. everything you do is a worship unto him.. every thought is for him.. every moment is there so that you can love him.. the world is beautiful.. you live to love him.. live in the SWEETNESS of the AGONY of loving HIM the SELF.. this is SURRENDER.. total surrender to the SELF.At first the calmness by surrender will isolate you ..but look around you with the love you feel for HIM and my!! it's wonderful! Totally!! I tell you.. it's wonderful.. enjoy to love the SELF.. he's your perfect lover and let the world enjoy it through you my beautiful Sishu!! This is a stage in the practice to LIBERATION..SAMADHI .. love and surrender is your beautiful practice.. so just move over this stage of voidness.. transcend it.. you can do it.. I'm there for you.. hold to my hands trustingly and let's move on.. it's beautiful!!! really!!
P: Why have you come into this mission of Yoga?
S:We know that without the inner calmness, no amount of material evolution can keep us happy.So how can we reach that happiness?The answer, once you find it is so much simpler than the question itself!!First, let's take a look around...the nature is always in action...whether it is creation..operation or destruction.Remember all actions that we do or that goes on in nature come under these three categories. In India we related these three actions to the three GUNAS (qualities)of nature, Rajo, Sattva and Tamas; again to the three beautiful personifications of BRAHMA, VISHNU and SHIVA. But for a seeker of liberation even these are finite! ( *Will talk about their finite nature later).Where ever we look we see kind of order and harmony..as in a chain reaction ..an equation of cause and effect.. governed by Karma*.As we talk about the material evolution we come across the discoveries and inventions ... great people who have the perseverance unveiling some secrets of the nature.All these material knowledge and spiritual wisdom is there right within you..within everyone of us! But with the noise of our thinking..without the silence from within..we cannot hear it! How to commune with this silence..harmony?Start the practice of YOGA.
April21st 2008
P: Who is eligible to be teaching yoga?
S:Yoga is all about the science of union.Practice of yoga is the scientific method..a step by step approach towards cosmic union..a sadhana beyond any objective divisions of place,time or class.A yogi who has attained liberation may rightly teach others about these steps..and he who is a 'jeevanmukta '
P: But nowadays people are looking for registered yoga teachers and organisations.Are all these yoga teachers eligible?
Chechi is Smiling!
S: Are you trying to contradict something or to prove something? Prasanna... you have still not completely accepted the definition on karma. Smiling! All people are eligible in their own rights and levels of spiritual evolution. Yoga has been and will be practised and taught for thousands of years.
April 24th 2008
P: We see many people in saffron posing to be sanyasis yet not.Why is it so?
S:Detachment..renunciation. Renunciation is not just about doning the ochre robe,it is the renunciation of desires,passions and attachments. One whose mind is totally renounced becomes dissloved in the cosmic consciousness that he embraces the whole in cosmic love and oneness. If a particular color of clothing helps an aspirant to keep away the fluctuations let it be so.
P:How would you want us to understand and practice yoga?
S:The realization is there in every atom of existence. But the waves of delusions ….waves of emotions makes the ocean of mind turbulent that we can’t hear the whisperings of the truth! ....pulling us deeper into the depths of this enticing world for that’s the reason and cause of the duality…. the feeling of existence .Letting the thoughts pass through… when the mind is still and calm we start to listen or to hear the truth like a beautiful music…..or the divine dance of a self forgotten dancer….that it never stops !!! the silence !!! it’s high and deep it’s the silence of totality….the enjoyment ..the smile of being!!!
This is the path of Chanting ….this is where it’ll lead to!!!
To live in sadness or happiness…is a relative choice….. what so may be, enjoy it totally!!! Yes, it takes courage to enjoy and this is where all needs a helping hand …a trusting heart ….. a comfortable path. SILENCE! PEACE.. HARMONY…THE SILENCE! That’s Sanyas.. it’s yoga.
P:It is difficult ..very difficult to stay without the thoughts straying in the wild!
S:As it's said to err is human.We are a part of the animal kingdom..the species homosapiens!!! so it's natural ..but again we have to be aware that we are different in a way from other animals with our( DISCRIMINATIVE )power of 'vivecha'.So as you move on in the path with yoga your energy has to be directed for the journey into the self..so slowly and consciously keep watching yourself.Needs do arise ..they are very very dominant so what?you are aware of the emotion NEED..it can hurt..so watch it like a thorn in the rose.Try to channel this NEED don't let it spread ..the reins in your hands it's difficult..just enjoy the feel of the reins of your wild mind ...safe in your hands.It's simple!!You do have the courage to do it!Let your eyes twinkle with enjoyment, holding the reins of that wild mind. Its difficult...but then it means possible!!
P:Even with all this there is still a feeling of voidness...far away from the calm you say!
S: You are with your calmness.. if you indulge in it without awareness you might feel to be alone.. that's fine.. but we are in a world and we have work and live.. so dear float on your calmness but not drown in it.. that's the way to be in it. There is loneliness in everybody.. there is a state of longing.. yearning.. in everybody.. this we recognize as sadness.. we try projecting the loneliness and longing to the very objective level, we try to identify this with somebody or something in the material world.. we think if we find it everything would be fine. If that was true ,the world wouldn't be what it is now.. the families wouldn't fight.. the lovers would never separate.. people wouldn't be so strained and irritated. So you have know that if you identify it in the material level.. work to take it to the level of divinity or you'll be back where you started.. still lonely and longing! There is an option.. a beautiful way to handle it! Take your Patanjali text.. you opened it?? ok now see the 23rd line in the 1st chapter.. "Isvara pranidhanat va" it means, Or surrender to the Supreme Self. There are two words Isvara and Surrender. If you get to realize these two words you become a YOGI, a very happy Yogi!!!Now let me try to explain it.. in India it's easier.. like I told we have a very romantic personification KRISHNA.. at the very beginning of practice the longing, the yearning is identified with this personified SELF.. he is your COSMIC Lover the perfect one who will never go away from you.. is always there for you.. unless or until you wish otherwise.. your longing for him is the CHANT.. you are conscious of him in you always.. like you say the yearning is so deep that it feels so vacant.. empty.. helpless without him.. you cry for him.. you dress for him. Your love for him.. is your energy.. is your beauty.. is the secret on your smiling lips.. the glow in your eyes.. everything you do is a worship unto him.. every thought is for him.. every moment is there so that you can love him.. the world is beautiful.. you live to love him.. live in the SWEETNESS of the AGONY of loving HIM the SELF.. this is SURRENDER.. total surrender to the SELF.At first the calmness by surrender will isolate you ..but look around you with the love you feel for HIM and my!! it's wonderful! Totally!! I tell you.. it's wonderful.. enjoy to love the SELF.. he's your perfect lover and let the world enjoy it through you my beautiful Sishu!! This is a stage in the practice to LIBERATION..SAMADHI .. love and surrender is your beautiful practice.. so just move over this stage of voidness.. transcend it.. you can do it.. I'm there for you.. hold to my hands trustingly and let's move on.. it's beautiful!!! really!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
