Free one day silence retreat Saturday December 3rd, 2016. Silence is not merely an absence of speech. It is an opportunity for a dive into the deeper layers of the mind through contemplation and meditation. The thought of observing a
Koshas, Layers of Being
Five Koshas, sheaths or layers of our being Koshas are layers of being, moving inward from least subtle (physical body) to most subtle (bliss). Like scarves covering a lamp dim its light, the koshas conceal and veil the light of
Strength of Mind
“Remember– there is a part of the mind which is not affected by any of these. Focus on your strengths and the weaknesses will take care of themselves.” Swami Veda Bharati “What is the aim of yoga besides what’s in it
Healing Trauma with Breathing and Yoga
Mental health is on a continuum. Many people experience anxiety in our culture today. PTSD, high levels of anxiety and clinical depression are serious diseases which require treatment by qualified medical professionals. Yoga, breathing and meditation are complementary treatments that can help
Basic Goodness Inquiry
Avoidance
It sounds easy, right? Simply tune in for a few seconds, a few minutes and rest. Relax the forehead and breathe. Focus on the present moment. These skills are simple to learn. So why do many of us find this
Fight or Flight?
Something happens that is painful. We have this in common. The details may differ but we all know what it is like to suffer. What happens next? We could be with it. Allow it to be noticed, to be fully
Feels like “me”
Lunch with an old friend. Knitting. Smoking. Eating ice cream. The beat of a favorite song. Walking in the neighborhood. Drinking. Obsessing about work. Habit patterns create deep grooves in the mind and personality. Some habits, like addictions, create chaos
Welcoming Reality
This work is a direct way of seeing through misidentifications and unhelpful habits in the mind. When learning meditation, we’re taught don’t fight with the mind. It’s the nature of one layer of the mind to think. One benefit
Shift to Awareness
We hear so much about awakening, enlightenment, how to live in the moment and be with direct experience. It can help to take moments frequently through the day to simply rest, to be with our experience as it is. Not to try to