Well, the sages say, if you want to realize the purpose of human birth and enter the abode of supreme bliss, then you have to change your view on life.  It's that simple - you have to change.  Much of your life has been created from your unlimited supply of negative concepts.  Purify them.  Give your ,mind a break.  Have you ever thought about it?  Have you ever considered what your mind must think about you?  Give your mind a break avery now and then.  It wants to be free from your clutches.

Consciousness is the very nature of the mind, and Consciousness is totally free and steady at the smae time.  So let the mind become still; it wants to become still and savor its own elixer.  Let it eb.  Don't drag it off to go shopping with you.  Let the mind become sserenc; then a fountain od joy will flow within you.  When a meditator learns to strengthen the mind and the heart by invoking the presence of contentment within he drinks from that fountain of joy.

(p.31)

Bliss

Gunas - The scriptures of India identify three essential qualities of nature, which determine the inherent characteristics of all created things. They are sattva (purity, light harmony, and intelligence); rajas (activity and passon); and tamas (dullness, inerta, and ignorance).

Sattvic happiness arises from the discipline of the mind and the senses.

Once again, tamasic happiness is wretched and thrives on laziness and others' pain.  Rajasic happiness seems like nectar in the beginning, but turns to poison in the end.  Sattcic happiness is born of restraint, and though it may seem bitter at first, in the end produces a fountain of nectar.

Beyond these three kinds of happiness is the pure bliss of the Self, which transcends the three gunas.  Bliss is absolutely free from the stains of this world.  Bliss is the very nature of Consciousness.  When you say, "The sunrise of supreme bliss shimmers in every particle of the universe," you acknowledge its presence.  You give it the honor that is due.  You make the experience your own.  It is not someone else's; it belongs to you.  Supreme bliss belongs to you; you actually take possession of it.  Then whenever you or someone you know goes through something less than bliss, you begin to experience deep compassion.  There is a point below which your spirits never fall.  You are no longer devoured by maya, by illusion.

What kinds of happiness have you experienced in your life?  There may have been times when you experienced tamasic happiness.  And than, once in a blue moon perhaps, you were happy for no reason at all.  Just simply happy.  You didn't see a deer in the woods you were just happy.

What kind of happiness have you known best?  Sweet happiness?  Bitter happiness?  Bittersweet happiness?  Pure happiness?  Impure happiness?  Happiness that is mixed, both pure and impure?  Something to contemplate.

The human body is equipped with the incredible ability to open doors to subtler realms.  Just as gold is found in a gold mine and lotuses in a pond, just as pine cones are found on a pine tree, wisdom on the tongue of a scholar, creativity in the hands of a painter, innocent laughter in a chid, lightning in rain clouds, steam in hot water, and tenderness in a generous heart, in the same way, the great Self can be found in this human body.  It does exist; and its nature, which is bliss can be experiences.


And do you know what the best part is?  This experience does not have to be a one-time thing.  It can become an unfading source of inspiration, bringing forth ver-new and ever-fresh experiences.  The bliss of the Self is inexhaustible.  It is unlike anything else.  A gold mine can rn dry.  The more gold you take out, the less remains - until all that's left is dirt and rock.  But when you tap into the bliss of your own inner Self, the more emerges.



It's pretty simple..

the Action you take will determine the Results you Achieve

~ Tony Robbins

Make the artistry in your pose simple and poetic

The yogi responds to the worse things in the highest manner

Creation is like a beam of Moonlight shimmering in the many ripples of a pool of Love.

Tantric cosmology ~John Friend

Intelligence of Water

Nothing in the world,
Is as yielding and receptive as water;
Yet in attacking the firm and inflexible,
Nothing triumphs so well.
Because of what it is not,
This becomes easy.
The receptive triumphs over the inflexible;
The yielding triumphs over the rigid.


-Lao Tzu
Tao-te-ching

The Warrior of the Light sometimes behaves like water,
flowing around the obstacles he encounters.

Occasionally, resistance might mean destruction, and so
he adapts to the circumstances. He accepts, without complaint
that the stones in his path hinder his way through the
mountains.

Therein lies the strength of water: It cannot be touched
by a hammer or ripped to shreds by a knife. The strongest
sword in the world cannot scar its surface.

The river adapts itself to whatever route proves possible,
but the river never forgets its one objective: the sea. So
fragile at its source, it gradually gathers the strength of
the other rivers it encounters.

And, after a certain point, its power is absolute.


-Paulo Coelho
from Warrior of the Light

Today's Smoothie

red kale
kiwi
small pink lady apple
a few fresh strawberries


(1July11)




arugula
purple kale
apple
strawberries
raspberries
blueberries
mango juice
water

(5May11)

Yayyy I *finally* got a VitaMix (happy dance)


2 handfuls of arugula
1 pear
1 pink lady apple
1 bananas
Splash of mango juice
A little H20

mmmm!
(4May11)

Quotes from Friday's Creative Flow Class (April 29, 2011)

In the life of the spirit you are always at the beginning
~The Book of Runes~

Shoshin (初心) is a concept in Zen Buddhism meaning Beginner's Mind. It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner in that subject would. The term is especially used in the study of Zen Buddhism and Japanese martial arts.

The phrase was also used as the title of Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki's book: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, which reflects a saying of his regarding the way to approach Zen practice: In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.

A Hopi Elder Speaks

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader."

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"

"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.

"Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

"We are the ones we've been waiting for."

-- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder
Hopi Nation
Oraibi, Arizona