Saturday, November 17, 2018

Brahma-Nirvana

brahma-nirvå√am  = the abode of pure consciousness, the place where all suffering ceases.


Verse 72 of Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita concludes with "brahma-nirvanam ricchati."  Some scholars state this has a connection with the Buddhist notion of nirvana.  The phrase is a reference to the cessation of worldly existence and entry into the spiritual domain or brahman.
 

Shanti

Shanti = Absolute Tranquility, Absolute Peace of Mind

Sa Shantim Adhigacchati

"Those active in material domain of gain and loss suffer constant anxieties but a person who seeks the spiritual domain attains transcendence and tranquility."





Karma-Yogin

One who is dedicated to gaining knowledge of the atman and its identity with brahman, the ultimate reality.



"One type of person moves through the world of desire, sensual pleasure and material gain.  For the karma-yogin this is night, for he does not operate in this sphere.  He explores the domain of the spirit, seeking to achieve spiritual realization by renouncing materialistic aspirations. For one whose life is dedicated to material acquisition, this domain of spiritual pursuits is like night, for he is not active there."  Bhagavad Gita Course

Mat-parah

In verse 59 of Chapter 2 in the Gita Krishna uses the phase mat-parah meaning dedicated to me, to describe the way in which the practioner should perform buddhi-yoga.  This is the forerunner of bhakti yoga, devotion to God which is described in later chapters of the Gita.



Word Meaning Reference
mat-paraḥ toward me (Shree Krishna) BG 2.61
mat-paraḥ having me as the supreme goal BG 6.14
mat-paraḥ regarding me as the Supreme goal BG 12.6-7
mat-paraḥ having me as the supreme goal BG 18.57

Param Drishtva

I am really interested in the concept Param Drishtva - "seeing something higher."  This concept is mentioned in verse 59 of Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita but I think it can be a life goal.

I am reading in my course in the BG that verse 59 "indicates that control of the senses and selfish desire is made possible by a perception of something higher than this world. This can be interpreted as some form of spiritual realization or experience or could be just the recognition of a higher goal in life."

I want to develop this Param Drishtva attitude.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Seat of Consciousness

The Upanishads describe the Self as non localized and the heart as "the seat of consciousness."

Upanishads

"I go to the Upanishads to ask questions." - Niels Bohr

"(The Upanishads are) some of the most sacred words that ever issued from the human mind." - Rabinath Tagore

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

STAIR STEP BREATHING WITH BHAVANA

This is a great breathing practice for working with anxiety or hyperactivity.

Part 1
Little sips of air on the inhale through the nose until you are full
Hold the breath at the top (kumbaka) and see an image of peace, tranquility or beauty or feel peaceful (bhavana)
Little sips of are to exhale



Part 2
Little sips of air on the inhale through the nose until you are full
Hold the breath at the top (kumbhaka) and see an image of peace, tranquility or beauty or feel peaceful (bhavana)
Long exhale through the nose



Part 3

Long inhale through the nose
Hold the breath at the top (kumbhaka) and see an image of peace, tranquility or beauty or feel peaceful (bhavana)
Little sips of air on the exhale through the nose until you are full


Part 4

Long inhale through the nose
Hold the breath at the top (kumbhaka) and see an image of peace, tranquility or beauty or feel peaceful (bhavana)
Long exhale

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Deepening the Awareness of the Asanas - Twists

When all the desires that surge in the heart
Are renounced, the mortal becomes immortal.
When all the knots that that strangle the heart
Are loosened, the mortal becomes immortal
This sums up the teaching of the scriptures.

- KATHA 11.3 14-15

Katha II.2.2


The Self is the sun shining in the sky.
The wind blowing in space; he is the fire
At the altar and in the home the guest;
He dwells in human beings, in gods, in truth,

Katha Upanishad II.2.11


As the sun, who is the eye of the world,
Cannot be tainted by the defects in our eyes
Nor by the objects it looks on,
So the one Self, dwelling in all, cannot
Be tainted by the evils of the world
For this Self transcends all!

Thursday, September 6, 2018

AYAM ATMA BRAHMA

Readings from the Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad
 translated by Patrick Olivelle

‘Clearly, this self is brahman—this self that is made of perception, made of mind,
made of sight, made of breath, made of hearing, made of earth, made of water,
made of wind, made of space, made of light and the lightless, made of desire
and the desireless, made of anger and the angerless, made of the righteous and
the unrighteous; this self is made of everything. Hence there is this saying: “He’s
made of this. He’s made of that.” What a man turns out to be depends on how
he acts and on how he conducts himself. If his actions are good, he will turn
into something good. If his actions are bad, he will turn into something bad.
A man turns into something good by good action and into something bad by
bad action. And so people say: “A person here consists simply of desire.” A man
resolves in accordance with his desire, acts in accordance with his resolve, and
turns out to be in accordance with his action.’ (4.4.3-5)

Commentary by Nick Sutton

The Sanskrit phrase ayam atma brahma succinctly expresses this notion of the unity of the self with the absolute principle and is frequently cited by Hindu theologians who adhere to the Advaita Vada. Because the atman is embodied it becomes identified with the senses, mind and intellect that is currently employs. So now we conceive of ourselves in terms of the mental faculties we employ day by day, moment by moment. When anger penetrates the consciousness, we say, “I am angry” because the atman has become identified with the intellect that undergoes the transformation into a state of anger.

KARMA

What a man turns out to be depends on how he acts and on how he conducts himself. If his actions are good, he will turn into something good. If his actions are bad, he will turn into something bad.
A man turns into something good by good action and into something bad by bad action. And so people say: “A person here consists simply of desire.” A man resolves in accordance with his desire, acts in accordance with his resolve, and turns out to be in accordance with his action.’ (Brihad  Aranyaka Upanishad 4.4.3-5)

Commentary by Nick Sutton

What is then that dictates the actions we perform? Why does one person pursue the path of virtue and another the path of perdition? The answer given here is the same as that given by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita (3.37): it is kama, or desire. For Krishna it is selfish desire that is the root of sin and the cause of anger, but the Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad explains the matter in a slightly different
way. It notes that desire shapes resolve (kratuh) and one’s resolve determines the actions one
performs. The point here is really quite simple, though it is fundamental to our understanding
of the doctrine of karma and of good and evil. If one’s desire (kama) is to be righteous, then
one first resolves to follow a virtuous life and then undertakes the virtuous actions (punya)
that lead to a pleasant future destiny. But if one’s desire is simply to enjoy pleasure through
the senses, then one’s resolve follows this desire and one is impelled to perform the wicked
acts that are required for unrestricted sensual pleasures. So for the Upanishad here, kama or
desire is not to be condemned universally. Rather it is the direction of one’s desires that is the
key point in determining the nature of one’s actions and the future destiny shaped by these
actions.

Aham Brahmasmi

Extract 1

In the beginning this world was only brahman and it knew only itself, thinking, ‘I am
brahman.’ As a result, it became the Whole. Among the gods, likewise, whosoever realized
this, only they became the Whole. It was the same also among the seers and among the
humans. Upon seeing this very point the seer Vamadeva proclaimed: ‘I was Manu, and I
was the sun.’ This is true even now. If a man knows, ‘I am brahman’ in this way, he becomes
this whole world. Not even the gods are able to prevent it, for he becomes their very self
(atman). So when a man venerates another deity, thinking, ‘He is one, and I am another’, he
does not understand. As livestock is for men, so is he for the gods. As having a lot of livestock
is useful to a man, so each man proves useful to the gods. The loss of even a single head of
livestock is painful; how much more so if many are lost. The gods, therefore, are not pleased
at the prospect of men coming to understand this. (1.4.10)

Extract 1 from Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad by Nick Sutton

This passage opens with another of the famous statements (Mahavakyas) of the Upanishads—
aham brahmasmi, or ‘I am brahman’—and in effect everything else here centres on that
realisation. From the outset the link is established between knowing and becoming. Brahman
is brahman because it knows itself to be brahman, which is further defined as ‘that which is
all things.’ From the next sentence we learn that the same principle applies to gods, great
seers (rishis) and men. If they gain the knowledge implicit in the words aham brahmasmi then
they too will become brahman. It was on the basis of such realisation that the rishi named
Vamadeva came to perceive his identity with Manu and with the sun.

In these lines we have a clear expression of the Upanishadic notion of Advaita and also the
power of true knowledge in creating identity. Any man, god or rishi can attain identity with
brahman, identity with that which is all things, by realised knowledge of that identity. In other
words, one becomes brahman as soon as one knows oneself to be brahman. And in fact one
already is brahman for brahman is all things; but as long as one does not attain this realisation
one lives out an existence as if one were not brahman. Hence we can see here several of
the key principles that lie at the heart of Shankaracharya’s teaching. One’s true identity is
brahman, one’s existence as something other than brahman is an illusion and when one gains
the realisation aham brahmasmi, then the illusory existence ceases, moksha is gained and one
becomes what one truly is, brahman alone. Hence Vamadeva exclaims ‘I am Manu and I am the
sun, because brahman is all things. I am brahman, Manu is brahman and the sun is brahman’.

One who has this realisation no longer exists as a tiny, powerless entity under the absolute
control of the gods. They control every being in this world, but brahman is beyond the gods, it is
the very self of the gods. So the attainment of realisation transforms a person from being under
the sway of the gods to being the very self of the gods and therefore free of their domination.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Nila Suktam

[This is also known as Vishnu Pathni Suktham and Adithi Suktham. Nila Devi or Adithi who is the creator of the world is addressed here. Though it is well known that Lord Vishnu has two wives Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Bhudevi, the fact that he had a wife called Nila Devi or Adithi is not well known. Nila Devi is supposed to have born as Radha, when Lord Vishnu took the Krishna avathara. This Suktha is taken from Thaithreeya Samhitha. I have taken this Suktha text from the book by RL Kashyap (2007) Veda Manthras and Sukthas and published by Aurobindo Kapali Shasthri Institute of Vedic Culture, Bangalore.]

Stomathrayasthrimse bhuvanasya pathni,
Vivasvadwathe abhi nom grunahi,
Gruthawathi savithar aadhipathyai payasvathi,
Ranthir aashaa na asthu.

Oh,one among thirty three thousand, you protect the world,
You are breathed by Vivaswan, please hear our prayers and respond,
Oh creator,rich in clarity and knowledge,
Engulf me with your love from all directions.

Dhruva disaam vishnupathni aghora,
Asya eeshaana sahaso ya manotha,

Make all directions stable,
oh consort of peaceful Vishnu,
Who is the god of strong and adored by all.

Brahaspathir mathariswotha,
Vayu sandhuvanaa vata,
Abhi no granathu.

Let Brahaspathi, the wind god
And matharishva be pleasant towards us.
May all of them bless us.

Vishtambho dhivo
Dharuna pridhvya,
Asyeshana jagatho Vishnu pathni
Visvavayachaa ishayanthi subhoothi
Hiva no asthu adithir upasathe.

The consort of Vishnu props the heaven,
Supports the earth,
Rules the world,
She occupies everywhere,
Impels the desirable and
gives happiness to all,
Let Adithi be peaceful to us and place us in her lap.

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Lotus Pond

I went out with Ed last week and sketched at the Lotus Pond at Kenneth Hahn.  I want to get back there soon and sketch some more.


I love watercolor but don't really know how to use it.


Pencil is what I feel comfortable with.



Page 9 - Hymn of the Pearl







Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Shamanic Tools for Creativity Class 1

I did these 3 self portraits in the first class of Shamanic Tools for Creativity on Monday night at Otis Evening College/Extension,

This first one was with my right hand - which is my dominant hand. I did some measuring for the placement of the features etc.  I will done sitting on a stool in the ladies room in about 10 to 15 minutes.

'

This second one was done with my left hand (my non-dominant hand).  The left hand was very weak and I really couldn't measure or make a straight line - all my hand would allow me was the crazy curvy lines.  It was a struggle - I wanted to cheat. But I loved what came out in the end.  I am softer and kinder with the left hand and that makes yogic sense to me because the left hand on the feminine side of the body. I spent 10 to 15 minutes on this one.

The last one I made in the classroom.  The teacher said be really free with this one.  Like you are in kinder garden and use your non dominant hand.  So I got out a big sharpie and started to draw looking at myself in my IPAD.


I am going to do more non-dominant hand drawing in the future.  I love how much more fun the untrained hand seems to be,

Distortion of the non-dominant hand shows us the subconscious.  Non dominant hand shows us character and creativity.

It is important to connect with both sides of the brain.

CLASS NOTES

- We started the class drumming to connect to spirit.
- Fu-Ding Cheng is the teacher and he referred to his teachings as spiritual Kung Fu
- He said our greatest contributions in life come from our deepest wounds.
- He mentioned the 2 main totems we will be studying are 1) the Art of Dreaming and 2) the Art of Stalking.
- We dream of a planet/plane/plan ... we want to wake up... we are God but we have to wake up because we dream we aren't
- Jump through the Sun Ritual
- Love is the most powerful force in the universe.
- Illustrators are those who illustrate something.
- Art doesn't illustrate something it embodies something.
- How do you protect your violent flame of creativity in a rough and tumble world- 2
- How not to lose your center - stay centered - stay in the place of the most sublime part of you.
- It's important to fine tune where you put your chi (conservation of energy)
- Your greatest art is your own life
- Put your heart on the throne
- Always ask yourself is this coming from the heart or ego
- Don't let your head take over what your heart has to say
- Let the heart be on the throne but reason be the 1st prime minister

Clarity of Intent
- Know what you want. Go for what you really want.
- Connect and attune to spirit from your heart
- Spiritual Mana heals us
- Assemblage Point
- Detachment from outcomes
- Heal your own wounds (not blaming but seeing what is)


Art of Dreaming
- Seeing energy. Seeing your place in the cosmic universe,

Shaman
- anyone who has the ability to go in the spiritual realm and access to spiritual
- like jazz artists and improve artists
- Shamanism appreciates that you are going to express it in your own way

Priests
- channels into existing forms


Monday, July 2, 2018

Hymns to Ushas in the Rig Veda

Hymns to Usha from The Rig-Veda - Book I
Brahma receiving the Vedas
Translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith

HYMN XLVIII. Dawn.
1 DAWN on us with prosperity, O Usas, Daughter of the Sky,
Dawn with great glory, Goddess, Lady of the Light, dawn thou with riches, Bounteous One.
2 They, bringing steeds and kine, boon-givers of all wealth, have oft sped forth to lighten us.
O Usas, waken up for me the sounds of joy: send us the riches of the great.
3 Usas hath dawned, and now shall dawn, the Goddess, driver forth of cars
Which, as she cometh nigh, have fixed their thought on her, like glory-seekers on the flood.
4 Here Kanva, chief of Kanva's race, sings forth aloud the glories of the heroes' names,-
The. princes who, O Usas, as thou comest near, direct their thoughts to liberal gifts.
5 Like a good matron Usas comes carefully tending everything:
Rousing all life she stirs all creatures that have feet, and makes the birds of air fly up.
6 She sends the busy forth, each man to his pursuit: delay she knows not as she springs.
O rich in opulence, after thy dawning birds that have flown forth no longer rest.
7 This Dawn hath yoked her steeds afar, beyond the rising of the Sun:
Borne on a hundred chariots she, auspicious Dawn, advances on her way to Men.
8 To meet her glance all living creatures bend them down: Excellent One, she makes the light.
Usas, the Daughter of the Sky, the opulent, shines foes and enmities away.
9 Shine on us with thy radiant light, O Usas, Daughter of the Sky,
Bringing to us great store of high felicity, and bearning on our solemn rites.
10 For in thee is each living creature's breath and life, when, Excellent! thou dawnest forth.
Borne on thy lofty car, O Lady of the Light, hear, thou of wondrous wealth, our call.
11 O Usas, win thyself the strength which among men is wonderful.
Bring thou thereby the pious unto holy rites, those who as priests sing praise to thee.
12 Bring from the firmament, O Usas, all the Gods, that they may drink our Soma juice,
And, being what thou art, vouchsafe us kine and steeds, strength meet for praist and hero might.
13 May Usas whose auspicious rays are seen resplendent round about,
Grant us great riches, fair in form, of all good things, wealth which light labour may attain.
14 Mighty One, whom the Rsis of old time invoked for their protection and their help,
O Usas, graciously answer our songs of praise with bounty and with brilliant
light.
15 Usas, as thou with light to day hast opened the twin doors of heaven,
So grant thou us a dwelling wide and free from foes. O Goddess, give us food with kine.
16 Bring us to wealth abundant, sent in every shape, to plentiful refreshing food,
To all-subduing splendour, Usas, Mighty One, to strength, thou rich in spoil and wealth.



HYMN XLIX. Dawn.
1 E'EN from above the sky's bright realm come, Usas, by auspicious ways:
Let red steeds bear thee to the house of him who pours the Soma, juice.
2 The chariot which thou mountest, fair of shape, O Usas light to move,-
Therewith, O Daughter of the Sky, aid men of noble fame today.
3 Bright Usas, when thy times return, all quadrupeds and bipeds stir,
And round about flock winged birds from all theboundaries of heaven.
4 Thou dawning with thy beams of light illumest all the radiant realm.
Thee, as thou art, the Kanvas, fain for wealth, have called with sacred songs.



HYMN XCII. Dawn.
1. THESE Dawns have raised their banner; in the eastern half of the mid-air they spread abroad their shinine light.
Like heroes who prepare their weapons for the war, onward they come bright red in hue, the Mother Cows.
2 Readily have the purple beams of light shot up; the Red Cows have they harnessed, easy to be yoked.
The Dawns have brought distinct perception as before: red-hued, they have attained their fulgent brilliancy.
3 They sing their song like women active in their tasks, along their common path hither from far away,
Bringing refreshment to the liberal devotee, yea, all things to the worshipper who pours the juice.
4 She, like a dancer, puts her broidered garments on: as a cow yields her udder so she bares her breast.
Creating light for all the world of life, the Dawn hath laid the darkness open as the cows their stall.
5 We have beheld the brightness of her shining; it spreads and drives away the darkiorne monster.
Like tints that deck the Post at sacrifices, Heaven's Daughter hath attained her wondrous splendour.
6 We have o'erpast the limit of this darkness; Dawn breaking forth again brings clear perception.
She like a flatterer smiles in light for glory, and fair of face hath wakened to rejoice
us.
7 The Gotamas have praised Heaven's radiant Daughter, the leader of the charm of pleasant voices.
Dawn, thou conferrest on us strength with offspring and men, conspicuous with kine and horses.
8 O thou who shinest forth in wondrous glory, urged onward by thy strength, auspicious Lady,
Dawn, may I gain that wealth, renowned and ample, in brave sons, troops of slaves, far-famed for horses.
9 Bending her looks on all the world, the Goddess shines, widely spreading with her bright eye westward.
Waking to motion every living creature, she understands the voice of each adorer.
10 Ancient of days, again again born newly, decking her beauty with the self-same raiment.
The Goddess wastes away the life of mortals, like a skilled hunter cutting birds in pieces.
11 She hath appeared discovering heaven's borders: to the far distance she drives off her Sister.
Diminishing the days of human creatures, the Lady shines with all her lover's splendour.
12 The bright, the blessed One shines forth extending her rays like kine, as a flood rolls his waters.
Never transgressing the divine commandments, she is beheld visible with the sunbeams.
13 O Dawn enriched with ample wealth, bestow on us the wondrous gift
Wherewith we may support children and children's sons.
14 Thou radiant mover of sweet sounds, with wealth of horses and of kine
Shine thou on us this day, O Dawn auspiciously.
15 O Dawn enriched with holy rites, yoke to thy car thy purple steeds,
And then bring thou unto us all felicities.
16 O Asvins wonderful in act, do ye unanimous direct
Your chariot to our home wealthy in kine and gold.
17 Ye who brought down the hymn from heaven, a light that giveth light to man,
Do ye, O Asvius, bring strength bither unto us.
18 Hither may they who wake at dawn bring, to drink Soma both the Gods
Health-givers Wonder-Workers, borne on paths of gold.



HYMN CXIII. Dawn.
1. This light is come, amid all lights the fairest; born is the brilliant, far-extending brightness.
Night, sent away for Savitar's uprising, hath yielded up a birth-place for the Morning.
2 The Fair, the Bright is come with her white offspring; to her the Dark One hath resigned her dwelling.
Akin, immortal, following each other, changing their colours both the heavens move onward.
3 Common, unending is the Sisters' pathway; taught by the Gods, alternately they travel.
Fair-formed, of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash not, neither do they travel.
4 Bright leader of glad sounds, our eyes behold her; splendid in hue she hath unclosed the portals.
She, stirring up the world, hath shown us riches: Dawn hath awakened every living creature.
5 Rich Dawn, she sets afoot the coiled-up sleeper, one for enjoyment, one for wealth or worship,
Those who saw little for extended vision. All living creatures hath the Dawn awakened.
6 One to high sway, one to exalted glory, one to pursue his gain, and one his labour:
All to regard their different vocations, all moving creatures hath the Dawn awakened.
7 We see her there, the Child of Heaven apparent, the young Maid, flushing in her shining raiment.
Thou soyran Lady of all earthly treasure, flush on us here, auspicious Dawn, this morning.
8 She first of endless morns to come hereafter, follows the path of morns that have departed.
Dawn, at her rising, urges forth the living him who is dead she wakes not from his slumber.
9 As thou, Dawn, hast caused Agni to be kindled, and with the Sun's eye hast revealed creation.
And hast awakened men to offer worship, thou hast performed, for Gods, a noble service.
10 How long a time, and they shall be together,-Dawns that have shone and Dawns to shine hereafter?
She yearns for former Dawns with eager longing, and goes forth gladly shining with the others.
11 Gone are the men who in the days before us looked on the rising of the earlier Morning.
We, we the living, now behold her brightness and they come nigh who shall hereafter see her.
12 Foe-chaser, born of Law, the Law's protectress, joy-giver waker of all pleasant voices,
Auspicious, bringing food for Gods' enjoyment, shine on us here, most bright, O Dawn, this morning.
13 From days eternal hath Dawn shone, the Goddess, and shows this light to-day, endowed with riches.
So will she shine on days to come immortal she moves on in her own strength, undecaying.
14 In the sky's borders hath she shone in splendour: the Goddess hath thrown off the veil of darkness.
Awakening the world with purple horses, on her well-harnessed chariot Dawn approaches.
15 Bringing all life-sustaining blessings with her, showing herself she sends forth brilliant lustre.
Last of the countless mornings that have vanished, first of bright morns to come hath Dawn arisen.
16 Arise! the breath, the life, again hath reached us: darkness hath passed away and light approacheth.
She for the Sun hath left a path to travel we have arrived where men prolong existence.
17 Singing the praises of refulgent Mornings with his hymn's web the priest, the poet rises.
Shine then to-day, rich Maid, on him who lauds thee, shine down on us the gift of life and offipring.
18 Dawns giving sons all heroes, kine and horses, shining upon the man who brings oblations,-
These let the Soma-presser gain when ending his glad songs louder than the voice of Vayu.
19 Mother of Gods, Aditi's forui of glory, ensign of sacrifice, shine forth exalted.
Rise up, bestowing praise on our devotion all-bounteous, niake us chief among the people.
20 Whatever splendid wealth the Dawns bring with them to bless the man who offers praise and worship,
Even that may Mitra, Varuna vouchsafe us, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.

HYMN CXXIII. Dawn.
1. THE Daksina's broad chariot hath been harnessed: this car the Gods Immortal have ascended.
Fain to bring light to homes of men the noble and active Goddess hath emerged from darkness.
2 She before all the living world hath wakened, the Lofty One who wins and gathers treasure.
Revived and ever young on high she glances. Dawn hath come first unto our morning worship.
3 If, Dawn, thou Goddess nobly born, thou dealest fortune this day to all the race of mortals,
May Savitar the God, Friend of the homestead, declare before the Sun that we are sinless.
4 Showing her wonted form each day that passeth, spreading the light she visiteth each dwelling.
Eager for conquest, with bright sheen she cometh. Her portion is the best of goodly treasures.
5 Sister of Varuna, sister of Bhaga, first among all sing forth, O joyous Morning.
Weak be the strength of him who worketh evil - may we subdue him with our car the guerdon.
6 Let our glad hymns and holy thoughts rise upward, for the flames brightly burning have ascended.
The far-refulgent Mornings make apparent the lovely treasures which the darkness covered.
7 The one departeth and the other cometh: unlike in hue day's, halves march on successive.
One hides the gloom of the surrounding Parents. Dawn on her shining chariot is resplendent.
8 The same in form to-day, the same tomorrow, they still keep Varuna's eternal statute.
Blameless, in turn they traverse thirty regions, and dart across the spirit in a moment.
9 She who hath knowledge Of the first day's nature is born refulgent white from out the darkness.
The Maiden breaketh not the law of Order, day by day coming to the place appointed.
10 In pride of beauty like a maid thou goest, O Goddess, to the God who longs to win thee,
And smiling youthful, as thou shinest brightly, before him thou discoverest thy bosom.
11 Fair as a bride embellished by her mother thou showest forth thy form that all may see it.
Blessed art thou O Dawn. Shine yet more widely. No other Dawns have reached what thou attainest.
12 Rich in kine, horses, and all goodly treasures, in constant operation with the sunbeams,
The Dawns depart and come again again assuming their wonted forms that promise happy fortune.
13 Obedient to the rein of Law Eternal give us each thought that more and more shall bless us.
Shine thou on us to-day, Dawn, swift to listen. With us be riches and with chiefs who worship.

HYMN CXXIV. Dawn.
1. THE Dawn refulgent when the fire is kindled, and the Sun rising, far diffuse their brightness.
Savitar, God, hath sentus forth to labour, each quadruped, each biped, to be active.
2 Not interrupting heavenly ordinances, although she minisheth human generations.
The last of endless morns that have departed, the first of those that come, Dawn brightly shineth.
3 There in the eastern region she, Heaven's Daughter, arrayed in garments all of light, appeareth.
Truly she fo1loweth the path of Order, nor faileth, knowing well, the heavenly quarters.
4 Near is she seen, as 'twere the Bright One's bosom: she showeth sweet things like a new song-singer.
She cometh like a fly awaking sleepers, of all. returning dames most true and constant.
5 There in the east half of the watery region the Mother of the Cows hath shown her ensign.
Wider and wider still she spreadeth onward, and filleth full the laps of both heir Parents.
6 She, verily, exceeding vast to look on debarreth from her light nor kin nor stranger.
Proud of her spotless form she, brightly shiming, turneth not from the high nor froom the humble.
7 She seeketh men, as she who hath no brother, mounting her car, as 'twere to gather riches.
Dawn, like a loving matron for her husband, smiling and well attired, unmasks her beauty.
8 The Sister quitteth, for the elder Sister, her place, and having looked on her departeth.
She decks her beauty, shining forth with sunbeams, like women trooping to the festal meeting.
9 To all these Sisters who ere now have vanished a later one each day in course succeedeth.
So, like the past, with days of happy fortune, may the new Dawns shine forth on us with riches.
10 Rouse up, O Wealthy One, the liberal givers; let niggard traffickers sleep on unwakened:
Shine richly, Wealthy One, on those who worship, richly, glad.
Dawn while wasting, on the singer.
11 This young Maid from the east hath shone upon us; she harnesseth her team of bright red oxen.
She will beam forth, the light will hasten hither, and Agni will be present in each dwelling.
12 As the birds fly forth from their resting places, so men with store of food rise at thy dawning.
Yea, to the liberal mortal who remaineth at home, O Goddess Dawn, much good thou bringest.
13 Praised through my prayer be ye who should be lauded. Ye have increased our wealth, ye Dawns who love us.
Goddesses, may we win by your good favour wealth to be told by hundreds and by thousands.




I am working on a redesign on this page 9 in my graphic novel Hymn of the Pearl

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Olivera Street

Some little watercolor sketches




Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Planetary Nyasa

PLANETARY NYASA
Touch the heart.
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Am Am Im Im Um Um Rm Rm Lm Lm Em Aim Aum Om Am Ah. Obeisance to the Sun.
Touch the brow
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Yam Ram Lam Vam. Immortality to the Moon.
Touch the eyelid.
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Kam Kham Gam Gham Nam. Virtue to Mars. 

Touch the Ears.
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Cam Cham Jam Jham Nam. Victory to Mercury.

Touch the Throat.
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Tam Tham Dam Dham Nam. Benevolence to Jupiter.

Touch the heart
Aim Hrim Shrim Tam Tham Dam Dham Nam. Knowledge to Venus.

Touch the navel.
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Pam Pham Bam Bham Main. Divine Energy to Saturn. 

Touch the Lips
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Sham Sham Sam Ham. Devotion to Rahu.

Touch the Pelvis
Guide Chants: Aim Hrim Shrim Lam Ksham. Mystery to Ketu.




Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Expressions

Working on my drawing skills again with expressions, hair and hands


Vanderpoehl Copies





Loomis copies

Thursday, April 12, 2018

So Ham

"Our prana,  emanates the gentle sound of so-ham, the natural sound resonating with our life force.  When we consciously observe our breathing process, it unfolds the hamsa mantra." Shambavi L. Chopra

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

YOGA NIDRA FOR THE 7th Chakra – Joy

(these are just notes its not really a script its just ideas)

If you want to hear a recording using the ideas as a full yoga nidra please contact me at nyapatrinos@yahoo.com

INTERNALIZATION

Sahashrara, the Crown Chakra, aka the 7th Chakra, is at located at very top of the head.
Touch the top of your head and smooth down your hair. Feel your crown.
The energy of the 7th chakra allows us to experience oneness with everyone and everything.
Intellectual knowing does not exist at the level of seventh chakra
Here there is serenity, joy, and deep peace about life.
At the crown chakra we know that there is a deeper meaning of life and that there is an order that underlies all existence.
The "way of the crown chakra" is the way of going beyond the limits and transcending the ego.
At the crown chakra we know that all of creation is interconnected at a fundamental level.
The color of the 7th chakra is violet. 
Take a long and deep breath. As you exhale, move attention to the top of your head, and imagine a violet chakra. The dark violet glow of the chakra illuminates your mind and the rest of your body.
Feel all the points of contact between the body and the floor
Listen in all directions for sounds . . .
In the heart beat here in heartbeat of the universe often expressed by the mantra OM

SANKALPA
Your own Sankalpa
“I chose to be joyful”


BODY ROTATION

Dew is a deposit of water droplets, formed at night by the condensation of water vapor from the air, onto the surface of objects exposed to the sky. It forms on clear nights when the air is calm or winds are light. The process that produces the dew begins as the sun begins to set and night begins to fall. Objects exposed to the open air cool faster than the air around them, and if it is sufficiently humid, water vapor condenses out of the air and covers the object. Dew may also be drawn from the ground. Another type of dew, "hoarfrost," occurs when the air temperature reaches the freezing point.
That dew signifies truth, is evident also from the Word elsewhere, as in Zechariah:--

The seed of peace, the vine shall give her fruit and the earth shall give her produce, and the heavens shall give their dew (Zech. 8:12);

From a biblical point of view, what does "dew" mean? Dew is used to refer to blessings, favor, prosperity, resurrection, long life, and to describe how an army covers the earth. It can also describe how an eagle covers her young or how God covers His people. We can see a well-known example in Isaac's blessing of Jacob in Genesis 27:28: "Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine."

(Body Rotation using Dew as the nyasa)

BREATH AWARENESS

As you breath in, feel peace entering the  body
As you breath out , relax every cell in the body
Breath in - Peace
Breath out - Relaxation
Breath in - Joy
Breath out - Relaxation
Breath in  - Joy in the present moment
Breath out  - any tension and stress
Breath in – the energy of Peace moving through the body with joy
Breath out  - The energy of peace filling the body
Breath in  - The energy of the joy moving through the body
Breath out - Joy filling the body completely.
Breath in - Peace
Breath out - Joy

OPPPOSITES
Joy vs Sorrow

(ideas: Start visualize an experience of joy
Now spread that feeling until it pervades your whole body from head to toe.. Sorrow)

Connected –  Disconnected

(ideas:
One with source, peaceful, uni
Disconnected – in disharmony)

VISUALIZATIONS 1

Imagine a big, white lotus with its petals closed in the same place as your crown chakra.  Look at the lotus and contemplate upon its shape, color and texture. 

As you pay attention, the lotus slowly starts to swirl along with the chakra.

One by one the petals of the lotus start to open. As the first layer flowers, you see uncountable rows of more petals still to open.

With every new petal opening the lotus starts spinning faster. You realize that every such opening leads to yet another layer of closed petals. The blooming of the lotus is an on-going process of infinite stages. 

Now see your seventh chakra spinning with equal strength. The chakra's violet light washes over you and pervades every cell, every pore in your body.

Breathe deeply and feel the energy from your crown chakra connecting you to the sky above and to the earth below, and to everything in between, so you become one with existence.

VISUALIZATION #2

Think of a person who you love. Find the feeling of joy, love, warmth, care, concern, togetherness, within you. Feel the emotions.

Now spread the love and warmth and care around you. Feel joy pervading you and love surrounding you.

Visualize the person next to you. Hand joy to the person nearest you as your gift. Let him or her have all the joy and all that you can find. Notice how joy is still within you, even though you are giving them to another person. Joy does not become diminished.  We do not run out of joy. You are jut including the other person within your joy.

Try to remember everyone in the room. Pass joy to everyone here in the room. Realize joy is infinite and you can’t run out of joy by sharing it. 

Visualize your parents. Take all the joy you can find now  and direct it to your parents , it doesn’t matter whether they are still alive or not. Let them share your innermost feelings.
Now think of your nearest and dearest people. Let them have all of the love and joy that you can find.
Fill them with joy and embrace them with love. Notice how both emotions remain within you. You do not lose them by giving them away.

Hand all the joy and love you can find to your friends. Share your heart with them. Pervade and embrace them with joy and love, coming from your heart to their hearts.
Now give your joy and your love to all the people who are part of your lives, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances, relatives. Feel your togetherness with them by giving them the greatest treasure your heart can give.

Let the boundaries and barriers of the heart fall and let joy and love flow out of it. First to people that may be sharing these buildings with us, and then to the people in the houses around here. Let them all be part of your heart, knowing we belong together at this time, on this small planet.

Go further afield, as far as your imagination will take you, people and beings are everywhere. Feel the unity and togetherness of the family of mankind by sharing the best you have.
Put your attention back on yourself. Become aware of the beauty within you. Know that for your inner life. Make it as beautiful and as peaceful as you can so that you have much to share with others. Let beauty and peace fill and surround you.

SANKALPA
(same as usual)

EXTERNALIZATION

Come back to natural breathing

Joy is out natural state of being.

Unfortunately, in our society we value acquiring and  having things as the primary path to happiness.

Desire for things can destroys our joy, it brings us a short-term burst of pleasure but this joy fades quickly.

Believing joy depends on external things is a trap.

It makes it harder for us to experience real happiness.

True joy comes from our attitude toward things, not from the actual things themselves.

It’s possible for us to spend much of our time in a state of joy, and here are a few suggestions for moving in that direction:

Smile, Love Yourself, Appreciate Everyone and Everything, Practice Loving Kindness, Accentuate the Positive

Listen to the sound of the heart beat.

Listen to the sound of the breath

There is only consciousness here; this universe is nothing but consciousness; you are consciousness; I am consciousness; all the worlds are consciousness - that is the conclusion. That which exists and that which shines (i.e., is known to exist) are all          the (ONE) Self.
                                                                                       
  -Yoga Vasistha
(finish bringing the students/clients out of the yoga nidra)

Chitra


Saturday, April 7, 2018

Krishna and Kali

"Kali and Krishna are closely related, though at first glance their forms appear divergent and contrary.  Yet their colour is azure and curiously, the bija mantra- klim, the seed syllable of love and desire belongs to Krishna, though it is the actual root sound of the word "Kali".  Similiarly, the bija mantra- Krim, the seed syllable of energy and transformation, belongs to Kali, yet it is the actual root sound of the word "Krishna".... In Bengal and eastern India,  Kali and Krishna are the two main deities worshipped.  While Krishna shows a soft aspect of masculine energy, Kali indicaates the strong aspect of female energy.  If we understand their cosmic play as one we gain power to go beyond duality. Krishna's role like that of Kali was one of death and destruction but for a higher cause.  He manisfested the great Kali shakti, the transformative power of time, which is Kali,"p. 112 Shambavi L. Chopra, Yogic Secrets of the Dark Goddess.


Inner Waterfall



"Kali's soma possesses the flow of a poweful waterfall. Its rapidly cascading energy washes away a;; the debris within our minds that alienate Shiva, yet in its rush carries the awareness of Shiva into its mountain-lake if stillness. The flow of the inner waterfall is called dhara in Sanskrit, which also means the power to hold or fix, as is dharana, yogic concentration.  The flow of the waterfall of shakti has the power to hold the energy of shiva in the mind in a fixed and centered state." Shambavi L. Chopra p, 89,  Yogic Secrets of the Dark Goddess.




"We can sit in silence and quiet the mind by placing our attention on the breath.  This marvelous reminder of the rhythm of life, the breath continuously renews our energies and nourishes our bodies.  The mind and the breath embrace together in a warm, loving recognition of our natural state.  We can relax and let go of anxieties and worries as the breath brings a calm reflection in the inner mirror of self-recognition. Quietly, then, we can recognize the coming and going of thoughts.  Thoughts of planning, worrying, comparing and criticizing all become much clearer to us then.  Pictures and stories emerge and play upon our minds like the projector flashing images on the movie screen at our local theater.  But we are more aware that we are simply observers of the thoughts.  We are not the thoughts, themselves.  The thoughts that bring fears, self-judgments, regrets and sorrows become less controlling because we begin to notice that they are not real.  They do not capture the deeper reality of our spiritual being.  They are the products of that great story teller, the Ego.  And we begin to let go of the thoughts, themselves and settle into the peaceful abode of the one who witnesses the thoughts – the one who is beyond thoughts and fears and worries.

This is called “observing the waterfall.”  Thoughts and emotions can be seen as simply a cascading flow of impressions.  They no longer push and pull us into unwanted actions.  They no longer drive us into despair or depression.  We simply observe and let go of the waterfall.  We can then find the sweet scent of freedom surrounding us.  We have found one of the great secrets of our own, internal universe.  And this new-found freedom brings us Joy." - Dave Judd
http://wellnesswithin.org/2013/10/the-inner-waterfall/


Paintings by Hosukai