Essential Yoga Sutra: Ancient Wisdom for Your Yoga

Wow!  Have I got a great new Yoga Sutras link to share with you today!

The Essential Yoga Sutra by Geshe Michael Roach and Christie McNally is now available here for free in PDF form! 

This translation is one of my personal favorites! 

It features the transliterated Sanskrit for each sutra plus translations and commentary on this classic text from the perspective of Tibetan Buddhism.

For those of you in my Intermediate Hatha Yoga classes at Yoga for Today in the past week, I especially recommend you check out page 32 for Sutra 1.20 which we were chanting together so beautifully!

Thank you to all who have helped make this sacred text available to us!  Your generosity is an inspiration and a blessing!

Prayers for Diamond Mountain

It is with deep dismay that I share this open letter from Geshe Michael Roach.

Please click here to go to the Diamond Mountain University website.

I offer these prayers for Ian and his family, Lama Christie, Geshe Michael, Diamond Mountain's Three Year Retreatants, Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, students, sponsors, and the worldwide Sangha.

May all beings be happy.  May all beings be peaceful.  May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Trayambakam x 108

Tara Chants the Invocation to Patanjali - Free Audio!



Swami Swaroopananda


Blessed Selves,

I have something special to share with you! 

My dear friend Shyaama just emailed me an audio recording I forgot even existed. 

It's me chanting the Invocation to Patanjali with translation while we were studying the Yoga Sutras at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram with our beloved Teachers Swami Swaroopananda, Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally.

Thank you, Shyaama Devi!

I learned the melody from Swami Swaroopananda, and to this day, I always hear it in my heart in his beautiful voice. 

Please be aware that any mistakes are mine, and mine alone.

Limited time offer - free download:  

Tara Woltjen chanting the Invocation to Patanjali! 

Note* This file is available for one week only!  You must download it by April 23, 2012!

You are most welcome to listen to it, to save it, and even to share it with others! 

I have just two requests:

1. Please watch these short videos by my hero, Nina Paley first. 
2. Leave me a comment below to let me know you've downloaded it. 

With love and gratitude to you all, Tara

Copying is Not Theft - Nina Paley

Credit is Due (The Attribution Song) - Nina Paley

All Creative Work is Derivative - Nina Paley

Watch for Nina's masterpiece this weekend on Kali's Kitchen Sattvic Movie Saturday!

And here's the link to my rendition of the Invocation to Patanjali:  https://www.yousendit.com/download/M3Bua3ZITmFwcFdGa2RVag

Remember, you need to download it by April 23rd, 2012!  Then chant to your heart's content!

Patanjali Maharishi Ki - Jai!

Swami Swaroopananda Ki - Jai!

Om Tat Sat

Mercy Songs

If you've been coming to my Yoga of Lady Niguma classes on Sunday mornings, you've heard Mercy Songs by Mercedes Bahleda. 

Mercedes is one of my dharma sisters, a fellow student of Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally.  She is currently part of the hard-working entourage assisting Geshe Michael with his Diamond Cutter Institute tour, workshops and classes.

Many of you have asked me how you can get your own copy, so here's the link! 

"Mercy Songs" by Mercedes Bahleda is available through White Swan Music.

Mercedes has posted several of her beautiful songs on YouTube, including the video below featuring the Mantra of Chenrizig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Om Mani Padme Hum. 

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum (image borrowed from Wikipedia)

Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus 

New!  I am delighted to be offering Tibetan Heart Yoga (Tong-len or "Taking and Giving" as taught by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally) on Saturday mornings at Yoga for Today!

In this class we sing the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum", the mantra of Chenrizig, The Bodhisattva of Compassion.

You can click here to read more on Wikipedia about this beautiful mantra. 

Find out which negative emotions it purifies while developing The Six Perfections!