Secrets from the Wheel of Life

Watch the live streaming of the teachings tonight!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-wheel-of-life-with-geshe-michael-roach

This Weekend at Yoga Within

There are still a few spots available for this weekend's workshops at Yoga Within!

February 8 - 9 ~ Sanskrit for Absolute Beginners with Tara Woltjen

$82.50 + GST

Friday, February 8,  5:30 – 8:30pm (3hrs)

and Saturday, February 9,  1 – 4pm (3hrs)

The Sanskrit letters are said to be the sounds of the inner winds heard by the ancient yogis in deep meditation. Learn the basics of Devanagari script and transliterated Sanskrit in an easy, lighthearted way so that you too can resonate with these sacred healing sounds.

February 9 - 10 ~ Mantra Yoga the Complete Science with Yogi Amandeep

Feb 9th  - 1-6pm  $65, at door $75

Feb 10th – 10-2 pm $55, at door $65

 

Cost: for both days $111

  Mantra Yoga is perhaps one of the most ancient ways of self realization. “Man” means mind and “tra” means wave, Mantra is that which controls the waves of the mind.

According to the metaphysical science Mantras are primal sounds that alter the patterns of the mind and brain chemistry. Mantras are living conscious energy and have to be awakened to fully benefit from the sound, a process closely guarded secret.

The chanting of Mantras create blissful and peaceful mind. They bestow upon us the power to attain our goals and lift ourselves from the ordinary to the higher level of consciousness.  They give us the power to heal, attract prosperity, abundance and health. 

A very unique workshop on the detail science of mantra, how to awaken them, how they work, different forms of mantras, different stages in practise, their physiology in the body, their seats in the chakras, activation of 72,000 Nadis, their imprint in the mind and the whole science of mantra perfection.

Karma and Emptiness in the Yoga Sutra

Geshe Michael Roach.  Blurry Photo Credit: Me :)

Hey, Yoga Sutra Geeks! (You know I call you that with the utmost reverence and affection...) Check it out! 

Asian Classics Institute has more than 400 pages of transcribed teachings on this topic alone!

Karma and Emptiness in the Yoga Sutra, Part One, Geshe Michael Roach

Karma and Emptiness in the Yoga Sutra, Part Two, Geshe Michael Roach

Oprah Likes Kirtan Too!

Oprah Winfrey in Edmonton, Image Source: Edmonton Journal

So, Edmonton is buzzing from Oprah's appearance here last night!  Whether you were in attendance or not, her presence was palpable and somehow, we all felt part of it. 

In Oprah's own words,

“Why are you here?... You’re here because you’ve been called. Even with our sadness and victories and trials. Everything matters. It does not matter how you got here. It doesn’t matter if you were ignored, welcomed. If you are here sitting in a seat in Edmonton, if you are breathing, you’ve been called..."

It's no secret that Oprah is a fan of modern mystics like Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass and Eckhart Tolle, and that she has an appreciation for yoga, meditation and a variety of spiritual practices and music. 

But did you know she's also a Kirtan fan?  Seriously! 

Oprah's friends even arranged for Snatam Kaur to play at her 58th Birthday Celebration! 

Check out the album below and I'm convinced you'll understand why.  Click here to listen to Snatam Kaur on YouTube.

Prayers for Shyamdas

Oh, it is with many tears that I offer prayers for release from samsara for one of my most beloved Kirtan Wallahs EVER.  Shyamdas left his body in India a couple of days ago.  World-wide his students and fans are saddened, but I doubt he's feeling the same way. 

Since I saw him in the Fall of 2009 at the Omega Ecstatic Chant Retreat in New York, I've been affectionately referring to him as the "Drunken Uncle" of the Kirtan scene. 

I arrived that weekend utterly broken hearted and desperately in need of a big bhakti bandaid and some serious pressure washing for my nadis. 

All of the artists were amazing:  Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Snatam Kaur, Deva Premal and Miten, David Newman (Durga Das) and Vishal Vaid... but I was so shattered that I just couldn't relate to either the ecstatic dancing or the sweet meditative vibes. 

I simply wasn't "in the mood".

At four in the morning, onto the stage came Shyamdas.  He had the voice and air of the last drunk Uncle standing at the end of a night of wedding celebrations.  His Bhava, and the perfection of his imperfection cracked me wide open. 

You can get a glimpse of what I mean in this Shyamdas Tribute on YouTube from Substratum Films.  The clips were pulled from interviews for the upcoming documentary One Track Heart, which I shared with you just a few days ago in this post.

Shyamdas-ji, from the bottom of my busted and bursting heart, thank you!  May you be forever melting in Blissful Union with the Divine!  Jai Sri Rahde!  Jai Sri Krishna!