tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131338494542178632024-03-12T16:06:49.673-07:00Meta VieMichelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-80122322703088301812018-12-12T08:20:00.001-08:002018-12-12T08:28:30.127-08:00Mindful Communication Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mindful communication is essential to healthy relationships: with ourselves, with our close friends and family, and with acquaintances including everyone connected to us on social media. </div>
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I have failed in my attempts to communicate mindfully. But I keep picking myself up and trying again. </div>
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Often I communicate with family members, friends and social media contacts to meet a need: the need to be noticed and heard. Sometimes that's acceptable and healthy, but often it's not. </div>
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If I can keep in mind the goal of being of benefit, I won't communicate for self-gratification as often, or as harmfully. </div>
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I am setting a new intention: each time I want to reach out through social media, texting apps or even a rant in the kitchen, I want to pause first and ask myself: "is this sharing motivated by a need for self-gratification, or is it to be of benefit, or both?" </div>
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If it's for self-gratification, can I admit that and still proceed without any harm being done? If so, I can choose to proceed, or not. If it's intended to benefit the listeners or readers, I will most likely proceed to share. If it's a dual motivation, self-gratification and to be of benefit, I may still share and probably will, but at least I can be aware of my own motivations. That's what I plan to do to slow down my sharing and communicate more mindfully. </div>
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Anyone care to join me in this challenge?</div>
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Image credit: John Hain, Pixabay</div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-73091555042593285842018-03-28T16:58:00.000-07:002018-03-28T16:58:04.036-07:00Breathing the Heights and Depths<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Breathing down to the depths and up to the heights. The pause after the exhale is the calm bottom of the ocean, and the pause after the inhale is the energy of the steepest climb. <div>
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When I want to feel a certain way I follow my breath. I never want to forget about breathing, though in my dreams I forget. As a child I had a recurring dream of being able to breathe underwater and still now, I daydream of this ability. To be able to breathe everywhere, now that is a dream. To be able to breathe with ease at the highest elevations and at the bottom of the ocean. Breath is life and I want to breathe everywhere, on and on, forever. </div>
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Life is so varied. There are gradations too numerous to count. Often we spend our time scurrying about the middle ground. Sometimes we run up and sometimes we sink down. When we are down it's usually different than it was the time before. There are treasures in the depths and paucity at the heights, and it's hard to know which is which, sometimes. </div>
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We think people are running with us or sinking with us, but mostly we're middling along with people and when we go for the extremes it's alone. Once or twice or a few times we want to grab the wrist of someone in the middle and take them with us on a jaunt. </div>
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Let's go, you and me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLlM_HL-cgJxtm9og9i7rWJeQkT6nq38UImD4Q26lnUupsj2UOFvWHTZHea8s7eRahFz4mRkjNgz2qJNAo910snh5dgV4exUNRVON0yzcdhURcjGkX0O0_fW5RwHImPTW9POE5C0GY9k/s1600/dante%2527s+peak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="575" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLlM_HL-cgJxtm9og9i7rWJeQkT6nq38UImD4Q26lnUupsj2UOFvWHTZHea8s7eRahFz4mRkjNgz2qJNAo910snh5dgV4exUNRVON0yzcdhURcjGkX0O0_fW5RwHImPTW9POE5C0GY9k/s320/dante%2527s+peak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Dante's Peak, NBC News</i></div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-4189250680313135062018-03-12T12:03:00.001-07:002018-10-11T14:22:27.560-07:00Meditation as Self-Care<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The verb <i>meditate</i> can refer to a variety of mental activities. Here's a Merriam-Webster dictionary entry:<br />
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<div class="sense" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="sn" style="font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="num" style="left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 2px;">1</span></span><span class="dt " style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dt " style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="letter-spacing: 0.64px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.64px;">to engage in</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.64px;"> </span><a class="mw_t_d_link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contemplation" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; color: #ae0015; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">contemplation</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.64px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.64px;">or reflection</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.64px;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<ul class="vis" style="display: inline; letter-spacing: 0.64px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dt " style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="t" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;">He <em class="mw_t_it" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">meditated</em> long and hard before announcing his decision.</span></li>
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<span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">: </span>to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a <a class="mw_t_d_link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mantra" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; color: #ae0015; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">mantra</a>) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness</span></div>
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transitive verb</div>
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<span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="sn" style="font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="num" style="left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 2px;">1</span></span><span class="dt " style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">: </span>to focus one's thoughts on <span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">: </span>reflect on or ponder over </span></span><br />
<ul class="vis" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dt " style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="t" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;">He was <em class="mw_t_it" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">meditating</em> his past achievements.</span></li>
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<span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="sn" style="font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="num" style="left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 2px;">2</span></span><span class="dt " style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">: </span>to plan or project in the mind <span class="mw_t_bc" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">: </span><a class="mw_t_sx" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intend" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; color: #ae0015; font-size: 1.2em; font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">intend</a>, <a class="mw_t_sx" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purpose" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; color: #ae0015; font-size: 1.2em; font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">purpose</a> </span></span><br />
<ul class="vis" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="sb-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dt " style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="t" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; position: relative;">He was <em class="mw_t_it" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">meditating</em> revenge.</span></li>
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meditator</h2>
<span class="prs" style="font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 0px -4px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="pr" style="color: black; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="play-pron" data-dir="m" data-file="medita02" data-lang="en_us" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meditate?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=m&file=medita02" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; background-image: url("//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/app-css-images/definitions/icon.pron@2x.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 25px 25px; color: #ae0015; direction: ltr; display: inline-block; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: 25px; letter-spacing: 0.04em; line-height: 25px; margin: -5px 4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: -9999px; vertical-align: middle; width: 25px;" title="How to pronounce meditate (audio)">play<span class="play-box" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></a> </span><span class="first-slash" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">\</span><span class="pr" style="color: black; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="mw" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-ˌtā-tər</span></span><span class="last-slash" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">\</span></span> <span class="fl" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">noun</span></div>
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Within a spiritual context, there are many forms of meditation to practice. I am not an adherent of any particular form of meditation or yoga, so I did not follow the advice of my first teachers who told me to "dig one deep well" and drink only from it. I am not particularly religious about my own meditation; admittedly, I use it for health and healing, and as a complement to prayer which is the spiritual side of my own practice.<br />
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When working with clients who are new to meditation, I like to present it as caring for and attending to the self (or Self, if you prefer).<br />
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Our attention is frequently externally directed in our day-to-day existence. <b>Meditation is a purposeful direction of our attention</b> within, or to a specific point of focus, depending on the goals and situation of the individual.<br />
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Meditation can be part of a self-care routine. From middle childhood and beyond, we all need to practice self-care. Infants and toddlers generally have all of their physical and psychological needs met by caregivers, including soothing and comforting. As we become more independent, our ability to self-soothe and self-regulate becomes critical. An example of an early self-care practice is choosing to sleep with a favorite blanket and cuddle with a well-loved stuffed animal. This example involves anticipation of one's own needs and concrete actions to fulfill them without outside help. In adulthood, the needs and actions may be different, but the principles are the same.<br />
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Self-care can be quite simple. Taking a five minute break at work with a hot cup of tea is an act of self-care. Lying down on the couch and listening to a favorite song after a stressful experience is also self-care in action. Of course, self-care can be more elaborate and disciplined using modalities such as massage, tapping or restorative yoga. Meditation, among its other attributes, is an example of paying attention to and caring deeply for ourselves.<br />
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When we meditate, we give ourselves permission to relax into the moment, but we don't lose awareness or doze off. Instead, we turn our greatest power, our attention, within. We leave the proverbial lights on inside, rather than shining them outwards. When practiced in a certain way, meditation can feel like being held by strong and protective arms. <i>It can feel like coming home to onself in the light of awareness. </i><br />
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Like any new self-care practice, it takes some time to get comfortable with meditation. How long it takes to adjust and feel really good about it will all depend on the practitioner, but it's best to start with only a few minutes and then build up. When you don't want the timer to buzz and wish you could sit for longer, you know you are making fantastic progress. Sometimes you're just tired, so any form of rest feels good, but meditation is not exactly rest because of the refining of your attention. Some days it can feel like awakened bliss, other days it can feel flat, and other days you may gain flashes of insight.<br />
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As with any self-care practice, be kind to yourself when you meditate and on days when you are fatigued, sitting awake with closed eyes (or an internal gaze) and resting is the entire point of meditating. Other days, you may feel more like tuning into your sensations and emotions and listening.<br />
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As we progress with meditation, our relationship to ourself is greatly enhanced, which can only mean good things for us.<br />
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If you would like some help or guidance beginning a self-care oriented meditation practice, contact me through this blog or through my <a href="http://michellehoughyoga.com/">website.</a><br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-11377726231970648842018-02-28T07:16:00.000-08:002018-03-01T05:38:07.165-08:00Job Performance Affirmations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A finance professional recently contacted me requesting a personalized meditation to remove blocks in his career. The challenges he encounters are familiar to all of us, no matter our vocation, age or gender. Affirmations are not a cure-all. We have to be careful to do the deep work required to move past our personal blocks. However, affirmations are a powerful way to work with self-defeating thought patterns.<br />
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In Yoga philosophy, the concept of <i>pratipaksha bhavana, </i>replacing harmful thoughts by cultivating opposite thoughts, is similar to what modern psychotherapists often do with their clients in <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/therapy-types/dialectical-behavior-therapy">Dialectical Behavioral Therapy</a>.<br />
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Because the affirmations I wrote for my client are so universally applicable, I decided to share them here. I hope they'll prove useful for some or all of my readers.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I fully embrace all aspects of my Self. I am a unique being, interconnected with all other beings. I am a gift and an asset to my brothers and sisters on planet Earth. I am a gift and an asset to my family. I am a gift and an asset to myself. I experience the beauty and bounty of existence through my individual self: my consciousness, my body, my senses and my intellect. I am connected to the power that drives the Universe through my highest Self. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am an infinite being, a fractal of the creative power behind the ever-expanding Universe. I am limitless in my capacity for change and development. My work is an integral part of my contribution to the flow of life on Earth. I am here to do my work and to do it well. I do not hesitate to accomplish my goals each day. Power flows through me to accomplish all I set out to do. My confidence originates from deep within my being, and not from my limited ego. No one can erode my confidence because it’s timeless and limitless. Lack of confidence is an ego-based illusion and I am far greater than any ego could ever be. Confidence is my inalienable right as a limitless being. I claim my confidence in all I do. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My vocation is a powerful way to bring prosperity to myself and others. I embrace prosperity. Prosperity is a natural right of mine as part of my limitless nature. I do not limit the flow of prosperity. I channel the flow of prosperity for the betterment of myself and all beings. I disregard distractions, doubts, hesitation and indecision with ease. When I embrace any opportunity, my work flow is unhindered. I am my own best ally and I place full trust in my instincts. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I experience a variety of sensations and emotions in my work. All of these feelings are the byproducts of creative energy. Sensations and emotions do not distract me from accomplishing my goals. If anything, sensations and emotions are powerful catalysts for growing my business. I move freely through sensations and emotions. I move freely through any blocks or distractions. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My vocational success is unlimited. As an infinite being, my growth is guaranteed. My growth will manifest through my vocational success. As I succeed in my vocation, I will bring prosperity to myself, to my family, and to the world. </span></i><br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-33390199609928276102018-02-15T08:16:00.001-08:002018-02-15T13:17:34.971-08:00Emological Balance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many of us have a tendency to construct an artifical barrier between our emotions and our capacity for reasoning. This goes back to the foundation of Western philosophy; Plato and Aristotle saw reason as superior to and separate from emotion. When we look at the organization and functioning of our brains, however, we see that even though specific parts of the brain control logical thinking vs. emotional origination, these parts of the brain must work in tandem. Also, our brain synapses and neurotransmitters all work in harmony, connecting the disparate parts, to give us full functionality.<br />
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I'm free writing here as part of a 40 day writing practice, and my goal isn't to start breaking down brain science for anyone reading this. If you have not already, you can and hopefully will go and learn about the limbic system, the frontal lobe, the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and every other part of our amazingly complex brains. Please also read about neurotransmitters and connectivity between the different parts of our brains. It's worthwhile to mention here that the frontal lobe performs functions related to logical thinking, emotions and personality as well as emotional regulation. It's not accurate to say that emotions come entirely from one part of the brain and reasoning comes from another part. </div>
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Today the brief point I want to make is that it would be beneficial if we could refrain from our tendencies towards reductionism and over-simplification with respect to human logic and emotion. Our emotions are one part of our capacity for reasoning. They're not separate. Instinct and intuition are inseparable from emotion and originate in the same parts of the brain (the limbic system, for example). Our emotions are valuable and merit inclusion in our communication with each other. Emotions have a place in the classroom, in business meetings and in professional forums. Yes, they do. Our culture teaches us to continually suppress and undervalue our emotions, preferring a calm demeanor and decisions based on rational thinking. </div>
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There is no question that a calm state of mind is better than disruptively emotional behavior for any type of collective work setting. Also, if someone is trying to make a wise decision, coming to a neutral and balanced mental position is desirable. Cue the frontal lobe of the brain to set all of this up for us! </div>
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However--and it's a big however--we need to be careful not to reject emotionally charged communication and the products of strong emotions in our interactions with each other. We readily share emotions with family members and close friends, but in our wider communities and what we consider work spaces, emotions must be regulated. We can regulate emotions while simultaneously valuing them as contributing to our growth as individuals and as a society. Maintaining a healthy awareness of and respect for our emotions truly enhances our capacity for sound decision making and problem solving. In other words, we can't have one without the other. </div>
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One last coiniciding point here is that in our society, women have been traditonally viewed as more emotional than men and resultingly weaker. The way we view emotions and women are most definitely connected, like it or not. If our society shifts towards valuing emotional sharing as a part of fostering growth and positive change, women's voices will be powerful beacons. </div>
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Our society needs to take an increasingly more holistic approach to problem solving, bringing more cohesion to our collective attitudes and actions. We need fewer barriers between masculine and feminine, logical and emotional, artistic and pragmatic endeavors. In our quest for holism and unity, let's start noticing our tendencies to parse out these seemingly opposing forces and try to witness how they're interwoven and inseparable. </div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-71577265384239108022018-02-14T06:41:00.002-08:002018-02-14T06:41:55.718-08:00Where Love Leads<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
LO-VE and LO-YAL share the same beginnings.<br />
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The Ancient Greeks had many words for love:<br />
<i>Eros: </i>Sexual Passion<br />
<i>Philia: </i>Deep Friendship<br />
<i>Ludus: </i>Playful Love<br />
<i>Pragma: </i>Longstanding Love<br />
<i>Storge: </i>Love of Family<br />
<i>Philautia: </i>Love of Self<br />
<i>Agape: </i>Love of Everyone<br />
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All are beneficial and from one alone, all can flow. Love is fruitful. Creation springs from love. In our lifetimes may we live all forms of love, revering each one for what it produces.<br />
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To what and whom do you give your love and loyalty? I salute all those who endure the burning fires of commitment, refining desires and dreams into a lasting testament to love. Love can seem elusive. But love is all there is.<br />
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May we find the love in each encounter with another.<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-19716784720623471492017-10-13T10:57:00.001-07:002017-10-13T10:57:16.878-07:00What is Prayer and Who Prays?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The words "thoughts and prayers" are generally broadcast across social media platforms in response to tragedies and crises. In recent weeks our world has seen disaster upon disaster visited upon it, with a variety of responses from private citizens, some helpful and some arguably having little to no impact. Many people have shared the opinion that "thoughts and prayers" are not enough, and possibly even useless. Indeed, solutions to problems come in the form of actions, not wishes.<br />
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Does prayer actually do anything? A religious person's answer will certainly differ from that of an atheist. A prayer can be simply an earnest hope or wish, or the act of beseeching an object of worship. Prayer is word which is overused and little understood. Before dismissing prayer as a useless practice, a reasonable person would examine and attempt to understand it. In this post, I'd like to assist in that endeavor.<br />
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Prayer is rightly associated with theism (belief in the existence of a god or gods who created and continue to sustain the universe, intervening in the lives of humans). In their efforts to acknowledge and commune with the gods they believe in, theistic people have developed many different practices, prayer being the most visible and well-known.<br />
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While prayer is usually conceived of as a devotional activity, just like the humans who practice it, prayer has evolved. There is a connection between prayer and meditation. Both practices relate to human consciousness. As meditation becomes more popular and accessible to larger numbers of people, more attention is being directed at human consciousness. Both prayer and meditation are consciousness-shaping activities. Meditation focuses on greater awareness, getting us in touch with our consciousness and helping us to refine it. Prayer is a willful directing of our consciousness towards a specific purpose, be it religious, or not. As I see it, involving a deity in the practice of prayer isn't strictly required.<br />
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As part of its ethical framework, Yoga philosophy teaches the concept of Ishvara Pranidhana, the action of surrendering to a higher power (relying on translations from Sanskrit and borrowing from the Twelve Steps terminology). In order to pray, a person must be willing to surrender to forces greater and more powerful than the human self. Such forces are evident in our existence: time and space are two of the easiest examples. Humans are undeniably small in comparison with the far reaches of the universe and the forces of nature which rule our existence. In spite of the great scientific and material progress we have made over the millennia, our knowledge of and control over our condition and position in the universe are indisputably limited. There's a lot we do not know and cannot control. Prayer is an action of emptying out and turning over our concerns, fears and longings to a transcendent reality. It is a form of letting go of what we can't fix or understand.<br />
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Atheists, spiritual-but-not-religious people, agnostics and the devout: none of us can pray unless we humble ourselves. Humility lets us experience awe and appreciate the vastness of the universe and the natural world. When we are humble, we can admit the possibility of the transcendent. In allowing for transcendence, we increase our capacity for experiencing peace and comfort. I don't want to thump the Bible here, but this New Testament scripture captures the idea: "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand" (Philippians 4:6-7).<br />
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Prayer is a means of accessing the transcendent and getting beyond the confines of ourselves. You may be intrigued to find out that the latter, the very action of connecting to the transcendent, has been proven in numerous studies to positively impact mental and physical health. My teacher gave a talk last week on the impact of spirituality on health, then she wrote a blog post on her website providing follow-up statistics and references pointing to improved health outcomes from spiritual practice. You can access <a href="https://subtleyoga.com/research-spirituality-benefits-health/">it here. </a> In her talk she addressed those people who identify as atheists, offering that they can foster a connection to the transcendent through practices such as meditation and the embodiment of spiritual values, which are at the foundation of yoga. I offer that prayer is one of those practices, just not in the way it is commonly conceptualized.<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-15756474340499342732017-10-13T10:53:00.001-07:002017-10-13T10:53:39.433-07:00Strengthen to Open <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It takes strength to be open. This is equally true for the mind and the body. When we stretch and open up one part of the body, we do so from a foundation of strength in a corresponding part. On the mental and emotional level, when we open our minds to new ways of thinking and new experiences, we require strength to overcome the forces of fear and habit. In our relationships, as we open to the presence and perspective of another person, a strong sense of our own self and healthy boundaries pave the way to a lasting connection. There is no strength without a certain degree of openness, and no real openness can occur absent a foundation of strength.<br />
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In a postural yoga class, it feels good to open up the front of the torso, hip flexors, chest and shoulders in backbending. When our backbends are safe and sustainable, they are supported by strengthening action in our back muscles, arms and legs. Alternatively, as we open up, stretch and relax the back muscles, neck, and backs of the legs in forward bending, we draw our support from our strong core musculature and the strength in our largest muscles on the tops of the thighs. As we do our lateral bending postures, we feel the right side of the body opening as the left side musculature contracts, and vice versa. We experience this interplay of opening one side of the body while strengthening the other as we flow through our yoga sequences. Remaining aware of this dynamic exchange and balance as we move and breathe is a good way to stay focused in a yoga class and in your personal practice.<br />
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In our meditation practice as well as in restorative yoga and savasana, we are opening to our internal experience: our subtle sensations, thought patterns and emotions. In the stillness of these more internal yogic practices, we are strengthening deeper awareness and our ability to abide with ourselves in the present moment. From this foundation of strength, we can open to a more transcendent reality and perspective.<br />
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As we take this "strengthen to open" mentality into the yoga of everyday life and work, it makes us more aware of our progress. We begin to notice how far we've come, or perhaps areas where we may be stuck, in our openness with loved ones. We can look back and be reminded of fears and doubts we've overcome on our paths. We can appreciate the way our unique experiences have contributed to our growth when we've been strong enough not to resist change or newness.<br />
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Allow yourself to own and appreciate your individual balance of strength and openness. In yoga practice as in all of life, make the modifications you need to fine tune your movements.<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-11599741592074856982017-05-20T10:26:00.003-07:002017-05-20T10:32:38.128-07:00Yoga and the I AM Consciousness <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.0.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” -John 8:58</span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.2.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. -Exodus 3:14 </span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.4.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.4.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These words from both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible reveal the transcendent, universal nature of the Jewish and Christian Divine Personas. </span></span></div>
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.6" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.6.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.6.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SO HUM is a Buddhist and Hindu mantra and philosophical aphorism which means, "I am That." It dates back to the Isha Upanishads in the first millennium BCE. Reciting the So Hum mantra is a time-honored practice to connect us to our inner divine nature. Affirming “I am that” is, according to Dr. John Campbell (yoga teacher and professor of Religious Studies at UVA), the antecedent to otherness. “Creation is unfolding in the world and we are like the unfolding world. We are not a single static unity, but rather, we are always changing, and we are constantly learning how to direct the acknowledgment of divinity inward,” says Campbell.</span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.8.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.8.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Throughout the world, all religious traditions are guiding humans towards an identity which surpasses our finite individual consciousness, the identity of the true Self. We are so much more than we may think we are. There is so much more truth, power and peace at our disposal. </span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.a" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.a.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.a.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Often in my yoga classes, I tell people to go within and connect to the witness consciousness, an infinitely compassionate place within where we may anchor ourselves in moments of upheaval. The witness consciousness is related to the great I AM consciousness. As we draw nearer to the I AM Presence, our small self, with all its judgments, begins to fall away. </span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.b" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.c.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recently I've been playing with my individual small self identity by researching my ancestry. Delving into paternal and maternal lines of DNA and genealogy records is making me keenly aware of the importance we assign to culture, history, religion, nationality and ethnicity. Each of these elements help us construct our personal identity, along with many other labels we attach to ourselves. We do get quite attached to the identities and stories we construct. When those stories and identities are challenged, we get nervous. We feel the ground of our personal identity shifting and we become afraid. Someone who has always identified as German may find out they're actually Polish. A family story based on cherished Cherokee ancestry may find no basis in DNA or credible recorded history. When something like that occurs, what is the reaction? Can we be open to a new or different story? Does our ego resist? </span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.d" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.e" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.e.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.e.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are three words in Yoga philosophy which I call the Triple A's of Identity: Atman, Ahamkara and Asmita. All three of these words come up when we're posing the eternal question, "Who am I?" </span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.f" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.g" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.g.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.g.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.g.0.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Atman</span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.g.0.0.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">: This is the Sanskrit word for the true self, the inner self, or what some people call the soul. Yogis believe it to be the most real and enduring part of us. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.h" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.i" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.i.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.i.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.i.0.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Ahamkara</span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.i.0.0.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">: The literal translation is the "I maker," that which gives the sense of a separate existence. It is your own distinct entity, appearing, thinking and acting in the world. It is somewhat close to the Western concept of "ego," and to live in this world, we need to have some sense of our self that is part of a healthy ego. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.j" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.k" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.k.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.k.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.k.0.0.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Asmita</span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.k.0.0.1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">: This word has a more negative connotation than ahamkara, and it literally means "the false self," or "the thing other than the real I." Asmita is listed as one of the five obstacles preventing enlightenment and leading to suffering. Asmita is mistaking your ego, your stories, your thoughts, your body, your senses, and all other impermanent aspects of yourself for the real you. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.l" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.m" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.m.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.m.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When we can detach, even for very brief moments, from our entrenched ego-based identities, we get a glimpse into the Eternal. We experience true freedom. The question "Who Am I?" is definitively answered. Our small self does not endure. Our ego-based identities are wonderfully compelling, yet impermanent. </span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.o.0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.1.1.$SITE_PAGES.$qusra_DESKTOP.1.$comp-j293ux0j.0.0.$child.$0.1.$1.$5.$0.0.o.0.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Many of us believe that we are from God and to God we shall return, however we may choose to call God. Before any of us came into this world, I AM. So Hum. Aum shanti. </span></span></div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-31693819626300427932017-04-28T06:21:00.001-07:002017-04-28T06:36:28.187-07:00Focusing On What Matters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali</b>, Book One, <i>Sadhana Pada</i>,<br />
<b>1.3</b>: WITH THE ATTAINMENT OF THE FOCUSED MIND, THE INNER BEING ESTABLISHES ITSELF IN ALL REALITY.<br />
<b>1.4 </b>OTHERWISE, WE IDENTIFY WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MIND.<br />
(Translation from <u>The Essence of Yoga</u> by Bernard Bouanchaud).<br />
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Practicing the Eight Limbs of Yoga (following ethical precepts, engaging in mindful and powerful physical postures, mastery of specific breathing techniques, restraint of the five senses, focus, concentration, meditation and eventual identification with Divine consciousness) brings us to a clear vision of reality and understanding of our true nature.<br />
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"In our ordinary, scattered state of mind, vision is subjective and partially distorted and thus creates suffering to some degree.<br />
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We play parts like actors on a stage, identifying with the characters we are interpreting. We are tossed about and carried away by events and the whirlpool of our mind.<br />
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Self-identification with the difficulties we encounter tends to make us dramatize them and lose track of what is really going on.<br />
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How many of us see only the negative side of our experience, always somehow dissatisfied with sex life, profession, family situation, marital status, children, other activities, and even our mental and physical make-up? And how many of us think others are enjoying the advantages we lack?<br />
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Here our thoughts become strongly linked with imagination and misperception" (Bernard Bounchaud).<br />
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In recent weeks, I have been talking at the beginning of my yoga classes about refining perception, releasing distractions and awareness of the impact our thoughts have on our bodies. All of this is interconnected.<br />
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Yoga is a complete set of mental, physical and spiritual practices leading us to freedom from illusions, distractions, oppression and suffering. Challenges and pain we cannot avoid in this life, but we can be set free from misperception and suffering.<br />
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We can't avoid grief and loss and discomfort. These are part of the human condition. I would never tell someone to think themselves well or "snap out of it" or "just cheer up and focus on the positive." Sometimes conditions are painful.<br />
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Under any conditions you are experiencing, one instruction which is always beneficial is <i style="font-weight: bold;">Focus on What Matters</i>.<br />
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What do you think about when you go to bed at night - when you wake up in the morning - when you eat your meals - when you commute to your job - when you work out at the gym or take a walk by yourself? How do your thoughts make you feel in your body? Is your blood pressure or heart rate elevated, are you clenching your jaw or hiking your shoulders, do you have trouble falling asleep? Make the connection between your thoughts and your experience of your body. Ask yourself if what you're thinking about truly matters. If you were given a death sentence and had a week to live, what would matter to you? What about a month, or a year, or a decade? How would you refine your focus if you became aware of how little time you have left in your current physical body?<br />
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The last time you felt upset, there is a good chance that what you were thinking about did not really matter much in the grand scheme of your life. However, it may have mattered very much. If you were thinking about not having enough money to pay your taxes, of course that matters, and it's a problem your mind needs to solve. If you were thinking about a parent or child or friend's life threatening illness, of course that matters very much. Most of the time, the thoughts causing us angst or pulling us away from pure presence and awareness are relatively unimportant.<br />
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Stay vigilant. Notice your thoughts. Notice the way you spend your time apart from necessary tasks. Ask yourself "does this truly matter?" If it doesn't, then find a way to let go of it.<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-29922534515119684792017-04-04T07:39:00.000-07:002017-04-04T07:46:58.698-07:004 Ways Yoga Retreats Change Lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When my husband sent me on my first yoga retreat, I was a new mom with a baby and a toddler. My husband knew I needed a break, even if I was unsure. When he dropped me off at the airport I called his cell phone 14 times wanting to convince him to turn around and pick me back up. Since leaving my career as a lawyer after giving birth twice and recovering from a prolonged illness, all I knew was taking care of my babies. I did not want to leave them, even for a few days. He never answered his phone. I was away for five nights. The retreat changed my life in ways I could never have imagined.<br />
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I am now a yoga teacher. I taught in several different studios before finding the one that is the best fit for me. I teach weekly classes there and in a fitness center. I work one-on-one with clients in their homes or in mine. I have also taught evening yoga classes for adults through my local school district. Every so often I offer donation based classes to raise money for charitable causes. I also offer workshops on meditation and restorative yoga.<br />
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I love practicing and teaching yoga. I love meditation. I love restorative yoga. Would I have turned my love of all things yoga into a career without going on that retreat? I doubt it.<br />
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For many people, retreats seem like a luxury they can't afford, financially as well as psychologically. <i>"How can I leave my family to do something just for myself? Why would I go someplace and hang out with total strangers? I'm not a morning person. No one should see me before 9:00 a.m. Shouldn't I spend this money on my kids, on a worthy cause or on something tangible like a new food processor? Maybe I should set the money I would spend on this retreat aside so we can all go back to Disney for the third time next winter." </i>These are all thoughts I've had before booking a retreat. I have only attended six in my adult lifetime. But without these retreats, the picture of my current life would be less colorful, less diverse, less nuanced, more superficial, and more mindless.<br />
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Here are five life-changing benefits of yoga and spiritual retreats:<br />
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1. <b>Escape from Habitual Patterns. </b><br />
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When we venture outside our comfort zones to experience new surroundings, a different daily schedule, new ideas, and meaningful interaction with people heretofore unknown to us, our perspective shifts! Habit loosens its hold on our thoughts and feelings. Want to see your life from a refreshingly open point of view? Break away from your habits on a retreat.<i> “Habit enables us to cling to the familiar, to the self we think we know with a persistence almost irresistible. An anodyne for the terror of the unknown, it effectively keeps us from knowing, and is fatal in itself. Habit is a fiction the organism requires to dim perception. It screens us from the world, and from the true world of the self. Habit—no matter how intense the suffering it causes—is the last thing the personality will give up. It is arming itself against danger. The weapons may be more painful to use than the pain they seek to deflect. No matter. Habit allows us to live—by which Proust means it allows us to exist while it simultaneously compels us to miss Life.” ― Howard Moss, <u>The Magic Lantern of Marcel Proust.</u></i><br />
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2. <b>Rekindled Friendship with Yourself. </b><br />
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We come to know ourselves primarily through two processes: a) Introspection and b) Extrospection.<br />
Retreats are designed to facilitate both. Engaging in group activities in a low-pressure environment reintroduces us to the identities we have constructed for ourselves. We get a chance to review our foundation for relating to the world. On the flip side, the reflective, alone-time built into retreats is the pause we need to confront thoughts and feelings often lost in the shuffle of the daily grind. We rediscover our core motivations and values. Beloved and often forgotten parts of the self re-emerge. The most important new friend we make on retreat may be our long-lost childhood self, the teenage rebel risk-taker or the college idealist we left behind.<br />
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3. <b>New Support Networks.</b><br />
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Individuals who commit to any particular retreat will invariably have certain key traits in common. As a bonus, the festive, relaxed environment on retreat is the perfect setting to form new friendships. I met my husband on a vacation, and some of my favorite people from around the world I keep in touch following our shared retreat. A recent Harvard research study found that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-know-you-are-happy-psychology-2015-9">greatest predictor of a person's overall happiness is the depth and breadth of their social relationships.</a> Bonding with likeminded people on retreat will definitely boost your happiness and give you a brand new support network!<br />
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4. <b>Enhanced Creativity. </b><br />
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<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201206/why-weird-experiences-boost-creativity">Unusual events have been proven to trigger creative inspiration. </a> <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/03/for-a-more-creative-brain-travel/388135/">Combine them with travel, and you're on the yellow brick road to a brighter and more purposeful life. </a> Committing to a retreat involves risk: it may be strange and unusual. You might regret it. But then again, you just might love it. And when you go back to your usual life, you might start on that home project with renewed vigor. You might start writing that short-story you thought about and then forgot. Maybe you'll sign up for a pottery class or dust off your old sketch book. Or maybe you'll even decide to embark on a new career path that's a better fit for your personality and values. You'll never know unless you give it shot.<br />
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<b>Do you live in the New York area or feel an urge to visit this neck of the woods? <a href="https://www.summersolsticeyoga.com/">CHECK OUT this 3 night yoga retreat happening in June in a beautiful natural setting on an organic farm!</a></b><br />
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Happy travels and Namaste!<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-51818320669626276262017-03-31T14:08:00.000-07:002017-03-31T14:14:16.412-07:00Music's Holistic Impact<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As ubiquitous as music is in the lives of most people, some of us may take it for granted. Imagine being deaf, never having heard music! All sound, not just music, deeply impacts us on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. New Age followers say that music affects our vibration, the pitch and quality of our energy. I believe this to be true.<br />
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The type of music we regularly hear, by our own choice or not, undoubtedly affects our mental state. Skeptics may say, "I'm never aware of music in stores, restaurants or waiting in an office. I never notice the music in yoga class. Music has never been important to me." All this means is that the skeptics who don't notice music are not conscious of the way it affects them. So much happens on the unconscious level and the more unconscious a person is in general (mindless and on autopilot or numbed out to their senses) the less likely he/she is to notice music. If that were me, I would probably work on changing that about myself. Food for thought.<br />
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Music is central to the human experience, going all the way back to the drumming of our tribal ancestors. <a href="http://www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-listening-to-music-lifts-or-reinforces-mood-051713#1">Research has shown that music influences our mental and emotional state</a>, something most of us know intuitively. Multiple studies have shown that music eases depression and helps us cope with physical pain. There is a proven link between aggressive music and high anxiety. (All of the assertions in this paragraph are substantiated in the article linked within it). The saying "we are what we eat," seems applicable if changed to "we are what we listen to."<br />
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I once had an instructor who told me not to listen to Hip Hop, Dance and Heavy Metal music because it would lower my spiritual vibration, making me more open to hostile, angry feelings, harmful thoughts and poor concentration. Her remarks reminded me of mid-century Bible thumpers who bemoaned the advent of Rock Music. However, there's validity to her assertions. I wouldn't want to listen to those types of music on a daily commute, or every evening cooking dinner, for example. This would fuel road rage and burnt food.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-fitzpatrick/music-spirituality_b_3203309.html">Certain styles of music are spiritually elevating, and quite useful in spiritual practice. </a> I am always puzzled by the traditional Protestant hymnal music people sing from their pews on Sundays, as it seems to dull the senses and the mind, as opposed to Gospel music, operatic singing or sounds like singing bowls and chimes. I wonder about the segment of our population which finds 18th and 19th century hymns appealing. To be fair, those people probably find the kirtan devotional chants I love quite boring, as well. There are endless tastes and preferences.<br />
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<a href="http://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/music-health.aspx">Music has been shown to improve mental and physical health outcomes for a wide variety of conditions. </a><br />
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17590966">Popular music has been shown to reduce psychotic symptoms in mental patients. </a><br />
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Many elementary school teachers and special ed teachers have been using music in the classroom to calm students down and help them to focus, including my ten year old son's teacher. I noticed that she played soothing music even for the parents during the parent-teacher conferences. I'm sure some of the parents were totally unaware of this! It may have relaxed them nonetheless.<br />
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As a yoga teacher, I use a wide variety of music in classes, and on some days, I use no music. In general, focusing the attention on our breath and the subtle effects of yoga practice is best accomplished without music. There is a Sanskrit term, <i>bhav</i>, which refers to the emotion, sentiment and devotional direction of yoga practice; music contributes to the bhav of the class, so I like to use it. Quite often I choose peaceful, ambient music combined with yoga chants, but I will occasionally use contemporary or popular songs in class.<br />
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In refining your spiritual practice, try singing or chanting before your meditation. When I do this, my meditation experience is qualitatively different--not better or worse--but different. You can pray to music, as well. You can play music to set the intention and spiritual tone of your day, listening as you get ready or drive to work. Try being more intentional in your music selection and notice how this affects your state of mind and your energy.<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-47192495578506519372017-03-30T13:35:00.003-07:002017-03-30T13:43:39.481-07:00Thoughts About Fasting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Fasting is a spiritual discipline dating back thousands of years in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Each of these traditions approaches fasting somewhat differently. Fasting for healing and purifying the body also has ancient origins in Greece, China, India and the Middle East.<br />
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Currently there is a diet trend of intermittent and full fasting, both of which are controversial from the perspective of Western Medicine (the general consensus is don't do it for very long and don't do it at all if you have certain contraindications such as pregnancy, diabetes, hypoglycemia or any chronic disease).<br />
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In this season of Lent, and following my recent trip to India where I heard religious Hindus talk about fasting, I am newly interested in fasting as a spiritual practice. It also just so happens that a friend of mine is currently enamored with the practice of fasting for weight loss, with no purpose other than to detox and shed excess weight.<br />
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I grew up in the southern part of the Midwestern United States, so fasting was something I heard of only in biblical scriptures recited in church. I did not know anyone who fasted for any reason other than a doctor's visit. The Christians and Jews I grew up around did not talk about fasting, other than at Yom Kippur. My family is Protestant so we did not even abstain from meat on Lent Fridays. We knew that Jesus fasted for 40 days and that John the Baptist fasted, but they were similar to super heroes in my childhood mind. "Don't try this at home," would describe my view of fasting for most of my life. The Christian holidays and even the religious services I experienced in my formative years featured rich food as a central element. In fact, being overweight as a Christian almost seemed to be a sort of badge of honor where I was raised (I know this is a touchy statement and I truly apologize for any offense).<br />
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Currently, in my quest to attain a higher state of consciousness, closer to Divine peace, love, equanimity and joy, I am feeling stuck at a plateau, not unlike what a person on a weight loss program experiences when those last ten pounds just won't budge. I have certain mental patterns and habitual behaviors which continue to resurface and my mind gets continually distracted away from God. <a href="https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/fasting/personal-guide-to-fasting.html">Certain Christian teachers in the less mainstream Protestant strains advocate fasting and give spiritual practitioners advice on how to go about it.</a><br />
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Apparently I am at an ideal stage in my spiritual development to work up to full fasting. According to both popular medical advice, alternative medical advice and the advice in the web link referenced above, I should prepare myself adequately and start small. <a href="https://michaeldavidjay.wordpress.com/books-sermons-papers-and-other-works/fasting-in-the-early-church/">Additional Christian advice on fasting warns me to keep it a private, devotional, ego-free practice, detached from any pride or boasting. </a><br />
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Admittedly my spiritual disciplines come from the Yoga tradition <a href="http://isha.sadhguru.org/blog/lifestyle/food/is-there-any-benefit-to-fasting/">which also holds the view that fasting is a mindful, spiritual practice and not a physical conquest, so it must be undertaken with proper understanding.</a> The Ayurvedic and Yogic view of fasting also addresses our American culture's propensity to eat vastly more food than the body (1) needs and (2) can adequately digest, recommending <a href="http://aysnyc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=165">periodic fasts to maintain colon health. </a><br />
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For the most part, I am intellectually sold on fasting, with some caveats. I am ready to try it, though I will not post much if anything about it when I do it. Why won't I share my experience? The main reason is the warning against turning fasting into some sort of physical feat or conquest. The second and equally important reason is that talk about strict diets and fasting triggers eating disorders for many people. Women <i>and </i>men in Western cultures suffer from many different types of eating disorders and preoccupations with physical appearance and unrealistic body image standards. One of the last things I want to do as a yoga teacher and spiritual counselor is to encourage this type of dysfunction. I have personally been affected by disordered thinking about food and body image as a teenager and young adult, and I grew up in a house with Slim Fast and diet soda (as did many people in my generation in the US!) It is only in recent years that I have fully come to accept and love my body as it is, and I would never deprive or starve my body in any way.<br />
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I believe that occasional spiritual fasting <i>and</i> health fasting are salubrious and edifying, after taking some time to learn about fasting through different religious and medical approaches. I am looking forward to dipping my toes into the pool of fasting this year before Lent is finished.<br />
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I wish health and happiness to all who are currently fasting and are interested in this time-honored practice!<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-47459153539535904752017-03-29T13:04:00.000-07:002017-03-29T14:19:30.284-07:00Gratitude for our Elders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the biggest advantages of teaching daytime yoga classes is interacting with men and women a few decades older than me. Some of them are retired. Some of them are doing the work they dreamed of when they were my age. All of them have precious insight to impart and a listening ear to offer to the younger ones in the class.<br />
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It gives me a great amount of hope to hear about the lives of older yoga practitioners (I'm talking 70's and 80's). At times I even fantasize about how fulfilled I'll be in 25 or 30 years! It could be that people who attend yoga classes tend to be more positive in general; there's some solid evidence in health literature to back that up. Nonetheless, some of my older students have not always practiced yoga. In fact, a few of them came to the practice only in recent years.<br />
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My older students have active social lives with friends they've held onto over the years and with others who share their interests. They travel the world. They spend time with their kids and grandkids. They care deeply about social causes and are involved in their communities. They cook and enjoy all the best new restaurants. They have a good sense of humor and smile more than those of us who are younger.<br />
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My spouse jokes with me that he is out of the game once he hits 70. He says he sees no point in life as a septuagenarian. I don't know how serious he is when he says this, but he's been saying it for years. He turns 40 this year. I'm well into my 40's. Personally, I've been happier with each passing decade of life. I know that our health is never to be taken for granted, but if my health remains somewhat intact, I anticipate increasing happiness as I age. Brain science provides clues into <a href="http://time.com/4464811/aging-happiness-stress-anxiety-depression/">why we are naturally less anxious and stressed out as we age.</a> I don't even need scientific proof to believe what I see most days: aging is a blessing.<br />
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I would like to emulate the older and wiser people in my life, embracing gratitude and joy at every opportunity, never giving up on life until my time runs out. Someday, I hope I'm lucky enough to see the tables turned. I'll go to yoga and cheer up my younger teachers. That'll be fun!<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-55347613840742014422017-03-28T12:08:00.000-07:002018-12-14T07:10:39.108-08:00Facing our Failures <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I said I would post each day of Lent (minus 4 since the Sundays don't count), but I missed a few! So that brings me to today's topic: making amends! During Lent we repent. We actively turn away from our wrongdoing. What does that mean, to actively turn away? It means we do more than contemplate our wrongdoing. We take real steps to face our brokenness and then mend what can be mended.<br />
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Some things can't ever be mended. Death is real. The wages of sin is death, says the book of Romans. Not everything can be resurrected. Christians hope and believe in everlasting life. Hindus and Buddhists believe in reincarnation. Some people believe ghosts roam the halls of old castles. No matter. Sometimes, in this life, "Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead." Death just is. To be fair, the remainder of that verse in Romans (6:23) reads: "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Not all our earthly mistakes can be unwound, though, at least not to the point of bringing what's been broken back to its former glory.<br />
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Forgive and forget. Let go. Move on. We should do all of those things. We should also take some time, at least once a year, to look deeply into our brokenness. We are all broken. Not one of us is without sin and depravity. We all fall short of perfection.<br />
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It takes courage and strength to look deeply into our own darkness. It takes humility and heart to admit where we have been wrong. But those who cannot ever do this will stagnate. They will not be able to grow. They will remain stuck in unconscious harmful patterns.<br />
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Today I decided I am not going to turn a blind eye to some of my worst tendencies. I am going to face them. I faced them today and it felt good. I felt warmth spread across my heart. I felt joy well up within me. I made a phone call to a person I had considered dead to me. I left a message. In the past I have sent letters. I have prayed for forgiveness for the stubbornness and ego-protection that lead to the destruction of a relationship. I do not know if the relationship can ever be repaired. Even if it cannot, I took a step today I had not been able to take in the past. For me, that is the most meaningful action I could take during Lent. I died to my pride. I would rather be rejected ten times over than to be the one who protects herself so much that no one ever has the chance to reject her. Jesus did not protect himself. He was rejected and died from those wounds. He resurrected and promised to bind the wounds of even those who rejected him. That's the kind of person Jesus calls us all to be.<br />
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Seeing my past failures and harmful tendencies is somewhat painful, but it's also very encouraging, because I am more aware each day of the thoughts and patterns which engendered those failures. When I look back at my life two years ago, five years ago, ten years ago... I see such progress and such growth. If I did not face up to my failings, I would lose out on the rewards of my journey.<br />
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Self-awareness takes work. It's not for the smug and self-satisfied. Neither is Lent. Neither is any honest spiritual path.<br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-22710692986323651682017-03-25T15:29:00.001-07:002017-03-25T15:29:41.998-07:00Reading Devotional Poetry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Reading and writing poetry is one of my most loved spiritual practices. Just as Yoga brought me back to my devotional Christian practices, Yoga also brought me back to an appreciation of poetry I had lost studying and working in the corporate world. When I started frequenting yoga classes during my pregnancies and when my boys were small, some of the most relaxed moments of my day were at the end of yoga class listening to the teacher recite poetry aloud.<br />
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As a child I wrote poetry. As a young adult I studied literature and read a voluminous amount of poetry. In interfaith seminary poetry resurfaced again, and devotional poetry was new for me.<br />
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In formal ministry or any kind of spiritual teaching and healing work (especially thinking of yoga teachers) poetry enhances vision and understanding through lyricism. Familiar words and ideas undergo a prism effect, blooming into colorful new meaning and possibility.<br />
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Poetry flows into and out of the heart through the veil of the mind, unifying opposing energies, bringing holism to two-dimensional religious routine.<br />
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Torments of the heart have inspired many poets throughout the ages: love and longing are the raw materials of lyricism. Divine love and longing is the sublimation of carnal desire. Absorption into cosmic love is the sublimation of poetry; getting from a construct of words to a place no words can describe.<br />
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Reading devotional poetry is a spiritual practice that stands on it own, as well as cooperating seamlessly with contemplative prayer and meditation.<br />
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Mira Bai is a devotional poet from 16th century India. Her verse sings the praises of Lord Krishna.<br />
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<i>UNBREAKABLE</i></div>
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<i>Unbreakable, O Lord,</i></div>
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<i>Is the love</i></div>
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<i>That binds me to You:</i></div>
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<i>Like a diamond,</i></div>
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<i>It breaks the hammer that strikes it.</i></div>
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<i>My heart goes into You</i></div>
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<i>As the polish goes into the gold.</i></div>
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<i>As the lotus lives in its water,</i></div>
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<i>I live in You.</i></div>
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<i>Like the bird</i></div>
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<i>That gazes all night</i></div>
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<i>At the passing moon,</i></div>
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<i>I have lost myself dwelling in You.</i></div>
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<i>O my Beloved Return.</i></div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-66074860442912463172017-03-24T14:00:00.001-07:002017-03-25T15:38:04.894-07:00Asteya: Thou Shalt Not Steal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Asteya</i> is one of the five ethical guidelines which constitute <i>Yama</i>, one of the Eight Limbs of Yoga according to the sage Patanjali. Asteya is translated from the Sanskrit language as "non-stealing." In the studio where I teach in Ossining, NY, there is a free handout about the Eight Limbs at the checkout desk. I love this definition of Asteya from the handout:<br />
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<i>Acknowledging that we already have enough,</i><br />
<i>and are enough,</i><br />
<i>so desiring less and </i><br />
<i>only taking what we need</i><br />
<i>in the present moment.</i><br />
<i>Living simply. </i><br />
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I also love this teaching from Lao Tzu:<br />
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The second of the Eight Limbs of Yoga is <i>Niyama</i>, which concern attitudes and behaviors towards ourselves. <i>Santosha</i> is one of the five Niyama, and is translated as "cotenment." It ties in perfectly with Asteya:<br />
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<i>Detaching from our </i><br />
<i>desires and cultivating</i><br />
<i>inner peace, joy and</i><br />
<i>acceptance of all that </i><br />
<i>encompasses our life.</i><br />
<i>Contentment.</i><br />
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As we turn away from the attitudes and behaviors separating us from our true nature and from the Divine, a review of the core ethical principles from our personal traditions is necessary. The Ten Commandments tell us not to steal. The Yama and Niyama also tell us not to steal, as they hint at how we can eliminate even the desire to take something which is not ours.<br />
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We can learn to come fully into the present moment with a soft, accepting attitude. We can learn to cultivate gratitude for each moment of this fleeting life. We can learn to delve into the plenitude of present experience. Just this, here, now, in this body, with this beating heart, vulnerable and small yet vibrantly alive! We are, each one of us, a miracle. So very often, we are what we seek. We have treasure within us.<br />
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I heard this song on the way to class today, having chosen Asteya and abiding in the present moment as my theme. As I usually do, I prayed to be of benefit to whomever would come to class, and then this song by James Taylor played on the radio in my car:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "Secret O' Life"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Any fool can do it, there ain't nothing to it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But since we're on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The secret of love is in opening up your heart.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It's okay to feel afraid, but don't let that stand in your way.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Cause anyone knows that love is the only road.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And since we're only here for a while, might as well show some style. Give us a smile.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Isn't it a lovely ride? Sliding down, gliding down,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />try not to try too hard, it's just a lovely ride.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Now the thing about time is that time isn't really real.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It's just your point of view, how does it feel for you?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Einstein said he could never understand it all.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Planets spinning through space, the smile upon your face, welcome to the human race.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Some kind of lovely ride. I'll be sliding down, I'll be gliding down.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Try not to try too hard, it's just a lovely ride.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Isn't it a lovely ride? Sliding down, gliding down,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />try not to try too hard, it's just a lovely ride.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.</span></span></div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-41025923318270603242017-03-22T07:11:00.000-07:002017-03-22T07:21:25.883-07:00Rethinking Our Standards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In these days following the Spring Equinox as<br />
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<li>Jews have celebrated Purim and begin to prepare for Passover, </li>
<li>Pagans have just celebrated Ostara, </li>
<li>people of Persian descent have celebrated Nowruz, </li>
<li>thousands have traveled to the pre-hispanic Mayan pyramids in Mexico,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li>Christians are preparing for Easter, </li>
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we are reminded once again of the need to prune overgrowth and get the garden ready. It's time to turn over a new leaf. </div>
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New growth requires direction and thoughtful cultivation. Without a careful gardener, the precious incoming energy of the sun is wasted. </div>
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As we engage in purification and repentance, we are wise to refine our standards. Harvests from prior seasons may not have fulfilled our quotas. </div>
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Even if we are satisfied with our lives, now is a good time to anticipate future needs. </div>
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Get a piece of paper and make a gardener's list: seeds, plants, tools, boxes, soil and anything else you need for your 2017 garden. And for the garden of your life, review these items:</div>
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<li>Physical Health (diet, physical activity, sleep, illness and injury prevention/recovery)</li>
<li>Mental Health (stress levels and emotional, psychological and social wellbeing)</li>
<li>Spiritual Health ("not material in nature," "ideas, beliefs, values and ethics that have arisen in the mind and conscience of human beings, particularly ennobling ideas," "something that has to arise within people and communities in keeping with their cultural and social patterns" (World Health Organization, Resolution WHA 31.13, 37th World Health Assembly). </li>
<li>Personal Goals </li>
<li>Professional Goals</li>
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Choose what you want to cultivate. Spend your time and energy working towards your goals and bolstering your overall health. Eliminate corrosive relationship dynamics. Turn away from harmful influences. Keep your focus on renewal and don't dwell on previous failures. </div>
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<b>Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think on these things. </b>Phillipians 4:8, Berean Study Bible</div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-73887987085609609662017-03-20T10:21:00.003-07:002017-03-20T13:03:02.411-07:00Vernal Equinox Blessing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today, March 20, 2017, marks the Vernal Equinox, one of the two days per year when the sun is positioned directly over the equator. (The Autumnal Equinox will fall on September 22 this year.)<br />
At the Equinox, we experience equal parts of daylight and darkness.<br />
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Throughout human history numerous festivals and religious ceremonies have pivoted around the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. The Pagan sabbat of Ostara occurs today and every year at this precise time in the solar year. The Christian festival of Easter is set to occur on the Sunday following the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. Lent begins 40 days, not counting Sundays, before Easter. So then, the Vernal Equinox always occurs during the period of Lent.<br />
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Here in the Northern Hemisphere we gladly welcome the return of more warmth and light! This is an auspicious day, heralding the arrival of fertility and growth. It is an opportune time for new beginnings and for physical and psychological re-balancing.<br />
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As opposed to the Summer Solstice, a period for vigor and heightened activity, the Vernal Equinox is a time to return to an ideal balance of effort and ease. For the majority of us, this will mean less "doing" and more "being." In our Monday morning yoga class today, we added more grounding and restful postures to help us balance out our normally active and vigorous lifestyles.<br />
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Ask yourself what you need to balance in your life at this time, be it a relationship, your diet, your moods, or the hours you spend working vs. resting. Set an intention to take steps towards that balance, beginning today.<br />
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Here is a blessing to take with you into this new season:<br />
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<i>You are invited to pause.</i><br />
<i>You are invited to soften.</i><br />
<i>You are invited to open.</i><br />
<i>You are invited to receive. </i><br />
<i>You are invited to let the darkness be.</i><br />
<i>You are invited to let the light in. </i><br />
<i>May you never lose your faith in the light beyond the darkness.</i><br />
<i>May you never lose your memory of the darkness while light surrounds you.</i><br />
<i>May your being align with sun and moon and the rhythm of universal balance. </i><br />
<i>May you experience balance through your whole being: spirit, heart, mind, brain, thoughts, body, skin, muscles, bones and cells--may they vibrate with the harmony of universal balance. </i><br />
<i>Amen, Aho, Ashe, Shalom, Om. </i><br />
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-73230627488617677732017-03-19T08:19:00.000-07:002017-03-19T08:19:11.813-07:00Ritual Water Purification<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ablution is the practice of ritual washing for purification before prayer and worship. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Shintoism and countless indigenous belief systems incorporate ritual washing into their spiritual practices.<br />
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Purification practices are associated with the liturgical season of Lent since it is a time of repentance and fasting, so now is an opportune time to learn about ablutions. You may find cultural and spiritual resonance with ancient ablution rituals from around the world. Most people are familiar with the <i>mikveh</i> and baptism rituals from Judaism and Christianity, and with <i>zudu</i>, ablution before prayer in the Islamic tradition. Hindus consider rivers in India, especially the Ganges, as sacred spaces for purification. In Catholic churches, there is a holy water font near the entrance so that people coming to worship or pray may symbolically cleanse and bless themselves upon entering--this symbolic action marks a separation between the ordinary and the sacred. Ablution thus helps the spiritual practitioner to prepare the mind and emotions, setting an intention for sacred activity.<br />
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Water symbolizes purity and clarity in our collective consciousness. Below is a summary of water purification practices across some the world's faith traditions:<br />
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Shintoism: <span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The people in ancient Japan believed that the Divine inhabited trees, rocks, mountains, springs of water and other natural phenomena. From the inception of Shintoism, each act of </span>worship<span style="font-family: inherit;"> began with water purification. This is why you will find a <i>temizuya</i>, a trough for ritual washing, inside of every Shinto shrine. <a href="https://sibylleito.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/necessary-cleansing-before-entering-a-shrine-shinto-part-4/">Learn more about temizuya here. </a>Waterfalls are held to be sacred in Shintoism, and standing under a waterfall is a powerful purification practice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buddhism: Waterfalls also play a role in a Buddhist ritual called </span></span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 48px;">suigyo, </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 48px;">translated as “water austerities.” These are practiced in Nichiren Buddhism today. Some Buddhists have adapted the ancient Japanese ritual of standing under waterfalls while chanting sacred scriptures. Now, Buddhist monks and nuns practice </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 48px;">suigyo </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 48px;">for cleansing and purification, by standing in front of basins of pure water which have been blessed by the </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 48px;">Sui-jin</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 48px;">, the water deities. They sing sacred words from the Lotus Sutra while using water from the basin to purify themselves before beginning their daily spiritual practice. The Lotus Sutra instructs monastics to clean themselves within and without, and these are the particular verses they chant during </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 48px;">suigyo.</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hinduism: </span>Hindus begin the day with morning cleansing by water. In a practice called <i>Tarpana</i>, the worshiper makes a cup with his hands and pours the water back into the river reciting mantras. After sipping some water, the person may then apply the distinguishing mark of the <i>sampradaya</i> (tradition), and say the morning prayer, <i>samdhya</i>. <i>Sodhana</i> is a word that means “cleansing,” and the name of the Hindu purification practice. Every Hindu temple has a pond near it and worshipers are required to bathe before entering the temple. Indeed, to Hindus all water is sacred, especially rivers, and there are seven sacred rivers. In the Ganges the pure are made even more pure, and the impure have their pollution removed, if only temporarily. In the Narmada, the Ganges herself is said to bathe from her own buildup of impurities. In the sacred water, distinctions of caste count for nothing, as all sins fall away. In the Yoga tradition, the <i>niyama </i>of <i>sauca </i>requires cleanliness. Sauca encompasses both physical and spiritual purity. </div>
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Islam: <a href="https://sufism.org/salaat/wudu-islamic-ritual-ablution-2">Learn about partial, full and symbolic ablution in the Sufi Islamic tradition. </a></div>
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Catholicism: <a href="http://www.spiritualdirection.com/2014/09/15/why-are-holy-water-fonts-at-church-doors-why-bless-ourselves-with-holy-water">Catholicism has a long and rich tradition of using holy water in spiritual ritual, all beautifully explained here. </a></div>
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Judaism: <a href="http://www.greenfaith.org/files/water-shield/jewish-rituals-and-prayers-on-water/at_download/file">These prayers and rituals using water are central to the Jewish faith and encourage mindfulness of the precious nature of water. </a></div>
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<a href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Ablution">In closing, here is a collection of Bible verses relating to ablution. </a></div>
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As with all rituals, water rituals strengthen our intention and resolve to commune with the Divine. I am grateful to learn about ablution as a means to strengthen my desire for mental clarity and spiritual purity. </div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-46012560541830797022017-03-17T06:59:00.001-07:002017-03-17T07:12:54.102-07:00Embracing Contrition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Confronting our harmful thoughts, words and actions, then taking steps to remedy them, is part of the spiritual path. Even in New Age spirituality, where positive psychology abounds, a practitioner cannot avoid the deep and painful work of repentance. Before we can replace our "negative thoughts" with "positive affirmations" <span style="font-family: inherit;">à la Louise Hay, we must first identify our negative thought patterns, see them for what they are, and purge them from our thinking. In this process, we experience contrition. </span><br />
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Embracing contrition is painful. Yet, we can experience pain without turning it into chronic suffering. Pain refines us. Pain is inextricable with the human experience. Suffering is a phenomenon born of holding onto pain until it defines us. Contrition is a phenomenon which uses pain to extricate us from suffering. </div>
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For Christians who practice Lent, turning away from our sin (harmful thoughts, words and actions) is inescapable. Lent always comes with healthy side of contrition. Lent is not a feel-good experience. I have historically shied away from it, especially in my more New Age phases of development. </div>
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Through my yoga practice, I developed a new appreciation for Lent. In reading the accounts of the saints and sages from the Yoga tradition, I recognize many of the teachings from the Christian Bible on the value of humility and developing an unrelenting awareness of our harmful tendencies. Yogis regularly engage in practices to clear out all of their destructive habits and behaviors. One of the most healing and transformational experiences of my life came from being corrected and punished by two of my teachers. I was fortunate enough to experience the same treatment from both a Yoga teacher and a Christian teacher. In my quest for undying self-love and approval, I had become blind to my sins. The pain of being rebuked and rejected helped me more than any self-help could have. </div>
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When we think back to those painful experiences in our history when we have been forced to face our faults, when we have hit the wall of our own iniquity, we will invariably see a turning point at those junctures. Either we improved or we deteriorated. We had to make a choice at that juncture, "will I continue on this road with these same behaviors, or will I choose a new road?" </div>
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The process of choosing a new road involves contrition, which is "sincere penitence or remorse," and theologically speaking it is "sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment" (dictionary.com). </div>
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The only way beyond our pain is through it: </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Having overcome the impervious gloom of ignorance, by the force of the purity of thy nature; you may pursue the course of the yoga, with the contrition of your inner soul, and belief in the sàstras, and in the dictates of your spiritual guide" <span style="font-family: inherit;">(v.36, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Yoga-vásishtha-mahárámáyana of Válmiki, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Volume 3, Issue 2). </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite” (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Isa 57.15" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isa%2057.15" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Isaiah 57:15</a>). "He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). </span></span></div>
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Divine assistance and favor come to us when we embrace our contrite hearts in our human experience. God's grace can become manifest to us without repentance and contrition, because God can do anything, but for our own peace, happiness and spiritual maturity we must experience contrition. </div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-72405576887256390532017-03-16T07:52:00.001-07:002017-03-16T07:52:25.210-07:00A Return to Simplicity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the central themes of the Lenten season of fasting and spiritual devotion is<b> simplicity</b>. This time of year and its corresponding liturgical season in Christianity align nicely with secular Spring Cleaning efforts! People in the Northern Hemisphere from every culture and background are drawn to detoxifying, purifying and simplifying practices in preparation for a new season of growth. <div>
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In Yoga practice, we endeavor to observe a principle called <i>saucha, </i>the first of the five <i>niyamas. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The niyamas are personal observances for cultivating happiness and avoiding suffering. The Sanskrit word "saucha"</span><span style="background-color: white;"> means inner and outer cleanliness and purity. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saucha is practiced on the physical level by fasting to purge the body of accumulated toxins, by eating pure, vegetarian foods, and by practicing Yoga asanas and pranayama, which also have a cleansing effect on the mental level. We further clean the mind by refraining from sensory stimuli that disturb the mind, such as violent movies, or provocative images" (Swami Ramananda, Integral Yoga)<span style="color: #747474;">.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #747474; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">A home where saucha is faithfully observed will be orderly, clean, simple and light. Taking inventory, tidying up and simplifying our home brings more peace, ease and clarity to our life. It helps us to develop a </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">sattvic, </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">balanced energy, within and without. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In our practice of physical yoga postures, we apply saucha by observing clean lines, careful alignment, cleansing breaths and orderly transitions. We can also experiment with decluttering our foundations, simplifying, and working with the idea that less is more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The same concept applies to all of our activities: eliminate what is unnecessary, make space for what is most essential, acting from the foundation of a pure mind, body and soul. </span></span></div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-48393629437350703452017-03-15T09:59:00.000-07:002017-03-15T10:04:35.310-07:00Acts of Selfless Service<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Selfless service, known as <i>Seva </i>in the Yoga tradition, is another universal spiritual practice. It is one of the main themes of the <i>Bhagavad Gita </i>and a central part of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the Abrahamic faiths. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many," Mark 10:45. "And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, 'If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all'" Mark 9:35. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Selfless service to others is seen as indirect service to God. </span><br />
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style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">—AWA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">ERV-AWA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">—BG—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">BG1940</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BULG">BULG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-BG">ERV-BG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CBT">CBT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BOB">BOB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB">BPB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">—CCO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">CCO</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO"> 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class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">—GRC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">TR1550</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WHNU">WHNU</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1894">TR1894</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT">SBLGNT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">—HE—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">HHH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC">WLC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">—HI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">ERV-HI</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">—HIL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">HLGN</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">—HR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">HNZ-RI</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO">CRO</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">—HT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">HCV</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">—HU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">KAR</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HU">ERV-HU</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU">NT-HU</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">—HWC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">HWP</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">—IS—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">ICELAND</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">—IT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">BDG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEI">CEI</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LND">LND</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR1994">NR1994</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006">NR2006</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">—JAC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">JAC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">—KEK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">KEK</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">—LA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">VULGATE</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">—MI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">MAORI</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">—MK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">MNT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">—MR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">ERV-MR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">—MVC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">MVC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">—MVJ—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">MVJ</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">—NDS—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">REIMER</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">—NE—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">ERV-NE</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">—NGU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">NGU</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB">—NL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB">HTB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">—NO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">DNB1930</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB">LB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">—OR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">ERV-OR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">—PA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">ERV-PA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">—PL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">NP</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SZ-PL">SZ-PL</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG">UBG</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">—PPL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">NBTN</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">—PT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">ARC</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLH">NTLH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVI-PT">NVI-PT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="OL">OL</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL">VFL</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">—QU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">MTDS</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">—QUT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">QUT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">—RO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">RMNN</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR">NTLR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">—RU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">NRT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARS">CARS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARST">CARST</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARSA">CARSA</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-RU">ERV-RU</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV">RUSV</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">—SK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">NPK</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">—SO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">SOM</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">—SQ—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">ALB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">—SR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">ERV-SR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SVL">—SV—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SVL">SVL</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SV1917">SV1917</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB">SFB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15">SFB15</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">—SW—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">SNT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">—TA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">ERV-TA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">—TH—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">TNCV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH">ERV-TH</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">—TL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">FSV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ADB1905">ADB1905</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SND">SND</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG">MBBTAG</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">—TWI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">NA-TWI</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">—UK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">UKR</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK">ERV-UK</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">—UR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">ERV-UR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">—USP—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">USP</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">—VI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">VIET</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BD2011">BD2011</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVB">NVB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT">BPT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">—ZH—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">CCB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-ZH">ERV-ZH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVS">CNVS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVT">CNVT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBS">CSBS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBT">CSBT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVS">CUVS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUV">CUV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPS">CUVMPS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPT">CUVMPT</option> </select><select class="translation-dropdown" data-prefname="default_version" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: url("/assets/images/icon-down.png") 98.5% center no-repeat; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #b34b2c; display: block; height: 24px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 280px; outline: none; padding-right: 30px; text-indent: 0.01px; width: 254px;"><option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU">—Amuzgo de Guerrero (AMU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU">Amuzgo de Guerrero (AMU)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AR">—العربية (AR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AR">Arabic Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-AR)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NAV">Ketab El Hayat (NAV)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NAV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">—अवधी (AWA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">Awadhi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-AWA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">—Български (BG)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">1940 Bulgarian Bible (BG1940)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BULG">Bulgarian Bible (BULG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-BG">Bulgarian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-BG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CBT">Библия, нов превод от оригиналните езици (с неканоничните книги) (CBT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BOB">Библия, синодално издание (BOB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB">Библия, ревизирано издание (BPB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">—Chinanteco de Comaltepec (CCO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">Chinanteco de Comaltepec (CCO)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB">—Cebuano (CEB)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB">Ang Pulong Sa Dios (APSD-CEB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR">—ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍ (CHR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR">Cherokee New Testament (CHR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW">—Cakchiquel Occidental (CKW)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW">Cakchiquel Occidental (CKW)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="B21">—Čeština (CS)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="B21">Bible 21 (B21)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNC">Slovo na cestu (SNC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM">—Cymraeg (CY)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM">Beibl William Morgan (BWM)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPH">—Dansk (DA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPH">Bibelen på hverdagsdansk (BPH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DN1933">Dette er Biblen på dansk (DN1933)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DN1933"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HOF">—Deutsch (DE)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HOF">Hoffnung für Alle (HOF)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LUTH1545">Luther Bibel 1545 (LUTH1545)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU-DE">Neue Genfer Übersetzung (NGU-DE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH1951">Schlachter 1951 (SCH1951)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH2000">Schlachter 2000 (SCH2000)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH2000"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJ21">—English (EN)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJ21">21st Century King James Version (KJ21)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ASV">American Standard Version (ASV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMP">Amplified Bible (AMP)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMPC">Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BRG">BRG Bible (BRG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEB">Common English Bible (CEB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CJB">Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEV">Contemporary English Version (CEV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DARBY">Darby Translation (DARBY)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DLNT">Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DRA">Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV">Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ESV">English Standard Version (ESV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ESVUK">English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="EXB">Expanded Bible (EXB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GNV">1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GW">GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GNT">Good News Translation (GNT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCSB">Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICB">International Children’s Bible (ICB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ISV">International Standard Version (ISV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="PHILLIPS">J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JUB">Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJV">King James Version (KJV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AKJV">Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LEB">Lexham English Bible (LEB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLB">Living Bible (TLB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MSG">The Message (MSG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MEV">Modern English Version (MEV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MOUNCE">Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NOG">Names of God Bible (NOG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NABRE">New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NASB">New American Standard Bible (NASB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCV">New Century Version (NCV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NET">New English Translation (NET Bible)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIRV">New International Reader's Version (NIRV)</option> <option selected="selected" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIV">New International Version (NIV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIVUK">New International Version - UK (NIVUK)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NKJV">New King James Version (NKJV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NLV">New Life Version (NLV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NLT">New Living Translation (NLT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSV">New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVA">New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVACE">New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVCE">New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTE">New Testament for Everyone (NTE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="OJB">Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RSV">Revised Standard Version (RSV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RSVCE">Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLV">Tree of Life Version (TLV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VOICE">The Voice (VOICE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WEB">World English Bible (WEB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WE">Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WYC">Wycliffe Bible (WYC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="YLT">Young's Literal Translation (YLT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="YLT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LBLA">—Español (ES)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LBLA">La Biblia de las Américas (LBLA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DHH">Dios Habla Hoy (DHH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JBS">Jubilee Bible 2000 (Spanish) (JBS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBD">Nueva Biblia al Día (NBD)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBLH">Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy (NBLH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTV">Nueva Traducción Viviente (NTV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVI">Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CST">Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian) (CST)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="PDT">Palabra de Dios para Todos (PDT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BLP">La Palabra (España) (BLP)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BLPH">La Palabra (Hispanoamérica) (BLPH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVA-2015">Reina Valera Actualizada (RVA-2015)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVC">Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1960">Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1977">Reina Valera 1977 (RVR1977)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1995">Reina-Valera 1995 (RVR1995)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVA">Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SRV-BRG">Spanish Blue Red and Gold Letter Edition (SRV-BRG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLA">Traducción en lenguaje actual (TLA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933">—Suomi (FI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933">Raamattu 1933/38 (R1933)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDS">—Français (FR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDS">La Bible du Semeur (BDS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LSG">Louis Segond (LSG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NEG1979">Nouvelle Edition de Genève – NEG1979 (NEG1979)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SG21">Segond 21 (SG21)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SG21"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">—Κοινη (GRC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WHNU">1881 Westcott-Hort New Testament (WHNU)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1894">1894 Scrivener New Testament (TR1894)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT">SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">—עברית (HE)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh (HHH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC">The Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">—हिन्दी (HI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">Hindi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-HI)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">—Ilonggo (HIL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">Ang Pulong Sang Dios (HLGN)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">—Hrvatski (HR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">Hrvatski Novi Zavjet – Rijeka 2001 (HNZ-RI)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO">Knijga O Kristu (CRO)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">—Kreyòl ayisyen (HT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">Haitian Creole Version (HCV)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">—Magyar (HU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">Hungarian Károli (KAR)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HU">Hungarian Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-HU)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU">Hungarian New Translation (NT-HU)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">—Hawai‘i Pidgin (HWC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">Hawai‘i Pidgin (HWP)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">—Íslenska (IS)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">Icelandic Bible (ICELAND)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">—Italiano (IT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">La Bibbia della Gioia (BDG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEI">Conferenza Episcopale Italiana (CEI)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LND">La Nuova Diodati (LND)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR1994">Nuova Riveduta 1994 (NR1994)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006">Nuova Riveduta 2006 (NR2006)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">—Jacalteco, Oriental (JAC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">Jacalteco, Oriental (JAC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">—Kekchi (KEK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">Kekchi (KEK)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">—Latina (LA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">Biblia Sacra Vulgata (VULGATE)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">—Māori (MI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">Maori Bible (MAORI)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">—Македонски (MK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">Macedonian New Testament (MNT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">—मराठी (MR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">Marathi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-MR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">—Mam, Central (MVC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">Mam, Central (MVC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">—Mam, Todos Santos (MVJ)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">Mam de Todos Santos Chuchumatán (MVJ)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">—Plautdietsch (NDS)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">Reimer 2001 (REIMER)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">—नेपाली (NE)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">Nepali Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-NE)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">—Náhuatl de Guerrero (NGU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">Náhuatl de Guerrero (NGU)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB">—Nederlands (NL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB">Het Boek (HTB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">—Norsk (NO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">Det Norsk Bibelselskap 1930 (DNB1930)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB">En Levende Bok (LB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">—ଓଡ଼ିଆ (OR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">Oriya Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-OR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">—ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (PA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">Punjabi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-PA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">—Polski (PL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">Nowe Przymierze (NP)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SZ-PL">Słowo Życia (SZ-PL)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG">Updated Gdańsk Bible (UBG)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">—Nawat (PPL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">Ne Bibliaj Tik Nawat (NBTN)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">—Português (PT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009 (ARC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLH">Nova Traduҫão na Linguagem de Hoje 2000 (NTLH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVI-PT">Nova Versão Internacional (NVI-PT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="OL">O Livro (OL)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL">Portuguese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (VFL)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">—Quichua (QU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">Mushuj Testamento Diospaj Shimi (MTDS)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">—Quiché, Centro Occidenta (QUT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">Quiché, Centro Occidental (QUT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">—Română (RO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014 (RMNN)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR">Nouă Traducere În Limba Română (NTLR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">—Русский (RU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">New Russian Translation (NRT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARS">Священное Писание (Восточный Перевод) (CARS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARST">Священное Писание (Восточный перевод), версия для Таджикистана (CARST)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARSA">Священное Писание (Восточный перевод), версия с «Аллахом» (CARSA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-RU">Russian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-RU)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV">Russian Synodal Version (RUSV)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">—Slovenčina (SK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">Nádej pre kazdého (NPK)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">—Somali (SO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">Somali Bible (SOM)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">—Shqip (SQ)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">Albanian Bible (ALB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">—Српски (SR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">Serbian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-SR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SVL">—Svenska (SV)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SVL">Nya Levande Bibeln (SVL)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SV1917">Svenska 1917 (SV1917)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB">Svenska Folkbibeln (SFB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15">Svenska Folkbibeln 2015 (SFB15)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">—Kiswahili (SW)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">Neno: Bibilia Takatifu (SNT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">—தமிழ் (TA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">Tamil Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-TA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">—ภาษาไทย (TH)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">Thai New Contemporary Bible (TNCV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH">Thai New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-TH)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">—Tagalog (TL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">Ang Bagong Tipan: Filipino Standard Version (FSV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ADB1905">Ang Dating Biblia (1905) (ADB1905)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SND">Ang Salita ng Diyos (SND)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG">Magandang Balita Biblia (MBBTAG)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">—Twi (TWI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">Nkwa Asem (NA-TWI)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">—Українська (UK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">Ukrainian Bible (UKR)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK">Ukrainian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-UK)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">—اردو (UR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">Urdu Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-UR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">—Uspanteco (USP)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">Uspanteco (USP)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">—Tiêng Viêt (VI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">1934 Vietnamese Bible (VIET)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BD2011">Bản Dịch 2011 (BD2011)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVB">New Vietnamese Bible (NVB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT">Vietnamese Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (BPT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">—汉语 (ZH)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">Chinese Contemporary Bible (CCB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-ZH">Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-ZH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVS">Chinese New Version (Simplified) (CNVS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVT">Chinese New Version (Traditional) (CNVT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBS">Chinese Standard Bible (Simplified) (CSBS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBT">Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional) (CSBT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVS">Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUV">Chinese Union Version (Traditional) (CUV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPS">Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPT">Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional) (CUVMPT)</option> </select></span></div>
<span class="passage-options" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; max-width: 55%; position: relative; top: 2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a class="icon-audio passage-audio" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Matt.25.40-Matt.25.45" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; line-height: normal; margin-left: 4px; padding: 6px 6px 3px; text-decoration: none;" title="Listen to Matthew 25:40-45"></a><a class="icon-close" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A40-45&version=KJV" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(214, 210, 204); border-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #f5f3f1; cursor: pointer; line-height: normal; margin-left: 4px; padding: 10px 11px 8px; text-decoration: none;" title="Close parallel"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Matthew 25:40-45</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New International Version (NIV)</span></span></h1>
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<span class="text Matt-25-40" id="en-NIV-24049" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">40 </span>“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24049A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24049A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="text Matt-25-41" id="en-NIV-24050" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">41 </span>“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24050B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24050B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>you who are cursed, into the eternal fire<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24050C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24050C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> prepared for the devil and his angels.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24050D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24050D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text Matt-25-42" id="en-NIV-24051" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">42 </span>For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,</span> <span class="text Matt-25-43" id="en-NIV-24052" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">43 </span>I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-25-44" id="en-NIV-24053" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">44 </span>“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-25-45" id="en-NIV-24054" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">45 </span>“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’</span></span></div>
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Selfless service is distinct from financial donations to charities. To meet the requirements of selfless service one must perform concrete acts which benefit people in need, such as serving in a soup kitchen, volunteering in a hospital, working as a volunteer fireman and visiting the elderly who are homebound.<br />
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If we don't consciously choose to incorporate selfless service into our practices, it can very easily get overlooked. During Lent and other periods of structured devotional practice, we are reminded to include selfless service into our routines. </div>
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If you ever visit an <i>ashram</i>, you will notice that every resident does some kind of regular service without payment. Buddhist and Christian monastics also perform many acts of selfless service as part of their regular spiritual practice. </div>
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There are many opportunities to volunteer as little or as often as you like through local charitable organizations, churches and temples. </div>
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As a youth, my parents had me volunteer in different capacities and were always involved themselves, to this day, in regular acts of selfless service. As an adult, my volunteering has been sporadic, but I have loved visiting the elderly, volunteering with Big Sisters, volunteering at a local hospital, serving lunch at a school, and <i>only twice</i> so far (!) serving food at a homeless shelter. Some years my volunteer work has amounted to very little time, only 20 hours or so. This is because of moving, work obligations and losing touch with the organizations where I had the volunteering opportunities. </div>
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For most people, selfless service requires a commitment to a group of organization of some sort. A useful activity during Lent or any spiritual sadhana would be to find an organization that's a good match for you, and sign up! </div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-59760707877276977732017-03-14T09:22:00.001-07:002017-03-14T09:30:47.530-07:00Meditating on Scripture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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16<i> </i><i style="font-size: 16px;">Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. </i>Colossians 3:16 <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">King James Version (KJV)</span></h1>
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When we read a scriptural passage from the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, the Bhagavad Gita, the Dhammapada or even from a spiritual poet like Rumi or Hafez, spending some time before and after our reading to purposefully prepare our hearts and allow the words and their vibrations to settle into us is a powerful practice. </div>
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Meditating on scripture is not an intellectual or analytical practice. Instead, it is a devotional practice, aimed at getting our hearts and minds in closer alignment with the Divine. When we prepare ourselves for an indwelling of scripture, we are inviting the indwelling of what Christians call the Holy Spirit. </div>
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I love to read scriptures considered sacred in every tradition, because I feel spiritually blessed and enriched witnessing the perfect alignment of the words with the very same <i>One Spirit</i>. This greatly fortifies my faith and gives me confidence in the human ability to connect to our Universal God. </div>
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In my interfaith seminary training, my second yoga teacher training and on the retreats I have attended, I found a like-minded group of people who love to follow this practice of meditating on scripture, and as the verse above describes, "admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in [our] hearts to the Lord." </div>
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Though this verse addresses meditating and singing in community, the practice of meditating on scripture is often part of a personal spiritual practice. Many people believe that they need to be in a church or temple under the guidance of an ordained clergy member to receive spiritual instruction and blessing. This is not true. We all carry Divine power within us, and it waits there for us to connect with it. </div>
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Try this practice at home:</div>
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1. Go to a place that is quiet.</div>
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2. Find a spiritual book of your choice.</div>
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3. Invite God/Goddess to commune with you, and light incense or a candle.</div>
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4. Choose a brief passage and read it (no more than one to three verses).</div>
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5. Repeat the passage aloud and then internally. </div>
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6. Sit for some time in silence.</div>
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7. Thank God/Goddess for illuminating the words for you, either presently or at a future time.</div>
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8. For the rest of your day, notice any moments in which the words come back to you and take note of experiences or conversations which may carry the refrain of the scriptural passage. </div>
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Don't think so much about perfect interpretation of the scripture or about whether you understand it. Try to feel it, instead. </div>
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For today, I found this brief passage in the Koran from book 61, verses 12-14:</div>
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<i>He will forgive your sins, admit you into Gardens graced with flowing streams, into pleasant dwellings in the Gardens of Eternity. That is the supreme triumph. And He will give you other things that will please you: His help and imminent breakthrough. [Prophet] give the faithful the good news. You who believe, be God's helpers. As Jesus, son of Mary, said to the disciples, 'Who will be my helpers in God's cause?' The disciples said, 'We shall be God's helpers.' </i></div>
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Today, I will keep the vision of gardens with flowing streams in my mind and connect to the feeling this image evokes. I will ask today for a greater understanding of how to be God's helper. I will feel a connection with all of God's helpers in every part of the world, in every belief system. I believe that God has many helpers. </div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613133849454217863.post-19298449529235235602017-03-13T10:35:00.002-07:002017-03-13T10:48:30.245-07:00Surrendering Ego: Escaping the Trance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the egocage of “I,” “me,” and “mine” to be united with the Lord. This is the supreme state. Attain to this, and pass from death to immortality." -<b><i>Bhagavad Gita</i> translation by Eknath Easwaran</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Relinquishing attachments to the fruits of actions is a central teaching in Yoga philosophy, yet few people integrate this concept into daily life, even if they may understand it intellectually (and even the latter is challenging). The admonition to surrender our ego to God is found in, you guessed it, all of the world's faith traditions. Spiritual masters can do it, but not many of the rest of us can achieve this enlightened state and the peace and bliss it is said to bring. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although Christian scriptures are also clear on this point, many Christian teachers will not steer people to the practice of true ego surrender. When I did clinical pastoral education to do volunteer chaplain work at a hospital, the Episcopal priest training us said she does not espouse any teaching that tells us we should get past our egos. She said our egos motivate us to do good work and we have the right to be proud of our accomplishments and to cultivate healthy self-esteem. She talked a lot about her doctoral dissertation and her life accomplishments, to help motivate us. What she said fits very well with modern psychology, capitalist theory and the values of academia. However, taken from a strictly spiritual perspective of wanting to unite with God and achieve enlightenment, what she said is not applicable. Achieving enlightenment isn't one more accomplishment at the apex of our achievement pyramid: not a Ph.D., not an executive promotion, not a Nobel prize, not a six sigma certification. We can't successfully meld the values of our culture with the precious wisdom teachings of ancient masters.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most people are truly not looking for enlightenment. Most people are not looking for spiritual bliss. Most people are not interested in ancient wisdom teachings, from Krishna, Jesus or anyone else. Most people simply want to survive and get ahead. All of the great masters throughout history were acutely aware of the human condition. Yet, they persisted in teaching their elusive truths which form the basis of spiritual law. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Following are two of my favorite Bible passages about Jesus' teaching on humility and surrender: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Matthew 18:1-4</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New International Version (NIV)</span></span></h1>
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<span class="text Matt-18-1" id="en-NIV-23729" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23729A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23729A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span></h3>
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<span class="text Matt-18-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="chapternum" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">18 </span>At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-18-2" id="en-NIV-23730" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.</span> <span class="text Matt-18-3" id="en-NIV-23731" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>And he said: <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23731B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23731B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23731C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23731C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-4" id="en-NIV-23732" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Luke 18:18-23</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New American Standard Bible (NASB)</span></span></h1>
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<span class="text Luke-18-18" id="en-NASB-25707" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Rich Young Ruler</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-18-18" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-25707A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-25707A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”</span> <span class="text Luke-18-19" id="en-NASB-25708" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>And Jesus said to him, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.</span></span> <span class="text Luke-18-20" id="en-NASB-25709" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">20 </span>You know the commandments, ‘<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-25709B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-25709B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother</span>.’”</span> <span class="text Luke-18-21" id="en-NASB-25710" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">21 </span>And he said, “All these things I have kept from <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">my</i> youth.”</span> <span class="text Luke-18-22" id="en-NASB-25711" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">22 </span>When Jesus heard <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">this</i>, He said to him, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“One thing you still lack; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-25711C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-25711C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-25711D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-25711D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”</span></span> <span class="text Luke-18-23" id="en-NASB-25712" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus makes no suggestion here that spiritual freedom is easily achieved. However it seems clear from these teachings that ego does not have a place in the Kingdom of God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In some of the yogic teachings I read, from teachers who are total renunciates, people who have given up family, possessions and high positions in society, I am comforted to see that almost no one is capable of the kind of ego-effacing spiritual surrender called for in the scriptures. We are especially warned not to teach these concepts to young people who need to get a good footing as they start out in life. Yogis are very practical in their teachings: people need to be met where they are and to do what's right for their stage of life. We are taught that the highest levels of emancipation are usually achieved in very advanced stages of spiritual practice, and yet, some people seem to come into an enlightened state early in life. Jesus began his ministry near the age of 30, Luke's gospel tells us. Siddhartha Gautama became known as Buddha at age 35. Clearly, these two were highly exceptional! We can attempt to follow them but I think it's very fair not to expect of ourselves the same abilities to renounce ego in the prime of our lives! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surrendering ego is obviously difficult, but does this mean we should not try it at all? It seems like following a spiritual path actually requires us to at least attempt humility and ego surrender. How do we get around it? I don't think we can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Admittedly, the happiest and most peace-filled moments in my meditation practice, my yoga practice and my Christian walk have been brief flashes of dis-identification with ego. Though I struggle with the trance of ego and not feeling good enough, I have felt whole, loved, completely embraced by the <i>Source Of All That Is</i> during a few fleeting moments. I have expanded those moments into month long or even year long periods of time where my focus was not on ego gratification. In those moments I was not elated from getting a 3.9 GPA, from completing a top-ranked graduate program, from getting into a top 5 law school, from passing the bar exam, from receiving a financial bonus, from finding out I got my dream job, from achieving the goal of becoming a yoga teacher after teaching my first class--this list could go on and on and to many people it's a very underwhelming list for a person of my age. Why am I not at the undisputed top of my field? Why is my income not the same as or higher than my spouse's? Why am I not managing employees or publishing a book with a reputable publishing house? If this little side discussion seems incredulously disgusting to you, it should. That's the point. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Living a life characterized by progressive steps towards full ego-gratification is part of the trance of our collective culture of competition and individualism. Progress should be evident to everyone, we are taught. Run the marathon and put the sticker on your car. Work up to your hardest yoga pose and post it on Instagram. Buy the new Lexus with your bonus check. Many people will tell you this is self-actualization. Self-actualization in Yogic or Buddhist terms does not mean ego-actualization. Rather, it means ego-eradication by shifting to the transcendental self! Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed, all of the masters taught the concept of transcending the smaller, ego-based self to reach the state of transcendence, to "pass from death to immortality," from our Bhagavad Gita quote above. That is a hefty goal, an undertaking so enormous that most people never get close to even trying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are currently in the period of Lent. Jesus on the cross was taunted by onlookers asking him to get down from the cross if he was truly so great and powerful, if he was indeed God's son. In his death and resurrection, he transcended, passing from death to eternal life. Many Buddhists and Yogis believe that Jesus rose from the dead and they interpret this story as consistent with their philosophies. What a perfect example of surrender and transcendence. Can we take a little of that experience into our lives, for even a microscopic fraction of the bliss, power and freedom of true enlightenment? Be bold, and try. </span></div>
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Michelle Garrison Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753710524857823855noreply@blogger.com0