Category Archives: Contemplative Life & Spiritual Practice

Embracing the Sanctuary Within

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Embracing the Sanctuary Within
Nurturing Privacy of Mind in the Age of the Internet

Though a broader definition exists, the definition of Privacy of Mind that best fits the purpose of this article is the freedom from intrusion upon or manipulation of our thoughts.

illustration of a flustered meditatorEntering the digital realm opens us to a wide expanse of useful information, social media platforms that connect us with others across the globe, and media that informs and entertains. These digital platforms inevitably include content designed to grab our attention and encourage us to buy, watch, share, like, and consume. This is the dilemma we face in the effort to reap the benefits of the internet while avoiding the minefield of manipulation. 

In the ancient teachings of yoga, we are reminded of the inner realm of our private self as a sanctuary, a place where the soul finds refuge from the distractions of the external world. In this sanctuary lies the purest expression of our being, untouched by the opinions, judgments, and influences of others. Yet, in today’s interconnected world, this sanctuary is often intruded upon by the constant influx of information, notifications, and digital noise. It can be a challenge to maintain inner stillness.

The ways we communicate, work, and play are increasingly digitally focused and this can bring many distractions and intrusions to our private minds. It can lead to a lack of focus, anxiety, compulsion, and undue stress, to name just a few negative outcomes. Though there are many natural stressors in life, the digital age has added an unnecessary layer that has led to mental health issues across society.

a lotus arising in a brainAmidst the digital chaos lies an opportunity for transformation. Just as a lotus rises from the muddy waters, we too can cultivate a sense of privacy apart from the vast landscape of the internet. It begins with a conscious choice to reclaim ownership of our thoughts and to guard the sanctity of our inner world with unwavering vigilance. We can choose to engage in the digital realm with conscious awareness or disconnect completely. A way to arrest and reverse natural and digital stressors is to cultivate quiet moments, unplugged from input of all forms, through meditation.

A meditation practice can begin with simple deep breathing practices and progress to silent sitting for extended periods, allowing the mind and nervous system to rest and renew. At first, meditation may seem a mysterious practice, but it is one of the most accessible and simple ways to make profound, positive changes in our lives. 

Meditation is a sustained focus on a single thing, which is the opposite of most online experiences. Through meditation, we cultivate a sense of inner peace that reveals and transcends the limitations of the digital realm. The release and peace we feel when thoughts become still allows us to discover true privacy that is not merely a matter of controlling external circumstances, but rather a state of being rooted in self-awareness and self-compassion.

In the age of the internet, where information is currency and attention a prized commodity, it is more important than ever to cultivate a sense of privacy within us. We must learn to discern between the noise of the digital world and the whispers of our own inner wisdom. We must cultivate the courage to unplug, to disconnect from the external chatter, and to listen deeply to the still, small voice within.

Dear friends, I invite you to embark on a journey of self-discovery, to reclaim the sanctuary of your mind amidst the chaos of the internet. Embrace the silence, honor the solitude, and nurture the privacy of your inner world. You’ll be enriched much more by what you find there than anything you can find on the internet.

Unplug. Meditate. Rest. Renew. Remember.

Freedom in Letting Go

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Very early in life we learn the concepts of me and mine. As children, we start to develop this sense of self by coming into awareness of our body as separate from other bodies, that we have control over our limbs, and that there is power in our voices to make things happen. Our cries bring mommy and what we do with our hands has consequences.

Soon after, we understand that we are individuals with agency, and at the same time we learn that others do as well. They can enter into our personal space and sometimes change conditions. For a child, this is a rude awakening. This is the moment we learn to assert ourselves with the war cry, “Mine, Mine!!!”  Though it has been many years since I was a toddler, I can still relate to the sharp feeling of upset, indignation, and often anger that comes with unwanted change. Can’t you?

On the yoga path, attachment or possessiveness is named as a primary obstacle to living in freedom. If our happiness relies on circumstances, possessions, relationships, our jobs, our bodies, our partner’s bodies, or our capabilities to remain unchanged, we will be consistently disappointed. Change is at the heart of life, and to acknowledge that frees us from unreasonable expectations.

Non Attachment, while hard to perfect, offers abundant opportunities to practice. It would be unusual and probably untruthful to say that any day was free of unanticipated change. How we respond to change reveals how attached we are. Change is not always a bad thing though. We often choose change in favor of a better life. And at those times we can recognize the inherent freedom we have to shape our future.

When we discover we are attached, we can turn and step into our freedom. Some helpful questions we can ask are:

  • what does this change represent for me?
  • does this change change me?
  • what becomes possible now that this change has occurred?

This second question, “does this change change me?”, is an important one. As yogi’s we learn that only Ultimate Reality or Absolute Truth is unchanging. And as individualized expressions of The Changeless, we share that enduring quality. Through the processes of individualization, and embodiment, everyone and indeed everything is subject to the laws of physics (as we currently understand them) and the laws of karma (cause and effect). Both are in constant, dynamic flux, reacting to and informing circumstances in every moment. Both are giving and receiving input which affect outcomes. To pin our hopes and happiness on any of this remaining unchanged is a recipe for suffering. Yet, understanding this allows us to move skillfully within the framework to ensure that our actions (thought, word, and deed) don’t lead us to mistake the impermanent for the lasting, and then lose our joy when change inevitably arises in our lives.

What can we do to safeguard ourselves from unwanted change? Well, we could “want” less. Change happens. We can release the outcome of circumstances to the “force for good that is operating the universe,” as Roy Eugene Davis so wisely said. This is not simply a release of attachment, but an act of faith which  strengthens our resolve, and sharpens our spiritual vision to see the way ahead as it is unfolding in divine right order, unmanipulated by our desires or aversions.

These words from Lahiri Mahasaya are a guiding light for me on my path, “Always remember that you belong to no one, and no one belongs to you. Reflect that some day you will suddenly have to leave everything in this world — so make the acquaintanceship of God now.”

Whether we call that One Reality God, Truth, Divine Mother…  we can want less and trust more in the unfolding, inherent prospering nature of the universe. We can step into the freedom of now – where all needs are met and nothing belongs to any one but to everyone.

Breath in Peace

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Affirmation – Sept 6, 2022
Today I become a witness to my emotions and notice moments when I lose my peace. Rather than react I choose to take a conscious breath and infuse the moment with peace. I offer that peace with any required response.

Use Affirmation for Transformation
Consider taking a moment after your meditation session to affirm an intention for the day or week. Call forth circumstances that support prosperity or fulfillment of your goals or simply acknowledge a spiritual quality that you wish to bring more fully into expression.

With faith, go forward into your life anticipating signs of change.

Daily meditation practice provides a glimpse behind ordinary thought processes, where restless or dull mental states can be dominant. If we sit long enough to allow the mind to become still, we witness the transient nature of thoughts and emotions and experience the luminous state beyond thought activity. This experience, when repeated regularly, transforms us.

It is entirely possible to change our minds intellectually and our brains physiologically through meditation. Studies have proven that, due to the inherent malleability of the brain repeated experiences of meditation (profound internal focus) can result in rewiring the brain’s neurons. The brain can be reconditioned to change unwanted behaviors, increase empathy, reduce reactivity, improve memory, and much more.

Meditation offers advantages for our emotional life as well. With improved brain function and resting of the sympathetic nervous system we are better able to respond to life situations with poise, clarity, and compassion. The act of meditation itself trains us to be nonreactive (to thoughts) and exposes us to the inborn, anxiety-free state that is ever within us. One breath can reconnect us with our peace and each out breath can be an offering of peace to the world.

Behold the Light of the Inner Self

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“Spiritual practice begins as a part of life; then it becomes a way of life.”
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian

I greet you with the hope that you are well and thriving. And if life is difficult for you right now, I wish you peace and healing.

The above quote from my teacher is a simple and true statement about a not-so-simple process. The beginning stages of a spiritually centered life include the decision to make spiritual practice a priority. As we learn about the spiritual laws of cause and effect, the power of prayer and meditation, and our divine heritage as spiritual beings we find that we no longer perceive a distinction or separation between the spiritual life and the rest of our life. When we view life as a unified whole that supports our spiritual advancement, it becomes easier to make intentional and purposeful decisions. All our actions are guided in the highest way.

Meditation is at the core of the spiritual practices taught at Meditate & Thrive. The yoga teachings that are our foundation say that we are whole and complete spiritual beings now and spiritual disciplines only remove what obscures our awareness of that fact. The noise or static that clouds the mind through over-identification with the senses is the primary obstacle to awareness of our true nature. Meditation clears this obstruction, or at least lessens it, so we may behold the light of the inner self. This light illumines the mind and clarifies awareness.

International Day of Yoga 2022

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Greetings of peace and joy on this International Day of Yoga. Today marks the global celebration of the ancient Indian system for wellness in mind, body and spirit that is Yoga. https://www.un.org/en/observances/yoga-day

Many are familiar with the yoga postures that are practiced today by hundreds of millions of people in yoga studios around our planet. Yet, yoga has been practiced in the daily lives of people on the subcontinent of South Asia for thousands of years. In America, 1 out of every 10 people include yoga in their health regimen. Yet, Asana (yoga postures) is but one part of a vast and ancient wellness system of Yoga gifted to the world by the Indian people.

I like to think of yoga (at least how I experience it) as a four part life-support system. A life-support system typically is required for sustaining life in an environment that is potentially toxic to a human organism. A human life can be toxic when lived unconsciously and under constant stress. Unfortunately, this toxicity is common in our current world society. This is why yoga has become so popular. It is proven to reduce stress, purify the body/mind complex, and restore optimal mental, physical, emotional, and neurological health. Everyone can benefit from this. Testimony of those who have experienced yoga’s benefits are a primary reason for the exponential growth in yoga practitioners in 2022.

A brief overview of the life-support system of yoga.
1. The asanas bring us into alignment with our body vehicle. Improvement of strength, balance and flexibility are but a few of the benefits.
2. Another important component of the yoga system is meditation. Regular meditation purifies and clarifies the mental field resulting in transformation of habitual, conditioned reactions into soul-inspired responses.
3. A third component of yoga is purposeful living and, as a core foundation, sets us up for success and fulfillment in all areas of life.

This divine trifecta of practice supports us in being authentically available to the fullest experience of this precious human life.

4. When integrated into our daily day life, the transformative benefits of yoga allow us to witness directly the truth of ourselves as radiant, limitless, spiritual beings, sourced from the Infinite One. This awareness is the fourth part of this life-support system and is essential for realizing the liberating results of a yogic lifestyle. Though yoga is also considered a spiritual science, it is not a religion and can be practiced by people from all backgrounds and faith traditions.

Yoga offers a timeless and endless source of ancient wisdom that has the potential to transform our world for the better, one yogi at a time. If you are interested in learning more there are yoga teachers everywhere and most probably within just a few miles from you now. But be sure to vet your teacher so you’ll learn yoga from someone who is knowledgeable, well-trained, and experienced.

May yoga continue to improve lives all over the world and foster peace in the hearts and minds of everyone.

Affirm Your Soul

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An excerpt from The Jewel of Abundance by Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian. (Affirm Your Soul in Chapter 16: Mine Your Inner Resources). For more insight and instruction on the use of affirmation, and so much more, order Yogacharya’s book here.

The use of affirmation has been a powerful asset in my spiritual toolkit for many years. It has supported my comprehension of and faith in the yoga teachings as I witness the demonstration of spiritual principles in my life.

In the hope that you find them useful, I share the following affirmations inspired by study of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. I encourage you to create your own as you study the yoga teachings and the book of your life.

Affirmations
Inspired by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
Chapter 1 Sutra 6

Sutra 1.6 The five kinds of transformation that modify mind and awareness are 1) the processes that occur when valid knowledge is acquired; 2) illusion; 3) delusions; 4) sleep; 5) memory.   ~ Roy Eugene Davis – The Science of Self-realization ~

  • I examine what I perceive through the senses and contemplate the validity and ultimate reality of what I observe. 
  • Upon discovery of misinterpretation, I contemplate deeply to discover the cause and correct my understanding. 
  • I do not indulge fancy or fantasy. I use my creative imagination constructively for contemplation of higher realities.
  • I avoid moods that promote passivity of mind and engage in sleep appropriately for the restoration of body and mind.
  • I remain consciously aware. I allow memories and latent impressions to inform my life in positive ways. Ever vigilant, I limit their ability to modify my perceptions in unhelpful ways that distort reality. 
Peace,
Rev. Priya

For further study of the modifications of mind, see Roy Eugene Davis’ Translation and Commentary in The Science of Self-Realization.

Everywhere I Go, There I Am

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Gross restricting influences can be resisted and eliminated by self-analysis, practice of samadhi, and awakened knowledge.
~ Yoga Sutras 2.9

A few months ago, my wife Francisca and I traveled across America by car, from California to our new home on the East Coast. Though there was much to inspire us as winter turned to spring across our beautiful country, we were often left weary and irritable by the experiences of driving many hours, checking in and out of hotels with our dog and cat, and the additional cleaning required for protecting ourselves from infection during the COVID pandemic. Conditions were ripe for unskillful responses to such circumstances.

Under this stress, we could have skipped meditation sessions in favor of sleep, snapped at each other instead of listening with compassion, or failed to see the many blessings throughout the journey. We could have allowed habitual patterns to express unchecked. Instead, the boon of our long-time spiritual practice was ever influential.

As we took the time to marvel at the rising and setting of the sun across the varied landscapes, the feeling of gratitude came easily for us. Our prescription for happiness was simple. We made rest a priority and began each day refreshed. At each hotel we set up our tiny travel altar, complete with images of our spiritual mentors and battery powered candles. We meditated every day. The peace of meditation remained with us, permeated our experiences, and helped us to stay connected to our innate joy.

There is a remembrance mantra I love, “wherever you go, there you are” coined by the meditation teacher and author Jon Kabat- Zinn. For me, it is a reminder that I cannot and should not try to escape my mental conditioning. I can be present to it and to all that is before me in any given moment. I can seek to understand, transform, and transcend mind states that hinder my spiritual progress.

The spiritual teachings of Kriya Yoga affirm that along with conditioned patterns to be weakened and transcended, all of my positive mental impressions are carried within me as well. I can allow those positive impressions to be a supportive influence.

I recall my teacher’s words as I prepared for the cross-country journey. She said, among other things, “…see God all along the way.” I appreciate the power of words and affirmations and as we traveled across the country I began to morph the wherever you go, there you are mantra into this gratitude prayer: Wherever I go, there You are, God… Standing in this present moment, acknowledging the good all around, trusting in Your grace, I am strengthened, I am empowered, I know I am more than the sum of my thoughts or emotions. I am an infinitely resourceful reflection of the One Life expressing in unity and multiplicity. I am a soul-powered human having a divine experience. Everywhere I go, there – I Am. This prayer supported me through all of the challenging moments and carried me home.

Rev. Priya

“What is the mysterious force that compels us to act against our own will? It is only the force of habit patterns—the influence of mental impressions based on past experience. Clear those impressions from the mental field by superconscious meditation; then right action arises spontaneously.”
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian~

Thoughts Are Seeds

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Every moment of the spiritual life is a gift, from times of high resolve, to missteps in forgetfulness. Each instant is an important opportunity to choose wisely and follow the trajectory of the divine life. The thoughts we choose to entertain shape our view of ourselves and our world. We can know this to be true at once if we simply examine how we feel when we indulge in negativity, versus being in the presence of a positive person or reading an uplifting story. We become more hopeful when reminded of the best in us, and our faith is strengthened when we can take in potentially upsetting events with thoughts of healing and peace instead of despair.  

Yoga teaches us that direct experience of the truth of our being is achieved when the mind is still. And when the mind is agitated, we identify with the contents of the mind, forgetting our limitless, eternal nature. In this turbulent state of mind, clear discrimination, right action, and peace are elusive. The self-care regimen of daily, superconscious meditation purifies the mind, and our dedication to self-study leads to spiritual flourishing. Remaining steadfast in our daily sadhana keeps our higher mind engaged and wise choices become a more likely outcome. 

It is a trying and transformative time in our world, presenting rich opportunities for minding our minds – being choosey about what we allow to be planted in our consciousness. A beneficial practice is to tend and nourish positive seeds of thought that flower into bloom as peace in our minds, peace in our hearts, and truth affirming actions that spread blessing beyond ourselves. We can trust this peace to be carried on the winds of grace to touch people, places, and circumstances – wherever needed. Let us cultivate thoughts of highest healing for all people, all nations, for our planet, and all creatures. In my experience, sharing thoughts of peace returns peace to me in abundance. What a superb win-win scenario that is!

Peace,
Rev. Priya

LEARN. DISCERN. ACT.

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When some part of our body is injured and we feel pain, we instinctively move to protect and heal it. As we awaken to our oneness with all of creation, this natural response grows beyond the boundary of self. It becomes compassionate action.
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian

As we witness the world awakening to the reality of systemic racism and the legacy of white supremacy, we may find ourselves at a loss for how to hold heart awareness of the deep pain and suffering that has been endured by Black people over the centuries. Our own hearts have been broken open and will not be repaired until something is done to end the scourge of racism. For some, protesting in a crowd during a pandemic may not be the way to take action. Maybe having difficult conversations with friends and family is. We may not know what is ours to do. We may be in the process of discernment. You are not alone. Many are truly listening for an inner call that will show them what their particular way of action is.

The time is ripe and the need for our unique way of participating in the further awakening of the world is urgent. We must listen deeply for our own inner guidance and when we hear it, respond. When we feel it, rise. When we are ready, act.

This is not a political issue, it is an ethical issue. As a spiritual community we are called to bring our soul-powers, our spiritual resources and vision to this movement. In the coming weeks and months we will be exploring ways to engage together in the anti-racism struggle. Please, feel free to raise your hand to be a part of these conversations. In the meantime, educate yourself, learn about the history of racism in America. Inquire, ask questions of others and most importantly, of yourself. We can find strength in knowledge.

Let us make a space for everyone to speak with their authentic voice, to act in their own unique way, and to ask difficult questions in the interest of true understanding. There is room for everyone and plenty of work to do. We are all needed. This is a great awakening, don’t go back to sleep.

Rise and shine! This is our time.

In Solidarity,
Rev. Priya