tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23993232333728982522024-02-27T09:50:05.585+05:30Lakshya Yoga BlogAn offering of Yoga Practice, Vedic Wisdom and Natural RemediesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668056898999433732noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-15072979284264783082015-05-20T23:13:00.001+05:302016-07-27T13:02:03.154+05:30Guided Sun Salutation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This video shows you how to do Sun Salutations according to the Hatha Yoga tradition, specifically from the Sivananda lineage. It is the best way to stretch all parts of the body, and a great tool to warm up the body. Starting your morning with Sun Salutations is an amazing way to get fresh, energised, and ready for the day.<br />
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On a spiritual level, it is a beautiful symbolic way to give our thanks and appreciation to the Sun, Surya. Who shines for us every single day, without ever asking back. Who gives life and light to us. We must not take it for granted!<br />
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Om<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bWJ2VBTt344" width="480"></iframe><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668056898999433732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-76361088074792709272014-04-17T15:00:00.000+05:302014-05-22T16:15:04.684+05:30Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat- July 5-11 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Join us for a one-week Yoga & Ayurveda retreat at the beautiful Kairali's Ayurvedic Healing Village in Palakkad!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7ycic2dRTnAtHru-oouF8qGFNKpGhSxCMzAg9ETk6QKJK3aGrWraqOc1DvOpDh__im5PG8KbtHZD6hOEOs4rj7Qu7OTdyA8JW6IimJQTCY9VFbxmPIeZB2qVm6hg2nz0-GmC_bFZmn0/s1600/Bettina+426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7ycic2dRTnAtHru-oouF8qGFNKpGhSxCMzAg9ETk6QKJK3aGrWraqOc1DvOpDh__im5PG8KbtHZD6hOEOs4rj7Qu7OTdyA8JW6IimJQTCY9VFbxmPIeZB2qVm6hg2nz0-GmC_bFZmn0/s1600/Bettina+426.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a dataquery="#vt" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2399323233372898252" style="border-bottom-color: blue; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; cursor: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ayurvedic Healing Village</a></span> is set amid 50 acres of lush greenery in Palakkad, Kerala. It has 30 exclusive villas, each conforming to <span style="border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Vastu Shastra” </span>architecture - the Indian version of feng shui. This means that they each have a distinctive design, blending with the natural setting and surrounded by herbs and trees with immense curative and restorative powers. </span></div>
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<b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #d9fcaf; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">RETREAT PACKAGE for 7 DAYS- July 5-11 2014</span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;">With single Ayurvedic treatments: $525</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-size: large;">With double Ayurvedic treatments: $735</span></div>
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<u>The daily itinerary includes:</u><br />
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07.00 am to 08:30 am – Hatha Yoga <br />
08:30 am to 09:30 am – Breakfast<br />
09:30 am to 12:30 pm – Ayurvedic Massage & Treatment<br />
12.30 pm to 02.30 pm - Lunch<br />
02:30 pm to 04:30 pm – Free time/ Second Ayurvedic massage<br />
05:00 pm to 06:30 pm – Yoga and Meditation, Mantra chanting<br />
06:30 pm to 08.00 pm – Dinner<br />
08.00 pm to 09.00 pm – Evening event/social time<br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Morning Hatha Yoga</span> – 90 minute group session of authentic Hatha Yoga guided by Lakshya</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ayurvedic Oil Massage (Abhyangam)</span> – 60 minute Ayurvedic spa treatment, followed by steam bath.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Optional Evening Ayurvedic treatment</span> (depending on your package)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Afternoon Gentle Yoga session</span>- 60 minute group session for relaxation and rejunivation guided by Lakshya</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Evening Group Meditation- </span>Guided by Lakshya</li>
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Included in the package:</b></u><br />
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<li>1 Initial consultation with Ayurvedic Doctor</li>
<li>1 Initial consultation with Yoga Therapist (Lakshya)</li>
<li>Luxury villa on sharing basis (2 per villa)</li>
<li>Organic Vegetarian Ayurvedic food service (3 meals per day)</li>
<li>Harmonious natural surroundings of ancient healing trees and herbs</li>
<li>Full use of resort facilities including swimming pool, gym, library, tennis courts, meditation hall.</li>
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<b><u>Special events and workshops including:</u></b><br />
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<li><b>Introduction to Indian Philosophy </b>– an informative discussion on Yoga and Vedanta, providing an insight to the ancient old philosphies of happiness, originating from India</li>
<li><b>Introduction to Ayurveda</b> – an expert talk on the meaning and method of the world’s oldest healing system from our highly qualified Ayurvedic doctor.</li>
<li><b>Ayurvedic Cookery Workshop</b> - our world-class Ayurvedic chef shows you how to prepare a delicious 3-course Ayurvedic meal.</li>
<li><b>Mantra chanting</b>—a proper introduction to the meaning and method of mantra chanting and the chance to experience authentic mantra meditation and spiritual ceremonies.</li>
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<b><u>Optional Extras:</u></b><br />
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<li>Ayurvedic treatment courses for specific health conditions</li>
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<li>Palmistry consultations</li>
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<li>Vedic Astrology readings</li>
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<li>Spiritual ceremonies (pujas)</li>
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<li>Kerala tours and local travel</li>
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Note: Not included in the price are travel arrangements (flight tickets and airport transportation)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Only few seats left, book quickly to ensure your reservation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Pls visit <a href="http://www.lakshyayoga.com/">www.lakshyayoga.com</a> to sign up</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668056898999433732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-8684254240902516292014-02-28T21:47:00.000+05:302014-02-28T21:47:01.903+05:30Common Sanskrit Terms in Yoga- Correct Pronunciation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have made a small tutorial about proper pronunciation in Sanskrit, regarding words which are often used in yoga classes. Nowadays teachers like to bring in some Sanskrit terms in the classes, whether it's the name of the posture, or any other concept they'd like to convey. Unfortunately, many a times the words are not pronounced correctly. Sanskrit language is very profound and proper pronunciation is extremely important, to make sure we convey what we have in mind. Even a small change in the sound can change the meaning of the word.<br />
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Therefore I have made this short video of two minutes, presenting ten words and their correct pronunciation.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Nf9kqiyeuFA" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Videos coming up soon: The 12 basic Sivananda Yoga Asanas pronunciation, Surya Namaskar and Surya Namaskar mantras!<br />
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If you have any requests please drop a comment below!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668056898999433732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-21082281655979064792014-02-05T20:13:00.000+05:302014-02-05T20:13:04.639+05:30Secrets from Mother India: Home-made Indian Hair Oil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx2oqLVRW2jAQks7KVYrZ4rihCRbiFLvtK5m7TVO1rRURYLg9z7XGuQVgQwE0JlgzFVzslyEXYnq5SbghA-OGMswJlUOc6tJ5cb-8C8vuIdHF0_1EL5CKl-IhIhotjaxX3zWE_IkPF3A/s1600/8048638_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx2oqLVRW2jAQks7KVYrZ4rihCRbiFLvtK5m7TVO1rRURYLg9z7XGuQVgQwE0JlgzFVzslyEXYnq5SbghA-OGMswJlUOc6tJ5cb-8C8vuIdHF0_1EL5CKl-IhIhotjaxX3zWE_IkPF3A/s1600/8048638_orig.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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A ritual which I got used to while living in India, and learned about for the first time in my life was the Oiling of hair. This is something very common in India, and particularly Tamil Nadu, where I lived. Women would apply a small amount of coconut oil to their hair every day, and every week have a proper oil bath. Oil bath actually means oil massage, where they put a particular oil on their head and massage the scalp and hair itself. In fact, the ladies would get together and do it to each other! It's really fun and also feels amazing. They leave the oil on for some time before washing it out.</div>
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At the beginning I felt very uncomfortable walking around with oily hair, so I would only put the oil on the day of hair washing and make sure I stay inside. But after some time, I got used to it and realised the amazing benefits of it! Plus, every other lady was walking around in the same way, and would even comment on my hair when it was without oil!</div>
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Being back in a city now, I understand it's not very feasible walking around with oily hair, but I suggest you keep it overnight, or put it on an hour before you wash your hair! </div>
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This week I made my own hair oil! It was really exciting and turned out to be really nice. Be careful when you buy pre-packed hair oil, especially from the big companies, cause they usually add in some dangerous ingredients such as "Parfum" or "fragrance", which is rated as <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702512/FRAGRANCE/#">High hazard by EWG's database</a>. That's why I prefer to make my own, plus then I get to choose what ingredients to use.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq42XPuQ4Wf_ybthfw1CLUaOAjlUm2MgcZMjy3pZY02ohv_mbWlwEivf1F1-2XEwn1NrakeQtIMlxlPAXsunZc5Z_XV9TdyMq_dd2qfIZsDmCVXNRw4kQF8vccz6Ii6c5FfROenQruJr4/s1600/coco+oil2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq42XPuQ4Wf_ybthfw1CLUaOAjlUm2MgcZMjy3pZY02ohv_mbWlwEivf1F1-2XEwn1NrakeQtIMlxlPAXsunZc5Z_XV9TdyMq_dd2qfIZsDmCVXNRw4kQF8vccz6Ii6c5FfROenQruJr4/s1600/coco+oil2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This Oil consists of the following:</div>
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<ul>
<li><b>Coconut Oil</b> as a base</li>
<li><b>Fresh hibiscus flowers and leaves- </b>Reduces hair fall, increases new hair growth, thickens hair, mild cleanser, keeps the hair soft</li>
<li><b>Fenugreek- </b>excellent for removing dandruff, increasing hair growth, conditioning the hair</li>
<li><b>Amla- </b>Natural anti-oxidant, strengthens hair roots, great natural hair conditioner</li>
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You could also add the following:</div>
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<li><b>Henna leaves</b>- Good conditioner, helps against dandruff, and can give a beautiful shine to the hair</li>
<li><b>Curry leaves</b> - Reduces hair fall, prevents early greying. </li>
<li><b>Bringaraj</b> powder- works as a rejuvenator, keeping the hair conditioned and prevents early greying of hair</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEx84_b-78qzoRFqz4HWz1PZO5Q6oOMp74UVFPA1Wr3NUfXZBiHBh-5A-ciWWyIbPzYNI5_0vtpfV7kVwsGrQ7io1MkPJy4WkEetvoByLWqH6af9uezQNlwRpovE6YvsY4A3OoC-9AJA/s1600/coco+oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEx84_b-78qzoRFqz4HWz1PZO5Q6oOMp74UVFPA1Wr3NUfXZBiHBh-5A-ciWWyIbPzYNI5_0vtpfV7kVwsGrQ7io1MkPJy4WkEetvoByLWqH6af9uezQNlwRpovE6YvsY4A3OoC-9AJA/s1600/coco+oil.jpg" height="169" width="320" /></a></div>
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I heated the oil, added the herbs, and let it stay warm for some time. Then kept it overnight. The next morning I drained the oil and kept it in a glass jar, ready to use! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYE_BA-Clz-fcq-bJLcliAVZuy2A9aACNX8CQRN4ue4sa9SxWPOA3QhRwcsb2jD4BN4ukEoeAiiOM-BMKqBmEkUJm-biJcur1AwMWf6Wg2ywjitroOII1EyPD0XNWycfGh6VG7XReszCM/s1600/Cute+smiling+and+homely+looking+Indian+long+hair+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYE_BA-Clz-fcq-bJLcliAVZuy2A9aACNX8CQRN4ue4sa9SxWPOA3QhRwcsb2jD4BN4ukEoeAiiOM-BMKqBmEkUJm-biJcur1AwMWf6Wg2ywjitroOII1EyPD0XNWycfGh6VG7XReszCM/s1600/Cute+smiling+and+homely+looking+Indian+long+hair+girl.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a><b>What are the benefits of oil massages for the hair?</b><br />
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Endless! I think a look at this picture on the right says it all..<br />
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<li style="text-align: left;">healthy, luscious hair</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">natural conditioning of hair</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">healthy scalp, dandruff free</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">increased circulation to scalp</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">increased hair growth</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">decrease in hair fall and early greying</li>
</ul>
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<b>Steps for Oiling your hair</b></div>
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<li>Take a small amount of oil in your hands</li>
<li>Rub the hands together to warm up the oil</li>
<li>Apply it on the scalp</li>
<li>Start massaging the scalp using your fingers and different pressure points</li>
<li>Work the oil through the loose hair as well</li>
<li>Play around a bit with the hair, softly pulling it from side to side, giving a massage to the hair follicle itself. </li>
<li>Let it sit for at least an hour before washing</li>
<li>Use natural hair wash powder or organic toxic free shampoo to wash your hair</li>
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Below you can see the process in pictures. I can personally say that my hair has become much thicker and healthier than ever before since starting with hair oil, as well as natural hair wash. So many of my friends have noticed and commented on this too after coming back from India, asking what I do differently now.. well... this is the secret :)<br />
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In the next post you will read more about natural hair wash- an important next step to clean away the oil from the hair!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668056898999433732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-6595391999719775642013-12-24T14:12:00.001+05:302013-12-24T14:13:26.569+05:30Success: Objectivity in Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Coming towards the year-end, many people will be looking back at 2013 and wonder how successful they have been. Success generally comes in terms of work and earning money, achievements, marriage, etc. People may find they have been successful in one area, yet lacking in another. Or they have been successful all the way through, yet still a sense of insecurity or sadness is there. What is it that binds us to sadness? How come we can't just be happy with what we have and the way we are?</div>
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This is because we are always focused on the results of our actions. We do something good, and expect to receive good results as well. We cannot help but expect, because that is what we have always been doing. An action's result can come in a 4-fold way: equal to our expectations, above our expectations, below our expectations, or opposite to our expectations. So when things turn out in such a way that it's not favorable to us, we feel unsuccessful. </div>
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The truth is, Success is all about the right attitude. With the right attitude, you will be successful no matter what the outcome is. The attitude is to focus on the actions, do whatever is to be done, with commitment and with the best of your ability, and let the result happen as it's supposed to. The Bhagavad Gita explains: </div>
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कर्मन्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन (<i>Karmanyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana) </i> </blockquote>
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<i>W</i>e have control only over our actions, and not over their results. </blockquote>
If you really understand this, then you will always be successful. We are the authors of our actions, but not of the results. There are many laws involved which generate the result of an action- including the Law of Karma. Sometimes we are lucky, sometimes we are unlucky. But in fact, it is just our karma playing out. By accepting the Law of Karma, we can be objective with the situations which arise in our lives. It allows for acceptance, surrender, and peacefully going along with whatever is happening. This may be easier said than done. But when you're in such a situation, and you can't do anything about it, you might as well take the situation for what it is, and deal with it objectively.<br />
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"It is impossible to figure out what is going to come. I cannot know everything that is going to happen, and even if could know, I cannot stop it. I am limited in powers and skills and knowledge. This is a fact you have to recognize. The more you recognize that fact, the more you will be equipped to deal with it. That recognition, in its wake, brings about a change in your attitude towards yourself and also towards what you are facing. Because results are expected, and because I am pragmatic and equipped enough cognitively, I am able to take them as they come. Because I understand that I do not call all the shots, and because the results are inherent in every action, I can only be prayerful, and take them as they come. The pragmatism comes from the understanding that the other two, less and opposite [results], are also expected. They are in the game" - Swami Dayananda Saraswati</blockquote>
Dealing with life objectively is Yoga. Understanding that I have no choice in the results of my actions, gives me a certain freedom and allows me to go with the flow. It gives me the capacity to be objective, and take things as they come.<br />
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"Life is not a matter for judgment on the basis of any one day. If I enjoy this process I am successful. I become wiser. This is born of understanding; it is freedom expressed. My desire is an expression of freedom. It doesn’t bind me; it is a privilege. If I look at it this way, my life is called <i>a life of yoga</i>. I grow as a person. It is that person who can become compassionate, who can be understanding, who can be non-judgmental about himself and others also. That person is successful" - Swami Dayananda Saraswati</blockquote>
With little effort and focus, we can all incorporate this attitude into our lives. Grant yourself this freedom, and allow your success to come from this understanding. Success lies in the dedication of your thoughts, words, and deeds. Do the best that you can, and the rest.. will all be taken care of.<br />
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photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/camdiluv/4441155157/">Camdiluv ♥</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com/">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">cc</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alicepopkorn/6077176418/">AlicePopkorn</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com/">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-90568611135890782572013-12-11T12:59:00.000+05:302013-12-11T13:12:32.338+05:30All Natural, Organic Deodorant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Nobody can question the vastness and perfection of nature. Nature works in such a way, that it really takes care of everything. The creation works because if these unwritten laws, and through that, it is sustained.<br />
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With our bodies too. When we are cold, our body-hair stands up in order to catch heat and insulate the body. And when we are hot, we sweat. Sweating is like the body's natural air conditioning. It uses water to cool down the body.<br />
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Unfortunately, deodorants these days intervene with this system.<br />
<a name='more'></a> Antiperspirants clog up the pores so that one does not sweat anymore. Alcohol, Aluminum, and fragrance among other ingredients are added to kill bacteria and add a "nice" smell to your body. I don't want to go into detail about the tremendous health hazard this brings to people, because it's really not that difficult to figure it out. Just remember, whatever you put on your skin, gets absorbed.<br />
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Now, the good news is that there are many alternatives!!! Did you know that your body's natural smell is really not that bad?? Especially if you follow a healthy and nutritious vegetarian diet, avoiding strong spices and garlic, and use natural soap to wash with. And if you're not convinced, then I got an amazing recipe for natural deodorant right here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMexMi2Wk4f95LFdSWBtzabkDCpmcSa041GM8Vg3LRyEU44BCCyD8fCBjR8JVpndfY3XZE7s5viYl1ll3cV4nTXMQY2Q15RORThYXQd4TlkTvkamtri56oF0ndIGhfb3EGCH3_GGGCtg8/s1600/deo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMexMi2Wk4f95LFdSWBtzabkDCpmcSa041GM8Vg3LRyEU44BCCyD8fCBjR8JVpndfY3XZE7s5viYl1ll3cV4nTXMQY2Q15RORThYXQd4TlkTvkamtri56oF0ndIGhfb3EGCH3_GGGCtg8/s320/deo3.JPG" width="219" /></a></div>
This "deo" is made of all organic ingredients, and becomes a paste-like texture. You just take a dab of it, and apply it to your underarms. I can guarantee you that it's very effective throughout the whole day!!! You can choose your own scent of essential oils to suit your taste- my favorite is lavender.<br />
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<b>Baking Soda</b> helps to fight bacteria and keeps your underarms odor free.<br />
<b>Arrowroot powder</b> absorbs the sweat to some extent so you can avoid marks on your clothes.<br />
<b>Coconut oil </b>is highly anti bacterial, and the <b>essential oils</b> add a fragrance to it as well as other properties depending on which one you choose.<br />
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Personally, I will never go back to common deodorants. It's been 1.5 years already that I'm off that rubbish. This recipe works amazing for me, and I hope you will benefit from it too. Try it out and let me know how you find it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28Fs8Ca5SdTHEzm-qtKBeSlrwECdVc6S0C8bV5RDb2ilkykyyCLc4FRjilVNzsU7bvmFcvZcfMz-FuwkO27X5R7kmKDRjFN9bC9QfPKSlMWvEB507YfyALUYLK6_iEtcBBfe_28cjWs6K/s1600/deo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28Fs8Ca5SdTHEzm-qtKBeSlrwECdVc6S0C8bV5RDb2ilkykyyCLc4FRjilVNzsU7bvmFcvZcfMz-FuwkO27X5R7kmKDRjFN9bC9QfPKSlMWvEB507YfyALUYLK6_iEtcBBfe_28cjWs6K/s320/deo1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-57328721908737795182013-12-03T22:43:00.000+05:302014-02-03T15:37:26.721+05:30Shānti Mantra: Bhadram Karnebhih<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This Shānti Mantra belongs to the Atharva Veda, and is chanted before Mundaka Upanishad, Māndukya Upanishad, and Prashna Upanishad. Shānti Mantras are always chanted by both the teacher and the student, praying for shānti in the class, and in one's life. Shānti in terms of learning comes as freedom from any type of obstacles which may stand in between the student and the study of the Upanishad, or between the student and the teacher. Even if the commitment is there, there can be unforeseen obstacles which will make it difficult. Thus, we pray and tap into the grace of Ishwara, asking for our efforts to be utilized well. Success comes through both the student's effort as well as one's grace.</div>
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This Shānti Mantra is also a general prayer, and can be chanted by anyone seeking for good health and wellbeing. In this prayer, different devatas are invoked- each devata presiding over a different part of creation. Here, the student addresses Indra, the Sun, Garuda, and Brhaspati, asking for their blessing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Om bhadraṃ karṇebhiśśṛṇuyāma devāḥ<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Bhadraṃ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ<br />Sthirairangaistuṣṭuvāgṃsastanūbhiḥ<br />Vyaśema devahitaṃ yadāyuḥ<br />Svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ<br />Svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ<br />Svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ<br />Svasti no bṛhaspartirdadhātu<br />Om śāntiḥ </i></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>śāntiḥ </i></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>śāntiḥ</i></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i> </i></span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Oh Devas! May we hear auspicious things with our ears. Oh Devas! May we see auspicious things with our eyes. May we enjoy a full life as given to us by Ishwara, with healthy limbs, glorifying you through the Vedas. May the famous Indra bless us with auspiciousness (strength). May the Sun bless us with auspiciousness. May Garuda, of unobstructed movement, bless us with auspiciousness. May Brhaspati bless us with auspiciousness. Om, </span>Shānti, Shānti, Shānti <a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.ae/2013/10/shanti-mantra-1-saha-navavatu.html" target="_blank">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #188570; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Let there be freedom from the three possible obstacles)</span> </a></blockquote>
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The student prays for hearing things and news that are auspicious and good. Words that can inspire us, that are loving and compassionate, and that we can learn from. May we hear those things which are good for us. Not only hear, but also see. Allow us to see the good around us. The good in people, the good in ourselves, and the good in situations. Allow us to see Ishwara everywhere, and let us live with this vision. Let us be attracted to positive situations, which can lift us up. Let our whole life be <i>mangalam</i>.</div>
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Let us all be endowed with healthy bodies, and may we live a full and complete life. With healthy limbs alone can one do yoga and see the immediate effects. With good health one can enquire into the nature of himself, and gain the knowledge of <i>Atma.</i><br />
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<li>May the most famous Indra Devata, who represents strength, bless me. Let me be a warrior, and be strong enough to fight both the external and internal battles.</li>
<li>May Surya Devata bless me with all nourishment. The sun is known to energize the world and provide nutrition to all beings. It is also said to give pranik energy, and mental shakti.</li>
<li>May Garuda Devata bless me with auspiciousness. Garuda, the bird of unobstructed movement, may he also remove all obstacles which are in my path, so that i can successfully reach the destination.</li>
<li>May Brhaspati Devata be a source of blessing to me. Brhaspati is the devata of speech and wisdom. May I excel in my communication skills, and may I receive the knowledge of oneness.</li>
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Om. Peace, Peace, Peace. May I have freedom from <a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.ae/2013/10/shanti-mantra-1-saha-navavatu.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #188570; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Ādhidaivika, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #188570; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Ādhibhautika and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #188570; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Ādhyātmika problems.</span></a></div>
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To learn how to chant this mantra, please contact me privately to arrange chanting classes. As of now, chanting classes are held in Dubai. Please check www.lakshyayoga.com for more details<br />
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Suggested Reading:<br />
<a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.ae/2013/10/shanti-mantra-1-saha-navavatu.html" target="_blank">Shānti Mantra: Saha Nāvavatu</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-67055482274727809392013-11-17T11:34:00.000+05:302013-11-17T11:35:20.175+05:30What Makes Women Happy: An International Yogini’s View <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am posting an interview which was conducted by the lovely Danielle from HeartWork.</div>
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Danielle is a women's coach who has helped women with their career since 2011. To stop comparing themselves to outward standards. To start recognizing their own talents. To stop routinely putting themselves down. To start listening to their hearts and start leading their lives with who-THEY-want-to-be in mind.<br />
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From 2011 to 2013, she helped women rediscover their own talents as a social worker. In 2013, she founded her own business, HeartWork, to inspire and coach women from across the world to realize their ideal lives. She does this through online and face to face coaching, in which she helps women overcome their gremlins and start to craft their work & personal lives with who-they-want-to-be in mind.<br />
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For more info, contact her at <a href="mailto:danielle@heartworklifecoaching.com">danielle@heartworklifecoaching.com</a>, or visit <a href="http://www.heartworklifecoaching.com/">www.heartworklifecoaching.com</a> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Read the interview below:<b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK4c0LVeW3mm8Kt2WmY0K1OYlcWl02v_ojvD0_9rw4tWFvb9PjD5hejryBV61aInDIQjpobU0kQnbNYu4gRLmqBD5Kfg2mrEh75ufh3nkP4u0JV_pCAGpPVlsJ8fG0Ix6eJeEsRXFnMCk/s1600/lakshya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK4c0LVeW3mm8Kt2WmY0K1OYlcWl02v_ojvD0_9rw4tWFvb9PjD5hejryBV61aInDIQjpobU0kQnbNYu4gRLmqBD5Kfg2mrEh75ufh3nkP4u0JV_pCAGpPVlsJ8fG0Ix6eJeEsRXFnMCk/s1600/lakshya.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hey Lakshya, seeing as we haven’t met before, what’s your story?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Hi Danielle! My story goes a long way back! Just like you I grew up as an expat kid, living in Canada, Nigeria, Oman, Holland and Dubai. This lifestyle of moving every few years has definitely cultivated my love for traveling and interest in languages. After finishing my university degree in Business, I came back to Dubai to work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was working in marketing for an interior design company, for about 1.5 years. Everyday I would be doing the same routine. Waking up early, going to work, coming home late, having dinner, and going to bed. Looking around me, I saw that pretty much everyone in Dubai was living the same life. Living to work. From the very beginning I knew that this is something I could not sustain, because life is so much more than just working. I wanted something different, something meaningful, something that I could have with me for my whole life. I could see that living an ordinary life would not bring this to me, and thus I decided to come to India and pursue a spiritual life.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Being an active yoginī since my teen years, I came to India to pursue a yoga teacher training at the Sivananda Institute, Kerala in 2010. Upon completing this, I knew that my journey was only at the beginning, and that there was an ocean of knowledge in front of me. That is how I came to my Guru, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, and got the opportunity to join a 3 year course on Vedanta, Sanskrit and Vedic chanting. Just last week, the course finished.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are you happy (being a woman)?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Oh yes, definitely. I think being a woman, we are naturally more sensitive to our surroundings and to people. Sometimes this can be challenging because we feel fragile, but at the same time, being sensitive allows for tremendous learning and growth. We pick up on things quickly and learn from experiences. For me, I think I found my happiness here in India. Always looking externally for happiness, it is here that I learned that happiness is within me already!</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What brings you happiness, or inspires you these days? Is this something different from what brought you joy as a 20-year old?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />What inspires me is to see the life of people here in India. Many live a very simple life, with a small house and minimal expenditures. They sleep on the floor and eat rice and lentils every day. But you know what, they are happy and satisfied. This inspires me a lot, we can gain a lot more peace from a simple lifestyle.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When I was 20 years old, I definitely couldn’t see this. Life was about fashion, shopping, going out, and spending money. Happiness came from purchases, tropical holidays and elaborate meals. It was all taken for granted actually.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is most important to you in your life? And what was this like for your 20-year old self?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Living a life of yoga is important to me. Yoga doesn’t mean just physical postures, that’s only one aspect of it. Yoga is about the right attitudes and cultivating values in life. Having compassion for all beings, living in a way that causes least disturbance to those around, and appreciating this magnificent world we live in.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When I was twenty, it was more important for me to get a higher education (masters degree), a good job, a nice boyfriend, etc. Probably something most 20 year olds are seeking.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you tell us a little about your current work/life situation? How did you get to where you are now?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I have just completed a 3 year course on Vedanta, Sanskrit, and Vedic chanting. Vedanta can be described as the teaching of life, and the understanding of realities. It comes from ancient Indian scriptures, which are thousands of years old, and hold a very important message: we are all one. Meaning, the essence of you is the essence of me. These scriptures are written in Sanskrit language, and so it’s important to understand the language.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Having finished this incredible course, I will start teaching. Mainly yoga and Vedanta, and of course Sanskrit to those who are brave enough to take up this tough challenge! I will be based both in Dubai and India.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What do you enjoy most in your ‘work’? What do you dislike the most?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others, and seeing them benefit tremendously from this. Be it yoga, or Vedanta- physical or mental benefits- whatever service I can do to society I am so grateful for. There’s really nothing that I dislike about it, because my ‘work’ is my life.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What do you hope to accomplish in your work/life?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I don’t teach with the mindset of accomplishing or gaining anything. Whatever I can do from my side I will do and only hope that my students can pick up from it.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you could give yourself some advice right now, what would it be? And if you could send a message back to your 20-year old self, what would it contain?</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />“One day at a time”. Live in the present and enjoy each moment. Sometimes our minds can dwell of to the future and worries, and this is such an unhealthy habit. If we can live in the moment, and have the faith that everything will work out, then life will be very joyous.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I would tell my 20-year old self to know that everything happens for a reason and to trust that our journey of life will take us to the right destination.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can you paint us a picture of your life in 20 years time? Who you’ll be sharing your life with, where you’ll be living, what a regular day will look like..</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Well, this is only what I dream for… To have my own center or ashram in India, and live a life devoted to teaching, along with a spiritual partner. A regular day will have yoga classes, Vedanta classes, Vedic prayers in our small temple, organic and healthy vegetarian meals with vegetables from our own garden.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Early morning walks with sunrise and evening walks with sunset. Having students from around the world stay with us and get a glimpse of Vedic culture.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is my sincere prayer.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-36387136966486533912013-11-13T12:09:00.000+05:302013-11-15T12:58:44.261+05:30Living Inspiration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am sharing an inspiring story with you, in the form of an animation. Over the past few years, the people that I have been meeting and spending time with are quite different than the usual batch. What makes them different is that they have taking a huge step in their lives to go against the norm, to swim upstream, to stand out.<br />
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How? By doing exactly what they love to do. By following their passion. By making the absolute most of their lives.<br />
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Why is it that this is usually looked down upon by society? People are labelled and judged, because they don't fit into the usual categorical bracketing that society has placed them in. They are looked upon as lazy, taking extended holidays, as though they are trying to avoid 'the real life'.<br />
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But what is "the real life"? Do we really live to become millionaires, have expensive cars, and wear a new pair of shoes each week? Surely, these things can give a sense of joy. But we've all experienced it: the joy we get externally, never lasts. When we are old and weak, does it still matter how many pairs of shoes we have collected? Or in which expensive restaurants we have eaten?<br />
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The answer is clear. What we would like to look back at, at that age, is a fulfilling and purposeful life. A life in which we followed our dreams and passions, no matter how unusual they may be. A life in which we found inner peace, and inner happiness. A life which allowed us to grow, to learn, and to blossom. A life which brought back nature and fresh air to us.<br />
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I am very lucky to be surrounded by inspiring people, who do what they love, and love what they do. Need some inspiration? Then have a look at just a few of them:<br />
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Starting with my own family, my Mother, <a href="http://www.desireerader.com/" target="_blank">Desiree Rader</a>, an amazing painter who captures your eyes through her use of colours and paint.<br />
My brother, <a href="http://www.reinererlings.com/" target="_blank">Reiner Erlings</a>, an exceptional music producer and talented musician.<br />
His wife, <a href="http://www.gayathrimusic.com/" target="_blank">Gayathri Krishnan</a>, an extraordinary artist, whose voice gives you goosebumps.<br />
My dear yogi friend, <a href="http://www.path2yoga.net/" target="_blank">Marco Pino</a>, who shares his life of yoga through his blog.<br />
My organic-food-lover buddy, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/theorganicindian" target="_blank">Auro</a>, who left his job to start an awesome movement for the Organic Food industry in India.<br />
The beautiful yogi-couple, <a href="http://www.arshayoga.org/" target="_blank">Harilal and Meera</a>, who set up their own little ashram on the beach in Kerala, to share the Vedic Culture.<br />
A very old schoolmate, <a href="http://www.heartworklifecoaching.com/" target="_blank">Danielle VdK</a>, who inspires international women through coaching.<br />
My vedanta batchmate and buddy, <a href="http://www.satsangaonline.com/" target="_blank">Jonas Massetti</a>, who shares his knowledge in Brazil in the most authentic way.<br />
Sharada & Marcus, who run <a href="http://vaidika.org/" target="_blank">Vaidika Purna Sthaanam</a>- a unique place to fully embrace the Vedic Culture on the island of Bali!<br />
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And the list goes on....<br />
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If you have any dreams to follow, any passion to pursue, then don't hesitate a moment. We are all gifted in different ways, and that's not a coincidence. Use your gift to benefit this world.<br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/66DxiHX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/66DxiHX.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-57391950973723101982013-10-23T07:16:00.000+05:302014-02-03T15:37:50.978+05:30Shānti Mantra: Saha Nāvavatu <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span">There are in total ten </span>śhānti<span class="Apple-style-span"> mantras in the Vedas. These mantras are very popular and are usually chanted at the beginning and end of a class. Each veda has their own </span>śhānti<span class="Apple-style-span"> mantras, and thus before the study of an <i>Upanishad</i> the respective mantra is chanted. The mantras have their own <i>svaras- </i>this means there is a specific way to chant it, as per the Vedic tradition.</span><br />
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Śhānti mantras are mantras invoking peace and harmony. Each mantra finishes with chanting the word "<i>śhānti</i>" three times. Pujya Swamiji says, this doesn't mean that there are three types of śhānti; there is only one. But there are three types of problems that can deny our śhānti. When chanting these mantras we pray for freedom from these problems. <br />
<a name='more'></a>The three types of problems are:<br />
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<li>Ādhidaivika आधिदैविक - problems arising from forces over which we have no control, like natural disasters, etc. We can't do anything about it happening, we can only try to protect ourselves. Thus we pray: "<b>Let there be no obstacles from such forces over which we have no control"</b></li>
<li>Ādhibhautika आधिभौतिक - problems arising from others around us. For example political or social disturbances, or even quarrels among friends or family. We ask: "<b>Let us be free from problems caused by the external world and people"</b></li>
<li>Ādhyātmika आध्यात्मिक - problems arising from factors centered on ourselves. This includes physical, mental and emotional issues one may undergo. We pray for our strength and wellbeing, "<b>May i have the capacity; physically, physiologically and mentally, to pursue my dreams and journey".</b></li>
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This śhānti mantra belongs to the <i>Krishna Yajur Veda </i>and thus is chanted before Taittiriyopanishad (Brahmānanda valli), Kaṭopanishad, and Shvetāsvataropanishad. This mantra is very popular and is generally chanted at the beginning of ANY class, as it's praying for the wellbeing of the student and the teacher, and their relationship.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79X1GacK_4S3G6V3xiocvtuLrzM_pq9ZA80RCLMlBmW8jqxiLEiRjS4wFMGoH4FH-KsAnqgiyVibOeNr0njyO2sr1FZ_UIHitElminAJwYzbvwAiD_cChlJ2d8B4qsfbHQbW-BmuOW__/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79X1GacK_4S3G6V3xiocvtuLrzM_pq9ZA80RCLMlBmW8jqxiLEiRjS4wFMGoH4FH-KsAnqgiyVibOeNr0njyO2sr1FZ_UIHitElminAJwYzbvwAiD_cChlJ2d8B4qsfbHQbW-BmuOW__/s320/photo-13.JPG" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sa ha nāvavatu<br />Sa ha nau bhunaktu<br />Saha vīryam karavavahai<br />Tejasvināvadhītam astu<br />mā vidviṣhavahai<br />Om śhāntiḥ śhāntiḥ śhāntiḥ</i></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
May he protect both of us. May he nourish both of us (with knowledge). May both of us make effort for the capacity (to learn). May what is studied by us be brilliantly clear. Let us not have any misunderstanding. Let there be freedom from three possible obstacles.</blockquote>
May he (Isvara) protect and bless both of us, the teacher and the student. May he nourish us with knowledge, and may we be equipped with the capacity to take in the knowledge. Capacity in terms of commitment, motivation, alertness, etc. May we be sincere in our study and let our hard work give us good results: clear knowledge. Let it not remain pure words, but let it become part and parcel of us, being ever more meaningful. Let there not be any misunderstanding between the teacher and the student, let nothing come between the two so that the flow of knowledge is not obstructed.<br />
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Om Śhāntiḥ, Śhāntiḥ, Śhāntiḥ</div>
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To learn how to chant this mantra, please contact me privately to arrange chanting classes. As of now, chanting classes are held in Dubai. Please check www.lakshyayoga.com for more details</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-49627393727767387522013-10-17T15:59:00.002+05:302013-10-17T16:07:27.770+05:30Secrets from Mother India: Natural Face Wash<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been almost seven months that I am using natural products in my daily routine. Having found out what kind of horrible things are present in our cosmetics, I really didn't want to continue poisoning myself any longer! :-) This includes shampoo, soap, face wash, deodorant and moisturizer. </div>
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How is it that in general we are not aware or realizing that what we put on our skin, gets absorbed and enters our bodies? </div>
<a name='more'></a>There are tons and tons of ingredients in our products which we can't even pronounce, which are extremely hazardous for our health. With hazardous I mean causes for cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, etc. Please read <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep" target="_blank">EWG Skin Deep's database</a> for more details on this- you can search any ingredient or product.<br />
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I try to live following a basic guideline: <b>Feed your skin as you feed your stomach!</b></div>
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If you can eat it, or if it's a natural product, plant or flower, then it's safe to use on your skin or hair. Nature is full of resources, let's appreciate it and make use of it!</div>
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Now, lets talk about face wash. The picture below shows the ingredients on the face wash i have been using. After checking each of them on EWG, I got shocked. Many of them are rated as hazardous, causing irritation for skin and allergies, etc. How is it that a product which is supposed to cleanse the skin can actually damage it instead? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpUTchOY9GUpqeBr99MTlOs5kso3t15aACbq1wZhUggaK-CvFQYyvSjPGAiKOij4AqIXJ0cu9o-pzW42pzjmbs0_QnZPDMcjOY35mUGyOvtxjkKWG20QI7U93QXhg_WCGKbof0qbMBbus/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpUTchOY9GUpqeBr99MTlOs5kso3t15aACbq1wZhUggaK-CvFQYyvSjPGAiKOij4AqIXJ0cu9o-pzW42pzjmbs0_QnZPDMcjOY35mUGyOvtxjkKWG20QI7U93QXhg_WCGKbof0qbMBbus/s320/photo-13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's when i decided to turn to Mother India... and explored a natural way to cleanse the skin. </div>
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I found the solution:<b> Chickpea Powder (besan) and Wild Turmeric (kasturi manjal)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rKWF7tLa73Dh_BLkb0rzxHFp62hKNNGRep6P229YGTglAg1Qnz8CAmqhBraHOPMWEBCiBAJoNr2qTDycmumzLNTYNpuOgGLwtvQ_ooMpVn12cIOYj6CRFW1GIsjYLIsd6LcNdORyblJH/s1600/KathuriManjal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEV7v8BGZait5whLg13pcuWFknO_noOUQvxUTNSi5zKAEEgZG49YT2wI66L6IWFIkC54snXQfUKqPh_KjsirD86HjWrPY5eQBqgKsgOeCwGamLzzl4MTq9-7gNN83DGBWzA2itdwPtaIv/s1600/besan-flour-and-dal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEV7v8BGZait5whLg13pcuWFknO_noOUQvxUTNSi5zKAEEgZG49YT2wI66L6IWFIkC54snXQfUKqPh_KjsirD86HjWrPY5eQBqgKsgOeCwGamLzzl4MTq9-7gNN83DGBWzA2itdwPtaIv/s320/besan-flour-and-dal.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rKWF7tLa73Dh_BLkb0rzxHFp62hKNNGRep6P229YGTglAg1Qnz8CAmqhBraHOPMWEBCiBAJoNr2qTDycmumzLNTYNpuOgGLwtvQ_ooMpVn12cIOYj6CRFW1GIsjYLIsd6LcNdORyblJH/s1600/KathuriManjal.jpg" /></div>
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Kasturi Manjal (curcuma aromatica) is a variety of turmeric, different from the one used in cooking. It's very beneficial for the skin, creating a beautiful complexion and glow (it does not stain at all). It's antiseptic and cleanses very well. It works well to fight acne as well as prevent skin diseases. Because it's very potent, it's better not to use it on its own- it can be mixed with Besan, chickpea powder.<br />
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Besan is a great exfoliater for the skin, removing dead cells and dirt. It's very mild in nature and will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and clean. It absorbs the excess oil from your skin, and can be used after an oil bath too.<br />
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I've been using this combination for a while now and can really see the difference. My skin used to get oily quite quickly and i would also get red patches sometimes. Using this face wash, the red patches have disappeared and so too have a lot of skin blemishes. My skin looks tighter, feels softer, and has gained a nice glow. I usually apply a bit of Argan oil on my face after washing, and voila, ready to go.<br />
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I can recommend this home made, natural, and safe face wash to everyone!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG3OmMnAaEkSQlcU52Warz-WXBdmJBQDu-TZqFLmR3NPlnm0iuA8PewqinGi5pcguuOZcjbYo8TPnqIIyp4POBAi5WEV4jOncWON8u-Vuhm-Tg9pqFW5sI2gr2XglbErDIDU9HE3TX3t9/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG3OmMnAaEkSQlcU52Warz-WXBdmJBQDu-TZqFLmR3NPlnm0iuA8PewqinGi5pcguuOZcjbYo8TPnqIIyp4POBAi5WEV4jOncWON8u-Vuhm-Tg9pqFW5sI2gr2XglbErDIDU9HE3TX3t9/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-50241371425564311632013-10-10T14:46:00.001+05:302013-10-12T14:16:49.284+05:30Atma Puja: The Divine in You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7v23FpOeSv4wyIy7snQWa0gVcOFuvWD0VOJQBgnm__LaX46uTG5czF0acpIUA4s1x9Z2_0f2A9-ZnwN0KImh9tmX8R_62Ouhhl9Fd5b4pnGN1_B7s5nd6GW7BxcCDVeTAP28BwbSg8Ab/s1600/jnaneshwari1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7v23FpOeSv4wyIy7snQWa0gVcOFuvWD0VOJQBgnm__LaX46uTG5czF0acpIUA4s1x9Z2_0f2A9-ZnwN0KImh9tmX8R_62Ouhhl9Fd5b4pnGN1_B7s5nd6GW7BxcCDVeTAP28BwbSg8Ab/s200/jnaneshwari1a.jpg" width="135" /></a>Sometimes people may wonder, why do you worship a form, a <i>mūrti? </i>To many people it's confusing to see the manifold forms of Gods and Goddesses, and they get lost in understanding the meaning behind it.<br />
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Actually, it's very simple. In Hinduism we say there is only one. One Lord, one all pervasive power, one <i>shakti</i>. This power represents the force in and through the universe, and includes the creation of nature, the law of karma, and the order in each part of our life. As it's very obvious, there are so many aspects in creation. There's creation itself, sustenance, destruction, there's motherhood, fatherhood, dance, music, knowledge, etc. All of these aspects, are depicted in a form, which we call a <i>mūrti.</i><br />
<a name='more'></a> These are the Gods and Goddesses that we see in Hinduism, representing different functions and glories. Depending on what we pray for, the God takes up a particular role, and in that role we invoke the blessings.<br />
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When it comes to the Goddess, there are two forms. One if the benign form, and the other is the ferocious. Mā Kālī (Durgā) represents the ferocious form, in which she destroys the demons in order to protect. Throughout our lives we may encounter demons in different forms, whether it's a negative thought, anger, greed, or even the evil eye, <i>dṛiṣṭi. </i>By praying to Mā Kālī we ask her to protect us from these internal and external demons.<br />
The benign forms of the Goddess are Sarasvatī and Lakṣhmī- representing all knowledge and prosperity.<br />
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Now, there is something more to this. Just as these aspects of creation and the universe can be depicted in different idols, the same aspects are all there, within ourselves. It's called worship of the self, <i>ātma pūja</i>. This is an absolute beautiful concept, because it symbolizes the divine nature that is there in each one of us. It brings out the glorious aspects that are there in us, and directly reveals that we are all divine and significant beings.<br />
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There's a Sanskrit verse to illustrate this:<br />
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देहो देवालयः प्रोक्तः जीवो देवस्सनातनः ।</div>
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त्यजेदज्ञाननिर्माल्यं सोऽहं भावेन पूजयेत ।।</div>
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<i>deho devālayaḥ proktaḥ jīvo devassanātanaḥ</i> </div>
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<i>tyajedajnānanirmālyam so'ham bhāvena pūjayet </i></div>
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The body is the temple. The <i>jīva </i>(soul) is the deity of this temple, since the beginningless time. May one get rid of the wilted flowers of ignorance, and worship the Lord with the understanding that he's non-separate from me.</div>
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In this way, everything that we do from the moment we wake up until we go to bed, can be seen as a prayerful and worshipful action. The actions undertaken during a <i>pūja </i>in the temple, are undertaken by us too each day: Waking up and taking a bath (<i>snānam)</i>, putting on clothes (<i>vastram) </i>and ornaments (<i>ābharaṇam), </i>wearing flowers in the hair (<i>puṣhpam), </i>applying sandal-paste (<i>chandanam)</i> and <i>kumkumam</i>, and lastly offering food to ourselves.<br />
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If you see a traditional Hindu lady, you will notice her whole body in ornaments. Starting from her earrings, to the nose ring, necklace, bangles, anklets, and toe rings. Each limb is decorated with a piece of jewelry. On her forehead, you will see a <i>tilaka, </i>a red mark of worship. It's a sign of worshipping the Lord, who resides in the body. The <i>tilaka</i> is placed in the <i>ājñā-chakra</i>, the third eye, a powerful spiritual center and point of concentration.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVo-h2eVxK52XwCbOJTlJRxwGGS89o_ZrEpRN5kt64XWN8Nf6Ismu5dQa8PDPNCG95xL6wNf-OarxRNdHX5jDStx-imx94gnWTVQVMiqppaZlgTj-_2DVfltxQxmP5jOm8ZdtItvYGfS8/s1600/funnypictures2836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVo-h2eVxK52XwCbOJTlJRxwGGS89o_ZrEpRN5kt64XWN8Nf6Ismu5dQa8PDPNCG95xL6wNf-OarxRNdHX5jDStx-imx94gnWTVQVMiqppaZlgTj-_2DVfltxQxmP5jOm8ZdtItvYGfS8/s320/funnypictures2836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
By viewing our daily activities as part of the <i>ātma pūja,</i> we add a certain sanctity to ourselves, and to our life. We won't be going out the door with old, smelly clothes, without having taken a bath or brushed our teeth. In one way you can say it's simply common sense, but there's more to it than that. It's taking your body as something sacred, something that needs to be taken care of with full attention, just like a temple is maintained. Yet is it not a maintenance for the sake of impressing others or for our own vainness, it's an act of self-love in a sense of devotion. Over time, the devotee and the devoted difference will dissolve, and only one remains. With this attitude, alienation from Īśvara disappears, and we learn to recognize Īsvara in all shapes and forms. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-38029603996553681902013-10-09T22:44:00.000+05:302014-03-05T12:57:58.019+05:30Kara Darshanam: Invoking the Goddesses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAHmyu4l_ETCPTRx4thlDgv2-Xkf31IMV-3IiQ4TrmBHFX-a5RxuWt2DWK0Qr9aCWMv3exYGuP0G8saNIEJbl53GWsQghHbz8jBi6BxIjRHJhxcr2Kxb8YRTL7Qe-1tdM_6bPZfSZH7o/s1600/images-17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAHmyu4l_ETCPTRx4thlDgv2-Xkf31IMV-3IiQ4TrmBHFX-a5RxuWt2DWK0Qr9aCWMv3exYGuP0G8saNIEJbl53GWsQghHbz8jBi6BxIjRHJhxcr2Kxb8YRTL7Qe-1tdM_6bPZfSZH7o/s1600/images-17.jpeg" /></a>On October 5th 2013 a very auspicious festival has started in India. It's called Navaratri, and it's a 9 night/10 day festival where they worship the three main Godesses for three days each: Durgā, Lakshmī, and Saraswatī. These nine days are very powerful for prayers, especially when praying for a good life partner, love, health, and financial security.<br />
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There's a beautiful small prayer which we can do in any place. It may be difficult to find a temple or an alter to pray to a Goddess, but with this prayer it's not even necessary! Because we invoke these three goddesses in our own palms.<br />
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It goes like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ehAk6lfbA8I6GzrX-Gnc2aP3oSp2Se1I9JjOy0DC2vWkmxi4UxICxtYr-yKaIJCZI_9LyndYc2ya2t3O-VXUl1m7xOtkoRqdJCcOBmSjP-UVtycfxxx8dd8WqrWou3r7L-4_3sKzcic/s1600/images-14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ehAk6lfbA8I6GzrX-Gnc2aP3oSp2Se1I9JjOy0DC2vWkmxi4UxICxtYr-yKaIJCZI_9LyndYc2ya2t3O-VXUl1m7xOtkoRqdJCcOBmSjP-UVtycfxxx8dd8WqrWou3r7L-4_3sKzcic/s1600/images-14.jpeg" /></a><br />
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कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती ।<br />
<i>karāgre vasate Lakshmīḥ / karamadhe Saraswatī</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>करमुले स्थिता गौरी प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ।।<br />
<i>karamūle sthitā Gaurī / prabhāte karadarshanam</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>On the top of the hand resides Lakshmī Devi. In the middle of the hand Saraswatī Devī. At the base of the hand abides Gaurī (Durgā Devī). In the morning, may you look at your hand (and invoke the Goddesses).</div>
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</span>May you get up in the morning, remembering and invoking the grace of these three Goddesses, Devīs. Each of them provide resources to us in a two-fold manner, which generally are taken for granted, yet which are so important to our wellbeing.<br />
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Durgā provides for good health in two ways; physical and mental health. By invoking Durgā Devī we ask for strength, endurance, and stability. We need these not only for our body but also for our minds, because both are very much interconnected. A healthy mind and a healthy body go together. Thus in times of emotional difficulty, we pray to Durgā and ask her to remove the negativity, and destroy the evil thoughts. </div>
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Lakshmī Devī provides for wealth. External wealth (bāhya dhanam) in terms of material benefits, as well as internal wealth (āntara dhanam) which can be considered as contentment, tripti. Without realizing the internal wealth, our basic state of happiness and fullness, we will always go externally to find that contentment. And this can be a never ending and expensive search. The Vedas say that that which we search for outside, is already there inside. So we pray to Lakshmī Devī to help us discover the contentment within ourselves, and allow us to tap into that joy!<br />
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Lastly, we pray to Saraswatī Devī for wisdom. Wisdom also comes in a two-fold manner: general knowledge and studies, as well as spiritual knowledge. Spiritual knowledge in this sense means the capacity to adjust our minds to receive the situations that happen around us. Sometimes we get to face choiceless situations, where no matter what we do, nothing will help. When that happens there's only one thing left for us, and that is to accept it. But this requires a great inner capacity, mental maturity and readiness to accept the choiceless. For this, we pray to Saraswatī Devī, and ask her to help us manage the situations that life presents us.<br />
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During this auspicious festival, may we pray to these Godesses, and invoke their grace and blessings for us to have good health, compassion and joy, and the capacity to live with inner freedom. May we gain the shakti sāmyam- a balance of the three resources that are provided by these Devīs.<br />
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<i>Om Shrī Durgāyai namaḥ</i></div>
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<i><i>Om Shrī Lakshmyai namaḥ</i></i></div>
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<i>Om Shrī Saraswatyai namaḥ<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiVlNmuFEWG5CF31nrszQgO1ylhmwP_bcoqPd41GyK954aX_EGw8n2jycJcqkYFy_p63I7YerPVLT7PVziiiE9LNbLHntPJbbpKxaGpciKBA2qrk80V-XArS5SmUyWnNCP0qR1i8x7iDjgniH0Xpy0i91xjhF23QP8i=s0-d-e1-ft" /></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01668056898999433732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-70048756139774632432013-09-15T18:39:00.000+05:302013-09-15T18:46:51.378+05:30Secrets from Mother India: Tulasi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tulasi (Also pronounced as Tulsi) is a holy plant in India. It is found in almost every household, either inside the house or by the entrance. It's a plant that is worshipped as a Goddess, and is often offered to Lord Vishnu during temple puja. </div>
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They say:</div>
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"Every home with a Tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage, and no diseases, no messengers of Lord Yama (the God of Death) can enter it."- Skandapurana</blockquote>
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This herb grows widely all over India, and is highly valuable for its medicinal properties. There are many varieties, but the most popular ones are the black (Krishna Tulasi) and white (Shiva Tulasi) variety.</div>
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We have many Tulasi plants growing in our garden, and I regularly make use of them. Either directly eating the leaf, or making tea out of it- which tastes great and is divine for the body!<br />
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<b>"Lift Me Up"</b><br />
Tulasi is fantastic to take when you are feeling a little under the weather, or if you already have a cold or a flue. It is extremely beneficial in removing any excess mucus or sputum in the respiratory passages. It can help to heal coughs, fever, flue, cold, bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma. It is energizing, cleansing, and curative. My favorite recipe for the "Lift Me Up" drink is:<br />
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<li>a bunch of tulasi leaves</li>
<li>lemongrass</li>
<li>ginger</li>
<li>lemon</li>
<li>honey</li>
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Boil in hot water for 15 minutes, and start sipping... and sipping... and sipping... it's so tasty you won't want to stop, yet at the same time very healing.<br />
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<b>Anti- Stress</b></div>
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Tulasi is very good to reduce the level of stress and anxiety. It is calming for the mind, as it is an extremely <i>sāttvic</i> herb. It also helps to reduce headaches, and is said to increase memory power!</div>
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<b>Insect Bites</b></div>
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Tulasi is known to drive away all mosquitoes. This is another reason why people keep this plant by their doors or backyards. If you do get bitten, don't worry, tulasi can still help! Apply a paste of tulasi on the bite (any kind of insect bite) and it will help to heal and remove the itching.</div>
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Tulasi is very beneficial for the skin. It can treat acne and pimples, eczema, ringworm and dark spots. Taking Tulasi internally as well as applying a paste on the skin will allow its anti-inflammatory, and anti-septic properties to work. It is said to be a strong anti-oxidant as well, giving one an all-round lift and glow!</div>
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When picking Tulasi leaves, they say to take them either in the morning or late afternoon. Never pick them at night. There is even a specific mantra to chant when picking the leaves. It goes like this:</div>
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<i>Tulasi amrta janmasi</i><br /><i>Sadā tvam keshavapriya</i><br /><i>keshavartam chinomi tvam</i><br /><i>varadā bhava shobhane</i> </blockquote>
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Try to get a Tulasi plant for your own home. Not only will it bring great blessings and grace, but it will also be of great use for your health. It's an overall health and immunity booster, and will keep you young, healthy and strong! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-34098699873992483502013-08-16T18:07:00.000+05:302013-09-18T16:27:34.778+05:30"Who Am I?"... Part 3: The Limitless, Whole.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGetXWT5yN0qDg8wf8S9u9XESJdPHgAKo-aIo3P3_6PRLufy2OKZX6J7GN24OcshvarZZrnNTua4gPGdoUb2GU0QIJ-Yv5Qo-329cd46IZvp_3rQZw0IgRx6GS5fAcPD9mEjwSFFHXhUC1/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGetXWT5yN0qDg8wf8S9u9XESJdPHgAKo-aIo3P3_6PRLufy2OKZX6J7GN24OcshvarZZrnNTua4gPGdoUb2GU0QIJ-Yv5Qo-329cd46IZvp_3rQZw0IgRx6GS5fAcPD9mEjwSFFHXhUC1/s200/love.jpg" width="200" /></a>In the last two posts of this series, we went through the enquiry of the common error to get stuck at a certain level of limited self-identity. Whether it be with <a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/07/who-am-i-part-1-body.html#more" target="_blank">the body</a>, or with <a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/07/who-am-i-part-2-mind-emotions.html#more" target="_blank">the mind and emotions</a>, it can cause tremendous damage if unable to overcome. One can end up living with the constant feeling of insignificance, while this is in fact the opposite of what you are!<br />
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But... the question still remains.. If I am not the physical body, not the emotions, not the mind, not the intellect, nor the swinging moods of happiness and unhappiness (सुख दुःख <i>sukha dukha), </i>then what is it that I am? </div>
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Vedanta gives the answer.</div>
<a name='more'></a>You are the presence behind each one of them. You (the truth of you, the soul, आत्मा <i>atma) </i>is the self-evident truth which is not dependent on anything else.<br />
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In Kenopanishad, the first mantra asks "Willed by whom, is the mind made to fall upon objects? Directed by whom does the main <i>prana</i> (life) function? Willed by whom do people talk? Which divine principle directs the eyes and ears?" </div>
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The answer is:</div>
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"That principle indeed is the Self (<i>Atma</i>), which is the Ear of the ear, the Mind of the mind, the Speech of the speech, the Prana of the prana, and the Eye of the eye".</blockquote>
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The truth behind yourself is pure consciousness, pure existence, limitlessness: सत् चित् आनन्द <i>sat-cit-ananda</i>. Because of you, the mind works. Because of you the body functions. Because of you, eyes can see and the ears can hear. You are limitless, wholeness, fullness, पूर्ण <i>purna. </i></div>
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Now this sounds big. But what does it really mean? </div>
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The vision of Vedanta comes down to one thing: O<b>neness</b>. The essence of you, is the essence of me. The reality behind you, is the same reality behind me- making it ONE. I can see in you, what i see in me. It's not just you and me, but the entire world that is around us. It is all from the same divine source, and not separate from it. This is one of the reasons why in India everything, from all the five elements, is worshipped. Because everything is divine. </div>
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Look at it this way- Taking a drop of water from the ocean, what is the reality behind it? It's nothing but the ocean. And the ocean is nothing but water. A drop from the ocean really has no independent existence on its own- its existence is water. It only has a particular shape, form, and name, making it a drop. Similarly, we have a world full of shapes and names, but the reality behind it is one. This oneness in Sanskrit is called ब्रह्मन् <i>Brahman. </i>Vedanta says अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्मन् <i>this Atma is Brahman. </i>The self which we are talking about, is this reality.</div>
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Knowing this, we can save ourself from a whole lot of trouble in this world. If you and I in reality are no different, then immediately our sense of fear, hurt, anger, guilt, etc will go. We turn ourselves from being small, to being ever big. This knowledge neutralizes the smallness within us, and instantaneously brings in compassion. Compassion towards each other, towards animals, plants, etc. With our bigness we are prepared to take up each situation, but now with the freedom from struggle. </div>
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Pujya Swamiji always says "You are the only significant thing in this world". It is true. If you can see the greatness behind you, then what else matters? If a bad mood comes, let it come. Invite it, and witness it. Nothing can touch you! We are just a witness of all that happens within our lives. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwRLf8BKeqyJJgA-8bASOnIGrdAeMH7Lr44hyCRf9TwUOiiBFzqoVIjgIRZ5SBXHTMEn-JC-mEFCJNGWNtGSHI2WZolwAPpW8hP1hfuy-AJKO7UJQ3cLnhJJM6iwvwyhqS5ma0xqwSVQ1/s1600/namaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwRLf8BKeqyJJgA-8bASOnIGrdAeMH7Lr44hyCRf9TwUOiiBFzqoVIjgIRZ5SBXHTMEn-JC-mEFCJNGWNtGSHI2WZolwAPpW8hP1hfuy-AJKO7UJQ3cLnhJJM6iwvwyhqS5ma0xqwSVQ1/s200/namaste.jpg" width="138" /></a>In the Mayan culture, which is hundreds of years old, they understood this. When greeting eachother, they would say <i>In Lak'ech </i>which means "I am (another) you", and reply with <i>Ala K'in</i> "And you are me". Similarly, in Hindi, we say <i>Namaste</i>. <i>Namaste </i>is <i>namah te- </i>my salutations, worship, respect to you. This <i>Namah</i> is no different from the <i>Namah </i>used in <i>Om namah Shivaya. </i>The worship done to the lord, is extended to one another. Because in each of us, the Lord/ the divine/the all pervasive <i>shakti</i> is there. </div>
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Knowing the truth of ourselves, we can go about living in this world with peace in our minds, with love in our hearts, and compassion all around us.<br />
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Click here to read the first two parts of this series:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/07/who-am-i-part-1-body.html#more" style="color: #e7285d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"Who Am I?"... Part 1: The Body</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/07/who-am-i-part-2-mind-emotions.html#more" style="color: #e7285d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"Who Am I?"... Part 2: The Mind & Emotions</a></h4>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-8835398429581909582013-08-05T12:10:00.000+05:302013-08-05T12:10:25.507+05:30Secrets from Mother India: Turmeric<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtrruf7b73pIAb_2HJwYO8ktfni2gydbVsLj_X_QQdx_5uEEBgFF5sOyyeR1eXnbAMFgaQzy7T9O5TzeqAFvLEQCArhMUgyj1S5mKzTLbv-3Dgustb8c671BYzUXMMYXRz8YQZ4itl7Xl/s1600/turmeric-powder1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtrruf7b73pIAb_2HJwYO8ktfni2gydbVsLj_X_QQdx_5uEEBgFF5sOyyeR1eXnbAMFgaQzy7T9O5TzeqAFvLEQCArhMUgyj1S5mKzTLbv-3Dgustb8c671BYzUXMMYXRz8YQZ4itl7Xl/s320/turmeric-powder1.jpg" width="263" /></a>Turmeric, called Haldi in Hindi, is a spice found in every Indian lady's kitchen. It is added to food, curries, vegetables, etc for its coloring properties as well as its good aroma. Turmeric in powder form is another multi-purpose spice, with many great health benefits. In fact, it's something I take quite frequently, and always bring with me when I travel- just in case. One pouch of turmeric can replace a whole lot of antiseptics and medicine-pills! Turmeric is definitely a topper on my list! <br />
<a name='more'></a>Here it goes:<br />
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<b>Antiseptic</b><br />
Turmeric powder is highly antiseptic. Applying it on wounds, cuts, and even pimples as i have mentioned in the <a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/06/lessons-from-mother-india-coconut-oil.html" target="_blank">Coconut oil post</a> will help to fight bacteria and promote quick healing. It's best to mix it with coconut oil, making a paste, and applying it on the cut. You can cover it with a cotton bandage and leave it overnight. You'll be amazed to see the results the next day! Some people also apply fresh or powdered turmeric to the body while bathing. They say it removes body odors, eczema, skin diseases and bacteria.<br />
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<b>Boils</b><br />
Turmeric is an EXCELLENT remedy for boils. Boils are usually a bacterial infection which comes to the skin through a hair follicle, and creating a deep and painful infection. Turmeric actually helps to prevent boils, and it helps to quickly remove them too with its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be applied directly to the boil together with coconut oil, and should be taken internally too for more effective results. It doesn't taste great... at all... but it works!!! 1 spoon per cup, 3 times a day... untill its gone! Read Earthclinic's reviews on it <a href="http://earthclinic.com/CURES/boils.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<b>Face</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlobZ47NAzAe7gsKz6VszkbTqwB9vYiK0_70nzjOFkg1nhzHtHeNTFX0rg5glPiltUtye9KSpwIR_YJ9lOEnEVCxk3nFaexyEC_Di__iXSQpfhsl-HrNcT3Olytcye8IFFsnm2pWKevcx/s1600/turmeric1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlobZ47NAzAe7gsKz6VszkbTqwB9vYiK0_70nzjOFkg1nhzHtHeNTFX0rg5glPiltUtye9KSpwIR_YJ9lOEnEVCxk3nFaexyEC_Di__iXSQpfhsl-HrNcT3Olytcye8IFFsnm2pWKevcx/s320/turmeric1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Some ladies apply turmeric on their face to keep their skin in good condition, free from blemishes, and for the "golden" complexion. I haven't gone this far yet to actually leave my room with a yellow face, but i have seen plenty of women in the city who have! Since it's quite normal here, no one even really notices it. Indian ladies actually have a Haldi Ceremony before marriage, where they apply a mixture of turmeric, sandalwood paste and milk on the skin for beautification as well as to remove any evil eye!<br />
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<b>Diarrhea</b><br />
Taking a turmeric decoction internally is said to stop diarrhea within minutes! It is also useful in healthy digestion and removing flatulence.<br />
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<b>Sore Throat</b><br />
Last time I had a sore throat, I was gargling with salt water. A friend of mine then suggested to try gargling with turmeric instead as it will be more potent. I ended up gargling with a mixture of black pepper and turmeric, and it really helped! Good for the winter months.<br />
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<b>Ants</b><br />
I've seen all around the villages turmeric kept in corners, cracks and holes in the floor. It is used to control insects and particularly ants.<br />
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To sum it up briefly, turmeric is a great spice to have... in your food. on your skin. and in your system! I really recommend to use it, and of course preferably organic turmeric.<br />
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Do you have any experience with it? Please do share!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-69443847833912292022013-08-01T12:17:00.000+05:302013-08-01T12:17:01.405+05:30Ayurveda at Kairali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I recently visited the <a href="http://www.ayurvedichealingvillage.com/" target="_blank">Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village</a>
for some ayurvedic treatment. To describe it in 3 words, it was: TOTAL
relaxation and rejuvenation! Kairali is located in Kerala, South India,
near by a small town called Palakkad. It is an absolutely beautiful
resort, nestled among many rice fields and coconut trees, away from the
busy city. As you drive towards it, you can already feel the calmness
and peace settling upon you by seeing the beautiful landscapes. But as
soon as you enter the resort, the real tranquility takes over.</div>
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They have many cottages, which have been made according to <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastu_shastra" target="_blank">vastu</a> shastra (</i>Ancient scriptures with guidelines how to build houses auspiciously), and are named after the <i>nakshatras </i>(star signs) of the Hindu calender. There is a yoga hall, meditation hall, a library and small gym, a swimming pool which looked inviting, and a dining hall. The food served here was amazing!!! Super tasty, wholesome and healthy, traditional South Indian dishes. I guess it all depends on your treatment, but we went for the general set menu. Each meal was something we looked forward to very much! They also served special 'herbal' water with a nice pink colour, which helps all the more for the treatments to be effective.<br />
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Now, let's get to the exciting part... the treatments!! They have two doctors, and several nurses. They evaluate your current health condition, and then prescribe the treatments you have to undertake. I went for a simple rejuvenation treatment, which involved two sessions per day. I had <i>abhyanga</i> (oil bath & massage), <i>shirodhara</i> (oil being poured on the forehead), <i>pizhichil</i> (two liter oil bath), and a face pack, with a daily steam session in addition. I haven't felt this good in months!!! Even just a few days of treatment made a significant effect on me. My skin was glowing. My hair was super soft (after the oil came out). I felt very calm and peaceful inside. Any small body pain or discomfort went away... And i slept like an angel!<br />
<br />The treatment center is very professional. They know exactly what to do, and take care of you in such a great way! After each treatment we had steam session, followed by a bath where we use green gram powder to scrub off the oil from the body. It's a fantastic cleanser! It absorbs the oil, scrubs the dead cells, and leaves your skin feeling soft and nourished.<br />
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Ayurveda is an amazing system of healing and prevention, which comes from ancient scriptures in India. All medicines are plant based. As well external treatment such as massages etc, one can take internal medicines depending on the ailment. According to ayurveda (which means knowledge of life), every human being is composed of three doshas:<br />
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"The basic principles of Ayurveda deal with the natural way of living a healthy life. Every human being is a unique combination of the five elements – earth, water, fire, air and space, making up the three vital forces of life –<i>“Vata”</i> representing ether and air, <i>“Pita”</i> combining fire and water, and <i>“Kapha”</i> meaning water and earth. The perfect balance of these vital forces results in true health." <span style="color: #444444;">-<a href="http://ayurvedichealingvillage.com/" target="_blank">Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village</a></span></blockquote>
It is when the <i>doshas</i> are out of balance, that the body gets disturbed or sick. Thus ayurveda helps to bring back into balance these three doshas. According to Kairali, the two main jobs of Ayurveda are to prevent and to cure ailments:<br />
<blockquote>
<b>"Rejuvenation programs</b> at our Ayurveda centers are a combination of medicinal massage and herbal remedies, helping to boost general wellbeing and strengthen the immune system<br /><br /> <b>The curative aspect </b>of Ayurveda works towards the total eradication of a particular ailment, and aims to bring the body to a perfect balance of health. Almost all known diseases can be treated with Ayurveda, including paralysis, spondylitis, arthritis, rheumatism, bone and joint disorders, slipped disk, anxiety, depression, nervous disorders, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac related disorders, sinusitis, migraine and many more. In most of these cases we see an improvement of nearly 80% after a patient goes through an Ayurvedic treatment process."</blockquote>
I very much recommend everyone to undergo Ayurvedic treatment every year. It does wonders to your body, your whole system, your mind, and your general sense of wellbeing. You will feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and very peaceful after undergoing treatment. I think its one of the best creations on this earth for human beings to enjoy! And if you are looking for a traditional and authentic place then Kairali is definitely a great option. You don't feel like you're a hospital patient here, you will feel like a pampered princess/prince, and yet you still get all the therapeutic and healing benefits of the treatments, in a place which is an abode of tranquility, nature, calmness and harmony......<br />
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Enjoy!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-14345731386915667792013-07-23T16:16:00.001+05:302013-09-18T16:23:16.123+05:30"Who Am I?"... Part 2: The Mind & Emotions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKoCqzARpeXxDcZfhHuA8Rsi4tSfyMK-yFfaUsOL3CW_Q9XQc9-4vlG_mixww9JqRvMkgHF_Zu465WKV0ZQY7blJBcLXkYDcV-nCWinofG2gLv9VuSnCzy-U65t6_rZ37YifJJq60W4cq/s1600/monkey.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKoCqzARpeXxDcZfhHuA8Rsi4tSfyMK-yFfaUsOL3CW_Q9XQc9-4vlG_mixww9JqRvMkgHF_Zu465WKV0ZQY7blJBcLXkYDcV-nCWinofG2gLv9VuSnCzy-U65t6_rZ37YifJJq60W4cq/s200/monkey.gif" width="200" /></a>In the <a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/07/who-am-i-part-1-body.html" target="_blank">last post</a> we went through a common error that happens for every human being on this planet... That we restrict our identification only to the superficial, physical level, thereby creating an immense sense of smallness in each of us.<br />
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Another common trap is to identify with the emotions and the mind. When our mind gets restless, we are all over the place. It is often said that humans have monkey minds, and this is no surprise to any of us! From the moment we wake up, the thoughts start coming in, and they don't stop, until we go to bed. Even then, they can keep us from falling asleep! We are all the time overwhelmed with "to do's", "not to do's", "shoulds", "shouldnts", worries, fear, grief, pain, anger, etc. In fact, we are totally submerged in them. We live our life by them, without even realizing it. This can cause tremendous amount of stress and strain to a person, and can easily flow from a mental disturbance to a physical ailment. Let's take a deeper look!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k31zRQkocYoJIkhl3rP63B-_4QZhSHjReWYYunXUxX0Sj0Up_GM0h9IohsK_SxRqy5qCPLHTkWd8qXW7EKmrda9APMGN4Ymcemuuy1UWchZGiU1P7SbLlRNxVTfJLat8fTheUwPsT0B1/s1600/steam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1k31zRQkocYoJIkhl3rP63B-_4QZhSHjReWYYunXUxX0Sj0Up_GM0h9IohsK_SxRqy5qCPLHTkWd8qXW7EKmrda9APMGN4Ymcemuuy1UWchZGiU1P7SbLlRNxVTfJLat8fTheUwPsT0B1/s1600/steam.jpg" /></a>Has it ever happened to you that you got hurt by someone, and that hurt quickly turned into anger. Out of anger you then screamed at the person, insulted him, hurt him back (even a pinch more than you got hurt yourself) and then spent the rest of your day with steam blowing out your ears. The next day you wake up feeling a little better.. and slowly as the anger goes, you start to realize what you have just done the day before, and the damage you may have caused the other person. You then realize that you said alot of hurtful things, start to feel guilty, and (hopefully) will ask for forgiveness from the other person.<br />
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What happened here is that there was no distance between "you" and the emotion. As Pujya Swamiji nicely says "when there is no control, you allow the emotion to take you for a ride". You get so sucked into the moment, the feeling, the emotion, and it determines each of your words and actions! But in fact, it's not really "you" who is talking! It's all a manifestation of the uncontrolled emotion, that goes a long way to cause damage to yourself and others. Anger is nothing but hurt talking. And where does the hurt come from? Usually an unfulfilled desire or expectation.<br />
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So how can we come out of this? The best way is to be like a <i>साक्षी (saakshi) </i>witness, to our emotions. You can feel the anger coming, the irritation, the sense of rejection and hurt- whatever it may be- and you look at it from a distance. Observe the emotion. In fact, welcome it! Let it come, because it is not you- it is separate from you. It is momentarily. And that which is momentarily, cannot be you. So let it come, let it be there, and let it pass. Let it be under your control, as we say in Sankrit, have that <i>शम shama. Shama</i> means mind control, having the capacity to control and direct our mental energy. So that we are the ones in charge, not the emotions. We decide how we feel, rather than feeling drained under a waterfall of emotions. This is a healthy mental attitude to have, and requires great practice!<br />
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Similarly with our thoughts. It's a common tendency for us to impose certain restrictions in our lives. I <i>should</i> be like this (i <i>should</i> be more friendly/ hard working/ determined/ sporty etc) and i <i>should</i> <i>not</i> be like this (i <i>shouldn't</i> be so lazy/ easy going/ direct etc). And we allow our life to get controlled by these self-imposed shoulds and shouldnts, without realizing the harm of it. There is no such thing as you SHOULD. Should why? Who said? For what reason? Why not differently? Why unneccesarily pressurize yourself with such notions? And why impose the same notions to others around us, prescribing them to be a certain way. Allow all to be as they are. Give them, and yourself, the freedom to be as you are. That's true love. It's acceptance. Graceful acceptance of <i><u>what IS</u></i>. This includes love for yourself. Treat yourself the same way you would treat your best friend! It's called being an 'inner friend'. And tell your inner friend this: "There are no shoulds and shouldnts. I will do whatever works for me (or works for us)". That way you can relax, and do things according to your capacity.<br />
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Everyone has heard the famous saying "I think, therefore, I am". But guess what.... even when you don't think, you still ARE! Creating that mental space between our thoughts, worries, and emotions, allows us to keep control and realize that we are separate from them. All these are क्षणिक momentary, but the I, the indweller of the body, is a witness to all of them... As though we are watching a movie in the theatre. We cry, we laugh, we enjoy, we suffer... Yet all along, we know that it's just a movie.<br />
Similarly we enjoy each and every genre of the show of life.<br />
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Further reading:<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/07/who-am-i-part-1-body.html#more" target="_blank">"Who Am I?"... Part 1: The Body</a></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/08/who-am-i-part-3-limitless-whole.html#more" target="_blank">"Who Am I?"... Part 3: The Limitless, Whole.</a></h4>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-28595264065489797732013-07-10T18:38:00.000+05:302013-09-18T16:17:20.568+05:30"Who Am I?"... Part 1: The Body<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every human being, at some point in their lives, will come up with the same questions... Who am I? What is my purpose on earth? Why am I here? Why did this thing/event/situation happen to me? Why ME??</div>
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For some people its a natural state of thought process to be contemplative. For some people these questions arise after retirement when they have plenty of free time to think about life.. and for some people these questions only come after a traumatic experience in life; when suddenly they realize, life on earth is delicate. </div>
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In Sanskrit the term for such inquiry/ exploration is called विचार <i>vicara (pronounced Vi-Chaa- ra). </i>Doing <i>vicara</i> about the self helps one to understand, and realize, who we really are. I intend to guide you along <i>atmavicara </i>over the next few posts, to see where we commonly get stuck, and how to come out of it.<br />
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We are born with natural identification to different objects and things, which we believe we are. We can't help but think differently actually, unless we do <i>vicara</i> and discover the reality behind it. We grow up placing our sense of "I" in the body. However the body is, I am. If the body is in great shape, attractive and beautiful, I naturally feel the same. But if my body is overweight, weak and feeble, I also feel the same. My entire sense of well being, my sense of existence, confidence, and place in this world, seems to depend on how attractive my body is!</div>
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And to top it off, as much as placing our "I" in our bodies, we also place your "you" in your body! I saw an inspiring clip today which beautifully presented this, as said by Dustin Hoffman talking about the film Tootsie. He was to be dressed as a woman, and was surprised to see that he was physically not as attractive as he felt inside: </div>
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""Now make me look like a woman. Make me a beautiful woman"... Cause i wanted to be as beautiful as possible. They said, "this is as good as it gets" [...] It was at that moment that i had an epiphany and I ran home and started crying talking to my wife. [..] I think i am an <u>interesting woman</u>, when i look at myself on screen... but i know that if i met myself at a party i would never talk to her cause she doesn't fulfill physically the demands that we are brought up to think women have to have, in order for us to ask them out. [..] There's too many interesting women I have not had the experience to know in this life because i have been brainwashed." </blockquote>
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(See the whole clip <a href="http://www.upworthy.com/dustin-hoffman-breaks-down-crying-explaining-something-that-every-woman-sadly-already-experienced-3?g=2" target="_blank">here</a>)</blockquote>
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Like him, all of us have been brainwashed. Your beautiful existence, brilliance and sense of completeness definitely does not lie in the body. This is an extreme superficial layer which we have to penetrate, to see who the person really is. But this is difficult. It requires a lot of maturity and understanding. One way to see it is; our bodies are always changing. We are born into tiny little bodies, grow over time, reach a stable condition, and at old age, the body slowly starts to decline. But the "I", the indweller of the body, does he also change? When you think back about an event that happened when you were a child, is it not that the "I" of 1980 is the same "I" of 2013? Even though the body has changed, and may not even look the same at all, the "I" always remains the same.</div>
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So the first step in <i>vicara</i> is to disconnect our strong identity with the body, and realize that we are MUCH more than that! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Note: this is not to say that the body is not part of us. Some teachers will be preaching recklessly "you are not the body". You may not be the body, but you are the indweller of the body.. And the body is totally a part of you, thus needs to be nourished and cared for. Consider it your vehicle for your journey on earth!)</i></span></div>
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So then, what is it that we are? If its not the body, is it the mind? The emotions? The question still remains.... </div>
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Further Reading:</div>
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<a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/07/who-am-i-part-2-mind-emotions.html#more" target="_blank">"Who Am I?"... Part 2: The Mind & Emotions</a></h4>
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<a href="http://lakshyayoga.blogspot.in/2013/08/who-am-i-part-3-limitless-whole.html#more" target="_blank">"Who Am I?"... Part 3: The Limitless, Whole.</a></h4>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-16560569274319773672013-07-04T16:53:00.001+05:302013-07-04T16:53:54.633+05:30Secrets from Mother India: Sesame Oil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sesame Oil is a tasty oil that can be used for cooking and health purposes. It plays a HUGE role in natural healing, as you will see mentioned below.<br />
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<b>Oil pulling</b><br />
This may be a complete new concept to you but I tell you, it does MIRACLES! Oil pulling is an ancient old, ayurvedic method of cleansing the mouth, teeth, and tongue by swishing oil around in the mouth. It is to be done first thing in the morning for most effective results. Swishing around the sesame oil (preferred) between the teeth for 10-20 minutes collects all the bacteria that have been accumulating there overnight, literally "pulling" them out of your system. It is a very effective detox! <br />
<a name='more'></a>It cures plenty of diseases, keeps your teeth and gums healthy and strong, and has an amazing overall effect on your body and health.<br />
I have been doing oil pulling for three months now and I have benefitted a lot from it! All my acne and skin blemishes have totally cleared, my allergies have significantly decreased, and whenever I do have any sinus congestions- after swishing, the passages open up completely within seconds and i can breath again! I highly recommend this for people who are suffering from headaches, sinus congestions, runny noses, and acne. See the chart below from <a href="http://www.oilpulling.org/">www.oilpulling.org</a> for diseases cured:<br />
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How does it work:?<br />
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1. First thing in the morning, take a cap-full of sesame oil<br />
2. Keep it in your mouth and swish it around for as long as possible (10-20 minutes)<br />
3. Don't gargle with it!<br />
4. The oil will turn white after a couple of minutes, this is normal. After you are done, spit it out in the toilet<br />
5. Rinse your mouth well with warm water<br />
6. Drink 1-2 glasses of water<br />
7. Enjoy and experience the immediate effects!<br />
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PS: NEVER swallow the oil!!!<br />
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..."When Dr Karsch examined the gargled milk-white oil under a microscope with 600 magnification, he saw live organisms swimming in it. It's poisonous, so never swallow it, he warns. These poisons are bacteria-embryos, which, if not eliminated, cause diseases. Apparently, Dr Karsach cured his own chronic blood disease and 15-year-old arthritis. </blockquote>
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The first sign of improvement is in the teeth-they become firm and white, he says. Other healing indications: fresh, relaxed feeling on waking up, disappearing dark pouches below the eyes, anew appetite and energy, better memory and deep sleep..."</blockquote>
<br />For more information check: <a href="http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/oil_pulling.html">Earthclinic</a> or <a href="http://www.oilpulling.com/">www.oilpulling.com</a><br />
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<b>Hair</b><br />
Sesame oil is very good for the hair as well. It nourishes the hair, keeps it soft, and is a great alternative for coconut oil to keep the hair in good shape. It can be applied during abhyanga, an oil bath/massage-<br />
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<b>Oil Bath (Abhyanga)</b><br />
Taking an oil bath is an amazing experience! I have never done it before coming here, and now i can't imagine living without it. Sesame oil is a good oil to use on colder days, or if you generally get cold quickly. It has a warming effect on the body.<br />
Heat the oil slightly so that it's comfortably warm.. Apply it on the head and rub it into the scalp. From there on you apply the oil all over your body, from the face down. Be generous and soak your body in oil, massaging it so it can enter the skin. Allow it to stay on for some time, before washing it off either with natural soap, or with powder made of green gram.<br />
You will feel so refreshed afterwards! As if you had just gone to the spa.... yet it's so easy to do in your own home! It nourishes the skin, reduces stress, and rejuvenates your whole system. Enjoy!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-2034075274563337602013-07-03T19:00:00.000+05:302013-07-03T21:22:53.237+05:30The Light Within You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtz4M1sjYD6V0EdzrDQMJcxP7DHe6BnV2mO6mCXAfFZkSMMjq_BCk9nCyLlf3jnvYdrvodUbDoZs5ZsjCHOp1BaEf6NU6J2rX1oUEjlabicOFgqsgo2g55AgCwA8MmyVBBa810ke4E_ii/s275/images-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtz4M1sjYD6V0EdzrDQMJcxP7DHe6BnV2mO6mCXAfFZkSMMjq_BCk9nCyLlf3jnvYdrvodUbDoZs5ZsjCHOp1BaEf6NU6J2rX1oUEjlabicOFgqsgo2g55AgCwA8MmyVBBa810ke4E_ii/s275/images-5.jpeg" /></a>Did it ever happen to you that you felt something from inside and simply knew that it was the truth? No matter how far away this feeling was from what was going on outside, you could feel that this tiny little spark from within had the answer and was going to lead you to the right direction?</div>
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Well, this little spark is not all so little: it is the significant and real you that is talking to you, telling you what to do at that moment. It is the you that is hiding behind sheaths of layers, that knows what is truly the best thing for you. Sometimes we get an idea so crazy, but yet we know that we must follow it, even if it goes against all norms! You travel the road less known, because you know it’s your destiny. No one knows better what’s best for us than ourselves. So when this tiny little spark is there, listen to it, cause it will light the path to a destination so effulgent!<br />
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Many times in life we follow what is expected from us. Expectations are imposed on us since young age; by our parents, education, society, the media, etc. We learn that in life there is a certain path that we have to follow in order to be successful, recognized, and a good human being. Hereby we unknowingly create limitations and boundaries for ourselves, hindering ourselves to reach our full potential. Thoughts, ideas, and images get thrown to us like no other through media, internet, television, friends, actors, models, etc, that make us believe we are not good enough, we have not reached a stage where we can just be happy with who we are- as we are- right now, and unless we work on ourselves (read: work on our waist line, our haircolour, the size of our nose, etc) we will never be happy. This leads to people finding misery after misery, restraining their identity to superficial entities, and taking the simple way out because they are made to believe that they are not capable of following their dreams.<br />
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But behind all these layers and notions, lies a beautiful, precious and limitless wonder: it is you, the significant you, the self. This self knows that whatever you want to accomplish, you can. Whatever you want to be, you are. And whatever you are looking for, it’s on your way! So if on that sunny morning, you wake up with the thought in your head “I think I can do it”, then don’t hesitate any longer- go out there and go get it! It is moments like these when our true self gets exposed to us, and we must learn to recognize it and act upon it. What once started out as a tiny little spark, will grow into a beautiful flame, and will light up the path for you in order to get out of this darkness and get you where you want to be. It is this that is called intuition and faith, and it is there present in each one of us. As we learn to recognize this, we will slowly start to see that anything is possible. All we have to do is listen to that inner voice and go for it, without a single hesitation. You will come to see that you can find from within all you are looking for: a teacher when you need guidance, a friend when you need encouragement, the stars when you need direction, and God when you need faith. With this peace in mind, you can safely go out there and achieve your goal.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-60621476531519515492013-06-19T11:55:00.000+05:302013-06-19T11:55:22.137+05:30Secrets from Mother India: Fenugreek<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Fenugreek, called Methi in Hindi, is widely used in Indian cooking. It adds a delicious yet crispy flavor to any curry or sabji (vegetables) dish. Both the seeds and the leaves can be used, each giving their own flavor and benefits. </div>
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Besides being used in the kitchen, methi is another miracle food that can be used for a variety of things! Being rich in vitamins, minerals and protein, methi can be applied on the skin, hair, and taken internally with medicinal properties. It's known to remove toxins, increase digestion, and provide a relief for long-term diseases.<a name='more'></a></div>
<br /><b>Hair</b><br /><div>
Hair fall? Dandruff? Dry brittle hair? I have had all of these the last three years. Climate change, hard water, and nutrition play a huge role. But when they not in your control, there's not much you can do to change them.... But... Not to worry: you can resort to using methi seeds! I can honestly say that they have helped my symptoms tremendously. Methi seeds are excellent in reducing hair fall, promoting hair growth, reducing dandruff, and are possibly the best all natural conditioner, making your hair silky and shiny!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzT-P9c_le6q_bretvKiwQBEock12VpLlBkdL8C_bEXFVx1sAVbaebckzInhZeLzduvTzKVfegsgfm2lYFk91YtoUSkxgAFc4NMP905bOBNT-kqT-XCdruYpjj6a57Kf0TdNthEVmlir6/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzT-P9c_le6q_bretvKiwQBEock12VpLlBkdL8C_bEXFVx1sAVbaebckzInhZeLzduvTzKVfegsgfm2lYFk91YtoUSkxgAFc4NMP905bOBNT-kqT-XCdruYpjj6a57Kf0TdNthEVmlir6/s200/IMG_0495.JPG" width="200" /></a>It's simply, effective, and all natural! Soak the seeds overnight in hot water. Once you are ready to wash your hair, grind the seeds along with the water it was in, and make it into a fine paste. It should be creamy in colour and slimy in texture. Apply this on your hair. You can add a bit of coconut oil if you like. Let it stay on your hair for some time, but it's better to wash it out before it dries otherwise it will be difficult to remove! After you're done, continue your normal hair washing routine. </div>
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Once your hair dries, you will feel how soft and shiny it is! It is recommended to use this mask at least once a week to combat hair fall and dandruff.<br /><br />
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<b>Skin</b></div>
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If you have already made the paste and applied it on your hair, why not spread some on your face too? It helps to make the skin soft, it reduces redness, and over time can reduce scars too! </div>
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<b>Feeling Hot?</b></div>
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Take some "methi seeds water". Okay, i admit, it doesn't sound too appealing maybe, but it definitely helps! Trust me, this is how i survived the hot summer in India, without AC, on a top-floor room, directly under the sun!! Soak the seeds in hot water, and drink the mixture after it cools down. The remaining seeds you can always use for cooking or making a mask. </div>
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Soaked methi water works really well to cool down the body. It is also useful when you have a fever to reduce the temperature.</div>
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<b>Cholesterol & </b><b>Diabetes</b></div>
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I don't have personal experience with these two, but it is well known that methi seeds help to reduce the 'bad cholestrol' in the body, due to its flavanoids. They are also said to bring down the glucose level, being hyploglymacemic, which is great for diabetic patients. One can soak the seeds and drink the water, as well as chew the soaked seeds.<br />
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All in all, methi is a fantastic food to have. With not enough awareness about its properties, this little seed often gets overlooked for its incredible healing powers. I would say this is a must have in everyone's house! Try it... and feel free to let me know how it works!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-16252367193511963952013-06-12T14:23:00.001+05:302013-06-12T18:32:17.056+05:30Secrets from Mother India: Coconut Oil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mp41rkd2Fa0S8_EZU7kljaF_IZJCMaxzfjTCbCXX8iL_F25rvKixmtdD4WYFpxiAPghIt-OTio0lMR2LMYc2RIplXe5ry-YexCQbvWVbm1vTx-aSHRavimzoR3wRGK6Vt1oeFXgdOsR2/s1600/3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mp41rkd2Fa0S8_EZU7kljaF_IZJCMaxzfjTCbCXX8iL_F25rvKixmtdD4WYFpxiAPghIt-OTio0lMR2LMYc2RIplXe5ry-YexCQbvWVbm1vTx-aSHRavimzoR3wRGK6Vt1oeFXgdOsR2/s320/3a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Living in India, one gets exposed to a whole new world. Every day is a day of learning and new lessons. From food, to customs, to history, to language, to culture, to nature, etc etc. Besides my spiritual studies here, I have also created a profound interest in natural healing, and what better place to learn about this than India! This country is so rich in its natural resources, fertile soil, and an abundance of tropical fruits and vegetables. I will be sharing with you some personal recipes which i discovered and tried over the last three years. This is not based on any doctor's prescription, but from books, ancient folk remedies, and trial-and-error i have come to a growing database of remedies.<br />
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Having (almost) become a South Indian mami by now, it almost self explanatory that the first item i will talk about is: COCONUT OIL.</div>
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Coconut oil is our life here. Literally. We have it during breakfast, lunch, dinner, on our face, on our bodies, in our hair, in the shower, in our soap, under our soles, in our lamps... i think you get the point! Simply said: its a blessing on earth! It has countless healing properties and utilities. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXpr9788qbCzy14JEh-zPBExAHDlBOf2vuElG5ePxiuqsFYn2QQmyISl92MgLNL5EoajzLp90R1pTbgVONzpN-2xUmNa5z2r_SUp94pMVLWUMfuPCWzAiH2Iz3PkyhZ4LMa0ps80Nfmmi/s1600/images-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXpr9788qbCzy14JEh-zPBExAHDlBOf2vuElG5ePxiuqsFYn2QQmyISl92MgLNL5EoajzLp90R1pTbgVONzpN-2xUmNa5z2r_SUp94pMVLWUMfuPCWzAiH2Iz3PkyhZ4LMa0ps80Nfmmi/s1600/images-5.jpeg" /></a><b>Hair</b></div>
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Applying it to the hair works as a great nourisher. It gives life, strength, and fullness to your hair. It protects your hair from dryness and keeps the frizz under the control by locking in the moisture. Indian ladies here apply coconut oil to their hair every morning, as a routine just like we apply face cream. They all have beautiful, long and thick hair! </div>
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If you're freaked out about the greasiness, you can apply it the night before washing.. Allow it to soak in your hair overnight, and you'll feel a great difference the next day after washing! Your hair will be soft, smooth, and shiny! </div>
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<b>Skin</b></div>
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Coconut oil works as a great moisturizer. Throw away those bottles and tubes of commercialized supermarket moisturizers filled with chemicals, and try this amazing natural solution! You can put it on either before taking a shower, allowing it to absorb into your skin, and then wash off the extra oil. Or apply it on your body after the shower as a body lotion. Your skin will be beautiful, soft and firm!</div>
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<b>Acne</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9HCs_I2Ifm0XYMi4B3XZ9QgM4cgbRGi_rPHuSwK38yYdL0GBm8vtEdQkebVpQELBLYT9M8cf8a7B3ZYzihyZzSS6W21U8xgsPQdoXvCY5fQTdqc4sPEOCeu1cI6d8akOnbzWu30vOEbi/s1600/rb16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9HCs_I2Ifm0XYMi4B3XZ9QgM4cgbRGi_rPHuSwK38yYdL0GBm8vtEdQkebVpQELBLYT9M8cf8a7B3ZYzihyZzSS6W21U8xgsPQdoXvCY5fQTdqc4sPEOCeu1cI6d8akOnbzWu30vOEbi/s200/rb16.jpg" width="140" /></a>Nobody will suspect this one... In fact, in the west, the word "oil" and "acne" just don't go together! But this is an exception! A miracle exception! Applying coconut oil on the pimple overnight will definitely shrink it! You can also add a drop of tea tree oil to it, for even better results. Another option is to take a few drops of coconut oil and add turmeric (amazing antiseptic, anti oxidant, wound healer) to it, for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Just make sure to have an old pillow case on your pillow! When Indian girls get their nose or ears pierced, they will apply this remedy on the piercing for several days/ weeks until it is healed. Nothing else!</div>
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<b>Coconut Oil, Turmeric, Honey Face Mask</b></div>
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This is for the real dare-devils! Try this amazing facial mask. Mix a few tablespoons of virgin coconut oil with a teaspoon of turmeric and honey. Apply it all over your face. Yes you will be very yellow and scary looking! Leave it on for as long as possible.... and then remove it.. guess how? with a cotton pad and coconut oil! If there is still some yellow residue you can wash it off with your face wash. </div>
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I love this recipe. Your skin will feel so soft! Pimples go away, and redness reduces drastically. It also really helps against scars. </div>
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<b>Make-up Remover</b></div>
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Throw away the expensive, stinging make up removers! A dab of coconut oil will wipe away all your make up in an eyes blink! No side effects. In fact, it's helpful against the dark circles too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSscF_tV4_d67OB5MjRZP6WrvsWIRfH0iVh-g8MheiuV24lKqbjcsmPeVGOnhjg5dI7Fi82lm85y9EEB_21CLs9fj8z1FDvEwityMQX29Mk9lWYg-DF1qLtsEaJCbqajZoF-fWOnbAhXA7/s1600/12681881-coconut-oil-lamps-in-kapaleeswarar-temple-chennai-india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSscF_tV4_d67OB5MjRZP6WrvsWIRfH0iVh-g8MheiuV24lKqbjcsmPeVGOnhjg5dI7Fi82lm85y9EEB_21CLs9fj8z1FDvEwityMQX29Mk9lWYg-DF1qLtsEaJCbqajZoF-fWOnbAhXA7/s200/12681881-coconut-oil-lamps-in-kapaleeswarar-temple-chennai-india.jpg" width="133" /></a><b>Energy</b></div>
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Coconut oil can give an immediate boost to your energy levels! It has a very high level of MCT (middle chain triglyceride), which the mitochondria (the energy centers of the cells) can directly access when consumed. </div>
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This all sounds very technical, so to break it down: a spoon of coconut oil can very quickly create the necessary energy that the body is lacking! No more fatigue, tiredness, involuntary afternoon siestas! To read more about the energy benefits <a href="http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/coconut_oil31.html#TED">click here </a></div>
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<b>Diet</b></div>
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Cooking with coconut oil is much much much better than cooking with any other oil! <a href="http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/coconut_oil.html#intro">Earth clinic</a> writes this about it: </div>
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Virgin coconut oil is a cholesterol-free saturated fat that is more than 40% composed of lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid well-regarded for potential potential benefits. For lauric acid and coconut oil overall, these health benefits include increased energy and metabolism, reduction in waist size, potential weight loss benefits, antibacterial effects, anti-parasitic effects, and thyroid benefits</blockquote>
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Coconut oil can actually withstand high temperatures while cooking (unlike virgin olive oil), thereby retaining its antimicrobial, anti-protazoal and antibacterial properties. To add to this, it also has a pleasant taste and aroma.<br />
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To sum it up: Coconut oil is fantastic! Try to get a good quality virgin pressed pure coconut oil, and enjoy its greatness in whichever way possible. Take a spoon internally every day, apply it on your skin, and use it in your pan!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-50109583575515711652013-06-02T14:47:00.001+05:302013-07-02T14:59:01.614+05:30A Spiritual Interview<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is the translation of the interviews conducted by Aradhana magazine, and Himsa Virodh- both Gujarati magazines.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>Q: How did you end up in India, studying vedanta and living a spiritual life? </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDRLrdBACFxONkb1qa2NWMUgLQYYOLxAvbE8CcXt2NdYtQtpDEzk2yXyVmINSJlIO-V6N9iFowGln3lEbZazM0fSYb4Z3yLtDvr2o6QEh4rFVFWaj8usKK4zcVaI3qanS4nVeVFIuzlwy/s1600/sivananda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDRLrdBACFxONkb1qa2NWMUgLQYYOLxAvbE8CcXt2NdYtQtpDEzk2yXyVmINSJlIO-V6N9iFowGln3lEbZazM0fSYb4Z3yLtDvr2o6QEh4rFVFWaj8usKK4zcVaI3qanS4nVeVFIuzlwy/s200/sivananda.jpg" width="147" /></a>My interest in spirituality started in my teenage years, when i was introduced to yoga asanas by my mother.<br />
She took me along to a class, and from that time onwards i would regularly attend classes. This continued during college years also, being the only one of my friends waking up early on a sunday morning just to go to yoga class. After college (McGill University, Montreal) i moved to Dubai in 2009 and started working in marketing. It was during a holiday in Indonesia, where the seed was planted and my life would quickly undergo a drastic change. <br />
<a name='more'></a>We went to a restaurant to have lunch, and i was fascinated by a small signboard that was placed on each table. On one side it said "Be good. Do good", and on the other side it said "see God in every face", Swami Sivananda. I thought this was the most beautiful and inspiring thing ever, and after quite some effort i convinced the manager to allow me to buy it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vEoWSa4y4yPsKem8eU6VCoqDMCEB3bxk5ugwj7zUNsaNfnmwM88dHsqq1kCnV55UI5ROd5fWYZrTEFin86Kw4BfavRxwN0vUPMtfu5rQOMCSrn2YfevFUfje7daH7XQPfoBiJflzwMEW/s1600/bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vEoWSa4y4yPsKem8eU6VCoqDMCEB3bxk5ugwj7zUNsaNfnmwM88dHsqq1kCnV55UI5ROd5fWYZrTEFin86Kw4BfavRxwN0vUPMtfu5rQOMCSrn2YfevFUfje7daH7XQPfoBiJflzwMEW/s200/bg.jpg" width="200" /></a>I still have it at home now. I was wondering, who is Swami Sivananda... After coming home I immediately googled it... and that's when my life started to change. A whole new world opened up to me. I bought a couple of books, started reading, and never stopped. I was highly inspired by this great Mahatma and his enormous compassion towards people. It didn't take much time for me to decide to come to India and visit his ashram. I came to Rishikesh, stayed there for 6 weeks, and then proceeded to the Sivananda Institute in Trivandrum where i completed a teachers training course in 2010. From the very beginning i had started to pray to Swami Sivananda. I would pray and literally talk to him in my mind <i>"Oh dear Swamiji. You are so amazing. But where can i find a live teacher like you in todays world? I am longing for a guru and so eager to learn our ancient scriptures. Please find me a guru."</i> Every evening I would pray, and thanks to Bhagavan's grace, my prayer got answered:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDC-SJOcuJUZ-5rbKxSxCBeJyu3l968cEoP_gOeX8ILs3U-q8kHSAz9rTxEI7Wutu96cIpurY3R80WVAkBmSynmumKdVQGZP0so88Heyz4LytMW9eFa3rHkDvg69nz_WthE0bELO7RrY5/s1600/DSC_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDC-SJOcuJUZ-5rbKxSxCBeJyu3l968cEoP_gOeX8ILs3U-q8kHSAz9rTxEI7Wutu96cIpurY3R80WVAkBmSynmumKdVQGZP0so88Heyz4LytMW9eFa3rHkDvg69nz_WthE0bELO7RrY5/s200/DSC_1754.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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I got introduced to Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati, an extraordinary, learned Mahatma; the foremost teacher of Vedanta in India. And with great grace, I then and there found my Guru. Swamiji had just begun a three year course on Vedanta and Sanskrit, and without any hesitation i joined the course in Coimbatore. Today we have about 3 months left. </div>
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<b>Q: How come you moved away from working life? </b></div>
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I was working in marketing for an interior design company, for about 1.5 years before coming to India. Everyday i would be doing the same thing. Waking up early, going to work, coming home late, having dinner, and going to bed. Looking around me, i saw that pretty much everyone in Dubai was living the same life. Living to work. From the very beginning i knew that this is something i cannot sustain, because life is so much more than just working. There was no fulfillment for me, living a routined life only make money. I wanted something different, something meaningful, something that I could have with me for my whole life. Because i have seen and experienced much of the world, i could see that living an ordinary life would not bring this to me, and thus I had decided to come to India, and stay. I even gave up my Master degree in Marketing for which i was already enrolled, because whatever i learned here, is much more than i could have picked up otherwise. <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b>Q: Do you think you had some past-life connection to spirituality? </b></div>
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Definitely. One cannot come to this life, leaving behind all things, without a previous connection to it. The chances are just too rare. Everyone who lives a spiritual life, does yoga, studies the scriptures definitely has been exposed in a past life. Bhagavad Gita says in the 6th chapter that one who did not succeed in yoga (moksha) is born into the home of the wealthy people commited to dharma, or into the family of wise yogins, so that he can again pick up the tread and continue [6.41,42]<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b>Q: How does one find a guru? </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpiGXNIgLnU4iihWbqFLVHsIg_9ubbekbq9Rql0fL8ZrqbTLCL04nMdOqknt69jVHvYoZ80z-TV6AalKHxdWbuhA90ZzvaeTHROpPJfpO1hp97juW_gorxtnlIDDP7pxnJ4ZKdYQClZEy/s1600/guru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpiGXNIgLnU4iihWbqFLVHsIg_9ubbekbq9Rql0fL8ZrqbTLCL04nMdOqknt69jVHvYoZ80z-TV6AalKHxdWbuhA90ZzvaeTHROpPJfpO1hp97juW_gorxtnlIDDP7pxnJ4ZKdYQClZEy/s200/guru.jpg" width="171" /></a><br />
I would say its purely through prayer and grace. If you pray sincerely for a Guru, then there is no doubt about it that you will find one. Every sincere spiritual seeker's prayer is answered. For some it will happen very quickly, and for others it may take years and several trials before they find their guru. You require tremendous grace to have a Guru like Swami Sivananada or Pujya Swami Dayananda. Keep praying and when the time is right, you will find your guru, and start one of the most unique and special relationships: guru-shishya (teacher-student) relationship. A guru is everything for us. Our father, our mother, our god, our friend. He is the one who takes us out of misery into happiness. He is the one who shows us who we really are. This is the ultimate that someone else can do for us. Thats why guru shishya relationship is very sacred, and why so much respect is given.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2399323233372898252.post-86062588826231777422013-05-29T15:35:00.002+05:302013-06-21T11:56:23.107+05:30What You Seek, Is Yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqiNwBhQbibASQG__hzRdxSiPdvZ5XQgllZL0xvC1JjqEQ4Wg_LnU453_t8K6-eAayOrCJwt7UeCpGEJikJhLJ96k-awgy8a4D8ZysmHXciOXdr76_bDUyKOVNRfdcTFE9dbrbn-FEbca/s1600/e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqiNwBhQbibASQG__hzRdxSiPdvZ5XQgllZL0xvC1JjqEQ4Wg_LnU453_t8K6-eAayOrCJwt7UeCpGEJikJhLJ96k-awgy8a4D8ZysmHXciOXdr76_bDUyKOVNRfdcTFE9dbrbn-FEbca/s640/e1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Recently I gave a small satsang talk in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, at the Sivananda Ashram. It was organized by my dear local uncle, Mr. Arun Oza, who had invited some entrepreneurs, lawyer colleages and professors to come and listen. Thereafter two magazines had published it in Gujarati, a women's magazine called "Aradhana" and "Himsa Virdodh" magazine. Below is the summary of it, in English:<br /><br />Human beings have one thing in common; we are all searching for happiness. We search for happiness all around us: in
our jobs, in belongings, in other people, etc. What we usually find is that
they give us happiness for some time</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, but eventually they always come to an
end. One gets a job and is very happy, but over time he quarrels with his boss,
and he is unhappy. He then changes jobs. Again, he is happy for a some time,
but then the commute is too long, he becomes unhappy, and again changes his
job.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is a never-ending cycle. We place our happiness in external objects
and situations. With the presence of the object, we feel happy. With its
absence we feel unhappy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What we don't realize is that the
happiness is within ourselves. The external object or situation, only invokes
the “happy self”. This can be made clear with an example- if I eat a chocolate
bar, I will feel happy. If I eat two or three chocolate bars, I will still feel
happy. But if I have to eat 15 chocolate bars, I will certainly not feel happy
anymore. Although the same object is presented at certain times, it doesn't
bring us happiness at every instance. This means that the happiness does not
lie within the chocolate bar itself. What we have to know is that all happiness,
fulfillment, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ānanda, and </i>fullness is <u>within
ourselves</u>. What you seek externally, is already there: it is you! So rather
than hunting and chasing in the outside world, let us turn inwards, and see the
beauty that lies within us. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is where the lifestyle of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karma yoga</i> and the teachings of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhagavad Gita</i> come in. There are three
main aspects of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karma yoga</i>- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">isvara prasada buddhi, isvara arpana buddhi,
</i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yoga. Isvara prasada buddhi</i>
stands for an attitude, where we take whatever situation that comes to us as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prasad</i> from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bhagavan</i>. Whether it is a positive situation, or a negative
situation, we take it with the attitude that ‘this is meant to be’. The lord
has greater plans for us, and whatever we go through, it is simply a means of
growth and maturity for us. This way we can keep our emotions in check,
receiving life with glad acceptance.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Isvara
arpana buddhi</i> is another important attitude, where we offer whatever we do
to the lord. This allows us to stay humble, providing selfless service in whichever
work we do. Whether it is a pleasant job or unpleasant, offering it to a
greater cause than our personal motives allows us to work and live objectively.
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yoga</i>
means living a prayerful life. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yoga
asanas</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pranayama</i>, and meditation
have a great effect on our minds, emotions and bodies. It calms down our minds,
which it turn will keep our entire system in balance. Living a prayerful life
means imbibing values. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ahimsa</i>, non
violence, is very important in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hindu</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dharma</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ahimsa</i> is not only in action, but also in thoughts and speech. We
should aim for our being to be of least disturbance to the environment and
people around us. This comes hand in hand with compassion, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karuna</i>. Being compassionate to people means giving them the freedom
to be who they are. We cannot change people. We can only change ourselves, and
the way we receive them. Giving others freedom is giving freedom to yourself. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Karma
yoga</i> is nothing but living life, to the fullest. But with awareness, and
objectivity. The whole life is yoga. It prepares us and gives us enough growth
and maturity for the ultimate goal: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">moksha.
Moksha </i>means freedom from limitations and freedom from bondage. Freedom
from the feeling of smallness and insignificance. The way to understand
this is by studying our scriptures. Our ancient scriptures are so sacred
because they hold the ultimate message for us: You are the whole. You are
complete. You are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">purna. Aham brahman
asmi</i>. By studying our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shastras</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upanishads</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhagavad Gita</i>, we can overcome our sense of limitation, and go from dependence
to independence. We need nothing else for us to be content, because contentment
is our nature. We come to know this by studying with a qualified guru, who has
studied the scriptures himself, and teaches within a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sampradaya, </i>a<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>lineage<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>With this sincere study we can reach
that which we search and hunt for our entire life.... Because, what you seek,
is yourself. </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3