नमस्कार !

I am deep into it working on my thesis. So I have a lot of देवनागरी Sanskrit script running through my head!

I know a lot of you are interested in studying the basics with me. So, I suggest you get this book:

  and these cards:  नमस्ते
अम्बिका देवी

This book is the best thing to come my way! I urge you to read it and pass it on to all of your friends!
The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha On Managing Your Business And Your Life by Michael Roach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book has completely turned my life around! I am very grateful to Geshe Michael Roach for his gentle wisdom and the love that he put into writing this book!

View all my reviews

This is in response to the recent article in the New York Times “Yoga, American Style” which calls out the current trend of Yoga as a competition of the practice of asana. So now we know that this has officially gotten out of control! What is the matter with us that we feel such need to be better than the person next to us? This in no way embodies the true meaning of Yoga.

Imagine what would have happened if the competition lay in the practice of devotion or meditation. Would we strive to be the one who could hear the voice of God first or to receive the first pat on the head? What is wrong with us that we can take an ancient science of life which teaches devotion and healing and turn it into a competition?

We as Yogis all need to take responsibility for this. I am not disregarding nor disrespecting the fact that it is a beautiful thing to "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do," which is so eloquently stated by the great poet Rumi, but come on people! This is ridiculous.

Several years back I gave in and taught at a gym when I moved to a new area and was in need of a job. I gave in, I conformed and ultimately I was miserable. The management would receive complaints if I chanted or did too much Pranayama. They argued with me when I asked to teach classes for an hour and a half and offered to give the extra half hour for free. I was so relieved when they went out of business. It was then that I gained the strength and space to only teach on my own, one on one, the way Yoga is meant to be shared and transmitted from teacher to student. It was then that I decided to work on a master’s degree in the education of Yoga which I am completing this year.

There was a point right before I embarked on this education journey when I felt weakened and went to a large corporate gym chain looking for a job. They made me audition and after a list of don’t chant, don’t do breathing exercises, keep things moving and no more than three minutes of Shavasana I said to them “This is not Yoga for which you seek an instructor and you have no business calling it Yoga. This is an exercise class which has some forms and postures which are inspired by Hatha Yoga.” As you can imagine, they asked me to leave. It saddens me that people go to these classes and hurt themselves.    

I am not disclosing those of you who teach in studios but I see the warning signs of what is to come. Let’s get real here and really look at what is yoga. Be assured I intend to pioneer a new paradigm of the teaching of Yoga and it begins now.

Here is a challenge for you Yogis. Have a good look at what it is that you are doing. Then, set out to draw up a manifesto with yourself to teach all the branches of Yoga. If you do not know them, choose one and study it. Then teach a little to your students. Then choose another and another. If you have been looking at Japa, Mantra or Kriya as something you would not participate in, then look in the mirror and ask yourself if you see a Yogi there.

The time has come for us to discover every leaf and read into every nuance written in the bark of this great tree of knowledge which is Yoga. We must return to the ancient ways and look at all of the information which all too many have skimmed over in their studies.

You may be able to quote some of the Sutras of Patanjali but have you read the Hatha Yoga Pradipika? You may know a few mantras but have you learned Sanskrit and how to write them? Are you truly practicing Ayurveda in your personal hygiene? If you have never lived in an Ashram, try at least a week or a weekend of seva. Dive into the Upanishads of the masters.  Read biographies of the great ones. Get off the mat and help your community. Volunteer. This is all a part of being a Yogi. Go to a temple and participate in a puja.

Regarding Rajasic movement, is just that. Tamasic thinking is just that. How can you ever hope to cross the bridge of Pranotthana of you are forcing yourself into contortions? How can you possibly experience the sweet Amrit of the second half of each pose?

As for Yoga which is taught as the prerequisite to an Olympic sport, I suggest the studios and gyms call it something else. We are not teaching gymnastics. We are not teaching circus performance. We are trying to teach people to be still and be one with the guru within. Through this it is my hope that we all may live in peace and realize our true dharma. Hari Om Tat Sat.
   

Ingredients

1/3 cup ghee
2 teaspoons cumin seed
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 fresh hot pepper diced tiny: green chile pepper, Habañero or dried flakes if unavailable.
1/8 teaspoon Hing powder (Asafoetida which replaces the need to use the non-Sattvic roots Onion and Garlic. If you prefer the roots, use them!)        
2 tablespoons ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Sprig of Curry leaves removed from the stems
A pinch of Himalayan salt coarsely ground.
2 pounds chopped fresh greens. Traditionally Spinach and Mustard. Get creative and try: Kale, Arugula and Chard in combination. I like to chop the greens finely, you make prefer more on the course side. If using the stems, these will be sauteed first and then the leafy bits. Please chop these very fine.
1/3 cup goat milk or yoghurt
1/2 Lemon, juiced
Handful chopped Cilantro  

Directions        
    In a large deep iron skillet, warm the ghee over medium and stir in the seeds. Allow them to bask in the warmth and release their perfumes about 5 minutes.

Stir in the chile, and raise the heat a notch to get them sizzling. Sweat these as you stir for 2 minutes. Add the Hing powder and stir for 1 minute.

Add the finely chopped stems and sweat until the colors shift to translucent. Stir in the chopped greens in handfuls as you stir and coat them wit the spicy ghee blend. Continue to add greens, and cook and stir until all greens have been added and all are beautifully wilted exhibiting brighter hues. Add the curry leaves and give it another stir.

Turn it down to medium add the powdered herbs taking care to incorporate gently into the greens.

Add the yogurt or goat milk and remove from the heat.

Garnish with chopped cilantro and fresh lemon juice.

Saag is personal and so it is up to you whether it is thick and creamy or moist and soupy. It is important to keep the greens bright and cooked just right. Some folks like to put the cooked mixture into a blender or food processor to really make it creamy. This is your call. Saag is a great medium to add sauteed paneer cheese, cooked whole legumes or your favorite cubed and grilled meat if that is your thing. Serve it with Chapati or Roti a flat bread or with a cooked grain like basmati rice or millet.
Enjoy!

Turn your focus inward. Introspection allows us to ponder the more profound aspects of life. This desire to contemplate life creates an ability to withdraw the senses from the seen world transporting us to the inner workings of spirit. Time spent in reflection nourishes the soul. If thoughts about life begin to overwhelm the emotions, a tool which helps to train the mind is integrative relaxation though guided meditation. Guided meditation helps to develop the ability to focus attention of the mind as body completely relaxes. During guided meditation, the listener receives meaningful insights.

Exploring the inner recesses of the soul through guided meditation help us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. Thoughts so easily cloud the mind and carry us away from our focus. This makes reflection a potential source of frustration. As we allow ourselves to be guided through meditation, we find a way to engage in a type of contemplation that focuses our attention. Allowing ourselves to be guided gives us the opportunity to give over to the divine influence and guidance. When we are in a state of relaxed effortlessness, insights come to us that we find ease in embracing. Engaging in guided meditation brings amazing revelations.

I am here to guide you. Contact me to arrange your session.

There are many remedies in your kitchen which cure common ailments. Many of you ask me for this information so I am sharing it here. I get asked all the time how I keep my teeth white. Here is my trick:

Food grade Hydrogen Peroxide.
This is a 35% version of the usual 2-3% type you find in the drugstore. Straight it will bleach your tile grout and kill off mold. Use it in a spray bottle. It makes scrubbing bubbles look like Mr. Bubble!

If you get the 35% on your skin, it will turn it white and look almost like a blister. This burns for a bit but you will be all right in an hour or so. Just run the area under cool water and avoid doing this in the future!

Mix it with drinking water to create a 12 to 18% solution. This is the perfect all-purpose cleaner for your fruit and teeth. I spray some in my mouth and hold it for a while, sometimes up to thirty minutes. It will foam up. Spit it out, then spray your tooth brush with it and use a sodium-based tooth powder like baking soda. There are several brands available in the health food and at Amazon stores like Eco-dent and Uncle Harry’s Tooth Whitener.

Onion magic 
Onions are magnets for germs! Never eat an onion which has moldy black layers. It has been absorbing bacteria from the air! If a loved one is sick place ½ a sliced onion in their bedroom. In the morning the onion will be back and the illness will be considerably reduced! This is a great cure for pneumonia and other bacterial infections.

Lemon magic
Organic lemons are magic! The younger the patient the stronger and quicker this works. For head colds and upper respiratory ailments take a whole organic lemon and wash it well with Hydrogen Peroxide 12 to 18%. Place drinking water in a glass or ceramic bowl. Slice the lemon under the water. This is so you are able to capture the initial zest which is the most potent healing element of the lemon. Squeeze out all of the juice into the water. Use this to clean ears, nose, eyes, mouth and throat. Pour the remaining lemon water over the top of the head and let it run over the entire body. Blot dry and wrap up in clean pajamas, a blanket and rest.

Wet sock therapy.
This boosts the body’s immune system and helps to sweat off what ails the blood. For mild fevers and general malaise try this technique. You will need two clean pairs of natural or white colored socks. One pair is cotton and the other is wool. Wet the cotton socks thoroughly. Wring them out and place them on your feet. Place the dry wool socks over top and wrap yourself up for a nap or to go to sleep for the night. In four to eight hours both pairs of socks will be dry. The immune system will be strengthened and the energy of the subject will be increased. If there had been no appetite it should return.

OM HRIM KRIM HUM SHRIM
OM the mantra of assent
HRIM the mantra of the Great Goddess
KRIM the mantra of Kali, the lightning bolt of realization, the Vajra
HUM the mantra of inner fire, the Agni
SHRIM the mantra of Laxmi,  love and soma

This is the mantra I find myself repeating in my sleep. It has woken me up several days in a row. Each time it stirs my sleep I am having a vivid dream of movement. Though the dreams have been intense, I am undisturbed by the imagery.

This morning I was driving a car from the back seat. I was in a city I often go to, in my dreams. The sky was grey and the energy on the edge of scary. I very rarely find myself being chased in dreams, but this morning I found myself chased by a car full of crazy men. One was hanging out a window and shooting at me. I could hear the bullets ricocheting off of my vehicle. I had no fear. I thought, “I am in the back seat, you are driving.” As I awoke, I was chanting the mantra OM HRIM KRIM HUM SHRIM.

This year begins with my new discovery of the Divine Feminine. She is deep and full of layers into which I sink. Her summons drives me to dive deep into the fecund richness of her realm. The Goddess has many more faces to show me. There are many new songs to be sung and many more stories to be heard.

I give thanks to this medicine dream of healing. Jai Ma!

We search for balance and happiness. This journey can easily get us tangled up in the mind. It is so important for us to remember that the platform for the spirit growth is rooted in the state of the physical body. It is of the utmost importance that we care for the physical body and nurture its state of wellness.

So much of what we are told through the media regarding health and weight is geared at a small slice of the “types” of constitutions. Did you ever wonder why some diets and foods work well for some and not or others? Why can some people eat a block of cheese and others get messed up for days from the same?

Indeed, some of this is genetics but other factors come into play as well. Ayurveda is a great way to understand the balance of the elemental aspects of what we eat and put on our bodies. Ayurveda also takes into consideration the seasons of the year and how this effects the digestion and needs of the body as well. The Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type diet is great for teaching us how our particular blood type reacts to certain foods.

I find a combination of these techniques is what works for me. I had gotten abusive on cheese for a while. I wasn’t feeling good and though I knew it wasn’t right at all for me, I kept eating it. Thank the divine that I found my way to a practitioner of Ayurveda. He evaluated that I was Pitta with Kapha out of balance. He proceeded to  and guided me off the things which were not at all helping and encouraged me to eat more of what this body really wanted. In addition he suggested some herbal blends to be used before and after meals.

So, I sat down with a new cookbook and started to figure out a new way of eating. Kapha’s seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to desert or “fun” food so I am making it a part of my quest to create recipes because “Kapha’s Just Want to Have FUN!”

I am sure there will be more as time goes on. For now, here is my first offering os food, not just for thought, but to warm your belly!

RECIPES!
Curried Kohlrabi & tender Mung Sprouts for 1



 
Ingredients
1 cleaned sliced Kohlrabi whose greens are sliced into medium width matchsticks
1 cup of 3 day sprouted Mung Beans
1-1 ½ Teaspoon Curry Powder
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 oz. Drinking water


Did you ever look at the Kohlrabi and wonder, what the heck are those and what do they taste like and what would I do with them anyway if I did buy them?

Kohlrabi is sweeter and crunchier than Broccoli and I never really liked Cabbage so I won't bother trying to make a comparison to it. Kohlrabi is more like a Turnip in texture and flavor. You can eat them raw if you like, but here is a yummy way to cook them.

Mung Beans are fun to sprout. They grow so fast I swear you can stand and watch them actually grow. When they are in between a soft bean stage, which would be one day of sprouting after soaking and a full on crunchy-good-for-Asian-

recipes-stage which is more like 5 days of sprouting and you are really wanting to eat them, here is a great meal to try! Clean the green hulls off of the Mung sprouts then peel and slice the Kohlrabi bulb. I like to make it into thick match sticks, kind of like small french fry shapes. Take the thicker end of the stems out of the leaves. The outer skin and the thicker part of the stems can be really fibrous and woody. In a heavy iron skillet add 1 Tablespoon of Olive oil and a teaspoon of curry powder. If you like more spice, then add ½ spoonful more. Add the cleaned and drained Mung Sprouts and the sliced bulb portion of the Kohlrabi. Saute on a medium heat, stirring gently, infusing the sprouts and Kohlrabi with the spice. Add the greens and coat all the ingredients with the spice and oil, stirring gently. Add the water and continue to stir until the greens are brightly colored and the sprouts are gently wilted. Move to a plate and serve with fresh made Oat/Millet Chapati bread. Enjoy!

Oat & Millet Chapati bread

3/4 cup Oat flour
1/4 cup Millet flour
2 Tablespoons Oat Bran
1 Tablespoons Olive Oil approximately 1/4 Cup of Drinking Water
More Olive oil for cooking, the amount depends on your pan. You could do none in a non-stick pan.

  In a bowl mix the dry  ingredients. Add the Olive Oil and mix and squeeze the mixture together until you have the consistency of course cornmeal. Add water slowly and form the flour into a ball of dough. Too much water makes a slimy mud consistency. Too lifttle water make a crumbly mess. The right amount depends on the atmosphere so take it slow and be patient.

Form the dough into a ball, place it in the bowl, cover it with a dry towel and let it rest a while. So, go have a cup of tea.

When you are ready to cook the breads heat up an Iron Skillet and add a little Olive Oil. Divide the dough ball into four even amounts and flatten them into little pancake shapes. You can roll them out gently with a rolling pin. Use a little extra flour to keep things from sticking. Rolled out thickness is about 3/8". I find the hand techniques much more efficient and easier!

Depending on your cooking surface, you may be able to cook two at a time. Keep a tray in the oven on 200 degrees so you can keep the finished breads warm until they are all cooked.

This recipe yields 4 small breads perfect for a lunch with soup, stew or stir fry! Add a little kick or spice to the dry ingredients like curry powder or your favorite spice.
Enjoy!

The first step to creating a change is to be grateful for the good things you have. Fighting will only make matters worse. For sure this is the hardest step, the letting go. For it potentially make us feel helpless. The thing is we are letting go into what ever our idea of the divine energy is.

So here's the first key to unlock the doors that you are seeking: "I accept myself as I am and am at peace with the world as it is"

The mind is so powerful it is able to transform things in an instant. So, begin to put your mind to work rather than let it jump around like a drunk monkey which has been stung by a scorpion! Grab hold of your own reigns and steer this in the direction you crave.

Practice self love through self acceptance and devote yourself to making others happy. In love of self we are honoring the god within.

I am embarking on the journey of weaving the threads of my life together.
To call this a spiritual journey feels redundant as all of life is such.
I have always been a seeker and have taught yoga all of my life. I first met the man I call Guru, Yogi Amrit Desai,  when I was seven years old and he visited my school to give a demonstration of Yoga as part of a Springtime celebration.

My seventh year was indeed a major beginning for me as later that year I met Swami Vishnu Devananda as well.  This was also the year I asked for a deck of Tarot cards and began to read them.

As I grew, I studied Yoga with both schools and others as well and by the age of seventeen, I was teaching Yoga. Just this week I have just made the commitment to work toward my Masters degree in Yoga. So, today I begin this blog in hopes that is becomes the bones and ligaments of what is to be my thesis.

Since stringing the ligaments sounds a bit too harsh for most ears, I have decided to look at it like one of my early hobbies: weaving. In order prepare the yarn for the loom, a warp must be wound. It is across these lines that the weft is then threaded through to create the cloth.

So is it in life.  But what really is the finished piece but something which will one day fade away. This type of thinking leads me to ponder the cycle of life which always and thankfully brings be back into the present moment.

Just this last weekend I stayed with my beloved Gurudev and listened at his lotus feet to his darshan (teaching). The love of our lineage poured sweet nectar from his lips lifting a great weight and blockage from my heart. When I have the chance to be with my spiritual father I am uplifted.

It is now here that I begin my propagation of thought with the good intention to feed some of the hunger in the seekers I have the pleasure of knowing, those of you just coming to know me and those I have yet to meet.


In deep gratitude to Gurudev, his teacher, Swami Shri Kripalvanandji whom we lovingly call Bapuji, who was the chosen disciple of Lord Lakulish, the 28th incarnation of Shiva, I dedicate this blog. I am a devoted student to the teachings of these illuminated beings and forever grateful to be a part of this lineage.

Looking back on this last weekend, as I went through the process of unweighting burden of thought, I came to the realization that each time we pass through a gate such as this, a part of us dies off giving fertile ground to a new and much better part of us, which continues to grow.

Birth and death are the natural doors of existence.
Rather than seeing them as in and an out, see them as revolving.
The soul visits this plane for such a brief moment.
Make good use.
Spread love.
Continue with your sadhana (daily practices of prayer, yoga, breathing and meditation).
Realize that which we all go through is consciously chosen and a part of our soul's journey. It is a part of our cosmic education.

What got me to want to string this loom and begin to weave this cloth, was my recent reading of a poem by Bapuji. So it is with this that I bless my path and begin to travel into my bright future.