TUESDAYS @ 12:30 – 1:30 PM
THURSDAYS @ 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Spanda, OM, Nada, Logos, Pranava: these terms denote the vibrational source energy that is pursued, lauded and extolled in diverse wisdom traditions.
In three sessions, explore the significance of vibration, sound and word as a central tenet of world contemplative practices, and experiment with Tantric methods of Kashmiri Shaivism that use vibration as a vehicle for entering unitive awareness.
Survey the role of vibration and sound in global origin stories and in contemporary science-based cosmology.
Utilize simple seated postures and Yoga breathing processes to fine tune sensitivity to subtle vibration.
Connect with the primal power of vocalization and sound described in Vedic, Buddhist and Tantric texts & learn how to apply it in your meditation practice.
Understand the physiologic underpinnings of the capacity of vibration to transform mental and emotional affect.
Speech, language and Meaning: a primer on the linguistic mysticism of Kashmiri Shaivism.
Mantra – what it is and how to use it effectively.
Remove deep seated conceptual obstacles and amplify personal power by exploring the seed mantras attributed to the chakras.
Learn to recognize and relax into the pervasive vibratory Spanda.
Practice radically simple awareness techniques suggested in the texts of Kashmiri Shaivism: The Vijnana Bhiarava Tantra, The Pratyavhijna Hrdayam and The Shiva Sutras.
Explore the profound teachings of the Kularnava Tantra, “the Oceanic Teachings,” of the Ham Sah mantra.
Use the breath to refresh your connection to universal energy.
The sacred moon of the Guru Today is Guru Purnima which is a big holiday for people who love yoga and for people who love their Guru or spiritual master. “Purnima” means total fulness and perfection, and Guru Purnima is the full moon that is dedicated to celebrating the Guru, and it’s supposed to be […]
You will find that intention on liberation is the means to it. When this intention is full no other means is necessary. But when intention is weak what is the use of a thousand means? Therefore the principal means to liberation is intention alone.” – Tripura Rahasya. (date unknown) There is an interesting story of […]
We are contemplating a topic today that probably gives a lot of us the heebie jeebies: Discipline. Discipline, restraint, practice, sacrifice, and consistency: these things form the spine of a yogic life. There is a plaque enshrined at the entrance to the Harvard Law School library with these words: “You are ready to aid in […]
Greetings Students! This season we are contemplating the yoga of Fearlessness In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his famous “Four Freedoms” speech, proclaiming four basic freedoms that people everywhere in the world ought to enjoy: Freedom of speech; Freedom of worship; Freedom from want; and Freedom from fear. This freedom from fear, called “abhaya” in Sanskrit, […]
Your Yoga Tantra Newsletter Greetings Yoga Sangham This month we were contemplating and practicing thanksgiving, delight and recognition. There is a whole philosophical school of Yoga Tantra methodology devoted to this attitude called “Pratyabhijna” : the School of Recognition. Recognition is an orientation to reality that cultivates awe and reverence in place of entitled apathy, […]
Your Yoga Newsletter on the Heart Greetings Yogis and Yoginis! This month we have been exploring the topic of the Heart. The heart has many layers of significance in the sphere of Yoga philosophy and practice. To begin with, Hatha Yoga practices of breathing, stretching, toning and meditation are proven to affect the physical heart […]
Greetings Dear Friends and Sangham Some notes on our topics and the central theme examined this month: THE VOID Void or emptiness is important to both Buddhist and Yoga philosophy. The important thing is not to conceptualize the void but to experience it. This void is called “shunya” in Sanskrit. Last month, we considered the […]
Greetings Beloved Yoga practitioners! This month we contemplated the theme of Intention At the start of the New Year we mobilized our yoga practice to examine the very nature of intent and to clarify and invigorate our goals and resolutions. It seems that intention and purpose are inseparable from life itself. I recently watched a […]
“Of all the instruments of emancipation, Love is supreme.” So wrote the 9th century yogic sage, Shankaracharya who spread the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta: the doctrine of unity. Moksha is the
We were listening to the Bhagavad Gita being chanted, and i put it on for a reason. The Bhagavad Gita is pretty much all you would ever really need to follow the path of Yoga. Its name means the “Song
The Glance of Shiva To the Trinity be praise!God is music, God is lifeThat nurtures every creature in its kind.Our God is the song of the angel throngAnd the splendor of secret ways,Hid from all
Yama and Nachiketa On Tues. we were talking about death, resurrection, and immortality because it comes up a lot in spiritual texts, in yogic texts and of course in the Easter story. Also, because
Breathing Awareness The core of meditation techniques the world over is breathing awareness. Awareness of the breath refines the mind and leads it into a state of meditation. You will find that
There’s an article in today’s Science Times about kidneys that we may find interesting from a yogic point of view. The kidneys filter impurities from the blood, impurities which are then eliminated. Yoga itself is a purgatory or purifying movement and practice. So we do yoga to purify, eliminate toxins physical, mental and even spiritual. […]
One who chants Om, which is the closest form of Brahman, approaches Brahman. This liberates one from the fear of the material world. – Rig Veda, circa 1500 BC Rare is the yogic text or scripture that does not extoll Om as a method of Self realization. You will find there that Om is sometimes […]
You will find that intention on liberation is the means to it. When this intention is full no other means is necessary. But when intention is weak what is the use of a thousand means? Therefore the principal means to liberation is intention alone.” – Tripura Rahasya. (date unknown) There is an interesting story of […]
