Recently I purchased a Time (magazine) Special Edition: Mindfulness, The New Science of Health and Happiness. The front cover boasted a lovely young blond woman; closed-eyed, pouty-lipped, and looking on-so-serene. On the back was a montage of photos ranging from a food journal, a young hip black male sitting in pseudo-meditation posture amidst sidewalk strollers, an ocean-side book-reader, and a walk-in-the-woods gamboler. In big bold print was the theme of the issue: How To Be Mindful – Discover why … [Read More]
God is not a Four-Letter Word
Civility & Decency: Hallmarks of Personal & Social Cultivation
It takes little effort to notice the frequency of low-level behaviors demonstrated individually and societally these days. Regardless of whether they stem from matters of politics, social decorum, religion, gender, race, or innumerable kindred topics; all get rendered into a kind of perverse fuel that is disseminated through sensationalistic social media and press outlets. These, in turn, become converted to equally toxic reactive outrage. In fact, one can’t turn on a computer or read a news site without being … [Read More]
Easter Message – 2017
I realize that Easter, Christianity, and the issues surrounding resurrection beliefs can be ‘gospel’ to some, explosive trip-wires for others. My goal in presenting the following is simply to commemorate a significant event in the life and mission of Christ Jesus while also adhering to a conviction that spiritual laws are universal and demonstrated by enlightened ones of all faiths throughout time. Legendary mythologist, Joseph Campbell, includes ‘Resurrection’ as the 11th step in the classic Hero’s Journey, something identified … [Read More]
Spring Renewal: Virtue and Valor
Spring is typically seen as a season of both physical and spiritual renewal. Given the political upheavals confronting this country, and world, one could say that applies – but with steroids! It is hard to remain calmly centered during such periods but that is precisely what we must do while simultaneously acting to restore peace and righteousness to our nation and planet. In many ways what we are seeing outwardly is a reflection of the battle each of us … [Read More]
A Christmas Message
Two thousand years ago the man called Jesus came on earth for a remarkable period and mission. For Christians, Jesus was the ‘one and only’ Son of God. That’s understandable given a literal interpretation of biblical text. Yet other traditions have Exalted Ones proclaiming similar stature. Consider these excerpts from the New Testament and Bhagavad Gita: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things were made by him; and … [Read More]
Spiritual Understanding to Cope with Times of Change
My original goal with this post was to address political turmoil and global strife from a spiritual perspective. For example, Krishna told his foremost disciple, Arjuna: “Get away from My ocean of suffering and misery! Give thyself single-heartedly to Me and I will lift thee out of the sea of delusion.” Likewise, Jesus said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Okay, fine; but not quite. We’re too confronted … [Read More]
Meditation is a Spiritual Practice
As a longtime yogi, meditation teacher, and student of the mystical, I’ve observed the various points through which hatha yoga and meditation have entered the US psyche. Not intending to be historically immaculate, I simplify timeline details using broad brush strokes. The process I reference was most significantly launched by Emerson’s Transcendentalism, the Theosophical Movement, and the eventual arrival of Swami Vivekananda in the late 1800’s. After teaching in America for several years, Vivekananda returned to India but his … [Read More]
Political Correctness is not Spiritually Correct
It doesn’t take much review of current headlines to wonder if we’re truly going to hell in a handbasket. Even I, who firmly believe we’re headed in a positive direction of global unity and spiritual evolution, find it challenging to remain upbeat in the face of such unrelenting negativity. Since the scope of pernicious news topics is so broad, I’ve chosen to address a personal pet peeve, political correctness. The latter is spiritually offensive to me because it fundamentally … [Read More]
Applying Patanjali to Politics
Given the imminent presidential election and corresponding Party Convention politics, I felt it might be useful to examine the process of voting and national governance in light of spiritual principles; in this case the Yamas and Niyamas which Patanjali codified in his Yoga Sutras. The same kind of ethical application could be derived from any legitimate religion because Truth is universal, but, as a yogi I’m familiar with this material and present it accordingly. First, it’s always important to … [Read More]
Foundations of Yoga, and, the Spiritual Life – Part Four
The forth step toward achieving divine union according to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is Pranayama. Pranayama, aka pranayam, in Sanskrit means ‘life force (prana) control (yama).’ Most people familiar with the term believe it refers to yogic breathing exercises and, since life force and breath are intimately related, breath techniques are used to cultivate energy control – but only until it can be governed by mind alone. Paramahansa Yogananda explained that “pranayama is a condition, not a technique.” Its purpose … [Read More]