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My teacher Harijiwan often says, “At this level of incarnation, nothing is wasted.” What he means is that all your experiences up to this moment right now were given to you to serve you in a positive way, even if they didn’t feel that way on the way up.

This is yet another great philosophy from a great mind. What happens when you accept every moment of your life, good and bad, is that you can get on with things that matter.  Joseph Campbell says that “Regrets are illuminations come too late.” We all have moments when we see things clearly in hindsight that we couldn’t see when we were deep in the fray. To regret things just slows you down. Getting in the habit of acceptance frees you. Accepting that nothing in your life was wasted allows you to use all of your talents from all of your experiences to your advantage.

I used to look back on my life and wonder if I hadn’t made some big mistakes. I realize now that each experience served me… from being a West Point Cadet, to an Army Officer, to a Comedian and Actor, filmmaker, Post Production Coordinator, DVD mastering supervisor, Marketing Director to Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Every moment served me and nothing was wasted. My life experiences, by virtue of being quite varied, allow me to illustrate things to my students in ways that wouldn’t be possible had I not done the things I’ve done. The varied experiences allow me to put a real face on the teachings.

Moreover, my experiences afford me great success in the businesses I now engage in. As a marketing consultant for a real estate firm I have no fear of engaging clients or speaking to big groups-having been on stage and in front of a camera makes my business easier and more profitable. You get the point. Don’t bemoan your life experiences. Use them to profit and enrich your life so that you can be happy and healthy and then give some of it away.

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Well, it’s been a while since I’ve written. There have been days when I had wanted to put something out but sadly I found myself with absolutely no time. It’s actually quite a good thing as what actually happened was an avalanche of abundance for me as I got about a week into the course. In a past life (about four years ago) I had worked as a marketing consultant for a big commercial real estate company in Hollywood. When I left that job, I went completely into Kundalini yoga, finally taking the teacher’s training and ultimately teaching this boot camp as well as other classes. These past few years of teaching have been amazing but it was an interesting study in living. Unless you own your own studio it’s tough to make a living at just teaching yoga. Anyway, the short story is that my old boss recommended me to a property owner downtown who needed my help marketing his buildings. Ultimately he offered me a lot of money to come work for him and I accepted.

So first of all, we now know that the prosperity and abundance and all the gifts that come with dedicated practice also work for the teacher! The elevation and detachment and neutrality that comes with kundalini yoga has allowed me a great ability to do this job without losing my mind. I watch as the people who work around me get very stressed and pulled in by the hectic work. I feel strangely detached, yet each day it seems I am more effective than the next. It’s simply because of this practice. I know when to relax and conserve my energy in between tasks by simply breathing. It’s amazing to go back deeply into the working world and bring back the fruits of over four years of intense practice and teaching.

This is really important to realize because kundalini yoga is a householder’s yoga– meaning it is an intense practice of realization that can be done by everyday people who have lives to look after, jobs, families and big screen tv’s. In a very subtle way Kundalini Yoga by it’s mere existence is proof that spiritual practice isn’t relegated to monks and renunciates.

So this last boot camp was quite interesting. I began the new job on March 17th, the day of my namesake… St. Patrick’s day. So two weeks into the program I shifted into work mode and after teaching each morning I’d rush off to this job which often kept me at work until after 7 pm or later. This gave me an average of 4.5 hours of sleep a night and it was magnificent. There’s a saying… “the more you do, the more you CAN do.” It’s true. Anyway, this boot camp was the biggest ever and perhaps even the best. The miracles of kundalini yoga seemed more clear than I’ve ever experienced before.

One woman told me how she’d been trying to get pregnant despite major problems she’d had with her reproductive system. The problem had put undue pressure on her marriage and she’d come to the boot camp with the intention of removing all the blocks in her life with regards to her marriage and having a family. About ten days into the program, she came up to me after class with tears in her eyes as she related this whole story to me and told me that miraculously, she was pregnant and that her marriage was now better than ever.

Another woman who’d done the bootcamp once before just wrote me after the end of the course and told me how regrettably she’d had to miss the last few classes because of work. She explained that an avalanche of high profile crap at work had her tied up. Despite her inability to make it to class because of time, she made sure to do the meditation at home each day to complete the forty days. She related how ordinarily she would have been completely unraveled by this work situation, but because of the regular practice, especially the early morning practice of the boot camp, she was able to navigate the insanity of this work obstacle course, without getting very dirtied by any of it. In other words, she experienced what we always talk about as one of the benefits of Kundalini Yoga: The elevation and clarity of an expanded radiance literally keeps out the negative situations and somehow, in the clarity of mind that the yoga gives you, the right things just seem to happen at the right time.

For lack of a better way to say it, “my cup runneth over.” I am in awe at how this yoga works for those who practice it with a determination that becomes devotion and reverence. I am humbled by whatever grace led me to teach it and I am extremely grateful to the students who jumped on for this last ride.

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I’ve been absent a while and for that I apologize. A new boot camp always becomes all consuming. This newest program as been a great success thus far. As we’ve finished this first week, the seventeen or so strong souls who’ve come out have been there nearly every day with great dedication and commitment.

I’ve also been involved as an apprentice teacher trainer with Harijiwan and Tej Kaur in their Kundalini Yoga Teacher’s Training in Santa Monica. As an apprentice I am helping out with the program and teaching a class or two on my way to becoming a trainer of teachers myself.

So as a catch-up, this will be a blast of wisdom bits from both the boot camp as well as the teacher’s training.

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This morning as I ended the meditation I was graced with some thoughts which I shared at the end of class…

As you move through your life, don’t pray so much that all of your troubles be taken away, but rather pray that you have the strength to burn them in the fire of your spirit, so that they may give you the strength of experience and ultimately, wisdom. A mere piece of coal under great pressure eventually becomes a diamond. Keep making yourself bright and strong and the darkness of your troubles will slowly disappear.

• This weekend Tej Kaur was teaching about the breath and she said that when you breathe consciously and mentally pull the breath (prana) through the crown of the head (7th chakra ) you actually charge or light up the nadis which are channels of energy through the body that the life force travels on. Breathing conciously in this way and charging the nadis from the top down balances the entire energy system as the breath comes in! This is good to know, especially because of how we traditionally think about breath and the lungs as well as everything going from bottom to top.

I like to read some inspiration if there’s time at the end of class. The following is a prayer that came from Yogi Bhajan and I found it at the end of a lecture called Learn To Love in the book Meditations for the New Millenium.

May your words have projective power, may your face shine like the moon, may your body radiate like the sun, may your brightness be acknowledged by those whom you touch, feel, speak to and befriend. May you learn all the faculties of God– totality, reality, infinity, kindness and compassion. May your prosperity shine through you to serve those who are in need and may you extend your hand of friendship to those who are lonely. May your essence flow, may you be recognized by your best qualities, wonderful manners and your livelihood. May this day bring you all these blessings plus more, so that you can live healthy, happy and holy. May your nine holes be under your control. And may you give your heart to that one who is like God to you, so you can find your infinity forever. Sat Nam.

• We go from individual consciousness through group consciousness to get to universal consciousness. When you relate in group consciousness you see the reflection of the many facets of your mind. (This is why you have to go to class as well as meditate at on your own.)

• Knowledge leads to experience which becomes wisdom.

• There’s a biorhythm of the earth and there’s an individual biorhythm that each person has. When you open your eyes in the morning, if you don’t catch the rhythm of the earth, you are playing catch-up all day. This is why you should play sacred mantras at night while you sleep, so that when you wake up you are surrounded by a vibration of sacred sound and are more likely to be in sync.

• Breath gives you control over your mind and body.

The three most powerful ways to create change in yoga, respectively are:

1. Mantra and sacred sound current (Gong)
2. Conscious Breath
3. Posture or Asana

This is why Kundalini Yoga is quicker than the more solely physical practices.

• Each time you consciously focus on or think about your breath, your aura radiates and expands.

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

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Who: You

What: Kundalini Yoga Boot Camp -

A daily movement breath and meditation course to help you focus, change, remove bad habits, project yourself into who and what you truly want to be.

Why: Because we live in a fast-paced, stressful, distracting world and you need some leverage–some help to access, focus and use all of your energy to its full potential and create your lifestyle to order.

When: 6:15 AM - 7:45 AM Daily (Nobody said it would be that easy!)

Where:

Goldenbridge Yoga Center (map.)
6322 Delongpre Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028

How:Read all about the program, what students have said about it, the FAQ (frequent questions page,) then register at Goldenbridge to change your life.

Benefits experienced by some who have done Kundalini Yoga:

Deep relaxation
Better focus and productivity
More creativity
Less stress
Happiness just being
Elimination of Depression and bad feelings
Losing weight
Greater Aerobic Capacity
A general glowing radiance
Better Relationships with family, partners and friends

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This was in response to a post on the kundalini yoga teacher’s forum, subject: knowledge should be free. The gist was that this person thought it was hypocritical to charge for passing on spiritual teachings. The following is a response.

Many people believe that spiritual knowledge should be free. In many ways it is, but living in a world of duality, one has to give in order to get. That is also in accordance with karmic law. Karma is simply cause and effect, which was proven scientifically by Newton in his third law–“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” As far as charging for this knowledge, the waters get muddy here in the west, in our modern capitalist system.

In the past, spiritual tradition was typically handed down from Master to Student at great physical cost. A new Chela, or student, wishing to find a master and learn the spiritual path would travel arduously up into the Himalayan mountains and once he found the master, would then work for that master for several years or more until accepted. That is if the master accepted him in the first place and allowed him to work. After this tremendous expression of commitment, the student would then get one kriya to practice and master. In that context, if you stop to think about the volume of technology Yogi Bhajan passed on in such a short time, it’s mind boggling. (more…)

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“Gur Prasad - How can we experience this understanding? Gur Prasad is the blessing, the grace, the transforming touch of the Guru, the teachings embodied. Grace alone completes our full merger with the Infinite. This experience is a gift from the Guru. ”

“When your merger is complete with Gur Prasad, what is the natural desire of your soul? To meditate…” –by Yogi Bhajan, From The Aquarian Teacher Textbook - Level 1

download/print meditation

Meditation for GURPRASAD

MUDRA: Sit comfortably with your spine straight. Cup the hands together, with the palms face up, at the level of the heart center. The elbows and upper arms will comfortably tuck against the ribcage. Feel that you are asking & receiving a blessing from God.

EYES: Keep the eyes 90% closed, 10% open. Allow them to close completely during the meditation.

TIME: No restrictions placed on the time. Practice at least 11 minutes.

END: Feel a great flow of energy into your body, psyche, and mind. Just let it happen… health, wealth, happiness, your caliber, capacity. “Gurprasad” means the “Gift of the Guru,” the Universal Teacher. As you practice this meditation, feel yourself being showered by all the blessings of heaven.

This is a very restful posture. The meridian points on the ribcage give immediate relaxation. Fill your heart, fill your soul, with whatever comes to you from the bounties of nature.

OPTIONAL: You can play a mantra, such as “Ardas Bhayee” by Tarn Taran and Friends, as this mantra helps to answer prayers, or, “Dhan Dhan” on the album “Mother’s Blessing” by Snatam and Prabhu Nam Kaur, as this mantra will help bring about a miracle. (listen to clip of Dhan-Dhan)

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Meditation on the Breath For Healing & To Break Depression

(As taught by Yogi Bhajan ) <<download/print>>

Basic Position: Sit in any relaxed position with a straight spine. Relax the hands in your lap, palms face up, left under, right on top; or put the hands in giaan mudra (index finger and thumb-tips, touching).

Eyes: Close the eyes 9 parts, leaving them just slightly open. Focus the eyes on the tip of the nose.

Breath:

Inhale through the nose, in four equal parts, until the lungs are completely full. Exhale through the nose.

Each part is a quick, sniff-like inhale that causes the sides of the nose to collapse in very slightly. It is important to focus on the flow of the breath, and to keep the broken breath equally divided.

Mantra:

The following mantra can be mentally recited on the inhale:

SAA: (Infinity, Cosmos, Beginning)

TAA: (Life, Existence)

NAA: (Death, Change, Transformation)

MAA: (Rebirth)

On the exhale, mentally recite:

Wahe Guru. (Wow! The Ecstasy of that which brings me from the dark to the light)

Time:

Practice this 11 minutes daily, for 40 days (in a row).

Comments: This breath is used to heal one’s self and to break depression.

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The following is written by my teacher, Harijiwan about the teacher’s training experience. I will be participating as an apprentice in this teacher’s training. I urge anyone who has the will and the means to do it. It will certainly change your life. —————————————————————————————————————————

Join the Golden Chain -

by Harijiwan

In Jap-Ji, the celestial song of the Earth and Heavens, Guru Nanak says, “Paatalla Pataal lakh Aagaasa Aagass.” Limitless the worlds below, limitless the worlds above.

The Ancient ones tell of those places where beings are trapped in worlds where the Sun sets. The darkness comes and enters the minds of the people. Pain and confusion occur. People get lost, and can’t find their way.

But, the Ancient ones also tell us of beings of light, pure and bright, who have found a way to escape the suffering of the darkness. These beings have linked themselves to each other and to a luminous place that exists far, far beyond time. This is the Golden Chain. Through the blessings of this ancient lineage, you can find your way to the clear light of awareness. From this expanded consciousness you begin to experience the totality of your potential and the endless possibilities of fulfillment. (more…)

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I’ve often seen people balk at kundalini yoga because they aren’t sure how it would sit with their religious beliefs. I tell people that Kundalini Yoga is the real time experience of everything religion promises or talks about with regard to the spirit– or God. Kundalini Yoga is the real-time experience of the soul of the human being, in the present moment. The exercises and breath coupled with sound current causes a vibration which raises the person’s frequency of consciousness higher. This higher vibration simply makes you feel good, no matter how you define it.

You can take God completely out of it if you want, it doesn’t matter. You can come from a purely medical perspective if you like. Breath and movement and sound stimulating the internal organs, the endocrine (glandular) system, the nervous system, and the electromagnetic field of the brain, causing greater relaxation from stress and better overall health.  You can approach it from pure science if you like. Sub-Atomic particles of matter vibrating at higher and higher frequencies, emitting light.  Everyone likes a person that’s bright.  No matter how you slice it, yoga, particularly Kundalini Yoga is universal. It simply makes you feel good.

It doesn’t matter what belief system you subscribe to- Kundalini Yoga will make you a more devout practitioner of your faith because in Kundalini Yoga, you actually feel the energy that created you and therefore you understand the structure of your religion and belief system even more– no matter what the flavor or denomination. The practice of kundalini brings you into harmony with your soul and from that you intuitively connect with your highest good and in doing so you will see the symbols of your particular faith and religion much more clearly.

Before Kundalini Yoga, I had been raised Catholic and then Protestant, Christian. I had fallen away from these religions because they weren’t satisfying to me. After practicing yoga I came to understand Christianity even more than when I had participated in it. So have no fear, Kundalini Yoga is non-denominational and is not faith based. It is for everyone.

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This is from my friend and fellow yogi Sat Daya Singh. Interesting insights on keeping up with the practice under all kinds of travel conditions. Great food for thought. Although he doesn’t mention it directly, maintaining a strict practice or sadhana against all odds is the epitome of The Power of Intention.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Sadhana For The Adventurer

by Sat Daya Singh

A consistent sadhana is at the core of the Kundalini yoga experience. Change occurs when one follows a daily regimen of yoga and meditation. The consistency chips away subconscious and physical blocks. Keep the sadhana strong and the universe will take care of the rest.

My heart raced during Sat Kriya as my mind interpreted unknown sounds as prowling jaguars.

A daily practice is certainly feasible when one has a set schedule and location. Awaking before dawn to do yoga is practical if one has an apartment and a nine to five job. But what happens to the traveling yogi? What becomes of sadhana if one is at a 14,000 foot campsite in the midst of a howling storm?

(read more ~ Sadhana For The Adventurer)

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