Revolution of Consciousness by Christy Brown.

Monday, January 18, 2010


Martin Luther King, Jr. day



As Dr. MLK, Jr. said in his speech ‘Beyond Vietman’ (1967), “I come to this platform … to make a passionate plea to my beloved nation.” Here, I come to make a passionate plea to my brothers and sisters of my nation and of every nation, race and creed, and most importantly to myself, for a revolution in human consciousness, an evolution of the collective spirit of the planet, an awakening, which if achieved on a global scale, I believe holds the key to our very survival as a species. I ask that I, and together, we, may remain steadfastly, pointedly, and ardently focused on this moment by moment practice of expanding consciousness; of awakening to the ways in which we don’t see and are shaped or even limited by our conditioning; and on the most fulfilling of all journeys, the journey to discover, uncover and free our innate divine nature.



Dr. King spoke of a need for a ‘revolution of values’. Now, as I listen to Dr. King’s speech, and I hear his haunting truths about the need to choose between ‘non-violence’ or ‘non-existence’, and I look around me and see the choices my beloved nation has made and continues to make since the time of Dr. King’s most unfortunate assassination, I feel saddened that the soul of my country, that the soul of humanity has not transcended to a wiser and more evolved place. I feel weighted by a collective conscious shaped largely by the perspectives of those in power who are the beneficiaries of an economic edifice which lacks a spirit of universal morality.



By virtue of the competition-driven nature of capitalism, it is, predictably, a Darwinian survival of the fittest, yet, it has been deemed by many as, at minimum, the lesser evil of the available global economic models. If we are to find a global economic and political system that can sustainably support 12 billion inhabitants, rising ocean levels, increase in desertification, terrorism, starvation, etc., we must transcend the very nature of capitalism, even though capitalism itself may be a cog in the wheel of our own self-preservation. But how can this possibly happen? How can this degree of dramatic shift in collective consciousness happen? What is required is a revolution of consciousness, a revolution of spirit, of individual and collective spiritual awakening of a truly grassroots nature and one which transcends the bounds of religious tradition. Only a revolution in spiritual consciousness will turn the tides that are running toward a bottomless sea of environmental and humanitarian devastation and destruction. We must change this global tide toward life and livelihood for all.



This is a time for humanity to honor all religions and indigenous wisdom traditions and to benefit from the plethora and profusion of wisdom and insight which has been shared and written over many centuries by many of the very individuals we view as our leaders and saviors: Jesus, Mohammed, Gautama Buddha, Lao Tzu, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela….



The teachings on the possibility and means to discover and uncover our inherent divine nature which is One with God, One with All That Is, and which is intrinsically wise, good, bright and pure, is at our very fingertips. Yet as a people and a society, we find ourselves looking outside ourselves for love, happiness and fulfillment. As the ancient teachers and writings of many religions tell us, if we are looking outside ourselves for happiness and meaning, we are looking everywhere except where the answer and the light are to be found.



But who can blame us? Our collective psyche has been shaped to a large and natural degree by our communities, our families, our churches, our governments, our movies, television programs and advertisements. No one is to blame. We must transcend blame and arrive at responsibility for the collective wellbeing of the planet and all its inhabitants, not because it is also in the best interest of ourselves and our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and because we are determined to outlive our evolutionary likelihood of over-population, environmental degradation, and deadly potential of technology, but because it is the right thing, it is the Way; it is the collective embodiment of universal spiritual Truth. It is time for us as a nation and as individuals to be collectively accountable for protecting every future generation’s right to live in freedom and safety from harm. It is time for us to recognize, as a human society, that violence is no longer an accepted, justifiable or sustainable means to resolve conflict. Perhaps it is even time for the separation of church and state to transcend to an even more evolved place wherein a reunion of universal spiritual principles and policies of the state together become a global saving grace.





It is time for the leaders of all nations to wake to the reality that violence begets hatred and more violence and to comprehend the reality of these words by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama: “The very concept of war is outdated. If the twentieth century was the century of bloodshed, the twenty-first has to be the century of dialogue.”





It is time for reconciliation talks between Western and Muslim leaders. It is time for a true and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, and time for Israel to take the lead. It is time for the West, especially the US, to lead in creating these shifts in perspective, because it is the right thing, but also because it is our responsibility given that as a nation, we are directly and indirectly responsible for so much of the devastation and suffering in the world, though we are so very insulated in the mainstream media from this reality of the extremely harmful impacts of many of the country’s domestic and international policies and actions since the national psyche became drunk on its somewhat deserved perception as world hero during WWII. We must now become unified as a single human community devoted to saving ourselves from ourselves, in transcending capitalism without morality, in transcending disregard for the planet for financial gain, in transcending violence as a means to an end.





It is time for each one of us to take responsibility, as a citizen of the planet and custodian of one another, to not only honor and embrace, but to truly seek to embody the universal spiritual teachings at the heart of all great wisdom traditions. It is time for us to take these teachings to their highest form and include the path and practice of awakening, of expanding awareness and consciousness, of self-realization, of the burning desire for eventual enlightenment, both because it fulfills our need for meaning and because it is our responsibility. It is the time for a revolution of consciousness on a global scale. Otherwise, it may be a slow and painful death of a technologically advanced species caught in the evolutionary inevitability of eventual self-annihilation. Yet in the light of this reality, we are asked to remain optimistic and hopeful? It is our only choice. Once we have no hope, we’re doomed. Therefore, as Rob Brezsny explains in his book Pronoia is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings, it time for ‘pronoia’, the suspicion that the Universe is conspiring on your behalf.



This is my plea to myself and to all,
my wish, my hope and my prayer.

by Christy Brown
http://www.christybrownyoga.com/

Yoga Therapy by Antonio Sausys

It’s widely known that Yoga can enhance your physical and emotional well being, but when Yoga is practiced with a therapeutic intention in the form of Yoga Therapy, it can help prevent and aid recovery from physical and mental ailments.


Yoga has long been practiced with therapeutic intentions as a way of transforming both the body and the mind. According to classical texts, most of the problems in our health come from a state of ignorance of who and what we are. By offering a vehicle for self knowledge, yoga provides an opportunity to become acquainted with our essence, in tune with the Oracle at Delphi’s command: ‘Know thyself.’ From a psychological standpoint, therapy is defined as the possibility of accessing self-knowledge that will enable us to change that what we consider dysfunctional. A number of research studies have proven the effectiveness of Yoga Therapy at developing exactly that type of awareness.



The applications of Yoga Therapy range anywhere from maintaining health, to recovering from illness -in some cases, even those considered incurable. The first stage of healing involves the movement of vital forces in the system. Practitioners of many Eastern forms of medicine believe that every illness involves a certain level of energy blockage. By promoting the flow of ‘prana’ or vital force, Yoga combats those blockages, restoring the basic condition for health. Common applications of Yoga Therapy serve structural problems such as spine misalignments or joint function. Deeper applications may even aid more intractable problems such as AIDS and cancer.



By combining different therapies such as massage, stretching or alterations of the circulatory patterns, yoga promotes specific changes in muscles, joints and organs altering the vital functions of the body. A good example would be the way Yoga Therapy can help overcome panic attack. By practicing a balancing breathing technique, a sense of control is gained, combating the fear and anxiety produced by its loss. Additionally, by practicing Tratak, a specific technique that involves eye movement, the pituitary gland is reset via the optic nerve, influencing the 'fight or flight’ reaction so intimately related with the syndrome.



On a psychological level, the introspection promoted by yoga is essential to the self-knowledge process that fuels psychic transformation. The different relaxation techniques allow the troubled mind to calm and decrease its activity while promoting stability. Yoga considers the psyche to be spread in different centers along the body (Chakras) Each of these is related to a nervous plexus, an endocrine gland, an organ or group of organs and specific psychic qualities. By acting upon the chakras, yoga brings light on those psychic contents, making them available to the conscious mind. The modern western correlate of this scheme is in the core of Psychoneuroimmunology, a branch of psychology that studies the interaction between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems, explaining some of the subtle mechanisms of psychosomatic medicine.



The fact that the different branches of science are now acknowledging that everything in the universe works together with absolute, intimate and exquisite interrelationship, is part of the bases of the increasing success and respect that Yoga Therapy is gaining in the main stream medical practitioners. As more clinicians use these techniques either for themselves or for their patients, and as more Masters design more specific applications of the teachings of Yoga, the spectrum of Yoga Therapy grows exponentially.



More than following just one style or one branch of Yoga, Yoga Therapy feeds from virtually all styles and branches, combining the tools that each one of them bring in the design of a Yoga Sadhana, or a routine that addresses the given condition. Even though different Yoga Therapists follow different procedures to establish the Sadhana, a pretty general scheme would first determine the condition to be treated and then an evaluation of the person’s general abilities. Then the appropriate yogic techniques can be chosen from the various styles and/or branches that would best serve the therapeutic process.



At last, the logistical aspects of the Sadhana should be determined, such as order of practice and number of repetitions. The person then can practice this Sadhana on his/her own or receive the expert guidance of a Yoga Therapist. The Sadhana is then updated according to the progress that the student accomplishes.



The integration of Mind and Body is very important for the healing process, but perhaps the main area where Yoga comes in handy is the inclusion of the ‘spiritual’ realm into the equation. Even if the student/patient belongs to no religion or even if she/he does not acknowledge the existence of spirit, the practice of some of these techniques can eventually integrate this aspect of the self

.

After all, the Earth is spinning, and it needs not our acknowledgment, nor it needs us to push it!

 
by Antonio Sausys
 
Antonio Sausys (BA Psychology, MA Body-Oriented Psychotherapy) is a somatic health practitioner and Yoga instructor specializing in one-on-one Yoga Therapy for people with chronic and acute medical conditions as well as emotional imbalance.
During his career, Antonio discovered a key correlation between modern body-oriented psychotherapy and ancient yoguic teachings, integrating the best practices from both worlds. He applies specific yoguic applications working with individuals to create a "Yoga Sadhana". This is a specific and personalized yoguic routine that best serves the individuals' needs and abilities, integrating mind, body and spirit to fully embrace the experience of life.

Yoga: the Music of Opening the Heart

It's a pleasure to collaborate with my friends on Juggling Buddha and share some of the grace of this practice with all, which includes so much yoga music. Throughout my almost thirteen years of steady yoga (yoga in all its 8 limbs as described by Patanjali) practice, the joy of chanting, kirtan, and all the music that has supported my practice through yoga classes in New York City's gyms and yoga studios have inspired a deeper and deeper awareness of each level of this being both human and spirit.

Looking back at all of it, as a musician, I had always been keenly aware of the music, but for years it was secondary - as a means of expression - to my being able to connect to this body through the asanas, the physical postures. But even as I practiced asana intently, I attended kirtans, studied Sanskrit and eventually moved to Ananda Ashram - where it became so evident that music and the music of Yoga was going to take over at the forefront of this practice and my sharing of it - that I have to laugh now looking back at it all. At Ananda Ashram - we chant in the mornings for Fire Ceremony, and we chant to study the ancient scriptures (Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, Upanishads and many more) and we chant as we learn Sanskrit. And the silence of meditation following each mantra is always full to bursting with nadam, the gift of the mantra, "nadam" - the primordial sound of the universe, the "music of the spheres."

Now, I live in Austin, Texas, with frequent monthly trips to upstate New York planned in order to continue my practice at Ananda Ashram and Mudita Yoga Center. Here in Austin, I teach at Love Yoga Co-op where I met David Messier, owner of Same Sky Productions - who captured some of my chanting and is producing some ridiculously rapturous guitar music with this voice. Please enjoy listening to one of the chants, which David calls "Open Your Heart" here: http://same-sky.com/davidstarbuckle/.

I chant "Shri Guru Charanam," a mantra I first heard from Krishna Das - whose love for his Guru is something I deeply understand and connect to. "I take refuge in Guru," over and over again. Today and everday, I continue to chant not only to keep opening my own heart, but also with the wish to share the grace that I have gained from my Guru (our Guru), Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati (Ramamurti S. Mishra, M.D.) with everyone. May we all know that we are always guided, loved and protected.

Om shantih, shantih, shantih,

Sumukhi

Green Affirmations of the Yamas & Niyamas

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the first and second limbs of Astanga Yoga are the Yamas and Niyamas. They are suggestions for virtuous and correct living for spiritual practitioners. The Yamas and Niyamas act as a set of foundational ethical guidelines to reduce suffering and to assist practitioners on the path to self realization and liberation. Affirmations are statements to support the manifestation of your beliefs.
Traditional Yogic teachings, Earth based spirituality and Environmentalism all share a deep respect and reverence for nature. The following affirmations have been created to act as a bridge between the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali and the present day Environmental movement. These affirmations are for personal inspiration and may be used, edited, copied or redistributed by yoga schools and teachers to encourage intelligent living and responsible planetary stewardship.
Yamas -
1. Ahimsa: Non Violence
- I observe the results of my actions so that I may discontinue my tendencies that are hurtful to myself, other human beings and all of creation.
- By eating a plant based diet, I am minimizing global warming and world hunger.
- As I recognize divinity in all of creation, I recognize the sacredness of fragile ecosystems, all beings and myself.
2. Satya: Truthfulness
- I observe the reality of the need for widespread environmental education and action to maintain responsible stewardship of planet Earth.
- I choose to pay attention to the media and environmental research so that I will be aware of the Environmental health and condition of our planet.
- No matter how urban or industrial my life is, I recognize my connection and interdependence with nature.
- I honor the wisdom of traditional cultures as well as modern science.
3. Asteya: Non Stealing
- I give thanks for the food I eat, the water that I drink and for the blessings that I receive from the material world.
- I support 'Fair Trade' agricultural and manufacturing policies and philosophies when trading and working with underdeveloped areas of the world.
- Acknowledging that I consume and receive so much from our Mother Earth, I try to give back something, however I can.
 4. Brahmacharya: Moderation in all action, Directing our vital energy towards the internal divine.
- I reprioritize my constant need to gratify my senses with a more reasonable agenda that includes taking care of others and the health of our planet.
- I conserve my energy by not overindulging in work, sex, eating and sleeping so that I can have time and energy to do my Yoga practice and get outside to enjoy nature with friends and family.
- I recognize the environmental impact of a growing world population when planning the size of my family.
5. Aparigraha: Non-Possessiveness
- I unsubscribe to the ideology that consumerism, urban sprawl and materialism equals happiness and progress.
- I commit to taking only what I need, whether it be at the buffet line, supermarket or the shopping mall.
- I recognize that if we all shared a little bit more and were not so greedy with natural resources and financial wealth, there would be less suffering on the planet.
- I support responsible and sustainable methods of forestry, farming, hunting and fishing so that our natural resources and certain animal species do not become extinct.

Niyamas -
1. Shaucha: Cleanliness, purity of body, mind and environment.
- I choose to recognize and maintain the purity and health of my physical body and mind by eating a healthy and plant based diet.
- I support sustainable methods of organic farming and Earth friendly alternative energy to minimize the toxicity of the natural world.
- By smiling and being kind to all of creation, I am helping to break the chain of negativity and destruction on Earth.
2. Santosha: Contentment
- I am satisfied by realizing that I can incorporate Earth friendly products and practices in my home, workspace and natural environment one step at a time.
- By not being attached to the results of my vigilant work towards creating a healthier environment, I create a work ethic with less suffering and expectation.
- I do my best to develop myself and preserve the environment and I am satisfied with whatever results arise.
 3. Tapas: Discipline, intentional suffering for development and purification
- I am disciplined in my efforts and contributions towards eradicating pollution, war, hatred and violence.
- By buying organic goods and refurbishing my home and workplace with earth friendly products, I am helping to co create a healthier and more sustainable world.
- If the Green goods, services and products that I buy are a little more expensive than others, this is my sacrifice as I lead by example. This is a way for me to "cast my vote" for the changes that I wish to see in the world.
- I wake early to do my Yoga practice with the rising Sun so that I may connect with and be in harmony with the natural diurnal rhythms of the Earth and Sun.
4. Svadyaya: Studying the Self
- By observing myself, I recognize my patterns and tendencies which are polluting my body, the environment and are contributing to global warming.
- I pay attention to what I buy, consume, eat, and promote in relation to its environmental impact.
- I look inwards, study yogic texts and commune with nature so that someday the nature of reality will be revealed to me.
 5. Ishvarapranidana: Surrendering of the ego / Surrendering to the internal divine or ultimate reality.
- I surrender the fruits of my labor to the collective whole by donating money, time and energy to environmental organizations and other non governmental groups working for, health, nonviolence and peace on Earth.
- I listen and pay attention to the wisdom, research and advice of others that know more than me in relation to the health of our planet.
- I realize that I may not have all the answers and solutions to creating a healthier and sustainable world, but I am willing to be guided by those who are leading by example.
by Clayton Horton

A Grocery List of Highly Nutritious Foods

Sprouts: sunflower, mung, lentil, alphalpha

Kelp
Seaweed
Nori
Spirulina
Krill
Wheatgrass
Dulce

Lettuce
Kale
Parsley
Collard Greens
Cilantro
Boc Choy
Radish

Cucumber
Avocado
Tomato
Berries: blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, gogi berry
Apples

Cherimoya

Hemp: oil, seeds, and clothes

Seeds: pumpkin, flax, hemp

Garlic
Burdock Root

Maca

Nuts: Macadamia (unsoaked), Almonds (soaked overnight, 8 to 10 is a day’s serving)

Eight Top Super Foods of Chinese Medicine: goji berries, reishi mushroom, ginseng, cordysep, ho-shou-wu, astragalus, angelica root, deer antler velvet

Other Top Super Foods: cacao, organic bee pollen, honey, royal jelly (food that is fed to the queen bee, keep it frozen)

truth-and-love.

What will survive of us is wisdom-and-compassion, truth-and-love.

Financial Freedom through Purity and Kindness?

It appears to me that careers and businesses that are designed to benefit the environment and empower others are NOT financially rewarding. One who takes this route might feel like they are peddling up swift river. My question is the following:

How can we accumulate wealth through kindness, purity, and expressing our creativity?