The below poem comes to us by way of Kathy P and what a great poem it really is. In yoga serving others and helping others succeed is paramount. Greatness in yoga is defined as making others great – there is no such thing as being great by oneself.
The Bridge Builder, by Will Allen Dromgoole
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide—
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
Will Allen Dromgoole (1860-1934) was a female poet, novelist, essayist, and journalist. She was named Poet Laureate by the Poetry Society of the South in 1930.
Namaskar. Today is Diipavali or Diwali, also known as the festival of lights. Wishing everyone sweet thoughts and much happiness on this great occasion. Read our post from last year about the meaning of Diipavali / Diwali.
The Bhagavad Giita and the greater era of the Mahabharata period offer wonderful stories for humanity. These parables are timeless.
In this particular story, the Great Krishna (Krsna) arrives at Vidura’s house unannounced. Listen to see what transpires.
The teaching from this story is as true today as it was back then: 3,500 years ago.
More stories from this ancient time will be recorded in future podcasts. If you have a favorite, please let us know and we will try and accomodate your request.
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In this podcast, we explore how the law of karma works, as well as how you can improve your karma.
How does an action lead to a reaction? What is a sam’skara? What is prakrti?
What is good karma and what is bad karma? Discover how to escape all karmic reactions completely.
We discuss all the above and so much more in this short podcast about the wheel of karma.
If you would like supportive word doc’s about this topic let us know and we will certainly email them to you.
Your comments and questions are always most welcome.
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This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson was recently posted to the YJ community and I thought I would share it with everyone here.
A successful life
“To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To give of one’s self; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – This is to have succeeded.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)
Here is another interesting statement by Mr. Emerson…
DID YOU KNOW?
Emerson himself was a well-known student of the early teachings of the yogis, having studied the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita.
Namaskar,
To paraphrase the great 16th / 17th century poet Tulsidas, when we come into this world as newborns, everyone smiles in joy and we cry. Yet throughout our lives, we are to engage in so many noble pursuits and benevolent endeavors, that when it is our time to leave this earth, we will smile knowing in our heart that we have done as much as possible to make the world a better place, and everyone else will cry knowing they are parting with a dear and trusted friend.
Note: Tulsidas (1532-1623) was a great mystic poet, philosopher, & bhakta (devotee) who is credited with penning the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of India – the other being the Mahabharata, which contains as a subsection the Bhagavad Giita. The Ramayana comes within the genre of purana, or mythology. While highly educative and of great moral and spiritual value, it is understood to be fictional; in contrast the Mahabharata is itihasa, or educative history, as it recounts real events that transpired on this earth.
Our New Meditation Circle
Starts Thurs Sep 10, 7pm at Galesville Memorial Hall.
Come join in for gentle yoga, meditation, sharing, readings & more.
Be part of a community!!
All are welcome – no experience necessary.
$5.00 suggested donation. Thank you.
Often we think of yoga as being the practice of asanas or physical postures, in which case one may think that progress only pertains to our physical sphere.
However, this aspect of yoga is a stepping stone that facilitates our growth and development – in all realms of life, not just by becoming more bendy and flexible.
The totality of yoga is concerned with the overall flourishing of one’s human personality. As much as anything else, our progress on the path of yoga is measured by how far we represent these following qualities.
Here below are the yogi’s list of the ten qualities of a dharmika (a follower of human dharma or expression of one’s true or highest nature.)
1. Dhriti (patience)
2. Ks’ama (forgiveness)
3. Dhamah (self-control)
4. Asteya (non-stealing)
5. Shaoca (purity & cleanliness)
6. Indriyanigraha
(control over motor and sensory organs)
7. Dhii (benevolent intellect)
8. Vidya’ (spiritual knowledge)
9. Satyam’ (love of truth)
10. Akrodha (non-anger)
With continued effort and practice, all the above manifest with greater clarity within each and every practitioner. Our asanas, our meditation, our relaxation and more help bring us forward on the path.
Note: As I mentioned on another list-serve, just because my name is #9 does not mean that I am that. I think that name was given to me because I was so terribly deficient in that attribute 
Wishing everyone well on the path to becoming a great dharmika!
This podcast – the 4th in this ongoing series – describes, in brief, the life of the Buddha as well as his foundational teaching of the eight-fold path. Learn about Buddha’s brith and early years, why he embarked on a life of renunciation, where he achieved enlightenment, as well as his great gift of madhyama ma’rga, or the middle path.
Investigate each of the limbs of his eight-fold approach: samyak dharshan (right philosophy), samyak samkalpa (right determination), samyak va’k (right expresssion), sayak ajiiva (right occupation), samyak vya’ya’m (right exercise), samyak karmanta (right finishing), samyak smrti (right memory), and samyak sama’dhi (right ideation).
I hope you find this podcast both interesting and worthwhile. Your comments are of course most welcome. Duration: 11min 43sec
Satyam
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This podcast talks about the important imagery and spiritual science related with the lotus flower. Learn about the symbolism of the lotus, Sanskrit terms, and the inner essence of the phrase thousand petaled lotus chakra.
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You have probably heard about Blue Zones, i.e. places where people live longer with an enhanced quality of life. Sociologists and wellness professionals study such places and regularly report on them.
Recently one such blue zone article was written about a town in MN that was adopting 4 practices to increase longevity and vitality:
1) Eat more fruits and vegetables
2) When possible, walk instead of drive
3) Be productive and socially active in the later years of life
4) Seek inner fulfillment
I do not think they intended their list to be exhaustive – just a good way to begin.
What practices and ideas would you add? What do think think contributes to a longer, healthier, happier life?
Look forward to hearing your thoughts and sharing some as well.
Here is a short (5 min), informal talk about how yoga asanas differ from regular exercise such as sports and games.
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This first podcast is an informal, non-scripted talk on the history of yoga. In a short 7 minute clip, follow the history of yoga from the first vedic chants given 15,000 years ago through the great teachings of Sada Shiva and Sri Krsna up to the codification of yoga into astaunga yoga (8 limbs of yoga) by Maharishi Patanjali.
Over the millenia and centuries the Himalayas (literally meaning, "Land of the Ice & Cold") have been home to numerous yogic sages.
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Well our hole turned out to be a great teaching in yogic philosophy.
The law of karma guides us that we have a right to the action – not to the fruits thereof. We are to do and give without expectation of receiving.
Well, we all worked hard on digging our hole. Then the heavens unleashed two days of rain. Our hole became a lake – which was good for the ducks at least.
And in the end, when the pros came with the tree, they dug their own hole 14 feet away and set the tree perfectly inside that hole.
So the hole we dug was never used!
Let me repeat, we have a right to the action but not the fruits thereof.
The main thing is that our tree looks quite at home in her new abode, i.e. hole.
As the popularity of yoga spreads, as eastern and western cultures continue to merge, more and more Sanskrit words enter our daily working vocabulary.
Words like: Yoga, dharma, asana, mantra, guru, and so many more.
At the same time we should not lose sight of the original meaning and usage of the term. Here are some thoughts on the word karma, another word that is frequently used in our English language.
Karma comes from the Sanskrit very karo meaning “to do”. Hence karma is the path of action. But not just any action, only selfless action. Doing good works and sacrificing to help others physically, mentally, or spiritually is that path of karma. The yogis say this is one veritable path to enlightenment. That is one definition of the term karma.
Then there is the law of karma. This refers to yoga’s theory of cause and effect. Doing good actions (sukarma) leads to good reactions (positive samskara). Doing bad actions (vikarma or kukarma) invites bad reactions (negative samskara). There is quite a bit more to the theory than this, but that is the basic idea.
In the past we did an entire workshop on this principle (i.e. law of karma) known as The Dharma of Karma. It was quite a participatory and situational program with many examples to think about and figure out.
Anyway, that is a little bit about karma. If there is any other Sanskrit word you would like to know more about, or if you have questions about this one, here is your chance…
Have a good karma day!!
(The below excerpt is the conclusion of an essay I recently wrote (Yoga: Manifesting Our Dharma) in answer to the question, ‘What is Yoga?’. The introduction is here.)
Yoga means many things to different people, yet ultimately it seems to be about finding happiness and meaning in our life, allowing us to live life to the fullest. Whatever one’s beliefs, career goals, or family situation, yoga will help us discover and share the talents and love that already lie within – making our human life truly great.
To paraphrase the great 16th / 17th century poet Tulsidas, when we come into this world as newborns, everyone smiles in joy and we cry. Yet throughout our lives, we are to engage in so many noble pursuits and benevolent endeavors, that when it is our time to leave this earth, we will smile knowing in our heart that we have done as much as possible to make the world a better place, and everyone else will cry knowing they are parting with a dear and trusted friend.
The practice of yoga stimulates and enhances our growth not just as individuals, but as people who are connected to a greater whole. We no longer view the world as fragmented parts but as a natural extension of ourselves; and, we no longer see others as being separate from us, but as people with whom we have an inherent bond.
Many challenges confront us in our modern culture. Yoga may be part of the balm that will help us unite to face those issues and together discover the solutions. When we become connected to our own heart and mind and realize our inherent dharma, then naturally we can better see the same in others. After all, is that not what living together is all about?
