The Seventh Limb of Yoga: Dhyana

Posted on May 15, 2013 by

The seventh of the eight limbs of yoga is Dhyana.                                                            Dhyana (Jhana in Buddhism) isYogini meditation, where the ego and the mind are at rest, and thoughts come and go in pure self-observation. Practicing Dharana, or concentration, can serve as a transition from the chattering mind state to the quieted mind state of Dhyana. With practice this self-observation meditation can lead to a completely still mind, empty of all thought.

It is not easy to get into the Silence. That is only possible by throwing out all mental-vital activities. It is easier to let the Silence descend into you, i.e., to open yourself and let it descend…It is to remain quiet at the time of meditation, not fighting with the mind or making mental efforts to pull down the power or the Silence but keeping only a silent will and aspiration for them.

- Sri Aurobindo, The Integral Yoga

However, in order to be able to practice Dhyana, in order to let thoughts and mind chatter come and go and eventually dissipate, we must learn how to relax the mind and remove stress. Meditation, complete stillness, is possible when our minds are calm and cool. The first six of the eight limbs of yoga are practices that help us to de-stress our lives so that we may reach the state of meditative stillness that is Dhyana.

True meditation leads us to wisdom (jnana) and awareness (prajna), and this specifically helps in understanding that we are more than our ego. For this, one needs the preparations of the postures and the breathing, the withdrawal of the senses and concentration…True meditation is when the knower, the knowledge, and the known become one. This is only possible when one is in a stress-less state. 

- B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life

To actualize the blessedness of meditation you should practice with pure intention and firm determination. Your meditation room should be clean and quiet. Do not dwell on thoughts good or bad. Just relax and forget that you are meditating. Do not desire realization since that thought will keep you confused. 

Sit on a cushion in a manner as comfortable as possible, wearing loose clothing. Hold you body straight without leaning to the left or right, forward or backward. Your ears should be in line with your shoulders, and your nose in a straight line with your navel. Keep your tongue at the roof of your mouth and close your lips. Keep your eyes slightly open, and breathe through your nostrils…Many thoughts will crowd your mind, ignore them, letting them go. If they persist be aware of them with the awareness which does not think. 

- from the Fukanzazengi (Zen Buddhist text)

As in the ocean’s midmost depth no wave is born, but all is still, so let the practitioners be still, be motionless, and nowhere should they swell.

- Sutta-Nipata

I felt in need of a great pilgrimage

So I sat still for three days

And God came to me.

- Kabir 15th century Indian poet

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Art For Peace

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

While looking for some ideas for this month’s Bloggers                                                         for Peace Challenge: Art Thou imagesPeaceful I came across the Global Art Project for Peace. “The mission of the Global Art Project is to joyously create a culture of peace through art. The Project celebrates diversity and multi-culturalism while expressing the idea: We Are All One.”

Anyone from any country can participate for a minimal fee or donation. “Participants create a work of art in any medium, expressing their vision of global peace and goodwill. The art is displayed locally in each participant’s community. Global Art Project then organizes an international exchange by matching participants—group-to-group and individual-to-individual resulting in thousands of people sending messages of Peace around the world at one time—visions of unity simultaneously encircle the Earth.”

The next Global Art Project exchange will be April 2014, so those who are interested have plenty of time.

GAP has another ongoing project called Let’s All Join Hands. “People are invited to send a paper outline of their hand with their name, country, and wish for global peace, love, and friendship on it to the Global Art Project. The hands may be created and sent to GAP at any time. Volunteers in Tucson string the hands together as a visual expression of the thousands of people who join their energy together to create Peace. The paper hands are exhibited as a source of inspiration and a book of paper hands The Handbook for Peace is planned for publication.”

As Kozo so wisely stated: I believe that art has the ability to transform the soul. If art can change a soul, then it can change the world.

Check out other Peaceful Bloggers

Join the Peace Movement 

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San Francisco Photography Blog

Posted on May 9, 2013 by

Yes, another blog! This one, however, will be mostly just                                     photography from the streets ofphoto-1 San Francisco…

There are a lot of beautiful, cool, and interesting things to see on and around the streets of San Francisco – murals, chalk art, flowers, architecture… So I thought I’d share them. Most of the photos will be taken with my iPhone. I do have an old digital camera, but the iPhone has a better camera and I’m more likely to have it with me.

And I walk a lot. I have two wonderful Alaskan Malamute pups with whom I walk at least a few miles every day. I also tend to walk to most places because it’s convenient and you never know what you’ll see in this city of nooks and crannies and secret passageways!

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A Very Auspicious Day – Three Award Nominations!

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

sunshine-blog-awardWow, three Blogger Awards in twenty-four hours! I feel very honored and lucky to be able to reach out to so many! I really never even imagined my blog would inspire or even be liked by so many, so thank you to everyone out there in the blogosphere. You all are part of creating this connected, interesting, educational, and fun community.

Thank you to my friend Jerry at Phoport for the Sunshine Award! Check out his beautiful photography at Phoport or his new blog Keeping interesting-blog-award My Eye on the Sparrow.

Thank you my brother-at-heart Ajay at Ajaytao2010 for the Interesting Blog Award! Check out all the stunning photography and insights on his blog.

And thank you to Marcela at PhotographyArtPlus for the Super Sweet supersweetblogawardBlogging Award! More lovely photography I recommend checking out, especially the flowers!

Please see Awards page for more information about the awards.

 

For the following nominees, please choose one of the above awards to accept and pass on (if you choose). “Official rules” are on the Awards page.

1) Riding Effortlessly On A Large Green Turtle

2) Welcome To Our 3mbakery

3) Teacher As Transformer

4) Eddie Two Hawks

5) Yoga With Maheshwari

6) Just Dharma Quotes

7) Pisces

8) Jjbegonia

9) Mi LuMaCa

10) Creative-Guru

11) Lights Of Clarity – My Path To Understanding

12) Wiley’s Wisdom

13) Rumpydog

14) Thek9harperlee

15) Rarasaur

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The Sixth Limb of Yoga: Dharana

Posted on May 6, 2013 by

The sixth of the eight limbs of yoga is Dharana.                                                              Dharana means concentration, but moreBlueLotus specifically it means holding the mind steady on a single focus. By focusing on an object in the mind, such as the lotus, a deity, or even the breath         (Pranayama), we take the initial step for entering into the deep state of meditation, Dhyana. In practicing Dharana, we are still meditators aware that we are meditating, sustaining the flow of our concentration to purify the mind and our intelligence (buddhi) in order to attain true awareness.

As instructed by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita:

Those who aspire to the state of yoga should seek the Self in inner solitude through meditation. With body and mind controlled they should constantly practice one-pointedness, free from expectations and attachment to material possessions. 

Select a clean spot, neither too high nor too low, and seat yourself firmly on a cloth, a deerskin, and kusha grass. Then, once seated, strive to still your thoughts. Make your mind one-pointed in meditation, and your heart will be purified. Hold your body, head, and neck firmly in a straight line, and keep your eyes from wandering. With all fears dissolved in the peace of the Self and all desires dedicated to Brahman, controlling the mind and fixing it on me, sit in meditation with me as your only goal.

And as Buddha explained in the Anguttara Nikaya:

Thus (referring to attachments) concentration is not yet properly calm or refined; it has not attained full tranquility, nor has it achieved mental unification. But there comes a time when the practitioner’s mind gains firmness within, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated. With such a concentration the practitioner is able to direct the mind to states of higher insight.

True concentration is an unbroken thread of awareness. - B.K.S. Iyengar

In my travels I spent time with a great yogi. Once he said to me,

“Become so still you hear the blood flowing through your veins.”

One night as I sat in quiet, I seemed on the verge of entering a world inside so vast

I know it is the source of all of us.

-Mirabai, 15th century Indian saint

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Butterfly Poem

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

Butterfly…Photo0066

there she goes

she glides

upon the earth

flowing through life

existing in peace

in this realm

of pain

and suffering

she brings smiles

and laughter

upon the sullen faces

of all those

who do not

yet understand

that they are

already

where they need

to be

her aura

radiates light

invisible

yet perceived

by all those

who have not

yet chosen

to see

how beautiful

she is

her love

pours forth

from the inside

out

to be

in her presence

to be

in her light

the joy

of which few

are aware

she is

all that

everyone seeks

to be

free

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Butterfly Journal

Posted on May 2, 2013 by

I am very pleased to announce my next                                                                               publication: Butterfly Journal: MonthlyButterfly_Journal_Cover_for_Kindle Contemplations for Spiritual Metamorphosis!

Butterfly Journal is an interactive journal for personal growth and spiritual transformation. Inspired by the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into the butterfly, this journal, with its inspirational prompts, will encourage its readers to grow from the inside out, transforming themselves into more compassionate and joyful beings.

Here is the Introduction to Butterfly Journal:

Butterflies are one of Nature’s most beautiful and amazing creatures. They flutter about like free spirits, but only after having gone through a long metamorphic process of growth and change. They are the only known living being capable of changing its DNA entirely during its metamorphosis from caterpillar, or larva, to the adult butterfly. That is, they go through a total transformation. You could even call it a rebirth.

Spiritual transformation, like the physical metamorphosis of the butterfly, is a very difficult and often painful process. Transformation requires growth and change, and so for our souls to fly free, we must embrace the growing pains. Many of us fear change. Change is scary because the outcome is usually unknown, but it is only by stepping into this darkness, like a caterpillar inside the cocoon, that we can in time grow, change, and emerge to fly into the light. Living, healing, and growing physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually require change and transformation.

To be reborn like the beautiful butterfly emerging from its burial shroud-like cocoon, our souls need to break free from the illusions of the ego and free ourselves from attachment to the physical body and the material world. When we break free of this mental cocoon, we can spread our beautiful wings and fly free.

The Ancient Greeks’ word for butterfly was ψυχη, psyche. They equated these free spirits with life, breath, and the soul itself. Across Shamanistic cultures the butterfly represents:

  • Growth
  • Change
  • Transformation
  • Reincarnation
  • Courage to make change
  • Mental clarity
  • Freedom of the Soul from the Ego

These small delicate creatures have inspired people across the globe to face their own challenges and obstacles and to have the faith and courage to take on the growing pains of spiritually transforming from the inside out. May the butterfly be an inspiration for personal and spiritual growth for all!

To order Butterfly Journal, click here.

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