What Did T. Read in 2022?

 




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Namaste - Godhead, Part I

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C.S. Lewis once said something to the effect of, “I don’t write to express what I think; I write to find out what I think.”  That sentiment has always resonated with me. I, too, try to work things out in my head by writing them down, moving them around, saying them differently, and just praying that at some point, I have a lightbulb moment where I can be like, “Oh! THAT must be what's going on inside me!” Sometimes it works, and sometimes even weeks after pressing “Publish,” I’m still trying to work things out in my head.  I say all that to warn you that this is that type of post.  Several days ago, I posted this to whatever it is we’re calling the Instagram/Facebook conglomerate these days: I didn’t come up with the original, but it really resonated with me, so I shared it to my stories. A woman I’ve met only a handful of times in my life (from church, of course) & haven’t spoken to in years, instigated the following exchange, via direct message: I am not good at co...
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Prana - Just add water

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Some time ago, I read a book about breathing. According to Hindu tradition, each soul is allotted a set amount of breaths throughout the course of his life. It is by this means that the yogi extends his life: by extending the lengths of his breaths. Animals with extremely long lives breathe thusly: long, slow, quiet, and deep. For example, whales can live up to 90 years. Tortoises live up to 150 years. And one species of sharks even reaches 400 years. It's true. Breath matters. Controlling the breath allows us to control the mind. Controlling the mind leads to control over impulses. Controlling impulse essentially allows control over choices. Control over choices leads to control over life. So what is breath? In Sanskrit, the word for breath is prana .  In many cultures worldwide, the word for breath is the same as the word for "spirit." As you breathe out for the last time, we say that your spirit leaves you. In English, "spirits" are also highly concentrated ...
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Tadsana - Mountain

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Here's a picture of me celebrating in front of a big-ass, famous mountain in Indonesia. Unfortunately, it is foggy and you cannot see the mountain. It's probably judgment for lying about menstruating when grilled by the holy man guarding the temple. I've been fortunate in the instructors I've had the opportunity to study under, particularly in Bali. One was Marylene Henry, who studied with the students of Orit Sanj Gupta , who is part of the lineage of Krishnamacharya himself. A bit of yoga history... Around 1,000 A.D. many yogis began moving toward the mountains and caves of the Himalayas, withdrawing from the world. They were devotees of Shiva and their leader was Matsyendra Nath, or the Fish Lord (from whom we get matsyendrasana , or Lord of the Fishes pose).  Under Nath's leadership, it is said that the yogis developed siddhis , or supernatural talents. Periodically, they would come down from the mountains to perform miracles for the common people, in order to d...
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