Volume XVI, No. 3, August 2009 Ecumenism by Sri Swami Satchidananda Ecumenism is Integral Yoga. Though we follow one teacher, we learn to respect all other teachers. The teachings may vary, but the central teaching is always the same—to know our True Self. That is the first and foremost goal. Once we know the Self, then it is easy to know all other things. Until we “know” our Self, all our knowing will be a big “no.” Because we try to know everything through our conditioned minds, all our knowing will be conditioned, prejudiced, limited, and colored. Real knowing is only with the pure, neutral, and unconditioned mind. We should have that clear and uncolored vision, and that is the purpose underlying all these practices—to remove all the coloring. The mind should be freed from all these limitations and preconditioned ideas. We literally should wash the brain. Wash it clean of all colors and conditions. Don’t merely switch from one prejudice to another; simply see clearly for yourself. That is the purpose behind all the teachings—whether they originated from Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Shankara, Krishna, Rama, or Siva—to keep the mind clean. With all that, even though all the religions teach essentially the same message, we still can appreciate the differences—just as we would want a good garden to have a variety of flowers. If you have only chrysanthemums for acres and acres, you wouldn’t even call it a garden; you would call it a farm. Even if the garden is small and doesn’t have that many flowers, if it has a variety, you call it beautiful. See the difference? If you have only one kind of flower, it’s no longer a garden. Continued on Page 5 Inside The Childplay Yoga Program comes to Yogaville! p. 7 By Gurudass Kaur Ecumenism by Sri Swami Satchidananda p. 1 The Ultimate Goal: Inspiration from Gibraltar by Surya p. 9 Letter from the Editor p. 2 Warm-Ups by Lakshmi Sutter p. 10 The Jivanmukta by Sri Swami Sivananda p. 3 Mindfulness Yoga: Hatha Yoga and the Four Creating the Compassionate Safe Container Foundations of Mindfulness by Frank Jude Boccio p. 12 By Amy Weintraub p. 4 Touching the Oneness by Nischala Joy Devi p. 16 Your Body Speaks Your Mind Senior Speakers Schedule p. 18 By Deb Shapiro and Ed Shapiro p.6 Calendar of Upcoming Programs at Yogaville p. 19 The Goal of Integral Yoga® Integral Yoga Teachers Association Founder: Sri Swami Satchidananda The goal of Integral Yoga, and the birthright of every individual The Integral Yoga Teachers Association is a membership association is to realize the spiritual unity behind all the diversities in the open to all Integral Yoga teachers. Its mission is to provide mutual entire creation and to live harmoniously as members of one support and spiritual fellowship, to share information, to provide universal family. inspiration, and to conduct ongoing training and guidance. This goal is achieved by maintaining our natural condition of Director: Gopal Watkins a body of optimum health and strength, senses under total Supervising Editor: Rev. Prakasha Shakti control, a mind well-disciplined, clear and calm, an intellect Newsletter Editor: Arjuna Guttadauro as sharp as a razor, a will as strong and pliable as steel, a heart Graphic Design: Anand Shiva Hervé full of unconditional love and compassion, an ego as pure as Photos: Richard DiMaria, Sraddha Van Dyke a crystal, and a life filled with Supreme Peace and Joy. Copy Editors: Gopal Watkins, Bhagerati Guttadauro Membership Coordinator: Andrew Godreau Attain this through asanas, pranayama, chanting of Holy IYTA Assistant: Sushila Bales Names, self discipline, selfless action, mantra japa, meditation, study and reflection. Integral Yoga Teachers Association Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. 108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, VA 23921 USA Ever yours in Yoga, Tel: 434.969.3121, ext. 177 Fax: 434.969.1303 E-mail (Newsletter): [email protected] E-mail (Membership): [email protected] E-mail (Director): [email protected] Website: www.iyta.org Letter From The Editor It started out as an ugly mole that started to bleed. A Being a person to get to the dermatologist took one look at it and said, ”that’s coming bottom line of everything, out right now”; and it did. The biopsy report said it was I noted often during those melanoma, the worst of the cancers, very fast spreading. On trying times: What really is to the UVA Cancer Center. They said there was a 50/50% basic and cannot be denied chance that it had already spread to my lymph nodes and/ is the importance of being or vital organs. After surgery removed both the surrounding in the present moment. tissue of the mole and two sentinel lymph nodes, they went When we live life moment to biopsy again. This time the results were negative. I would to moment, we are aligned not die from this disease at this time. with the Divine. When we are aligned with the Divine, Why am I sharing this? First because it was very traumatic miracles do happen. to me, second because reading it may save one of your lives (get that mole checked) and, third, to get into the This Newsletter is chock full of great articles. Swami spiritual growth that came out of it. For more than six weeks Satchidananda’s article on Ecumenism is one subject that he I wondered if I was going to live through this disease. During deeply believed in and broadened the world’s understanding that time, the present moment became intensified and very of. Nischala Joy Devi wrote on Compassion, Amy Weintraub important to me. I wanted to enjoy each moment, to share on Creating the Compassionate Container, Gurudass Kaur each moment in the most loving ways with the people that on Childplay Yoga, Dharmavita and Mitra Shapiro on Your are most important in my life, to overlook any trivial matter Body Speaks Your Mind, and Poep Sa Frank Jude Boccio on and to just love. I looked closely at what I really believed in Mindfulness Yoga. and what death really meant to me. How fortunate we are to have such distinguished authors A dear friend of mine mentioned that the people who did write for our Newsletter. I hope you enjoy the articles and the opposite were lucky because they didn’t have an illness find them educational, informative, and inspiring. to remind them of their mortality and could afford to be disturbed over matters of little import. I wouldn’t have looked Om, Peace, Joy, Love, and Light, at it that way, but it’s a great insight. Arjuna IYTA Newsletter • August 2009 • Page 2 The Jivanmukta by Sri Swami Sivananda A Jivanmukta is a liberated sage. He is released even while should the sun grow cold, or the moon turn hot, or the fire living. He lives in the world, but he is not of the world. He begin to burn with its flame downwards, or the course of the always revels in the eternal bliss of the Supreme Self. Such a river begin to rise upwards. The Jivanmukta is not perturbed person is a God on earth. under any condition. The Jivanmukta is undistracted amidst distractions. The Jivanmukta is full of pure love, compassion, mercy, exquisite The world gentleness, hidden power, and strength. Love and luster shine The phenomenal universe does through his brilliant eyes. not vanish from the vision of the Jivanmukta. He sees the world as The Jivanmukta has not a bit of selfish a dream within himself. Just as the interest in him and is absolutely free mirage appears even after the illusory from worries, difficulties, troubles, nature of the water is understood, tribulations, sorrows, and anxieties so also the world appears for the under all circumstances. Even when Jivanmukta even after he has attained pains attaching themselves to his Self-realization, even after he has body are exhibited on his face, his clearly understood the illusory nature mind never writhes under them and of the world. But, just as the person the antitheses. He is not a slave of who has understood the nature of his moods; he is ever cheerful and the mirage will not run after the peaceful. His higher excellences illusory water for drinking, so the have been perfectly unfolded; all Jivanmukta will not run after worldly divine attributes are fully awakened objects though the world appears to in him. Every one of his weaknesses him. That is the difference between a and limitations is burnt totally. He worldly person and a liberated sage. shines in his own pristine glory, in his own essential nature of divine consciousness. He radiates peace and joy everywhere. Cosmic Vision The true greatness of a realized Yogi is indescribable. His The Jivanmukta beholds the one Reality of God everywhere eyes are serene and steady, his actions perfect and holy, his and in all things. For him there is not distinction between a speech sweet and short, inspiring, and impressive. His gait rogue and a saint, gold and stone, honour and dishonour. He is magnanimous, his touch purifying; his looks are merciful; actually feels that all is himself only; that snakes, scorpions, gestures, illuminating. He is omniscient; he has intuitive tigers, bears, and lions are as much a part of himself as his transcendental knowledge and clear insight into the very own eyes, noses, ears, hands, and feet. His is one with the heart of all things and beings. You will experience a deep flower, ether, sun, ocean, mountain, and sky. He has cosmic sense of peace and harmony, great elevation and inspiration, vision and cosmic feelings.