Aligning with Grace

Every year, I wait for one very special day: The day in between the Mahasamadhi of Paramahansa Yogananda and that of his own guru, Sri Yukteswar, just separated by a mere day... Yogananda's Mahasamadhi is on the 7th of March - and Sri Yukteswar's, is on the 9th. I like to think that Yogananda left his body to be with his own teacher and master on his day. I can imagine the party they had, and like good friends, imagine they stayed up all night getting caught up in each other's lives! (Not that they really needed to do that!) A mahasamadhi, is the "conscious exit" from the body and a particular lifetime by a great being when his or her task is done. It is something that all great gurus and lamas in both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions strive to attain, by living a life enriched by dedicated spiritual practices. It is said, that on the day of a great being's mahasamadhi, they are more present, and the attention they give to prayers and special requests is ampl...

Today, devout Hindus celebrate "Janmashtami " - the birthday of Lord Krishna , a most beloved deity, who gave us the gift of yoga and its enlightening practices... I thought of this, as I carried Grace, my kayak, down to the river this morning. It was breezy, and the beginning of a busy day for me. The waters were very choppy and I paddled vigorously upstream until I reached the point of the first island. This is an area I have not revisited for almost a year and half. I saw a number of noble blue herons, and one actually "waited" for me at the boat launch, when I was coming out of the water, and then flew upstream, where I had been. While I was out on the water, I reflected on the writings of Yogani , which can be found on the Advanced Yoga Practices website. This wonderful teacher has chosen to disseminate many esoteric yogic and meditation teachings - that were previously passed on from teacher to student - in order to make them more accessible to the gener...

The days ebb and flow, like the tide, slowly, and gently... Life has truly slowed down to the crawl of each present moment and there is no place and no time where God is not... I enjoy my days, filled with so much freedom, and devoid of commitments... Rumi's wisdom, comes to me from across the ages, speaking to my heart, acknowledging that the current rhythm of my life is healing and what is needed. I enjoy each breath, and a new lease on life, and taste freedom in each breath, and in each moment spent in the company of friends, loved ones, and whomever the Spirit sends: "The motion of the body, the inhaling and exhaling, comes from the spirit... When you are not with close friends, you are not in the Presence... Be a pilgrim to the kaaba inside, and Mecca will rise into view on its own..." These words come to me in the early morning, and I carry them in my heart, as my husband and I go to explore Euro Cafe, with our various Sunday papers....