The theme for August is “Community.” This month’s theme was generated by a small group of teachers who joined the Ashram community for the summer and offer their wisdom and experience through Karma Yoga – whether teaching, organizing, cleaning or preserving cherries. We welcome all of our teachers to be part of the Ashram community whenever you can!

VIDEO
From a Temple Satsang in April 2007, Swami Radhananda speaks about community, and living in harmony, using the metaphor of a flowing creek.

AUDIO
In this audio excerpt, Swami Radha speaks of levels of mind and consciousness – an internal community – and offers help and encouragement as we continue on our individual paths of evolution.

REFLECTIONS

  1. Do a spiritual practice, such as chanting or the Divine Light Invocation, then practise standing still in Mountain pose (tadasana) with "Mountain awareness" at a bus stop or on the street. Observe what you learn about yourself and the world around you. See Inner Life of Asanas, page 119.

  2. "If we refer to the four twenty-five year stages of asrama, the first two are given to learning and duty (family, children), the third is learning under the guidance of a guru, and the fourth stage is to become a guru." (Kundalini Yoga for the West, page 75).The Bhagavad Gita says that one could be born into a family of yogis. Into what circumstances do you want to be reborn? What can you give birth to in your community in this lifetime?

  3. Practice the Tree pose (vrikshasana)with the following reflections: "Trees of a similar kind are found in clusters. They stand together. Spiritual people are wise to stand together – communicating, chanting, meditating under a tree." (Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language,page 121)."As you stand in the Tree pose, be aware of the gesture namaste – the Divine in me greets the Divine in you. Can you feel the Divine in yourself? Can you genuinely extend that feeling out to others?" (Inner Life of Asanas, page 103).

  4. "The Triangle posture emphasizes the three parts in the interplay of forces: dependency, interdependency and interaction…. Think of the trinities within yourself: physical body, emotional body and mental body. Think of the physical world, mental world, celestial world. How are they related to each other? (Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language, pages 79 and 83).

  5. "All community work requires personal work. And all of our inner work requires patience. If we want to have a healthy community, we have to start by making an honest commitment and showing respect for the place we are in personally." Sit quietly for a few minutes, or chant or do a hatha pose and allow your mind to relax. "Ask yourself: What kind of person do I want to be? What are my ideals? How am I interacting with others – am I being straight? By taking time each day to check in with yourself, you build the trust and strength to address what will arise with others." (Living the Practice,page 178).

  6. " If we train the mind to understand and be receptive to the Light and what it really means – not only on an intellectual level, but on a personal level – we create positive vibrations. Ask: How was I created by Divine Light? How can I rediscover this Light in myself? What can I do to discover Light in others?" (Light and Vibration,page 153).

  7. "There is a fine balance between the personal and the communal. We are independent beings, yet we are together in a community, and we have to learn to live on this edge. The human tendencies of procrastination, ambition and preferences need to be addressed in our personal and group work. Our divine spark is nourished and encouraged through community respect and personal spiritual practices…. If you go through a difficult period, do you have the determination to keep on and meet the test? When distractions come up, can you make your own decisions based on your ideals?" (Living the Practice,page 34). Do a dialogue with your divine aspect about one of your human tendencies.

 

Gratefully submitted by the Ashram Karma Yogis for August – Shanti Peck, Tara Naraynsingh, Terry Taylor-Topp and Arlene Trustham.

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