Obaitori

Yuzu ~ Winter Solstice ~ Purification Rite

Today, I’m taking a Yuzu Bath, known as yuzuyu, taken at the Winter Solstice, it’s a tradition that dates back to the 18th century & is still practised today because of the benefits for the body mind and spirit. Mix three drops of Yuzu, using a carrier oil, coconut milk & or 2 cups of Epsom salt before adding the blend to the bath water. This will help the oil disperse evenly across the water. Immerse & receive the gifts of Yuzu.

 

Affirmation ~ today I choose my own path.

 

Yuzu - uninhibited freedom, independence, truth.

yoga milk ~ sleepy & warm ~

Insomnia, can be one of those crazy symptoms of increased vata in the body. It affects the mind & the nervous system leaving it frazzled. Here today for my beautiful insomniac friends, a few tips from Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic extraordinaire.

This is a beautiful routine I often give my slightly pitta/vata crazy husband, Dazla. He takes on a new persona when his vata is increased. Then I call him Razzle. Usually with an exclamation mark, "Razzle!"

This, very simple program, is suited to most doshas & is a treat before bedtime for all ages.  However, the meditation is only for adults.

Physical Remedy -

♥ take a warm bath, after rub warmed black sesame, brahmi, jatamamsi oil onto the scalp & the soles of the feet, put on a pair of socks. Or make a 10ml roller ball with fractionated coconut oil; 10d Lavender Peace, 10d Vetiver, 5d Roman Chamomile, roll onto the soles of the feet, massage in, pop on your socks.

Body Remedy 

♥ Yoga Milk -

    1. in the morning, soak 10 blanched almonds.

    2.boil one cup of your choice of milk, blend with the almonds.

    3. add 1/8 tsp Nutmeg, 1 drop Cardamom, 1d Black Pepper, 1 d Rose, 1 teaspoon honey (for internal, only use pure oils like        doTERRA)

This tonic increases ojas, calms digestion, rejuvenates the cells & is good for all doshas.

Mind Remedy -

♥ sitting in bed, practise the So Hum meditation for 5 to 10 minutes; start to observe the natural breath, take the awareness to the chest, ingoing & outgoing breath. Begin to hear the natural sound of the breath, so on inhalation, hum on exhalation. The mind will wander again and again, just bring it back to, so hum. Finish with your sankalpa/resolve or simply state, "I will sleep deeply".

Drink your milk & you should sleep like a baby, a very good baby - who sleeps all night ; )

 

 

What if you slept...

What if you slept

And what if

In your sleep

You dreamed

And what if

In your dream

You went to heaven

And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower

And what if

When you awoke

You had that flower in your hand

Ah, what then?

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vasant Lad, Ayurveda, sesame oil, brahmi oil, jatamamsi oil, insomnia, doshas, vata increased, yogi milk, warm milk, So Hum meditation, deep sleep, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, doTERRA, Chamomile, Black Pepper, Lavender Peace, Vetiver

effect of chanting the Mahamritunjaya Mantra

"When the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is chanted, Manipura Chakra is activated. Manipura Chakra is the solar plexus, the seat of Prana Shakti.

Stress creates an imbalance in the manifestation and functions of pranic energy, even the environment and the mood creates a change in the pranic structure, and loss of prana shakti from the Bbody opens the doorway for illnesses and diseases.

Thus, when we Chant the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra 11 times every morning, the sound vibrations and the frequencies are activating the solar plexus, Manipura Chakra, and the weak pranic energy in different parts of the body is re-strengthened.

Once the debilitated shakti is revitalized, then it works to release or relieve the imbalances, illnesses and diseases from the physiological structure.

Therefore, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra has been recognized since time immemorial as the Mantra of Awakening the Pranas, Prana Shakti, the Life force, and Attaining Health. It’s a healing Mantra.

'Maha Mritunjaya Mantra' for the well - being of the Body, Senses and Personality."

~ Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati (Bihar School of Yoga) ~

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ।।

"Mantra shastra is a very deep and great science which, if understood correctly, can give one victory over the lower nature. It is a very ancient science and in previous ages people knew it well. Now, however, people’s faith in mantra shastra has diminished and the actual knowledge has become hidden to the point that anything is said in the name of mantra. It is therefore necessary to clarify this science for the sake of spiritual aspirants."

Swami Satyananda Saraswati ~ Chhattisgarh Yoga Seminar, Korba, February 17, 1974.

For this full article see here.

generosity

We all had a satisfying weekend. I took the children to Satyananda Yoga Mangrove and Dazla fitted out a new yoga centre. The weather was hearty and warm with massive cumulus clouds in the blue sky.

The ashram was filled with lovely people, faces old and new. I unexpectantly met up with someone I used to work with at uni and it was such a joy to see his face and his heart little changed - a heart filled with light.

At the Sivananda Math Chai Stall on the Sunday morning we were spoilt with delights from the 'Yoga, Food and Health' course. We had sweet, creamy Chai served with Armenian Nutmeg Cake, Vegan Chocolate Cake, Fruit Salad and Bliss Balls. We sold raffle tickets, tiny Buddhist statues, organic oregano and handed out knitting patterns for baby jumpers to be sent to India - more on that later. It was a party like atmosphere with Krishna Das playing on the cd, chai flowing and smiling faces.

People were very generous and in 30 minutes we collected $540. Converted into Indian Rupees = 30,280. Around 40% of Indians make 40R a day. So that's lots of love!

I handed out some articles from Yoga Magazine - they celebrated their Golden Jubilee, this magazine is produced and published by Sivananda Math - here is an extract from 'The Basis of Happiness.' For the full article go here.

The goddess of wealth is Lakshmi and her vehicle is the owl who is blind, so she may enter anyone’s house at any time. She may also go away at any time, you wouldn’t even realize when she leaves. It’s only after she is gone that you realize that she has left. Vishnu, on the other hand, arrives on Garuda who can see far even at night. So the wise say, don’t call Lakshmi alone; call her along with Vishnu. Then she will come with him on his vehicle and stay while Vishnu stays. And if Vishnuji is caught once, he is caught forever. Lakshmi does not get caught, she is capricious like a drop of water. But if Vishnu is there, she will not go anywhere because she is devoted to her husband. This has been said in the Puranas.

What this means is that it is necessary to have bhakti in a house that has wealth. It is necessary to have good samskaras and good thoughts, and then the wealth is utilized for the right purpose." ~ Swami Satyananda Saraswati ~

Maha Vishnu Mantra

 

obtaining happiness

I'm reminded again and again that when I chant it is best to chant for the happiness of others and my own happiness. Why? Why not chant for the perfect teacher, the best house, the yummiest lover? Because desire is never fulfilled. We know this when we think we will be happy when we get that really comfy lounge delivered, or that book, or that ingredient, dress, pair of shoes, sewing machine, paint tin or that thing we think will fill the hole. That hole is never ending because we cannot become happy with stuff. It is like adding extra fuel to the fire, the fire continuously burns generating more heat. We need to add more to the fire and it just gets bigger and bigger.

We become happy from the inside out, not the outside in.

If I chant/pray for very specific certain things these things might not be the best things for me right now. How do I know what is good for me right now? I can't see into the future. What I think I need one day can very well change the next. We all know those situations. Imagine you want to enrol in a university course. You chant obssessively for this desired outcome. You get in and then realise that this course is really not you. Getting out of the situation is costly, irksome, uncomfortable. Our mind so easily gets caught up in the intellect, the details, the desire, the want. The mind - it being a very cheeky, drunk monkey - runs away with things. It starts thinking what if, maybe this would be better, blah, blah, blah. Our sweet, dear exhausted mind hops back on that treadmil, around, around, around.

Time to get off.

We all want happiness - I'm sure about that - so how do we develop it?

We start by understanding that we are not this mind. We are eternal bliss divine. This is our nature. It is just that we are caught up in this material life. We are easily swayed by 'things.' I'm highly suggestable. So we become aware of the mind. We watch it like a movie. Slowly, step by step we can recognize why the mind is reacting the way it is and we can become detatched from the mind. It is a little bit like observing a child having a tantrum. Watch, understand, be gentle, sooth the mind. Stand back become the witness. Don't try to control the mind, simple watch it.

In meditation the mind is quietly observed like a movie. The 'stuff' or dross comes up and if there is no reaction it simply sloughs off and up to never return.

The things I need to sort out in mind I look at from every angle. I work out what the 'problem' is. I look for solutions. I find resolves, action. I find amongst most things, hope. The concept to never give up, to never disparage.

I turn my mind to a higher consciousness. I feel happy when I'm sitting at my altar. Life is peaceful there. Sometimes it is a torrent. But I can choose to simply watch it - no reaction.

I replace the negative thought not by supressing it but instead by not-reacting to it. The weeds in my mind turn up and die. I replace it with a higher vibration - mantra. It brings me back to my true self.

Eventually the mind becomes silent, eventually, eventually.

I chant for happiness and the happiness of all other sentient and non-sentient beings.

May you be eternally happy.

 

buddhism at the beach

I'm always working on improving my karma by trying to create good causes and by chanting, singing mantra and all other types of yogic practice. This weekend I've been chanting the Lotus Sutra with vehemence. A mantra chanted daily by Buddhists all over the world. I chant it in Japanese and each time I get better, my tongue wraps itself around the syllables and after 5 years of chanting this mantra, I don't sound so 'foreign.'

This weekend I've been chanting for world peace, relief of all suffering, a Free Tibet!, to change my karmas, a new home, health and happiness for all, my own enlightenment and those of others. I've been giving thanks to all the Buddhas - enlightened ones - past, present and future.

This weekend we also celebrated with friends; a graduation ~ well done Clint! ~ a new baby ~ congratulations Kate! ~ we played kirtan, toasted marshmallows, tap danced, ate and slept.

We paddled at the beach and had a sunset dinner. I sung out over the ocean, nam myoho renge kyo!!!

Hear the Lotus Sutra; here, not at all relaxing but full power, here, with explanation and, here, in Tibetan.

"You are not alone because all the time there are numberless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas surrounding you, everywhere loving you, guiding you, that is what they do".

~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche‏ ~

I'm joining up with Amanda from Habit of Being for Weekending. How was your weekend?

He Murali

 

 

Here is a fabulous kirtan that Dazla and I recorded with my dear friend Andy Wright a number of years ago. I thought I would put it out there and see what sort of response we get. If I was to categorize it I'd say it is kirtan dance and if you like it leave a comment and feel free to share it around. Krishna is usually depicted as playing the flute (murali), indicating spreading the melody of love to people.

 

Download 01 he murali

 

Brother Heather {left}, Dazla, Terrigal beach house, circa 2005.

Love Katie x

Krishna's Birthday 2011

Krishna means all the beautiful things in life. It is the energy that represents love, art, beauty, control over the senses, life, joy, peace, nature, animals and a deep feeling of oneness with all that is yoga.

Today I want to share this beautiful aarti sung by the late Swami Janmashtami Saraswati for Sri Krishna's birthday - which is known as Janmashtami. The meaning of Janmashtami is something or someone who is eternally beautiful, fun loving, a lover of Krishna and of parties. Swami Janmashtami is all of these things.

This was recorded about 10 years ago at Satyananda Yoga Mangrove. A few years later two more lines were added on and this can be heard at the end of the aarti.

This is a maha or great aarti which is dedicated to many saints, sages and seers.

I've written out the transliteration to the best of my best abilities. I know it is not entirely correct and I value your input if you know the exact spelling. Thank you kindly and a very happy, joyful Janmashtami.

Enjoy this pure beauty.

 Download 01 Track 1

 

Om

Jai jai aarti Vinavinaka

Vinavinaka Sri Ganesha

Jai jai aarti Subramana

Subramana Kati Ka-arr

Jai jai aarti Venogopala

Venogopala Venulola

Papa Vidura

Naminita cho-tarr

Jai jai aart Venkataramina

Venkataramina San Katarayana

Sita Rama Radhe Shamar

Jai jai aarti Gaurimanohara

Gaurimanohara Bhavani Shankara

Sambasadha Shiva Um-maheshwara

Jai jai arti Rajarajeshware

Rajarajeshware Tripura Sundari

Maha Laksmi Maha Saraswati Maha Kali Maha Shakti

Jai jai aarti Anjananaya

Anjananaya Hanumanta

Jai jai aarti Dattatreya

Dattatreya Tri Murti Avatara

Jai jai aarti Sunishcharaya

Sunishcharaya Baskaraya

Jai jai aarti Sadgurunatya

Sadhgurunatya Sivananda

Jai jai aarti Sadhgurunatya

Sadhgurunatya Satyananda

Jai jai aarti Sadhgurunatya

Sadhguruvatya niranjanananda

Jai jai aarti  Venogopala

Om

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

For more about Lord Krishna see here and here.

yoga milk ~ sleepy and warm

 

Insomnia, can be one of those crazy symptoms of increased vata in the body. It affects the mind & the nervous system leaving it frazzled. Here today for my beautiful insomniac friends, a few tips from Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic extraordinaire.

This is a beautiful routine I often give my slightly pitta/vata crazy husband, Dazla. He takes on a new persona when his vata is increased. Then I call him Razzle. Usually with an exclamation mark, "Razzle!"

This, very simple program, is suited to most doshas & is a treat before bedtime for all ages.  However, the meditation is only for adults.

Physical Remedy -

♥ take a warm bath, after rub warmed black sesame, brahmi, jatamamsi oil onto the scalp & the soles of the feet, put on a pair of socks. Or make a 10ml roller ball with fractionated coconut oil; 10d Lavender Peace, 10d Vetiver, 5d Roman Chamomile, roll onto the soles of the feet, massage in, pop on your socks.

Body Remedy 

♥ Yoga Milk -

    1. in the morning, soak 10 blanched almonds.

    2.boil one cup of your choice of milk, blend with the almonds.

    3. add 1/8 tsp Nutmeg, 1 drop Cardamom, 1d Black Pepper, 1 teaspoon honey (for internal, only use pure oils like doTERRA)

Mind Remedy -

♥ sitting in bed, practise the So Hum meditation for 5 to 10 minutes; start to observe the natural breath, take the awareness to the chest, ingoing & outgoing breath. Begin to hear the natural sound of the breath, so on inhalation, hum on exhalation. The mind will wander again and again, just bring it back to, so hum. Finish with your sankalpa/resolve or simply state, "I will sleep deeply".

Drink your milk & you should sleep like a baby, a very good baby - who sleeps all night ; )

 

 Amma

 

What if you slept...

What if you slept

And what if

In your sleep

You dreamed

And what if

In your dream

You went to heaven

And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower

And what if

When you awoke

You had that flower in your hand

Ah, what then?

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge ~

 

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra - a string of vibrations

The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is for health and well-being. It may seem a little scary to you or you might be fascinated by it. I say it eleven times a day. In short through vibration, it realigns the physical body to maintain & restore health through the cells.

aum tryambakam yajaamahe

sugandhim pushtivardhanam

urvaarukamiva bandhanaat

mrityormukshiiya maamritaat

From Swami Niranjanananda ~

Satyananda recommended the Mahamrityunjaya mantra and the Gayatri mantra to everyone. Paramahamsaji said that those who wish for health and healing must chant the Mahamrityunjaya mantra at least twenty-four times every day. He said, “I am giving you a guarantee that if you do it with intensity of focus, willpower, purity of heart and feeling, then there is no question that health and healing will be provided, whether for oneself or for others.”

If you ask about the meaning of the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, most people will say it is a mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva and give a definition according to the literal meaning of each word. But more important is the vibration you create. The combination of sounds in any mantra creates a specific vibration in the body. Our body also has a vibratory dimension. All the cells and atoms are vibrating in harmony with each other. The moment this harmony is broken at the vibratory level, destruction of the body takes place and we start to die. In death the pulsations of the body stop, the animation of the cells ceases and the life force leaves the body. The vibrations are the manifest symptoms of the life force.

Symbolically, these vibrations are represented in the various chakras or psychic centres. So when we use a combination of mantras or sound syllables, we are activating and bringing forth the potential of these vibrations that are inherent in the body. Some vibrations, like Om, are used to go into a deep meditative state. The effect of Om internalizes the awareness. From a scientific viewpoint, Om increases the alpha waves and decreases the beta waves. Subjectively, internalization of awareness takes place; we become more focused, tranquil and peaceful. When we use a string of vibrations, as in the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, these vibrations realign the disturbances in the vibratory system. Disease and illness can be managed effectively with this mantra.

In our ashrams around the world, we practise the Mahamrityunjaya mantra every Saturday night with a sankalpa, a feeling, to let the healing powers of this mantra heal our body and the bodies of those who are suffering or in pain. If we want to incorporate the practice of mantra into our routine in order to help others, we should also make the effort to chant the Mahamrityunjaya mantra. Every Saturday do at least one mala; it only takes about thirty-five minutes. This is for your personal well-being and for the well-being of everyone around you.

For other commonly used mantras at Satyananda Ashrams please visit here.