Give Until it Feels Good

  

If you’re the type who likes to give, I don’t have to tell you the benefits that come from that.

Particularly if you have a skill or a gift that benefits the community in some way, everyone is missing out until you share it.

At the ashram it’s fun to see people’s talents put to good use, from the electrical engineer who plays and teaches tabla, to the mortgage manager who makes the best homemade salsa (which she sells, then donates to Nepal relief).

There are some wonderful cooks who alternate providing dishes for the Sunday afternoon meal after satsang; there are naturopathic practitioners who can cure your neck and back pain on the spot using pressure points; even harmonium lessons are available upon request.

And where would any community be without computer experts? We have several. One person makes patterns for dresses and saris. Another is particularly handy overall, rooting out mechanical and other problems with appliances. 

Obviously there are excellent yoga and meditation instructors, as well as pranayama (breathing techniques for good health). There’s that person who writes a blog that celebrates this community… 

And there are many others who give in ways big and small that no one knows about. They don’t need thanks, but I acknowledge them here anyway.

Givers know that the reward is instantaneous if you’re doing it out of love. “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3)

I was recently introduced to “seva,” a Sanskrit word that means “selfless service” or work performed without any thought of reward or repayment. In ancient India seva was believed to help one's spiritual growth and at the same time contribute to the improvement of a community.

Sounds perfect.

Every Breath You Take

Canada to Close Burrard Bridge on International Yoga Day, Sunday June 21st

Vancouver is going to close a whole bridge so 1500 people can do yoga? Sounds awesome!

While they close their bridge, Divine Art of Yoga Center will open our doors to the public with free Indian food (not too spicy), free yoga lessons, free yoga passes and maybe even free tabla lessons.

We want people to know this ashram is non-profit and available to everyone, not just Hindus (I’m not Hindu, and I go all the time). You don’t even have to be spiritual to enjoy the benefits of yoga and meditation.

So if you’re curious, come by anytime between 10-3:00 on Sunday June 21st (or anytime, really). Divine Art of Yoga Center, 851 W. Whittier Blvd., La Habra, CA 90631.

Yoga Video

My friend Kantubhai referred me to this wonderful video about traditional yoga, asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation. I think you'll find it very helpful.

Enjoy!

Get Clear

At first glance, I think this picture looks elegant, graceful...

Then I think I see the words "Ikea Visa"(!!).

Maybe a bit too much consumerism on my mind? I think I need to do some yoga and/or meditation and get clear.

Cheaper that way, too.

(Not that that matters...)

Oooooommmm. 

Live and Love

My mother-in-law is in hospice care.

She didn't reach this stage suddenly. We're sad, but relatively prepared (my children, less so). She's hasn't remembered very much for some time, and now she simply cannot stay awake for visitors, so we mostly just sit with her in silence while she sleeps.

I feel sad for my family and myself, of course.

And I can't help but contemplate my own mortality. 

Especially when friends around you are experiencing their own pain over a sick loved one.

I have a dear friend who has a sister in ICU. She is very, very fragile.

I wrote about a couple I know who lost a grandchild recently.

We don't have all the answers. Sometimes all we can do is just be with it, which is made easier with the love and support of our family, caring friends in our community, and whatever faith we have.

None of this new to humanity, of course, but it's new when it happens to us. At least one message is always the same and never gets old: life is fragile, so live today, in the present. Live now, because tomorrow may not come.

Live, and love.

A Diamond With Many Facets

I was talking with a lady today (Indian) who was surprised I knew that all the Hindu gods actually personify aspects of the one true God.

That’s it. One God, many personifications. Thousands, in fact.

How could they come up with so many facets of God? Well, they’ve certainly had time - over 5000 years.

She seemed even more surprised when I told her Catholics pray to many entities: God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Mary, Saint Christopher, Saint Michael, etc. For every saint, there is a cause (or for every cause there's a saint?).

Some pray to Mary, who has appeared to many people in the years since her death (Guadalupe, Fatima, etc.). 

It is also widely believed that everyone has a guardian angel watching over us, who can also be prayed to.

All in all, it was a great conversation where we both learned something. Because she runs an Indian store, she gets to marvel at the typical American reaction - confusion mostly - to her display case with small statues of the Hindu gods. But now she knows Hinduism is not the only religion that finds divine inspiration in many ways.

I’m still learning about them myself. Occasionally I’ll feature one of them here, along with the colorful story behind them. And we'll get to the bottom of Ganesh, the one with the elephant head. That's definitely a good story.

Look and Listen

Please Correct Me

One of the baijis asked if I would correct her English whenever she misspoke or used incorrect grammar in an email or text.

This can be difficult when we're having a very interesting conversation, because I don't want to stop it just to point out minor errors! But she insists, so I choose my moments carefully.

But sometimes I make a mistake, and I get schooled.

It happened when some of the devotees returned from a Nepal fundraising trip at a local church.

"Scott, guess how much money they gave!" said Baiji breathlessly.

"Um, $300?"

"What? No!" she said, shocked at my poor guess. "Seven times that!"

"That's good!" I said.

She waived her finger in the air. "No! That's great!"

We all laughed at her passionate response, and I said "Thanks for correcting my English."

On a separate note, I've suggested that they never need to apologize for moments of broken English. They speak at least three languages, including English and Hindi. I only speak one - it's me who should be apologizing.  

But I'm learning. Accha namaste.