The Ashram will be holding its 3rd annual Children’s Yoga Camp July 18th – 22nd, 2011! In this 5 day camp (1pm -4pm), children will have the opportunity to learn and practice yoga and enjoy the outdoors with others their age at the Ashram!

Click for more details and registration!

Hershji gave a very enlightening and inspiring speech on Ram Ravmi! Click below to listen:

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May 30

Yajurveda: 24.13

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ॐ य आत्मदा बलदा
यस्य विश्व उपासते प्रशिष्म यस्य देवाः  I
यस्य छाया अमृतं यस्य मृत्यु:
कस्मै देवाय हविषा विश्वेम  II

Meaning:

God, by whom His fractions are dwelling in all beings in the form of soul, and
by whom the life force (Pranas) is flowing in all bodies, in whose praise the
enlightened ones have been composing mantras, and by Whose support all beings attain immortality as well as death, we must realize that God and worship Him.

This past weekend over 20 students participated in a workshop on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In addition to learning the great wisdom contained in this yogic scripture, everyone also had the opportunity to learn and practice asanas as well as cleansing techniques, like neti and vaman. Pranayama, mudras, and bandhas, practices less commonly practiced in the U.S., were also discussed and practiced.

Above all, students walked away knowing more about the true purpose of Hatha Yoga, which is preparation for higher consciousness. While yoga is commonly thought to be a practice for the body, we wee reminded that  we are not merely seaking the freedom from diseaeses but the freedom from the bondage and the waverings of the mind.

The scripture proved to be full of information, and we will likely be studying it in even more depth during Sunday philosophy classes in the future. Stay tuned!

Devta is derived from the word DEV. It literally means: one who gives selflesly. Practically, it has many aspects.

Devta is refered to a person who does good deeds for others. The Bhagvad-Gita explains this in Chapter 16, called DEV-ASUR-SAMPAD-VIBHAG YOGA. There are 26 qualities described in this chapter. They define a person as Devta. Anybody can aspire to be one who can practice enough to develop these good qualities. However, it is extremely difficult to cultivate all these qualities. Partial success is certainly better than a total failure. Most of us possess these qualities to a varying degree. Chapter 17 in the Gita explains the qualities of a Devta in more detail.
            
In the Vedic scriptures, however, Devta is a name given to the five basic building blocks of the universe. So, there are a total of 5 Devtas only. (Hindus having uncountable Devtas is a myth. It can only mean that there are uncountable human beings who could be potential devtas.) They are: Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vaayu and Akaash. ( In the modern scientific terminology, they are: Solids, Liquids, Energy, Gases and Vacuum.)
Apr 19

Yajurveda: 30.3

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RISHI: NARAYANA

ॐ विश्वानि देव
सवितुर्दुरितानी परासुव I
यद् भद्रं तन्न आसुव II

OM VISHVANI DEV
SAVITURDURITANI PRASUV
YAD BHADRAM TANN ASUV

Meaning: Oh God, creator of the Universe and bestower of all the comforts, keep us away from vices, bad habits and wrong deeds. Bestow upon us that which is good and auspicious.

We are excited to be offering a workshop on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika on May 21st-May 22nd! Please click here for more info and registration.

धर्म                 अर्थ           काम          मोक्ष
DHARAM     ARTH       KAAM      MOKSH

These are the four fruits of human life. Just as a gardner works hard to till the ground. He plants a bush, waters the plant, takes the weeds out and watches it grow. He expects flowers to bloom and then produce fruits. The fruit is the ultimate success of his efforts. Same way, a human life can be successful if it can result in the above four fruits, Dharam, Arth, Kaam and Moksh.
DHARAM: If a person fulfills all his duties, he does his Dharam. These include his personal, social, societal and religious duties. One has to be a good person and citizen.
ARTH: If one is financially successful, where he is able to acquire all his basic needs with his own efforts, he is considered to be successful and has achieved this fruit of life.
KAAM: If one fulfills his desires (kaamnaayen), that is another fruit of success. These desires could be the high achievements as a professional, social leader, or a family member.
MOKSH: The ultimate goal and achievemnt of human life is Moksha (liberation, mukti, nirvana, kaivalya). If one can attaion this in the present human life, he has achieved the fourth and the most important fruit of life.
Mar 06

Yajurveda: 16.41

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ॐ नमः शम्भवाय च, मयोभवाय च I
नमः शंकराय च, मयस्कराय च I
नमः शिवाय च, शिवतराय च II
Rishi:  PRAJAPATI

Meaning:

God is beyond three Gunas. He is benevolent (Shambhu) to all. His remembrance, chanting of His name and glory vanish all our sufferings. He is the eternal cause of motion and advancement, by Him alone all the moving and motionless beings are active. Because of Him the Sun, the moon and all planets are in motion, and all creatures move on the Earth. By the grace of alone, maintains peace of mind, mental concentration and thus strives for physical,  mental and spiritual progress. By the grace of God alone one attains ‘Moksha’, the state of ultimate joy, we bow to Him millions of times.

Please note that when it is snowing and there is more than 2 inches expect to fall (or there is already 2 inches on the ground unplowed), the Ashram cancels its classes for the safety of everyone. If you have any questions about whether classes are being held, please call 630-293-9554.

Please also note a schedule change this Sunday: Advanced yoga class on Sunday, February 6, will begin at 8 am instead of 7:30 am. The regular schedule will resume on Sunday, February 13. Please come with an empty stomach!

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