First Friday Night Special #52: An Invitation to “The Sweet Ability of 3-Fold Healing” (the “missing” invitation w/excerpts & links) February 7, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Loss, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Taoism, Tragedy, Wisdom, Women, Yin Yoga, Yoga.Tags: 988, Ardhanaranari, Ardhanarishvara, Black History Month, Carnival, Datuk Teh Kim Teh, Grace Chen, Gupta Navaratri, healing, Healing Stories, Hokkien, Jade Emperor, Kumbh Mela, Lunar New Year, Magha Navaratri, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Matthew Sanford, Navaratri, Nina Simone, Oscar William Adams Jr., Season for Nonviolence, Shi Fa Zhuo, Siddhidhatri, siddhis, Swami Vivekananda, Year of the Snake, Yoga Sutra 2.1
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“Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Magha Gupta Navaratri!” “Happy (Lunar) New Year!”, “Happy Hokkien New Year!”, and/or “Happy Carnival!” to those who are celebrating! Many blessings to everyone, and especially those observing Maha Kumbh Mela.
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This is the “missing” invitation for the “First Friday Night Special” on February 7th. It is a compilation of related excerpts and some previously posted content. You can request an audio recording of this Restorative Yoga practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“‘Although we may not have an image of this deity in our temple, as long as devotees have the Jade Emperor in their hearts, their prayers will be heard,’ said [the Kwan Imm Temple’s] principal Shi Fa Zhuo.”
— quoted from The Star article entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
There are many people around the world who are currently engaged — or are about to be engaged — in rituals and traditions that are based on the belief that there is a connection between heaven and earth. For instance, Friday the 7th was the final night/day of Navaratri; the eleventh day of the Lunar New Year / Spring Festival; and a time when people are still celebrating and observing Carnival and Maha Kumbh Mela. Also, it is still the “Season for Nonviolence” and Black History Month.
Each of these events is full of stories. While the purely culture observations primarily involve stories about people who are earthbound, the religious and philosophical stories are about the inhabitants of heaven and earth. Additionally, all of these stories involve quite a bit of trauma and, as a result, a bit of healing and restoration. Sometimes (not all the time, but sometimes), however, I think that some people (not all the people, but some people) forget about the earth and (the inhabitants of earth) part. Sometimes I think that people forget that we can have an active role in our own healing.
According to Yoga and Sāmkhya (two of the 6 Indian philosophies), there are six siddhis (“powers” or “abilities”) that are described as “powers unique to being human.” One of those abilities is “the power to eliminate “three-fold sorrow – physical, mental, and spiritual”. To varying degrees, we all have this power and the related powers that support it — as well as the ability (through the practice) to enhance our abilities. Since the “Season for Nonviolence” principle of the day is “Healing”, I was reflecting on how healing shows up in these “healing stories” (as Matthew Sanford would call them) and how the stories not only reinforce the fact that we can participate in the healing, they highlight some modes and methods.
“Those Samâdhis with which we ended our last chapter are very difficult to attain; so we must take them up slowly. The first step, the preliminary step, is called Kriya-yoga. Literally this means work, working towards Yoga.”
— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.1, in Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
During Navaratri, each of manifestation of Durga/Parvati manifestation is a symbolic milestone (and a reminder that women “contain multitudes”). The final day is devoted to Siddhidhatri, whose name literally means “land/earth of achievements”. Her name can also be translated as “Giver of Perfection”, as She is believed to be endowed with all the siddhis (“abilities” or “powers”) in the Universe and, also, to be able to bestow all of them. Typically, however, She only gives nine of the multitudes — some of which are referenced in the Yoga Sūtras.
In art and literature, she is sometimes depicted as being half of Shiva (with Him being half of Her), meaning that they are the embodiment the yin/yang symbol. When they are shown together in this way, they are each known as Ardhanarishvara, Ardhanaranari, or similar names that all highlight the fact that They are partially a woman.
During the big celebrations of Navaratri (in the Spring and Fall) the final day is a double celebration — which may mean more feasting in some regions and more fasting in others. Magha Navaratri is one of the celebrations referred to as Gupta Navaratri meaning it is “hidden/secret” — again, not because no one knows about it, but because it is not as obvious as the bigger celebrations. Even one of the biggest days during this particular Gupta Navaratri is hidden in the middle! Vasant Panchami or Sri Panchami, a festival marking the beginning of Spring, occurs on the fifth day of Magha Navaratri.
“‘From this story, we learn that unity, solidarity and the active participation of the community is necessary when it comes to facing challenges,’ said [Klang Hokkien Association president Datuk Teh Kim] Teh.”
— quoted from The Star article (about a version of the story where only some hide) entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
Thursday was the ninth day of the Lunar New Year and the birthday of the Jade Emperor, who is known as the “Ruler of Heaven and Earth”. While he is a prominent figure some religious traditions and is honored throughout in the Lunar New Year celebrations, most people — even people who celebrate the 15-day Spring Festival — have gone back to business as usual by the ninth day of the Lunar New Year. People may do something in private, especially if they are hosting their son-in-law(s); but, for most people, it is not a special day off. There are, however, some people whose celebrations of the Jade Emperor’s birthday are so significant that they rival the festivities at the beginning of the Lunar New Year and the end of the Spring Festival.
For those people, the tenth day (Friday) is a continuation of the celebration… and a day full of leftovers.
The following (revised) excerpt is from a 2021 post:
“Legend has it that the Hokkien people (also known as Hoklo, Banlam, and Minnan people) found themselves under attack. The Hokkien were not warriors, but they came in close proximity with warriors because they were known for building great ships. One version of their story states that the events occurred while they were being hunted and killed during the Song Dynasty (between 960 and 1279 CE). Another version indicates that they were caught between warring factions. Ultimately, to escape the carnage, they decided to hide in a sugar cane field — which, in some versions of the story, just miraculously appeared. The whole community hid until there were no more sounds of horses, warriors, or battle. Legend has it that they emerged on the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, which is the Jade Emperor’s Birthday.Sometimes referred to as ‘Heavenly Grandfather’ and ‘Heavenly Duke’, the Jade Emperor is recognized as the ruler of heaven and earth in some Chinese religions and mythology. In Taoism, he is one of the Three Pure Ones or the Three Divine Teachers. Fujian province (in China), Penang (in Malayasia), and Taiwan are three areas where there is a large concentration of Hokkien people and, therefore, places where the ninth day of the Lunar New Year is a large celebration. In some places the celebrations begin at 11 PM on the eighth night and can be so large that they eclipse the celebrations of the first day of the Lunar New Year (in those areas). In fact, the ninth day is actually called ‘Hokkien New Year’.
Those who are religious will go to a temple and engage in a ritual involving prostration, kneeling, bowing, incense, and offerings. For many there is a great feast full of fruits, vegetables, noodles, and (of course) sugar cane. The sugar cane is an important element of the Jade Emperor’s birthday celebrations and rituals — not only because of the aforementioned story of survival, but also because the Hokkien word for ‘sugarcane’ (kam-chià, 甘蔗) is a homonym for (or sounds like) a Hokkien word for ‘thank you’ (kamsiā, 感谢), which literally means ‘feeling thankful’.
Every version of the Hokkien people’s survival story is a great reminder that we can give thanks no matter how hard, how challenging, how infuriating, and/or how tragic our situation. Take [2020, or last year], for instance: When we look back at all the hard stuff, all the grief, all the fear, all the anger, all the disappointment, and all of the trauma, we can get distracted and forget that there were moments of sweetness. There were moments of kindness, moments of love, moments of birth and rebirth, moments of compassion, moments of hope, and moments of joy. In other words, in spite of all the hard stuff, there were moments of sweetness. Take a moment to remember one of those moments; and feel thankful.”
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR THE ENTIRE POST.
Focus+Concentrate+Meditate = Sweet Heaven (the “missing” post)
“The black man does not wish to be the pet of the law. The more blacks become enmeshed in meaningful positions in our society, then the more that society will be come non-discriminatory. His goals and ideals will become identical with goals and ideals of the rest of society. To insist on special treatment, and demand and get integration in other aspects of society is to pursue inconsistent approaches. If a black man is allowed to go as far as his talents will carry him, he will not need special protection from the courts. If he is not, the courts will once again be asked for special protection.”
— quoted from the special concurrence opinion for Beck v. State, 396 So. 2d 645 (1980) by Alabama Supreme Court Justice Oscar W. Adams
During a vinyasa practice, I usually reference several people born on February 7th — and parts of their stories are very much about healing (and explaining experiences in a way that can lead to healing). However, for the 2025 First Friday practice, I only referenced one person. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, today in 1925, Oscar Williams Adams, Jr. was a lawyer, a judge, and an Alabama Supreme Court Justice. What is as interesting as all of his achievements, is the fact that his story is the case of someone who observed a miscarriage of justice (i.e., trauma and loss) and worked his way into a position where he could right wrongs (i.e., facilitate healing)
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT BELOW FOR MORE.
Space and the Power of Hearing(s) (a special Black History note, w/a Tuesday link)
The February First Friday Night Special features a Yin Yoga practice. It is accessible and open to all.
(NOTE: There will be a little bit of quiet space in this practice.)
Friday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Lunar New Year Day 10 KM/N 2025”]
Prop wise, this is a kitchen sink practice and there are times when I suggest using a wall, chair, sofa, or coffee table. You may want extra layers (as your body may cool down during this practice). Having a wall, chair, sofa, or coffee table will be handy for this practice. Example of “Studio” props: 1 – 2 blankets, 2 – 3 blocks, a bolster, a strap, and an eye pillow. Examples of “householder” props: 1 – 2 blankets or bath towels, 2 – 3 books (similar in size), 2 standard pillows (or 1 body pillow), a belt/tie/sash, and a face towel.
You may want extra layers (as your body may cool down during this practice). Having a wall, chair, sofa, or coffee table may be handy for this practice.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
### “I want a little sugar in my bowl
I want a little sweetness down in my soul
I could stand some lovin’, oh so bad
Feel so funny, I feel so sad” ~Nina Simone ###
Preparing for Deeper Connections (the “missing” post for Saturday the 17th) February 24, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Lent / Great Lent, Life, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: Anthony of Sourozh, chakra, Datuk Teh Kim Teh, Ed Sheeran, friendship, Fuse ODG, Grace Chen, Gupta Navaratri, habits, Hod, Hokkien, Jade Emperor, Joseph Addison, Lunar New Year, Mahagauri, Manipura, marma, millet, Mugeez Abdul Rashi, Mūlādhāra, nadis, Nana Richard Abiona, Navaratri, Netzach, relationship, samskaras, samskāras, Season for Nonviolence, Season of Non-violence, Shiva Samhita, Spring Festival, Svādhiṣṭhāna, vasanas, vāsanā, Year of the Dragon, yesod
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“Happy Spring Festival!” Many blessings to everyone observing (or getting ready to observe) Lent. Peace, freedom, and ease to all throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!
This is the “missing” post for Saturday, February 17th. It includes some previously posted information (updated for 2024) and links to related posts. You can request a recording of the related practice(s) via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email me at myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice. Donations are tax deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“‘From this story, we learn that unity, solidarity and the active participation of the community is necessary when it comes to facing challenges,’ said [Klang Hokkien Association president Datuk Teh Kim] Teh.”
— quoted from The Star article (about a version of the story where only some hide) entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
The eighth day of the Lunar New Year is not a big deal for a lot of people. Sure, it is the day before the Jade Emperor’s birthday, making it New Year’s Eve for the Hokkien people (also known as Hoklo, Banlam, and Minnan people) — and that is a big deal — and there are some people who celebrate the creation (or birth) of millet, an ancient grain and staple in many households. But, for the majority of people who celebrate the Lunar New Year, the eighth day is a bit of a break from all the feasting. There is still, however, a lot of preparation going on: people getting ready for the Jade Emperor’s birthday (which, again, is a really big deal for some communities) and people getting ready for the Lantern Festival which is the culmination of the Spring Festival.
This year, the eighth day of the Lunar New Year was also the eighth night/day of Navaratri, the Hindu celebration of God as a woman. This penultimate manifestation of Durga/Parvati is known as Mahagauri, the mother Goddess who slays the demon-king. Each of the nine manifestations of Durga represent Her at a different point in her life/journey. By the time we get to the eighth manifestation, Parvati is already married — but the demons can only be killed by a virgin. Obviously, she could not go back; she had to go forward in order to prepare herself for battle.
In some versions of her story, she practiced tapas, prayed, and made offerings. At one point, she bathed in the Ganges River, one of the sacred rivers in India, and emerged with the rosy glow of youth. In parts of India, people begin their eighth day by making pūjā or offerings of flowers to celebrate her wisdom, beauty, and ability to bring peace. Then they get ready for the final celebration. As I mentioned before, this particular Navaratri is one of the two lesser celebrated occasions. So, while there are not as many people celebrating at this time of year, there are still a lot of people preparing for the final celebrations.
This year, these eighth days also fell on Saturday, February 17th, which is Ed Sheeran’s birthday, and coincidentally, the first Saturday of Lent (in most Western Christian traditions). Here again, the first Saturday of Lent is not a huge deal — except for the fact that it is a day, just like the aforementioned days, when people are preparing for something more: for a deeper connection with God (whatever that means to them in the moment). That deeper connection to God also, in these cases, creates an opportunity for deeper commune with community and with oneself.
“You give me life (yay, yay)
You help me see when I’ve been blind (yay, yay)
Even when I’m feeling paralyzed yeah (yay, yay)
You help me seek so I can find
Happiness on a rainy day
Wo ama me ni agye oh
Wo ama me ni agye oh Awurade yeah”
— quoted from the English and Twi song “Boa Me” (“Help Me”) by Fuse ODG, featuring Ed Sheeran (written by Edward Christopher Sheeren, Joseph Addison, Mugeez Abdul Rashi, and Nana Richard Abiona)
The Twi/English lyrics can be translated as “You’ve given me a smile oh / You’ve made me so happy oh Lord yeah”
Although the rituals and traditions are different, although the stories are different, everyone is getting ready for something, something deeper. For some people it is a deeper relationship: a deeper relationship with themselves, a deeper relationship with their community, and/or a deeper relationship with God (whatever that means to you at this moment). Just as we can explore the ways people/communities make (and reinforce) spiritual connections, we can examine the ways we (individually) make connections — and the freedom that can come from going a little deeper into some of the causes and conditions that lead us to make (or not make) connections.
For better or for worse, we are creatures of habits. According to the Yoga Philosophy, every experience creates a saṃskāra (“mental impression”) through which we view future experiences. Over time, our layers of saṃskāra become vāsanā (the “dwelling” place for our habits). In other words, new experiences create new neural pathways, which get “hardwired” and become “muscle memory.” This cultivation of habit can be so unconscious that we believe certain things are innate or instinctive — when, in fact, they are conditioned behaviors.
Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, our past experiences — and the past experiences of our elders and ancestors — makes certain situations more probable than others. We can say that there are infinite possibilities in the Universe, but all of that narrows down into our unique experience, where some things are more probable than other things. For instance, if you are born into a family (and country) where education is highly valued, you are more likely to pursue higher education than if you are born into a family where a degree is not prioritized. This is true even if the generations before you were not able to pursue a degree. This does not mean, however, that you absolutely will — or that it is the best option for you. It simply means that the causes and conditions are in place to increase the likelihood of a particular outcome.
Now, if you go to a trade school, college, or university there is a good possibility that you will meet people you have never met before — maybe, even, people who are very different from the people around whom you grew up. In fact, relationships are one of the things people get out of going to school. The thing is, even when/if you continue your education and encounter people unlike the people with whom you previously attended school, your habits are still rooted in those past experiences. And those habits, rooted in past experiences, continually cultivate the opportunity for connections… or disconnections. As we move through the world, our saṃskāra and vāsanā travel with us — and, in some ways, limit us.
Freedom comes from bringing awareness to cause and effect; to how things (and people) are connected; and to the causes and conditions that result in the choices (we believe) we are given. One way we can heighten our awareness is delving into the hips (as the “energetic and symbolic centers of our relationships…”).
“Every relationship you develop, from casual to intimate, helps you become more conscious. No union is without spiritual value.”
— quoted from “Morning Visual Meditation” (Chakra 2) by Caroline Myss
Yoga and Āyurveda, as the come to us from India, are based on an energetic mapping system consisting of nadis (“rivers or channels” of vitality), marmani (“vulnerable/vital points” of intersection), and chakras (”discus or wheels”). Some ancient texts indicate that there are thousands or millions of nadis associated with the body. While the Shiva Samhita outlines a system of 350,000 total nadis — and highlights 14 as “most important,” three as “preeminent,” and one of the preeminent ones as “most important,” many people who practice āsana (i.e., the postures) are only vaguely aware of the chakras, which are the points where the aforementioned preeminent chakras overlap.
The first chakra, which was our January focus, is the Mūlādhāra or Root chakra. The second, the Svādhiṣṭhāna chakra, is energetically and symbolically associated with the hips (including the lower portion of the abdominal cavity) and with the relationships we make outside of our first family, tribe, and/or community of birth. (I think we can also include some relationships we make as adults with people from our first family, tribe, and/or community of birth.) Note that in Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism,* the divine attributes of yesod (“bonding”), hod (“humility”), and netzach (“endurance”) are also associated with this same area of the body.
Please keep in mind, that a ”relationship,” in this context, is not limited to a romantic interaction or even to someone with whom you feel a kind of kinship. It is anyone with whom you interact, which means that it can be related to people you have never met and will never meet. It can be related to people who have different ideas than you; different philosophies, different spiritual and/or religious practices than you; and even different politics than you. It can even be related to people you do not like and/or for whom you have very little respect. And, yet, part of the practice is about figuring out how we can have more respect, more reverence (if you will), more lovingkindness, more compassion, and more joy in every interaction.
“Contrary to what many think or feel, Lent is a time of joy. It is a time when we come back to life. It is a time when we shake off what is bad and dead in us in order to become able to live, to live with all the vastness, all the depth, and all the intensity to which we are called. Unless we understand this quality of joy in Lent, we will make of it a monstrous caricature, a time when in God’s own name we make our life a misery.”
— quoted from “An Introduction to Lent” (dated February 17, 1968) by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
Saturday playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Lunar New Year Day 8 2024”]
*NOTE: During the practices, I have been referencing some (but not all) of the different symbolic and energetic associations of each chakra and, therefore, each part of the body. As they relate to Christianity, first chakra is related to baptism and second chakra is related to communion. Notice, again, the connection between foundation in physical and religious life, as well as how people “share or exchange intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level” (which is one way to define communion).
Errata: This post originally misnamed the Svādhiṣṭhāna chakra, which is the second chakra.
### Be Kind ##
FTWMI: Focus+Concentrate+Meditate = Sweet Heaven (w/expansion) January 30, 2023
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Faith, Gandhi, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Lent / Great Lent, Life, Meditation, Mysticism, New Year, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Swami Vivekananda, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: Ahimsa, Arun Gandhi, Banlam, Bogside Massacre, Datuk Teh Kim Teh, Grace Chen, Hokkien, Hoklo, Jade Emperor, Lunar New Year, Martyrs' Day, Minnan, Mohandas Gandhi, Patanjali, Samyama, School Day of Non-violence and Peace, Season of Nonviolence, Shi Fa Zhuo, Yoga Sutra 3.4, Yoga Sutras 3.1-3.3
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Happy New Year! Happy Carnival! Many blessings to those celebrating the Jade Emperor’s birthday! Peace and ease to all during this “Season of Non-violence” and all other seasons!
For Those Who Missed It: A version of the following was originally posted in February of 2021. Even though this was posted first, it is a continuation of yesterday’s “Getting Ready & Being Ready” post. Class details have been updated and a slight expansion has been added with regard to Martyrs’ Day / School Day of Non-violence and Peace.
“The Indriyas, the organs of the senses, are acting outwards and coming in contact with external objects. Bringing them under the control of the will is what is called Pratyahara or gathering towards oneself. Fixing the mind on the lotus of the heart, or on the centre of the head, is what is called Dharana. Limited to one spot, making that spot the base, a particular kind of mental waves rises; these are not swallowed up by other kinds of waves, but by degrees become prominent, while all the others recede and finally disappear. Next the multiplicity of these waves gives place to unity and one wave only is left in the mind. This is Dhyana, meditation. When no basis is necessary, when the whole of the mind has become one wave, one-formedness, it is called Samadhi. Bereft of all help from places and centres, only the meaning of the thought is present. If the mind can be fixed on the centre for twelve seconds it will be a Dharana, twelve such Dharanas will be a Dhyana, and twelve such Dhyanas will be a Samadhi.”
– quoted from “Chapter VIII: Raja-Yoga in Brief” in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 1, Raja-Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
Take a moment to consider where you put your energy, resources, effort, and focus. How much time, money, effort, or awareness do you put into loving someone? Or, actively disliking someone? How much energy do you spend dealing with fear or grief, anger or doubt? How much on joy or gratitude? It is generally understood that what you get out of a situation or your life is partially based on what you put into a situation or life. A more nuanced understanding of such an equation would highlight the fact that our energy, resources, effort, and focus/awareness all combine to produce a certain outcome – and this is in keeping with Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion. It is also consistent with text in Ecclesiastes and with what Rod Stryker refers to as the Creation Equation.
The problem many of us run into isn’t that we don’t know or understand the formula. The problem is that we don’t pay attention to what we are putting into the equation. Our time, energy, efforts, and resources get pulled in different directions, because our attention is distracted – that is to say, our focus/awareness is pulled into different directions. But, what happens if/when we sharpen our focus? What happens when we pull all our awareness and senses in and focus/concentrate/meditate in such a way that we become completely absorbed in one direction? Consider the power of that kind of engagement.
Yoga Sūtra 3.1: deśabandhah cittasya dhāranā
– “Dhāranā is the process of holding, focusing, or fixing the attention of mind onto one object or place.”
Yoga Sūtra 3.2: tatra pratyaya-ikatānatā dhyānam
– “Dhyāna is the repeated continuation, or unbroken flow of thought, toward that one object or place.”
Yoga Sūtra 3.3: tadeva-artha-mātra-nirbhāsaṁ svarūpa-śūnyam-iva-samādhiḥ
– “Samadhi [meditation in its highest form] is the state when only the essence of that object, place, or point shines forth in the mind, as if devoid even of its own form.”
Yoga Sūtra 3.4: trayam-ekatra samyama
– “Samyama is [the practice or integration of] the three together.”
In the third section of the Yoga Sūtras, Patanjali outlined the last three limbs of the Yoga Philosophy and then, just as he did with the other elements, he broke down the benefits of practicing these final limbs. Similar to sūtra 2.1, there is a thread that highlights the power of three elements when practiced together. What is different about the final limbs, however, is that Patanjali devoted the majority of a whole chapter – “The Chapter (or Foundation) on Progressing” – to breaking down the benefits of integrating dhāranā (“focus” or concentration”), dhyāna (“concentration” or “meditation”), and Samādhi (“meditation” or “absorption”).
We can unintentionally find ourselves in a state of absorption, just as we can consciously progress into the state. We may think of it as being “in the zone” and it is something our minds are completely capable of experiencing. Even people with different types of ADHD can find themselves in this state of absorption. However, what Patanjali described, as it relates to the practice, is a very deliberate engagement of the mind – and, therefore, a very deliberate engagement of the mind-body-spirit.
There are, of course, times, when as individuals or groups we truly harness the power of our awareness and engage the mind-body-spirit in a way that could come under the heading of Samyama. Consider people coming together to raise a barn or to support a family in need. Think about grass roots efforts to register people to vote or change unjust laws. Think about how people raise money for a cause, an individual, or a community. Contemplate how someone’s focus shifts when they give something up for Lent. Although it is an extreme example, another example of a time when every fiber of someone’s being is focused on a single goal is when that goal is survival. One might do multiple tasks during such a period, but each task has the intention of ensuring survival. This is true of an individual and it can also be true of groups of people. In fact, throughout history there have been stories of individuals and groups of people who found themselves in such a situation.
One of those situations – where everyone focused every fiber of their being on survival is remembered and commemorated on the ninth and tenth days of the Lunar New Year. Legend has it that the Hokkien people (also known as Hoklo, Banlam, and Minnan people) found themselves under attack. The Hokkien were not warriors, but they came in close proximity with warriors because they were known for building great ships. One version of their story states that the events occurred during the Song Dynasty (between 960 and 1279 CE), while they were being hunted and killed; another indicates that they were caught between warring factions. Ultimately, to escape the carnage, they decided to hide in a sugar cane field – which, in some versions of the story, just miraculously appeared. They hid until there were no more sounds of horses, warriors, or battle. Legend has it that they emerged on the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, which is the Jade Emperor’s Birthday.
This year (2023), the Jade Emperor’s birthday falls on January 30th, which is one of six days designated as “Martyrs’ Day” in India. This Martyrs’ Day is the one observed on a national level, as it is the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948. Today is also the day, in 1956, when the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s house was bombed and the day, in 1972, that became known as “Bloody Sunday” in Northern Ireland. Since 1964, when it was first established in Spain, some school children around the world observe today as a “School Day of Non-violence and Peace.” In 1998, Gandhi’s grandson (Arun Gandhi) established today as the beginning of the “Season for Nonviolence” (which ends on April 4th, the anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination in 1968. All of these remembrances and observations, just like the observation of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, are dedicated to the goal of honoring the lives of the victims (or martyrs) of past injustices and eradicating the violent tendencies that create more tragedies, crimes against humanity, and overall suffering. Today’s observations are also based on the foundation of ahimsā, one of the guiding principles of Gandhi, King, and those unarmed protesters in Northern Ireland. Click here to read more about these events and about how focusing on non-violence is part of the practice.
“‘From this story, we learn that unity, solidarity and the active participation of the community is necessary when it comes to facing challenges,’ said [Klang Hokkien Association president Datuk Teh Kim] Teh.”
– quoted from The Star article (about a version of the story where only some hide) entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
The Jade Emperor is sometimes referred to as “Heavenly Grandfather” and “Heavenly Duke.” He is recognized as the ruler of heaven and earth in some Chinese religion and mythology. In Taoism, he is one of the Three Pure Ones or the Three Divine Teachers. Fujian province (in China), Penang (in Malayasia), and Taiwan are three areas where there is a large concentration of Hokkien people and, therefore, places where the ninth day of the Lunar New Year is a large celebration. In some places the celebrations begin at 11 PM on the eighth night and can be so large that they eclipse the celebrations of the first day of the Lunar New Year (in those areas). In fact, the ninth day is actually called “Hokkien New Year.”
Those who are religious will go to a temple and engage in a ritual involving prostration, kneeling, bowing, incense, and offerings. For many there is a great feast full of fruits, vegetables, noodles, and (of course) sugar cane. The sugar cane is an important element of the Jade Emperor’s birthday celebrations and rituals – not only because of the aforementioned story of survival, but also because the Hokkien word for “sugarcane” (kam-chià, 甘蔗) is a homonym for (or sounds like) a Hokkien word for “thank you” (kamsiā, 感谢), which literally means “feeling thankful.”
Every version of the Hokkien people’s survival story is a great reminder that we can give thanks no matter how hard, how challenging, how infuriating, and/or how tragic our situation. Take last year – or the last few years, for instance: When we look back at all the hard stuff, all the grief, all the fear, all the anger, all the disappointment, and all of the trauma, we can get distracted and forget that there were moments of sweetness. Over the last few years, there were moments of kindness, moments of love, moments of birth and rebirth, moments of compassion, moments of hope, and moments of joy.
In other words, in spite of all the hard stuff, there were moments of sweetness. Take a moment to remember one of those moments; and feel thankful.
“‘Although we may not have an image of this deity in our temple, as long as devotees have the Jade Emperor in their hearts, their prayers will be heard,’ said [the Kwan Imm Temple’s] principal Shi Fa Zhuo.”
– quoted from The Star article entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
Please join me on the virtual mat today (Monday, January 30th) at 5:30 PM for a 75-minute virtual yoga practice. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below.
This is a 75-minute Common Ground Meditation Center practice that, in the spirit of generosity (dana), is freely given and freely received. If you are able to support the center and its teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” my other practices. Donations are tax deductible)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground practices.
The Lunar New Year Day 9 playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Lunar New Year Day 9 2022”]
The Martys’ Day playlist is also available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01302021 Peace for the Martyrs”]
### DON’T BE GREEDY, BE GRATEFUL ###
Getting Ready & Being Ready January 29, 2023
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: Datuk Teh Kim Teh, Grace Chen, Hokkien, Jade Emperor, Lunar New Year, millet
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“Happy Spring Festival!” and “Happy Carnival!” to those who are celebrating. Many blessings to all, and especially to those preparing to celebrate the Jade Emperor’s Birthday.
“‘From this story, we learn that unity, solidarity and the active participation of the community is necessary when it comes to facing challenges,’ said [Klang Hokkien Association president Datuk Teh Kim] Teh.”
– quoted from The Star article (about a version of the story where only some hide) entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
More often than not, people focus on the big things – big achievements, big challenges, big tragedies, big heroics. We don’t often, however, focus on what it takes to get ready (for what we know is coming) and to be ready (for what might come). Yet, part of the practice – one could argue, “all of the practice of yoga” – is getting ready. Remember haṭha yoga, the physical practice of yoga (regardless of the style or tradition), is a combination of elements in the middle of the 8-Limbed Yoga Philosophy. The asana (“seat” or pose) is the foundation that gets you ready for prāṇāyāma (awareness of breath and extension of breath), which gets you ready for pratyāhāra (“withdrawing the senses and turning them towards a point”), which leads directly to the last three limbs and ultimately to the goal of yoga as “union.” Furthermore, in the physical practices of yoga, there is a system of sequencing called vinyāsa krama: literally “placing things in a special way” for a “step-by-step progression.” In other words, it is the art and science of getting ready.
The eighth day of the Lunar New Year is a regular day for most people who celebrate the Lunar New Year – and even those who are celebrating the 15-day Spring Festival. Sure, there are some who will celebrate the creation of millet, the ancient grain. Most people, however, have even finished the Lunar New Year feasts. There are some, however, who are getting ready for another big feast. For some, tonight and tomorrow will be an even bigger celebration than those on the first two or three days of the Lunar New Year. Tonight is “Hokkien New Year’s Eve” and the night before the Jade Emperor’s birthday.
Please join me for a 65-minute virtual yoga practice on Zoom today (Sunday, January 29th) at 2:30 PM. Use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Lunar New Year Day 9 2022”]
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.)
### MORE BLESSINGS ###
Focus+Concentrate+Meditate = Sweet Heaven (the “missing” post) February 21, 2021
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Lent / Great Lent, Life, Meditation, Mysticism, New Year, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Swami Vivekananda, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: Banlam, Datuk Teh Kim Teh, Grace Chen, Hokkien, Hoklo, Jade Emperor, Lunar New Year, Minnan, Patanjali, Samyama, Shi Fa Zhuo, Yoga Sutra 3.4, Yoga Sutras 3.1-3.3
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Happy New Year! Many blessings to those celebrating the Jade Emperor’s birthday and/or observing Lent!
[This is the post for Saturday, February 20th. You can request an audio recording of Saturday’s practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email me at myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.]
“The Indriyas, the organs of the senses, are acting outwards and coming in contact with external objects. Bringing them under the control of the will is what is called Pratyahara or gathering towards oneself. Fixing the mind on the lotus of the heart, or on the centre of the head, is what is called Dharana. Limited to one spot, making that spot the base, a particular kind of mental waves rises; these are not swallowed up by other kinds of waves, but by degrees become prominent, while all the others recede and finally disappear. Next the multiplicity of these waves gives place to unity and one wave only is left in the mind. This is Dhyana, meditation. When no basis is necessary, when the whole of the mind has become one wave, one-formedness, it is called Samadhi. Bereft of all help from places and centres, only the meaning of the thought is present. If the mind can be fixed on the centre for twelve seconds it will be a Dharana, twelve such Dharanas will be a Dhyana, and twelve such Dhyanas will be a Samadhi.”
– quoted from “Chapter VIII: Raja-Yoga in Brief” in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 1, Raja-Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
Take a moment to consider where you put your energy, resources, effort, and focus. How much time, money, effort, or awareness do you put into loving someone? Or, actively disliking someone? How much energy do you spend dealing with fear or grief, anger or doubt? How much on joy or gratitude? It is generally understood that what you get out of a situation or your life is partially based on what you put into a situation or life. A more nuanced understanding of such an equation would highlight the fact that our energy, resources, effort, and focus/awareness all combine to produce a certain outcome – and this is in keeping with Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion. It is also consistent with text in Ecclesiastes and with what Rod Stryker refers to as the Creation Equation.
The problem many of us run into isn’t that we don’t know or understand the formula. The problem is that we don’t pay attention to what we are putting into the equation. Our time, energy, efforts, and resources get pulled in different directions, because our attention is distracted – that is to say, our focus/awareness is pulled into different directions. But, what happens if/when we sharpen our focus? What happens when we pull all our awareness and senses in and focus/concentrate/meditate in such a way that we become completely absorbed in one direction? Consider the power of that kind of engagement.
Yoga Sūtra 3.1: deśabandhah cittasya dhāranā
– “Dhāranā is the process of holding, focusing, or fixing the attention of mind onto one object or place.”
Yoga Sūtra 3.2: tatra pratyaya-ikatānatā dhyānam
– “Dhyāna is the repeated continuation, or unbroken flow of thought, toward that one object or place.”
Yoga Sūtra 3.3: tadeva-artha-mātra-nirbhāsaṁ svarūpa-śūnyam-iva-samādhiḥ
– “Samadhi [meditation in its highest form] is the state when only the essence of that object, place, or point shines forth in the mind, as if devoid even of its own form.”
Yoga Sūtra 3.4: trayam-ekatra samyama
– “Samyama is [the practice or integration of] the three together.”
In the third section of the Yoga Sūtras, Patanjali outlined the last three limbs of the Yoga Philosophy and then, just as he did with the other elements, he broke down the benefits of practicing these final limbs. Similar to sūtra 2.1, there is a thread that highlights the power of three elements when practiced together. What is different about the final limbs, however, is that Patanjali devoted the majority of a whole chapter – “The Chapter (or Foundation) on Progressing” – to breaking down the benefits of integrating dhāranā (“focus” or concentration”), dhyāna (“concentration” or “meditation”), and Samādhi (“meditation” or “absorption”).
We can unintentionally find ourselves in a state of absorption, just as we can consciously progress into the state. We may think of it as being “in the zone” and it is something our minds are completely capable of experiencing. Even people with different types of ADHD can find themselves in this state of absorption. However, what Patanjali described, as it relates to the practice, is a very deliberate engagement of the mind – and, therefore, a very deliberate engagement of the mind-body-spirit.
There are, of course, times, when as individuals or groups we truly harness the power of our awareness and engage the mind-body-spirit in a way that could come under the heading of Samyama. Consider people coming together to raise a barn or to support a family in need. Think about grass roots efforts to register people to vote or change unjust laws. Think about how people raise money for a cause, an individual, or a community. Contemplate how someone’s focus shifts when they give something up for Lent. Although it is an extreme example, another example of a time when every fiber of someone’s being is focused on a single goal is when that goal is survival. One might do multiple tasks during such a period, but each task has the intention of ensuring survival. This is true of an individual and it can also be true of groups of people. In fact, throughout history there have been stories of individuals and groups of people who found themselves in such a situation.
One of those situations – where everyone focused every fiber of their being on survival is remembered and commemorated on the ninth and tenth days of the Lunar New Year. Legend has it that the Hokkien people (also known as Hoklo, Banlam, and Minnan people) found themselves under attack. The Hokkien were not warriors, but they came in close proximity with warriors because they were known for building great ships. One version of their story states that the events occurred during the Song Dynasty (between 960 and 1279 CE), while they were being hunted and killed; another indicates that they were caught between warring factions. Ultimately, to escape the carnage, they decided to hide in a sugar cane field – which, in some versions of the story, just miraculously appeared. They hid until there were no more sounds of horses, warriors, or battle. Legend has it that they emerged on the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, which is the Jade Emperor’s Birthday.
“‘From this story, we learn that unity, solidarity and the active participation of the community is necessary when it comes to facing challenges,’ said [Klang Hokkien Association president Datuk Teh Kim] Teh.”
– quoted from The Star article (about a version of the story where only some hide) entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
The Jade Emperor is sometimes referred to as “Heavenly Grandfather” and “Heavenly Duke.” He is recognized as the ruler of heaven and earth in some Chinese religion and mythology. In Taoism, he is one of the Three Pure Ones or the Three Divine Teachers. Fujian province (in China), Penang (in Malayasia), and Taiwan are three areas where there is a large concentration of Hokkien people and, therefore, places where the ninth day of the Lunar New Year is a large celebration. In some places the celebrations begin at 11 PM on the eighth night and can be so large that they eclipse the celebrations of the first day of the Lunar New Year (in those areas). In fact, the ninth day is actually called “Hokkien New Year.”
Those who are religious will go to a temple and engage in a ritual involving prostration, kneeling, bowing, incense, and offerings. For many there is a great feast full of fruits, vegetables, noodles, and (of course) sugar cane. The sugar cane is an important element of the Jade Emperor’s birthday celebrations and rituals – not only because of the aforementioned story of survival, but also because the Hokkien word for “sugarcane” (kam-chià, 甘蔗) is a homonym for (or sounds like) a Hokkien word for “thank you” (kamsiā, 感谢), which literally means “feeling thankful.”
Every version of the Hokkien people’s survival story is a great reminder that we can give thanks no matter how hard, how challenging, how infuriating, and/or how tragic our situation. Take last year, for instance: When we look back at all the hard stuff, all the grief, all the fear, all the anger, all the disappointment, and all of the trauma, we can get distracted and forget that there were moments of sweetness. Last year, there were moments of kindness, moments of love, moments of birth and rebirth, moments of compassion, moments of hope, and moments of joy. In other words, in spite of all the hard stuff, there were moments of sweetness. Take a moment to remember one of those moments; and feel thankful.
“‘Although we may not have an image of this deity in our temple, as long as devotees have the Jade Emperor in their hearts, their prayers will be heard,’ said [the Kwan Imm Temple’s] principal Shi Fa Zhuo.”
– quoted from The Star article entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify.
A Joyful Practice 