Here's John's touching review of "Midnights with the Mystic":
It's hard to believe that something as commonplace as a book could really change one's life. Sure I've read many great books in my life from philosophy to art, from self-help to countless biographies. All of them are undeniably interesting, meaningful and insightful, but I must say they never really stick with me. Of course the reading is always enjoyable sometimes even stimulating but once it finished it's on to the next and two weeks later I could barely remember the title.
Midnights with the Mystic was totally different for me. There was an unusual sense of calm clarity that was speaking directly to me. Questions that have lingered in the back of my mind since I was a child were addressed with a such clarity that complex and overwhelming subjects like grief, death, my own divinity became profoundly simple and understandable.
It was as if for the first time I had encountered a sense of pure, unfiltered, and untainted truth that had always been there but I just wasn't aware of it. Being a die-hard skeptic, I looked at the ideas presented from every differing angle I could imagine and everything kept coming back affirmative. Maybe this really is the Truth, I thought.
Could it be that after all these years of education and personal seeking and growth, that I've now stumbled upon the real thing - truth with a capital "T", and it doesn't elude me? Could it be that it's not so far out that it's beyond me and my comprehension? Can I "get" the Truth?
I can joyfully answer "YES!" and the heaviness and scariness of uncertainty has been lifted and my life is profoundly illuminated and forever changed.
--John Donabedian
Shambhavi
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Labels:
inner engineering,
Isha Yoga,
shambhavi mahamudra,
spirituality,
yoga
Parul, an IE participant from Delhi shares his experience of Inner Engineering.
She's called that cos' she's feminine. I liked the way its sound melted in my mouth, so well, that it fills me up even just to say it.
Shambhavi, its a way of meditation. It is offered and recieved, in a particular way, in the presence of a guru. It can't, be taught and learnt like the usual kriyas, asanas and other forms of yoga or meditation.
That's what is said, and I believe it, at the time it is offered to me, while it is also offered to 1000 odd others present with me in the stadium on 19th of Dec 2010.
Believe it or not, it has you the first time you do it. People say they experience ecstasy. It fills you up with an energy, of a kind, inexplicable by ways of communicating that you already know. That's why, its called ecstasy I guess.
My first time, it sent chills down my spine, and every bit of me froze as if I was inside a freezing water body. As if I wouldn't breathe again, or breathing itself was effort. And without any emotion and lots of pain, I cried.
I cried as I havent cried before. As I don't wish to cry again. If I had let go of myself, that last one percent, I might have shocked those sitting next to me. And then when it was done, when everyone relaxed, stood up and danced, I was still crouching to myself, frozen, empty and exhausted. Tears wouldn't stop. Shivers won't give away.
Later, a teacher explained: Shambhavi is feminine in nature. Feminine, cos it yields easily. You don't need years of practice before she yields for you. She is tender that way. And I loved the way he explained it. Shambhavi, it made sense. It made sense suddenly.
That day, they made us do it again (twice ie.) ; tears yet again, shivers yet again and a long blank, followed by a yearning to be held, consoled, drift away in slumber. Never experienced a blank like that before, like I didn't know where I am, what I am here for, not even an emotion, just cold and the pain.
-Parul Tongaria (Corp HR) BHEL
She's called that cos' she's feminine. I liked the way its sound melted in my mouth, so well, that it fills me up even just to say it.
Shambhavi, its a way of meditation. It is offered and recieved, in a particular way, in the presence of a guru. It can't, be taught and learnt like the usual kriyas, asanas and other forms of yoga or meditation.
That's what is said, and I believe it, at the time it is offered to me, while it is also offered to 1000 odd others present with me in the stadium on 19th of Dec 2010.
Believe it or not, it has you the first time you do it. People say they experience ecstasy. It fills you up with an energy, of a kind, inexplicable by ways of communicating that you already know. That's why, its called ecstasy I guess.
My first time, it sent chills down my spine, and every bit of me froze as if I was inside a freezing water body. As if I wouldn't breathe again, or breathing itself was effort. And without any emotion and lots of pain, I cried.
I cried as I havent cried before. As I don't wish to cry again. If I had let go of myself, that last one percent, I might have shocked those sitting next to me. And then when it was done, when everyone relaxed, stood up and danced, I was still crouching to myself, frozen, empty and exhausted. Tears wouldn't stop. Shivers won't give away.
Later, a teacher explained: Shambhavi is feminine in nature. Feminine, cos it yields easily. You don't need years of practice before she yields for you. She is tender that way. And I loved the way he explained it. Shambhavi, it made sense. It made sense suddenly.
That day, they made us do it again (twice ie.) ; tears yet again, shivers yet again and a long blank, followed by a yearning to be held, consoled, drift away in slumber. Never experienced a blank like that before, like I didn't know where I am, what I am here for, not even an emotion, just cold and the pain.
-Parul Tongaria (Corp HR) BHEL
Auto drivers inspired her
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Labels:
Isha Foundation,
isha volunteering
Fida Rose shares about her volunteering experience:
"Its really a blessing to find wonderful people in Isha. I bow down to this wonderful people who have inspired me to break my limitations."
Read the full post here: http://life-after-joining-ishayoga.blogspot.com/2011/03/people-who-inspired-me-to-break-my.html
"Its really a blessing to find wonderful people in Isha. I bow down to this wonderful people who have inspired me to break my limitations."
Read the full post here: http://life-after-joining-ishayoga.blogspot.com/2011/03/people-who-inspired-me-to-break-my.html
He bows down
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Labels:
inner engineering,
Inner Engineering Program,
Isha Yoga,
meditation,
shambhavi mahamudra,
spirituality
Selva shares his Inner Engineering experience:
"I began to talk to my father, with whom I had a fight and vowed never to talk to him unless it was absolutely necessary."
Read the full article here: http://ishabangalore.blogspot.com/2010/12/isha-journey-to-inner-world-begins-here.html
"I began to talk to my father, with whom I had a fight and vowed never to talk to him unless it was absolutely necessary."
Read the full article here: http://ishabangalore.blogspot.com/2010/12/isha-journey-to-inner-world-begins-here.html
Runners here!!
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Labels:
isha vidhya
A few runners from the Mumbai Marathon share why they do it. They raised Rs.60 lakhs for Isha Vidhya in 2010.
“I am running for Isha Vidhya because by educating a child I am creating an individual who becomes completely self-reliant and is an asset to the nation. Also Isha Foundation has enviable track record for success, impeccable credentials and very efficient utilization of the funds donated”
~ Jamshed Jehangir, Isha Mumbai volunteer, 70 years old, running for Isha Vidhya for last 3 years
“Schools run by Isha Education, in a very short span, have been applauded as a role model school and even the better run schools would be inspired to adapt Isha Vidhya Practices when they see the way the kids from Isha Vidhya, from rural area blossom so wonderfully. Am requesting my friends, acquaintances & corporates for their support, to the Isha Vidhya Project so wonderfully executed.”
~ Rahul Patil, running 21 kms
“I have always been deeply moved by the expectant eyes of grubby little children with good potential but no opportunities. Isha Vidhya is doing a great job of providing high quality education to these rural children at an affordable cost. I am running half marathon to raise as much funds as I can for Isha Vidhya. I am approaching all my friends, colleagues and relatives and urging them to reach out so that every child that is supported through this initiative gets a chance to reach his/her full potential……… I think this is the least that i can do in my small way :)”
~ Kalpana Maniar, running 21 kms for last 3 years
“What I am today, is because of the education that my parents could provide me. There are millions of children in Rural India who are not as fortunate as me. Isha Education has taken up this task of setting up schools in rural Tamilnadu and is committed to providing quality education that is affordable and accessible to these children in their own villages. Having been to one such School near Coimbatore and having seen for myself the joy and happiness bubbling in those rural children. I am supporting this cause. I am sure with its rural schools, Isha will change the face of Rural India. “
~ Meyyammai Ganesh, running 6kms
“I am running for Isha Vidhya because by educating a child I am creating an individual who becomes completely self-reliant and is an asset to the nation. Also Isha Foundation has enviable track record for success, impeccable credentials and very efficient utilization of the funds donated”
~ Jamshed Jehangir, Isha Mumbai volunteer, 70 years old, running for Isha Vidhya for last 3 years
“Schools run by Isha Education, in a very short span, have been applauded as a role model school and even the better run schools would be inspired to adapt Isha Vidhya Practices when they see the way the kids from Isha Vidhya, from rural area blossom so wonderfully. Am requesting my friends, acquaintances & corporates for their support, to the Isha Vidhya Project so wonderfully executed.”
~ Rahul Patil, running 21 kms
“I have always been deeply moved by the expectant eyes of grubby little children with good potential but no opportunities. Isha Vidhya is doing a great job of providing high quality education to these rural children at an affordable cost. I am running half marathon to raise as much funds as I can for Isha Vidhya. I am approaching all my friends, colleagues and relatives and urging them to reach out so that every child that is supported through this initiative gets a chance to reach his/her full potential……… I think this is the least that i can do in my small way :)”
~ Kalpana Maniar, running 21 kms for last 3 years
“What I am today, is because of the education that my parents could provide me. There are millions of children in Rural India who are not as fortunate as me. Isha Education has taken up this task of setting up schools in rural Tamilnadu and is committed to providing quality education that is affordable and accessible to these children in their own villages. Having been to one such School near Coimbatore and having seen for myself the joy and happiness bubbling in those rural children. I am supporting this cause. I am sure with its rural schools, Isha will change the face of Rural India. “
~ Meyyammai Ganesh, running 6kms
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