Tuesday 17 September 2013

Hoʻoponopono in Action



Ever hear of Hoʻoponopono? It’s a traditional Hawaiian healing method of forgiveness and reconciliation, usually performed by a healer or kahuna in a group, family or tribal setting. In the fascinating book “Zero Limits,” Joe Vitale describes a modern variation of Hoʻoponopono that has been pioneered by psychologist Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. According to Dr. Len, the objective of Hoʻoponopono is to achieve “the state of Zero, where we would have zero limits. No memories. No identity. “Dr. Len calls this state “Self-I-Dentity”. 

Dr. Len teaches a simple but radical mantra that helps a person wash clean or eliminate the countless personal memories stored in the subconscious that block us from experiencing divine inspiration coming from the Higher Self.

But before repeating the mantra, there is a radical inner leap one has to make regarding personal responsibility. Dr. Len says that we need to take 100% responsibility for being the source of everything that comes into our field of awareness. In other words, whatever happens to us is coming out of our subconscious memory bank even though it appears to be originating from “out there”.

Every sensation, every object, every scenario we witness or are personally involved in is our own creation. We don’t blame ourselves in any way for this or try to run around being a fixer of other people’s problems as a result of accepting this premise; rather we just simply and objectively accept 100% responsibility. This may sound easy to do but it can get tricky when we experience ourselves being unfairly treated or victimized. When someone cuts you off on the freeway, it can be pretty difficult in the moment to calmly accept 100% responsibility for that event.

So starting from the inner position of taking 100% responsibility for one’s life experiences, the Hoʻoponopono mantra is a 4-step process. You simply repeat inwardly, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you.” Let’s take a look at each step.

“I’m sorry.” By apologizing for what is happening, especially for the difficult interactions with people that come into your life, you are saying “The buck stops here. I’m creating this.” Who are you saying “I’m sorry” to? Ultimately, to the Divine within.

“Please forgive me.” This is radical. We usually hear a lot about forgiveness these days. Forgive your parents. Forgive your abuser. What Dr. Len is teaching is Advanced Forgiveness. When you forgive someone, you are still holding onto the conviction that you were wronged. Somebody did something painful to you and now you are releasing them and yourself by forgiving them. When practicing Hoʻoponopono, you remain inwardly on your knees, always asking for forgiveness not giving it. From whom? Same as before: from the Divine within.“I love you.”

The famous three words. How many times have we wished we had said it more often? In this context, we are simply striving to connect to the primal feeling of love in our hearts as a simple prayer of affirmation. Again we direct the words to the Divine within, to all of life, to humanity as a whole, or, if we are able, to the person with whom we are having difficulties.

“Thank you.” In the final step, you feel and express appreciation and gratitude, both of which are spontaneous prayers of the heart.

Something special seems to happen inwardly and outwardly when this mantra sequence is followed with sincerity. There is reconciliation with the Divine through apologizing and asking for forgiveness, and then a reunion in love and awe. Amazingly, doing this often leads to a positive change in the situations we find ourselves in—other people change without our directly asking them to.

When I do the Hoʻoponopono mantra, I expand a little bit on the 4 steps. If I think someone is treating me unfairly, I will say, “Please forgive me for any time I have acted in a similar (dishonest, disrespectful, careless, hurtful, etc.) way in this life or in previous lives (if you believe in reincarnation). I’m sorry for having acted that way (even though I don’t remember doing so) and causing pain to others.”

Hoʻoponopono is not saying that one should never defend or protect oneself in more direct ways if necessary. Sometimes doing the mantra frees up the people involved to let go and move on, rather than remaining in an unfulfilling or abusive relationship, for instance.

In my experience, the Hoʻoponopono mantra can transform difficult situations even if I am only marginally involved. Recently, I was walking down a crowded street in north Goa. Across the street I came upon an ugly altercation taking place between what appeared to be a hired car driver and his passengers. The driver was furious for some reason, getting louder and louder.

He was a big man and seemed threatening. The three passengers were arguing their point but not as furiously as the driver.

They did not see me. In the moment I decided to start doing the Hoʻoponopono mantra. First I inwardly took responsibility for the altercation. Since it had come into my awareness, I accepted that it was coming out of my subconscious. “Please forgive me for any time in this life or in past lives for losing my temper and becoming hostile and threatening when I felt cheated. Also please forgive me for any times I may have cheated anyone….I’m sorry….I love you, I love youthank you.” I repeated the mantra 3-4 times in less than a minute.

Here’s what I observed take place across the street: the raging car driver immediately calmed down as if the light bulb of reason suddenly flashed on inside him. He and the passengers started talking calmly. They must have come to an agreement because they all got back into the car and drove off like nothing had happened. Did my doing the Hoʻoponopono mantra transform the situation? Who can say for sure. But that is the third time I have done this while witnessing an ugly street altercation and each time the same thing happened—there was a sudden peaceful shift/resolution of the conflict between the parties involved. It seemed miraculous how fast and dramatic the shift was.

Dr. Len would say that by clearing errors in my own subconscious related to the issue at hand makes it possible for others to do the same, even outside their conscious awareness. I recommend that you put the Hoʻoponopono mantra to the test—don’t take Dr. Len’s or my word for its power. The next time you are personally involved in or witness an altercation, try saying it and see what happens. Mahalo

Thursday 12 September 2013

Monsoon

The monsoon season here is winding down. The rains in Goa have been plentiful this year so everyone, from farmers to poets, has much to be thankful for.  In India, the monsoon is a major event that is greatly anticipated. It is the only time of year that significant precipitation falls in most of the continent. The whole economy of India is dependent on the monsoon in one way or another, for without water livelihoods and the quality of life suffer. Even though the rains often bring flooding and disruptions, Indians welcome the monsoon and celebrate its arrival.  When the rains start falling, monsoon parties follow. Monsoon casts its spell on all people, regardless of age, caste, creed, or social status. It brings relief from the scorching summer heat which lasts from March through May.

In India, Varuna is worshiped as the god who bestows the rains and regulates the seasons. He is the god of waters, clouds, oceans and rivers. In the Rigveda there are hymns dedicated to Varuna. If there is scarcity of rain, priests perform the "Varuna Japa" while standing in water. Indian music is also closely linked to the monsoon. Singing the 'Raag Malhar' is believed to coax the water from the clouds. Local folklore is chock full of stories and legends about the monsoon. When the cuckoos sing and the peacock dance, the arrival of the monsoon is believed to be immanent.  

The word “monsoon” is derived from the Arabic word mausim which means “a time” or “a season”. In India there is the southwest and the northeast monsoon, each delivered by different patterns of trade winds that modern meteorological science now knows are affected by global weather patterns, such as ice in the Arctic and the El Nino in the Pacific. The southwest monsoon usually “bursts” onto the state of Kerala from the sea, near the city of Thiruvananthapuram, during the first week of June. Goa starts to receive the rains shortly after that. The monsoon then moves up the western coast to Maharashtra (Mumbai) and Gujarat.

Monsoon is considered to be the time when creativity flourishes, possibly because people are spending more time indoors in a reflective or inward frame of mind. In Kerala and Goa in particular, the start of the monsoon season is also a time for deep healing.  Kerela is renowed for its Ayurvedic treatments known as Panchakarma therapies. Panchakarma is the systemic cleansing of the body using five types of therapeutic measures such as oils, massage, herbs, steam, diet and other purgative therapies over a period 10-14 days. It takes advantage of the climate that fires up the body’s ability to release its imperfections-- the moist, dust-free air means that the body’s pores are open and receptive. Panchakarma seeks to restore the vital strength of the body by eliminating accumulated toxins.

Monday 5 August 2013

Marriage


Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

~ The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran ~

Wednesday 31 July 2013

~ Compassion, The Godliness ~


~ A Sufi Story ~

There was a Sufi saint. He always loved to share his Food with someone by inviting him at his home. He never ate his Food alone.

One day, he invited many people but none of them accepted his invitation.

Eating the food alone was very hard for him, because it had never been a Food who took away his appetite; it was the sharing of food with someone, which always fulfilled him with bliss-fullness.

Today, he was very unhappy and decided, until he finds someone, he will not eat.

Suddenly an Old guy knocked at his doorstep asking for Food.

Sufi saint welcomed him with folded hands and said,

“I am blessed with your presence, I had been waiting for it. Allah (GOD) might have seen me sad and he sent you. He is very compassionate.”

Sufi saint served the Old Guy with food and requested him to eat.

The moment Old guy started eating; Sufi saint noticed that he did not remember the Allah, (The name of GOD) before he eats.

He rushed towards the old guy and held his hand tightly. He did not allow him to swallow that bite.

Sufi Saint: “why didn’t you remember the Allah (The name of GOD) before eating the food”?

This behavior shocked the Old Guy weirdly.

Old Guy: “I do not believe in Allah (The name of GOD). Why should I utter his name”?

Sufi Saint: “Okay, fine! But remember you are not allowed to eat this food then.”

Old Guy: “Please free my hand and let me go away from here, thank you.”

The house was filled with mysterious silence and slowly the Old Guy started walking towards the door.

All of sudden there descends the Voice of Allah (GOD) in the house. It was roaring at Sufi saint:

“Even though, this Old Guy had never remembered me for last 70 years.
I know it. But I never put any condition in front of him and I kept on feeding him whenever he was starving.

And you did not allow him to eat, how did you let him go starving?

Just for a one time meal you asked him to fulfill your condition, first?

How do you call it LOVE?

Whom I have been feeding for last 70 year without any expectation, you could not even feed him a one-time meal?

SHAME ON YOU!?

Sufi saint, fell down in front of the OLD GUY in his feet and requested:

“Forgive me please, it was my mistake. I forgot that God (Compassion, the Godliness) knows no conditions and I should have not used his name to fulfill my expectations. Please accept this food.”

---
This is the very important to understand that the very nature - of Compassion or of Godliness - never sees abilities. It just goes on showering, it never differentiates.

Since, we have born in this world, even before that, we have always been taking care of 
by this Compassion in this existence, miraculously .

Compassion has been known as a highest form of love by all the Awakened Masters.

It reminds me of my Master OSHO, he used to say that, Love in the physical world has got many forms, because of a trained mind in human beings, which is enforced by Societies, so called Religions and Politics.

But never forget, when this Love becomes free of all the Forms such as:
Fantasies, Attachments and Possessiveness.

It is transformed into Compassion and becomes a formless reality, which is available for everyone without any Conditions, Expectations, Requests and Demands.

Whether someone asks for it or not, it does not matter. It is simply available.

Just for a moment, if we become aware of our Breath.

Does it have a specific resistance towards thieves, murderers, enemies and deceivers?

 NO, it does not. It is a sheer blessing of existence out of Compassion.

Every new Breath is bringing, a new opportunity from the unknown realms of life for everybody to live more, to celebrate more, and to experience the life more, in its all lengths and heights.

May we never forget to be grateful
- for every moment
- for every smile
- for every breath
- for every friend
- for every good and bad (although there is none) !!! :) !!!

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Remember to put the glass down! - A beautiful story to learn "The Art of Letting Go!" -

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience.

As she raised a Glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How Heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. To 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it.

If I hold it, for A minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm.

If I hold it, for A day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed.

In each case, The weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it Becomes."

She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think About them for a while and nothing happens.

Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to Remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night.

Remember to put the glass down! :)

Monday 29 July 2013

Welcome to Yog Nisarga Blog

Namaste and welcome to Yog Nisarga Blog

Yog Nisarga is India’s one of the finest Yoga teacher training school. With Having good experience in yoga teacher training, we can take your practice and art of teaching to the next level. Yog Nisarga is registered with Yoga Alliance International. Yoga Alliance International is the globally recognized institution who approves and gives credibility to yoga schools in India & around the world.



We offer a 200- Hour Residential Yoga Teachers Training Course, registered with Yoga Alliance International. We specialize in Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga. This 4 week Yoga Alliance USA Certified Yoga training schedule combines, learning basic anatomy, teaching practice, esoteric philosophy, branches of yoga, ethics and codes, yoga for pregnancy/children/elderly people, yoga therapy for any medical/health condition, basic Ayurveda, meditation, and more.


Our daily Drop-in Yoga Practice includes pranayama, meditation & asanas (poses) followed by relaxation. You will experience the emptiness and silent during and after the class. The classes are designed for practitioners of any level (beginner, intermediate & advanced). The teachers adapt to the energy and level of the group and individuals.