by Swami Ramananda

It seems like any birthday that ushers us into a new decade​ brings with it a whole spectrum of feelings, and that is what happened for me last week. Turning 70 gave rise to that culturally influenced feeling​, “OMG​! I’m getting old.“ But I’m grateful that I also found it easy to see through that thinking by marveling how I feel so much the same. Isn’t it true that ​in some core place inside​, we sense ​something, maybe just vaguely, that​ is unchanging even as we acknowledge the passing of time. I plan to keep tuning into that timeless presence within as I explore this next decade.

The other major theme that has emerged for me in these past few weeks, is a feeling of profound gratitude for all the blessings I have received in these 70 years.  First of all, I think of the transformative teachings of Yoga that completely changed my life, and my guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda, for the way he made those teachings accessible and practical. Then, there is the opportunity I have had to meet and share these precious teachings with so many fellow teachers and students of Yoga all over the world. In this past week, I have received so much love and support from the vast network of our international spiritual family.

Reflecting back, I was fortunate to have the support of my loving family that I’m still very close to. At a very young age, I had the opportunity to live at Yogaville in the years that Satchidananda Ashram and the LOTUS shrine were first being built. The 20 years I spent at the Integral Yoga Institute in New York taught me so much about the importance of regular spiritual practice and a supportive community to keep one’s spiritual life in focus when surrounded by all the temptations of modern life. The past 12 years living here in San Francisco have equally contributed to my personal growth, giving me a tremendous opportunity to experience the joy of serving with a loving and dedicated spiritual family.

I am also grateful for the teachings and practices of Integral Yoga that have gradually transformed the way I understand myself and interact with the world around me. Gradually and organically, I have deepened my connection to an internal source of contentment and peace. By looking deeply within with compassionate and accepting awareness, I have been able to shine light into the dark corners of my psyche where old, unconscious beliefs have compelled me to seek happiness in unhealthy ways. Exposed, these old mental patterns that were etched into my mind have dissipated, leaving me much freer to experience joy and rest in an inner sense of oneness with the whole web of life.

Getting older has also inspired me to refocus on what is really important – how best to use my time and energy since they obviously are limited. It’s become clearer to me that I want to dedicate myself to that which is of utmost importance to me – sharing the teachings of Yoga in any way that I can. For example, it’s been suggested to me for some years now that I write a book about one of my favorite topics – how to integrate the teachings of Yoga into daily life. In the past, it has never felt like the right time. But now, a few things have fallen into place and I feel inspired to undertake this effort, sharing as best I can how Yoga can become a way of life. A good friend from my time in New York, Chandra Sgammato, has helped me submit a book proposal to Integral Yoga Publications.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my life over the last 30 years has been to travel and share the profound teachings of Yoga to spiritual aspirants all over the world. By reducing the time I spend on administration and running the day-to-day operation of the Institute, I hope to be more available to lead graduate level teacher training programs, workshops and satsangs, and to support Yoga centers and sanghas wherever there is a need. While I am not adept at navigating the ever changing technology that we are compelled to employ these days, I feel it is my dharma to share the timeless teachings that have the potential to transform our daily lives. This is how I intend to focus my energies for the remainder of my life.

Join Swami Ramananda in celebration of his 70th trip around the sun for a Birthday – Brunch Potluck, in-person Saturday, August 12, 11am – 1:00 pm.

In lieu of gifts, we ask that you donate to Ramananda’s GoFundMe page to help raise funds to support him in shifting his focus from daily administrative tasks to sharing Yogic wisdom to a broader community. Read more

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco, and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI) which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

by Prajna Lorin Piper

In Buddhism, the brahma viharas, or the four heavenly abodes, are the individual qualities of metta (kindness), compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity. These would be the four mind states, if you will, where enlightened beings dwell. They aren’t actually heavenly realms, up in the sky, they’re maybe what we call states of being, where the heavenly beings, figuratively at least, hang out. You can understand the idea that an awakened being doesn’t hang out in mind states of ill will or grasping or agitation or torpor or doubt. They would dwell in the wholesome, the lovely states.

The first one, metta, commonly translated as loving kindness or good will or benevolence or friendliness is the basis for them all, and equanimity, often considered to be the equivalent of nirvana, is referred to as the crown. I once heard someone ask a spiritual teacher how to practice equanimity and the teacher was actually kind of flummoxed. He said maybe, after a while, just by realizing how exhausting it is to be teeter-tottering back and forth between one mood and another, one would give it up and go for balance.

It was interesting to me because I’d often wondered the same thing. If equanimity is the equivalent of nirvana, enlightenment, well, you can’t really tell people precisely how to practice enlightenment. But we can also look at it another way. If metta is the basis for the other qualities, and we all know, without a doubt, what kindness feels like, when it’s present and when it’s not, then we can simply practice kindness. This is both humbling and immediately liberating. We can know what we’re about, in the same way as the Dalai Lama, when he said, “My religion is kindness.”

The other obvious situation for cultivating the brahma viharas is in sitting practice, in meditation. We learn to sit with the unpleasant – the unpleasant sensations, the feelings, the moods and the mental processes – and then we learn to sit with the pleasant sensations, feelings moods and mental processes. And we learn to sit with the neutral. We cultivate an attitude of kindness, of friendliness, and we get more skillful in how we respond to what arises, to meet the unpleasant with compassion and the pleasant with appreciation and to stay balanced with what arises, not to contract or reject or ignore or chase after it.

In Buddhist practice, this is aided by mindfulness and effort, two of the cultivations of the Buddha’s 8 fold path. Wise mindfulness minds and cares – it’s aware of what we’re doing and knows if it’s healthy or unhealthy, if it will lead to more suffering or not. Wise effort is our response to that – we make the effort to abandon the unwholesome and cultivate the wholesome, moment after moment.

In truth, the whole path works together. In my last retreat with Christina Feldman, one of the teachers I admire most, she asked us “Do you have confidence in the cultivation of the lovely qualities as a path to liberation or do you think something else has to happen first?” I know that early in my spiritual practice I definitely thought something else had to happen, and that that metta was just some sort of fluffy side offering to sweeten things up. But as I mature in my practice, I incline more and more to the cultivation of the brahma viharas as a direct path, beginning with kindness.

by Richard Miller, PhD

I first experienced the power of meditation in 1970 during my first-ever yoga class at the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute. I came into that initial class feeling sad, alone, isolated, and depressed and left feeling whole, healthy, joyful and in touch with and not-separate from the Mystery that has given birth to the entire cosmos. This initial glimpse of my essential nature awakened within me an insatiable desire to unravel the process I had just experienced, which I would later learn as Yoga Nidra. My yearning would eventually lead me to study with some of the most renowned teachers in the world and become adept as a teacher of Yoga Nidra, through years of personal practice and guiding thousands of students in its process.

During that first class, I recovered a secret that I now know is open to everyone who is interested in finding true peace of mind and unbreakable and unchanging Equanimity, joy, and well-being that remain undisturbed, free of circumstance or situation. And I know that if I can realize this, so can you. The key to inner peace is not some impenetrable secret. While seemingly obscure, it is actually in plain sight and readily available to you, as the open secret of yoga nidra.

In today’s fast-paced and often chaotic world, cultivating unshakable resilience and a joyful mindset has become more crucial than ever for realizing and embodying unbreakable well-being. Meditation is not just about positive thinking and wishful optimism; it is a powerful tool that can shape our lives, enhance our relationships, and enable us to meet the challenges we face on a daily basis.

Our Innate Wholeness

A core theme in the realm of meditation is the realization, at the outset, that our birthright is, and we can experience at the outset of meditation, an innate felt-sense of wholeness that is beyond lack, need, or want; is incapable of being hurt or harmed; is never in need healing; is always whole and healthy; and is easily recognized and embodied no matter our circumstance. True meditation, such as in the iRest way, introduces us to our wholeness at the beginning, rather than as a goal to be achieved at some future moment. Then we are engaging meditation from our wholeness, rather than meditating to achieve and become whole, which makes a tremendous difference in all that follows as we take up the practice of meditation.

The Mind-Body Connection

Another core theme is the mind-body connection. Research reveals that our thoughts and emotions directly influence our physical health and well-being. By understanding how to meet, greet, listen, and responds to our emotions and thoughts, we can reduce stress, boost our immune system, speed up healing processes, and realize unbreakable peace and well-being. Moreover, meditation fosters our birthright of empowerment and resilience, allowing us to navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and ease.

Shifting Perspectives

Another vital aspect of meditation is the ability to shift perspectives. By reframing negative situations or setbacks as opportunities for growth, we transform challenges into catalysts for personal development. This shift in perspective empowers us to feel in control of our lives and realize valuable lessons in every experience. By focusing on solutions and actions rather than problems, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities and a creative future.

Nourishing Gratitude and Love

Gratitude and love are powerful practices of meditation. When we nourish gratitude and love, we shift our attention from what is lacking in our lives to what we already have and are. By regularly feeling and nourishing gratitude and love, for big and small everyday blessings, as well as gratitude and love for no reason at all, we invite positivity into our lives. Nourishing gratitude and love strengthens our relationships, improves our mental health, and increases our overall life satisfaction.

Self-Love and Self-Acceptance

Meditation helps us develop a healthy relationship with ourselves. Self-love and self-acceptance play crucial roles in this process. By embracing our strengths and weaknesses, we develop a positive sense of self and self-esteem. When we practice self-compassion, we grow our capacity to be resilient in the face of adversity and realize our birthright of unshakable inner peace.

The Power of Core Statements

Core statements are phrases that we use to inquire into our true state of mind and being. For instance, during meditation we can inquire: “Is it true, I’m safe with myself. I don’t betray myself. I say yes when I mean yes, and no when I mean no. Is this true?” Statements like this help us unearth and heal destructive conditioned patterns and beliefs that lay in our subconscious mind blocking us from feeling our innate wholeness and well-being. By inquiring with core statements, we can overcome self-doubt and build a strong foundation for realizing our true potential as a human being. Core statements are simple, effective tools for realizing unbreakable confidence, esteem, motivation, and well-being.

Nourishing Positivity

The people and environments we surround ourselves with influence our thoughts and attitudes. By consciously choosing to spend time with positive, supportive individuals and communities, we amplify our own positive thinking, motivations, values, and meaning. Additionally, creating an environment that reflects our values and aspirations further enhances our overall resilience and well-being.

Conclusion

In a world where negativity often prevails, embracing the power of meditation, such as in the iRest way, is a transformative choice. By acknowledging the mind-body connection, shifting perspectives, nourishing gratitude, and self-love, utilizing core statement, and surrounding ourselves with positivity, we unlock our full potential as human beings and realize a fulfilling and meaningful life. Remember, meditation is not about denying the challenges of life but rather approaching them from unbreakable resilience, well-being, optimism, and a joyful mindset.

Please join Richard Miller online & in-person  for Living Your Essential Nature: The Integration of Meditation into Daily Life, 1-Day Meditation and iRest Yoga Nidra Workshop on Sat. June 24 @ 10:00 am – 4:30 pm PDT.

Richard C. Miller, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar, and spiritual teacher who has devoted his life to integrating Western psychology and neuroscience with the ancient nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism, and Buddhism. Richard is the founder of iRest Institute, co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and founding past president of the Institute for Spirituality

and Psychology.