According to the Vedic tradition, there are two characteristics that define a person on the path toward enlightenment: First, you have a sense that worries are disappearing. Things may go wrong, but they don't bother you anymore. Second, in every area of your life, you become aware of a growing number of synchronicities — a word coined by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung to describe the confluence of meaningful coincidences. Keep Reading
Where's Deepak
Aug 22 Chicago, IL
Sep 2 Sydney, Australia
Sep 3 Sydney, Australia
Sep 5 Melbourne, Australia
Sep 8 Perth, Australia
Sep 15-19 New York City
Sep 19 Sacramento, CA
Living Perfect Health
Ayurveda teaches that our existence extends beyond the boundaries of our skin. Our personal body is constantly exchanging energy and information with the environment and everything around us. Read more
What We're Reading
The Emotion Behind Money
by Julie Murphy Casserly
The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All
by Harvey McKinnon and Azim Jamal
Money, and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Wealth, Health, and Happiness
by Esther and Jerry Hicks
What We're Eating
Chopra Center Tabouli
Our recipe can be found here
Words of Wisdom
“Our body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care."
~Jack Kornfield
"The road to enlightenment is paved with authenticity, not imitation."
~Alan Cohen
Chopra Center Spotlight
This month our Chopra Center Staff Spotlight features Tiffany Murray.
Read about Tiffany here
SynchroDestiny
Sept. 25-28, Portland, OR
30-day special ends Aug. 25
Seduction of Silence
Oct. 27-Nov. 1, Carlsbad, CA
60-day special ends Aug. 27
Soul of Healing
Nov. 3-7, Carlsbad, CA
60-day special ends Sept. 3
Journey into Healing
Nov. 13-16, Westminster, CO
90-day special ends Aug. 13
The Signature Chopra Center Wellness Program
Perfect Health
Sept. 8-12
30-day price ends Aug. 8
Sept. 22-26
30-day price ends Aug. 22
Welcommen!
For all of our German readers, an article from Joachim Schneider, a Primordial Sound Meditation instructor in Germany. Thank you Joachim! Read the article here
Begin with dhyana, with meditation,
and end in samadhi, in ecstasy,
and you will know what God is.
It is not a hypothesis, it is an experience.
You have to LIVE it - that is the only way to know it."
~Osho
For thousands of years the great Vedic seers have proclaimed that the purpose of attending to the body is to support the awakened state of consciousness known as enlightenment. In this state, our internal reference point shifts from ego to spirit, and we recognize that the knower, the process of knowing, and that which is known are one and the same. The boundaries of time and space become fluid as we remember ourselves as unbounded beings temporarily masquerading as individuals. We remember our pure, luminous nature and experience the peace and silence at the core of our being.
This Namasté celebrates awakening to our true Self and discovering that the path to higher awareness is an inward journey. As Deepak writes in The Book of Secrets, “What you seek, you already are. Your awareness has its source in unity. Instead of seeking outside yourself, go to the source and realize who you are.”
In this issue, David shares his unique perspective on awakening and offers practical suggestions for breaking out of old patterns into new ways of seeing – and Deepak discusses how awakening to the infinite web of intelligence helps us fulfill our deepest desires and purpose. This Namasté also includes words of wisdom from ancient sages and modern philosophers, answers to your meditation questions, and tips for keeping your doshas in balance.
We wish you love, health, and abundance and encourage you to send us your comments, insights, and suggestions to feedback@chopra.com.
Namaste,
The Chopra Center staff
Meditation Q&A
Q: I've often heard that spiritual illumination is the source of true happiness, and so my question is, how do we attain it? In the accounts I’ve read by spiritual masters such as Muktananda, Yogananda, and others – they all seem to have been enlightened in a single flash of insight. I’ve been meditating for months and months, and while I know that it sometimes takes years or lifetimes to achieve enlightenment, I’ve also heard that some people reach it without ever meditating or doing other spiritual practices. I’m wondering if there’s something else I could do to “help along” the process.
A: Although there are many valuable practices for awakening, there are no real shortcuts. It’s fine to read Muktananda’s and Yogananda’s books for inspiration, but it isn’t useful to compare your personal experiences with theirs to gauge your progress. Reading about celestial visitations with lights, colors, and voices can be fun, but don’t let it lead you to devalue your own experience and practices.
Continue with your meditation and don’t worry about trying to achieve any particular goal through your practice. By constantly casting about for the “perfect” technique, you are actually taking yourself out of present-moment awareness, where your happiness is always available. To paraphrase the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, there is nothing to do and nowhere to go. We are simply waking up to the pure, joyful spirit we already are. Keep meditating and practice staying in the present, trusting that everything you need is right in front of you, right now.
Featured Workshop
Renewal Weekend: Chicago - August 22–24
Experience a rejuvenating weekend getaway with Deepak Chopra, David Simon, and the Chopra Center family. Renewal Weekend is an ideal retreat for the occasional meditator, the fledgling yogi, and anyone who has been curious about the Eastern healing arts. With the guidance of Deepak, David, and head educator, davidji, you will get to truly learn the practices that will awaken you to greater health, joy, and fulfillment.
Whether you live in Chicago or another city, town, or byway, Renewal Weekend is the perfect opportunity to leave behind your pressures and deadlines and relax in the luxurious setting of Chicago’s Westin River North Hotel. Even better, you will return home with the tools for daily renewal and calm that you can use for the rest of your life. Standard tuition for this weekend experience is $675. The Chopra Center is offering special group discounted pricing for friends and family. Call for more information at 888.736.6895 or read more here
Global Peace Meditation
On July 9 Namasté readers throughout the world joined with the participants at Seduction of Spirit in Dublin for an hour-long global peace meditation. It was an amazing experience to enter the silence and stillness of meditation with the collective intent for harmony. In Dublin, Deepak and David led a group meditation that included meditators from 37 different countries. At The Chopra Center in Carlsbad, California, the staff joined in the meditation and felt a deep connection to everyone participating. Afterwards, we heard from many who had joined us from all corners of the planet, including Moscow, Korea, India, Florida, New York, California and other far-flung cities and towns. We are honored by your participation and know your healing intentions have brought a little more peace and love into the world. Namaste.
Words of Wisdom
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams, who looks inside awakes."
~Carl Jung
“The soul walks not upon a line; neither does it grow like a reed. The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.”
~Kahlil Gibran
