Namasté Header

January 2008

A Letter From Deepak

Intentions are the seeds of consciousness, or spirit. They have infinite organizing power and orchestrate everything that manifests in the universe. Like real seeds, intentions can’t grow if you hold on to them. Letting go is planting them in the depths of your consciousness, where they get the nourishment and support to grow and develop. Keep Reading


Where's Deepak
Jan 14-18 Carlsbad, CA
Jan 28
Honolulu, HI
Feb 7–10 Hollywood, FL
Feb 14–17 Carlsbad, CA
Feb 19 New York City
Feb 23 Atlanta, GA


Deepak and Yahoo!

"What qualities define a great/true team leader?"
Answer Deepak’s question here


What We're Reading

NEW from
David Simon, MD and
Deepak Chopra, MD!


Freedom from Addiction

Age of Miracles
The Age of Miracles
by Marianne Williamson


How We're Stretching

When we are established in restful awareness and have clear intentions, the universe conspires to fulfill our deepest desires. Keep reading....

Family Yoga


A Special Message from
Lama Surya Das

Lama Surya Das
Text Messagers: Awaken!
Get Out and Vote

Today we have the enhanced ability to mobilize swiftly as a group through new technology. Are we wise enough to use these new means of communication for good, beyond self-interest, provincialism and greed? Keep Reading . . .


Words of Wisdom

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
– Lao Tzu

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
Epictetus

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."
–John Lennon


Journey into Healing
Feb 14-17, Carlsbad, CA
30-day special ends Jan 14

Healing the Heart
Feb 22-24, Carlsbad, CA
30-day special ends Jan 22

Soul of Healing
March 17-21, Carlsbad, CA
60-day special ends Jan 17

Seduction of Spirit
Mar 31 - Apr 5, Austin, TX
60-day special ends Jan 31

The Signature Chopra Center Wellness Program
Perfect Health
Feb 25-28
30-day price ends Jan 25
March 24-28
60-day price ends Jan 24
April 14-18
90-day price ends Jan 14


On the Air

Deepak Sirius

Tune in to Sirius Stars Channel 102 every Saturday at 10am EST for your weekly dose of Chopra balance and wellbeing. Not a subscriber yet? Learn more about Deepak's Wellness Radio show

Setting Our Intentions

Declaration

The new year is finally here and with it comes a fresh new opportunity for rebirth. All the speed bumps, impediments, challenges, road blocks, and frustrations that stood in the way of your 2007 dreams are part of the past. They are all so 2007!! And with this shining new opportunity to be reborn in the new year comes a clean slate and the tools to really make it happen. 2008 brings with it a fertile soil for you to plant all of your seeds of empowerment – to set your intentions and to make this year your year of profound commitment and transformation. We have each made hundreds of resolutions throughout our brief time on this planet – but only some of them grew into life-affirming behaviors. What made them so different from the hundreds that have drifted by the wayside?

How can we replicate those steps that turned an idea into a desire to change and ultimately to transformation? The first step is our willingness to let go of whatever has held us down or kept us from achieving what we truly want. Sometimes we want to create change so deeply, yet we haven’t given ourselves permission to step out of the old pattern or Ten Commimtmentsbehavior which keeps us rooted in the past. Those behaviors, rituals, and ways of being have become such an integrated part of who we are that releasing them might actually make us feel like we are in withdrawal. But as David Simon shares with us in The Ten Commitments, “Despite what has happened up until now, we are capable of writing a better next chapter.”

Amazing and wonderful things await us if: 1) We acknowledge we are worthy of them (and whatever you may have thought in 2007 – yes, you are worthy of wonderful things); and 2) we give ourselves permission to release the old and receive the now. As we embrace these concepts, then the seeds of our desires will indeed begin to sprout. In Deepak’s classic The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, he writes that “conscious change is brought about by the two qualities inherent in consciousness – attention and intention. . . . Whatever you put your attention on will grow stronger in your life. Whatever you take your attention away from will wither, disintegrate and disappear.”

And here we are in the first few days of 2008, so filled with new intentions. Let’s make a commitment right now to move our attention from what doesn’t nourish us to what does; from what no longer serves us to what will; from what has held us back to what will make things easier; from victim to champion; from 2007 to 2008. At the Chopra Center we each have made a commitment to make 2008 the most amazing year of our lives. Will you join us in that commitment? Click here if you are in.

We will list everyone’s commitments on a special 2008 commitment page on chopra.com. Each time someone visits the page, your commitment will become more tangible, and powerful, and closer to Surveymanifestation. You will be linking your intentions to millions of people around the planet and transforming the world as you transform yourself.

This intention-setting Namasté includes loving and practical guidance from Deepak and David, as they provide life-affirming tools for you to turn your intentions into great choices. We also offer suggestions for conscious eating, a special New Year’s message from Lama Surya Das, and many other articles to help you create more balance, healing, and fulfillment in your life in 2008.

We wish you great peace and joy, and as always, we welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions at feedback@chopra.com.

Namasté,
The Chopra Center staff


Meditation Q&A

Q: Is there an advantage to meditating with other people?

A: Many people find that meditating in a group helps them move more easily into an experience of silence and peace. This happens because the collective awareness of the group influences individual consciousness. Group MeditationIndividuals meditating together support the expansion of peace in their own lives and in those around them.

On the other hand, some people prefer to meditate alone to avoid even the subtle distractions that arise in a group – such as the sound of others’ breathing, coughing, shifting, or even snoring! In truth, you can use anything that happens during your meditation as reminder to gently return to your mantra. Ultimately, meditation is about finding our inner silence and peace even in the midst of challenge or chaos.


Living Perfect Health

Perfect Health

If your intention for 2008 is to eat more healthfully or lose weight, Ayurveda offers valuable guidance. The first key is knowing that how you eat is just as important as what you eat. Do you regularly take the time to sit down in a peaceful atmosphere and enjoy a meal that delights your senses? Or do you usually eat on the run, gulping down a sandwich or fast food so that you can get on with your busy schedule? Eat with attention and intention


Words of Wisdom

“Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a 'Yes!' resound within you. When it's right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it.” – Oprah Winfrey

"Ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question:Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use." – Carlos Castaneda


Bring Forth Your Deepest Intentions

Synchro

In less than a month, you could be in Florida’s warm sunshine with Deepak, David, and the Chopra Center family, learning how to create the life you want at SynchroDestiny. For more than a decade, SynchroDestiny has helped thousands harness the creative power of intention, coincidence, and awareness to manifest their greatest desires. There are a few spots left for this February 7–10 program on Florida’s beautiful coast. Join us for a magical experience that will transform your life!


Pet Corner

Animals are sentient beings that bring us boundless love, comfort, andhappiness. As we get organized in the new year, it’s a good idea for pet owners to make sure they have a plan to keep their pets healthy and safe, including a plan for their care in the event of an emergency. Get your pet ready for an emergency

A Word from Dr. Simon

Although on some level, the essence of a spiritual journey is the relinquishing of attachment to a particular outcome, each of us has intentions and desires we’d like to see manifest. Wisdom traditions suggest that there is a skill set to increase the probability that our good intentions translate into the outcomes we seek.
Keep Reading


Featured Programs

Featured Programs
This March the Chopra Center is coming to the beautiful city of Austin, Texas, with two signature programs, Seduction of Spirit and the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Retreat. Step away from the pressures of your daily schedule and explore the timeless teachings of Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation.

Seduction of Spirit is a profound six-day meditation retreat led by Deepak, David, and the Chopra Center staff.

Deepak and David designed the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Retreat based on their best-selling book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga.


What We're Eating

White Bean Chili
Vegetable White
Bean Chili

Our recipe can be found here


Balancing Your Dosha

Guggulu is a complex herb that contains four of the six tastes – bitter, pungent, astringent, and sweet. It’s especially helpful for stabilizing Vata and Kapha imbalances without aggravating Pitta. Read more about Guggulu
Dosha Quiz


Teacher Feature

Sarah Mclean
Sarah McLean,
Sedona, Arizona
Primordial Sound Meditation and Perfect Health instructor
Read about Sarah here

Learn about becoming a Chopra Certified Instructor or find a teacher in your hometown


What's in Store

Satwa
Satwa:
Sandalwood Touch Oil

Calm your senses and promote focused grounded feelings with this beautiful essential oil blend.


Words of Wisdom

"A good intention clothes itself with power.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
– Anne Frank

“To live for results would be to sentence myself to continuous frustration. My only sure reward is in my actions and not from them.”
– Hugh Prather


Chopra Center Spotlight

Amanda
This month our Chopra Center Staff Spotlight features an interview with the angelic Amanda Linkul. Read about Amanda here


Dream On

Discover balance, healing, and transformation
CCNY
This January 24–26 the Perfect Health Rasayana program offers you a special opportunity to learn Primordial Sound Meditation and immerse yourself in the teachings of Ayurveda. You will return home feeling rejuvenated and relaxed, with a toolkit of healing behaviors you can immediately use in your daily life. To learn more, please contact us at 212.246.7600, Option 2 or visit the Chopra Center NY website

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