July 2008 |
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Do you love your mind? I’ve never met anyone who did. The mind is the hardest part of ourselves to love because we so often feel trapped inside it, at the mercy of a host of uninvited guests – the fear that roams the mind at will, the dark depression that takes up residence and refuses to leave, the anger that blows through the circuits and ignites in turmoil. Keep Reading Where's Deepak
What We're Reading  Poetry as Spiritual Practice by Robert McDowell    Rediscover Your Heart: 7 Keys to Personal and Planetary Transformation by Fred Matser   Zen Shredding by Sean Symonds Words of Wisdom "What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."
- Chuang Tse “Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.”
-Albert Einstein “If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors. There is no other.”
-Carl Schurz Chopra Center Spotlight
 This month our Chopra Center Staff Spotlight features our IT Manager, Vijay Singh. Read more here 
Soul of Healing - NYC SynchroDestiny Seduction of Spirit The Signature Chopra Center Wellness Program Featured Massage TreatmentThe Shiropada (shiro-pa-da) combines the deep release of the Shiro-Abhyanga-Nasya with a soothing Ayurvedic foot massage, bringing about healing and relaxation from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. Keep reading... Conscious Pet of the Month“Moose is a 12-year-old Akita/Shepherd. We adopted him when he was 12 weeks old. He is having a tough time in the health department, but he has a courage that amazes me. Even in an old body, he has a young spirit at play. He holds a big piece of my heart and soul.“ ~Yvonne Horan |
Embracing Freedom
 We have not come here to take prisoners
Or to confine our wondrous spirits, But to experience ever and ever more deeply The most inspiring stories in human history are about the journey from bondage to freedom. There is the biblical account of Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt; Mahatma Gandhi’s long quest for Indian independence and civil rights; and Nelson Mandela’s commitment to ending apartheid in South Africa, remaining true to his vision through 27 years of imprisonment. These stories about freedom’s triumph touch us at our core because they resonate with our own soul’s yearning to be free. At the deepest level, we all seek freedom because it is our inherent nature. At our essence, we are pure, unbounded spirit, unlimited by time and space. The question naturally arises, if we are already free, why do we sometimes feel trapped, constricted, or limited? Why do we get caught up in our fears, desires, aversions, and cravings? This was a crucial question for the ancient yogis, who studied the mind and discovered that the source of bondage is our conditioned beliefs and responses. Even though we are infinite choice-makers, most of us have automatic, predictable reactions to certain people, situations, and events. For example, when someone makes a rude comment, is anger your immediate response? Or perhaps you are conditioned by past experiences of rejection that make it difficult for you to initiate a new friendship or business venture. True freedom comes from breaking loose from the prison of past conditioning and the repetition of old memories and thought-patterns. The past is the known and offers no opportunity for choice and possibility. And the future exists only in the imagination. Freedom lies in the present moment, the only place where you can choose from an infinite range of possibilities. With this issue of Namasté, we invite you to celebrate freedom and deepen your experience of present-moment awareness. Deepak offers guidance on freeing yourself from the ego-mind, and David provides insight and a meditation for releasing emotional and mental constriction. We have included many other ideas on how you can experience the expansion of freedom in your life through meditation, yoga, and other healing practices. We are also excited to announce a Global Peace Meditation taking place this July 9th from 8 to 9 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time). Wherever you are on the planet, please join us for a one-hour meditation at that time, for the collective intent of peace in the world. Deepak and David will be meditating with the Seduction of Spirit participants in Dublin, Ireland during that hour, and we invite the members of the extended Chopra Center family all around the world to join us in this global meditation for peace. We look forward to seeing you in the gap! To your infinite possibilities, P.S. Please share your comments, questions, and suggestions with us
Meditation Q&A
Q: What is the purpose of meditation? It is accurate to say that the purpose of meditation depends on the meditator – but it is also true that anyone who meditates regularly receives profound benefits on all of these levels – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Meditation isn’t a random or chaotic experience. On the contrary, it is a systematic process that allows the mind to experience its nonlocal source – the field of pure potentiality. That is why meditation can be taught and why it produces repeatable results.
Featured Workshop: SynchroDestiny
What is SynchroDestiny? It’s the ability to harness the power of coincidence to achieve your life’s deepest desires and goals. Extraordinary coincidences, events and ideas come into our lives every day, orchestrated by the infinite intelligence that governs all creation. Most people, however, only see opportunities in hindsight. At SynchroDestiny, you will learn how to recognize the rich potential in every moment and experience greater fulfillment and success. Read more here
What's in Store
Ayurnas is the newest addition to the Chopra Center’s collection of signature products for wellness, vitality, and mind-body balance. Ayurnas (pronounced eye-yur-naz) is a tri-doshic oil treatment based on the timeless healing principles of Ayurvedic medicine. The traditional practice of Nasya is used at the Chopra Center to help relieve cold and allergy symptoms such as congestion, dryness, and post-nasal drip as well as stress related symptoms such as headaches and muscle tension. Order now. The Green Corner
What We're SupportingLiving Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation connects you with essential wisdom drawn from research on 60 top teachers of transformation – people such as Adyashanti, Andrew Cohen, Rachel Remen, and Michael Murphy. You can now receive this book and a practice CD for only $1 as part of a special trial month of Shift in Action that includes featured offerings from Larry Dossey, Shiva Rea, Bruce Lipton, and many more, as well as access to the web’s largest audio library on conscious change. Find out more here |
Genuine inner freedom is the unspoken goal of every thought we have and every action we take. In the Eastern wisdom traditions, freedom from self-imposed limitations goes by many names: nirvana, moksha, enlightenment, satori, bodhi, kensho. This state of internal liberation transcends external situations and circumstances. Keep Reading Living Perfect Health
Do you remember the last time you laughed so hard that you could barely stand or walk? Even if you were in the midst of a difficult situation, you may have felt lightened by a feeling of pure joy and ease, letting go of the past and forgetting the future. Keep reading... Balancing Your DoshasIf you ask most people what would give them a sense of freedom and security, the answer would likely include money – owning a house outright, being able to pay off all their bills, having enough money to send their children to college. What We're Eating
How We're StretchingIn the Vedic tradition, the path to freedom lies in letting go of attachment. This doesn’t mean renouncing your desires or living the life of an ascetic. Instead, you set an intention then relinquish your attachment to the outcome. Keep reading.... Teacher Feature
Learn about becoming a Chopra Certified Instructor or find a teacher in your hometown Words of Wisdom“Genuine inner freedom is the ultimate aim of life. It is the unspoken goal of every thought you have and action you take.” -David Simon “If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors. There is no other.” Perfect Health Teacher Graduates!Congratulations to our newest graduating class of Primordial Sound Meditation instructors. Dream On
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September 25-28 • Portland, Oregon
From Sydney to New York, a unique breed of gardeners is flourishing. Known as 
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