Namaskar - Oct 2006

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Namaskar • A Voice for Yoga in Asia YOGA NEWS New w Organic Supermark upermarket t to open in Hong Kong When Three Sixty opens its 23,000 square foot store in November it expects to be the largest retailer of natural and organic foods in Hong Kong. A divison of Dairy Farm, the store will be on the 3 and 4 floors of The Landmark in Central. Inspired by WholeFoods of the US, ThreeSixty will source its produce from traditional artisans and producers from around the world. For more information visit: threesixtyhk.com New Packages in October at The Farm The Farm at San Benito, a holistic resort in the Philippines launches “Learning and Healing Weekends” in October only. The 5-days/4nights package comes with accommodations, yoga, culinary workshops on raw foods preparation, therapeutic art programs, spa treats and musical evenings at the resort’s amphitheatre. The special package, priced at USD 690/person based on twin sharing, is available September 29 - October 3 / October 6 - 10 / October 13 - 17. Indian Feng Shui in Hong Kong Vaastu Shastra is the Vedic science of spiritual architecture, which teaches how to influence Nature so it works for you, not against you. Vaastu is enjoying a resurgence and is being used to inspire home selection and remodelling. Vaastu is used by practitioners to create happiness, health, fix relationships and financial problems and receive greatest divine blessings. Seeking Hot yoga Teachers in Thailand Bliss Hot Yoga is seeking yoga teachers with at least one year’s experience in Hot Hatha yoga for their studios in the beach communities of Rayong and Phuket, Thailand. Teachers will be expected to teach about 12 90-minute classes per week and should be willing to commit to at least one year. For more information contact Dylan: dylanniall@yahoo.com / (66) 9 249 3306 Certified Vaastu consultant Ramakrishna is coming to Hong Kong to offer Vaastu consultations for home and office and to teach Vaastu seminars in November. He studied with India’s top Vaastu experts and saints and travels to clients all around the world. For more information contact Swathi Maa: swathimaa@mailworks.org / www.kaleshwaravaastu.com Sri Aurobindo Society Starting October 11, there will be bimonthly readings of Sri Aurobindo’s works. All are welcome. DVDs of Sraddhalu Ranade’s recent lectures in Hong Kong are available in DVD format for just $150. The Society welcomes a visitor from Auroville, Pondicherry, October 20 - 23, 28 - 30, and November 15-17 selling handmade natural products such as shampoo, oils, incence. For more information on these activities contact Nirmala Dani: (852) 23674897 / nimudani@netvigator.com Mark Whitwell Tours Asia Mark Whitwell collaborates with Pure Yoga for his first Asian tour, visiting Singapore (October 6 – 8), Hong Kong (October 10 – 15), and Taipei (October 16 – 18). Mark Whitwell has enjoyed a lifelong relationship with the teachings of Professor T. Krishnamacharya “the teacher of the teachers.” Mark has studied with Krishnamacharya’s son Desikachar since 1973. Mark places strong emphasis on yoga from the heart for the heart and will be presenting several workshops on how to integrate yoga into daily life. For more information call (852) 2971 0055 / pure-yoga.com 6
October 2006 • Namaskar Dristi Letting Go SAMSKARAS Sri Radhika The word samskara, from the Sanskrit word “sam-s-kara” means “perfect deed” and has a two-fold meaning. Samskaras are subtle imprints (impressions) formed in the mind whenever we perform an action. Impressions are different from memories, but memories are formed from impressions, just like a photograph is developed from a negative. Generally, we only retain memories from recent impressions. Yet, we have countless impressions (samskaras) from many, many lives. Most of these impressions no longer have memories associated with them. In other words, the impressions (samskaras) from many, many lifetimes are affecting us but we do not generally know how or why they affect us, because we have no recollection of our past actions that caused the impressions. Samskaras are part of the cycle of Karma, which can be described as: Action (karma) -> Impression (samskara) -> Tendency (vasana) -> Thought Pattern (vritti) -> Action (karma) Our tendencies create thought patterns in the mind. In other words, our thinking becomes motivated by our tendencies. These thought patterns form our attitudes, our mental disposition and our general outlook on life. When a thought pattern registers again and again in the mind, a samskara (impression) is created. Accordingly, our thinking pattern leads to action (karma). We act in a certain way because our mind tells us that is how we will satisfy our desires and tendencies, which arose from the impression (samskara) made in the mind from an earlier action. A person’s likes and dislikes, indeed his whole character, is fashioned by the different samskaras he or she has accumulated through many lifetimes. Each object, each new experience, each new information acquired, is analysed by that person from the perspective of past impressions (samskaras). Needless to say, it is very important to be aware of the effect of impressions we form, and to consciously create positive samskaras within ourselves. As a simple example, if we meditate constantly on the form of a loved one, this form will eventually impress itself on our mind. Hence, many transcendentalists are wary of thoughts, sounds and forms that might create unfavourable samskaras. Even the most hidden thought pattern may suddenly resurface one day. Many yogis therefore try to engage in nivritti-marga (giving up all material impressions) to try and destroy all forms of thought patterns. Some even decide to forego all action in a bid to achieve this objective. Bhakti yogis however, adopt the path of bhakti-marga - engaging in devotional service to the Divine. By doing so, they rewrite new samskaras over the old. The following analogy illustrates this point: samskaras are like files written on a computer’s hard disk. When we delete these files, they are not necessarily destroyed, but their access paths are erased. The files still remain on the disk where they may be recovered intact later on (just as a thought pattern may reappear at some point in future). On the other hand, if a new file is written over an old one, the latter will disappear for good, and is replaced by the new one. Samskaras also mean traditional ceremonies, specially recommended in the Vedas for the benefit of humanity. These are purificatory ceremonies prescribed for every civilised person, from birth to death. Vedic Sacraments are performed at particular times during a person’s life and are considered rites of passage. Different milestones of life are marked by ceremonies that enhance the journey of the soul while on this planet. Since these occasions are very special such as conception, birth, the start of education and marriage, these milestones are marked by special sacrifices to invoke the blessings of the Supreme Lord and the assembled community members. Samskaras or Vedic Sacraments are highly beneficial in sanctifying and increasing auspicious influences. They help one to progress peacefully in life to the ultimate goal - attaining Absolute Truth - by smoothing the path of spiritual progress. They also work to rectify and sanctify relationships between family and friends, parents and children, husband and wife, master and disciple, and between all human beings on earth. They drive away negative influences and attract the blessings of the Divine. 7
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Namaskar - Oct 2006

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