Sadvidya Foundation Newsletter
Dear Well Wishers,
Heartfelt gratitude for your continued support, this month we are pleased to share:
- A story from Acharya
- An update on Acharya’s many activities in India
- Photos of the Jivana Yoga Intensive in Portugal
- New Ayurvedic recipes – Lemon Rice and Green Bean Palya
Letter from Acharya:
One evening, a man was walking down a street when he recognized a close friend standing under a streetlight looking for something on the ground. He said, “Hello, my friend. What are you looking for?”
“I have lost my car keys,” his friend replied.
Naturally, the man joined in the hunt. After ten minutes, the man and his friend had closely examined the entire area under the pool of light. The man declared to his friend, “I am sure the keys are not here. Tell me exactly where you were standing when you lost them.”
Suddenly looking up, the friend answered, “Oh, I was about fifty yards down the road.”
Exasperated, the man exclaimed, “Well, then why are we looking under this streetlight?”
His friend replied, “The light is better here.”
This is our problem. We are looking for our happiness in a place where it does not exist. But first we need to uncover the fundamental desire in our mind. What are we searching for? Why are we collecting, possessing, and using so many materials? What drives such an insatiable appetite for happiness?
We need to go within and stop searching for this happiness externally. We need to return to the point where it was lost, which is at the heart of our being. Instead of trying to flush it out of endless layers of worldly affairs, we can follow a method of experiencing intense joy directly. We can follow practices and disciplines that move us towards the Eternal Truth. This requires some education about the mind: How do we quiet the mind? And what will happen when we do? As we learn about our yogic path, we will begin to practice new techniques that help us accomplish these goals. At the same time it is essential that we adopt a way of life that supports us to move in this direction.
Once again wishing you all good luck,
Acharya
Sadvidya Foundation offers the multi year Jivana Yoga Program, designed to support individuals who are sincerely interested in pursuing Yoga.
The week long Jivana Yoga Intensive in early May, was deeply appreciated by all. Practice and classes were held from 7:30am – 7:30pm daily. This included Yoga Sutra chanting and review, and classes on daily and seasonal activities from Ayurveda Astanga Hrdayam. Various meaningful Subashitas, parables, were taught and chanted. Both the teachers and participants brought great enthusiasm to the weeks activities.
For Information Regarding the Oct 16th – 27th 2016, India Retreat
Please contact: info@
News from the Land:
Building activities ~
Educational Activities ~
A month-long Sanskrit Grammar Camp was completed on April 20th. The 50 participants met from, 10am – 6pm. Panini’s, Astādhyāyī – a text on original grammar containing 4000 aphorisms – was introduced, Sanskrit is based on this grammar alone.
A nine-day Children’s Camp was held in May. Fifty students, both boys and girls attended from, 5am – 9:30pm daily. Teachings included Basic Indian Culture, Ideal Daily Activities & related lessons, Chanting – the Bhagavad Gita, Stotras, Vishnu Sahasra Nama, and Stories. Acharya offered lessons on Dharma. There was a daily quiz on the lessons of that day. On alternative days, there were stage performances by the children of traditional Indian culture, showcasing their talents. The camp visited Talakaadu, near the sacred river Cauvery, where a Shiva and Vishnu Temple are. The children very much enjoyed the whole program!
Recipes:
~ Wishing you all yogic success ~