August 2009 Past Wisdom
What does the word “yoga” mean? (August 1, 2009)
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to yoke”. When we practice yoga we yoke ourselves to the Divine, or God. Reaching this state is called enlightenment or samadhi. We’ll discuss the meaning of samadhi another day.
She’s a Yogini (August 3, 2009)
Yogini is simply the feminine form of the word “yogi”. Therefore, a Yogini is a woman dedicated to the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and transcendence through the practice of Yoga. So, if you hear someone refer to you and say “She’s a Yogini”, be happy, because it’s a good thing. Simply smile at them and say “Namaste”.
Satya jewelry (August 6, 2009)
OK, so maybe you’re wondering how does jewelry fit into the “snippets of Yoga wisdom” that categorize this blog. Well, alot of the Satya jewelry range is Yoga inspired, comes in a variety of metals and stones, and most importantly you can choose the symbol (Buddha, Ganesha, Om, Peace, Lotus, etc.) that speaks to you and wear it close to your skin. At the beginning of Yoga class it is often suggested that we “set an intention” for our practice, or dedicate the energy invoked through our practice to a person(s) or animal that is in need. Wearing one of these symbols should help remind you of these intentions and dedications throughout your day. Check out there full catalog of jewelry at the Satya website.
What or who is Namaste anyway? (August 9, 2009)
Namaste (pronounced num-us-tay). I’m sure we’ve all heard the word “Namaste” uttered by our Yoga teachers, usually at the end of the class, and sometimes included as a signature in emails and other correspondence. So, what does it actually mean? Well, there are a lot of different translations of this word, but the one that resonates with me is the following: “The god inside of me, honors the god inside of you.” So, to all of you yoginis and yogis out there, Namaste.
Ganesh is fresh! (August 10, 2009)
So, who is Ganesh? Well, Ganesh (sometimes referred to as Ganesha or Ganesa) is one of the most well-known and highly revered Hindu deities. He is easily recognizable because he has a man’s body and an elephant head. He is said to be the god of obstacles. He is often invoked when someone is undertaking a task that requires the removal of certain obstacles. But, he is also known to place obstacles in the way of those people whose actions need to be checked (sneaky, huh?!). He is said to be the son of Shiva and Parvati and the stories vary as to how he got his elephant head, but basically most stories agree that he was born a normal boy and that his father, Shiva, accidentally cut his head off in anger (not realizing that Ganesh was his son). When Shiva realized what he’d done he decided that he needed to save the boy by replacing the head with the first one that he could find. An enlightened elephant offered his head which when it was attached bought the boy (Ganesh) back to life. So, in the words of MC Yogi on his album Elephant Power this post is “dedicated to Ganesh, ’cause he’s so fresh!”.
Om Namah Shivaya Gurave (August 17, 2009)
Another commonly heard Sanskrit phrase that you may have heard during Yoga class, and if not then probably in music being played during Yoga practice, is “Om namah shivaya gurave” or sometimes just “Om namah shivaya”. I’m going to give you a few different translations of this Sanskrit phrase, so that you can understand the meaning and maybe create a translation that makes the most sense to you. So, the translations that I like the most are firstly, “I bow to the goodness within myself, known as Lord Shiva, who is the true teacher”. I think this translation is necessary because it gives meaning to the word “Shivaya”, which literally refers to Lord Shiva who in Hinduism is the Supreme God. The other translations that I like are, “ I offer myself to the one true teacher within and without”, and also “I bow to the goodness within myself, the true teacher”. Both of these do not specifically refer to Lord Shiva, but will maybe feel more appropriate for some of you.
Essential Oil of Patanjali (August 20, 2009)
OK, so not many of us yoginis and yogis would confuse patchouli and Patanjali, but just as patchouli can solve a myriad of physical ailments – it’s said to be an all-purpose insect repellant, treats venomous snakebites, headaches, colds, nausea, and many other things - Patanjali is said to be the essential oil for all of us seeking spiritual enlightenment. Patanjali was a famous Indian sage who penned “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” sometime between the first and the third centuries CE. In this work he uses concise statements to detail the practical and philosophical foundations of Raja Yoga. His text clearly marks out what is still seen to be an accurate description of the path to follow to achieve self-realization or enlightenment. There are various translations of “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” available in print. I like this edition of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Vivekanada – there is a detailed discussion of each sutra and the cover and binding are beautiful.
More about Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (August 24, 2009)
Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
It appears that this Sanskrit invocational mantra can also be written as “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu”, where the second word is Samastah rather than Samastha. On page 19 of Sharon Gannon’s book Yoga and Vegetarianism there is a great translation of this phrase. She translates each word in the phrase as follows:
Lokah: Location, realm, all universes existing now
Samastah: All beings sharing that same location
Sukhino: Centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering
Bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence
antu: may it be so, it must be so
She also says that “Antu” used as an ending transforms this mantra into a powerful pledge.
Sharon Gannon is definitely one awesome yogini!
Has your Guru found you yet? (August 29, 2009)
The Sanskrit word “Guru” is composed of the syllable “gu”, meaning darkness and “ru” meaning light. So, this description is usually given to someone who is able to remove darkness and bring enlightenment. In B.K.S. Iyengar’s book Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga, which is still seen as the definitive guide to the philosophy and practice of Yoga (it was first published in 1965!), he says that “The obstacles, trials and tribulations in the path of Yoga can be removed to a large extent with the help of a Guru.” A guru is a spiritual guide who leads the disciple along the path towards the Divine without egotism or need for fame or personal gain. Iyengar says that the guru “inspires confidence, devotion, discipline, deep understanding and illumination through love”. The other commonly held belief about gurus is that apparently you do not find your guru or seek them out, they will actually find you. Has your Guru found you yet?
Yama yama yama (August 31, 2009)
In Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes the eight limbs of Yoga. The first of the eight limbs are the yamas or ethical disciplines that a yogini or yogi should follow. The yamas are listed as ahimsa (non-violence), satya (telling the truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (respecting the creative power of sex and not abusing it by sexually manipulating others) and aparigraha (greedlessness).
What does the word “yoga” mean? (August 1, 2009)
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to yoke”. When we practice yoga we yoke ourselves to the Divine, or God. Reaching this state is called enlightenment or samadhi. We’ll discuss the meaning of samadhi another day.
She’s a Yogini (August 3, 2009)
Yogini is simply the feminine form of the word “yogi”. Therefore, a Yogini is a woman dedicated to the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and transcendence through the practice of Yoga. So, if you hear someone refer to you and say “She’s a Yogini”, be happy, because it’s a good thing. Simply smile at them and say “Namaste”.
Satya jewelry (August 6, 2009)
OK, so maybe you’re wondering how does jewelry fit into the “snippets of Yoga wisdom” that categorize this blog. Well, alot of the Satya jewelry range is Yoga inspired, comes in a variety of metals and stones, and most importantly you can choose the symbol (Buddha, Ganesha, Om, Peace, Lotus, etc.) that speaks to you and wear it close to your skin. At the beginning of Yoga class it is often suggested that we “set an intention” for our practice, or dedicate the energy invoked through our practice to a person(s) or animal that is in need. Wearing one of these symbols should help remind you of these intentions and dedications throughout your day. Check out there full catalog of jewelry at the Satya website.
What or who is Namaste anyway? (August 9, 2009)
Namaste (pronounced num-us-tay). I’m sure we’ve all heard the word “Namaste” uttered by our Yoga teachers, usually at the end of the class, and sometimes included as a signature in emails and other correspondence. So, what does it actually mean? Well, there are a lot of different translations of this word, but the one that resonates with me is the following: “The god inside of me, honors the god inside of you.” So, to all of you yoginis and yogis out there, Namaste.
Ganesh is fresh! (August 10, 2009)
So, who is Ganesh? Well, Ganesh (sometimes referred to as Ganesha or Ganesa) is one of the most well-known and highly revered Hindu deities. He is easily recognizable because he has a man’s body and an elephant head. He is said to be the god of obstacles. He is often invoked when someone is undertaking a task that requires the removal of certain obstacles. But, he is also known to place obstacles in the way of those people whose actions need to be checked (sneaky, huh?!). He is said to be the son of Shiva and Parvati and the stories vary as to how he got his elephant head, but basically most stories agree that he was born a normal boy and that his father, Shiva, accidentally cut his head off in anger (not realizing that Ganesh was his son). When Shiva realized what he’d done he decided that he needed to save the boy by replacing the head with the first one that he could find. An enlightened elephant offered his head which when it was attached bought the boy (Ganesh) back to life. So, in the words of MC Yogi on his album Elephant Power this post is “dedicated to Ganesh, ’cause he’s so fresh!”.
Om Namah Shivaya Gurave (August 17, 2009)
Another commonly heard Sanskrit phrase that you may have heard during Yoga class, and if not then probably in music being played during Yoga practice, is “Om namah shivaya gurave” or sometimes just “Om namah shivaya”. I’m going to give you a few different translations of this Sanskrit phrase, so that you can understand the meaning and maybe create a translation that makes the most sense to you. So, the translations that I like the most are firstly, “I bow to the goodness within myself, known as Lord Shiva, who is the true teacher”. I think this translation is necessary because it gives meaning to the word “Shivaya”, which literally refers to Lord Shiva who in Hinduism is the Supreme God. The other translations that I like are, “ I offer myself to the one true teacher within and without”, and also “I bow to the goodness within myself, the true teacher”. Both of these do not specifically refer to Lord Shiva, but will maybe feel more appropriate for some of you.
Essential Oil of Patanjali (August 20, 2009)
OK, so not many of us yoginis and yogis would confuse patchouli and Patanjali, but just as patchouli can solve a myriad of physical ailments – it’s said to be an all-purpose insect repellant, treats venomous snakebites, headaches, colds, nausea, and many other things - Patanjali is said to be the essential oil for all of us seeking spiritual enlightenment. Patanjali was a famous Indian sage who penned “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” sometime between the first and the third centuries CE. In this work he uses concise statements to detail the practical and philosophical foundations of Raja Yoga. His text clearly marks out what is still seen to be an accurate description of the path to follow to achieve self-realization or enlightenment. There are various translations of “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” available in print. I like this edition of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Vivekanada – there is a detailed discussion of each sutra and the cover and binding are beautiful.
More about Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (August 24, 2009)
Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
It appears that this Sanskrit invocational mantra can also be written as “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu”, where the second word is Samastah rather than Samastha. On page 19 of Sharon Gannon’s book Yoga and Vegetarianism there is a great translation of this phrase. She translates each word in the phrase as follows:
Lokah: Location, realm, all universes existing now
Samastah: All beings sharing that same location
Sukhino: Centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering
Bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence
antu: may it be so, it must be so
She also says that “Antu” used as an ending transforms this mantra into a powerful pledge.
Sharon Gannon is definitely one awesome yogini!
Has your Guru found you yet? (August 29, 2009)
The Sanskrit word “Guru” is composed of the syllable “gu”, meaning darkness and “ru” meaning light. So, this description is usually given to someone who is able to remove darkness and bring enlightenment. In B.K.S. Iyengar’s book Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga, which is still seen as the definitive guide to the philosophy and practice of Yoga (it was first published in 1965!), he says that “The obstacles, trials and tribulations in the path of Yoga can be removed to a large extent with the help of a Guru.” A guru is a spiritual guide who leads the disciple along the path towards the Divine without egotism or need for fame or personal gain. Iyengar says that the guru “inspires confidence, devotion, discipline, deep understanding and illumination through love”. The other commonly held belief about gurus is that apparently you do not find your guru or seek them out, they will actually find you. Has your Guru found you yet?
Yama yama yama (August 31, 2009)
In Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes the eight limbs of Yoga. The first of the eight limbs are the yamas or ethical disciplines that a yogini or yogi should follow. The yamas are listed as ahimsa (non-violence), satya (telling the truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (respecting the creative power of sex and not abusing it by sexually manipulating others) and aparigraha (greedlessness).
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