Awareness Riding on Technology

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Mar 162011
 

Last week an entrepreneur from Australia that had attended one of my workshops there, shared with me an article titled “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction” that had appeared in the New York Times. Coincidentally enough, my meditation class in New York City last week (pic below) was focused on “Awareness and the Mind”.

I shared with the class how it was important for us to look at ourselves as awareness rather than then mind. We are pure awareness moving through various areas of the mind. I went on to share that one of the key concepts to grasp in understanding the mind is to understand the difference between awareness and the mind. It is very important to know that you are awareness traveling through different areas of the mind. Wherever your awareness goes that is the area of the mind that you become conscious of. Using your willpower and concentration, you can take your awareness to any area of the mind and hold it there for a given period of time.

The article in the New York Times shares how technology, for example your smart phone, can take your awareness from one thing to another in an uncontrolled manner training us to be easily distracted and less concentrated.

Today’s meditation class in New York City is on “Learning to Concentrate” and exploring forms of energy. For those of you that will be attending see you this evening.

Meditation Class in New York City conducted by Dandapani of Vedic Odyssey

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A spiritual adventure in Kerala, South India

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Jan 252011
 

In this post we explore the beach town of Kovalam where our spiritual adventure will conclude.

Fisherman on the beach in Kovalam in South India

Kovalam is a little town that sits on the beach facing the vast Arabian sea in the southwestern coast of India. Here, life is unhurried and gentle. Endless sun drenched beaches with only arching coconut trees to lay under as you watch fishermen bring in their catch each morning.

Our Hotel
We will stay at the beautiful Leela hotel perched on top a cliff by the sea.
We’ll use this time to enjoy the beaches, reflect on our spiritual adventure and create a plan on implementing all that we’ve learnt into our daily lives when we return home.

Leela hotel in Kovalam

The Leela hotel in Kovalam South India where the Vedic Odyssey group will be staying

The Leela hotel in Kovalam South India where the Vedic Odyssey group will be staying

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Is yoga part of Hinduism? Why, of course!

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Nov 292010
 

The Hindu American Foundation has been courageously pushing forth a campaign called “Take Back Yoga” suggesting “that people become more aware of yoga’s debt to the faith’s ancient traditions.” The Hindu American Foundation is not asking modern day yogis to become Hindus or for yoga teachers to teach more Hinduism, it’s just asking them to acknowledge that yoga originates from Hinduism.

Is yoga part of Hinduism? Of course it is.

The New York Times recently wrote an article on this stir in the yoga world. Here’s the article titled “Hindu Group Stirs a Debate Over Yoga’s Soul”.

Posted by Dandapani at 10:41 am  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Workshop on Yamas, Niyamas & the Basic Laws of Transmutation

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Sep 102010
 

Yamas, Niyamas & the Basic Laws of Transmutation

Join our workshop at the beautiful Yoga off Broadway studio in Eagle, Colorado on Sunday, 12th Sept (10am to 12:30pm).

Yamas & Niyamas: The first two steps on the yogic path, the Yamas (restraints) and Niyamas (Observances) must be part of the yogi’s lifestyle before proceeding to the practice of Asana (postures). They stabilize the yogi’s life and lay a solid foundation on which he can proceed inward on.

The Basic Laws of Transmutation: As a yogi leaves his instinctive nature and unfolds spiritually, the sex force must be understood, brought under his conscious control then transmuted. It is an essential art to master for unfoldment of one’s inner nature. The transmutation of the sex forces is the key to youth, happiness and creative living.

For more information on the workshop on Yamas, Niyamas & the Basic Laws of Transmutation click here.

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Relationship workshop for couples and individuals in Eagle, Colorado conducted by Dandapani of Vedic Odyssey at Yoga off Broadway

Relationship workshop for couples and individuals in Eagle, Colorado conducted by Dandapani of Vedic Odyssey at Yoga off Broadway

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Immersed in the Real India

 Spiritual Adventures, Video Testimonials  No Responses »
Aug 302010
 

Jonathan from New York joined our 2010 South Indian Odyssey in January as we made our way through the rich cultural states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Here he shares his experience of being on a Vedic Odyssey spiritual adventure.

Vedic Odyssey's 2010 South Indian Odyssey spiritual adventure to tamil nadu and kerala on a meditation and yoga retreat.

The group poses for a formal photo on the last day of our spiritual adventure through South India in January 2010.

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Enchanting Darjeeling in the Himalayas

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Aug 032010
 

Draped like a green velvet over a steep Himalayan mountain ridge Darjeeling is covered with lush forests and endless tea plantations.The small town Darjeeling is densely packed with endless shops and its catacomb of narrow roads provide a maze to explore this hill station. Once you’ve dragged yourself away from a Tibetan handicraft store and escaped the aroma of fine tea brewing the surroundings of this town provide excellent treks with amazing viewpoints.

We will spend 4-nights in Darjeeling on our spiritual adventure to the Himalayas in October of this year. There’s still space available so if you are keen on joining us, please send contact us. More information about our 16-day Himalayan spiritual adventure.

View of the Himalayas from Tiger Hill in Darjeeling at sunrise, Sikkim, North India.

View of the Himalayas from Tiger Hill in Darjeeling at sunrise, Sikkim, North India.

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Temple visits in Pittsburgh (Youth Camp)

 Youth Camps  No Responses »
Jul 272010
 
Two buses were hired and we all barely squeezed in them for our excursions to temples in the Pittsburg area.

Two buses were hired and we all barely squeezed in there for our excursions to temple in the Pittsburgh area.
Everyone is dressed in beautiful Indian outfits and looking very elegant.

Everyone is dressed in beautiful Indian outfits and looking very elegant.
One of the temples we visited is the beautiful Hindu-Jain temple

One of the temples we visited is the beautiful Hindu-Jain temple
Everyone is happy to be at camp and to spend so much time with their friends.

Everyone is happy to be at camp and to spend so much time with their friends.
Hindu camp
They gather in one of the temple hallways to sing bhajans. They practice every night and sound really good.

They gather in one of the temple hallways to sing bhajans. They practice every night and sound really good.
Hindu Youth camp in Slippery Rock, PA
It is so nice to see the older campers take such good care of the younger ones. They are gentle in guiding them, encouraging and supportive.

It is so nice to see the older campers take such good care of the younger ones. They are gentle in guiding them, encouraging and supportive. They have really put the teachings they have learned in this camp into practice.
Posted by Dandapani at 8:32 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Yoga, meditation and philosophy (Youth Camp)

 Youth Camps  No Responses »
Jul 252010
 
6:45am yoga and meditation.
6:45am yoga and meditation. Our die hard yogis are there with sleepy eyes.
For the young ones that have been coming every year to camp they are very familiar with most of the poses and can do them well.
For the young ones that have been coming every year to camp they are very familiar with most of the poses and can do them well.
Savasana or the corpse pose if the favorite among the kids as you can image at this time in the morning.
Savasana or the corpse pose is the favorite among the kids as you can image at this time in the morning.
Meditation for youth Hindu
Our yoga session ends with a 15-minute meditation. The campers are taken on a guided meditation.
After yoga it's breakfast time then off to class from 9am to noon.
After yoga it’s breakfast time then off to class from 9am to noon.
The classes are divided into 3 age groups. 8 to 11 years, 12 to 14 years and 15 to 18 years old. These young ones have more questions after class.
The classes are divided into 3 age groups. 8 to 11 years, 12 to 14 years and 15 to 18 years old. These young ones have more questions after class.
My classes are focused on the basic philosophy of Hinduism and how to apply it in every day life.
My classes are focused on the basic philosophy of Hinduism and how to apply it in every day life.

We learned in class today that Hindus believe in one God, that God is everywhere, the belief in karma and reincarnation, and ahimsa (non-violence).

These campers are a very bright group with insightful questions such as “If Hindus believe in ahimsa then why are we told stories of Gods fighting with one another or conducting act of violence?”

Posted by Dandapani at 3:23 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Hindu Youth Camp Begins

 Youth Camps  No Responses »
Jul 242010
 

Off to the Sri Venkateswara (SV) Hindu Youth camp in Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania. The week long camp will host 96 campers from the ages of 8 to 18. I’ve been invited to be one of two teachers at the camp.

A brief stop in Washington DC. A look at the Pentagon from the sky.
A brief stop in Washington DC. A look at the Pentagon from the sky.
A priest from the Sri Venkateswara temple in Pittsburgh does a puja to officially begin the youth camp.
A priest from the Sri Venkateswara temple in Pittsburgh does a puja to officially begin the youth camp.
The campers gather for the ceremony.
The campers gather for the ceremony.
The first event of the camp is singing of bhajans. The older campers lead the younger ones in devotional songs.
The first event of the camp is singing of bhajans. The older campers lead the younger ones in devotional songs.
Singing bhajans at the SV Temple Hindu Youth Camp in Slippery Rock, PA.
Singing bhajans at the SV Temple Hindu Youth Camp in Slippery Rock, PA.
Easan, the other teacher at the camp besides me, joins the campers in the bhajans.
Easan, the other teacher at the camp besides me, joins the campers in the bhajans.

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Developing Willpower and Concentration

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Apr 222010
 

Our day started with a morning group Hatha Yoga practice on the balcony over looking the Caribbean sea. A sweet spot to practice yoga as we watched the sun rise.
After breakfast we dived into our morning class. We studied how to develop two qualities, willpower and concentration, and use that to control and direct our awareness. One of the ways to develop willpower we taught was to finish that which we began. It often requires more effort at the end of a task or project then at the beginning of it. Each time we put effort into action we are using our willpower. So, finish that which you begin.
We also taught that concentration is the ability to hold awareness on one thing for a given period of time.
We shared ways on how we can develop these two qualities in our daily life. Only by integrating these practices into our daily life will we be able to develop them. Practice, practice, practice! We become better at what we practice consistently.
Photos below show the group having a wonderful lunch in the gorgeous dining room, cactus plants on the property, upclose on the beautiful cactus, entrance to one of the villa rooms.

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Day 1 of Meditation Retreat, Virgin Islands

 Spiritual Adventures  1 Response »
Apr 212010
 

It’s another gorgeous day here in St. Thomas. The ocean is calm, turquoise and inviting. The sun is out. The private villa is surrounded with beautiful flowers. It’s the first day of our meditation retreat and our participants are arriving early this afternoon. Sharing a photo of the view from my room. The white roof you see is the main villa area where the classes and meals will be held. Behind this area are a set of stairs that lead down to the private cove below. It’s 9am and 27C (84F). Pretty sweet. I’m also testing blogging directly from my iPhone. So let’s see how it works.

meditation retreat at a private villa in St.Thomas by Vedic Odyssey

Posted by Dandapani at 8:55 am  Tagged with: , , , , ,
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