The Unity of the World’s Religions

What is the unifying thread that runs through all of the world’s major religions? Rev. Paul John Roach, Unity minister, author, and host of the podcast World Spirituality discusses that beneath the surface of differences there is a golden thread of deeper mystical understanding that is common to all religions.

Rev. Paul John Roach is a native of Wales, United Kingdom. He was ordained at Unity Ministerial School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1988 and served as the Senior Minister at Unity of Fort Worth for 30 years.  He has served on several boards and teams for the Unity movement including the board for Unity World Headquarters.  Paul is also the host of the World Spirituality podcast which is available on all the major podcast platforms. Paul is a poet and author of the book we are discussing on this program Unity and World Religions.

Website: PaulJohnRoach.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed this program with Rev. Roach. He has such a depth of knowledge and energy about the world’s major religion and a deep appreciation and understanding of the mystical teachings that come from these religions. His years long study of these teachings and his accessible way of speaking gives us a real taste of the connection, at a deeper level, of these religions. Yogacharya O’Brian said about his book, “At once personal, practical, and profound, this distilled view of the world’s religions through the Unity lens is engaging. The global spiritual vision that emerges shines forth as the light of wholeness, revealing the way to meet the pressing challenges of our time.”

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed our conversation, which discussed the “golden thread”, or Perennial Philosophy, that underlies the world’s major religions, especially at their mystical core. As the Rig Veda reminds us, “Truth is One, the sages speak of it by many names.” I appreciated his comments on Jesus as a spiritual teacher, and God as the depth of everything, as well as the calling to not just understand a spiritual insight, but to live it fully in our lives. We briefly touched on Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism as well as Christianity, which was a wonderful opportunity to explore the Oneness teachings that each religion contains.

Being Ready to Stay or to Go

How do we discern when we are ready to make a change or not—to do the right thing? Dr. David Richo, psychotherapist, teacher and writer, discusses practices that support us in listening to and trusting our inner wisdom. We will then have the confidence to follow through with our decisions.

Dr. David Richo is a psychotherapist, writer, and workshop leader whose work emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness and loving kindness in personal growth and emotional well-being. He is the author of several books including the book we are discussing in this episode Ready: How to Know When to Stay and When to Go. Dave was with us previously when we talked about his book Triggers: How We Can Stop Reacting and Start Healing.

Dave Richo’s Website: davericho.com

YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS:This is a very interesting discussion with Dr. David Richo on how to know when to stay to make a situation work or when it is time to make a change. I truly connected to the role meditation plays in learning to listen and trust our small voice within. Through mindfulness and meditation, we pay attention to our own inner wisdom, opening to the awareness of the mysterious timing of the universe. Dr. Richo shared a list of criteria to help decide when it is time to go rather than to stay, along with meditations and affirmations. He believes that when the time is right, we are automatically given the grace for change, getting help beyond ourselves.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: In this conversation, Dave Richo and I discussed the dilemma that many people face: when to stick with something (a job, relationship, or even a religion), or when it’s time to let go. I appreciated Dave’s perspective that holding on too long is often due to fear or doubting ourselves, and letting go too soon is often related to doubting the power of love. The question of timing of these decisions is critical, and we can be guided by our inner wisdom, that still, small voice within. Dave also shared some quotes for contemplation and journaling when we are wresting with these questions, from his new book Ready: How to Know When to Go and When to Stay.

New Science, Ancient Wisdom and Highest Happiness

Join Dr. Rick Hanson, author of the books Neurodharma and Buddha’s Brain, as he shares how modern science and ancient wisdom show us how to cultivate inner peace and happiness in today’s increasingly complex world.

Rick Hanson, PhD is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His six books have been published in 30 languages - with over one million copies in English alone. His free newsletters have 215,000 subscribers, and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. His most recent book Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness. His podcast is Being Well with his son Forrest Hanson

His Website is RickHanson.net

YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS:I learned a lot from the program today with Dr. Hanson. I love how he teaches about the physical brain and how it changes for the good with our regular, steady practice. In his book Neurodharma he tells us about the seven qualities that he sees in all awakened people. He reminds us that we all have those seven qualities within us and we may be aware of some of them to a certain degree or not. Dr. Hanson offers practices that support us in developing, growing and nurturing these qualities. I loved the "Feeling Safer" meditation that he led us through. We all have anxiety to some degree or another and this guided meditation supports us in calming that down. He said we all have a neurological system that is designed to learn. We just need to decide what we are going to learn. Will it be learning and incorporating all the negative that comes at us or will we learn to let go of the negative and embrace the positive qualities of life? We have a choice. It was great having Rick Hanson on the program again.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: What a joy it was to have Dr. Rick Hanson as a guest again on The Yoga Hour. I loved our discussion of the seven qualities that awakened people share, and how we all can find and build these qualities within ourselves by steadying the mind, warming the heart, resting in fullness, being wholeness, receiving nowness, opening into allness, and finding timelessness. His deep knowledge of neuroscience and his ability to make it easily understandable for non-scientists feels like a gift to me and to our listeners. I particularly enjoyed his meditation on “Feeling Safer” and was glad that he shared that during our conversation.

Ayurvedic Strategies for Immunity and Stress-Relief

How can we use Ayurveda’s ancient principles to keep our immunity strong?  Internationally renowned spiritual teacher and Vedic master, Acharya Shunya, discusses strategies to create a healthy lifestyle, ensure our immunity is at its best and keep our stress levels low.

Acharya Shunya is an award-winning and internationally renowned spiritual teacher and scholar of Advaita (nondual wisdom) and is a classically-trained master of Yoga and Ayurveda. The first female head of her 2,000-year-old Indian spiritual lineage, she has dedicated her life to dissemination of Vedic knowledge that enable all humans to attain their full potential as healthy, authentic and awakened beings. She is president of The Awakened Self Foundation and the founder of the spiritual and educational nonprofit Vedika Global. She offers many online courses and retreats, and is author of several books including Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom. Her newest book, Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful will be published in September of this year.

Websites: AcharyaShunya.com VedikaGlobal.org

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Acharya Shunya's Ayurvidic expertise along with Dr. Trujillo’s medical and ayurvedic background meshed into an extremely informative show. It brought out the importance of listening to our own body systems. I liked the idea of seeing the doshas as our housekeepers with the 3 doshas always working together. Then when the doshas are in balance, we have health. It's a fascinating medical model developed 2000 years ago! The dynamics of the conversation were enthusiastic and compelling. It encourages me to reevaluate how my diet and lifestyle are affecting my spring allergies.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I thought we did a good job in linking the 3 doshas to the 5 elements, and explaining the link to excess Kapha dosha in the Spring. I love how Ayurveda looks at each person as an individual, and also views each person as a microcosm of the larger environment, the macrocosm, so that changes in our outer environment like seasonal changes really affect us. Our conversation also gave listeners lots of advice about dietary changes they can make to help balance Kapha dosha, including avoiding heavy foods such as dairy and fried foods, as well as eating warm cooked foods rather than raw foods. We also gave advice about balancing the heaviness and inertia of Kapha dosha with exercise by walking outside in nature.

Yoga, Consciousness, and Climate Change

Vedic wisdom declares: Take care of nature, and nature will take care of you. How do we take care of nature in a time of climate emergency? Yogacharya O’Brian outlines steps that begin to change the climate of our heart and our mind so yoga, consciousness, and climate change meet.

Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian is the founder and spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in the tradition of Kriya Yoga with world headquarters in San Jose California. CSE is currently celebrating over 40 years of service to seekers of spiritual enlightenment as a year-long celebration with many special retreats and programs as a Divine Pilgrimage or Yoga Yatra. You can find out more about these programs at CSECenter.org.

Yogacharya is an acclaimed teacher, poet, award-winning author. You can find out more about Yogacharya’s books, teaching and her in-person and online programs at her author website, EllenGraceOBrian.com. You can also follow her on social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube by searching for Ellen Grace O'Brian.

Link to Yogacharya’s ORIGINAL INTIMACY:SOUL PILGRIMAGE TO FIVE AUSPICIOUS HEALING SHRINES Satsang Series and Resourse page with free E-books on the five elements.

YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The teachings offered today by Yogacharya O’Brian about Yoga, consciousness and climate change give us hope. She said that "even though things can feel very overwhelming and we feel challenged day to day in many different ways, the path of Yoga teaches us that we have what we need to meet these challenges and gives us the tools to live an inspired life." We can look to the teachings of Yoga to understand that we are not separate from nature. Nature is us and nature is God. It is all One. We don’t control nature. Yoga philosophy gives us the skills to overcome the limitations of the mind. One of the tools that you discussed which supports us in changing this mindset is understanding the four branches of yoga. They are temperament types of which one is usually predominant in the way we individually approach knowing the Truth of who we are, but they are intertwined. One without the other is not balanced. As yogis we can lift up our spiritual practices and observe how these paths of yoga are a way that connects us back to nature. Yogacharya told us that "Yoga teaches us about the generous and sacred nature of life itself. Yoga is about learning to live as the luminous beings that we are in this profound connection between nature and spirit." As Roy Eugene Davis said, “there is an enlivening power that is nuturing the universa and all we have to do is learn to cooperate with it.”

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Yogacharya and I spoke about the importance of changing the climate of our minds from being ego-based to appreciating the underlying Oneness between ourselves and the outer world. I enjoyed our discussion of the four paths of yoga, and how they can help us to see the small steps forward we can take during this climate emergency. As you said, all the paths of yoga help us to break down the sense of separate self. The four yoga paths represent different ways of merging with the One. Learning how to live as the luminous beings that we are calls us to a different relationship with Divine Mother through our relationship with nature. I loved the quote from Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: "I am the wetness of water, the radiance of the moon and the sun, the sound in the air, and the sweet fragrance of earth. I am the brilliance in fire and the life in all beings.” To me, this really speaks of the sacredness of nature and of all life.

Spiritual Wisdom in Great Literature

Can the literature we love convey the awakening we seek? Host, Dr. Laurel Trujillo welcomes Dean Sluyter, award winning author and teacher, on a journey for discovering dharmic pathways in Western literature. Find how inspiration and spiritual insight can be found anywhere, at any time, in any situation.

Dean Sluyter has taught natural approaches to meditation and spiritual awakening since 1970. A grateful student of Eastern and Western sages in several traditions, Dean has completed numerous pilgrimages and retreats in India, Tibet, Nepal, and the West. He is known for conveying authentic teachings in forms that are relaxed, accessible, and down-to-earth.  He gives talks, workshops, and retreats throughout the United States and beyond, from Ivy League colleges to maximum-security prisons. His media appearances have included National Public Radio, The New York Times, Coast to Coast AM, The Dr. Oz Show, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Dean is the author of several books including the book that is discussed in this program “The Dharma Bum’s Guide to Western Literature”.

WEBSITE: DEANSLYTER.COM

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The conversation with Dean Sluyter was brimming with his infectious enthusiasm. "If it's not fun, what's the point." It's remarkable how he finds dharmic pathways in so many writings. He sees everything as a dharma gate. The message in the Cat In the Hat is the spirit of freedom or moksha. Huckleberry Finn discovered meditating in nirvana (samadhi) floating down the river. I loved his insight that the infinite is not far away. It is closer than close. You are it. It's just falling back into what you have been all along. You can find it everywhere, in literature and in everything. I highly recommend this podcast

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: What a joy to have Dean Sluyter as a guest on The Yoga Hour to discuss his new book The Dharma Bums Guide to Western Literature. We were able to draw so many great examples from his book of how inspiration and spiritual insight can be found anywhere, at any time, in any situation reflecting the infinite omnipresence of the Divine. It’s something special when one conversation can draw spiritual lessons from Dr. Seuss, Frederick Douglas, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. I loved his closing inspiration, that the infinite is not very far away, that we can just fall back into what we have been all along

Embrace Grief—Find Healing

How can we heal from the individual and collective grief we experience from the suffering on this planet? Author and teacher Michelle Cassandra Johnson shares spiritual tools that support us in experiencing our grief. We can take action with an open heart in heartbreaking times.

Michelle is a social justice warrior, author, Dismantling Racism trainer, yoga teacher and practitioner. With over twenty years of experience in leading Dismantling Racism work and working with clients as a licensed clinical social worker, Michelle has a deep understanding of how trauma impacts the mind, body, spirit, and heart. She is the author of Skill in Action and the book we are discussing today, Finding Refuge: Heart Work For Healing Collective Grief. She also has a podcast called Finding Refuge.

You can learn more about Michelle and her work at her website MichelleCJohnson.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This program is going to be a very good addition to our other programs on racial justice and spiritual right action. As Michelle stated, we are dealing with grief, collective grief, as we look at our world and at our history in relation to race and also to all the suffering that is going on in the world. Her book is about looking at that grief, not shying away from it, as painful as it is. She says we need to open our broken hearts to it and understand it so that we can heal from it. Only through healing can we then move forward with compassionate right action. I really appreciate that the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras guide her work and I appreciate how she brings that out in the practices for healing that she shares in her book.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: It was lovely to discuss how yoga philosophy and the teachings in the Bhagavad Gita both support racial justice and provide a framework for healing our collective grief. I appreciated that she included two verses from the Bhagavad Gita in her book, which she translated as: (2.12) "Never was there a time when I did not exist, or you, or these kings; nor will there come a time when we cease to be.” and (2.40) “No effort is wasted, no gain ever reversed; even a little of this practice will shelter you from sorrow.” These Bhagavad Gita verses, referring to our immortal soul nature, and to the benefit of practice, being sheltered from sorrow, allow us to be present to our heart break and yet remain open-hearted.

The Science of Yoga

How does science quantify yoga’s impact on human physiology? Eddie Stern, yoga practitioner and teacher, shares how Western science is beginning to explain how the practices of yoga can override habitual responses to the world to move us into deeper states of expanded awareness.

Eddie Stern is a yoga teacher, author, and lecturer from New York City. He is known for his multidisciplinary approach to furthering education and access to yoga, as well as his teaching expertise in Ashtanga Yoga. He has been practicing and studying yoga, Sanskrit, and related disciplines since 1987. He is the author of One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga and How It Can Transform Your Life. He co-designed the Yoga and Physiology course at New York University (NYU).

His website is EddieStern.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: It was very interesting to look at the actual science of yoga with Eddie Stern. I was attracted to how the five kleshas (causes of suffering) are governed by different areas of the brain and how we can diminish or weaken their effect by tapping into the neuroplasticity of the brain. The description of meditation opening space in the mind was particularly powerful for me. The idea that meditation opens and expands the gap between thoughts which allows the non-rising of samskaras is fascinating and hopeful.