Compassion, Community and Kinship: Fostering Spiritual Interconnection

How can we, as individuals, contribute to the repair of the world and ourselves in this polarized time? Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde, author of Casting Indra’s Net, asks the questions “What happened to us? Why do so many choose brutality over mutuality? In this program she shares how we can do the necessary inner work to live as spiritual kin, caring for each other amidst global crisis and suffering.

Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde is a lawyer and has a doctor of theology in pastoral counseling. She is an activist, lay Buddhist teacher, professor, pastoral counselor, and writer. She is the co-editor of Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation, and Freedom as well as the author of two volumes on pastoral care. Her articles appear in Buddha-dharma, Lion's Roar, Journal of Buddhist-Christian Studies, Religions and Feminist Theology. She also serves as an associate editor for Lion’s Roar magazine and has been featured on NBC.com, the Tamron Hall Show, and Sisters of AARP, and she appears regularly in major online summits concerning spirituality and caregiving.

WEBSITE: PamelaAyoYetunde.com Facebook: Pamela Ayo Yetunde
#indrasnet #yoga #civility #goldenrule #kinship @pamelaayoyetunde

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Dr. Ayo Yetunde said that she wrote this book, Casting Indra's Net, because she is concerned about how we are treating one another. She asks the questions “What happened to us? Why did many of us choose brutality over mutuality?” Those questions really struck me. She says "It is very dangerous now and I didn’t want to be one of those who didn’t say anything."  I so appreciate how she brings in the spiritual teachings of the major spiritual traditions that teach about how we are all connected and what happens to one, happens to all. These spiritual teachings offer us tools to overcome this time of perceived separation. Dr. Yetunde reminds us that we are all inextricably part of Indra's net. There is no denying it. We all need to step up and recognize our place in Indra's net. We are supporting and are supported by each other. Ayo spoke so eloquently and clearly about the trouble we could be in if we don't begin to step up and speak up in a truthful but harmless way. That is what she means by the word "casting".  This is another important program about how spiritual practice opens up our hearts and leads us towards compassionate action.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I so appreciated having Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde as a guest on The Yoga Hour to discuss her important book Casting Indra’s Net: Fostering Spiritual Kinship and Community.  The Vedic story of Indra’s Net describes a network over the Earth where each point where the fibers cross contains a jewel that represents each of us. This story is contained in both Buddhist and Yoga traditions shows our interconnection, how we belong to something greater than ourselves, as well as representing our precious inner light.  We discussed the need for civility. Civility, in this context, doesn’t mean being “nice" but rather being able to be compassionate, to listen deeply and to affirm each others fear and concerns and then come to a negotiated solution.  I appreciated Dr. Yetunde’s “Platinum Rule” which goes beyond the Golden Rule of “treat others the way you’d like to be treated” to “treat others the way they need to be treated”. 

Foster Love and Build Connection to Make Great Relationships

How can we foster healthy and fulfilling relationships of all kinds? Author and psychologist Rick Hanson offers simple but powerful ways to improve relationships with our family, friends and with challenging people so that we can cultivate kindness and communicate more skillfully.

Rick Hanson is a psychologist and has written and taught about the essential inner skills of personal well-being, psychological growth, and contemplative practice – as well as about relationships, family life, and raising children. Dr. Hanson is the author of several best-selling books on these topics, including the book we are discussing today- Making Great Relationships: Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building Connection, and Fostering Love.  He is a Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and has been invited to speak at NASA as well as at Oxford, Harvard, Stanford, and other major universities. Dr. Hanson offers online classes and programs as well as a free online weekly meditation program. He has his own podcast, Being Well, with his son Forrest Hanson.

WEBSITE: RickHanson.net
FaceBook: @rickhansonphd
Instagram: @rickhansonphd

#relationships,#makinggreatrelationships,#compassion,#meditation,#kriyayoga,#befriendyourself

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: When Rick Hanson was asked why he wrote this book, Making Great Relationships he said that healthy relationships are the most important aspect of our lives—for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. He said one of the most frequent issues that people come to him for, as a psychologist, is help with relationships. Through this book he wants to give us tools that support us in answering HOW to improve our relationships.  Dr. Trujillo asked him about meditation and how that supports better relationships. He said that for those of us on the spiritual path, meditation is "homecoming". When we are more rooted in our "home" the harder it is to not be there and then share that energy space with others. Another inspirational and helpful Yoga Hour program that I highly recommend.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: The Yoga Hour team thinks that the topic of building relationships is a critical one for our world at this time, and Rick Hanson’s book Making Great Relationships is a wonderful tool for us all to build skills in this area.  I enjoyed our discussion of the need to befriend oneself as a critical starting point in this effort to build better relationships.  Our conversation touched on the many benefits of having good relationships on our overall health, including increased longevity.  The anecdotes Dr. Hanson shared about feeding the wolf of love in our hearts instead of the wolf of hate, and the importance of not taking things personally really resonated with me.  Lastly, I appreciated his description of meditation as coming home, since it certainly feels that way to me. 

Transform Your Life with Kriya Yoga

What is it like to live as a Kriya Yogi? Yogacharya O’Brian draws inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita to explore this question about how to live a spiritually conscious fulfilled life in today’s world.

Ellen Grace O'Brian (Yogacharya O’Brian) is an acclaimed teacher, award-winning author, and minister who has served seekers of spiritual enlightenment from all walks of life for over thirty years. She has published several books and audio programs about meditation, mindfulness and spiritual living, offering a refreshing and authentic voice that makes timeless wisdom accessible to the modern mind. She is the spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in San Jose, CA. Through her teaching and publications, Yogacharya O’Brian helps people learn to live from the inside out with practices and insights for developing life-transforming skills to cultivate a spiritually awakened, fulfilled life.

WEBSITE: EllenGraceOBrian.com CSECenter.org

Podcast: Kriya Yoga Today with Yogacharya O’Brian

YouTube: Ellen Grace O’Brian
Instagram: @ellengraceobrian
Facebook: @ellengraceobrian

#Bhagavad Gita, #Meditation, #Jnana Yoga, #Karma Yoga, #Yamas

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Yogacharya O'Brian shared that the essence of Kriya Yoga is acting and being anchored in our spiritual identity rather than ego self.  I loved Yogacharya's clear and uplifting message about how everything we do; talking, sitting and walking or as she described, moving in the world, are manifestations of our state of mind. The spiritually awakened one is obvious through the life they live with calm wisdom. The discussion touched on how the practice of meditation is the opportunity to experience steady discernment of our spiritually awakened and enlightened nature. Knowing this truth inspires us to live our lives as a reflection of our spiritually conscious mind.  Yogacharya O'Brian shared how our study of the Bhagavad Gita can support our understanding of ourselves as spiritual beings but beyond that can answer any question we have about living a spiritually centered life. I was so uplifted and inspired by the discussion. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed our discussion of the Bhagavad Gita, and in particular Chapter 2 verse 54, the verse where Arjuna asks Krishna what it’s like to live as an enlightened person.  As Yogacharya O’Brian said, we each need to try on the idea and imagine what that might be like as part of our quest to live as Kriya Yogis. When imagining how a wise and calm sage would  speak, we discussed the importance of the yogic practices of harmlessness and truthfulness.  Arjuna also asks Krishna how a sage would sit, or meditate, and how they walk, or relate to the outer world.  Yogacharya’s perspective about all of this resting on the consciousness of each of us was illuminating.

Overcoming Barriers to Spiritual Awakening

How can we overcome the tendency to jeopardize our own spiritual journey? Swamini Svatmavidyananda offers lessons from the ancient, timeless teachings of the Upanishads which offer practical tools to overcome the most common barriers on the spiritual path.

@svatmavidyananda
#upanishads
#self-knowledge
#obstaclestospiritualawakening
#kriyayoga
#beyourself

Dr. Swamini Svatmavidyananda Saraswati is the resident acharya at Arsha Vijnana Gurukulum with several locations throughout the United States including Atlanta, Georgia and Eugene Oregon. Swaminiji has taught at several universities nationally, including UC Berkeley. She is widely recognized as a scholar of Advaita Vedanta and teaches nationally and internationally and is the author of the book we will discuss today; Overcoming Self-Sabotage in Self-Knowledge: Insights from the Upanishads As a founding member of the “Global Women's Peace Initiative,” she has traveled globally addressing the ever-increasing challenges that face humanity in a global ethos.  Swaminiji addresses contemporary challenges facing the world, from global warming to religious/social unrest, in her unfolding of the Upanishads, the foundational spiritual texts of the Hindu tradition. 

WEBSITE: arshavg.org

YouTube:@svatmavidyananda

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Swamini Svatmavidyananda’s way of teaching from the ancient scripture of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita about overcoming self-sabotage to our spiritual awakening is so relatable to what most of us experience in our everyday lives. This is much like the way that Yogacharya teaches us. When Swamini ji  was asked why we identify with the ego and the ever-changing body and mind, rather than the limitless, free Self she said "It is a question of partial knowledge. Like the rope lying in the dark that we mistake for a snake. It is a misapprehension due to a lack of light. Not knowing what it is exactly makes it a cause of fear." This is a compassionate way of looking at our lack of knowledge and that the tools of spiritual practice shine the light taking away the fear.  I also loved her closing inspiration to our listeners: "Be yourself. Be Oneself. Let go of any inauthenticity. Don't worry about making mistakes. Make many new mistakes because they are a gateway to knowledge."

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I found Swamini ji’s teaching to be very practical and down to earth, which especially showed in her discussion of FOMO, the fear of missing out, that is so common in our world today.  She illuminated how the desire for instant gratification drives our attachment to the changing external world, and how we can begin to choose the permanent rather than the temporary.  I loved how she said that we can go from “ho hum”, that boredom and repetitiveness that comes when we overly focus on the temporary, to “So Hum”, which means “I am THAT, that Oneness”, referring to our permanent unchanging Self.

Let's Start Meditating!

Are you ready to begin meditating, or to recommit to a regular meditation practice? Swami Saradananda, meditation and yoga teacher and author of Sitting Comfortably discusses the benefits of a regular meditation practice and how to overcome obstacles to beginning and continuing one. 

Swami Saradananda has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for over 40 years. She holds an MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She has written several books on various aspects of yoga and meditation including the book being discussed in this episode, Sitting Comfortably: Preparing the Mind and Body for Peaceful Meditation. Swami Saradananda worked with the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers for 26 years and directed centers in New York, London, Toronto, New Delhi and the Himalayas. She is now teaching independently and offers personal mentoring for yogic and meditation practices.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: It was a delight to hear Swami Saradananda talk about meditation and all the supportive ways we can help ourselves stay steady in our meditation practice.  And asking why we stay steady in our practice, she says, is like asking "Do I want to be happy?" She shared that meditation helps with mental and physical wellbeing as well as spiritual awakening. There were so many small actions and steps Swami Saradananda shared with our Yoga Hour audience. This session can be listened to again and again to understand the importance of meditation as well as how to prepare our mind and body for our practice.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: This conversation will be supportive for those who want to begin a meditation practice and for those who want to recommit to a steady practice.  I enjoyed our conversation about happiness, and understanding that when we tie our happiness to external things, that happiness is transitory.  Our discussion of the many benefits of meditation included reducing stress, insomnia, anxiety, and depression; alleviating pain; increasing patience, compassion, energy, stamina and resilience.  We also discussed the importance of steady practice and letting go of preconceived ideas about what meditation should be like. 

The Ultimate Unity of All Beings

The realization that everything in the universe forms a single, integrated whole can be difficult to grasp. Author and Zen priest Brad Warner shares, in a light-hearted way, how a true understanding of Reality, the ultimate unity of all things instills in us a sense of responsibility for the welfare of all life.

Brad Warner is the author of numerous books including the book being discussed in this podcast, The Other Side of Nothing: The Zen Ethics of Time, Space, and Being. A Soto Zen teacher, he is also a punk bassist, filmmaker, and popular blogger who leads workshops and retreats around the world.  In addition to his books, his writing appears in Lion’s Roar, Tricycle and Buddhadharma. He hosts the Hardcore Zen podcast and presents frequently on his YouTube channel, Hard Core Zen.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed the program with Brad Warner, the author of The Other Side of Nothing: The Zen Ethics of Time, Space, and Being. As a Zen priest and punk guitarist he offers a fresh and easy approach to teaching about nondualism and meditation. I especially appreciated the discussion about the importance of meditation. He said at first he found it boring and couldn't wait until the 20 minutes were over. He said that he had read about enlightenment experiences and expected that right away and was disappointed, but he kept at it and finally after a few years had some deep experiences as well as an understanding of how much better his life was when he meditated daily. He noticed how, when he missed days, life was more "wonky", not as smooth as it was when he meditated. He has now been practicing regularly for over 40 years. In his final comments, he encouraged the listeners to keep at it, even on days when we don't feel like it because it is worth it. This is something that Yogacharya O'Brian has also taught us many times. I also really appreciated how Dr. Trujillo pointed out how many of the practices of Zen Buddhism and our practices of Kriya Yoga overlap.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I enjoyed our discussion of the Zen and Kriya Yoga perspectives on non-duality, and I appreciated talking about some of the similarities between Zen and Kriya Yoga ethics.  In Brad Warner’s book, The Other Side of Nothing, he writes "This philosophical outlook is what they call nondualism.  There is no you. There is no me.  There is just one undivided nondual something of which you and I are aspects.” He further writes: “the fact that you and I don’t exist is a good reason to stop treating each other as badly as we humans tend to do.” It was great to explore these statements further with him. I particularly appreciated his perspective on the seemingly contradictory nature of some Zen teachings, as well as our discussion of harmlessness (ahimsa) from the yoga perspective, and the Buddhist Precept “I vow not to kill.”  

Meet the Storms of Life with Strength and Resilience

How can times of adversity be a time of personal transformation? Mark Nepo, esteemed poet and spiritual teacher, shares how we can traverse life's unavoidable storms by using the timeless teachings of the heart to deepen our roots and solidify our connection with Spirit.

With over a million copies sold, Mark Nepo inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening. Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” A bestselling author, he has published twenty-three books and recorded fifteen audio projects. His most recent book is Surviving Storms: Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity which is being discussed on this program. Mark has appeared several times with Oprah on her Super Soul Sunday program on and was part of Oprah's The Life You Want Tour in 2014. He has also been interviewed on Good Morning America and is a regular columnist for Spirituality and Health magazine. Mark was given a Life-Achievement Award by AgeNation in 2015; in 2016 he was named by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People, and was also chosen as one of Oprah Winfrey Network’s Super Soul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity. Mark teaches and offers online webinars around the world.

Mark is offering a 3 session webinar based on his book Surviving Storms beginning February 4, 2023. For more information go to Live.MarkNepo.com

WEBSITE: MarkNepo.com FACEBOOK: @MarkNepo INSTAGRAM: Mark_Nepo

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Dr. Trujillo’s conversation with Mark about his book was very inspirational and helped me understand how knowing our true Self is most important in (using a tree metaphor) deepening our roots and strengthening our trunk so that we can survive the storms in life. He calls that our heart work. This is exactly what the teachings of Yoga are about, how to know our Self. Mark mentioned that the Hindu god, Ganesh, is not only the remover of obstacles but also the provider of obstacles. He said this means that the obstacles are put there to be our teachers. He says when we are confronted with storms in our lives, the only way is through. Our connection with God-or how we perceive what is greater than us, our connections with each other and all of life are what support us during difficult times. When we are going through the storms of life, it is most helpful to look at what is greater than ourselves—"how can I see that this difficulty is part of the greater whole of life and how can it become my teacher?"  These teachings are something we will all benefit from.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed discussing Mark Nepo’s book Surviving Storms, which I found to be both lyrical and accessible.  I loved the way the conversation wove together both grief and joy, as he writes in his poem “Adrift”, which he read during the interview.  The perspective that the existence of the universe and our life within it is the result of small acts of goodness was inspiring. I particularly appreciated his comments that our heart is our greatest teacher and our strongest muscle, and also his advice to listeners to become intimate with the workings of their heart and to stay in conversation with life through their heart. 

The Power of the Vedas and Mantra: Deepen Spiritual Awakening

The Vedas are considered the source texts of Yoga, which through study, practice, contemplation and understanding help with a more complete yogic development. Shantala Sriramaiah discusses how the study of the Vedas and how properly chanting the ancient mantras support us in deepening our spiritual growth.
Her website is vedastudies.com where she offers a free, introductory, online course in Vedic chanting.

Shantala Sriramaiah is a Vedic chanting teacher, and the founder of VedaStudies.com. She was born and raised in Bangalore, India where she studied Sanskrit and chanting from an early age, as part of her family tradition as well as in school. Much of her inspiration comes from her mother, Saroja, who taught chanting classes in their family home for over 30 years. Shantala aspires to continue her family tradition, using her long background in learning and development. She offers classes internationally online and in Brussels, Belgium where she currently lives with her husband and two children.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The discussion with Shantala Sriramaiah, on the Vedas and Vedic mantras was both informative and intriguing. Her explanation of the ancient Vedas as mystical high caliber poetry was clear and succinct. She shared how the ancient Vedas through structure and rhythmic sound provide an absolutely clear vision of The Truth. Shantala shared how Vedic mantras provide a practice based approach to deepen the yoga (Oneness) experience through divinely structured chanting which carries a particular energy. The deep pranayama (breath control) focus of the Vedic mantra leads to pratyahara (interiorization of attention). I plan to access and experience accurately vocalized Vedic mantras on her SoundCloud link. She also has a free introductory Veda chanting course online.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Shantala Sriramaiah shared with us how the study of the Vedas can help with a more complete yogic development.  I appreciated her description of the benefits of Vedic chanting as increased power of attention and concentration, both of which are so helpful in our meditation practice.  I found it fascinating that the rules of Vedic Sanskrit pronunciation and chanting originate in the Vedas themselves, in the Taittiriya Upanishad.  Shantala’s description of increased clarity as the benefit of chanting the Gayatri Mantra was helpful, and I can see that this increased clarity can help us in whatever situation we encounter. She chanted the Gayatri mantra so that listeners can hear the difference between Vedic chanting and singing a mantra.