Autobiography of A yogi for the 21st century

What lessons can a modern seeker draw from Autobiography of a Yogi? Rizwan Virk discusses how universal principles such as karma, meditation, and yoga can be used to address issues and challenges of the present, such as the diversions of social media and the quick pace of contemporary life.

Rizwan Virk, a graduate of MIT and Stanford, is a successful entrepreneur, investor, futurist, video game industry pioneer, indie film producer and bestselling author. Rizwan writes on the intersection of science, science fiction, business and spirituality. His latest book is Wisdom of a Yogi.

Website: zenentrepreneur.com

Facebook: @zenentrepreneur; X (Twitter): @rizstanford

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This interview with Rizwan Virk was dynamic. His knowledge of karma, meditation and yoga flowed throughout the dialogue. I was particularly drawn to the way Rizwan related stories in Autobiography of a Yogi to illustrate how we can recognize and follow the clues that show up in our life to discover life's treasure - our svadharma. Yogananda often used the metaphor of moving pictures to illustrate how this life is maya, an illusion. Rizwan, a video game developer himself, takes Yoganands's metaphor into the 21st century by viewing life as a multi-player video game where we exist independently (our Real Self) outside of the game, but descend into the game of life to play a character (avatar) in a simulated world. "The key to a good game is one that is easy to play, but difficult to master. This makes the treasure hunt much more interesting." I highly recommend this podcast!

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS:  I enjoyed my discussion with Rizwan Virk, looking at lessons from Paramahansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of A Yogi to see how they apply to modern seekers in today’s world.  Riz described the importance of following the “clues” we get, both externally in the world and internally from our intuition, using Yogananda’s journey to bring yoga to the West as an example.  I was struck by how Riz updated Yogananda’s metaphor of life as a motion picture to describe life as a multiplayer video game.  I particularly appreciate his efforts to make Autobiography of a Yogi interesting and accessible to a new generation of seekers. 

Our Quest for Wholeness

How can we remove filters--thoughts, feelings, and other reactions—that keep us weaving the same old patterns? Author Sky Nelson-Isaacs shares how we can open ourselves up to endless possibilities by aligning with life circumstances rather than fighting them.

WEBSITE: synchronicityinstitute.com

Instagram: skynelsonisaacs FB: skynelsonisaacs

Sky Nelson-Isaacs is a theoretical physicist, speaker, author, and musician. He has a masters degree in physics from San Francisco State University, with a thesis in String Theory, and a BS in physics from UC Berkeley. Nelson-Isaacs has dedicated his life to finding his own sense of purpose, beginning as a student of the Yogic master Sri Swami Satchidananda when he was less than five years old. His most recent research has been published in the scientific journal Quantum Reports. An educator with nine years of classroom experience, Sky is also a multi-instrumentalist and professional performer of award-winning original musical compositions. He is the author of several books including the book we are discussing today, Leap to Wholeness: How the World is Programmed to Help Us Grow, Heal and Adapt.

#synchronicity #wholeness #leaptowholeness #dowhatyoulove #simulationhypothesis #virtualrealitvworld #kriyayoga #livinginflow

COMMENTS FROM SKY NELSON-ISAACS: Thank you, Laurel, for the great conversation today! I  really enjoyed it. Yoga is my home and it's really nice to come back to home base.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed hearing Sky Nelson-Isaacs talk about the inter-connectedness of all life and how it is programmed to help us heal, grow and adapt through the synchronicities of our life. Sky encourages us to ask, 'How do we get something from everything?" rather than “How do I get something from nothing.” This is based on the idea that all possibilities already exist. He says we simply need to identify thoughts, ideas and feelings we hold onto that limit our choices. Sky's new question may sound familiar to spiritual seekers as it aligns with a statement that Roy Eugene Davis passed on to his disciples, "There is an enlivening power nurturing the Universe and we can learn to cooperate with it." Mahatma Gandhi put it this way, "There is a force in the universe, which if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results." These statements are the foundation of Yoga philosophy. Sky's comments reminds us of how true this is and how it works.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed my discussion with Sky Nelson Isaacs about his book Leap to Wholeness, particularly the question that started the episode: How do we get something out of everything?  This contrasts with the question that underlies the Big Bang Theory: how do we get everything out of nothing?  Sky’s perspective on the multiverse was quite valuable, that out of the infinite possibilities that exist there is one that can resolve a difficult situation.  I also appreciated our discussion of holistic systems, in which the whole is more than the sum of the parts, and that one of their properties is that they have meaning.  

Stay Healthy in the Fall with Ayurveda

How can we use Ayurveda’s ancient principles to stay resilient and healthy as we move from the heat of summer into fall and prepare for winter? Kate O’Donnell, author of The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook, shares the importance of shifting our diet and routines with the seasons.
#ayurveda #fiveelements #doshas #seasonaldoshas #yoga #dinacharya #pita #vata #kapha #kriyayoga

Kate O’Donnell is a nationally certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and the founder of the Ayurvedic Living Institute. Kate is a nationally certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, senior yoga teacher, and the author of multiple Ayurvedic books including The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care and The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook: A Seasonal Guide to Eating and Living Well. She studied in India for twenty years and continues to travel there annually for study. She is a contributor to many publications including Yoga Journal, Women’s Health Magazine, and NPR. She teaches trainings, cooking classes, seasonal cleanses, retreats, and online programs.

Website: Ayurvedic Living Institute

FB: AyurvedaBoston Instagram: kateodonnell.ayurveda

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Kate O’Donnell’s explanation of doshas (the energies that define each individual person’s make up) and their relation to the five elements clearly explains how our health is dependent on keeping all these in balance. She shared the idea that we become the five elements of the universe through the foods that we take into our body. The discussion on changing our diet and our daily routines as we move from summer through fall into winter made it easier to see how we can use the Kriya Yoga practice of self-study to comprehend how food and routines effect our body. She also emphasizes that we don’t have to be perfect and “do it all”. Any amount of self-care that works in the direction of balance will change the trajectory towards our health and wellness.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I found our conversation very engaging and informative.  Kate O’Donnell makes Ayurveda easy to understand and her enthusiasm is contagious. I love her focus on the whole, how we are each made up of the same elements that are in everything in nature.  Therefore, any changes in the world such as seasonal differences also impact us, the macrocosm affecting the microcosm since we are all part of the same whole. I especially appreciated her advice to choose one behavior or food to change, and then do it, since any shift toward balance counts and helps us to change the trajectory that might otherwise result in an imbalance that affects our health. 

Why Swami Vivekananda Matters

Swami Vivekananda was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga philosophies to the western world. Pravrajika Brahmaprana, editor of Swami Vivekenada’s writings Volume 9 shares how the impact of this great spiritual teacher contributes to the spiritual awakening of our world.

Our guest Pravrajika Brahmaprana is a member of the Sarada Convent in Southern California since 1973 and an ordained nun or sannyasini of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. Brahmaprana has been a Vedanta representative of the Hindu-Catholic Dialog sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as well as interfaith councils and initiatives in Dallas-Fort Worth, a frequent guest lecturer at schools and colleges in America and has participated in interfaith and scholastic seminars in America and abroad. She is currently the Resident Minister of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North Texas. She has compiled and edited several books on Vedanta, including The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 9. Find out more about her and the Vedanta Society of North Texas atvedantaDFW.org.

#vivekananda #yoga #ramakrishna #swamivivekananda #karmayoga #vedanta #vedantasociety @ramakrishnavedantasocietyofnorthtexas

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Pravrajika Brahmaprana offered such a deep knowledge of what Swami Vivekananda offered to the world in the way of honoring the deep spiritual teachings of each religion, teaching that we are all divine spiritual beings capable of enlightenment. Vivekananda also encouraged interreligious conversations and was the first Swami from India to bring the teachings of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western World. Swami Vivekenananda important teachings on Karma Yoga (service as spiritual practice) as a path to spiritual enlightenment was also discussed. Pravrajika Bhahmaprana brought Vivekananda to life with her beautiful spirit, and her deep understanding of his teachings.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I appreciated anew that Vivekananda was a founder of the interfaith movement, and was particularly interested in the quote Brahmaprana shared from Vivekananda at the close of the Parliament of World’s Religions in 1893: “Do I wish that the Christian would become Hindu? God forbid.  Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid.”  I enjoyed her discussion of how Karma Yoga, the yoga of selfless service, plays a role in the other 3 forms of yoga: Bhakti Yoga (yoga of devotion), Raja Yoga (8 limbs of yoga), and Jyana Yoga (yoga of wisdom).  It was a joy to become more familiar with Vivekananda’s writings, particular his book Karma-Yoga.  

The Wisdom of Yoga in Everyday Parenting

How does the wisdom of Yoga inform the unpredictable, sometimes chaotic life of a parent?  Sarah Ezrin, author of The Yoga of Parenting: 10 Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself offers wise and practical strategies for understanding how the many challenges of parenting can be better managed with Yoga.

Sarah Ezrin is a freelance writer, yoga educator, and mama based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sarah is author of the book we will be discussing today, The Yoga of Parenting: 10 Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself.  Sarah is a frequent contributor to Yoga Journal, Yoga International and LA Yoga. She has been interviewed in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Bustle.com, and she has appeared on NBC news. She also writes for parenting outlets, including Healthline-Parenthood, Scary Mommy, Motherly, Healthline, and Mind Body Green. Sarah leads teacher trainings, workshops, and retreats locally in California and across the globe. 

Sarah Ezrin’s website is: sarahezrinyoga.com
#yoga #parenting #prana #sthira #sukha #empathicparenting

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Sarah was an inspiration as she shared her knowledge of Yoga principals, child development and some of the newest information about parenting. Sarah advocates that parents keep their own energy strong along with the idea of increasing our ability as parents to stay present to our children using Yoga poses and principals. Sarah's use of the Yoga principals of Sthira, which means steady and strong and Sukha, which means soft and sweet are perfect for describing what is now considered in Child Development research the best parenting style. Sarah Ezrin offered a very strong case for staying present for our children using Yoga poses, breath or pauses along with the idea of filling our own energy needs in order to provide quality time over quantity of time with our children. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I love how Sarah wove together information about child development, yogic wisdom, and parenting information in both her book and in our conversation.  Our discussion began with questioning the idea of what it means to be a “perfect” parent, stressing the importance of being present with our children and with ourselves as one of the critical factors. Applying the yogic concepts of steady practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment (vairagya) to parenting encourages parents to keep trying while avoiding grasping too tightly at a desired outcome, leaving our children with the opportunity to explore and develop competence without us stepping in immediately to show them the “right” way to do things.

Kriya Yoga: A Roadmap for Life

Kriya Yoga is an intentional, universal approach to Self-realization and spiritual enlightenment. This is accomplished by removing obstacles to the realization of our divine nature. Author and teacher, Nayaswami Devarshi shares how Kriya Yoga can support us in reaching this ultimate goal. Devarshi’s book that is discussed on this program is Kriya Yoga - Spiritual Awakening for the New Age

Nayaswami Devarshi is a longtime Ananda minister and Kriyacharya (authorized Kriya Yoga teacher). He lives in India, leading Ananda's monastery and serves as the director of Ananda's global Kriya Yoga Sangha. Devarshi works with those taking Kriya Yoga for the first time, and counsels experienced practitioners.

 Devarshi’s website is:  anandaindia.org

#kriyayoga #meditation #pranayam #rajayoga #bhaktiyoga #karmayoga

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: It was a pleasure to experience the insightful interactions between Dr. Laura Trujillo and Nayaswami Devarshi discussing Kriya Yoga and its importance as the planet transitions from Kali Yuga, the age of materialism to Dwapara Yuga, an age of energy, a more enlightened age when souls will awaken spiritually. Nayaswami Devarshi shared that over the years he has seen how Kriya Yoga can positively transform anyone and everyone who practices it. He says that every kriya (action) should be an action of selfless devotion. It is important to practice every day to gain control over and lift-up inner energies of thoughts and feelings. This program was very inspirational for those who already practice in this tradition or want to find a spiritual practice that is life changing.

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS:  I enjoyed our discussion of Kriya Yoga as more than a breathing or meditation technique, but rather as an approach to life.  We discussed Kriya Yoga as both an art and a science: Kriya is a science since it is built in the laboratory of our life through our own experience as we apply the teachings with results that are universal and replicable.  We make it an art by bringing our hearts and devotion to our practice.  I also appreciated how Nayaswami shared the Hong-Sau mantra with our listeners, which I am sure will be valuable to many.

Science and the Spiritual Life

Does science need to be separate from spirituality? Scientist and author Dr. Paul Mills shares stories from some of the world’s foremost scientists about mystical experiences that have transformed them and their work. Science, as a method, can be used to pursue spiritual goals.

Paul Mills Ph.D. is a Professor of Public Health and Family Medicine at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Mills has over 400 scientific publications in the fields of pharmacology, oncology, cardiology, psychoneuroimmunology, behavioral medicine and integrative health. Today we are discussing his new book, Science, Being and Becoming: The Spiritual Lives of Scientists. This book just won the 2023 Gold Nautilus Award for the best book in Science and Cosmology.
His website is PaulJMills.com

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This program focusing on Dr. Mills book Science, Being and Becoming: The Spiritual Lives of Scientists I found to be very encouraging. Dr. Mills is a scientist and a long time meditator who's deep meditation experiences inspired him up to talk to other foremost scientists who have had these meditation experiences and open up a connection, so that they can, as he said, come out of the closet and not feel so isolated. Traditional science has looked on the spiritual as not relevant and "woo woo". What these scientists are saying now is that traditional science, by not seeing the spiritual as relevant, is impeding the forward movement of discovery, the forward movement of science. One of the scientists that Dr. Mills interviewed said "Science is a mystical path. The spiritual is the final frontier of science." By listening to this program and reading his book, I feel encouraged and positive with the evidence that shows that we are in and moving forward to a more enlightened age.  

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS:  It was a joy to speak with Dr. Paul Mills and to discuss his book Science, Being, and Becoming. We discussed a few of the many stories in the book about the spiritual experiences of some of the worlds top scientists, and how these experiences transformed both them and their scientific work. Our discussion about the materialistic view of the world promoted by science, and the resulting dismissal of spiritual and mystical experiences was an important one for me.  We discussed how this materialistic world view that only includes those objects that can be experienced through our senses does not incorporate many developments that have happened in other fields such as physics, which now views matter as energy.  Paul’s view of science as a mystical path was inspiring.

The Spark of Becoming: Poetry That Connects

Renowned poet, author, and spiritual teacher, Mark Nepo shares poetry from his book The Half Life of Angels. Poetry that touches the soul and reminds us of what it means to be fully alive, to be surrounded by what is sacred. 
#sacredpoetry #poetry #oneness #kriyayoga #indrasnet

Mark Nepo is a poet and spiritual teacher who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for over 50 years. With over a million copies sold, Mark has moved and inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening. A beloved poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called “one of the finest spiritual guides of our time,” “a consummate storyteller,” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher.” His work is widely accessible and his books have been translated into more than twenty languages.
A bestselling-author, Mark has published twenty-four books and recorded fifteen audio projects. His most recent, The Half-Life of Angels: Three Books of Poems contains poems written in his fifties and sixties, is the first in a series of volumes to be published in limited editions. In September 2023 his twenty-fifth book, Falling Down and Getting Up is being published by St. Martin's Essentials

WEBSITE: MarkNepo.com ThreeIntentions.com
Social Media: @MarkNepo

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Mark says "Poetry isn’t the arrangement of words on the page. It's not about stanzas and meters. It is the unexpected utterance of words from the soul." I loved Laurel and Mark’s conversation of the title of his new book of poetry, The Half Life of Angels. This book is a compilation of three books of poetry. Laurel talked about how she understands the term half-life in scientific terms. When she read the title she thought about how angels are infinite and the half life of infinity is infinity. Mark said: “I see it as the spark, that moment in nature, when love touches us”. He used the visual example of Michaelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and God touching his finger to man. He also described how going through the many poems that he has written over these past decades opened him up to a greater understanding of himself and it was important to him not to change the way he wrote the earlier poems because of his deeper insights now, but to let them be. I also enjoyed how Laurel shared Yogacharya's poetry as well as Paramahansa Yogananda's. It was a very rich and meaningingful program. I would highly recommend it. 

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: It was a treat to focus on sacred poetry and on Mark Nepo’s new book The Half-Life of Angels.  I appreciated his description of darkness as something we can’t yet see, and that through personal growth we can make darkness visible.  His description of the rhythm between periods of harshness and beauty, between bareness and fullness in our lives as the inhalation and exhalation of the universe was very beautiful and touching to me.  I always enjoy Mark Nepo’s focus on our essential Oneness and our connection with each other and with the sacred Universe.