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Lotus Garden Meditation Center
Namaste Friends,
We've had a peek at this coming spring, and if you are like me, you grabbed your hiking shoes, bikes, friends, and family and headed straight out into nature for the wonderful weather, cool breezes, and the color and vibrancy of life blooming all around us.
I've found that in a very beautiful place in nature we sometimes feel a type of happiness mixed with an uncertain longing. I have been told that this longing is the soul feeling homesick for the spiritual world.
As ever-existing, individual spiritual sparks, whose natural residence is the spiritual realm, it's no wonder that being surrounded by the beauty of nature and this life energy can invoke such feelings. Because we are springing from the Supreme Cause of all Causes, we naturally feel a sense of longing to be in union with the Supreme. The achievement of this Union is the goal of the yoga system.
I've picked out a few verses for you from Bhagavad-Gita As It Is that help us understand that the Supreme Being is the constant companion always present within our own hearts and that we can see him in all creation.
Namaste,
Uddhava dasi
Lord Krishna is speaking to Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita:
Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor. ~ BG 10.41
A true yogi observes Me in all beings, and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere. ~BG 6.29
For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me. ~BG 6.30
O son of Kunti (Arjuna), I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and the ability in man. ~BG 7.8
I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics. ~BG 7.9
I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. ~BG 9.18
Our task must be to free ourselves . . . by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.
-Albert Einstein
The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives.
- Sioux Indian Quote
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Mantra Meditation
Gopala Govinda Rama
Madana Mohana
Mother Earth
Providing True Relief to Mother Earth
In the Vedic texts, Mother Earth is described as being like a Mother Cow. The cow symbolizes the qualities of goodness: giving, simplicity, innocence and so on. In so many ways we are milking the earth; The farmer is milking the soil, the miner and the logger are milking the land, and the earth is like one big mother cow, peacefully giving. Unfortunately, In today's world, we find a great deal of unnecessary exploitation of the earth: forests being destroyed, air and water being polluted, topsoil diminishing.
What is the root cause of our exploitation of Mother Earth and how can we stop this destructive cycle? The answer can be found in the wisdom of yoga and meditation. This ancient knowledge tells us that we are spiritual beings, parts and parcels of the Supreme Being. We are not our material bodies and therefore, the things of this world can never satisfy us. We need spiritual food and a connection to the Supreme to truly satisfy us. Without this understanding, we end up constantly trying to fulfill our spiritual needs by pursuing our endless material desires, which points to the basic problem: Infinite desires for finite resources.
The tendency to direct our search for satisfaction externally ultimately leads to over-consumption of the earth's resources, resulting in the environmental destruction we are dealing with today. Therefore, if we wish to make a positive change for Mother Earth, our consciousness must change; our view of ourselves must change.
Through the practice of yoga and meditation we learn to direct our search for satisfaction not to the external things of this world, but internally, in a relationship with the Supreme. This is the true meaning of yoga. As we develop true inner satisfaction, our habits of unnecessary consumption will decrease. As a result, the exploitation of the planets' resources is lessened and Mother Earth is given true relief.
Upcoming Events
Knowledge is understanding that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. ~Unknown
Spring is not only a good time to do some cleaning around the home, but also a great time to cleanse the body, eliminating toxins which have accumulated through our food, our water, the products we use to clean our bodies and our homes, even from our environment.
Incorporating raw foods into each day can be an easy and effortless way to help detoxify the body and improve health.
At our next cooking class, learn simple and easy recipes for fruit and vegetable juices, snacks, dips, an easy savory dish and even a layered fresh fruit parfait for dessert!
Health Tip
Vegetarianism for the Earth
Each year on April, 22nd many people come together to celebrate Earth Day - a day where we move our attention away from our own lives, our families, our work, our daily challenges, to a wider, more global view - our community, our society, our nation, our planet.
There are many things we can do, both individually and collectively, to help our environment, and our planet. One of the most effective ways we can improve the health of our planet as well as our own health is to reduce or eliminate meat intake in our diet. Many people are familiar with the health reasons for choosing a vegetarian diet, but fewer are aware of the positive environmental impacts of a vegetarian diet .
Consider the following statistics:
Of all the corn grown in the US, only 20% is eaten by people, while 80% is fed to livestock. 95% of oats grown in the US are fed to livestock.
One acre of land can produce 165 lbs of beef. That same acre could produce 20,000 lbs of potatoes.
Roughly twenty-five times more energy is required to produce one calorie of beef than to produce one calorie of corn for human consumption.
Of all the water used in the US, more than half is used for livestock production.
It takes 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat.
The United States Geological Survey says that 40 percent of fresh water used in the U.S. in 2000 went to irrigate feed crops for livestock.
50 times more fossil fuels are needed to produce a meat-centered diet than a vegetarian diet.
The meat industry is the number one source of methane gas throughout the world, releasing over 100 million tons a year (Methane is largely responsible for global warming).
According to the Rainforest Action Network, for every 1/4 lb hamburger, 55 sq ft of rainforest is consumed.
The rate at which species are becoming extinct due to destruction of tropical rainforests for livestock production is 1,000 per year.
Percentage of pesticide residue in the US diet supplied by grains: 1%, Fruits: 4%, Vegetables: 6%, Dairy products: 23%, Meat: 55%.
Although we, as individuals, are like a drop of water in this vast ocean which is our planet, anything we do, no matter how small, can contribute to a more sustainable environment. So, instead of that quarter pounder, how about trying the veggie burger? What about the vegetarian enchilada instead of the one with beef or chicken?
It's easy to take small steps to reduce the amount of meat in your diet. Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, encourages people to "give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there". The more you experiment with substituting vegetarian proteins and perfecting vegetarian recipes, the easier it will become.
Supporting the local farmers and markets in the area by buying fresh, local, and organic produce is also a very effective and positive way to promote a sustainable diet and lifestyle.
8 oz dry fettucine, tagliatelle or linguine pasta (try Tinkyada Rice Fettucine)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup vegetable stock
1 cup cream (or cream substitute such as Silk Soy Creamer)
1 bunch asparagus, cut in 2-inch slices
1 cup shelled green peas (or thawed frozen peas)
1 lemon, zested and juiced (can also use lime or a combination of lime and lemon)
¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (omit if Vegan)
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Preparation:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to directions. While the pasta is cooking prepare the sauce.
Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the stock, cream, lemon zest and bring to boil. Add the vegetables and cook until the asparagus is tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Turn off heat.
Drain the pasta and add back to the pot. Pour in the sauce and mix to coat the pasta. Add the lemon juice, basil, mint, Parmesan (if using), salt and pepper. Toss again and serve immediately.
Ongoing Events
Kirtan and Bhagavad-gita class:
Fridays 7-8:30pm
Meditation Classes:
Wednesdays 7-8:30 pm
Thursdays 5:30-7 pm
Saturdays 3:30-5 pm
Sundays 11-12:30 pm
All programs free of charge
Yoga Asana
Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)
In honor of Earth Day, take your practice outside and energize your body with a series of Sun Salutations!
Benefits: Increases circulation, oxygenates the whole body, warms the muscles, releases stiffness from joints, increases flexibility in the spine, increases fitness, health and tones and strengthens the back, abdominals, legs and arms.
Cautions: High blood pressure, shoulder problems, lower back problems
How To:
Note: Become familiar with the sequence of poses before you worry about adding the breath.
Stand in Mountain Pose with your feet hip distance apart and hands in prayer position at the heart.
Breathe in and raise your arms above your head to lengthen the whole spine into a gentle back bend (Standing Back Arch).
Exhale and roll down into a Forward Fold.
Inhale as you jump or step back and exhale into a Downward Dog. Reach out into your finger tips, lengthen and strengthen your arms, back and legs.
Inhale as you lower your whole body down into a Bent Arm Plank Pose. Hold for the exhale.
As you inhale lift into a Cobra Pose or Upward Dog Pose. Keep your back soft by engaging your abdominals and keep your shoulders away from the ears.
Exhale into the Downward Dog.
Inhale as you step forward and exhale to the Forward Fold.
Unroll and inhale into a Standing Back Arch.
Exhale as you come back to Mountain Pose with hands at the heart.
It is recommended to repeat this sequence up to 12 times at your own pace. There are many variations to the basic Sun
Salute that can make the sequence easier or more challenging.
Gem of Wisdom
"Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside for his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong."
~Sri Isopanishad Mantra 1
New Student Special!
14 Days for $14
(pay $14 at your first class then come to as many classes as you like within the following 14 day period)
New student introductory special valid at Lotus Garden Meditation Center for first time students, includes Yoga asanas and Tai Chi.
Namaste Friends,
In the Vedic texts, Mother Earth is described as being like a Mother Cow. The cow symbolizes the qualities of goodness: giving, simplicity, innocence and so on. In so many ways we are milking the earth; The farmer is milking the soil, the miner and the logger are milking the land, and the earth is like one big mother cow, peacefully giving. Unfortunately, In today's world, we find a great deal of unnecessary exploitation of the earth: forests being destroyed, air and water being polluted, topsoil diminishing. 
What is the root cause of our exploitation of Mother Earth and how can we stop this destructive cycle? The answer can be found in the wisdom of yoga and meditation. This ancient knowledge tells us that we are spiritual beings, parts and parcels of the Supreme Being. We are not our material bodies and therefore, the things of this world can never satisfy us. We need spiritual food and a connection to the Supreme to truly satisfy us. Without this understanding, we end up constantly trying to fulfill our spiritual needs by pursuing our endless material desires, which points to the basic problem: Infinite desires for finite resources. 
Through the practice of yoga and meditation we learn to direct our search for satisfaction not to the external things of this world, but internally, in a relationship with the Supreme. This is the true meaning of yoga. As we develop true inner satisfaction, our habits of unnecessary consumption will decrease. As a result, the exploitation of the planets' resources is lessened and Mother Earth is given true relief.
Each year on April, 22nd many people come together to celebrate Earth Day - a day where we move our attention away from our own lives, our families, our work, our daily challenges, to a wider, more global view - our community, our society, our nation, our planet. 
For a list of what produce is in season: 
Cook Time: 10 minutes
"Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside for his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong." 