TRUTH AND BEAUTY

Namaste Last Sunday saw the final Mini Yoga Retreat for the year. Every retreat I give a little talk on applying the spiritual side of yoga in our daily lives. This month I read out the article which is featuring in the ASMY November newsletter and elaborated on it a little. It’s such a nice article I thought I would publish it here. And if you don’t already receive our newsletter you can contact us and we’ll send it out to you. Then every month you will have to opportunity to read an enlightening article like the one below, try out a tasty vegetarian recipe, learn a yoga pose and read an interesting article about the benefits of yoga asanas.




Twilight. The crimson sun dipped toward the horizon, bathing the sky glowing saffron. The silvery ocean reflected the blaze of colour, tropical flowers perfumed the air and delicately winged bats darted through the gathering dusk. Magic! We are naturally attracted to beauty but the beauty of this world does not last. With the passing of time, the blooming rose shrivels, the radiant sunset dims, fades and is gone. We can’t hold on to beauty because it is not permanent. The beauty of this world is not only temporary, it is also superficial. The bodily beauty that attracts the eye is only skin deep. We may become enamoured by a pretty face, but because it is not lasting or totally satisfying, we become frustrated. Real beauty exists. Our longing and search for beauty need not end in frustration. We can find and relish real beauty. We simply need to know where to find it. Everything beautiful in this world is but a tiny reflection of the beauty of the Supreme. We are attracted to beauty because we are a small part of the all beautiful Absolute Whole. Our bodies may be ugly or old, but they are only an external garment covering our true self. We, the living force, are by nature eternally beautiful and it is this inner beauty that shines through our eyes, our thoughts, our words and our actions. Our yoga practice is not just to keep our bodies healthy, but also to develop and nurture our inner beauty. We need to develop the spiritual vision to see and appreciate this transcendental phenomenon. We need to become self realised to perceive our real nature and the all-attractive nature of the Supreme. This will give us real and lasting satisfaction. The most valuable gift yoga has to offer is meditation on transcendental sound vibrations or mantras. Mantras are no ordinary sound vibrations; they are spiritual in essence so they are inherently attractive to the spiritual soul and have the effect of awakening one’s dormant spiritual consciousness and opening one’s eyes to real spiritual beauty. We experience joy in the beauty of a lovely face or a scenic view but it’s impossible to imagine the boundless happiness for those who perceive the very source of beauty. The wise and determined seek the most beautiful, the reservoir of all beauty and their search is never frustrated. Such wise men live in this world relishing the eternal pleasures and beauty of a different world. “Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendour.” Sri Krishna,Bhagavad-gita Namaste Margaret

Another successful Clean Up Australia Day!

In the mid morning sun we gathered to contribute our part in keeping our beautiful country clean and green. On behalf of Clean Up Australia and the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga I would like to thank all the volunteers who gave up their Sunday morning to lend a helping hand.

I remember back to when I did my first Clean Up Australia Day, when I was 7, around the Tallebudgera Creek. This year I was fortunate enough to be supervising the Nobby Beach Clean Up Site. Having only registered the site 2 weeks ago I honestly thought that I would be one of only a few people at our site. I was over the moon when people kept on rolling up to help out. With 23 online registrations and 23 registrations on the day, I was very excited to see everyone’s community spirit.

We cleaned along the Nobby/Miami Beach foreshore and coast, Lions Head Park and the bushland edging on Miami State High School. In total we collected 3 ½ wheelie bins full of rubbish. Our most interesting and unique finds that I thought would be worth sharing with you were; a Buddha with only half a head, a one wheeled pink girls bicycle (later on we found the other wheel) and a wheelless skateboard. The amount of empty bottles, cans and cigarette butts that we found was a shock to everyone. Members of the public joined in helping us to pick up rubbish as they saw us passing by with our Clean Up Australia Day bags.

After all the hard work and heat we headed back to the studio and had some much needed refreshments. Everyone received a certificate of appreciation from Clean Up Australia for their participation. All in all in was a very successful morning and yes, this little part of Australia is a little cleaner because of it! Why not try to make everyday a Clean Up Australia Day? It doesn’t take much effort to pick up some litter when you see it, or at the least put your own rubbish in the bin.

Here's to keeping Australia clean and green!

Amara

Discover Meditation Courses

The year has flown by and there are only three more Discover Meditation courses left to run in 2008. Time seems to be flying by far too quickly, so make sure you mark the dates in your diary early as Christmas is just around the corner and social calendars will be booking up. At this time of year, people really need meditation and relaxation in their lives as it is a very stressful time of the year and extremely busy for most of us.

Meditation calms the mind, nourishes us spiritually and gives us inner resources to deal with the busy-ness of life. Unfortunately if we don’t make the time to meditate a priority in our lives, time will pass us by, and before we know it, another year is over and we still haven’t put any time aside to meditate and relax. People who make the effort to maintain a regular meditation practice right through the Christmas period always comment on how much more relaxed they felt and how much better they were able to cope with the stresses of life.

Mark these dates in your diary and make meditation a priority in your life:

Mermaid Beach
10.30am Wednesday 3rd and 10th December
7.30pm Thursday 4th and 11th December

Nerang
11.45am Friday 12th and 19th December

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance.
Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back,
and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”
Buddha

Words of Wisdom

The yoga tradition is a holistic and balanced approach to living. Especially in the western world when we think of “yoga” or someone that is good at “yoga” we think of a person who is flexible like a gymnast. The yoga lifestyle encompasses much more than flexibility. The ancient science perfectly combines strength, stamina and flexibility with a tranquil mind and inner peacefulness. Very simply yoga can be broken into three areas, each complementing the other; meditation, breathing techniques and yoga asanas (exercises). A healthy, balanced diet, hygiene, cleanliness, simplicity and higher thinking are also important elements.

Here are some of my favourite quotes that represent the concept of simple living and higher thinking:

Insights from Jesus

(from the Holy Bible)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Insights from Buddha

Better than a hundred years of ignorance is one day spent in reflection. Better than a hundred years of idleness is one day spent in determination. Better to live one day wondering how all things arise and pass away. Better to live one hour seeing than one whole life beyond the way. It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell.

Insights from India

There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

The petty mind thinks, ‘This is mine. That’s for others.’ Whereas men of noble thought consider the whole world as one family.

Chanakya

Insights from China

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

Lao Tzu

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

Lao Tzu

Insights from Western Philosophers

The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different. Hippocrates

Until mankind can extend the circle of his compassion to include all living things, he will never, himself, know peace.

Albert Schweitzer

Enjoy this food for thought. To read more check out our website or stay posted for more to come.

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

For the early birds

This week sees our outdoor Energy Yoga classes shift to a bright and early 5:30am start. Previously this class had been running from 6:30 – 7:30am. Now that we are heading into the summer months, you can take advantage of those extra hours of sunlight by adding an Australian School of Meditation and Yoga Energy Yoga class to your weekly list of things to do. We know that it does sound early, but keep in mind that the sun rises at 4:15am in summer. It is so refreshing to exercise when the day is still cool and tranquil. According to the science of yoga, the early morning hours are the most conducive for meditation and yoga because the atmosphere is clear and peaceful. The air is fresh and full of natural energy called prana or chi (in the Chinese tradition) and by rising early, we absorb the full benefits and feel lighter and more energetic than if we had slept in. As the old saying goes, “Early to bed, early rise…”

Some Inspiration From The Ancient Yoga Texts:

“What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.”
Bhagavad Gita

Hopefully, we don’t loose anyone due to the earlier start and possibly gain many more of you who have to squeeze your workouts in before you rush off to work early.

I’ll see you if you come along to an Energy Yoga class at Labrador or you’ll see another of our yoga teachers, Mrna, if you get along to the class at Miami.

Namaste yogis,

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Thank you to all the Yoga Aid Challengers!

(TEAM ASMY @ The Yoga Aid Challenge)

1000 people gathered across Australia to salute for charity

The Gold Coast Yoga Community united on Wednesday 22 October for the 2nd Annual Yoga Aid Challenge. The registration desk opened at 5:30am at Queen Elizabeth Park in Coolangatta for yoga enthusiasts of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life to join together to raise money for charity and promote yoga. We had over 80 people at the Gold Coast event saluting to the sun. Our challenge was to complete 108 salutes in two hours, and I am proud to announce that we did it! With the help of 9 yoga teachers from Gold Coast studios and gyms, participants got a taste of traditional and varied salutes along the way. A big thank you to Mrna, Andrew, Margaret and Candace (all the way from the Brisbane studio), teachers from the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga that volunteered their time, effort and encouragement not only on the day but along the way as well.


Leading up to the event I was busy encouraging and enthusing others to join the challenge and then days before the event it dawned on me what I had gotten myself into. 108 salutes, I was thinking to myself – that is a lot. Much to my surprise the actual salutes were not that difficult. With a one minute break between each set of ten and a half time break we saw ourselves slide over the 108 line at about 8:30am.

From all the teachers at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga I would like to say a huge thank you to the fantastic effort from all the team members involved. We had 33 team members saluting on the day and fundraising for the event - the second largest team in Australia! We raised $1500 for Save The Children Australia. They work with children at risk, to help them reach their potential through education, health and child protection programs in Australia and around the world. The total amount raised in Australia so far for charity is $130, 643!

What a great effort everyone! We hope to make the event even bigger and better next year.

Please make a note in your diaries for next years challenge – Wednesday 25 November 2009. It is truly a great opportunity to use your love of yoga to give back to the community.

Thanks again everyone!

Namaste

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Inspiring Words

Truth is recognized wherever it is found, in all languages and all cultures. Here are a selection of our favourite insights from cultures and saints around the world – all concise and eloquently spoken. Keep checking because we’ll add more as we come across them.

People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.
St. Augustine


Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Namaste,

Amara

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

Yoga Aid Challenge – Only eight sleeps!

The Australian School of Meditation and Yoga is striving to raise money for children in need. On Wednesday 22 of October, only 8 sleeps away, hundreds will be doing yoga around Australia to raise money for different charity events. The Yoga Aid Challenge was developed so that the yoga community can give something back through their love of yoga. It is a way to facilitate the giving for living concept. An integral aspect of the traditional yoga system is non-greed, non violence and introspection.

I would like to share with you some truths from different cultures and saints around the world:

There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

The petty mind thinks, ‘This is mine. That’s for others.’ Whereas men of noble thought consider the whole world as one family.

Chanakya

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

Lao Tzu

To be without a friend is to be poor indeed.

Swahili

It is no longer good enough to cry peace, we must act peace, live peace and live in peace.

Shenandoah

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

Lao Tzu

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

Lao Tzu

He who really wants to do something finds a way; he who doesn’t finds an excuse.

Confucius

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Confucius

When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.

Arapaho

For information on how you, your friends and family can support the Yoga Aid Challenge click here.

Yoga practitioners use the Sanskrit word ‘namaste’ as a greeting. Namaste is a yoga greeting of respect.

Namaste,

Amara

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga

http://blogactionday.org/js/b7a411cd58490e9b8703910beeb10aeea8ab28f5

Inspiring Words

Truth is recognized wherever it is found, in all languages and all cultures. Here is a selection of my favourite insights from cultures and saints around the world – all concise and eloquently spoken. Keep checking because I’ll add more as I come across them.

Better than a hundred years of ignorance is one day spent in reflection. Better than a hundred years of idleness is one day spent in determination. Better to live one day wondering how all things arise and pass away. Better to live one hour seeing than one whole life beyond the way. It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell.

- Buddha

For he who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.

- Bhagavad-Gita

A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul as well as his enemy.

- Bhagavad-Gita

Namaste

Amara

Instructor

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga