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Understanding the Difference Between Joy and Happiness
Have you ever thought about the difference between joy and happiness, or do you consider them the same thing? I hadn’t really reflected on it until I was in my late 30s, battling chronic migraine. Years of failed treatments, terrible side effects from medications, constant pain, nausea, and exhaustion left me feeling hopeless and angry. I was spiraling deeper into depression, struggling to see a way out. During one particularly tough time, we decided to visit my in-laws’ cabin in upstate New York. Despite feeling ill, I was determined to make the best of it for my kids. The night we arrived, I sat on the porch and prayed—really prayed,…
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Beyond the Material: Practicing Asteya in Modern Life
Asteya, or non-stealing, is a concept that’s been emphasized throughout ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas, Yoga Sutras, and the Upanishads. Gandhi even considered it so vital that he made it one of his 11 vows. But here’s the thing—Asteya goes far beyond simply not taking material possessions (we all know that’s a bad idea!). It runs much deeper and shows up in subtle, often unnoticed ways if we aren’t living a mindful, examined life. The Root Cause of Stealing At its core, stealing in any form arises from feelings of lack, of wanting, which leads to suffering. On the surface, someone might steal a loaf of bread because…
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YIIT – Think Power Yoga
by Tracy Zuber-Kerr Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck—trapped in the monotony of daily life, unsure of which direction to take or how to spark change? It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the noise in our minds, drowning out that quiet yet powerful inner voice that holds the key to our growth and transformation. Sometimes, all we need is a fresh perspective or a new approach to shake off that feeling of stagnation. Enter the idea of a new fitness class: it’s not just about moving your body; it’s about awakening that inner voice and reconnecting with your true self. A class can serve as a portal to rediscovering…
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Autumnal Thoughts
As Autumn has arrived for her stay with us in preparation of the long cold nights of winter. We know this time of year is not only of harvest – The harvesting of the abundance of fruits of labor and storage of that abundance for preparation of those long cold nights of Winter — But it is also a time of release. We witness the trees shedding their offspring of leaves born just months ago for preparation of new growth to be re-born in the Spring. If we were to take this birth-live-release-rest cycle of life to our inner world —- from the gross (material) world to the subtle world…
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Embracing Loving Kindness: Reflecting on Our Journey + Introducing Vipassana Meditation
Reflecting on Loving Kindness Meditation Over the past eight weeks, we’ve embarked on a beautiful journey together, exploring the practice of Loving Kindness (Metta) meditation. This practice has guided us to cultivate a deeper sense of compassion, empathy, and unconditional love, not only for ourselves but also for others. It’s been heartwarming to witness the transformation and growth within our community as we collectively open our hearts. Let’s review Metta before we head into our next technique – Vipassana meditation. Benefits of Loving Kindness Meditation The benefits of Loving Kindness meditation are profound and far-reaching. Many of you have shared your experiences, highlighting the following: Buddhist Teachings on the Benefits…
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The Inner Journey of Meditation – A Meditation Retreat
by Jeff Carreira Join us for BPY’s First in-studio Retreat, December 16th + December 17th Somewhere between 2000 and 2500 years ago, 195 [or 196, depending on the version you are reading] short phrases (sutras) were gathered together into a book by the great Indian sage known as Patanjali. The book is called The Yoga Sutras and describes the philosophy and practices of what is commonly known as yoga today. As I said, the yoga sutras are short phrases, not even complete sentences. They were written in this form to contain as much wisdom as possible in the smallest number of words. This was typical in oral traditions, where information…
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Discovering Your Dharma
A Journey of Purpose and Fulfillment In the vast tapestry of life, each individual possesses a unique purpose and calling, known as their dharma. Derived from the ancient wisdom of Hindu philosophy, the concept of dharma offers guidance to seekers in understanding their inherent duties and roles in the world. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred scripture revered by millions, provides profound insights into the nature of dharma and its significance in leading a fulfilling and meaningful life. This essay briefly explores the essence of dharma and its relevance in our modern existence, supported by poignant quotes from the Bhagavad Gita. Discovering and living in alignment with our dharma is an…
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Digging Deeper – What is Kundalini?
Kundalini is an ancient Sanskrit word that literally means “coiled snake.” In early Eastern religion (long before Buddhism and Hinduism) it was believed that each individual possessed a divine energy at the base of the spine. This is offen depicted as a serpent coiled up at the base of the spine. This serpent guards the entrance of sushumna nadi, the central energy channel of our bodies, keeping prana energy (our basic life force energy) from entering and ascending up through the center of the spine through the seven chakras. The exact origin of Kundalini Yoga is unknown, but the earliest known mention dates to the sacred Vedic collection of writings known…
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Have you heard about Earthing?
Did you know that the earth emits a natural energy that promotes vibrant health amongst us humans when direct skin-to-soil contact {Earthing} is made? Yup, and there is extensive research on it too. Because of our modern way of living, we don’t get this direct raw earthly connection like we used to. We wear shoes (or at least most of us do) and we don’t sleep on the ground for the most part. Scientists are now figuring out that this person-to-planet disconnect is directly correlated to a handful of common health issues, including insomnia, fatigue, depression, chronic pain, and problematic blood pressure. [Check out this YouTube video on Earthing] We…
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BPY’s 5 Minute Meditation Challenge
What if we spent our days in isolation from one another finding a way to connect more? We’ve heard a lot of reasons why people avoid a meditation practice. One of them being the lack of time. Well, one of the bright sides of this quarantine for a lot of us is – a whole heck of a lot of time we never have been able to tap into before. And if you are finding yourself saying you are even busier than before, right now is probably a very good time for you to find a way to take a timeout and get out of fight or flight mode. Listen,…
