Beggar's Bowl

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Meditation to Conquer Self-animosity

So, we begin another 40 day journey. This time to conquer our self-animosity. Usually it comes in the form of fear, doubt, or negative self talk, that will usually convince us out of something that we know is good for us...like participation in this healing collective : )

Here are Yogi Bhajan's notes on the meditation:

There are no enemies. There are challenges to our creativity. The greatest enemy is the self. Self-defeating activity and self-animosity occur when we do not accept ourselves. We instinctively reject self-confirmed continuity. We will oppose our own success and accomplishment just to break with steadiness. That break is the assertion of the ego: an attempt at marking and possessing something in Time and Space. This self-animosity distracts us from the real gift of human life: the capacity to confront and experience the self in relationship to the Unknown Infinity of our Self.

The meditation consists of mudra (hand position) and pranayam (breath work).

Begin by sitting in easy pose with your legs crossed. 



Rub hands together, cross thumbs (left over right if female, right over left if male). Press thumbs against your sternum. Eyes are rolled in and up towards your third-eyebrow point. 
Inhale and exhale three times to center yourself.

Deep inhale, chant on two breaths...ONG NA MO GURU DEV NA MO (I bow to the Divine Teacher within or I bow to the Divine Wisdom within). Chant ONG NA MO on one breath til your air runs out, then sip in air through a puckered mouth and chant GURU DEV NA MO on one breath til you run out of air.

Repeat two more times.

Bring hands into fists, palms facing each other, with the thumbs pointing up towards sky.


Hands are in front of your heart center

The eye focus is on the the tip of the nose.

The breath is...inhale through the nose exhale through the mouth...inhale through the mouth exhale though the nose. Continuing this alternating between nose and mouth for 11 minutes.

Because there is no mantra, it may be difficult to focus and the mind may begin to race with disjointed thoughts. Just return to listening to the rhythm of your breath. Breath deeply enough for yourself to hear. Be aware of your thoughts, but try not to be taken by them and return your focus to the breath. 

After 11 minutes, reach your hands above your head towards the sky, inhale hold onto the breath, then exhale. Repeat this 3 more times.


Rub your hands together and return to prayer pose. 

Recite the Warrior Healer's Affirmations to finish.
Chant 3 long Sat Nam/s (Truth is my identity) on one breath.

Bring your hands in prayer pose up to your third eye and bow bringing your forehead to the floor. This seals the karmic work in your sub-consious to your conscious mind.


Don't forget to drop your donation in the virtual beggars bowl at the top of this page. ($15 minimum). 


"The student that arrives empty handed, leaves empty handed"
-Yogi Bhajan

Thank for your contribution.


SAT NAM!!!!



Saturday, July 3, 2010

*SHINE*


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? 
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. 
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-Marianne Williamson