June 2018

Meditation & Yoga Center:
CSE south county meditation center

Blue Lotus

6-24-2018

Yoga - The True Nature of Spirit

Paula Whang-Ramos

"The thoughts of most persons are restless and capricious; a manifest need exists for yoga: the science of mind control...
Yoga is a method for restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts, which otherwise impartially prevents all men
of all lands from glimpsing their true nature of Spirit."
~ Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, Chapter 24

Yoga is much more than exercising the body and the mind, because the ultimate goal of Yoga is not to have a relaxed body or a calm mind. These are lovely qualities that naturally arise on the way to realizing the goal of Yoga. The goal of yoga is to live in the essential peace, love and wholeness of Spirit that is within and around us, all the time - even when we forget Its presence in our lives. The practice of yoga is the daily application of ancient, time-tested techniques to help us quiet the body and mind, so we can directly remember and return, again and again, into the Source of peace, the presence of unconditional love, and the power of wholeness in our lives, right now.

This week at CSE and BLC, we are blessed with several opportunities to experience the ancient practice of Yoga - the sacred remembrance of life in our essential Wholeness. Let yourself dive deeply within this week, and attend as many gatherings as you are able. Be immersed in these opportunities to experience your true Self. Study, meditate, and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

6-17-2018

Accessing Our Intuition

Paula Whang-Ramos

“Intuition is soul guidance, appearing naturally in man during those instances when his mind is calm.”
~ Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi , Ch. 15

We may be surprised to know that we are all intuitive! Ancient yogic teachings tell us that we all have within us the same divine wisdom that flows through the wisest beings we know. We all have within us the same inner knowing of those who are "psychic". This divine wisdom is innate to our soul, in the core of our being. It is not diminished or compromised by changes in our lives or our minds. The daily practice of sitting meditation helps us calm the distracted, busy mind, so we can hear the still small voice within that is intuitive wisdom guiding us back into the peace, love and wholeness that we yearn for and deserve to live in this lifetime.

Join us at Blue Lotus Center. Study, meditate, and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

6-10-2018

The Light That Dispels the Darkness

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Human life is beset with sorrow until we know how to tune in with the Divine Will...
Outward longings drive us from the Eden within; they offer false pleasures that only impersonate soul happiness.

The lost paradise is quickly regained through divine meditation."
~ Swami Sri Yukteswar (Autobiography of a Yogi,1969, p. 155)

Swami Sri Yukteswar was Paramahansa Yogananda's Guru - the light that dispels the darkness. Imagine having a spiritual relationship with an enlightened One who vows to journey with us, not for this lifetime but for eternity, into the realization of our innate spiritual wholeness and intimate experience in God/Spirit. Imagine having a blessed, wise being who inspires, guides and even challenges us to grow into our highest wholeness/holiness, even through our own perceived moments of brokenness. Imagine having a living example of divine grace, peace, love and joy, who spiritually walks through the blessings and curves of daily life. Such is the sacred relationship of the Guru and disciple in this tradition of Kriya Yoga.

Join us this Wednesday as we listen into heart opening stories of love, wisdom and devotion revealed in this spiritual relationship between Paramahansa Yogananda and his Guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar. Receive the blessing of inspiration and insight in this week's readings from Autobiography of a Yogi. Sit at the spiritual feet of these beloved Gurus and remember how to tune into Divine Will that flows through us all. Study, meditate, and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

6-3-2018

Insist on Joy!

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Aim high. Don’t get distracted. Insist on joy."

~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

We all want more joy in our lives, right? And yet it seems so easy to get distracted by stress, fear, overwhelm and frustration. Some could say that this is due to our environment - we live in a culture of stress, fear, overwhelm and frustration. It's simply the status quo collective consciousness of our society. Others could say that it is due to the innate neurology of a little part of our brain called the amygdala - where fear and anger automatically react to protect us from perceived threats of danger.

Regardless of the factors that contribute to our distraction away from living joy filled lives, we all still have within us the divine power to let joy lead, inspire, and overflow in our lives. Our daily meditation practice opens us into the direct experience of unshakable peace and joy that is not affected by the nature-nurture debate. When we aim high and commit to a daily practice of meditation, we can greatly contribute to the rich, fulfilling lives we all deserve - in this lifetime!

Join us at Blue Lotus Center. Study, meditate, and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.