June 26, 2022

Live Simply

Paula Whang-Ramos

“Live simply by recognizing what is most important each day."
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration

In March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, Yogacharya O'Brian encouraged us to "Keep it simple. Live simply". As we re-enter life outside our homes, Yogacharya's timeless wisdom is still useful.

Over the past 2+ years, I have learned how much I do not need in order to live a peaceful, happy, grateful life. I don't need to travel as much as I thought I did. I don't need all the clothes and accessories that I used to desire. I don't need to participate in habitual routines that have lost their beneficial function in my life. And, as much as I used to like to eat out, I do not miss it as I thought I would.

Now, our family adventures are evening walks through our lovely neighborhood, visiting neighbors, and admiring the moon. I have come to appreciate some really comfy clothes that I already own. As I let go of routines that I valued, life continued on in simpler ways. And now that I eat at home more often, my diet is much healthier.

I am not trying to minimize all we lost from COVID. We lost a lot. I am just offering this contemplation ... From all that was taken, is it possible that we might have also been given an opportunity to appreciate a simpler, more intentional, less distracted way of living? If we stop seeking a past lifestyle that no longer exists, could we be willing to live into the divine possibilities before us right now? And if we tried living more simply now, perhaps we could experience the gifts that this new way of living could offer?

Join us at Blue Lotus Center. Experience a time of meditation and spiritual contemplation. Study, meditate and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wisdom. Contribute to the realization of peace in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

June 19, 2022

Cultivate Uplifting Qualities

Paula Whang-Ramos

“If we want to live in peace and in joy we must be committed to it. This requires vigilant attention to our state of mind

and the willingness to use our soul-inspired wisdom to redirect our thoughts from negativity to thoughts that are uplifting.”
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration 10/19/2011

With all that is going on in our nation and our world, I notice how easily my mind can drift toward unconstructive thoughts. The good news is that every time that happens, it provides an opportunity to practice intentionally stopping, realizing this reaction, and choosing a different way of consciously responding instead.

I like the Yogic practice known as “Cultivating the opposite”. Instead of our usual reaction to a situation, we cultivate the opposite, more useful quality. When we experience judgment (ours or someone else’s), we cultivate tolerance. In the face of hatred, we cultivate love. In the face of violence, we cultivate peace within ourselves.

Initially, we will likely not cultivate these qualities consistently. But we cultivate these opposite qualities to the best of our ability. And we remain patient and steadfast in our commitment to do so, again and again. The more we repeat this practice of cultivating the opposite, the more easily these uplifting qualities will arise from within us over time. Yes, this can be challenging at times. But the benefit to ourselves, those around us and all life is worth the effort.

June 12, 2022

A Timeless Holy Presence
Paula Whang-Ramos

"A divine plan is now unfolding in a world struggling to awaken to its wholeness.
Let us step into this time as spiritual pilgrims with eyes, heart, and soul alert to the holy presence around and within us."
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration 01/06/2022

As spiritual travelers, when we follow the mind into the worries of the world, we may begin to feel powerless about how we could skillfully respond to what we see. Just because we feel powerless, does not mean that we are, because, in Yoga, the mind is not the source of our power. In yoga, the eternal, timeless Source of power and wisdom is always present within and around us, even when the mind fails to notice or understand IT. What does this mean?

It means that we are not powerless. It means that we can use our presence as an offering to help our struggling minds and world awaken into the divine Wholeness within and around us right now. It means that our thoughts, words, and actions have the power to cultivate peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, and compassion for ourselves and each other. And that each time we offer our presence in this way, in even the smallest of actions, we help support an awakening world.

These times of great change and unrest provide many opportunities for us to practice listening and living into the divine Wholeness and peace that is available within us all, just beneath the noise in the mind. Even done imperfectly, the choice to embody peace, love, and wholeness to the best of our ability, is more healing than the choice to not try at all. In compassion and patience, will you join me and allow yourself to actively participate in this divine plan?

Join us at Blue Lotus Center. Experience a time of meditation and spiritual contemplation. Study, meditate and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wisdom. Contribute to the realization of peace in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

June 6, 2022

Finding Grace Beneath The Grit

Paula Whang-Ramos

“When we live with faith in a vision, we are inspired toward actions that support it.
We become aware of opportunities that otherwise may go unnoticed.“
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, CSE Daily Inspiration 06/02/2022

With all that is going on in the world, the nation, and our lives, we may begin to believe that what we see and experience with our body/minds is the only option before us. It can take so much energy to complete what used to be simple choices and friendly discussions. And, if we maintain this view of our lives, we may continue to be challenged with daily decisions that can overwhelm us.

In spiritual practice, we realize we have a different choice. Instead of defining our lives based solely on our earthly experiences, we can use these experiences as opportunities to deepen our inner vision in faith. Now, I don't mean blind faith. And, I am not referring to the ego's attempt to hijack faith by narrowing our vision to a checklist of criteria that must be met for our faith to be validated.

The faith to which I am referring is an intentional, wisdom-guided choice to open into the supportive presence of Divine Grace amidst our current daily blessings and blunders. If we offer patience and courage to broaden our vision, we can directly experience how Grace is at work in our lives right now.

I invite you to join me at CSE on-site and online this morning at 10am PT. We will explore wisdom teachings from the East and the West, and the inspiration they provide to live in Grace amidst the daily grit of our lives.

Blue Lotus

Inspirational Messages

Meditation & Yoga Center:

CSE south county meditation center

“If anything disturbs your peace, practice having faith that divine grace is already actively at work restoring wholeness and well-being.

Then make any necessary adjustments in harmony with that insight.”
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian, Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment