Inspirational Messages

September 29, 2019

Celebrating Lahiri Mahasaya

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Meditation establishes inner equilibrium. It restores harmony within the nervous system, clarifies the mind, increases the will power and
inspires constructive emotions...Subjective serenity, self-confidence and fearlessness are inevitable fruits of meditation."
~ Lahiri Mahasaya,
Sayings of Shyamacharan Lahiri, 1964, p.29

This is a very special time in our teaching tradition of Kriya Yoga, as we remember Lahiri Mahasaya, one of our beloved Teachers. Lahiri was born on September 30, 1828, and he made his conscious transition on September 26, 1895. Lahiri is known as the Father of Kriya Yoga because he had the courage to ask his teacher, Babaji, if Kriya Yoga could be shared with sincere seekers from all backgrounds. And, when Babaji said "Yes", then Lahiri freely taught Kriya Yoga to students from all social, economic, religious backgrounds, including women. If Lahiri had not asked this question of his teacher, then it is possible that CSE and all of its affiliate meditation groups/centers lead by women, may not exist today!

As I hold Lahiri in my heart, I bow to his generous long vision to create and hold space for all the spiritual seekers that he would never personally meet, like all of us at CSE, BLC, and all the affiliate groups/centers. I also admire Lahiri's selflessness to hear and to ask courageous questions for the freedom, peace, and benefit of all beings. The impact of this one man's work in the 19th century continues to bless thousands of lives around the world today as a living testament of the timeless, boundless, eternal Oneness that enlivens and joins us all.

Meditate superconsciously with us at Blue Lotus Center. Awaken, study, and be inspired in a meditative community committed to reclaim and to live from the spiritual integrity and wholeness that we all are. 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.

September 22, 2019

Yoga And The Power To Choose

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Arjuna continues to speak: My limbs grow limp, my mouth becomes dry, my body trembles, and my hair stands on end."
~Bhagavad Gita 1:29

Yikes! If you have ever felt very anxious or scared, then you may be able to relate to Arjuna. It is so difficult to experience our inner joy, wisdom, and peace when we are overwhelmed by a circumstance and our reactions to it. Like Arjuna, we can get so involved in our emotions that we forget that we have the power to choose a different way to respond. How can we learn to live free from this suffering?

Join us this Thursday for Living in Freedom, as we explore the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and Arjuna’s inner journey from suffering into the inner peace, clarity, and courage that we all seek in this lifetime. Learn how this ancient text on yoga and meditation can help us awaken into our essential spiritual intelligence and the freedom that a life lived from this wisdom can offer to us all. Bring an inspirational quote from your Gita study to share with the group. New and experienced students of the Gita are welcome.

Meditate superconsciously with us at Blue Lotus Center. Awaken, study, and be inspired in a meditative community committed to reclaim and to live from the spiritual integrity and wholeness that we all are. 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.

September 15, 2019

Thrive With Meditation

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Spiritual maturity rests on understanding that our experiences of joy or sorrow are of our own making."
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace OBrian, 11/20/2016

In my younger days, I recall how I would attribute my emotional well-being to external circumstances and other people. If events and people behaved as I wanted, then I was happy. If they did not, then I was unhappy. This reactive way of living was like being on a roller coaster ride whose upcoming twists and turns were unpredictable and uncontrollable by me.

On the yogic path of returning to the essential divine creative power and presence that indwells us all, we learn that no other person, situation or deity is responsible for our well-being. We are. Consciously or unconsciously, we use the divine power of creativity that flows through us to energize our thoughts, words and actions. When these personal expressions are inherently negative, fear or anger based, or selfish, then those lenses distort and draw to us those experiences.

When we look at the same situation through the heart of unconditional peace, unchanging wholeness, and eternal love, then we can realize a totally different experience. How do we learn to repeatedly remove the lens of limitation and open into the heart's boundless vision of possibility? We meditate! Meditation practice helps us mature spiritually into the thriving lives of joy, peace and abundance that we all yearn for and deserve.

Meditate superconsciously with us at Blue Lotus Center. Awaken, study, and be inspired in a meditative community committed to reclaim and to live from the spiritual integrity and wholeness that we all are. 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.

September 8, 2019

Finding The True Self Through Meditation

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Meditation is a radical form of Self-acceptance; it arranges our meeting with the true Self—the most important meeting we can have. Don’t miss it."

~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian 10/30/2018

In the 1980s when I began meditating, meditation was not part of mainstream Western culture. Today, there is an abundance of research, books, web sites, and on-line teachers sharing the value and practice of meditation. It is inspiring to witness the evolution of cultural consciousness.

And yet, when I sit with new meditators who are having difficulty meditating, I sometimes find that what they are doing is not really the ancient, time-tested practice of meditation. Their practice often contains elements of the ancient practice, and a sense of relaxation. However, they are unable to reliably quiet the mind and rest in the unshakable peace of the True Self that is uncompromised by changes in the mind, circumstances, and our reactions to them.

If you can relate to this experience, then join us today at CSE for the special opportunity to receive teachings directly from Yogacharya O'Brian, including inspiration from The Bhagavad Gita, an ancient manual on meditation and meditative living. Also, join us at BLC this Wednesday, as we meditate, and continue our study of the Gita, into the freedom that a meditative life offers us all. If you are new or returning to your meditation practice, join us at BLC this Thursday for a free "Learn to Meditate" class. For the well-being of ourselves and all life consciously choose to step into the transforming power of meditation today.

Meditate superconsciously with us at Blue Lotus Center. Awaken, study, and be inspired in a meditative community committed to reclaim and to live from the spiritual integrity and wholeness that we all are. 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.

September 1, 2019

Living in the Source of Life

Paula Whang-Ramos

"There is a mighty transforming power at work in our lives and our world, and its call to new life is victorious.
Fear and negativity are no match for divine love."
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian

Amidst our reactions to the noise and activity of our daily lives, it can be easy to forget that there is a deeper, more inspiring, more healing way to live in the world. Beneath the fear and negativity of the mind, is the quiet, wise, loving presence of the Source of Life that waits to be remembered by us. This Source of creation has outlived every change, loss, and difficult emotional reaction in the history of humanity. It remains ever-present within and around us, even when we forget that we live within It. And, when we learn to consciously live from this unconditionally loving Presence, then our lives, and all life, can change for the better.

We are blessed with 4 opportunities to be supported in lives victoriously lived free from fear.

09/08/19 - Save the date next Sunday afternoon for the special opportunity to receive Bhagavad Gita teachings from Yogacharya O'Brian. The Gita reveals how we can make inner course corrections away from lives lived in fear and negativity, and into lives nourished, guided and overflowing in Divine Love.
09/04/19 - Join us this Wednesday at BLC as we continue our introductory exploration into the Bhagavad Gita.
09/01/19 - Today, download the daily Gita reading schedule and begin the journey with us at BLC and CSE into Divine Love.
Join us at CSE each morning at 6:30am for daily morning meditation and Gita study.

For the well-being of ourselves and all life, consciously choose to step into the transforming power of peace, love and wholeness today.

Meditate superconsciously with us at Blue Lotus Center. Awaken, study, and be inspired in a meditative community committed to reclaim and to live from the spiritual integrity and wholeness that we all are. 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.Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

Chanting and Meditation: Honoring the Birth of Lahiri Mahasaya
Location: Grace Meditation Hall
Corner of The Alameda and University Ave, San Jose, CA
Monday, September 30, 6:30 - 8 pm
Registration not required.
For more info, click here.

Blue Lotus

Meditation & Yoga Center:

CSE south county meditation center