Published on
Love the saints of every faith:
Put away thy pride.
Remember the essence of religion
Is meekness and sympathy,
Not fine clothes,
Not the Yogi’s garb and ashes,
Not the blowing of the horns,
Not the shaven head,
Not long prayers,
Not recitations and torturings,
Not the ascetic way,
But a life of goodness and purity,
Amid the world’s temptations
.
- A brief summary of the Sikh Faith by Guru Nanak
Published on
Many roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice.
- Bodhidharma


Published on
The first "Noble" Truth of Buddhism is this:  life is complicated.   Traditionally this first truth reads "life is suffering" meaning that every human experiences disappointments and heartbreaks of various levels.  That results in pain . . . but we humans add suffering to the pain by our resentment that life was unfair toward us. 

For that reason it's important let it go.  Of course, this is easier said than stated.  Yet it can be done and is done by people every day.    Here are some "let go" motivators to think about as you reflect on your own personal experience with pain:


Let go of all negative thoughts and ideas that you can’t manage the challenge of letting go.
Let go of regret by reminding yourself you're a good human but bad things to happen to good people.
Let go of fear and dig deep tapping into courage and confidence.
Let go of blame. It doesn’t change anything and only builds resentment.
Let go of believing your life is ruined and that you are damaged. It’s just not true.
Let go of friends and even family members who don’t understand your pain and hinder your recovery.
Let go of worrying. Accept what has happened and take one step at a time to rebuild your life.
Let go of the need to be more and do more. Simply do your best, day by day.
Let go of despair. Trust yourself. Believe in yourself.
Let go of anger. It is a huge waste of energy and time.
Let go of any self-loathing or self-hate.

Remember, you can and will rebuild your life. It will not be the same as it was but it can still be good and meaningful.






Published on
True vision isn't just seeing seeing. It's also seeing not seeing.  - Bodhidharma

Published on
It's getting easier and easier to go vegetarian.  When I first became a vegetarian several decades ago, my options were very limited when shopping in grocery stores and completely limited when dining out.  Things have changed immensely.  For example:
  • A recent survey by the National Restaurant Association polled 700 chefs asking for their thoughts on what the most popular culinary concepts would be for 2019.  Nearly 70% of chefs gave high importance to the use of plant based protein such as vegan sausages and burgers.
  • In Britain even McDonalds is offering a vegetarian alternative:  veggie happy meals.
  • In September 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a first of its kind bill requiring licensed California health care facilities and state prisons to make vegetarian meals available upon request.
  • A year earlier, the American Medical Association called on US hospitals to improve health of patients, staff and visitors by providing vegetarian meals.




Published on
"The Tibetan Buddhist teachings say that whenever we sit on the cushion to practice, we sit in two kinds of solitude. First, the body is to be in solitude—meaning we should be in a relaxed environment without distractions. Second, the mind is in solitude—that is, quiet and focused. Be aware of this when you choose the time and place to develop your practice."
- From
The Tibetan Yoga of Breath by Anyen Rinpoche and Allison Choying (Shambhala Publishers)
Published on
Emotion-phobia is endemic to our culture and perhaps to patriarchal culture in general.
-
Miriam Greenspan


Published on
There are many interpretations concerning the number 108 and why it's used in Yoga and Vedic culture.  The one which appeals most to me concern vibration and energy.

Ancient vedic sages and mathematicians identified 108 as the number which most resonates with the vibration of the universe.  A mathematical example is this:   the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth, and the distance from Earth to the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.
 
By chanting a mantra 108 times, we are aligning ourselves with the vibration and energetic pattern of the Universe.

Published on
It is rare to encounter a close friend who understands you. - Pai Chang

Published on
  1. Do I feel the need to improve my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health?
  2. Do I regularly eat "junk" food?
  3. Do I sleep poorly, intermittently?
  4. Can I benefit by being in the presence of people whose vibration is high?
  5. Am I a person who frequently gets sick?
  6. Do I want to reduce anxiety and stress in my life?
  7. Am I searching for "something", for more life meaning?
  8. Is my life out of balance?
  9. Do I suffer from regular aches or chronic pain?
  10. Am I a person who needs greater flexibility - physical and mental?
  11. Can I use more confidence and courage in life?
  12. Are inner peace and calm in my daily life largely absent?
If you answered yes to 2 or more of these questions, get to a yoga class this week.

(feel free to repost and/or link to your social media)

Victor M. Parachin ... 

a Vedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. Sadly, Victor passed away in August 2025, but his blog continues. Janet Parachin, his partner of 45 years, shares quotes from his books and articles each week. 

Archives

Categories