Osho, a contemporary mystic speaks on virtually every aspect of human consciousness. In these talks, the human condition, whether the mind, the heart, love or awareness is exposed with humor and insight, as never before.

In this talk, 'What Is the Secret of Meditation', Osho with his unique perspective, provides profound insights into the nature of meditation.

" So meditation is not against action. It is not that you have to escape from life. It simply teaches you a new way of life: You become the center of the cyclone.Your life goes on, it goes on really more intensely -- with more joy, with more clarity, more vision, more creativity -- yet you are aloof, just a watcher on the hills, simply seeing all that is happening around you. You are not the doer, you are the watcher.That's the whole secret of meditation that you become the watcher. Doing continues on its own level, there is no problem: chopping wood, drawing water from the well. You can do all small and big things; only one thing is not allowed and that is, your centering should not be lost.That awareness, that watchfulness, should remain absolutely unclouded, undisturbed.Meditation is a very simple phenomenon."

To understand more about OSHO Talks, their context and purpose, see: http://oshotalks.com/AboutO...

This video is available for translation as part of the 'OSHO TALKS Video Translation Project. Join the project as a translator at: http://www.oshotalks.com

OSHO International Foundation: http://www.osho.com

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The Age of Enlightenment was an 18th century cultural movement in Europe. It was most popular in France, where its leaders included philosophers like Voltaire and Denis Diderot. Diderot helped spread the Enlightenment's ideas by writing the Encyclopdie, the first big encyclopedia that was available to everyone. The Enlightenment grew partly out of the earlier scientific revolution and the ideas of Ren Descartes.

The Enlightenment's most important idea was that all people can reason and think for themselves. Because of this, people should not automatically believe what an authority says. People do not even have to believe what churches teach or what priests say. This was a very new idea at the time.

Another important idea was that a society is best when everyone works together to create it. Even people with very little power or money should have the same rights as the rich and powerful to help create the society they live in.[1] The nobility should not have special rights or privileges any more.

These were very new ideas at the time. They were also dangerous thoughts for the people in power. Many Enlightenment philosophers were put in prison or were forced to leave their home countries.

Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States believed the Enlightenment's ideas. For example, the idea that a government's job is to benefit all of a country's people - not just the people in power - was very important to them. They made this idea about a government "for the people" one of the most important parts of the new United States Constitution and the new American government they created.

The Enlightenment's ideas were also important to the people who fought in the French Revolution of 1789.

In some countries, kings and queens took some of the Enlightenment's ideas and made changes to their governments. However, they still kept power for themselves. These kings and queens were called "enlightened despots." Examples include Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick the Great of Prussia, and Gustav III of Sweden.

During the Age of Enlightenment, as more and more people began to use reason, some began to disagree with the idea that God created the world. This caused conflicts - and, later, war.

Many ideas that are important today were created during the Enlightenment. Examples of these ideas include:

The Enlightenment's ideas about thinking with reason, having personal freedoms, and not having to follow the Catholic Church were important in creating capitalism and socialism.

Important people in the Enlightenment came from many different countries and shared ideas in many different ways. Some of the best-known Enlightenment figures, organized by home country, are:

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Age of Enlightenment - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ...

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How motivated are you to reach your goals?

Are you motivated to achieve what you really want in life?

And how hard do you push yourself to get things done?

Wanting to do something and motivating yourself to actually do it are two different things.

So, what's the difference between those who never reach their goals, year after year, and those who achieve one goal after another? Often, it's their self-motivation.

Self-motivation is the force that keeps pushing us to go on it's our internal drive to achieve, produce, develop, and keep moving forward. When you think you're ready to quit something, or you just don't know how to start, your self-motivation is what pushes you to go on.

With self-motivation, you'll learn and grow regardless of the specific situation. That's why it's such a fundamental tool for reaching your goals, achieving your dreams, and succeeding, in this journey we call life.

So, how self-motivated are you? We've put together a short quiz to give you a better understanding of how self-motivated you are. After the quiz, we'll discuss some specific tips for improving your self-motivation, so that you can achieve still more in your life.

For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score in the 'wrong direction'. When you are finished, please click the 'Calculate My Total' button at the bottom of the test.

You last completed this quiz on , at .

Reset Your Score

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You allow your personal doubts and fears to keep you from succeeding. You've probably had a few incomplete goals in the past, so you may have convinced yourself that you aren't self-motivated - and then you've made that come true. Break this harmful pattern now, and start believing in yourself again. The tools and tipsbelowwill help you get back your motivation.

You're doing OK on self-motivation. You're certainly not failing - however, you could achieve much more. To achieve what you want, try to increase the motivation factors in all areas of your life. Read the relevant sectionsbelow, and work on them to strengthen your self-motivation.

Wonderful! You get things done, and you don't let anything stand in your way. You make a conscious effort to stay self-motivated, and you spend significant time and effort on setting goals and acting to achieve those goals. You attract and inspire others with your success. Treasure this - and be aware that not everyone is as self-motivated as you are! (Readbelowfor more.)

Self-motivation is complex. It's linked to your level of initiative in setting challenging goals for yourself; your belief that you have the skills and abilities needed to achieve those goals; and your expectation that if you put in enough hard work, you will succeed (or at least be in the running, if it's a competitive situation).

Four factors are necessary to build the strongest levels of self-motivation:

By working on all of these together, you should quickly improve your self-motivation. Let's look at each of these factors individually.

(Questions 1, 2, 6, 8)

Part of being self-motivated is having good levels of self-assurance, self-confidence, and self-efficacy. More on these below!

Being highlyself-assuredmeans you will set challenging goals for yourself, and it's also a resiliency factor for when you encounter setbacks. If you don't believe in yourself you'll be much more likely to think, "I knew I couldn't do this"instead of, "This one failure isn't going to stop me!"

Albert Bandura, a psychologist from Stanford University, definedself-efficacyas a belief in our own ability to succeed, and our ability to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. This belief has a huge impact on your approach to goal setting and your behavioral choices as you work toward those goals.

According to Bandura's research, high self-efficacy results in an ability to view difficult goals as a challenge, whereas people with low self-efficacy would likely view the same goals as being beyond their abilities, and might not even attempt to achieve them.

It also contributes to how much effort a person puts into a goal in the first place, and how much he or she perseveres despite setbacks.

By developing a general level ofself-confidencein yourself, you will not only believe you can succeed, but you'll also recognize and enjoy the successes you've already had. That, in turn, will inspire you to build on those successes. The momentum created by self-confidence is hard to beat.

Take these steps:

As you begin to recognize how much you've already achieved and understand how much potential you have you will have the confidence to set goals and achieve the things you desire. The more you look for reasons to believe in yourself, the easier it will be to find ways to motivate yourself.

Our article onBuilding Self-Confidence teaches you how to develop this self-confidence, and gives you steps you can use to start feeling great about yourself. It will also put you firmly on the path to self-assurance and self-efficacy.

(Questions 4, 9, 11, 12)

Positive thinking is closely related to self-confidence as a factor in self-motivation. It's important to look at things positively, especially when things aren't going as planned and you're ready to give up.

If you think that things are going to go wrong or that you won't succeed, this may influence things in such a way that your predictions will come true. This is particularly the case if you need to work hard to achieve success, or if you need to persuade others to support you in order to succeed. Your thoughts can have a major influence on whether you succeed or fail, so make sure those thoughts are "on your side."

Positive thinking also helps you think about an attractive future that you want to realize. When you expect positive results, your choices will be more positive, and you'll be less likely to leave outcomes to fate or chance. Having a vivid picture of success, combined with positive thinking, helps you bridge the gap between wanting something and going out to get it.

To apply "the power of positive thinking", do the following:

(Questions 3, 7)

As we've said above, a key part of building self-motivation is to start setting strong goals. These give you focus, a clear sense of direction, and the self-confidence that comes from recognizing your own achievement.

First, determine your direction through effective goal setting.

When you set a goal, you make a promise to yourself. Part of the strength of this is that it gives you a clear direction. Part is that you've made this promise to yourself, and you'll want to keep this promise. And part is that it's a challenge, and it's fun to try to meet that challenge!

But don't set just any goal. According toLocke's goal-setting theory , your goal should have the following characteristics:

When you have a variety of goals, be sure to schedule your time and resources effectively. You can achieve the "focus"part of self-motivation by prioritizing and establishing a schedule that will help you succeed. It doesn't make sense to work until you're exhausted or give up one goal to achieve another.

Using tools like Eisenhower's Urgent/Important Principle and the Action Priority Matrix , you can quickly and easily see how each goal activity fits into the bigger picture of your overall objectives. If you fully understand your priorities, you probably won't feel as pressured to do everything at once. This can reduce stress and help you to concentrate on the most important strategies.

See our article onPrioritization for a summary, and for links to our top time management and prioritization tools.

(Questions 5, 10)

The final thing to focus on is surrounding yourself with people and resources that will remind you of your goals, and help you with your internal motivation. These are external factors they'll help you get motivated from the outside, which is different from the internal motivation we've discussed so far. However, the more factors you have working for you, the better.

You can't just rely on these "environmental"or outside elements alone to motivate you, but you can use them for extra support. Try the following:

When you start your self-motivation program, you may tend to rely heavily on these external factors. As you get more comfortable and confident with your self-motivation, you'll probably use them only as needed, and for a little extra help.

Self-motivation doesn't come naturally to everyone. And even those who are highly self-motivated need some extra help every now and then.

Build your self-motivation by practicing goal-setting skills, and combining those with positive thinking, the creation of powerful visions of success, and the building of high levels of self-efficacy and self-confidence.

Your attitude and beliefs about your likelihood of success can predict whether or not you actually succeed. Set goals, and work hard to achieve them. Examine ways to improve your self-motivation, and regularly reassess your motivation levels. If you actively keep your internal motivation high, you can significantly increase the likelihood of achieving your hopes, dreams, and visions of the future.

Go here to see the original:
Self-Motivation Quiz - Goal Setting Tools from MindTools.com

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So when you hear the term organic food, what does it really mean? Is there one simple definition of organic food?

Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

Now that you have a simple definition of organic food why should you make organic foods apart of your diet?

Good Question, there are two clear reasons to go organic:

Well first it just plaintastes better.Organically grown foods have basic standards some of which are is keeping soil healthy and fortifying it naturally, not with synthetic fertilizers. Healthy, fortified soil means healthy, strong plants, which translates to better-tasting food.

Secondly, organically grown foods havemore nutrients.Healthy soil of organic farmland also provides more nutrients for growing plants. Studies are showing they have more vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C and iron.

One of the biggest studies into organic food has found that it is more nutritious than ordinary produce and may help to lengthen peoples lives.

The study found that organic fruit and vegetables contained as much as 40% more antioxidants, which scientists believe can cut the risk of cancer and heart disease. They also had higher levels of beneficial minerals such as iron and zinc.

Professor Carlo Leifert, the co-ordinator of the European Union-funded project, said the differences were so marked that organic produce would help to increase the nutrient intake of people not eating the recommended five portions a day of fruit and vegetables. If you have just 20% more antioxidants and you cant get your kids to do five a day, then you might just be okay with four a day, he said.

Leifert said the government was wrong about there being no difference between organic and conventional produce. There is enough evidence now that the level of good things is higher in organics, he said.

Organic foods are essentially free of pesticides, while nearly every type of conventional fruit and vegetable has at least one type of pesticide applied to it sometime from when the seeds are put into the ground to when they are sold. Logically then, eating organic foods rather than conventional foods will reduce your familys exposure to pesticides. And for me that is enough to make organic foods apart of my familys diet.

If you enjoyed this article, Definition of Organic Food you might like to learn more about specific foods that you should buy organic read my articleIs Organic Worth It?

Over the past year, my friend Dave at PaleoHacks has been working on a secret cookbook with world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu chef Peter Servold.

Well, today this new this new incredible Paleo Cookbook is finally available to be shipped right to your door for FREE

Thats right as a special launch promotion, were offering our brand new Paleo fat loss cookbook to you for free (Chef Pete lost 60 lbs using these recipes!) All you have to do is just cover a small shipping cost (international shipping is a bit more).

Get your FREE copy of Paleo Eats Here. (Grab this today, because we only ordered a small batch of these cookbooks for this freebie promotion, and they will sell out FAST!)

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What is the Definition of Organic Food? : Healthy Holistic ...

A shopper surveys the produce at Pacifica Farmers Market in Pacifica, Calif., in 2011. AP hide caption

A shopper surveys the produce at Pacifica Farmers Market in Pacifica, Calif., in 2011.

Yes, organics is a $29 billion industry and still growing. Something is pulling us toward those organic veggies that are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

But if you're thinking that organic produce will help you stay healthier, a new finding may come as a surprise. A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds scant evidence of health benefits from organic foods.

"There's a definite lack of evidence," says researcher Crystal Smith-Spangler at Stanford University School of Medicine, especially when it comes to studies of people.

She and her colleagues collected 200 peer-reviewed studies that examined differences between organic and conventional food, or the people who eat it.

A few of these studies followed people who were eating either organic or conventional food and looked for evidence that the choice made a difference in their health.

One study, for instance, looked at whether eating organic food while pregnant would influence the likelihood of eczema and other allergic conditions among children, and another looked at whether eating organic meat would influence the risk of a Campylobacter infection, a bacterial food-borne illness. When the researchers looked at the body of evidence, they found no clear benefits. But they say more research is needed.

It's important to note, though, that such studies have a really hard time uncovering subtle effects of our environment, or what we eat, on our health. Too many other powerful influences get in the way. Also, these studies only followed people for a very short time about two years or less. That's hardly enough time to document any particular health benefit.

Most of the studies included in this collection looked at the food itself the nutrients that it contained as well as levels of pesticide residues or harmful bacteria.

As you might expect, there was less pesticide contamination on organic produce. But does that matter? The authors of the new study say probably not. They found that the vast majority of conventionally grown food did not exceed allowable limits of pesticide residue set by federal regulations.

Some previous studies have looked at specific organic foods and found that they contain higher levels of important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. We've reported on one particularly ambitious experiment, which is supposed to go on for a hundred years, comparing plots of organic and conventional tomatoes. After 10 years, the researchers found that tomatoes raised in the organic plots contained significantly higher levels of certain antioxidant compounds.

But this is one study of one vegetable in one field. And when the Stanford researchers looked at their broad array of studies, which included lots of different crops in different situations, they found no such broad pattern.

Here's the basic reason: When it comes to their nutritional quality, vegetables vary enormously, and that's true whether they are organic or conventional. One carrot in the grocery store, for instance, may have two or three times more beta carotene (which gives us vitamin A) than its neighbor. That's due to all kinds of things: differences in the genetic makeup of different varieties, the ripeness of the produce when it was picked, even the weather.

So there really are vegetables that are more nutritious than others, but the dividing line between them isn't whether or not they are organic. "You can't use organic as your sole criteria for judging nutritional quality," says Smith-Spangler.

Of course, people may have other reasons for buying organic food. It's a different style of agriculture. Organic farmers often control pests by growing a greater variety of crops. They increase the fertility of their fields through nitrogen-fixing plants, or by adding compost instead of applying synthetic fertilizer.

That can bring environmental benefits, such as more diverse insect life in the field or less fertilizer runoff into neighboring streams. But such methods also cost money. That's part of what you are buying when you buy organic.

So if you really want to find the most nutritious vegetables, and the organic label won't take you there, what will?

At the moment, unfortunately, there isn't a good guide. But a lot of scientists are working on it.

They're measuring nutrient levels in all kinds of crops, and discovering some surprising things, as The Salt reported last week such as supernutritious microgreens. They're trying to breed new varieties of crops that yield not a bigger harvest but a more nutrient-rich harvest.

The problem is, farmers still get paid by the pound, not by the vitamin. And consumers buy their food the same way. What this really requires is a whole new food system that can track those extra-nutritious crops from farmer's field to consumer's shopping basket.

Maybe, down the road, you will actually see signs in the supermarket that advertise, for instance, iron-rich beans. Maybe they'd be organic, or maybe not.

Read the original post:

Why Organic Food May Not Be Healthier For You - npr.org

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Yoga is a physical and mental practise that originated from Hinduism in ancient India. Get the benefits of yoga; Relax in a few minutes with an easy yoga series. Learn yoga from a video with beautiful music. The first ten minutes we learn some basic yoga exercises and the last minutes we meditate with some mantras and the muscle relaxation. If you have little time, make only the yoga exercises or the meditation. Do yoga at least twice a week so that you stay healthy, fit and happy.

1

Lie down on your back and relax. Feel the air around you, and breathe it in and out. Try to relax your body, and clear your mind of thoughts.

2

Raise the outstretched right leg and hold it in the air. Then raise the left leg in the air and hold it.

3

Raise both legs and the head in the air. Hold it as long as possible and breathe, relaxed, on your belly.

4

Go into the candle, raise the butt and the legs to the sky. The hands will strengthen your back. Move your feet and relax a minute in the candle.

5

Lie down again and rotate the spine some times. Turn the pelvis to the right and the head to the left. And the other way round. Twist the spine as far as possible.

6

Turn in the prone position and raise the right outstretched leg. Hold it and breathe, relaxed, in your belly. Then raise the left leg and hold it in the air.

7

Put your head backwards and bring your feet as far as possible to the head. The legs are in the air and the hands lie beside the body on the ground. They support the position. We hold the bow, breath relaxed into the belly and move the feet.

8

Lie the head on your hands, move your feet and relax.

9

Sit cross-legged or in the heel seat. The back is straight and the belly relaxed. Think one minute, the mantra "Om Shanti", an important Hindu chant. Think it so fast, that all thoughts come to rest. Then move a hand in blessing and think: "I send light to (name). May all people be happy. May the world be happy."

10

Lie down and make the muscles relax. Tense the muscles of the legs and feet. Relax. Tense the muscles of the arms and hands. Relax. Tense the muscles of the head and the face. Relax. Tense the muscles of the whole body. Relax. Move the feet. Relax completely for some minutes. Go peacefully and happy your way.

Is it bad for me to criss cross my legs?

wikiHow Contributor

No, only if you feel extreme pain or discomfort while doing it, then just criss-cross them as comfortably as possible.

How can I do yoga when my body is not flexible?

wikiHow Contributor

Be patient, and respect your body's limits. If you approach yoga too aggressively, you won't see much improvement, and might hurt yourself. A skilled yoga teacher can help you adjust each pose to work within your limits, and gradually expand them. Many poses have several variations, and the goal is to pick the variation where you can stay relaxed with good form but still be challenged. Don't be afraid to pick an "easier" variation, but perform it well, instead of straining through something too advanced. Learn how to use props (blocks, bolsters and straps) to support your body.

Please tell me that how many days and how much time is required for each step?

Do yoga every day for a quarter of an hour.

What if I can't put my head to my feet?

wikiHow Contributor

It's okay if you can't put your head to your feet, everyone's body is different. Go as far as you comfortably can, the idea is to get a good stretch. You may find you become more flexible over time.

Whats are the benefits of yoga exercise?

wikiHow Contributor

It helps to relax your body and remove stress. If you do yoga regularly, you will feel calmer and less angry or stressed.

Will yoga help strengthen my body?

wikiHow Contributor

Yes, yoga will strengthen your muscles and increase your flexibility.

Dose yoga help with heart problems, diabetes, and high blood pressure?

Yoga can be helpful with a lot of medical problems. Yoga is used for relaxation, strength, flexibility, and posture correction. That said, it should NEVER be used to replace medication.

How many calories does yoga burn?

wikiHow Contributor

The number of calories you'll expend doing yoga is based on your body weight and workout duration. If you weigh 125 pounds, you'll burn about 120 calories, and if you weigh 185 pounds you'll expend 178 calories in 30 minutes doing yoga, according to Harvard Health Publications.

How do I relax before a musical recital?

wikiHow Contributor

Go to your happy place, a place that calms you down and relaxes you and when you get on stage and you are feeling, then nervous go back to that place.

My mind is always running and I can't relax. Any tips for relaxing?

wikiHow Contributor

Try chakra meditation, as well as meditation. Healing your chakras will especially help.

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"Rain Retreat" Week 2: the Monastics (Monks & Nuns) hold their "Rain Retreat" August 9th - August 23rd, 2015.Sunday, August 16th Vietnamese "Rain Retreat" (2nd Sunday) continues through Sunday, August 23rd "Parents' Day," ("Vu Lan"). "Rain Retreat" got it's name because in Asia it occurs during the rainy season between "Buddha's Birthday" and "Parents Day." On Sunday, August 23, 2015, Quan Am Monastery will celebrate "Parent's Day" (also known as "Ancestors' Day) on Sunday, August 23, 2015. For more info on "Parents' Day" Call (901) 679-4528 or see below:

If one's ancestors or parents are living, then the family member wears a red rose. Offerings are intended to assist the ancestors in their spiritual journey in this world. If the ancestors (or parents) are deceased, then the family member wears a white rose. Our intention is for our offerings to help deceased relatives in their journey to higher realms. In addition to the annual celebration, which is determined by the Lunar calendar, offerings and practices are done by family members during important traditional or religious celebrations, the starting of a new business, or even when a family member needs guidance or counsel. Quan Am Monastery will celebrate "Ancestors' Day" starting at 10am on Sunday, August 23, 2015. Everyone is invited to attend! Stay afterwards for a light "veggie" lunch on the porch outside the Temple or dine inside the house.In Vietnam, the anniversary of a loved ones death holds significance and is an important occasion. Family members gather for a banquet in memory of the deceased. Pictures with the names of the loved ones are on the ancestor altar. Offerings consist of favorite foods, which are prepared for the altar, fruit and incense.Respect for ancestors goes across all sectors of Vietnamese culture. Having an ancestor altar in the home or business is a common practice of all Vietnamese, regardless of religious affiliation (Buddhist or Christian).For more information or questions: Call(901) 679-4528 or Email: buddhistmemphis@gmail.com

Yoga Class 5:45pm every Tuesday - weekly. Everyone invited! Young & Old! Everyone enjoys this class. Suggested donation: $10 Adults; $7 Students;$7 Special Discount for Cooper Young Community Association members, upon presentation of card.

6pm Friday Meditation & Dharma Talk - WEEKLYRelax after work ~ Bring a friend. 10 min. from U of M. 12 min. from Midtown/East MemphisCall (901) 679-4528 to RSVP and for infoon what to wear.Bring any questions you may have. It's a good time to ask and for discussion. (You're invited to stay for light snacks afterwards. Get acquainted. Discuss Buddhism.) If you are running late, no worries. Just grab a cushion and join in. Cushions and chairs are available at the Monastery. Dress modest, lightweight, loose clothing & "Slip-On" shoes and Socks!Chant books in English - Just read along. Sessions are broken up into: 1) Chanting the "Heart Sutra" in English 2) "Silent Sitting Meditation" 3) Dharma Talk

Family Friendly Day Retreat Sunday, August 2, 2015 ~ Learn to Meditate.

RECAP: Vegan Pot Luck Dinner & Movie was great Saturday July 25th! There was Lasagna stuffed with Vegan Cheese; Vegan Chicken & Dumplings; 3 huge bowls of Green Salad; Fabulous! Organic Tofu Vegan "Deviled Eggs" prepared by a Vegan Chef & Food Scientist; Organic Watermelon & Vegan Banana Bread. Great company and everyone enjoyed each other. And we did a brief tour of the Temple and saw the harvest from the Monastery Garden. Enjoyed the "Vegucated" movie together. Highly enjoyable evening!

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Buddhist Memphis - MEDITATION

The wordashramcomes from the Sanskrit word, Srama, which means "religious exertion." However, in more recent times the term "ashram" is used to describe any facility used by a spiritual community. They can vary in size from a small hermitage housing just a few people to multiple building complexes which are home to hundreds, including whole families.

Ashrams have existed in India for thousands of years, and, more recently, many ashrams have been established in other parts of the world. Traditionally, ashrams were located away from the mainstream of human population. Nowadays, ashrams can be found in most parts of India, and range from cheap accommodations for westerners to closed communities with strict rules and codes of conduct. Most ashrams are either led by a living spiritual teacher or follow the path laid out by a particular lineage. Ashrams tend to have a set schedule, followed by the permanent residents, which visitors are invited and sometimes expected to join. Some ashrams also served asgurukulas or residential schools for children, adhering to a particular tradition.

Westerners often have the impression that most Indians practice silent meditation and yoga asanas on a regular basis. While this may be true for some, the average Indians spiritual practices are more of a devotional nature. Most Indians will have a small shrine in their home, dedicated to the family deity, and will visit their local temple to participate in prayers and rituals. Pilgrimages to sacred sites are also very much a part of an Indians spiritual duties. Ashrams play an important role by offering food, housing, and support to the thousands of pilgrims constantly on the move in India.

In general, an ashram is a sacred place and very different from a hotel. It represents an opportunity to step away from worldly affairs and return to a simpler way of living. Its a place to nourish your soul, deepen your spiritual practice, and awaken to your true Self. An ashram is a place for inner freedom.

I have been connected with an ashram community called the Shree Satuwa Baba Ashram in Indias sacred city of Varanasi for almost 14 years. During this time, I have visited it two to three times each year, spending between a few weeks to several months there each visit. The Ashram dates back 300 years, and, although touched by the modern world, still functions in accordance with ancient Vedic traditions. It is home to a residential school for boys training to become Vedic priests and provides temporary accommodations for several thousand pilgrims a year, all on a donation basis. Because of its traditional nature and fairly basic facilities, it receives few western visitors. Fortunately, even though I am something of an anomaly, I was quickly accepted into their family.

The former head of the Ashram, Maharaji, who left us physically four years ago at age ninety-nine, was the purest, most highly evolved human I have been blessed to meet. He became my Guru and gave me my spiritual name Raghavanand. Although it was clear he had a great depth of profound knowledge, our language limitations restricted our conversations to simple subjects. At first, this created a bit of a dilemma for me, as I had spent the previous thirty years listening to spiritual discourses, reading sacred texts, and questioning everyone.

Nothing happens in an ashram without the Grace of the Guru, and I was soon to receive that blessing. Sensing my confusion, Maharaji invited me to just be with him, to watch, listen, and breathe in his divinity. And so, this is what I did at every opportunity. After spending years in Himalayan caves and returning to become Guru of the Ashram, Maharaji lived very simply. He slept on a mat on the floor in the same room where he spent much of the day meeting the many visitors who came for his advice or blessing.

I would rise early in the morning, bathe, and then quietly enter his room, where he would have already begun his morning prayers and pujas. Sitting as unobtrusively as possible, I would meditate or simply observe his devotion. During the day, with me in tow, he might visit a neighboring ashram, take a boat ride on the Ganges, or cross the river to visit the ashrams farm and cows. During all of this, Maharaji would always make sure I was taken care of. He ate very basic meals, but made sure I was properly fed and insisted on me drinking a cup of warm milk with him every evening before bed.

Looking back, I realize that the time I spent with Maharaji, though mostly in silence, was as important to my spiritual growth as anything I have read in a book or heard from a discourse. Here are six lessons I learned:

I learned to accept that the moment is perfect as it is. Indian clocks seem to move at an entirely different speed than those in the rest of the world, and this is particularly evident in ashrams. Some mornings Maharaji would announce that he wanted to visit somewhere. In my usual westerner eagerness to be ready on time, I would inquire when we would be leaving. The answer was always the same, When Lord Krishna decides. I soon learned that this could mean five minutes, several hours, or even days.

From watching Maharaji, I have begun to learn the gift of humility. Even though he was respected in spiritual communities throughout India, his door was open to everyone who came. Whether a poor village farmer, a pilgrim, or important politician, everyone was welcomed with the same degree of respect.

Maharaji lived simply, and being with him encouraged me to do the same. Over the years, the luggage that I thought was necessary to take with me to the ashram became less. Sleeping on a wooden bed, having no heat in the winter, bathing from a bucket of cold water, and sitting on the floor to eat my meals without utensils has now become my ashram norm.

Seva (service without regard for the self) and the practice of Karma Yoga is very much a part of ashram life. Everyone is invited to pitch in with whatever needs doing. However, I soon learned that Indians who had grown up chopping vegetables on the floor, serving food to long rows of hungry people from a bucket, or sweeping the floor with a broom made of twigs were much more efficient than me. After frustrating everyone with my slowness, I finally asked Maharaji what job could I do. Without hesitating he replied, official ashram photographer, and to this day, thats what I am!

Ive always enjoyed my quiet time. Whether it was my meditation, reading, or walking in nature, this has always been a regular part of my daily routine. This, however, doesnt always work out in an ashram with 70 young boys. The main focus of their education at the Ashram is learning Sanskrit, learning the Vedic chants, and performing sacred rituals. Recently, a daily English class has been added, so now my quiet time is invaded by little boys eager to practice what theyve learned. I remind myself that the reward of patience is patience.

Although the ashram had a school, the actual school building had fallen down years ago, and the boys slept and studied scattered throughout the ashram. One day, Maharaji called me into his room and said he wanted to rebuild the school, but needed my help. My first fear was that he expected me to start mixing cement and laying bricks, but he told me that my role was to raise the money. I mentally debated whether laying bricks would be easier. When I expressed my hesitation, he said, Dont worry, Lord Krishna sent you to help us. Definitely no pressure! I had no experience in raising large sums of money, but I told him I would do my best.

A week later, I returned to the U.S. and received a phone call from a good friend who had traveled with me in India and who was also a successful businessman. During the conversation, it occurred to me to ask his advice on raising the money. When I explained how much was needed, he said that it was no problem and that he would pay for everything. Wow! I immediately phoned the ashram to tell Maharaji the great news. When I told him I had all the money, he matter-of-factly replied, Of course, I knew you would. Weve already begun the construction.

If you havent already, find an opportunity to visit an ashram one day. In the meantime, bring the energies of an ashram into your home:

Ultimately, your personal ashram is that place of pure love you always carry with you in your heart.

Embrace a unique opportunity to step away from the demands of daily life and explore the richness of your spirit at Silent Awakenings, an intimate silent retreat with Deepak Chopra. Learn More.

Continued here:

6 Important Lessons From the Ashram | The Chopra Center

The Christian Ashram Experience

Each Ashram today continues to follow the original format instituted by Dr. Jones.The unique Ashram format offers a break from everyday demands to allow space and time for learning, prayer, reflection, fellowship, and rest.

Open Heart

Early in the retreat experience, participants gather into small groups to express in a heartfelt way the blessings, needs, and spiritual desires that they have coming into the Ashram. This time lays the groundwork for the openness and closeness that will be shared over the next few days.

Bible Hour

The Ashram experience is rooted in the practice of listening for God. Each day, a gifted and qualified Bible teacher provides substantive, Scripture-based lessons for reflection and discussion.

Prayer Groups

Journeying together throughout the retreat, prayer groups offer each Ashram attendee the opportunity to reflect on what they have heard, share what they feel, receive encouragement, and join in prayer for one another in love.

EvangelisticSermons

Opening to God's Spirit and rekindling the fire of our faith is an essential goal of the Ashram experience. Gifted and qualified Christian Ashram evangelists are dynamic, bold, and relevant in their proclamation of the Word.

Healing andWholeness

Often a pivotal moment during the retreat, each Ashram includes a time when participants are given the opportunity to receive physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing through prayer and community support.

OverflowingHeart

As the Ashram draws to a close, the entire community in attendance gathers to reflect and share how each one has been blessed, challenged, and equipped for continuing growth and ministry during the retreat. This special time of praise to God and encouragement of one another prepares us all to return to our lives ready for what God has for us to do.

Christian Ashrams are not just for adults -- the entire family is welcome to attend!

Children's programs include storytelling, singing, crafts, and games.

Youth programs provide relevant, Bible study, worship, and fun for teens.

Grow together and grow in faith. Attend the Ashram as a family!

The rest is here:

What is an Ashram? - United Christian Ashrams