Inspirational Messages

October 27, 2019

Our Divine Duty

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Do the work that is your duty, for (this kind of) action is better than nonaction;

even the maintenance of your body cannot be accomplished without (necessary) action."

Bhagavad Gita 3.8
~ Roy Eugene Davis, The Eternal Way: The Inner Meaning of The Bhagavad Gita

When I was new to the spiritual path, I recall experiencing the importance of meditation and the cultivation of inner stillness, so I could hear and follow "the still small voice within." On good days, this practice served me well, as inner peace and clarity inspired my daily actions. However, on stressful days, I would find myself wishing that I was living on some imaginary, secluded, peaceful mountain where I could sit in stillness, and not have to respond to all the activities at hand.

The flaw in my wishful thinking is that inaction and inner stillness are not the same practice. We can sit on the couch, appearing inactive, while our minds whirl away at breakneck speed. And, in Yoga, we can experience inner stillness, even during the completion of daily activities.

In this tradition of Kriya Yoga, the goal is not inactivity. The goal is awakening, returning, remembering, and being restored in the essential Wholeness that flows through and around us - all the time, even when we forget. In Yoga, it is our duty to learn to consciously use our thoughts words, and actions to align and "surrender to the soul's impulse to have awareness restored to wholeness*..." As we learn to live in Yoga, the activity, meaning, and joy in our lives emerges from a vibrant depth that distracted reactivity or avoidant inaction could never realize.

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 and newcomers from all backgrounds.

* Davis, R.E. (1969) The Eternal Way; The Inner Meaning of the Bhagavad Gita, pg. 69

October 20, 2019

Soul Contentment

Paula Whang-Ramos

"An immediate way to soul contentment is surrendered prayer and meditative contemplation."
~ Roy Eugene Davis, The Eternal Way: The Inner Meaning of The Bhagavad Gita, pg. 65

In the yogic teachings, soul contentment is the unshakable bliss, peace and gratitude that indwells us all. Soul contentment does not grow when our lives are unfolding as we desire or shrink when our lives are filled with challenges. Its existence is sourced from the eternal, unchanging, ever-powerful, ever-present, ever-creative Source of all life.

We can access and live from our inner soul contentment by deepening the skillful practice of withdrawing our attention and awareness from changing life circumstances and redirecting it within, where our soul contentment abides. Prayer and meditation are 2 practices that can help us stop the fruitless habit of seeking permanent joy from ever-changing, temporary life circumstances. Instead, prayer and meditation help us return and rest into the Source of unchanging contentment, peace and appreciation that indwells us all - right here and right now.

Join us at Blue Lotus Center for weekly prayer and meditation. 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.

October 13, 2019

Obstacle As Opportunity

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Considering pleasure and displeasure, gain and loss, victory and defeat, with even-mindedness,

engage in righteous endeavor. Thus you shall not incur misfortune."
~ Roy Eugene Davis, The Eternal Way: The Inner Meaning of The Bhagavad Gita 2:38

For some, due to the planned power outages in our communities, it has been a week of congested traffic, unexpected school and business closures, financial loss, and no electricity or safe drinking water in our homes. While these disruptions to our daily life can be unnerving, they can also serve as an opportunity to practice Yoga - yoking or returning into the force for good that indwells us and all circumstances, including those that we do not like.

One foundational yogic practice is "equanimity", or even-mindedness. Even-mindedness is the inner practice of unplugging our attention from the emotional and mental roller coaster of likes and dislikes, pros and cons, judgments and opinions. Instead, we breathe into the essential Wholeness that is not broken or threatened or weakened by any circumstantial changes in our lives or our communities.

From this deeper awareness, we can realize that our source of stress is not the changing circumstances, but our reactions to them. In equanimity, we can remember that we have the power to transform our emotional reactions into wisdom guided responses. Shedding the blinders of thwarted desire and sitting in the stillness of even-mindedness, we can be receptive to an inner clarity. What was initially experienced as an obstacle, can be realized as an opportunity to practice consciously returning, again and again, to the inner peace, clarity and joy that we all long for. And, when we transform emotional and mental reactivity into wisdom guided, even-minded responses, then we are much more likely to navigate through unexpected life changes in a way that serves the highest good in all.

At Blue Lotus Center, we hold in the highest Wholeness all beings affected by the power outages and the fires. May all beings be at peace.

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

October 6, 2019

The Simple Practice of Yoga

Paula Whang-Ramos

"Even a little right practice facilitates spiritual growth that brings the soul into harmonious relationship

with the actions of grace and the currents of evolution."
~ Roy Eugene Davis, The Eternal Way: The Inner Meaning of The Bhagavad Gita, p.56

In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient text on Yoga and Meditation, Mr. Davis offers great inspiration for us all. He reminds us that every single time we choose peace instead of violence, love instead of hate, and courage instead of fear, we are contributing to the realization of the essential peace, love and courage that indwells us all. While grand gestures of peace, love and courage may be appreciated, they are not necessary to support our direct experience of the divine grace that flows through and around us all the time. A simple practice such as remaining still and quiet, instead of becoming emotionally reactive, can be enough to help us hear the still small voice of wisdom encouraging us to remember and to live from our true essential wholeness.

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.

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