Walking with Fear
When Babaji was asked a question about fear (“Babaji, I want to go back to school, but I’m afraid I don’t have enough money,” or “Babaji, I want to go to India with you, but I’m afraid of flying”), he…
Remember Your Aim
This story is called ‘Remember Your Aim.’ It takes place in Santa Cruz; the year is 1981. My karma yoga task for the day is to typeset the “Wings of Breath” songbook, a compilation of kirtan lyrics that’s being prepared…
Unto the Next Seven Generations
As part of our ongoing conversation about the future direction of the Centre, here are some reflections from one of our far-flung members about managing transitions at the Pacific Cultural Center in Santa Cruz. Salt Spring Centre, like Mt. Madonna…
Reflections on Birth, Growth, Decay, Death
“Birth, growth, decay and death.” Babaji offered us this phrase on his chalkboard so many times over the years. When we’d ask about human life, when we’d ask about death, when we’d ask about liberation – it appeared often in…
Replace Judgement with Compassion
Who would have imagined, when hearing this suggestion – replace judgment with compassion – at SSCY last summer, that it would have come in so handy on the day after the American presidential election in November? Now, months later, I…
The Wonders of Ghee (Clarified Butter)
Ghee is the purified form of butter, often called “clarified butter.” In Sanskrit, it is referred to as ghrta. Ghee is one of the most ancient and sattvic foods known. According to Charaka (one of the codifiers of the Ayurvedic…
Stay Cool, Calm and Hydrated this Summer
During the summer season the qualities of ‘pitta dosha,’ which are hot, light and dry, are clearly obvious in the weather. The sun shines more often; the hours of daylight are longer; the earth dries out more quickly. No matter…
The Practice of Peace
The very first question that I was ever brave enough to ask Babaji was, “Babaji, if you had only two words to say to the people of the world, what would they be?” And without hesitation, he wrote “Attain Peace.”…
Karma Yoga. . . A Path of Inner Development
As we explore the path of yoga, we discover there are millions of methods that will take us in the direction of our goal. Purification of the body, perfection of posture (asana), samadhi meditation, selfless service (karma yoga), and devotion…
Ayurveda, Yoga and You: Triphala – A Magic Formula for the Whole Body
It’s been said that if all you do is take triphala, eventually the body will return to a state of balance. And of course, balance is at the heart of Ayurveda – maintaining a balance of the doshas (bio-energies) and…