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Dearest Friends,
Swami Muktananda, my guru for many years, used
to urge
everyone, young and old alike, to do their practices
and pursue their sadhanas
with enthusiastic devotion, adding that the strength of
your practices would stand by you through illness and
death. When I first heard him make this point I was in
my early 20's and hardly thinking of the end of my life.
My dedication to meditative practices really came from
the extraordinary states of joy, equanimity and heart
opening love that only meditation, seva, and chanting
gave me
access to at that time.
Now, more than three
decades
later, I've seen how power of the practices done over
time radically changes the mind, the body and even
the
structure of the brain. Meditation is essential for both
living optimally and dying optimally.
We never know when the health of a loved one or our
own health will fail. Very few of us are given to know
with any certainty
when our death will come. Our
practices and the steady wisdom they develop are
what
stand by us. It's a great discipline to keep the
company of Loving Kindness and her
attendants,
Patience and Compassion, moment by moment, day
by day. They
are indispensable for
transforming the ego mind into a servant of the
Highest.
Now I find myself repeatedly saying
what my Baba used to say, do your practices with
great love and devotion, they will see you through
whatever challenges face you.
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Sept.-Nov. Programs
Anam Cara, Bedford, NY
Saturday Sept. 27th - Kirtan Night! 7
PM
With Satya, Ma, and
Kalidas. Join us in this ancient and ecstatic practice
of chanting the names of the Divine. Everyone is
welcome!
Oct. 2-Nov.6,
Wednesday
Evenings, 7:15-8:45 (no class 10/23)
5
Week
Course
Buddhist Wisdom Treasures for Non-
Buddhists
Taught by
Lawrence Edwards,
Ph.D.
The Buddhist tradition offers
great
insights into the workings of the mind and how we can
be free not only of the mind, but of all suffering.
One
doesn't have to be a Buddhist to gain the tremendous
benefits offered by this ancient tradition of wisdom.
Priests, nuns, rabbis, ministers, scientists,
business leaders and people from every background
have found the teachings of the Buddha enhanced
their everyday lives and their spiritual practices.
During this course we will explore the foundational
teachings and practices that the Buddha offered to
anyone who was interested in gaining greater
freedom from suffering and gaining access to
unwavering joy. There will be plenty of time to discuss
how these teachings and practices apply to work,
family, relationships, etc.
November
14-16, Friday Evening-Sunday
Afternoon
Mysteries of the Divine
Feminine and
Kundalini Empowerment
Retreat
Led by Lawrence Edwards,
Ph.D.
The extraordinary power of
Consciousness that allows us to directly know the
Infinite is called
Kundalini in the yogic tradition. In this
retreat you will be guided through ancient practices
that awaken and unfold the inner power of meditation
and
yoga, Kundalini.
Through this innate
power of Consciousness we will explore the
archetypal realms of transcendence, wisdom and
grace. Through the power of mantra, chanting, breath
work, and the profound tales of mystical traditions,
including the Black Madonna, Inanna, Kali and
Kundalini, we will further access the inner source of
true knowledge and ultimate freedom. That source is
the Divine within. Through this process you will be
empowered to deepen and sustain your meditation
practice at home. Many people take this retreat
repeatedly in order to delve more and more deeply into
the mysteries of true meditation and further unfold the
power of Kundalini. Sharings from others who have
taken the retreat can be found through the program
link
below.
Meditation
Group
Every Tuesday
Evening:
starts promptly at 7:30pm at our center at
SunRaven in Bedford, NY. All are welcome! Directions
are on the Anam Cara website. If you wonder
whether the group is being held on a particular
Tuesday evening there will always be a
message stating if it is cancelled on that
night on 914-234-4800.
Click here to find out more about the programs....
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Thank you all
for your notes of appreciation for our newsletter.
Everyone has
the heart to be a true friend of the soul, an Anam
Cara. By embodying that ideal ourselves we may help
another to find it in themselves.
Our highest nature is always manifest in
relationship - to our loved ones, to all other beings, to
the
environment, and in relation to our own body and
mind. Becoming mindful of the quality of our
relationships
allows us to learn where the light shines and where it
needs to shine more. The ideal of Anam Cara is to
continuously endeaver to expand the depth and the
inclusiveness of the loving kindness we bring into
every relationship.
If
you have any
suggestions, comments or sharings, for our
newsletter please don't
hesitate to e-mail me and I'll do my best to
respond.
Anam Cara, Inc. is a 501
(C) 3,
non-profit
educational organization dedicated to teaching
meditative practices. Our non-denominational
programs are open to all. There are free meditation
instructions and downloadable audio files of guided
meditations on our website.
Thank
you for
the many ways you have shown
support for Anam Cara, Inc. Because
of
your gifts we can offer free programs and other
supports for meditation practices.
I look forward to welcoming you
in person to our programs.
With great
appreciation and love,
I thank you all.
May all beings realize complete freedom from suffering and may all our actions reflect only wisdom, compassion, patience and loving kindness.
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