Sat Yoga Newsletter : October 2011 : Vol. 5, No. 10

Film Events

The Way of the Heart Hazrat Inayat Khan We have three film events this month. The first is on Wild Card night, tonight, which will begin with a presentation of what a group of Sat Yogis gained recently from a meeting with the Boruca tribe, and what more we hope to learn from them, and what we hope to offer them, as well. This will be followed by a documentary film about the great Sufi teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan.

The second film will be offered on Movie Night. It is called Lion of the Desert, a classic telling of the life and exploits of the great Libyan guerrilla leader Omar Mukhtar (played by our old friend, Anthony Quinn). We will place the events portrayed in the film--the invasion of Libya by the Italians in 1911--in context with the whole history of Libya since the Roman Empire up to the current war against Libya that began exactly one hundred years later, in 2011. We will discuss what the appropriate spiritual response is to the situation, and to the general issue of patriotism and the search for justice in the world.

The Shoes of the Fisherman The third film will be shown the following Tuesday evening. It is another masterful performance by the mighty Quinn, who this time plays a pope (a very zorba-like pope, of course) who pushes the Church to live up to the teachings of her Master. Don't miss this screening of The Shoes of the Fisherman...because afterward we will discuss how we can also walk in those shoes, and how we should answer the existential questions he is forced to face.

Schedule: Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00pm (The Way of the Heart); Saturday, October 15, at 7:00pm (Lion of the Desert); Tuesday, October 18, at 7:00pm (The Shoes of the Fisherman)

Requested Donation: 10,000 colones (on Saturday, all other nights are based on your own generosity)

Minimum Donation: 5,000 colones

(Note: The movies we will be showing in the Wild Card Class tonight and the Film Night on Tuesday the 18th are for General Students only)

If you wish to attend we ask that you please register in advance, simply call our staff at 2288-3294 or send us an email with your confirmation!

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Sat Yoga Seminar I

This paradigm-shifting seminar will introduce you to all the fundamental concepts employed in Sat Yoga classes. It will enable you to participate fully in our group discussions and to think in new ways about your life and reality in general. The insights you will gain from this weekend workshop will enrich your life immeasurably in terms of understanding your relationships, expanding your capacities and potentialities, and deepening your knowledge of the Self. If you are a true seeker of spiritual Truth then you will find relief in this extraordinary offering of the ancient Sat Yoga wisdom teachings.

There will be guided meditations that will take you into higher dimensions of Being so that you can learn to silence the mind at will and enter the Supreme Reality. You will also learn about the multi-layered nature of the egoic mind, the purpose of human life, and the role of spirituality, from the perspective of the world's greatest thinkers and sages. Most importantly, the universal path to inner peace will be taught in a logical and direct manner that will allow you to take the quantum leap into a new life based on universal love, divine wisdom, and supernal light.

We hope you will join us for this sacred rite of initiation into the open secrets Sat Yoga. Space is limited so please sign up as soon as possible.

(Note: This may be the last seminar we will offer in Escazú. If you are not a student, but are interested in the seminar, we can expedite your orientation so that you may attend, but please contact us ASAP.)

Where: The Sat Yoga Institute (San Rafael of Escazú)

When: 10am-5pm Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30, 2011.

Lunch and refreshments by Radha's Kitchen included both days.

Suggested Donation: $200 (or 105.000 colones). The suggested donation is to help support the Ashram & Institute

Minimum Donation: $150 (or 79.000 colones)

If you have financial limitations but would still like to attend please speak with Radha directly. To secure your seat, we are asking for a 50% Non-refundable deposit.

Please register at least one week in advance. Thank you.

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Sat Yoga Sangha News

Last night, October 11, 2011, the Sat Yoga Spiritual Order welcomed two new Pravartaks (students seriously considering discipleship) into the higher joys and commitments of a spiritually disciplined life, as well as some of those who have been involved in discipleship training and have taken postulant vows, into formal discipleship. Jon Hills, the newest addition to the Sat Yoga family, and Shivani (formerly Veronica) took the next step in accelerating their personal practice by taking postulant vows and becoming official Pravartaks, swearing wholehearted dedication to the fulfillment of the Sat Yoga vows and explaining why they had chosen to step up their commitment. The other Sat Yoga Pravartaks officiated their vows with an Om, signifying the joyful acceptance by the rest of the sangha.

After the new Pravartaks had been approved, some of those who have been seriously considering and practicing the vows of discipleship were invited to become full Sadhaks, formal disciples. Each Sadhak was asked if he or she was ready to accept the burdens, responsibilities, and joys which discipleship entails. After accepting, the Sadhak was asked to take the formal, solemn vows in front of the rest of the sangha. Finally, the disciple explained what discipleship meant to him or her and was accepted by the rest of the sangha with an Om. The first round of Sat Yoga Sadhaks who were initiated last night include (in order of seniority): Radha, Tamara, Saraswati, Jagdish, Marjiva, Satananda, Ajata, Heather, and Purusha.

Becoming a disciple has been an essential component to spiritual development and refinement since times immemorial. Every spiritual path in the world has some version of discipleship, which helps the spiritual aspirant cultivate his or her most benevolent and purest qualities and share them with the community as well as the entire world. In addition to being vows of basic harmony and goodwill toward life in all of its beautiful manifestations, the vows of discipleship function as a constant reminder to one's true purpose in life and free the mind to focus on the loftier pursuits of Divine Love, Wisdom, and Will. The Sat Yoga vows of discipleship, based on the Yamas and Niyamas of the traditional yogic lineage, create an atmosphere of trust and love among community members, allowing one's heart to fully open and blossom.

This event marks an auspicious occasion which will open up the opportunity for more and more spiritual aspirants to follow the example of those who have gone ahead of them. These Pravartaks and Sadhaks, by living the example of a life of Union with God, of impeccable karmic accuracy, of integrity and compassion, will encourage and make smoother the transition for future Sat Yoga community members into a full, creative, and blissful community life.