Being and Doing

July 3rd, 2009

A reader from Pennsylvania writes:

I’ve spent most of my life taking care of others’ needs and wants and desires. I’m a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a good friend to many. I am fortunate. I’m just lost. People constantly ask me what I am gonna do with my life. My inner response is usually ‘I’m already doing it.’ But that makes me no financial gains. It is hard to survive when your purpose in life is just …TO BE. If you feel like giving me any guidance on this subject, I would appreciate it.

Sounds as if you are doing a lot; you are participating in fundamental aspects of life. But in our culture, work that is not a paid career is not considered to be doing anything much at all.

Looking beyond these limited cultural karmas, the real and sole purpose of human life is to Self-realize. When we do practice, after a time we discover that our purpose was built-in all along. We don’t need, and shouldn’t seek, any other justification for our lives.

This doesn’t mean that we should drop everything and head for remote mountain caves. Opportunity to move toward Self-realization, our real purpose and the totality of the life process itself, is available everywhere in every moment and form of life.

We have to eat and take basic care of ourselves and our dependents. We are, most of us, engaged in some kind of necessary work. We can discover our enlightened Self in any situation if we do not allow ourselves to get too distracted by karmic emotions and ambition.

The best way to approach the householder life is to carry out your responsibilities very simply — just like you brush your teeth in the morning and night. Don’t make a big deal out of life’s duties. Appreciate their rhythms and try not to over do.

Make daily practice and remembering your true nature your main “business.” Integrate practices such as mantra and guru yoga into your everyday activities. Try to remain undistracted from the inner orientation that urges you onward toward Self-recognition.

In Ma’s love,
Shambhavi

Hello, Jaya Kula!

July 1st, 2009

Precious Selves,

Living Tantra is now Jaya Kula. Jaya Kula has many meanings.

Jaya means “Victory.” The victory referred to is Self-realization.

Jaya Kula means:

Victory to the Mother of All! (in vanquishing ignorance)
Victory to the family of practitioners! (Who are the body of the Mother)
Victory to all beings!

The name Jaya Kula was given to me in a state of deep contemplation. I hope you like the new name, and the changes that will be happening to the site slowly over time.

If you have a link to the old Living Tantra site on your blog or website, please change it to Jaya Kula - http://jayakula.org (no “www”).

If you are having problems reading Jaya Kula via a feed reader, you may have to update the address. Jaya Kula’s feed address is http://feeds.feedburner.com/JayaKula.

Your support of Jaya Kula and help in spreading the teachings is greatly appreciated.

In Ma’s Love,
Shambhavi

Suffering - What is it?

June 30th, 2009

A reader from the Netherlands asks:

Teachers and books about spirituality always say that human life is suffering. I don’t feel I am suffering. What is this suffering that we all supposedly feel?

When I first came to spiritual practice, I didn’t know I was in a state of suffering. I thought I was enjoying life and just looking for more. I had a lot to learn about myself and Reality!

We can understand suffering very concretely in several ways. more…

Astrology and Freedom

June 27th, 2009

Nearly everyone, including experienced astrologers, talks about the planets causing us to do this or that in our lives.

Or people say, often with great glee, “such and such is happening because of my astrology.”

The Sanskrit word for planet is “Graha,” or “Grabber.” The planets are said to seize humans with their powerful influences.

The fact is, we are not seized by planets and stars. We are seized by the results of our own habitual, limited actions. more…

Jaya Kula Book Naming Contest

June 20th, 2009

Starting now with the new name –Jaya Kula (formerly Living Tantra) will be changing, just like life.

One of the bigger changes will be the publication of a book series.

Over the years, many readers have requested that the posts on Jaya Kula be made available in book form. In fact, Jaya Kula was offered a publishing deal two years ago, but it just wasn’t the right deal.

Now there are nearly 250 posts. It’s a bit overwhelming, maybe even more than a bit.

Making selections and publishing them in nice, readable chunks seems the thing to do.

The book series will be self-published through Amazon’s Createspace program and will be available for low-cost.

A bunch of juicy posts will remain on Jaya Kula, but not all. As has been the current trend, new posts will be in response to reader questions.

Here’s where you come in. I need a name for the new series of books. more…

The Kindness of Guru

June 14th, 2009

A reader from Oregon asks:

I once heard that the way to do Yoga is to “be present and to be kind.” I have understood the present part (breathing and meditating) better than the kind part! Do you have any tips on being kind?

Kindness is the universal medicine for releasing our own Karmic patterns and those of others. Kindness– the sincere expression of goodwill toward yourself and others — is the fruit of practice. more…