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| AHYMSIN newsletter, Issue - September 2011 | ||||||||
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Five Elements, Human Emotions, and Loveby Arlene MatthewsRancho la Puerta, at the base of sacred Mount Kuchuuma in Tecate, Mexico, has been hosting an annual Ashram program since the summer of 2008. This year, Swami Nityamuktananda – who participated during that inaugural program – returned to the Ranch and continued the tradition. Swami Nitya conducted daily guided meditations and gave talks on the topic of “Mastering the Emotions.” Each day attendance grew, as word spread even to those Ranch guests who had not come especially for the occasion that Swami’s talks were intriguing, accessible and uplifting. Swami Nitya offered insight into the Five Elements of which all entities – including us – are comprised. Throughout the day, one would frequently overhear those who had been in the audience debating whether they and their companions were primarily Earth, Water, Fire, Air or Space. The constructs offered a new way of looking at the tendencies of what we call “the personality.” But the topic of Swami’s talks went much deeper as well, examining the range of human emotion from anger and loss to selflessness and joy. How each of us processes those emotions is strongly influenced by which element is dominant within us. How would you respond to a fallen tree blocking your way on a road? Would you maneuver around it, chop it, examine it, or benignly bless it and step over? Or would you perhaps just stay happily at home? The answer lies in your elemental make-up. Of course in the end, said Swami Nitya, all elements, and all of us, are one and the same. Personal proclivities no longer matter and differences dissolve once we quiet our minds, open our hearts, and become aware that separateness is an illusion. Living from that awareness is called, quite simply, love.Editor’s Note:Arlene Matthews is a writer and editor with a special interest in psychology, communications, and spirituality. She has authored and co-authored over 30 books, including The Seven Keys to Calm, The Complete Idiots Guide to Beating Stress, and The Complete Idiots Guide to the Psychology of Happiness. To read the blog about the 2009 visit of Swami Veda to Rancho La Puerta: http://ashramattheranch.blogspot.com/ Mehrad Nazari and Michele Hébert facilitated Swami Nityamuktananda’s appearance at Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico (http://www.rancholapuerta.com/), which was promoted by Rancho La Puerta as “Ashram Week with Swami Nityamuktananda Saraswati – Assisted by Michele Hébert E-RYT 500 and Mehrad Nazari, Ph.D., E-RYT 500”. Since 2008 Mehrad has been presenting Swami Veda Bharati at Rancho La Puerta. A visionary Ashram Program was developed in collaboration with Deborah Szekley (co-founder of Rancho La Puerta, which is acclaimed as the leading spiritual program of the international spas.) Husband and wife, Dr. Mehrad Nazari and Michele Hébert, have devoted their lives to living and teaching the spiritual practices of Raja Yoga and meditation. Among other things, Mehrad was instrumental in the administration of HYT-TTP and has served on the AHYMSIN Executive Committee. Michele recently published the book, The Tenth Door, An Adventure through the Jungles of Enlightenment and developed the first meditation-based stress management program at the renowned Scripps Clinic. For addition information about Mehrad and Michele, please visit their website: http://www.rajayogis.net/ Swami Nityamuktananda is the author of The Five Great Elements Rediscovered and other books; please see http://www.athayoga.info/cds-and-books-for-sale. |
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