Resources by Topic
The Yoga of Selfless Giving
“Why aren't you happy? Why aren't you satisfied with your life? Deep down inside you know that you're not really happy or satisfied or free. You're entangled in a mass of emotions, you're bombarded by thoughts and ideas that don't make you happy, you live in a world gone mad, where people use technology to find faster and more efficient ways to kill each other, where in every home there's cruelty and unhappiness, where love is just another four-letter word for fulfillment of desire, where beauty is laughed at, purity stained, humility ignored.
“Why aren't you happy? Why aren't all of you happy when there's so much to have and so much to be? The reason is very simple. At the root of all problems we find one causal answer -- self-giving. The reason you're not happy, the reason the world lacks peace, the reason that we cannot find ourselves, is that we lack happiness -- the happiness that comes from self-giving.” Rama – Dr. Frederick Lenz
The Yoga of Discrimination
Inaccessibility and Attachment
Desire and Attachment are two ideas at the core of Buddhist thought. There’s good news inside - you don’t have to give up sex and ice cream in order to become enlightened (he didn’t). Desires in themselves are neither good nor bad, but they have a predictable result. We must learn how to handle them or else we’ll suffer.
Inaccessibility is the wisdom of passing through the world without letting others adversely affect you. It’s an essential skill for those who live and work in the world.
Modular Mysticism: Dress for Power
“One's progression along the spiritual path is a very, very intricate matter. This evening I'd like to talk to you a little bit about the structure of your being and how this process actually works, with specific recommendations as to what you can do to radically alter your current state of knowledge and awareness….
"Let us begin with clothing. It doesn't really matter where we start because the rule will apply to everything we discuss. We could discuss the orderliness of your room or your house or your career. But let us begin with clothing, because once you understand the principle, you can apply it to any aspect of your life.“ Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz
Transcendentalism
”Our subject tonight is transcendentalism -- the awareness of eternity in the present.... As I’m sitting talking to you, I’m watching a squirrel. I’m sitting here in the Dodge van and I’m watching this cute little guy hop back and forth, apparently oblivious to our technologically-oriented civilization. He’s out there in his world, a world of trees and nuts and wind and rain and sunshine -- completely unaware of the things that we are aware of, and, of course, we are unaware of the things that he is aware of. So transcendentalism suggests that we are aware of our world …but we are completely oblivious to a world that may be right next to us. Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz
Overcoming Stress
“Why does a person experience stress? Stress occurs because that which is within you -- which is light, intelligence, energy -- wants to do certain things and doesn't want to do other things. And that changes. Stress is a result of the fact that you're out of tune with your life and your inner being. If you are doing that which is within you, what that part of you that is beyond (the) body would like you to do, then you would not experience stress, because you would be very fulfilled." Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz
"Meditation is the process of stilling the outer surface mind so that you can become aware of the deeper mind within, which has all the answers. Your deeper mind knows everything already. If you can gain control of the surface mind, then the deeper mind will control the surface mind… it will send it the right thoughts and inspirations and feelings…. That deeper mind will direct you. And if you follow its directions, once you've learned to get in touch with it, then you will overcome stress. That is my solution to stress.” Rama - Dr. Frederick Lenz
Overcoming Fears
The Mature Monk
We do not need to shave our head and wear an ochre robe to meditate and progress on the path to enlightenment. No, we do not, and that is what is so exciting! We can meditate anywhere at any time. All we need to do is still our mind. Find out as a spiritual aspirant what attitudes and actions can help us on our journey.
The Path of Affirmation
Tantric Buddhism teaches us how to use the things that we must do in life to empower us rather than drain us. Tantra is a collection of things that work by doing them. It is a pathway of adventure and transformation that leads to Enlightenment.
Buddhism
In Buddhism we seek that which is ineffable - that which cannot be seen with the eyes or felt with the hands. We seek to find the still center in the middle of all the turning worlds, simply because we like that, we know that's where we belong.
Transience
Everything is transient - meaning it does not last. We are transient in this life. Everything and everyone we know will change their current form. This knowledge gives us the freedom to go and do what we truly want.
Buddhist Yoga
If the ups and downs of the transitory are bothering you, why not make so much happiness that nothing can affect you? Buddhist yoga teaches us how to remove the focus of our mind from the world and place it in a realm of pure light and ecstasy.