Brad4d Savasana

In our desire to fit in or conform, we often suppress our creative spirit. The more we suppress, the more unfulfilled we will feel. Martha Graham offered these beautiful words of inspiration to one of her students.

Hermann Hesse’s “Three Harmonies” is a beautiful poem that encourages us to “conquer the frightful gloom” with our voice.

“Festivus for the rest of us!” Grievances weigh us down and keep us stuck in the past. Eckhart Tolle writes about grievances in “A New Earth.”

Rituals and routines are roads that provide us with a means for living, whether they are as simple as a routine of getting ready for work or a family ritual to maintain the family’s identity. It’s always important, though, for us to ask which routines help us grow, and which keep us fixed in a mindset rooted in a culture that no longer exists.

Rather than trying to persuade or force your point of view, practice contemplating the basic human-heartedness that connects us all. This passage is from Gaylord Ferguson in the collection of essays, “Radical Compassion.”

Raise your hand if you’re impatient! So many times we demand things to happen before they (or we) are ready. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin tells us to awaken to the “new spirit gradually forming within you.”

Thomas Merton reflects on non-attachment in his “New Seeds of Contemplation.” Some people are not under your charge to reform, so it’s futile to push a rock.

This poem by Hermann Hesse inspires us towards “our ultimate calling: to light and spirit.” It is a message of hope for our divided nation.

Here’s a longer episode that guides you though a savasana, which typically ends a yoga class. Whether you finished a series of yoga poses or not, lie down and let the healing begin.

C.S. Lewis writes about aspects of morality in his book, “Mere Christianity.” He never judges, and he writes honestly of the human condition. This passage echoes the current issues of division in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

If we struggle with loneliness, we might hastily reach for something—or someone—that might pull us away from what our loneliness can teach us. Henri Nouwen writes about this in “Inner Voice of Love.”

Covering up our dark side, or our shadow, can cause us much pain and anxiety because it doesn’t allow us to live authentically. Debbie Ford, before her passing, wrote how important it is for us to “become intimate with our shadow.” This passage is from “The Shadow Effect,” a book that she co-wrote with Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson.

In a society that offers infinite distractions, it’s most important for us to consider the bliss that can be found in “ananda,” the bliss of being. This is a passage from “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle.

The Chandogya Upanishad has some thematic parallels to the Gospel of John. Both speak, “In the beginning...” You can hear themes of loving one another. I also seem to like saying “certainly” this morning. Call it “end-of-semester” brain clog.

Kahlil Gibran writes beautiful accounts of encounters with Jesus in his book, “Jesus the Son of Man.” This story is about Mary Magdalene seeing Jesus for the first time.

It’s ironic how we abandon dogma associated with religion, yet we adopt various dogmatic practices when it comes to the physical body. Although US culture emphasizes the physical, yoga is more about the inward journey.

The Tao Te Ching has many teachings on leadership. This episode reads two versions—one from Stephen Mitchell and the other from Andy Smallman. Contemplate how this teaching could apply to our leaders today.

Hearing Isaiah’s prophecy gives a beautiful perspective of the peace and justice the Lord brings. This is the meaning of Christmas—preparing for Who is to come.

When you approach the world with kindness, the world approaches you likewise. Andy Smallman’s Tao of Kindness embraces the Tao Te Ching through this lens of kindness. You can read this work at https://kindliving.net/tao/. If you listen closely, you can hear my girl dog sniffing around for her chewie.

If you have an affinity for nature, particularly trees, you’ll be nourished by this passage about trees from Hermann Hesse’s “Wandering.”

The Mundaka Upanishad says that rituals and sacrifices don’t necessarily reveal the Lord of Love. I couldn’t help but hear the parallels between this and Jesus’ criticism of the scribes and Pharisees.

It’s important to evaluate information you take in because it affects your opinions and beliefs. Often we take in information that conforms to our beliefs because it makes us comfortable. The yoga sutras discusses the importance of pramana, or correct perception of our environment. Nicolai Bachman defines pramana in a concrete way.

The aim of yoga is to still our fluctuating mind. Nischala Joy Devi describes our state of mind beautifully in her interpretation of the Yoga Sutras, “The Secret Power of Yoga.”

We can get overwhelmed with our digital lives. Michael Harris writes about how technology pulls us from the peace solitude can bring us.

One text that is often conflated with depression is "Dark Night of the Soul" by St. John of the Cross. However, this spiritual text is a call for a deeper faith. His poem "The Ascent of the Mount" describes how it's important to let go of the sensual in order to obtain the spiritual. Much of his work echoes the Buddhist principle of non-attachment.