Dharma Study Groups: THURSDAYS at 6:30 - 8 pm
This series is for our yoga teacher training graduates to engage in weekly community dharma discussions with Sarahjoy and each other.
These dharma sessions are for teachers or teacher training students only, so that we can also incorporate reflections on how these teachings pertain to us as teachers of yoga. As the teacher-student relationship is a vital aspect of what our students come to us for when they attend a yoga session with us, we want you to have a place where discussions about the role of teacher, through the lens of yoga's philosophy and dharmic values, can be explored
March 12: Kapha Season: Mud or Lotuses?
In Spring season, Ayurveda warns us about the unctuous nature of Mud. We can either get stuck in the mud - in the ruts of our mental patterns; or we can challenge ourselves to grow from the mud as the lotus flower does.
The difference can be summarized like this:
Warm honey flows and is golden.
Cold honey is static and does not flow.
We did not make a recording of this session.
(SJ had technical issue. Sorry!)
In Spring season, Ayurveda warns us about the unctuous nature of Mud. We can either get stuck in the mud - in the ruts of our mental patterns; or we can challenge ourselves to grow from the mud as the lotus flower does.
The difference can be summarized like this:
Warm honey flows and is golden.
Cold honey is static and does not flow.
We did not make a recording of this session.
(SJ had technical issue. Sorry!)
March 19: How the Doshas Get In Their Own Way
(and block you from growing)
Craving begets craving. And impulse can disguise itself as instinct and intuition. Knowing how our dosha gets in its own way is extremely helpful for us to resist Impulse in favor of Insight.
The difference:
Impulse can have a familiar, personal “Yes” feeling; and won’t require vulnerability.
Insight will feel larger than what our mind anticipated; and will require vulnerability.
Listen to the recording of this session.
(and block you from growing)
Craving begets craving. And impulse can disguise itself as instinct and intuition. Knowing how our dosha gets in its own way is extremely helpful for us to resist Impulse in favor of Insight.
The difference:
Impulse can have a familiar, personal “Yes” feeling; and won’t require vulnerability.
Insight will feel larger than what our mind anticipated; and will require vulnerability.
Listen to the recording of this session.
March 26: Vyana Vayu:
Overcoming The Congestion of Kapha
Ayurveda tells us that the seat of Kapha is in the chest. Symptoms can include: heart congestion (grief, heaviness, self-pity) and lung congestion (including a cough in the chest, asthma, and breathing difficulties) The Covid 19 virus is a kapha expression.
Using the principles of Vyana Vayu, we can “de-congest” the heart and lungs and return our awareness to the Heart Chakra un-muddied, unburdened, un-congested.
Listen here to a recording of this session.
Overcoming The Congestion of Kapha
Ayurveda tells us that the seat of Kapha is in the chest. Symptoms can include: heart congestion (grief, heaviness, self-pity) and lung congestion (including a cough in the chest, asthma, and breathing difficulties) The Covid 19 virus is a kapha expression.
Using the principles of Vyana Vayu, we can “de-congest” the heart and lungs and return our awareness to the Heart Chakra un-muddied, unburdened, un-congested.
Listen here to a recording of this session.
APRIL SERIES FOCUS TOPIC: CHAKRAS
April 2: Chakras + the Gita: The Purpose of Despondency
We may wonder about these huge moments of despondency that seem to fall into our lives. "Wait!" we may say to ourselves, or to God, or some other force, "I practice yoga, I eat right, I am nice to people! Why am I facing this despondency?!"
Listen to a recording of the session.
April 9: Chakras + the Gita: The Purpose of Willingness
We live in a culture founded on Willfulness. (Those boats didn't make it over a vast ocean on a flat planet with Columbus and the others without a sense of Willfulness. And, we didn't overtake this continent from the native populations without a sense of entitled willfulness.)
So, in a way it makes sense that we are very confused about the places for Self-Will, Will Power, Willfulness, and Willingness in our culture.
Listen to a recording of the session.
April 16: Chakras + the Gita: The Meaning of Laying Down Your Weapons
A pivotal moment exists in the Gita. Arjuna is given a choice: Either take his teachers' entire army and all of his weapons into this battle;
OR
Take only his teacher into the battle.
His choice is potent for all of us, especially as Arjuna represents the 3rd Chakra in the 7 Chakra system.
Listen to a recording of the session.
April 23: Chakras + the Gita:
The Difficulty with Premature Compassion
Compassion is a wonderful quality in human potential. It is innately installed into our hearts already! (Brahmaviharas). However, for many of us on the spiritual journey we're running the risk of Compassion without Discernment. And Compassion without Action. Or without Reciprocity.
We call this Premature Compassion. Sadly, it will inherently contribute to unforeseen difficulties.
Listen to a recording of the session.
MAY SERIES FOCUS TOPICS: SUTRAS + KOSHAS
April 30 Yoga Sutras 1.1 - 1.11:
What is the true nature of the mind?
By now all of you have heard our discussion on the ripples on the surface of the water - they distort the view of the sky above and they obscure our view what is underneath the water. If yoga is defined as Seeing Clearly, learning to still the mind is essential.
But, we sometimes fear that stillness. What if the true nature of our mind is actually uniquely NOT Yogic? What if these teachings work for everyone except us?
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 7 Yoga Sutras 1.12 - 1.16:
Why a full-hearted commitment also needs mental surrender.
The heart cannot be required to constantly battle with the mind. At some point, we must bring in the greater wisdom even yet - and tell the mind to stop intruding on the heart. If we are to become free the mind must eventually surrender its incessant and insistent broadcasts.
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 14 Yoga Sutras 1.17 - 1.22:
Why Concentration Must Get More Subtle
"That which is essential is invisible to the eye."
- The Little Prince
If we are going to see into the nature of reality, we must learn to look with even more subtle attention, more subtle concentration.
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 21 The 5 Koshas: How Teachers Can Prevent Burn Out
As we learn to see with more subtlety, our understanding of the 5 Kosha model will come to life. Seeing our inner life through this lens prevents burn out. Keeping in mind that Burn Out is always relational, it might surprise you to learn how the kosha model can be applied here to prevent you from having teacher burn out syndrome!
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 28 The 5 Koshas: The Roles of Community and the Individual
While the Kosha model was offered to us as a view of human nature, and is most often translated as referring to our individual ecology (our individual personhood), in yoga and social justice (and in the yoga that originated in a tribal culture), it makes sense that the kosha model is also a model for community. And, since our healing is interwoven with all others, we will greatly benefit our collective journey by understanding the koshas through the lens of a community health imperative.
JUNE + JULY FOCUS TOPICS:
SUFFERING + ALLEVIATION of SUFFERING
June 4: Yoga Sutras 2.3 - 2.9: Is suffering Optional?
June 11: Yoga Sutras 1.33 - 1.39: What Is Already Installed in Your Heart
June 18: What We Learn From Unconditional Love
June 25: Seeing Clearly
July 9: The Way To Love
July 16: A More Ardent Fire
April 2: Chakras + the Gita: The Purpose of Despondency
We may wonder about these huge moments of despondency that seem to fall into our lives. "Wait!" we may say to ourselves, or to God, or some other force, "I practice yoga, I eat right, I am nice to people! Why am I facing this despondency?!"
Listen to a recording of the session.
April 9: Chakras + the Gita: The Purpose of Willingness
We live in a culture founded on Willfulness. (Those boats didn't make it over a vast ocean on a flat planet with Columbus and the others without a sense of Willfulness. And, we didn't overtake this continent from the native populations without a sense of entitled willfulness.)
So, in a way it makes sense that we are very confused about the places for Self-Will, Will Power, Willfulness, and Willingness in our culture.
Listen to a recording of the session.
April 16: Chakras + the Gita: The Meaning of Laying Down Your Weapons
A pivotal moment exists in the Gita. Arjuna is given a choice: Either take his teachers' entire army and all of his weapons into this battle;
OR
Take only his teacher into the battle.
His choice is potent for all of us, especially as Arjuna represents the 3rd Chakra in the 7 Chakra system.
Listen to a recording of the session.
April 23: Chakras + the Gita:
The Difficulty with Premature Compassion
Compassion is a wonderful quality in human potential. It is innately installed into our hearts already! (Brahmaviharas). However, for many of us on the spiritual journey we're running the risk of Compassion without Discernment. And Compassion without Action. Or without Reciprocity.
We call this Premature Compassion. Sadly, it will inherently contribute to unforeseen difficulties.
Listen to a recording of the session.
MAY SERIES FOCUS TOPICS: SUTRAS + KOSHAS
April 30 Yoga Sutras 1.1 - 1.11:
What is the true nature of the mind?
By now all of you have heard our discussion on the ripples on the surface of the water - they distort the view of the sky above and they obscure our view what is underneath the water. If yoga is defined as Seeing Clearly, learning to still the mind is essential.
But, we sometimes fear that stillness. What if the true nature of our mind is actually uniquely NOT Yogic? What if these teachings work for everyone except us?
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 7 Yoga Sutras 1.12 - 1.16:
Why a full-hearted commitment also needs mental surrender.
The heart cannot be required to constantly battle with the mind. At some point, we must bring in the greater wisdom even yet - and tell the mind to stop intruding on the heart. If we are to become free the mind must eventually surrender its incessant and insistent broadcasts.
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 14 Yoga Sutras 1.17 - 1.22:
Why Concentration Must Get More Subtle
"That which is essential is invisible to the eye."
- The Little Prince
If we are going to see into the nature of reality, we must learn to look with even more subtle attention, more subtle concentration.
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 21 The 5 Koshas: How Teachers Can Prevent Burn Out
As we learn to see with more subtlety, our understanding of the 5 Kosha model will come to life. Seeing our inner life through this lens prevents burn out. Keeping in mind that Burn Out is always relational, it might surprise you to learn how the kosha model can be applied here to prevent you from having teacher burn out syndrome!
Listen to a recording of the session.
May 28 The 5 Koshas: The Roles of Community and the Individual
While the Kosha model was offered to us as a view of human nature, and is most often translated as referring to our individual ecology (our individual personhood), in yoga and social justice (and in the yoga that originated in a tribal culture), it makes sense that the kosha model is also a model for community. And, since our healing is interwoven with all others, we will greatly benefit our collective journey by understanding the koshas through the lens of a community health imperative.
JUNE + JULY FOCUS TOPICS:
SUFFERING + ALLEVIATION of SUFFERING
June 4: Yoga Sutras 2.3 - 2.9: Is suffering Optional?
June 11: Yoga Sutras 1.33 - 1.39: What Is Already Installed in Your Heart
June 18: What We Learn From Unconditional Love
June 25: Seeing Clearly
July 9: The Way To Love
July 16: A More Ardent Fire
If you’re interested in listening to any of the past Dharma Study Group discussions, please click here.
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