Tonight, Golden Bridge Yoga in LA hosted an evening with two Indian Yogic Saints, entitled, “Drops of Nectar: An Evening of Divine Teachings with Pujya Swamiji & Sri Shankaracharyaji.”
Pujya Swamiji, aka “Muniji,” runs the largest yoga ashram in Rishikesh. I have to admit, by nature, I’m a western skeptic about spiritual masters, yet my encounters with Muniji have given me a different perspective about him. He gave a series of spiritual counseling sessions at a home in the Sutdio City hills, and a lot of nervous neurotic frenetic preparation preceded his arrival, but the moment he walked in the door, a mysterious palpable transformation took place. Suddenly everyone became more friendly and peaceful, and it truly became a magical evening.
Tonight’s presentation might have been titled, “Living in the Holy Woods of Hollywood,” as Muniji described his experience living in the Indian jungle with snakes and scorpions, having to experience a spiritual surrender of trust; something he encouraged everyone to do in Hollywood. He spoke of the value of silence and carefully chosen words, and laughed about how people have to exhibit friendships on Facebook as they neurotically “twitter” away. “Why do I have to be your friend on Facebook? I already know who my friends are!”
Sri Shankaracharyaji, whose name I couldn’t say once, much less ten times fast, told funny tales about how people will ask what’s wrong if you’re sad, but not ask why you’re happy, and then proclaimed that the yogic path will completely enable you to conquer frustration and suffering, revealing the divine beings that we all are. I’ll try to remember that when I’m 10 minutes into a difficult posture.
The evening opened with a tale of a clay buddha that was being polished by monks, and one discovered a shiny spot under the clay. As they cleaned the clay around the spot, they discovered the entire buddha was gold underneath, and had been covered with clay when the temple had been overrun and looted. We’re all like that gold buddha, they said, if we clean away the clay.
Yes, that was model Kirsty Hume – how could you miss that hair? – and was that Donovan Leitch with her, paying respects in the green room afterwards? I think so, but what was really great was seeing all the beaming yogis and yoginis I hadn’t crossed paths with for years.
The Swami’s visit preceded their honorary presence at Peace Prayer Day, part of the week-long 3HO Kundalini Yoga Summer Solstice Celebration in Espanola, New Mexico. This event is held at the edge of sacred Indian land in the Jemez Mountains near Espanola. I’d heard strange reports about it, then I went, and began making those reports myself.
A group of Aztec Indians ran miles up the dirt road into the mountains, did a rain dance at Peace Prayer Day, and a thundercloud of rain followed them back down the road as they left – amidst one of the worst droughts NM had seen.
Then all the yogis and yoginis proceeded to do three 8 hour days of White Tantric Yoga, which isn’t a “sex yoga,” as the NY Times reported, but a form of meditation where partners meditate together, holding a posture and chanting for 31 or 62 minute sessions at a time. 2500 people were doing Sat Kriya, with interlaced palms extended straight above their heads for 2-1/2 hours, and as they continued, a thunderclouds formed over the roof of the shelter and torrential rain proceeded to fall. A quarter mile away, the security guards at the entrance to the grounds stayed dry. Go figure.
The Summer Solstice is actually Monday – the longest day of the year, and supposedly a great day to instigate major change in your life. If you’re in LA, can’t make it to NM, and are not up to a week of 4AM yoga, chanting, meditation, camping, cold showers, Bhangra Dancing, and a diet of potato onion soup and watermelon flavored with black pepper, there are still other fun options for the weekend.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s grandson, Eric and his wife Mary, hold a solstice celebration Saturday night on their spectacular ranch overlooking Malibu. This opens with a Native American Indian Medicine Wheel Ceremony, and is followed by a potluck dinner.
Saturday, June 19th, 2010 – 5:00PM – 9:00 PM
Summer Solstice Potluck Celebration
Potluck dinner, season greeting, music making.
Please bring your favorite dish to SHARE!
Gather together around 6:30pm
$10-20 suggested donation
If that is too “woo woo” for you, there’s the Summer Solstice Ballyhoo at the Santa Monica Pier Saturday and Sunday. If you’re scared of the beach, and downtown is more your flavor, you might enjoy the Cal Plaza concerts Saturday night, which include the wild Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra (8PM), Andree Belle (10:30PM), and Natives of the Dawn (11:45PM).
So here’s hoping you have a great weekend and solstice!
