Famed yoga teacher BKS Iyengar dies at 95

Yogis Seven, Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly; BKSIyengar.com; BBC.com

If it were up to Iyengar, Lululemons would not be so tight or transparent.

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Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar died today. He was a living legend who taught a modified form of yoga making the poses (asanas) more accessible and attainable to people in in the West and those with limitations. He himself, due to injuries, was limited. But he showed his teacher, Krishnamacharya, and fellow students that he could make something of this ancient science, something everyone could benefit from not just slender youthful ascetic males.
 

The Vedas teach yoga and health (Ayur-veda), how to live and eat well.

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Iyengar as a young man

The Iyengar style of yoga, because of its attention to detail and safety, became popular around the world. It is Hatha, bring together Sun and Moon principles together, with a gentle twist -- softened bends and rigor. It is gentle yoga of great precision. He found meaning in the yoga sutras, which are more aphorisms than discourses, by his practical search and regular practice. Therefore, he helped all to experience their wisdom. His certification of specialized teachers across the world was apparently lucrative enough to sustain him and this style making it quite respectable and the most common form of yoga found on college campuses.

We love Iyengar Yoga! It's so easy to do but so nitpicky. We just wanna have fun!

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(BBC.com) Indian yoga guru BKS Iyengar has died in the western city of Pune, India, aged 95.

Mr. Iyengar was admitted to hospital last week and died early on Wednesday [Aug. 19, 2014] following kidney problems, doctors treating him said.

He was credited with his own brand of yoga and taught author Aldous Huxley and violinist Yehudi Menuhin, among other celebrities.

Iyengar Yoga is now taught in more than 70 countries, and the guru's books have been translated into 13 languages.

One of yoga's finest teachers, Mr. Iyengar practiced what he called an "art and science" for more than eight decades and ran one of India's top yoga schools in Pune.

He continued to practice -- "practice is my feast," he once told a correspondent -- in his old age and could still do the sirsasana -- or the headstand -- for half an hour until last year.

He used around 50 props, including ropes and mats, to align and stretch the body.

"When I stretch, I stretch in such a way that my awareness moves, and a gate of awareness finally opens," Mr. Iyengar told the Mint newspaper last year.

"When I still find some parts of my body that I have not found before, I tell myself, yes I am progressing scientifically... I don't stretch my body as if it is an object. I do yoga from the self towards the body, not the other way around.

When he first met Yehudi Menuhin, the violinist complained that he never had time to relax and never got a good night's sleep.

"Within one minute Iyengar had him snoring happily away. But Guruji did warn me: 'Relaxation doesn't mean yoga is a soft option. It's a disciplined subject -- a casual attempt only gains casual results,'" Mark Tully, former BBC correspondent in India, wrote after meeting Mr. Iyengar in 2001.

• Does doing yoga make you a Hindu? [Yes, the way splashing water on your forehead makes you a Catholic and eating bagels makes you a Jew.] Have you considered the benefits of worshiping blue Krishna, the all-attractive personality? Janmashtami, or devotional Hindu X-mas, has just passed.

What would Buddha or Jesus eat, burgers?

Pat Macpherson, Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly; Adolfo Flores (LA Times, Aug. 11, 2014)

Hey, you<'re right; this veggie temple food is pretty good! - I told you, brother. (Japan, compassionate, cruelty-free diet, "Saintly Young Men" manga/Mr_Walker/flickr.com)

Israel: A kosher abomination? Serving cheeseburgers, too? (cowyeow/flickr.com)

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This beautiful "Buddha" burger is all vegan

Well, when you think about it, his father loves the sacrifice of helpless animals, particularly babies. He used to command the sacrifice...but not so much the son.

ISLA VISTA, California (site of Christian terrorist carnage near UC Santa Barbara) - In a college town that's seen its share of violence, the Jesus Burgers house serves up a spiritual message.

I wouldn't order that. You? - If it's kosher...

[No f'n way! You gotta be bull shytza-ing me, Wimpy! - It's true, it's on the front page of the LA Times today, and if you can just loan me the money until tomorrow...]

Angela Boyd bounced on the balls of her feet as the smell of sizzling [flesh] pierced the ocean breeze. The 19-year-old and her friends were about to celebrate her birthday in Isla Vista, but they were making a pit stop at the Jesus Burgers house. More

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Look at my cool YOGA tattoos! (video)

Yogis Crystal Quintero, Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; Vickie Howie (chakraboosters.com)

Maximize Potential for Love, Health, Money...

Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoos™ are the easiest way to move through blocks in any area of life.

Full set of seven tattoos

These temporary tattoos beautify body while boosting our seven main energy centers -- even during sleep! The vitality of these energy wheels -- called chakras -- are responsible for our wealth, sexuality, power, love life, personal expression, relationships, intuition, spirituality, and overall health. 

With these Chakra Boosters we can effortlessly and continuously improve key areas of our lives. Get some now.

How do they work?

Dr. Emoto water crystal (indicescibles)

Dr. Masaru Emoto’s water research shows why these tattoos work. The renowned Japanese researcher showed the world that when we put positive words on water, we change the molecular structure of it. Since humans are approximately 70% water, we can boost our body’s main energy centers by putting these beautiful, powerful, healing chakra tattoos right on the actual areas where each energy center. More

Why Affirmations may do more harm than good

Vicki Howie (M.A., International Life Coach, creator of Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoos, Hypnotherapist) shares a controversial perspective on affirmations: They can actually have a detrimental effect. To find out why and learn what to do instead, here's a short VIDEO to create a transformative turning point. Namaste

Becoming a Mother (Natureal Mom)

Ashley Wells, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; Lacey (NaturealMom.com)

Mother-making needs nurturing support (Nirrimi Firebrace/naturealmom.com)

TCM and "Qi" (naturealmom.com)

For women to feel good about our births, we need to own our births by being prepared, well-informed, and making sure we have the right kind of support.

Although there is much about the labor and birthing process that we cannot predict or control, we can empower ourselves.

Better Breastfeeding (Nirrimi Firebrace)

We can choose baby and mother-friendly care providers and hospitals/birth centers, knowing our options, being an active part of the decision-making process, and trusting in our ability to birth -- all of which will enable us to become more confident and nurturing mothers.

 

“Birth is not only about making babies.  Birth is about making mothers -- strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”

- Barbara Katz Rothman 

Care Providers

Shaman woman (Elende/deviantart.com)

Whether it is an obstetrician or midwife that practices in a hospital, birth center, or home, it is imperative that the mama-to-be feels safe and trusts her care provider.

This is one of the most important decisions we will make. Our care provider will be the one to ultimately make all of the final decisions about us and our baby’s health and safety.

Routine visits should be slow and unrushed with plenty of time to ask questions, discuss options, and communicate preferences. Mothers-to-be should be treated with care, kindness, and respect and encouraged in their ability to birth and mother.

Check out this great post written by the creator of BellyBelly: 11 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Obstetrician. For home births, there are specific questions that are important when interviewing midwives, such as how many clients they take a month, if they work with an assistant midwife, what their transfer rate is, and how they would handle it if two people were in labor at the same time.

Birth Doulas 

Lacey

Birth doulas are trained professionals who understand the physiology of birth and the emotional and physical needs of women in labor. They provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and just after birth. They perceive their role as nurturing and recognizing birth as a key experience the mother will remember throughout life.

 

A doula’s role changes depending on the needs of the woman and her partner. Doulas can encourage the partner to become involved in the birth to the extent he or she feels comfortable by demonstrating effective techniques that can be used by the partner during each stage of labor, offering reassurance about the normal progress of labor, and/or allowing the partner the freedom to simply be present with the mother and love her. More

 

Acupuncture for Fertility, Conception, Pregnancy & Childbirth

NM uses experts

Susan Minich (CNM, MSN, MSOM, LAc, Diplomate, Oriental Medicine has been a Certified Nurse-Midwife working in Women’s Health for 31 years) now integrates Eastern Medicine into her healing methods and is a noted author, lecturer, and teacher formerly on Clinical Faculty in the Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program at UCLA and the Univ. of Pennsylvania, and currently on the Clinical Faculty at Cal State University Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program as well as mentoring Nurse-Midwife, Nurse-Practitioner, and Nursing Students. She is involved in education and training for the OB/GYN and family practice residents at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles and is on Clinical Faculty at USC Keck School of Medicine.

Her interest and passion for Eastern Medicine has led her to pursue acupuncture humanitarian service work for women and children in Bali and providing care to Tibetan Buddhist monks, nuns, women, and children refugees living in Dharmshala, India. She traveled to Burma in January 2013 to teach Burmese doctors and has been invited back to India in November 2014.

Starving for meaning in New York

Ashley Wells, Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly; Bhikkhu Bodhi (Buddhist Global Relief)

New York City: Reaching Youth Starved for Meaning (buddhistglobalrelief)

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Bhante

The Reciprocity Foundation was established in 2006 to address the plight of homeless youth in New York City.

 

[Two years ago] in 2012, when they found that the homeless students were arriving hungry and unable to focus, the RF team started a vegetarian meal program  called “Starved for Meaning.” 

 

We won't stand for sexism, racism (FEMEN)

Meals, prepared collectively and served “family-style,” with a moment of gratitude before the meal, fulfilled the students’ hunger for community, dialogue, and meaning.

 

Last year, with the help of Buddhist Global Relief funds, the number of meals doubled and there was an increase in the number of youth coming to the center for food.

 

Bombarded with propaganda from the NY Times

In a questionnaire about the program, 100 percent of the youth said that their life improved as a result of the meals, they felt a greater sense of belonging, and they felt more optimistic about their life.

[This is June 2014 and] over the next year, BGR funding will help the Reciprocity Foundation increase the capacity of the vegetarian meal program for homeless youth in NYC and expand the food program to reach young people living on the streets. This and the next in the Bronx are annually renewable projects:

Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Global Relief Charity (BuddhistGlobalRelief.wordpress.com)

New York City: Community Garden Plots in the Bronx (Fiscal BGR Projects)

 

Occupy Wall Street (Carolyn Cole/latimes.com)

The Urban Community Food Project (UCFP) was started in 2011 as an initiative of the Urban Rebuilding Initiative. Its mission is to build a sustainable food system throughout New York in order to fight poverty and resultant food insecurity.

 

UCFP’s farms are located in the 16th Congressional District of the US, an area that has the lowest median income and the highest rates of unemployment and [police state mass] incarceration in the nation. UCFP works with at-risk youth, young adults, and formerly incarcerated men in local neighborhoods to convert urban spaces into food production sites. The food grown on these sites is donated to neighborhood food pantries and homeless shelters. The BGR grant will help UCFP fulfill its goals for 2014-15, which include:

1. Developing four inner-city farms that will produce 5,000 pounds of produce for local food pantries and soup kitchens;
2. introducing a new fitness program called “good food and fitness go hand in hand”; and
3. offering regular workshops on sustainability, urban farming, green technology, and civic action.
   

Without a Doubt – It’s Time to Get to Work on Climate Change

Ven. Santussika Bhikkhuni (BGR, March 31, 2014) 

Ayya

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has issued a report to dispel the fog of disinformation about the reality of climate change to impress on us the urgency of taking action. What we need to know is what we can do about it. 

 

One day when I was talking about the importance of taking immediate action on climate change, a good friend of mine said, “I just wish the scientists would get together and tell us whether they think climate change is happening.”

 

Well, my friend, there is a paper I want you to see. More

 

Our Quest for Meaning

Bhikkhu Bodhi (accesstoinsight.org); Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

The stupas of Pagan, Burma, the ancient "City of Pagodas" (Platongkohphoto/flickr)

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You hungry for meaning? Eat Chinese food!

However much the modern world may pride itself on its triumphs over the foolishness of the past, the progress we credit ourselves with has been bought at a steep price.

The price is so steep that it throws into question the worth of our achievements. This price has been the shared conviction we've lost that our lives are endowed with any ultimate meaning.

Even though in earlier ages humans lived in a space populated largely by figments of the collective imagination, they could still claim a precious asset we sorely lack: a firm belief that their everyday lives had enduring significance stemming from a transcendent goal.
 

"NYPD is a layoff away from joining us!"

Present-day attitudes -- molded by scientific reductionism and technocratic audacity -- have combined forces to sweep away from our minds even the faint suspicion that our lives may possess any deeper meaning than material prosperity and techie innovations.

For many people today the consequence of this militancy is a pervasive sense of meaninglessness. Cut loose from our living spiritual traditions, we drift on a sea of confusion where all values seem arbitrary and relative. We float aimlessly along the waves without any supreme purpose to serve as the polestar for our ideals or inspiration for our thoughts and actions.
 

When in the Bronx, go back to Nature!

Nature does not tolerate a vacuum, and humankind does not tolerate a loss of meaning. So to escape the plunge into the abyss of meaninglessness, we grasp after distractions.
 
We pursue pleasure and power, wealth and status, surround ourselves with contraptions, invest our hopes in emotional relationships that only conceal our own inner poverty.
 
At the same time as we become absorbed in distractions to cope with our psychological void, we stifle a deeper and more insistent need -- the longing for a peace and freedom that does not depend on externals.
 
The Buddha's solution

Calm and insight bring inner-light (flickr.com)

One of the great blessings of the Buddha's teaching is the remedy it can offer for the problem of meaninglessness so widespread in human life today.
 
The Dharma can serve as a source of meaning because it provides us with the two requisites of a meaningful life -- an ultimate goal in life and a clearcut and flexible set of instructions to advance toward that goal from wherever we are now [even if it's in Jay Z and Alicia Keys' overcrowded, concrete megalopolis of New York City]. More

National Burger Day, U.S.A.

Amber Larson, Xochitl, Dev, Pat Macpherson, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly (TEST KITCHEN); Lassens.com (LassensLoves.com, LivingNaturally); Moonbeam (FollowYourHeart.com); YF

There are yummy vegetarian things our families eat (that we unabashedly love)!

The Moosewood Collective says, “Our all-time favorite, luscious burgers the way we make them now: Vegan and wheat-free. “Tofu burgers have been a favorite at the restaurant since we can remember. Our customers often call to ask, “Are tofu burgers on the menu today?” In the early years, we served them on a thick slice of whole wheat toast with lettuce, tomato slices, and Russian dressing. Now we serve them... (Jim Scherer)

 

Wednesday, May 28, 2014, more than a month before it's needed, is National Burger Day. Presumably we're celebrating carnage like that of the Battle of Hamburger Hill.

Now, what if it were possible to have flavor, health, and compassion? What if National Burger Day could be celebrated in style free of heart attacks, cancer, obesity, bad karma, a jump in cholesterol (as our body tries to protect itself against the free radicals we're dumping in with animal flesh, acrylamides, and fermented toxins used in flesh burgers), or harm to the environment?

It is possible! We do it all the time. There are so many center "patty" options, and the best we've found is the amazing new Hilary's Hemp & Greens Burger at Lassens (online).

10 Meat-free Grilling Tips

Lassens edited by Wisdom Quarterly

Grilled blocks of barbecue-flavored tofu (SH)

The start of summer is the perfect time to enjoy delicious, sizzling meals straight off the grill! As we get set to fire up our BBQ grills, instead of the ugly and likely germ and GMO-contaminated flesh fare, cook up some grilled veggies instead. Going flesh free means opening up a world of many more options with smoky barbecue flavor.

 

The world of vegetables is amazing on the grill -- squash, tofu, hemp seed, onions, tempeh, garlic, quinoa, tomato, lettuce greens, chives, gobo root, chia seeds, lentil, eggplant, zucchini, potato, green jack, bell pepper, beet, portabello 'shrooms, and so much more! Plus, meat-free grilling is an easy way to add nutrient rich, fiber rich, healthy seasonal produce to our diet, which reduces disease.

"Eating [any] meat, particularly red and processed meat, can increase risk of heart disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer," says Allison Righter, MSPH, RD, Meatless Monday science adviser at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

And it's not just the amount of animal flesh someone eats -- it's also how someone cooks it. "Cooking meat at high temperatures, like pan frying and grilling/charring over an open flame, forms [toxic] chemical compounds in the meat that have also been linked to cancer," Righter says.

Kids love it -- vegan, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, dairy-free cheese (followyourheart)

 
The good news is that many of these chemicals are NOT formed when grilling vegetables or fruits. "So [people] can enjoy their grilled flavor worry-free!"  So get grilling and take a break from toxic flesh with these 10 easy summer grilling tips: More

Golden potatoes are an excellent complement to cruelty-free burgers with all the fixins.

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• Decolonize the MIND: go on a debt-free diet
• World's Best Veggie Burger (Hillary's Eat Well)
• Animal protein linked to diabetes risk
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• How vegan teens manage meals
• Vegan diets gain popularity
• May shopping specials
• RECIPES from Hillary

White Sugar is the new Cocaine (audio)

Amber Larson, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Mitch Jeserich (KPFA.org, Berkeley, 5-21-14)

I snort my sugar, take the candy straight to my head, which is where it ends up anyway.

 

Live from Berkeley, Pacifica's Letters and Politics (KPFA FM) focuses in on the effects of carbohydrates and white sugar. Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Robert Lustig, M.D. (UC San Francisco School of Medicine), author of Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Foods, Obesity, and Disease. They also mention the pioneering work of Dr. Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain. Diabetes? Brain damage? Lack of energy? Heart disease? Obesity? The results will surprise listeners:

• AUDIO: PLAY NOW (download MP3)

Neuroscience of carbs: Grain Brain, Dr. David Perlmutter, MD (drperlmutter.com)

Psychedelic Science: 'shrooms for alcoholism

Why a $30K paycheck is like $24K in L.A.

San Diego, CA fire to be contained today