tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333807822024-02-07T15:36:50.881+05:30Living Breathing YogaReflections on Integration: The Philosophy and Discipline of Yoga in Daily LifeHarmony / Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470482323101702004noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-66088461528196294012014-09-27T08:48:00.000+05:302014-09-27T10:41:08.767+05:30You Think God - Brahmacharya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Guruji always used to say, "You take practice, you think God."</b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlthOTaJgQj6RkmV25ugADaQqaln6Myzg5G-IUCY05tvBaZTQDVOKD73ub-kL43KCde4WcFfu7JfZ-yqxaI8C0iOoaxa7BokEgj5Uz3qVAqrP6Em4ZZ7P2xKpdzrhEw84uY-m/s640/blogger-image-2055349231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlthOTaJgQj6RkmV25ugADaQqaln6Myzg5G-IUCY05tvBaZTQDVOKD73ub-kL43KCde4WcFfu7JfZ-yqxaI8C0iOoaxa7BokEgj5Uz3qVAqrP6Em4ZZ7P2xKpdzrhEw84uY-m/s320/blogger-image-2055349231.jpg" width="320"></a>As I look around, I see there is a lot of practice going on, specifically <i>asana</i> practice, which is great, and inspiring in many ways; but somehow the second part of Guruji's teaching seems to have been forgotten, overlooked, or conveniently omitted, and what concerns me that this oversight of "God thinking" reduces our practice to merely <i>circus tricks</i>. <br>
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<b>Guruji also said, "Yoga is mind-control."</b><br>
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His words were simple, and hit exactly on point.<br>
In many ways, yoga isn't actually about our physical practice at all. Rather, it is concerned with controlling our mental-world, and specifically, how we direct our thoughts. If we are really yearning to practice yoga, and seek to attain the ultimate goal of waking up our inner Divine Nature, then we need to take Guruji's words to heart, and continually practice directing our thoughts towards God.<br>
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<b>This is also called: <i>Brahmacharya</i>.</b><br>
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Literally the word <i>brahmacharya</i> means, "the path that leads to <i>Brahman</i>" or "moving in <i>Brahman."</i><br>
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<i>Brahman</i> is the fabric of the universe, Absolute Reality. It has nothing similar to it and nothing different from it. It is Infinity. In Vedanta philosophy, it is described as <i>saccidananda</i>: <i>sat </i>(Existence absolute), <i>cit </i>(Consciousness absolute), and <i>ananda </i>(Bliss absolute).<br>
<i>(A concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy, John Grimes, 2009</i>).<br>
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In his classic work entitled, <i>Sadhana, </i>Swami Sivananda states that there are three things essential for God-realization: constantly remembering God, cultivating the <i>yamas</i> (ethical codes of conduct), and making every activity an offering to the Divine (p.32).<br>
He suggests that alongside <i>ahimsa</i> (non-injury) and <i>satya </i>(truthfulness) that <i>brahmacharya</i> is, without doubt, one of the most important virtues to develop through our spiritual practice.<br>
I would go so far as to say, that without integrating a practice of <i>brahmacharya</i> there can be no hope of <i>progressing</i> in <b>true</b> Yoga at all.<br>
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This begs the question, how can we develop more in the field of <i>brahmacharya</i>?<br>
I feel it begins by creating a clear intention to shift all of our thoughts, words and deeds into closer alignment with God. This includes increasing our investment in all of the people, places, and things that encourage us to cultivate a more intimate connection to <i>Brahman</i>, and reducing our exposure to everything that pulls us further away. <br>
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We must start by developing our awareness around who and what are we surrounding ourselves with. Are we generating positive thoughts or cycling in negativity? What are we watching? What are we reading? How are we spending our time? Are we wasting our energy chasing after fleeting experiences and momentary gratification? Are we feeding our senses or our soul? <br>
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We need to examine and evaluate our mind, speech and actions to determine whether we are being propelled closer to the goal of Yoga - Self Realization, or driven by old habits of obsessive ego-gratification. Is our yoga practice motivated by a desire for deeper union with "God," both within and without, or is it pushed by an insatiable hunger for the fickle affection of others, fame and fortune, or instant pleasure?<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGvEXdCKNtsSCAppo8bp3Skd2GaYPanFEU8d2UTQRMOnJ4CZWVOMOJIT0AEYF9k-_BW6QZ0F9yFihS9sxEGHH8XG2f50a8oS8ZnUIDlQXVhHagbOgGGBa0P8Y5FvLKFX3hnOL/s640/blogger-image--1116171202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGvEXdCKNtsSCAppo8bp3Skd2GaYPanFEU8d2UTQRMOnJ4CZWVOMOJIT0AEYF9k-_BW6QZ0F9yFihS9sxEGHH8XG2f50a8oS8ZnUIDlQXVhHagbOgGGBa0P8Y5FvLKFX3hnOL/s320/blogger-image--1116171202.jpg" width="320"></a>I practice <i>asana</i> because it is a very effective tool for directing my attention more acutely towards the Infinite. I can see the direct results of this integration happening on a deeper level in my approach to life. Taking the time to make contact with the pulse of this ancient life-force, even for a second each day, generates more internal positive energy then I can describe. However, this is rarely a pretty process, neither is it a perfect one; frequently it is baptized through sweat and tears, and hardly ever do I have a practice that feels "YouTube" worthy. It is a private sacrifice of my ego each day; and regardless of whether I'm <i>crawling</i> or floating, I know that I am aiming to align my inner world, and consequently, the rest of my life with <i>Brahman</i>. <br>
And if I have nothing else to show for my efforts, at least I have that - an honest yearning for God in my heart.<br>
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David Williams is often quoted as saying, "<b>Yoga is all the things you can't see</b>." <br>
I believe this to be true.<br>
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<i>Ultimately, it doesn't matter what your jump-backs look like, how long you can hold a handstand, or whether or not you can grab your ankles in a backbend. How your practice looks on the outside </i><i>is inconsequential</i><i>, what matters is the effect it is having on the inside.</i><br>
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<b>Yoga is a path that leads to God-Realization, and if it isn't heading in that direction, you are on a different path.</b><br>
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When we start to nurture our practice with the understanding of <i>moving in Brahma</i>, we begin to engage the world with an different attitude. We start to experience the beautiful art of self-surrender: "I am Thine; All is Thine; Thy will be done." We begin to ask questions like "<i>how can I serve</i>" instead of "<i>what can this do for me</i>."</div>
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Often <i>brahmacharya</i> is defined as celibacy. However, celibacy need not <i>only</i> mean sexual restraint.<br>
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The whole idea of creating a more <i>celibate environment</i>, is to purify not only one's body, but more importantly, one's mind, so that all faculties of attention can be one-pointedly focused in unbroken communion with the Source of all existence. When we actually start to feel this Reality as the ancient Source of all things, pulsating both within, and all around, we can begin to practice yoga continuously, uninterruptedly, all day long, in everything we do. <br>
Another one of Guruji's favourite quotes comes from Patanjali Yoga Sutras "<i>sa tu dirgha-kala-nairantarya-satkarasevito drdha-bhumih" </i>(1:14). <b>"Practice becomes firmly established when done continuously, without break, for a long long time, with sincere devotion." </b><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncUFlcthd0Bf1DXChlUlwPGEgdkPubrhZtMm3QJECMpAOxu2l1rdosBW0y5M7OFnpb8oO1yDPsOUtQkPAXTWo6RfhQBw8oHYfXEjW57Rl57yvQNDGpdh8fLoobHehWRSRGT7o/s640/blogger-image-591432387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncUFlcthd0Bf1DXChlUlwPGEgdkPubrhZtMm3QJECMpAOxu2l1rdosBW0y5M7OFnpb8oO1yDPsOUtQkPAXTWo6RfhQBw8oHYfXEjW57Rl57yvQNDGpdh8fLoobHehWRSRGT7o/s320/blogger-image-591432387.jpg" width="320"></a><a href="http://landyoga.com/" target="_blank">Lara Land</a> has been talking about <i>brahmacharya </i>all month, and wrote an exceptional piece on her blog, <a href="http://adventuresinyogaland.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Adventures in Yogaland,</a> at the start of September. I hope you will read it. There is so much to think about and talk about on this subject - that it might possibly take us a lifetime to introspect <i>and put it all into practice</i>! <br>
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One thing is for sure... <i>Ashtanga Yoga</i> holds so much more promise then just the physical aspect of <i>asana,</i> and we must start to actualize <b>All Eight Limbs</b> in our daily experience. <br>
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This is where the growth is. This alone, will take us on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.<br>
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Om<br>
Harmony<br>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-89703491266445168162014-09-06T04:15:00.000+05:302014-09-06T04:15:20.876+05:30A Summer in Mysore India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KIIhUjMnpGk/VAo7Cw5k-JI/AAAAAAAACEY/n2YF_6ANN20/s1600/IMG_3908%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KIIhUjMnpGk/VAo7Cw5k-JI/AAAAAAAACEY/n2YF_6ANN20/s1600/IMG_3908%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.JPG" height="320" width="176" /></a>As many of you may already know, we spent the past two months in Mysore, India, with a small hand-selected group of students who were chosen to practice with Sharath Jois for a special course focused on deepening our understanding of this authentic system of yoga.<br />
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I took this time as a sabbatical, and allowed myself to be absorbed into the ever persistent call to present moment awareness that is necessary for diving deeper into oneself during periods of intense practice and learning. Thus, I'm only writing about the experience now. I can feel myself beginning to speed up again to the pace of North American life, and the last two months is already drifting into some distant memory. Time is funny that way. Especially time in India.<br />
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I'm not sure I've really processed it all yet, as we have not even reached our home in Victoria, but as the lingering exhaustion of the twelve-hour time difference slowly subsides, I am aware that something within myself has shifted. <br />
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It is difficult to exactly put into words what has changed, but I seem to have a greater sense of direction and confidence. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-li5xEk8TciI/VAo5_CK4AFI/AAAAAAAACEM/4lWbBrQBbDU/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-li5xEk8TciI/VAo5_CK4AFI/AAAAAAAACEM/4lWbBrQBbDU/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>I feel honoured to have been counted amongst such a prestigious group of practitioners and teachers from around the world, and to have had this allotted time to share with them in our mutual struggles and triumphs. I now understand that the difficulties of transmitting this authentic lineage of teachings are the same all over the world, and that those students who grab hold of this practice and experience the transformation that it will inevitably bring, are unique seekers of truth and higher wisdom. I see what a blessing it is to be amongst those chosen to pass on this practice in the stream of the <i>parampara</i>; and I feel it is my duty to be a pillar for those who seek refuge from the onslaught of quasi-yoga classes offered on mass in the West.<br />
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I know that more will reveal itself to me as time passes.<br />
For now, this is enough.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-83946591743349460572014-05-31T17:24:00.000+05:302014-05-31T17:24:04.559+05:3031 Days in May!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We've reached the end of May... the final day of my writing challenge!<br />
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Looking back I didn't do too poorly with it. I actually surprised myself a little. I only missed about eight days, so I guess I achieved somewhere around 75% of perfection! More importantly, what this month has encouraged me to do is keep up with writing more frequently, which is a delightful consequence of challenging myself to write every day for the month of May. <br />
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I have received some wonderful feedback over that past 30 days, and I'm so grateful to know that some of my experiences, which were translated into words, have touched your hearts or lifted your spirits in some way. So thank you for your support. It really helped me through this month and motivated me to keep going.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3urHLo42gi0COk1TSLUJKef6CfLr1LXHoOLiUrUiVxicurr809ZlhETnSqvz_EsejY91Ks0IO7adk8u4ViQ__oRuiEf7slGMGqvRFa-8o0MDyhyphenhyphensspycreO4yxy3lK-C8O51/s640/blogger-image--1687579412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3urHLo42gi0COk1TSLUJKef6CfLr1LXHoOLiUrUiVxicurr809ZlhETnSqvz_EsejY91Ks0IO7adk8u4ViQ__oRuiEf7slGMGqvRFa-8o0MDyhyphenhyphensspycreO4yxy3lK-C8O51/s400/blogger-image--1687579412.jpg" width="400" /></a>We are in Ontario right now, somewhere north of Toronto sitting in a cabin over looking a lake. It pretty much took us two full days (minus an overnight rest) to get here, but after a full night's sleep and a little time to take in the view, it sure was worth it! <i>This is a beautiful setting</i>. I'm feeling very Canadian sitting here writing, overlooking our natural landscape, and feeling the peacefulness of being completely immersed in nature, while listing to the morning birds sing and taking a deep breath of fresh, clean air.<br />
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We are here with Jeff's family, his two brothers, sister-in-law, their kids and of course his parents, as we're here to celebrate his parent's 50th wedding anniversary. Now... <i>50 years - that's something to celebrate! </i><br />
<i><br /></i>Thus, in the middle of this vast and expansive scenery, we find ourselves in the midst of three generations; and it comes to mind that if our parents represent the past, and our children represent the future, then here we are in the balance of the two, weighing what has come before us, while trying to manage and shape what is yet to be. <i>We are the present</i>. It seems this is the key to everything: AWARENESS of the PRESENT MOMENT.<br />
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As the month closes, I find myself contemplating time. Time is slippery thing. Forever moving. Always elusive. It is uncatchable; except perhaps, in those still quiet moments when we are able to sit in the seat of our own inner soul, and fully immerse ourselves in the present, when we become <i>one</i> with time per se, without thinking, analyzing, or judging - a moment of pure active observation: <i>YOGA</i>.<br />
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Life can feel overly full at times; but we are blessed with this unique opportunity to be on this planet, at this exact time in history, conscious beings, alive, awaking up more each moment. I encourage you to make time in your day to seize those fleeting occurrences of calm, and remind yourself <i>it is truly a gift to be alive! </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As Guruji would continually bring to our attention: "<i>you are given, maybe, one hundred years, don't waste your time!</i>" </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-8458931033798162052014-05-28T21:07:00.000+05:302014-05-28T21:36:29.927+05:30But... Green is my Life!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn9qdD4vjSMawAHxa4Cym36DqrnoppEkzSkuokjkpxbfrwCj1sbO_eLlr12UpnIdMRhSD0UI0R5XV1kvFxy_ZD8f9OHT5mDm5BCpoL8uEAAlEONcJH8LJjLQ_rj-KiIw9ZFoN/s640/blogger-image-766044283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn9qdD4vjSMawAHxa4Cym36DqrnoppEkzSkuokjkpxbfrwCj1sbO_eLlr12UpnIdMRhSD0UI0R5XV1kvFxy_ZD8f9OHT5mDm5BCpoL8uEAAlEONcJH8LJjLQ_rj-KiIw9ZFoN/s200/blogger-image-766044283.jpg" width="200" /></a>Jediah and I were driving yesterday in our car, and I pointed out how the construction crew had cut down a whole bunch of trees in one area to make a clearing for a new road and bridge that they are building near our home. <br />
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At which point he says, with a very sad tone in his voice,<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"<i>but... Green is my life!</i>"</span><br />
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I started to smile and as always, I was in awe of how profound, yet simple, the words of a three year old could be, and I replied, "it is true, Green is my life too. Green is everyone's life."<br />
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We were on our way to the doctor, and at the office I was flipping through a magazine and came across this advertisement for <a href="http://conservation.org/" target="_blank">Conservation.org</a>. It was incredibly effective, and since Jediah was there due to some trouble with his breathing, it seemed very synchronistic to our current situation.<br />
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It reminded me that we are so intricately connected to nature that sometimes it is easy to overlook how absolutely essential and necessary it is for our existence. Everything we need and depend on is provided by nature - <i>yes... even your computer and iPhone! </i><br />
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For example, did you know that there is no living thing on this planet that can survive without water? <br />
In an ideal environment, a human may be able to last a total of 12 days without water, but more then likely would die sometime around the five day point. <br />
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Here in Canada, we are championed in environmental activism by <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/" target="_blank">David Suzuki</a> and his foundation. They bring attention to many issues, and also provide simple solutions that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine, and can significantly help to reduce our negative impact on this planet. You see, every breath we take, everything we eat or drink, and everything we own is derived from nature, even our homes are made from natural materials. We are completely dependent upon sustaining a harmonious environmental balance for our survival.<br />
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Here are a few quick facts from <a href="http://conservation.org/" target="_blank">Conservation.org</a> that you might find enlightening:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw11Q6mUvHgW0Wv8yGUtuoh5FVV1rZax7EOzMRQA8msmcSE9DrOH7Z6kz4hTWwMV6bq1jRCYOeBStiTcJ10k7qgusdq6C34a17C5IJ-rVnb5zoMuAPOWF30RO20_O9NgthdSF6/s640/blogger-image--1085819053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw11Q6mUvHgW0Wv8yGUtuoh5FVV1rZax7EOzMRQA8msmcSE9DrOH7Z6kz4hTWwMV6bq1jRCYOeBStiTcJ10k7qgusdq6C34a17C5IJ-rVnb5zoMuAPOWF30RO20_O9NgthdSF6/s320/blogger-image--1085819053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://conservation.org/" target="_blank">Conservation.org</a></td></tr>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 28px;">At least half of all medicines in use worldwide are derived directly from natural components, primarily from tropical forests. Antiviral drugs and painkillers are among the modern medicines obtained from coral reefs. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Only a small fraction of tropical rainforest species have been analyzed for their medicinal properties. We may yet discover more cures in nature —<i> if we don’t destroy them first.</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;">Most large, modern structures are made from concrete, glass and steel. All three are derived from nature. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Steel making is one of the world’s leading industrial sources of greenhouse gases. In 2010, according to the International Energy Agency, the iron and steel industry accounted for approximately 6.7% of total world CO2 emissions.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Most vehicles run on fossil fuels like diesel and gasoline. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, there are fewer than 1.3 trillion barrels of crude oil left in the world oil reserve, which at the current rate of consumption would last the world only 41 more years.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Deforestation accounts for 20% of all carbon emissions, which is twice the amount that all the cars, trucks and planes in the world emit, combined. That's pretty major, as t</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">here are more than 1 billion vehicles on the road worldwide, including buses and trucks, which are themselves, disproportionately heavy polluters.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;">The production of one hamburger releases as many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as driving a car 10 miles.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The production of <i>one burger</i> requires 7,000 liters (about 1,850 gallons) of water, the bulk of which is used to grow grain for cattle feed.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Beef production uses about 60% of the world's agricultural land, yet provides less than 2% of the world's calories.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Because cattle ranching requires large tracts of land, producers frequently clear-cut tropical forest to provide pastures for their herds. Extensive cattle ranching accounts for 80% of the amazon's deforestation.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.75;">Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil found in about half of all the packaged food products on supermarket shelves — not just baked goods and snacks, but also cosmetics and lotions, soaps and detergents, even pet food. Palm oil</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> is incredibly productive, producing far more oil than other crops on the same amount of land. Today, a third of all vegetable oil used worldwide is palm oil. However, m</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">ost palm oil is produced on large industrial plantations, primarily in Indonesia and Malaysia. Often, tropical forests are cleared to make way for oil palm plantations that are destroying the habitat for endangered species like the orangutan. This deforestation also releases carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to global climate change.</span></span></li>
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Not to overwhelm you with the issues at hand; but, <i>knowledge is power</i>, and it is important to understand what is happening so we can make informed choices in how to respond and protect the environment that supports us day in and day out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelwR4tgKE9Db1mKKyTSQi7EkKGymw4mkvQFR6JgAy7pPIgxCDDsTDXZCz2tcrWuT-36TpUMlrXh9ADCl85WH-kqruJT6cvuzCKfveomkf4-F-CoWq3Uwds8Ze0TEejLA1BsDu/s640/blogger-image-1792797525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelwR4tgKE9Db1mKKyTSQi7EkKGymw4mkvQFR6JgAy7pPIgxCDDsTDXZCz2tcrWuT-36TpUMlrXh9ADCl85WH-kqruJT6cvuzCKfveomkf4-F-CoWq3Uwds8Ze0TEejLA1BsDu/s200/blogger-image-1792797525.jpg" width="200" /></a>Our yoga teacher R. Sharath Jois is also very passionate about the environment and protecting nature. I found a shirt he made awhile back that has on the it one of his favorite sayings from that period in time: <i>Save Nature - Nature Saves You</i>. I have always admired this about him, the fact that he see this Ashtanga Yoga Practice expanding beyond simply the <i>asana</i> into how we treat our environment, the animals, and of course other people too.<br />
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Each day we should wake up with gratitude for all that we have, most of all for this beautiful planet that nourishes and supports us through the endless offering of herself. That is the reason why Nature is conceptualized as a <i>Mother,</i> because she gives and gives without hesitation, without reserve, unconditionally loving and supporting us to the detriment of her own welfare, and will continue to do so until she is completely depleted. Any mother understands this innate inclination of sacrificial offering and unlimited relinquishing of everything, for her children.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAmGkNeX8_iIR6TsXcFiZRJ4hKvSZnaykDWUHcH1iRgJtKdYmFQ7FbVDMzSjodp4xYGybuSkMw0oDeCWuGKYsvDX3D6HdUqewghyphenhyphenmJoLHfRh53Za7mdfzhzMcSl-Yb-Yp50IC/s640/blogger-image--538816832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAmGkNeX8_iIR6TsXcFiZRJ4hKvSZnaykDWUHcH1iRgJtKdYmFQ7FbVDMzSjodp4xYGybuSkMw0oDeCWuGKYsvDX3D6HdUqewghyphenhyphenmJoLHfRh53Za7mdfzhzMcSl-Yb-Yp50IC/s320/blogger-image--538816832.jpg" width="320" /></a>David Swenson was quoted in <a href="http://yogainternational.com/article/view/ashtanga-yoga-qa-with-david-swenson" target="_blank">Yoga International</a>, as saying "t<i>he definition of a yogi that I like most is this: <b>A yogi is one who leave a place just a little nicer then when they arrived!</b></i>" <br />
I think this is a brilliant definition, much better then: "<i>the one who can do the most handstands!</i>" (that's another issue for another day). <br />
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My friend Lara Land started a movement to encourage more awareness of bringing our practice into every aspect of our day both on and off the mat. It's called <i><b>All Eight Limbs</b></i> and you can read more about it on her blog <a href="http://www.adventuresinyogaland.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Adventures in Yogaland.</a> I think this is a wonderful idea, and I am excited to support her in reminding all the <i>yogis</i> out there that our practice has to be about more then bending and stretching, it has to be about <i><b>transformation,</b></i> of not only for ourselves, but for our whole planet! <br />
<i>(aside: I'm pretty sure that our world <b>doesn't need </b>more handstands; rather, it needs more people making the world a kinder, and more sustainable place for every living being).</i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>So, as you go, try your best to tred lightly on this planet and leave it a nicer, cleaner, happier home for everyone, because <i>Green is our life</i>, whether we want it to be or not. </b></div>
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<b>Let's bring our yoga alive - and start living our practice - All Eight Limbs! </b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-75303267266030871612014-05-27T21:04:00.001+05:302014-05-27T21:04:26.033+05:30Moving Beyond the Practice Plateau<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When I first came to the practice of Yoga, like many, I immediately fell in love with it. The sensation of lightness and clarity I had after my first class was like nothing I had experienced before. It blew my mind. I was hooked. Each practice brought with it a sense of euphoria, and the changes in my body and mind were both obvious and exciting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I've seen this same initial passion for practice in many students over the years. At the beginning it is encouraging to see all the visible transformation happening, and you might even get to taste a little bit of bliss, an aftereffect from this practice, which is distinctly different from any other activity you might have dabbled in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, after some time, maybe months, if you're lucky it's years, the fascination and exhilaration wear off, and all that's left is you and your practice day in and day out. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22UnpYVQMMFSz44kZ_YpobKtiGQkIlZEcrUiHVPd03NH_Lv2AY8gJiCqYtFLSy5gr9QxeDqZffcOB__W2BXVViFwZsSAQxk1IRW50H3ldvWFGD5kA7jdanGzVsKjF4aecHRlF/s640/blogger-image-2120027084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22UnpYVQMMFSz44kZ_YpobKtiGQkIlZEcrUiHVPd03NH_Lv2AY8gJiCqYtFLSy5gr9QxeDqZffcOB__W2BXVViFwZsSAQxk1IRW50H3ldvWFGD5kA7jdanGzVsKjF4aecHRlF/s200/blogger-image-2120027084.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The changes become imperceptible, and the overwhelming sense of well-being that was so novel at the beginning becomes your <i>new normal</i>; and it's around this time that the practice starts to get hard; consequently, I would argue that this is when the <i>real yoga</i> truly begins. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately, it seems that it is also around this time that one starts to hit a wall or plateau and many students head for the door and start to look for the next best thing to entertain their minds, bodies and senses; some fall back into old patterns that work against the practice, while others move onto something more gratifying to their ego. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For those who decide to stick with it, many obstacles and challenges come up along the way that act to deter or sidetrack us from keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the goal of liberation or Self-realization. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Personally, I found that difficulties often arise to keep my ego in check. They are obstacles disguised as life-lessons
and opportunities to go deeper into what <i>Yoga</i> really is all about, and what it's calling us to become. They are like a spur that urges me to get <i>unstuck</i> from that universal habit of stroking my ego with pride about some physical or pseudo-spiritual achievement. They help me to refocus on what is important, and identify less with the things that are not real and do not ultimately matter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Over the years, I’ve become very conscious about trying to
remain unattached to the fruits of my practice because in the past, it has seemed that
whenever I started to feel a little bit <i>high</i> on myself it never takes very long for <i>the great fall from grace</i> to come, and I have to
pick myself up and start from the beginning again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Once we start on the path of yoga it can be a long journey back <i>home</i> to our True Self.<i> </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One of Guruji's favourite quotes from the Yoga Sutras was: <i>sa tu dirgha kala nairantarya satkarasevito drdha bhumih </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Practice
becomes firmly established when it has been cultivated without
interruption and with sincere devotion over a long long period of
time." <i>(Yoga Sutra 1:14) </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the recipe for a successful yoga practice. It must be sustained without interruption and with love for the practice for a long long period of time, likely your entire lifetime, and possibly several lifetimes (if you believe in that kind of thing). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9UeUJCaVEtGiW7YGJqz-HWDRKVr0P5oRto0tuPD6W_GmL3d8mQM1H2Zy2vxGVMj9ZcRMdTuXydS-jiokiakLkhW5gVXVVbPiWMP6IZ-lAMSPX63oN8vu0Itr__a8H-tUtOCQ/s640/blogger-image-1324052157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9UeUJCaVEtGiW7YGJqz-HWDRKVr0P5oRto0tuPD6W_GmL3d8mQM1H2Zy2vxGVMj9ZcRMdTuXydS-jiokiakLkhW5gVXVVbPiWMP6IZ-lAMSPX63oN8vu0Itr__a8H-tUtOCQ/s200/blogger-image-1324052157.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I often compare the relationship we have to our practice with a marriage. At the beginning it is all rainbows and butterflies, excitement, passion, and adoration; but after some years, your spouse becomes so close to you that at times you barely notice them, their presence is your <i>new normal</i> as the titillation of unfamiliarity is replaced by routine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You might not even realize how integrated that person is into the very fabric of your soul until they are gone. In many ways they start to act as a mirror for you, to see all of your own stuff, both good and bad, and all the areas you need to work on, if you are to evolve spiritually and become a better person. Interestingly, if you can see this, and respond positively, you will figure out a way to keep that spark alive through the test of time, and your relationship will have the space it needs to grow, and change, and move through all the different phases of life together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You will be able to adapt and overcome all the obstacles and struggles that undoubtedly will come up along the way because you are open to giving your whole self, without reservation, and your love and connection will become deeper then you ever could have imagined. You verily become One. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You are yoked - this is also Yoga.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzBJ2VLrsHSwObtkaTCTgc5xi2uQYWzjbBQbwHFlpa1ZKdF7yxEnrJW5s21oEnc3XcxwFVVGsVgZKKpEbFxf0SY3xP32yUD7WkRNDhiBk2bWn5g7_jGEA7owZ4DybHppfQYB3/s640/blogger-image--295050858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzBJ2VLrsHSwObtkaTCTgc5xi2uQYWzjbBQbwHFlpa1ZKdF7yxEnrJW5s21oEnc3XcxwFVVGsVgZKKpEbFxf0SY3xP32yUD7WkRNDhiBk2bWn5g7_jGEA7owZ4DybHppfQYB3/s200/blogger-image--295050858.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the same with your yoga practice. Over time it will go through different stages and phases. Growth will not always be in an upward moving linear projection. Sometimes we have to go back to the beginning to understand the inner workings more deeply, to get reestablished in something we missed the first time. The practice also acts like a mirror showing us our areas of weakness and the places in our lives where we need to let go. Ultimately, if you stick with this practice through the good periods as well as the less enjoyable ones, it gets interwoven into every moment of your day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It becomes your time to connect intimately with the Divine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It becomes your very heart. </span> </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-7441909497743599432014-05-25T09:17:00.000+05:302014-05-25T09:17:10.536+05:30Soup Kitchen Craze<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Early on in the day I set out to make this salad that I love. It's called "Hail To The Kale" from Planet Organic (recipe is below). It usually takes about 30 minutes for a <i>normal</i> person. </div>
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For me however, it turned into an epic all-day <i>cookathon</i>, whereby I made a huge pot of vegetable soup, a massive amount of tomato based pasta sauce, and an abundantly large pot of mushroom soup, all in addition to the salad. I started around 11am, and finally just wrapped up at just after 8pm! </div>
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It was definitely over-kill on my part. I think I got a little carried away. I guess that's what happens when you only set out to cook once every couple months! <br />
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Now, the big problem is... we don't have enough tupperware to store it all! <br />
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I guess you know what I'll be doing tomorrow... <i>going out and stocking up on new freezable containers to store all this soup and sauce in! </i><br />
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Anyone want some? <i><br /></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkbGkU0cHOhPfUoJBS-QqwJKFVTC-jaDdgCAYQiXyvJTAcZjwTDNaVhnTgp7sbCCMve4H9uCbhr9q7lmT1AjeuXTOu7RRs9PyJS2xyicHw0Z5Bf3d9RM5N43QRXhr95sI1YCq/s640/blogger-image-562174057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkbGkU0cHOhPfUoJBS-QqwJKFVTC-jaDdgCAYQiXyvJTAcZjwTDNaVhnTgp7sbCCMve4H9uCbhr9q7lmT1AjeuXTOu7RRs9PyJS2xyicHw0Z5Bf3d9RM5N43QRXhr95sI1YCq/s320/blogger-image-562174057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><b>HAIL TO THE KALE SALAD </b></u></div>
<dl class="clearfix recipe_info_row" id="recipe-detail-times">
<dt>prep time: </dt>
<dd class="prepTime" content="PT1800S" itemprop="prepTime">30 min
<span class="value-title" title="PT1800S"></span>
</dd>
<dt>total time: </dt>
<dd class="duration">30 min
<span class="value-title" title="PT1800S"></span>
</dd></dl>
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<h2>
Ingredients</h2>
<ul class="ingredients">
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 bunch Kale, chopped</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">3 cups Carrots, grated</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1/2 head Red cabbage, thinly sliced</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1/2 cup Tamari pumpkin seeds (see method below)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1/2 cup Tamari sunflower seeds (see method below)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1/2 cup Flax or hemp oil</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1/3 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos (or organic soy sauce)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">5 tbsp Balsamic vinegar</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 tsp Oregano, dried</li>
</ul>
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<h2>
directions</h2>
<div class="instructions">
<ul class="inst_list">
<li><span class="step_count">1</span> - Wash kale and chop. Be careful to rinse the leaves to remove dirt and grit.<span class="step_count"></span><span class="step_count"></span></li>
<li><span class="step_count">2</span> - In
a cast iron skillet over medium to high heat, stir sunflower and
pumpkin seeds. Remove from heat when they’re toasted golden brown. While
the skillet is hot, add in a few drops of tamari, which will sear onto
the seeds. Remove and let cool.<span class="step_count"></span><span class="step_count"></span></li>
<li><span class="step_count">3</span> - In a large bowl combine chopped kale, carrots, cabbage and seeds. Set aside.<span class="step_count"></span><span class="step_count"></span></li>
<li><span class="step_count">4</span> - In
a small bowl whisk together oil, Bragg Liquid Aminos, vinegar and
oregano and pour over kale mixture. Toss until evenly coated and chill 2
hours before serving. This salad keeps well refrigerated 2-3 days.</li>
<li>Makes 8-10 Servings </li>
</ul>
</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-60326737791722508332014-05-24T09:16:00.001+05:302014-05-24T09:16:57.285+05:30Finding Inspiration in Parkour <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jeff inadvertently found the inspiration for my blog today. He started showing me all these videos on a discipline called Parkour. You may be familiar with it as something called "Free Running."<br />
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It made me start thinking though, how Parkour shares many similarities to Yoga. It is a philosophy of living. It is a discipline and a daily practice. It is not about gymnastics. However, it is about connecting deeply with an internal force of energy and moving efficiently, and effectively through space in unison with this flow that is within us, and all around us. <br />
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It changes one's perspective on life. Using the body as a platform for discovery, it unravels our preconceived ideas about what is physically possible, and in doing so it frees our minds from the constructs we've built to control our reality. <br />
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These restrictions were once adopted to protect ourselves; but eventually they grow and begin to strangle the joy from our lives, and we become enslaved to our limiting ideas about who and what we are. <br />
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Pakour is about becoming connected to a flow of movement. To the force of <i>prana</i>
(cosmic energy) that thrives and pulses within us. There are no
limits, no boundaries, except the ones we create in our mind. It forces us to breakdown
the prison we comfortably enclose ourselves within.<br />
<br />
Through daily practice, there is a possibility that we can potentially evolve, transcend, and become <i>more then human</i>. Facing our fear of death (<i>abhinivesha</i>) and courageously moving beyond it, we hope to realize our true identities as embodied, divine beings. <br />
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It encourages Play. It dares us to Change. It makes us question whether we are really, truly <i>Free</i>. <br />
<br />
I hope these videos inspire you to keep Exploring and Playing in whatever form that might take. Explore yourself, your capabilities, and your infinite potential.<br />
<br />
Become ONE with God. This Is Union. This IS YOGA.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-53210054649427847122014-05-22T03:16:00.002+05:302014-05-22T03:16:34.747+05:30Time for a Spring Clean!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jeff and I started a cleanse this week. We are combining a couple of different cleanse ideas and kind-of creating our own thing (<i>and doing our best not to cheat too much!)</i> As it <i>is</i> Spring after all, which is a great season to do a little proverbial housecleaning both internally and externally!<br />
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We are using the guidelines from the <a href="https://www.cleanprogram.com/" target="_blank">21-Day Clean Program</a>, which involves having a smoothie for breakfast, your main meal at lunch, and then something liquid, a fresh juice, smoothie, or soup for dinner. We are also following the diet restrictions (<i>with a few exceptions</i>) and taking the supplements from the <a href="http://wildroseproducts.com/en-CA" target="_blank">Wild Rose Herbal D-tox</a>. Of course we actually are pretty terrible at not "<i>cheating</i>" on these kinds of things... but we are doing our best to stick to it, and also, we're not getting too down on ourselves or throwing the whole plan out the window if we do slip a little from time to time.<br />
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The first couple of days I felt super hungry and pretty tired, but I'm starting to feel a little more energized and am beginning to find my rhythm again. The most important thing to set yourself up for success on a cleanse like this, is to be very clear about the parameters at the beginning, and then be sure to stock your fridge and cupboards in advance with quick and healthy snacks and food for those times when you're super hungry and need a fix.<br />
<br />
We filled our fridge with fresh berries at the start of the week, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries... <i>delicious!</i> We also have ready to eat carrots, celery, cucumber, rice cakes and hummus. <br />
Everything is washed and ready to go! No excuses to snack on something <i>illegitimate</i>. <br />
We're also stocked up with lemons, baby spinach, ready to eat salad mix, kale, hemp, chia seeds, and tons of frozen berries for smoothies.<br />
As well, don't forget the vegan protein / probiotic / all-in-one smoothie mix. Personally, we like <a href="https://progressivenutritional.com/vegessential/" target="_blank">Progressive Nutritional: VegEssential All In One</a>. However, there are many great products out there that are comparable, and some may even be superior, but this is the one we're enjoying right now, and it is easy to find, which makes it a good choice for us. <br />
At the end of the day, when I'm feeling hungry or weak willed, and all I really want to do is just relax and fill my belly with chips and salsa, Jeff repeats what our friend Rachel told us helped her make it through... "<i>drink some water and know that I love you.</i>"<br />
<br />
So, if you were wondering what's going on with us, and why I haven't exactly been feeling a tidal wave of creative energy this week, this is the reason. I've been lost in a bit of a <i>detox fog</i>... but the clouds are clearing now, and it looks like we're moving into a sunshiny summer! <br />
<i>Hang On... there's only 10 days left in May! </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-34595495873859371282014-05-20T07:33:00.001+05:302014-05-20T07:33:51.126+05:30The Meatrix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Just in case you couldn't stomach Earthlings... here is a cartoon called the Meatrix. </div>
I know that many of you have already seen this but it is worth another look. <br />
It is quite a funny parody about a subject that is sadly not funny at all.<br />
<br />
Yes... something more about what we consider to be food and where it comes from...<br />
I just want us all to become more conscious consumers!<br />
This is a topic that is close to my heart and I feel very passionate about it.<br />
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I hope you enjoy these little goodies!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-1096073561483905292014-05-18T10:03:00.002+05:302014-05-18T10:03:37.578+05:30Gratitude For Guruji<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5H-YIKFEQE/U3gsuOo4AeI/AAAAAAAAB6g/6zUSZRPWfoY/s1600/Guruji-Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5H-YIKFEQE/U3gsuOo4AeI/AAAAAAAAB6g/6zUSZRPWfoY/s1600/Guruji-Memorial.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was five years ago, May 18, 2009, that Sri K Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) passed away. We were fortunate to spend time some quality time with him a month earlier in his home, just the three of us together with <a href="http://livingbreathingyoga.blogspot.ca/2010/06/in-memory-of-great-soul-joseph-dunham.html" target="_blank">Joseph Dunham</a>. On our final visit with him, we said our goodbyes, touched his feet, and he started chanting in sanskrit, which we interpreted as his way of giving us his blessing before we had to leave, we both knew it would be that last time we would see him alive. He seemed to know that too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Every day when I practice I always remember him, and my heart is filled with gratitude.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Guruji’s tradition of Ashtanga
Yoga has given me my life as it is today.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Outside of my parents and their continuous love and support, this lineage of yoga has been the most influential factor in my personal growth and development.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1ZiBJ4cosQ/U3guK5yT8gI/AAAAAAAAB64/Zfp8aXuvW6I/s1600/Guruji-H-2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1ZiBJ4cosQ/U3guK5yT8gI/AAAAAAAAB64/Zfp8aXuvW6I/s1600/Guruji-H-2004.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This practice came to me at a time in my life when I was really struggling. It saved me. You could say that almost </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">everything good in my life has come as a result of this turning point.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Prior to learning this practice I battled with addictions, eating disorders, and in general a huge lack of self-esteem, which
resulted in my many self-destructive behaviours and choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon finding this practice I started feeling
better about myself, and I began living inside my own skin for the
first time in as long as I could remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Through this practice of Ashtanga Yoga I developed more compassion and love towards
myself, which was an entirely new experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This allowed me to feel my connection to others more deeply, which aroused more positive choices that stemmed from forgiving myself, and releasing the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JbHJ_tkAGQA/U3gst342xDI/AAAAAAAAB6k/FQUjwX_gjLQ/s1600/Guruji-90Bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JbHJ_tkAGQA/U3gst342xDI/AAAAAAAAB6k/FQUjwX_gjLQ/s1600/Guruji-90Bday.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was because of this practice that I met my now husband, and love
of my life, Jeff Lichty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We traveled the world together, taught together, started a Yoga School together, and have a son together, who lights up our whole universe, and has taught me the meaning of selfless service and unconditional love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Therefore, it is with the deepest gratitude that I continue to dedicate my daily practice to Guruji and his lineage. I always hear him when I chant the invocation, and feel his force supporting me as I teach. His commitment and devotion is an endless inspiration for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Guruji had many gifts. He had a way of seeing things in a person. He would know you could do something even when you didn't believe it yourself. He was a philosopher at heart, and always enjoyed a good laugh. He welcomed questions, and loved to hear any gossip or news about his students. Whenever we would call he would always ask, "<i>when are you coming?</i>" even if we had just arrived back home. He loved to teach - it was truly his dharma, and there was almost nothing that could keep him away from it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You couldn't be in Guruji's presence and not feel your heart overflowing with affection. He was humble and yet fierce. Everyone that had the privilege of being his student was deeply touched and transformed by his presence, and we all felt a unique and special connection with him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He would be so happy to see the growing number of students who have been healed and touch by the Ashtanga Yoga practice. I think he would be proud that his legacy is continuing on through the teachers he blessed. I consider myself very fortunate to be amongst this group of inspired practitioners who reside under his guiding light, and continue to keep his memory alive and teach what we have received from him, and from this practice that he loved. </span></div>
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<i>Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-70627514739573198662014-05-17T09:39:00.001+05:302014-05-17T09:39:22.300+05:30For the Children of the Earth and Sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As I sit here listening to my sweet boy play with the other kids in this <i>kid-play-zone,</i> I hear him say things like "I'm on my way to Mexico because I have an important appointment" and "it's lunchtime now so I am going to go catch some fish" and "I'll be Eagle Boy and you can be the princes."</div>
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His imagination is magnificent. His world is constantly filled with games and joy and make-believe adventures. I am reminded of a time long ago when I also lived almost entirely in the world of imagination, and my thoughts turn to reflect upon the question '<i>at what stage in our development does life get so serious?</i>'<br />
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There is so much felicity and lightness in the world of imagination, and I have a feeling that if more of us were able to hold onto this gift for a little longer, the world would be a much more interesting and magical place, where all the endless possibilities would be easily seen, and no one would feel stuck, or powerless, or easily defeated. </div>
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I feel blessed to have this special time where I can laugh and play in Jediah's sacred imaginary land, and I'm encouraged by this idea that there is a way we can retrieve the freedom found in the power of imagination and the creative force that accompanies it. I look to those who walk amongst us that are intensely connected to this realm: the artists, actors, dancers, storytellers, writers, inventors, physicists, philosophers, and dreamers. I think we can find further inspiration from them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WKxAwUw1rCVLbp7JX8v7Wk-NQajw82Bx3L9D4OV3a954NDXlImUn9C3F3vn-YNmhYw72zd9w0qMubqDY00U2fjgDS5LjE1l2CieR_W7fly_bi3s2FJwdczQ3bPW61T0049sZ/s640/blogger-image-598240602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WKxAwUw1rCVLbp7JX8v7Wk-NQajw82Bx3L9D4OV3a954NDXlImUn9C3F3vn-YNmhYw72zd9w0qMubqDY00U2fjgDS5LjE1l2CieR_W7fly_bi3s2FJwdczQ3bPW61T0049sZ/s320/blogger-image-598240602.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I'm sure we will discover that there is a lot to learn from connecting to our creativity in whatever form it shows up in, and I believe there is a strong possibility that our future survival will depend on these discoveries. <br />
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I hope that collectively we will continue to encourage and nurture this gift of imagination in our children, as well as in each other, for we are all children of the earth and sky, and we belong to one another. <br />
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<i>Imagination is more important than knowledge. </i><br />
<i>For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand,</i><br />
<i>Imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.</i><br />
~ Albert Einstein ~ </div>
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Harmony / Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470482323101702004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-56028434137828109452014-05-16T07:32:00.001+05:302014-05-16T07:32:41.946+05:30Guru Tattva<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometime I hear this idea that a Guru or a Teacher is not really necessary on the path of Yoga. <i>Be your own Guru. Find the Teacher within. </i>These are common sentiments that are out there in the Yoga Community at large. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The true teachings of <i>Yoga</i></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> </i>however, have always been passed down through the relationship of Teacher to Student in a line of transmission called <i>parampara</i>. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Guru is absolutely necessary. He or She is there to
shine a light on your blind spots. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Teacher is your road map on the spiritual path. God works through your Guru to help guide you
in your practice and eliminate any inner obstacles that can come up along the
way. In India they have a saying that "just as you need the
flame of an already burning candle to light the wick of another candle; likewise, only an illumined soul can light the inner lamp of another person." Consequently, we need the direct contact of a True Teacher to help enlighten us, to wake us up inside, and get the spark going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I would say that it is difficult, if not entirely impossible, to see ourselves clearly. As a result, we need the help of a Guru to hold up the mirror and give
us clarity so that we can overcome our lower nature and negative qualities. The Guru represents the one's ideal of perfection, and is the pattern from which one wishes to mould oneself after. It is a challenge for the human
mind to conceive of an Infinite Formless God, so in the physical form of the Guru, the
mind attaches itself more easily and begins to see God within this physical embodiment. Through</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> our reverence, obedience, and willingness to surrender to a True Teacher</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> we are able to connect to the Ultimate Reality that exists everywhere beyond form and time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AX68n8l8P08/U3VxKfZ4FjI/AAAAAAAAB6M/wkM5s9dLHA4/s1600/IMG_5285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AX68n8l8P08/U3VxKfZ4FjI/AAAAAAAAB6M/wkM5s9dLHA4/s1600/IMG_5285.JPG" height="320" width="267" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On a practical level, the Teacher is able to lift our spirits and helps to keep us motivated in our practice during
difficult times along the path. Even the mere presence of one's Teacher can help elevate one’s mood and enhance one's consciousness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, the work, the <i>sadhana</i>, the spiritual practice must be done by the student. A Guru cannot bestow a miraculous awakening onto anyone, but He or She is there to show us the door, but as a student, we must do
the work, and have the courage and determination to walk through it. </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Om Tat Sat</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-37017733570889771842014-05-15T09:14:00.003+05:302014-05-15T09:14:26.355+05:30The Difference by Andrei CodrescuThis is a little something I heard at the start of Tina James' Jivamukti Yoga class, while at the lululemon Ambassador Summit a couple weeks ago. It pretty much made my whole day.<br />
<br />
It's a spoken word piece by Andrei Codrescu called "The Difference" from the collection: <i>No Tacos For Saddam</i>.<br />
<br />
I pretty much think everyone in the world should listen to it at least once... so here it is for you to enjoy! <br />
<br />
Hopefully it will take you into the end of your week with a smile - I know it will for me! <br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong3906938569" name="gsSong3906938569" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=39069385&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=39069385&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Andrei%20Codrescu%20The%20Difference" title="The Difference by Andrei Codrescu on Grooveshark">The Difference by Andrei Codrescu on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object><br />
<br />
<i>Thank you to Tina James for sending me the info on this little goodie. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Much Love & Gratitude for the Inspiration. </i>Jeff and Harmony Lichtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412036680411097361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-28632482397644772062014-05-14T08:43:00.000+05:302014-05-14T08:48:34.167+05:30CLEAN WATER - IT’S A MOVEMENT - RUN WITH IT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our global water supply has been a big concern on my mind for over two decades. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Water scarcity and the threat of a water shortage is something I've been aware since I first learned that <i><span style="color: #990000;">t</span></i><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">he average hamburger takes 2,400 liters, or 630 gallons, of water to produce</span></i><span style="color: #333333;">.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Humans are extremely wasteful when it comes to water. It seems to be one of our collective <i>blind spots</i>, it is just something we take for granted in the first world because we have it. However, learning about our inefficiency in so far as it relates to food production was also one of my first reasons for becoming vegetarian, and the time I've spent in India, where clean drinking water is in short supply, has made me a whole lot more conservative in my own use, and keeps this issue constantly at the forefront of my mind.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><b>While nearly 70 percent of the world is covered by water, only 2.5 percent of it is fresh. The rest is saline and ocean-based. Even then, just 1 percent of our freshwater is easily accessible, with much of it trapped in glaciers and snowfields. In essence, only 0.007 percent of the planet's water is available to fuel and feed its 6.8 billion people</b></i></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><b>.</b></i> (<a href="http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-crisis/" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>: Fresh Water Crisis)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As the world's population continues to grow, water is becoming more of a scarce natural resource. In Africa alone there are 345 million people without access to clean drinking water. Every 21 seconds a child dies from lack of access to clean water or a water related illness due to poor sanitation. An estimated 200 million hours are spent each day, globally, collecting water for families in developing nations. (<a href="http://water.org/">Water.Org</a>: Water Facts) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Welcome to the </i></b><i><b>water crisis</b>. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you didn't know this was a major issue, you better start doing some research and getting involved because it's about to become a lot more political; and if you don't think it will effect you - <i>you're</i> <i>wrong</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The United Nations estimate that <i><b>b</b></i></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>y 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will live in areas plagued by water scarcity, with two-thirds of the world's population living in water-stressed regions as a result of use, growth, and climate change.</b></i> (<a href="http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/freshwater-crisis/" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>: Fresh Water Crisis)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bottled water is now a multi-billion dollar market, and to be able to sell and make money from bottling water, you must first own it. Huge corporations like <i>Nestle</i> have already seen the writing on the wall and are buying up water supplies in developing nations, bottling it up, and selling it back to first world nations to make a huge profit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can watch the documentary <a href="http://www.bottledlifefilm.com/index.php/home-en.html" target="_blank">Bottled Life</a> to learn more about this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, the good news is that there are some charitable organizations that are making a difference and being a voice for people who are too parched to speak for themselves. <a href="http://www.hope-international.com/about-us.html" target="_blank">HOPE International Development Agency</a> is a Canadian based registered charity committed to helping the world's poorest families out of poverty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">HOPE is among the leanest of development organizations with an amazing 95 cents out of every dollar raised going directly to the water projects.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys1W1vYuEmtx5nGlfO4limzNdpMe0oAoEzypN5S7snd29GDfShaFEjv7nKOmTysYTviTXvrIZqMZMJQaXTihbZT3Ct1UkUTj3KSEwF0d0J5TCPzCYBCUfhxtCtuwVnUje3Lt3/s640/blogger-image--1154930327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys1W1vYuEmtx5nGlfO4limzNdpMe0oAoEzypN5S7snd29GDfShaFEjv7nKOmTysYTviTXvrIZqMZMJQaXTihbZT3Ct1UkUTj3KSEwF0d0J5TCPzCYBCUfhxtCtuwVnUje3Lt3/s320/blogger-image--1154930327.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so proud to tell you that my brother, Adam Slater, on May 24th, will personally be getting involved and embarking on a new exciting challenge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He will have the great privilege of running an Ultra Marathon (50+ km) to support this incredible cause: <b><a href="http://www.runforwater.ca/" target="_blank">Run for Water</a></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, since I'm <b>not</b> a runner, I think anyone who wants to run this crazy long distance is a bit nuts! My motto is: "run - <i>only when in danger</i>!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, my brother has an amazing heart that is dedicated to serving others, and he has a calling to support and raise awareness for <a href="http://www.hope-international.com/index.php" target="_blank">Hope International Development Agency</a> in partnership with <a href="http://abbotsford.runforwater.ca/" target="_blank">Run for Water</a> through this special event.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I figure if you're going to run, it might as well be in support of something that can change the world.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All of the money raised from the runners, will go directly to the efforts of these two charities, who together, will work to bring clean drinking water to villages in Ethiopia, Africa.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ethiopia is prone to droughts, which produces massive water shortages and famines; because of this, disease and death spread uncontrollably as their is limited surface water ends up fully contaminated by both human and animal waste. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thousands of people live in remote areas where mainly women and children walk for hours a day just to collect this contaminated water for their families. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fortunately, this year the <i>Envision Financial Run for Water</i> along with <i>HOPE International Development Agency</i>, will raise enough funds to provide a clean and reliable water source to a cluster of 10 villages in the Bonke Region. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpqLsK6B7l4/U3IOmqTBzeI/AAAAAAAAB50/0hku6O3hRFg/s1600/Run_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpqLsK6B7l4/U3IOmqTBzeI/AAAAAAAAB50/0hku6O3hRFg/s1600/Run_photo.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news is that you too can directly support my brother and this great cause by donating to his pledge page: <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://2mev.com/giving/pledge/216/" target="_blank">Adam's 50K Ultra Run For Water</a>.</span> <i> </i></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(All gifts over $20 will get a tax receipt and you can give anonymously or publicly)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The link above will tell you more about the project and there’s a great video that will explain why this project will literally change the lives for many young people in Ethiopia; especially young girls and women, who bear most of the burden of collecting water for their families, and consequently, miss out on education, and other activities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Running an Ultra Marathon has been a goal of my brother's for the last two years, so running 50K for this incredible cause was a no brainer for him. Even if you do not donate to his run, we both encourage you to make a donation to one of the charity organizations above, and get involved. You can make a difference in the lives of millions of families. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Their pain is our pain. Their suffering is our suffering. We all share this planet and her resources. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We all need water to live; it should not be reserved for only the fortunate few.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We thank you for your support!</i></span></div>
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<i>“God is always with you, that you have more strength than you ever realized, and that if you don’t stop, you can’t be stopped”</i> ~ Jason Lestor</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-37315939221408286732014-05-13T03:07:00.000+05:302014-05-13T03:07:09.725+05:30Life is Beautiful, Full and Sweet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been an action packed week of having my parents here, and two days with my brother and sister-in-law along with their two sweet girls visiting. The days have been full, and our fun often flowed well into the night. <br />
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Now that it is Sunday evening, Mother's Day, and my parents are on an airplane home back to Calgary, my brother with his family are on the ferry-boat back to their home, and my two gorgeous boys happen to be out at a park; I find myself sitting in the stillness of our apartment all alone. <br />
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I am able to just relax and bask in the afterglow of a weekend filled with family love, and a beautiful day to celebrate motherhood in conjunction with being a child. As I put my feet up, it occurs to me that our days go by all too quickly, and the years disappear in the blink of an eye. <br />
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I am reminded to live each day as if it were the last and best day of my life. <br />
For truly <i>today</i> is the only one we have, and I'm sure that those days where I am successfully able to live in this way, will indeed be looked upon as <i>the best days of my life</i>!<br />
For life is a divine mystery, and each moment is beautiful, full, and sweet, if we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart to feel the very pulse of life itself. <br />
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Something Special For Mother's Day:<br />
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<i>Your Mother is always with you. She is the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. </i><br />
<i>She is the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself. She is the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well. She is your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colours of a rainbow; she is Christmas morning. </i><br />
<i>Your mother lives inside your laughter. She is the place you came from, your first home, and she is the map you follow with every step you take. She is your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you not time, not space... not even death.</i><br />
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~ Author Unknown ~ </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-72337072868975570392014-05-11T04:29:00.002+05:302014-05-11T04:29:54.223+05:30Love for Moms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In India your Mother is your first Guru. Mothers are honoured and given the highest respect. It is incredible to experience the transformation from <i>woman</i> to <i>mother</i> in the land of India, as your status in society is immediately elevated with the birth of your first child. <br />
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Motherhood is a privilege reserved exclusively for women, and the ability to nurture and bring forth new life is a manifestation of <i>Shakti</i> (divine power) and is thought to be a great gift inherent in the female form.<br />
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I adore the way becoming a Mother is esteemed in India. Culturally, I don't think we have the same reverence for our Mothers here. I think many women feel becoming a mother will ruin their independence and depress their lifestyle. We don't tend look at Mothers with the same eyes of admiration and respect, and instead many women are made to feel marginalized and no longer desirable after they have children.<br />
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However, Mother's Day is definitely an exception to the norm. This is one day where we collectively stop and take the time to appreciate and honour our Mothers. We give thanks for all the sacrifices they made, all of the organizing, driving, cooking, cleaning, volunteering, loving, and nurturing. We make an intentional gesture to show our deep love and gratitude for their steadfast patience and endless hours of devotion to us over so many years. No matter how old we are, to our Mother we will always be a small child, and she will love us as much as she did on the day we were born, and probably much more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqp2P0_n7I34iHpf1pSgBhB-EdFzVvxNXyJUg9sg0Oc-IX8g8fRs65Ar0qB8aGTle3zc_VhBdJsLLZQqEsOKV1yifKN8rOPbPPxk73KkoJkt49uz9RuTcflMm6PPK3IRKXRpc/s640/blogger-image-1946248684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqp2P0_n7I34iHpf1pSgBhB-EdFzVvxNXyJUg9sg0Oc-IX8g8fRs65Ar0qB8aGTle3zc_VhBdJsLLZQqEsOKV1yifKN8rOPbPPxk73KkoJkt49uz9RuTcflMm6PPK3IRKXRpc/s320/blogger-image-1946248684.jpg" width="320" /></a>So today I am going to thank my Mother for being my first home, my arms refuge, and constant defender. Thank you for your endless hours of time and energy you poured into all of my hopes and dreams over the years. Thank you for sacrificing your own needs and desires to answer my every wish and prayer. <br />
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Thank you for always seeing the good in me, even when it was covered in a cloud of darkness, and for always giving me the best advice, even when I didn't ask for it. I know we might not always see the world the same way, and that I don't always remember to say "thank you" or "I love you" but you are my first <i>Guru</i> and teacher and I am ever grateful for your presence and guidance in my life. <br />
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Now that I am a Mother myself, I can appreciate your dedication and devotion to your family so much more, and your generous heart and unconditional love is a daily inspiration for me in my own journey through Motherhood. <br />
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I Love You Mom. Happy Mother's Day! <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-53093865049868495952014-05-09T06:57:00.000+05:302014-05-09T07:19:15.927+05:30On My Way To The Other Shore...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYKD39ElapVd-d7eAEdCYk8JhZCBy0dRFPloBw7Q0rCNEZR2sVQwSjOyDQnRP5SWoI9ZkOqBoe749f4OOHBWClb8X_1TDSOUN59Ss3O9QIgpCed_gpFRN5CoehrbZtL_QeYpm/s640/blogger-image--38172100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYKD39ElapVd-d7eAEdCYk8JhZCBy0dRFPloBw7Q0rCNEZR2sVQwSjOyDQnRP5SWoI9ZkOqBoe749f4OOHBWClb8X_1TDSOUN59Ss3O9QIgpCed_gpFRN5CoehrbZtL_QeYpm/s200/blogger-image--38172100.jpg" width="200"></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">~ Christopher Columbus ~</span></span></div>
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I guess I've been blessed in some ways to have been exposed to the idea of "practice" from a young age. Growing up I was completely committed to perfecting the art of ballet, as well as other dance forms, and I would practice seven days a week to the point of exhaustion. However, because of this dedication, I never have been one to shy away from a little hard work. I like a challenge, and I enjoy activities that drive to the heart of feeling alive in some way. Over the years I've noticed that these activities usually involve some element of risk, whether it be emotional, mental or physical. They also tend to bring up some kind of unpleasant sensation or pain that is shadowed in pursuit of a higher beauty or a greater sense of freedom. They also include being brutally honest about where you are and how you're doing because "<i>faking it</i>" can cause serious problems for yourself or others. <br>
I've never been one to dabble. If I'm in - I'm fully in, and when I'm out - I'm fully out. </div>
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I've noticed these same qualities exist in authentic spiritual pursuits, which are transformative in nature. An honest and powerful spiritual practice is going to take you into the very heart of your pain. It will drive you directly into the storm. If we are to harness the power of chaos, we must first identify what is driving all the turmoil. Perhaps you are doubting that you too have a raging storm within yourself, I encourage you to go deeper... you have <i>not yet</i> begun to even touch upon the periphery of the <i>truth</i> of who you are or what you are capable of. <br>
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An honest and powerful spiritual practice is going to make you feel a little uncomfortable at times, and it may even hurt a bit; you will be sure to taste the <i>sweet pain</i> of being alive.<i> </i><br>
It will stir up some strong reactions, and shake you out of your conditioned way of thinking and seeing the world. It will shine a light on all your unexamined beliefs, and rip away everything you cling to or hide behind, forcing you see all the presumptions that are no longer true. <br>
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Any authentic spiritual practice is going to agitate the hell out of you and leave you feeling raw and exposed. All of this and more happens for your own liberation. <br>
For it is not until we die to our preconceived notions of who we are that we can truly start living in the freedom of our <i>Higher Self</i>.<br>
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Finally, when everything external and superfluous has been stripped away, and our inner light is all that remains, the spontaneous <i>experiential</i> realization of our interconnectedness arises. However, in my experience, this process is neither blissful nor easy, and it certainly isn't all warm and fuzzy. <br>
It is birthed from an ocean of sweat and tears, a balance of effort and surrender coupled with an unwavering willfulness and relentless receptivity. It requires honesty with where I am at mentally, physically and spiritually on any given day, and a readiness to see where I fall short and make the changes necessary without hesitation. <br>
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It demands <i>vulnerability</i>, which for me, is mostly really scary. I am not happy all the time, I'm certainly not perfect, and I fail on a daily basis; but each morning I get up and attempt to do better. I get on my mat and look into the mirror of my practice and realize I am not my victories nor my failures, I am not my body nor my mind, <i>I simply am</i>. <br>
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The path to liberation is difficult and <i>not</i> well-worn. It remains hidden from the masses who are content to appease their pain by seeking pleasure, stroking their ego, and wrapping themselves in a false sense of bliss. A true and deep spiritual practice is only discovered by the courageous souls who are not content to settle for merely existing, and in response to their inner call are willing to sacrifice their safe abode to embark upon a threatening process of metamorphosis to discover the extraordinary pulse of life that surges in every cell of creation. <br>
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The rewards are beyond what we can conceive or imagine... <i>a lifetime changed</i>.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGLNhzg1kST0RjLqJqHcsTzlIL8vyJYv6oogReWmWn1Sq8X2FZiic7gLhoJKtFF4Y-4riK-Brqex_TXw1wA9Un_myyFiz1PVdi5Gn5PiAMAgLMnfl0eaKVrxwgac4sPlH08dk/s640/blogger-image-1920298658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGLNhzg1kST0RjLqJqHcsTzlIL8vyJYv6oogReWmWn1Sq8X2FZiic7gLhoJKtFF4Y-4riK-Brqex_TXw1wA9Un_myyFiz1PVdi5Gn5PiAMAgLMnfl0eaKVrxwgac4sPlH08dk/s400/blogger-image-1920298658.jpg" width="400"></a><br>
Yet, we must be willing to do the work, to get messy while renovating our psyche. Only then will we have the clarity to see the obstacles within ourselves and the wisdom to know how to remove them. <br>
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It will take dedication, determination, and devotion. <br>
We must be tenacious and never give up.<br>
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<i>Rise with me! You Come!</i><br>
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Stand today and make a vow to stay committed to this deep and demanding process of transformation.<br>
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<i>AND Keep going... Never Look Back... </i><br>
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I will meet you on the other side.<br>
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<i>Steeped in gratitude I rejoice </i></div>
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<i>Spirit Awakened</i></div>
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<i>A lifetime... Changed</i></div>
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<i>For I have dipped my Soul </i></div>
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<i>In the Ocean of Yoga</i></div>
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~ <a href="http://www.dena.net.au/" target="_blank">Dena Kingsberg</a> ~</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-48205944798313910462014-05-08T08:13:00.000+05:302014-05-08T08:34:31.479+05:30What You Think You Will Become<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.</i> ~ Buddha<br>
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I think it is safe to say that everyone wants to experience more joy. I'm not sure that anyone in the history of time has ever turned down the opportunity for more joy, "<i>no thanks, I'm all filled up, I can't accept one more ounce of joy; just take that joy back to wherever it came from, there's no room for it here.</i>" I just don't see it happening.<br>
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I think many people feel they don't <i>deserve</i> joy, but that's an entirely different issue from not <i>wanting</i> it. If we believe that our thoughts can shape our reality, and that our dominate mental states get reflected back to us through the surrounding world, then it follows that we should become increasingly aware of what we think. The Buddha said that once our thoughts fall into alignment with quality of <i>sattva</i> (purity, balance, harmony, peace and sweetness) then we will be filled with an unquenchable joy.<br>
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This requires that we stop and examine our thoughts. When we catch ourselves churning negative thoughts, phrases or reactions, we literally need to stop and reframe it in a more positive light - Stop -and "<i>Take Two</i>"- Start Again. <br>
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It's a funny thing though... we all want our lives to change, we want certain relationships or situations to become better and easier, but <i>we</i> don't want to have to be the one to change. Ironically, the only thing we really have the power to change is ourselves; more specifically, our way of thinking, our manner of speaking, and the way in which we express ourselves to others. <br>
We have to be <i>willing to change</i>, or at minimum <i>willing to consider changing, </i>for only then will we begin to see our outer world shifting and morphing in a new direction.<br>
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If we are honest, we will notice that most of our problems originate from our own self, and our reactions to the undesirable situations around us. So guard your mind, watch what you are creating through the words you say when you think no one is listening. <br>
When you catch yourself in a negative spiral, see if you can turn it around, think a new thought, and watch how a new vibration starts to grow within your life. <br>
You might even find a little more joy along the way!<br>
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<i>Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or non believing, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.</i><br>
<i>~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV</i></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After becoming a mother I experienced some</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> significant changes in the way I conceived what a daily <i>ashtanga yoga </i>practice looked like<i>. </i>In the years before, I had been relatively uncompromising in my approach to practice, and even during my pregnancy I was able to continue doing something that resembled my regular practice fairly closely, which at the time included asana, pranayama and meditation. Although my asana practice changed considerably over the nine month period, I was still able to carve out a large portion of my morning and fully devote it to a time of personal practice, and pretty much whatever else </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I wanted</i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> to do.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After having our son Jediah, I learned very quickly that my time was no longer my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If you do not have children, or if you have never been in the position of having all the responsibility of taking care of a small helpless infant for the first time, then it is easy to underestimate the amount of energy and full-time one-pointed focus that goes into caring for a baby. All of your heart, soul, body and mind is being drawn out by this tiny being, and there is not </span>a lot<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> of room for anything or anyone else (at least that was my experience). I honestly felt that I had </span></span><i style="font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;">no time</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> that was my own, and the brief periods I did find, felt like stolen moments, </span>fleeting and unpredictable. I would try to fit in some kind of semblance of a "regular practice"<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> when Jediah was sleeping, but mostly it turned into a time of</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"> much needed rest for my sleep-deprived self.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Although there were many times during that first year where I found myself frustrated with not being able to practice yoga in the manner I was used to, once I let go and surrendered to <i>what was</i>, rather then trying to force things into the way I wanted them to be, a whole new world opened up. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Through the experience of motherhood, I was forced to look at my life with new eyes. I began to see my practice of yoga expanding and reaching out beyond just the practice of asana, pranayama or meditation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To my own surprise, part of my yoga practice became singing devotional songs (</span></span><i style="font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;">bhajans</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">) to my baby boy, and this included </span><i>japa, </i>the <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">regular recitation of a </span></span><i style="font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: 0px;">mantra,</i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> through hours of crying and sleepless nights. My new found practice </span>involved<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> embracing my role as a mother in the form of unconditional love, not only directed to my son, but also opening up to include each person I would meet; seeing the beautiful child residing within them, and their need to be seen, accepted, and loved. For me, yoga became an immediate call to be fully present, whether I was making a meal, washing dishes, or changing diapers. I practiced </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">surya-namaskara</i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> whenever I saw the sun, and the deepest sense of gratitude and devotion </span>would wash over me as I gave thanks for <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">its warmth, for nature, for my precious child, and this beautiful gift of life. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEay1aZVCHKzFrcLYwbGSc5kdSbyo9QQsK0l9vJx_w6MT8diL15Hw3DVsC4N_uYK-UyGldDcfqlDwyvbhXbVCjSTqWVavIExBfauZ3jzRhyphenhyphenXpu4uhUQYrMeo5xm1x0SKt8fcC/s640/blogger-image--1246395050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEay1aZVCHKzFrcLYwbGSc5kdSbyo9QQsK0l9vJx_w6MT8diL15Hw3DVsC4N_uYK-UyGldDcfqlDwyvbhXbVCjSTqWVavIExBfauZ3jzRhyphenhyphenXpu4uhUQYrMeo5xm1x0SKt8fcC/s320/blogger-image--1246395050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Don’t get me wrong, I completely still love my daily asana and pranayama practice, and I am so grateful to again have the time and space where I can make them a focused priority in my day once again.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">However, I am also so grateful for this gift of motherhood that opened my eyes and my heart in a completely new and unexpected way. </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Even though it is probably the most challenging role of my life, it not only gave me a wondrous, magical little boy, who fills my world with awe and amazement, but it opened my mind to experiencing a greater depth within my own practice of yoga, and allowed me to see more clearly how it ought to be practiced and incorporated into everything I do, in many different ways, and I will be eternally grateful for that. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Hari Om Tat Sat</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-81904906552930242782014-05-06T03:58:00.000+05:302014-05-06T03:58:08.813+05:30Vitamin B12 - What's the big deal? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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First off, I am not an expert in nutrition. However, diet and health is an area of interest for me, especially when it comes to promoting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. I have done some research on different topics over the years, mostly in relation to my own choices and health; but recently a student asked me to write about vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12 </span>and whether it is really a problem for someone taking up a vegan diet. So, I thought this would be a good forum to discuss the issue at hand.</div>
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The main criticism of a vegan diet is that it cannot provide adequate nutrition. The argument goes something like this: "<i>Plant foods are completely lacking in vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>, and obviously if we need a nutrient that we can't get from plants alone, then it is evident that humans are not meant to be strict vegetarians</i>." </div>
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So what's the deal with this vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>? Do we really need it and is it even important?<br />
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As it turns out, vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12 </span>is super important for our health at a fundamental level. It is needed for cell division, blood formation and making DNA. <br />
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The truth is that neither plants nor animals synthesize vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>. It is manufactured by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and
algae) and thus, is found in soil, microbial-contaminated
water, and feces. It just so happens that animals and their food byproducts are contaminated with the B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12-</span>producing bacteria, and subsequently, become a source of for it. It may also be that some plant foods are contaminated with these bacteria, but we generally wash away any vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> prior to eating them.<br />
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The recommended intake of B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> is actually quite small (2.4mcg for those over the age of 14yrs); but a deficiency is a very serious problem leading ultimately to irreversible nerve damage. <br />
Fortunately, we are able to store, recycle, and reuse vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> very efficiently, and only excrete a tiny fraction from our internal stores each day. However, over time, if we do not replenish our stores from either the food in our diet or from supplements, a deficiency may occur.<br />
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Numerous studies have demonstrated that any actual deficiencies of B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> in vegetarian or vegan diets is mainly due to poor meal planning. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Leitzmann C. 2005. Vegetarian diets: what are the advantages? Forum of Nutrition. (57) 147-56) </span>Obviously, any diet based on a single starchy staple (root vegetable, rice, pasta, or bread) will not only lack vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>, but also protein, iron, zinc, and calcium. The answer to the problem is super simple though, simply incorporate nutrient-rich plant foods, such as nuts, legumes, leafy greens, fortified non-dairy milk, and fortified whole-grain cereals. This will significantly improve the bioavailability of nutrients, while also being an effective solution to bigger environmental problems and global hunger issues.<br />
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In truth, vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> deficiencies are very rare, and usually take quiet a long time to develop, anywhere from 3-15 years, and can occur in both vegans and non-vegetarians alike. It is a condition that mostly arises from malabsorption, or a poor or highly restricted diet, or if a person has been vegan for many years without taking any form of supplementation or fortified foods. <br />
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If a deficiency goes untreated it may cause symptoms such as: weakness, a feeling of being extremely tired or light-headed, tingling or numbness in the fingers, arms and legs, nerve damage, difficulty with balance, heart palpitations and shortness of breath, pale skin, sore tongue, bruising or bleeding easily, bleeding gums, upset stomach, weight loss, reduced appetite, indigestion, and diarrhea or constipation. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Vitamin B12 is especially important during pregnancy and lactation, as well as for infants and children.</span> </div>
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So, if you are incorporating the practice of <i>ahimsa </i>(non-harming) into your life by choosing a vegan diet, (meaning you don't eat any animal products: seafood, meat, poultry, milk, cheese or eggs) it is important to make sure you are getting enough vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>, and even more so if you are planning on becoming pregnant, currently are pregnant, or breastfeeding. </div>
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Luckily the number of vegan foods that are fortified with vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>, along with other essential vitamins and minerals, has increased significantly over the past few years, and vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> from fortified foods is actually more easily absorbed then B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> from animal sources.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference
Intakes: Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12,
pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. National Academy Press.
Washington, DC, 1998)</span><br />
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<u>Some Common Myths</u><br />
- Nature provides every nutrient we need. Consuming supplements or fortified foods of any kind is unnecessary if your vegan diet is truly optimal.<br />
- Fermented foods, sprouts, mushrooms, dulse and other sea vegetables, spirulina, algae, and raw plant foods (with or without bits of dirt on them) provide plenty of vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> for people.<br />
- You make plenty of B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> in your mouth and small intestine to supply your daily needs.<br />
- Some vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> originating from bacteria in the large intestine goes against the current and travels upstream to the absorption site for B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> in the small intestine.<br />
- Some people manage with no reliable dietary or supplementary source of vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>. <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Brenda Davis, RD and Vesnto Melina, MS, RD. 2010. Becoming Raw. 169-170)</span><br />
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<u>Food Sources of Vitamin B12</u><br />
- Plants do not require B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> and therefore have no mechanism to produce, absorb, or store it, so humans cannot obtain vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> from any plant sources.<br />
- If humans are not obtaining B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> in their diet from animal sources you can easily obtain enough vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span> from Fortified Plant-based foods (yeast extracts like Marmite / Vegemite, nutritional yeast, fortified breakfast cereals, soy / almond milk, fortified veggie burgers / vegetable stocks)<br />
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Nutritional Yeast is a GREAT vegan source of vitamin B<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span>. <br />
Here is an amazingly delicious recipe for homemade vegan macaroni & "cheese" using nutritional yeast.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Happy Cooking! <br />
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<u><a href="http://www.vegweb.com/recipes/best-vegan-mac-and-cheese-entire-worldseriously" target="_blank">The BEST Mac & "Cheese" You'll Ever Eat! </a></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">What You Need: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">1 1/2 pounds pasta, preferably macaroni (could be gluten-free)</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">"Cheese" Sauce:</b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">1 1/2 cups unsweetened nondairy milk</span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
1 1/2 cups nutritional yeast</div>
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
1 cup canola or vegetable oil</div>
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
1 cup water</div>
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1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce</div>
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
1/4 (12 ounce) block firm (not silken) tofu</div>
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
1 tablespoon garlic powder</div>
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
1 tablespoon paprika</div>
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1 tablespoon vegesal or in lack of fancy product, just use some sea salt</div>
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1 dollop mustard (optional) </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Boil water in a big pot and cook pasta according to package directions.</span></div>
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2. Add all of the "cheese" sauce ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Once pasta is cooked, drain and put it in the baking pan (about the size of a brownie pan). Pour the "cheese" sauce over the pasta.</div>
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3. Bake until the top of the pasta looks slightly browned and crispy, about 15 minutes.</div>
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This is very simple and tastes amazing! </div>
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If you are cooking for yourself, it will last about 5 days if you eat it for all three meals of the day.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Preparation Time: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">about 8 minutes; Cooking Time: 15 minutes</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">SIT, RELAX, GIVE THANKS, AND ENJOY</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-70419614981138869162014-05-05T05:47:00.000+05:302014-05-05T05:47:46.610+05:30There is Hope... Even When There Is a Hole in Your Sidewalk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #282828;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">I was introduced to this poem when we first lived in Thailand ten years ago. It resonated with me deeply at that time in my life, and I never forgot it. Ten years ago it felt like the story of my life up to that point. I recently came across it again, and it made me smile thinking about how many different streets I had walked down since that time. I wanted to share it with you today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282828;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">It is a poem of hope and encouragement.</span></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; word-wrap: break-word;">There Is a Hole in My Sidewalk<br style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; word-wrap: break-word;" />Autobiography in Five Short Chapters</strong><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; word-wrap: break-word;">By Portia Nelson</em></div>
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<b>Chapter One</b><br />
I walk down the street.<br />
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.<br />
I fall in.<br />
I am lost…I am helpless.<br />
It isn’t my fault.<br />
It takes forever to find a way out. </div>
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<b>Chapter Two</b><br />
I walk down the street.<br />
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.<br />
I pretend that I don’t see it.<br />
I fall in again.<br />
I can’t believe I am in this same place.<br />
But, it isn’t my fault.<br />
It still takes a long time to get out.</div>
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<b>Chapter Three</b><br />
I walk down the same street.<br />
There is a deep whole in the sidewalk.<br />
I see it is there.<br />
I still fall in…it’s a habit…but<br />
My eyes are open<br />
I know where I am<br />
It is my fault.<br />
I get out immediately.</div>
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<b>Chapter Four</b><br />
I walk down the same street.</div>
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There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.<br />
I walk around it.</div>
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<b>Chapter Five</b><br />
I walk down another street.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-29539173707699097642014-05-04T09:47:00.000+05:302014-05-04T09:47:33.482+05:30On Being Kind To All Beings Everywhere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYYXahZDRxM/U2WpvogP3wI/AAAAAAAAB4A/AUJPv_kZRAM/s1600/Diet+for+a+New+World.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYYXahZDRxM/U2WpvogP3wI/AAAAAAAAB4A/AUJPv_kZRAM/s1600/Diet+for+a+New+World.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>When I was sixteen years old and I read a book by John Robbins: <i><a href="http://johnrobbins.info/other-books-by-john/may-all-be-fed/" target="_blank">May All Be Fed: A Diet For A New World</a></i> and was impacted to core of my being. It changed my life to say the least, and inspired me to become vegan, which at that time in history was almost unheard of and mostly a very strange idea. For several years I adhered to a strictly vegan diet; but as time went on I didn't keep to it.<br />
<br />
Some years later, during my first year of University, I was introduced to the Philosophy of applied ethics and the work of the Australian Humanist Peter Singer. I became aware of the horrors afflicted on many animals in the name of scientific testing and particularly the hideous things done to the chimpanzees used for biomedical research, and as a result their intense suffering the undeniable signs of trauma they displayed both during and after this torture. I learned about a organization called the <a href="http://www.faunafoundation.org/" target="_blank">Fauna Foundation</a> in Quebec, which is the only chimpanzee Sanctuary and rescue centre in Canada, and became a fierce advocate for these helpless victims. Once again a fire was sparked within, and I began to re-examine my beliefs and whether or not I was supporting what I knew to be true through my actions. <br />
<br />
About a year later, I was introduced to the practices and philosophies of both Buddhism and Yoga. I resonated with them deeply, and wanted to integrate them more fully into my life. During this time of exploration it became apparent to me that to uphold the values of <i>ahimsa</i> (non-harming) and <i>satya </i>(truthfulness) I would need to look more deeply at the impact of my dietary choices on the welfare of all sentient beings. Although I had never returned to eating land animals or birds, I had gone back to eating fish, dairy and eggs from time to time. It was around this time I once again shifted my lifestyle towards primarily a vegan diet. <br />
<br />
I don't want to get all preachy, and I will be the first to tell you that I am not always 100% dairy-free; when we are in India, where the cows are still treated with love and respect, I am not rigid about following a strictly vegan diet; and we still use honey sometimes, and I still own some leather. However, in my heart of hearts I feel that the treatment of animals is an important issue that cannot be easily dismissed or overlooked for anyone who cares about our planet and the beings we share it with. <br />
<br />
Ignorance is an easy defence to shroud our carelessness; but these days it is not very difficult to find out the truth. Mostly it is not an inability to find out what is really going on, as much as individuals have a desire to keep their eyes and hearts closed. Mainly, we do not want to know the tragic truths of how some of our own treat those of another species, simply because it will sit heavily on our conscience; thus, we would rather live cheerfully unaware.<br />
<br />
The time has come that we can no longer deny the facts that animals feel and experience pain and suffering, just like us; and like us they express degrees of emotion, and seek their own comfort to avoid pain or discomfort. Pain, like all our other senses, is conveyed to the brain by nerves. Just as we respond to external stimuli through the senses of sight, touch, taste, smell, or hearing, animals do as well. In many cases animals are more sensitive to these stimuli, and much more developed in a particular areas of receiving information through a specific sense organ then humans are, which potentially might make their suffering more acute in some instances.<br />
<br />
When the Yoga Sutras talk about <i>ahimsa</i> (non-harming) and <i>satya</i> (truthfulness) it states that they are <i>maha-vratam</i> (supreme vows) and that these virtues are to be practised in relation to all creatures, in all places, times, and circumstances. (Patanjali Yoga Sutras: II:31)<br />
<br />
It all comes down to reducing our tendency to cause harm, either directly or indirectly, regardless of intelligence, strength, social class, civil rights, race, sex, or species. It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to animals, or other humans, and it is within our power to take care not only of each other, but of the all beings everywhere, as well as our planet.<br />
<br />
So let us be both bold and kind, as we go forth and create a New World together.<br />
<br />
If you haven't watched this show already. I ask you to take the time and do so. <br />
Commit to watching at least the first 40 minutes. <br />
It is so worth it, and it just might save your life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ibuQ-J04eLQ" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>As long as there are slaughter houses there will be battlefields.</i><br />
Leo Tolstoy<br />
<br />
<i>For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. </i><br />
<i>Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love. </i><br />
Pythagoras<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-10119644156841930552014-05-03T02:51:00.000+05:302014-05-03T02:51:14.460+05:30Eagle Boy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some of you know our son Jediah Om, so you will know I'm not exaggerating (<i>like all good mother's should</i>) when I say that he is a magical magician, and one of the most imaginative and creative people I have ever met. If he meets you and connects with you, he will not stop talking or telling you stories. Your will be introduced to a new world that is both a wonderful and wacky place of bizarre and lovely possibilities mixed with interesting "facts" that you never knew existed. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajO-Vchp8KU/U2PjL43rZHI/AAAAAAAAB3s/qjStbnO1og0/s1600/IMG_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajO-Vchp8KU/U2PjL43rZHI/AAAAAAAAB3s/qjStbnO1og0/s1600/IMG_1684.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
While we were in Mysore India last year, he renamed himself "Eagle Boy". This is something he came up with all on his own, and completely out of the blue. We thought it would be just for a day, or a week, or maybe a month; however, the legacy of "Eagle Boy" continues on, and he reminds us of his <i>true identity</i> whenever we forget (which pretty much happens on a daily basis). He is quite admit that he is NOT "Superman" nor "Superboy" or any typical Super Hero at all, but he is <b><i>Eagle Boy</i>!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgQ1IrSo6U8/U2PaoNH7vsI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/0MyawIY1g1I/s1600/eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgQ1IrSo6U8/U2PaoNH7vsI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/0MyawIY1g1I/s1600/eagle.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
So I decided to do a little research into what the eagle represents, and I found that the eagle has been revered in every culture pretty much from the beginning of time. It has a bright and deeply spiritual message to share. The eagle symbolizes the Great Spirit. It is thought to be the <i>king of the skies</i> and a <i>messenger to the gods</i>. It has been honoured throughout the ages as an embodiment of penetrating discernment, courage, strength, higher wisdom, knowledge of magic, and immortality.<br />
<br />
It represents our fundamental connection to the Divine, an ability to <span class="BabyNameText">see hidden spiritual truths and rise above the material world to merge with the<i> Eye of the Sun, </i>the essence of all life, freedom, and creation.</span><br />
<span class="BabyNameText"><br /></span>
<span class="BabyNameText">All I can say is <i>Wow</i>! When you hear that <i>your child will be your greatest teacher</i>, you don't expect it to appear before you so literally! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="BabyNameText">Obviously my interest in eagles has increased quite significantly since my own little <i>Eagle Boy</i> manifested right before my eyes. Recently I have become more inspired by this apparition, and have been finding new ways to harness my own inner <i>Eagle Girl </i>power. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="BabyNameText">Come to think of it, I believe there is something we can all learn from immersing ourselves more deeply in the essence of our natural world, and meditating on how to embody its energy with conscious awareness in our lives. Mother Nature is filled with metaphors and powerful examples to motivate us to discover our inner strengths, expand our vision, and find victory in our individual <i>Soul Quest</i> as we walk along this path together. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="BabyNameText">Is this not what the practice of Yoga is really all about? </span><br />
<span class="BabyNameText">To move us back towards a more natural state of being, returning us to ourselves, and in doing so, creating more harmony between ourselves and the entire planet.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="BabyNameText">So, I encourage to you to get outside today, breathe deep, and awaken that <i>Ancient Timeless Child</i> that resides within. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="BabyNameText">Go find the secret key, hidden away just for you, inside the vast expansiveness that surrounds, and </span><span class="BabyNameText"><span class="BabyNameText">unlock your purpose for being born here on this earth, at this precise time.</span> Now is the moment where we must reach for the sky, soar like an eagle, and start living a life more intimately aligned with the <i>Great Spirit</i>. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-trnzAIPFVK0/U2PhmDp_8FI/AAAAAAAAB3g/juAOd3o3NKc/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-trnzAIPFVK0/U2PhmDp_8FI/AAAAAAAAB3g/juAOd3o3NKc/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"<i>But those who trust in the LORD will find renewed strength. They will soar
high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will
walk and not faint</i>.<span class="p">" </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="p">Isaiah 40:31</span></div>
<br />
<span class="BabyNameText"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3862737 -123.4463254 48.4705677 -123.28496340000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-53253573017989990252014-05-02T10:35:00.003+05:302014-05-02T21:10:09.022+05:30May - A Month of Reflection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I decided to challenge myself for the the month of May, and write something every day.<br />
I'm giving myself a personal challenge to share something each day in writing, which is a pretty big challenge for me considering all the other responsibilities on my plate these days. In any case, I thought it would be a good way to get into a habit of writing more and creating a short and hopefully interesting little something for others to think about or integrate into their day. Thus, with only two hours left in the first day of May, let's see how it all goes!<br />
<br />
I'm not promising it will be amazing or insightful or particularly relevant to you as a reader, but I hope it will be honest and real, and that if you are open you might find a little gem hidden within whatever comes out each day.<br />
<br />
I just returned home from the lululemon Ambassador Summit. It was an incredible 3 days of connecting with inspiring individuals from all over the globe. I was amazed at how open and warm complete strangers could be, and how quickly I found enriching friendships with certain people whom I never expected. I was in awe at how willingly we all were to be vulnerable and honest in confronting and sharing some very personal issues in effort to release old beliefs and breakthrough into new uncharted futures; and between making bold requests, and visualizing futures without fear and doubt holding us back from what we really want to manifest, it was a very full and exciting retreat. <br />
<br />
With so many surprising gifts, moments of great joy, compassion, and inspiration, coupled with a multiplicity of insightful tools to help take us to the next level in our own personal journey of transformation, I find myself still digesting it all, and sitting here with a deep sense of gratitude for everyone who was there and all the other individuals who were not physically present, but without their support it would not have been possible me to be there at all (and hopefully you know who you are).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCxrfmQWNNY/U2Mku4Wf99I/AAAAAAAAB3A/Urefi_pRSC0/s1600/lululemon-ambassador-summit2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCxrfmQWNNY/U2Mku4Wf99I/AAAAAAAAB3A/Urefi_pRSC0/s1600/lululemon-ambassador-summit2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The whole experience got me thinking more about how I approach the strangers in my world, and how many judgements I make about people I don't even know before they even open their mouth. It made me wonder in what ways my experience of others, and the experience I have of myself in relationship to others would change if I approached everyone (from the beggar on the street to the lady at the bank) with the same quality of openness I approach the people whom I respect or admire. <br />
<br />
How can I create the space within these brief encounters to truly see someone for who they are deep down inside: a beautiful embodied being with so much to offer - a person with the same insecurities, fears, hopes and desires as my very own inner self. <br />
<br />
What if I took the time to really hear them, to hold a space for them to feel seen, to feel special, to feel safe? <br />
<br />
How would that change them? <br />
<br />
How would that change me?<br />
<br />
How would that change the world?<br />
<br />
Our actions can make all the difference. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33380782.post-61501099719810686572014-02-25T03:22:00.001+05:302014-02-25T03:22:39.197+05:30Depart Without Regret - Be One With God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div>
As my mind starts to turn towards preparing to leave, I've been struggling to find the words to express all that this trip has brought for me.<br />
<br />
I wanted to say something about reconnecting with many deeply loved friends, some whom I haven't seen for many years. Those kinds of friendships where words are not needed, and sitting in silence side by side with someone while they let it all unravel, connects you in a way much deeper then years of superficial chatter. <br />
I wanted to acknowledge the many new friends I have been blessed to meet here, but I'm not sure there are words to express the joy of witnessing new seeds of fellowship sprouting up, and the wonderment of meeting someone for the first time and feeling like you've known them for years.<br />
<br />
Or I could write about reconnecting again and again with this deep and transformative practice, and the awe I feel each morning as I surrender to what IS. This practice opens my heart, and touches my spirit in ways I cannot explain. It is like beholding a miracle that takes place each morning as I watch the peeling layers of myself falling away.<br />
<br />
I could talk about many things... the magic of India, the beauty of this practice, finding peace within the chaos, and a little space within a small corner of time where I can breathe freely and connect more deeply to myself, and to God. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRM1WECS44c/UwsVfSO5yhI/AAAAAAAABUE/wNsSAjEMKFM/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRM1WECS44c/UwsVfSO5yhI/AAAAAAAABUE/wNsSAjEMKFM/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I'm not sure that there are the words for me to convey the depth of gratitude I feel whenever I reflect on my time here in India. This focused period of practice has been both intense and refreshing, and from it I will be forever changed. <br />
<br />
I read something recently that I feel expresses more completely some of what India has been teaching me over the past three months in numerous and inexplicable ways... </div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Relax without laziness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Focus without tension<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Perceive without projecting <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Witness without judging<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy without craving<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Reflect without imagining<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Love without condition<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Give without demanding<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Receive without possessing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Serve without self-seeking<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Challenge without dominating<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meditate without identity<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Correct without blaming<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Overcome without pride<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Laugh without cynicism<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cry without pity<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Confront without hatred<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Guide without superiority <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Be without self-defining<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Live without arrogance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Enter without self-importance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Depart without regret<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Be one with God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Mooji<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">February 2014<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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