Yoga is for white people (Zarna Garg)

Bikram ran scam called Bikram Yoga

Zarna Garg (born Feb. 15, 1975) [1] is an Indian American stand-up comedian and screenwriter. CNBC says she is "the zany, outspoken voice of the Indian American woman" [2]. She is also a New York Times bestselling author.

• ZG is a "Desi" (a member of the Indian diaspora) comedian at Zarna Garg.com. Desi a loose term used to describe the peoples, cultures, and products of the Indian subcontinent and their diaspora [4], deriving from the Sanskrit देश (deśá), meaning "land" or "country" [5]. It traces its origin to people from South Asia: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and is sometimes extended to include the Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan. More: Desi

Early life and education

Watch Zarna Garg: Practical People Win Streaming Online | Hulu

Born in India, she lived in Mumbai (Bombay) as a teenager. Her Indian father demanded that she get married the day after her mother died, which was when she was 14.

Why are we Americans overachievers?

Rather than submit to an arranged marriage, she moved out of the house and stayed with friends and family [4]. Eventually, she emigrated to the USA to live with her sister in Akron, Ohio [2][5].

She earned a BA degree in finance from the University of Akron and a JD (Juris Doctor) degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio [6].

After being a stay-at-home mother for 16 years, she was encouraged by her children to try stand-up comedy [7], so we have them to thank. More

• Zarna Garg (Comedy Dynamics); CC Liu, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Texas unveils giant 'monkey god' statue

Hindu Lord Hanuman as a white monkey with blue eyes, friend of Ganesha (pinterest)

Mahayana Buddhist monks and nuns among Hindu parishioners at Sunday's Pran Pratishtha ceremony, during unveiling of 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman (Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple)

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Monkeys are fun-loving and inquisitive mammals

Astonishing photographs of a 90-foot statue of the Hindu God Lord Hanuman — the third largest statue in the U.S.A. — have been obtained by Newsweek, following the unveiling ceremony in Texas.

The monument, known as the Statue of Union, stands at the Sri Ashta Lakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas. Lord Hanuman is depicted as human, but with the head and tail of a monkey, as is customary.

• Huge half-monkey half-human statue in Texas sparks Christian conservative backlash (Newsweek)

Lord Hanuman namaste (Singapore)

The statue is holding both hands palm forward (mudra) and the end of the tail is twisted above the head, creating a halo effect.

Hanuman is a Hindu god known for his power, courage, and selfless service. He is also a symbol of power and celibacy.

The statue's unveiling on Sunday marks rapidly changing religious demographics in the U.S., with surveys showing a decline in the proportion of Americans who identify as Christian and a rise in those who say they are "nothing in particular" (the NONEs) or belong to religions which are followed by a minority in the U.S.

Some Darwinists worship a monkey man forbear

Speaking to Newsweek Ranganath Kandala, joint secretary of the Ashtalakshmi Temple, confirmed the statue is 90-foot-tall and said it was inaugurated in a Pran Pratishtha ceremony on August 18, celebrating it as a living embodiment of the deity. USA's new 'third tallest' statue

• These are 10 of the great Hindu temples to visit in the USA

The breathing life into the statue ceremony

Most famous American Hindu Julia Roberts

The Sanskrit word pratiṣṭhā, which in general usage means "placement" of a murti (embodied solid object), is translated by Apte as "the consecration of a vessel or dwelling" [3].

The adjective pratiṣṭha means "installed" [4]. Prana means "life force, breath, spirit." The phrase Prana Pratishtha is a ritual that means "placing the breath-of-life into the image to establish it" [WQ] or "bringing life to the temple" [2].

It is also referred to as murti sthapana (image placement inside the temple). Traditionally, this was the step when the eye of the murti was sculpted open [2], inside the inner sanctuary (garbhagriha, the Purusha space) of a Hindu temple.

Young Hindu sadhvi priestess

This ritual typically involves a devotional ritual (puja) and the chanting of Sanskrit mantras as the deity is moved from outside into the center place.

It includes inviting the deity to become a resident guest of the temple, bathing and cleansing it, similar to welcoming a revered guest after a long journey.

This is followed by dressing and seating the deity in a place of comfort, with the image's face oriented towards the east (signifying the sunrise), followed by a Nyasa ceremony with hymns (act of touching different parts of the murti, symbolizing the presence of various gods as sensory organs:

• Indra [Sakka] as the hand,
• Brahma as the heart,
• Surya [Sol, Helios] as the eyes, etc.) [1].

The Hindu priest recites specific mantras and performs rituals to infuse the idol with the animating life force or "holy spirit" (prana).

During this process, the deity descends into the idol, making it a living representation [5]. After the infusion of prana, the deity is considered blessed and consecrated.

Devotees often seek the deity's blessings at this point. The ritual also includes the spraying of scented water and flowers, with the Chaksu͡unmilan ceremony (Sanskrit chakshu unmilan, "opening of the divine eye"), marking the high point of the ritual [6]. The image is then considered fully consecrated. More

• James Bickerton, Newsweek.com via MSN.com, 8/22/24; CC Liu, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

New Year's event: 108 Sun Salutations (1/1)

Healthline.com; Stella Han (@yogihantas), Kinship Yoga Studios, Yogi Seven, Jen Bradford, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Wisdom Quarterly; Seth MacFarlane, American Dad

Can one lose weight doing yoga poses? Types, exercises, and more (healthline.com)

EVENTS + WORKSHOPS — KINSHIP HIGHLAND PARK (kinshipyoga.com)

How can we awaken our seven spinal energy centers? Kundalini energy rises with yoga.

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The sun is good, but we'll do this series indoors.

It's New Year's Day. Will the wheel spin just the same as it did the year before? Or...

Will we put a fresh spin on it? It's up to us. "Karma" does not mean choice but rather the ACTION we take based on the choice we make.

Dharma Bu Meditation

We can always choose. There's freedom of choice, not just in this country by throughout the universe.

But what if there's a gun up to your head?

All the better. Makes my choice easier. I have to want to do it to do it, don't I? Or else that person should take her hands and grab mine and do it for me. Before I do it, that gun has to be there, that threat of violence or imminent death. If there's no threat of great bodily harm, I'm not stirring.

Hot yoga poses are easier in a big group.

In all of these, I have to choose. The choice may get smaller and harder, but it's a choice the gun holder is counting on.

The young man held a gun to the head of God, "Stick this holy cow!" Put the audience in action; let the slaughtered take a bow. Did God do it? His/Her choice.

Hi, I'm Stella or "Yogihantas" on Instagram. Reach out. I'd love community input!

QUOTE: Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace.

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So what if, whatever we do for New Year's Eve, we get up before noon and get over to the yoga studio for some Sun Salutations to greet the rising sky clock? Our choice. Habit is a strong predictor. The Sandman will hold the gun and say, "Stay in bed!" We could listen. Or we could do different.

Excellent instruction will be provided. Bring a mat and a water bottle. Everything else is available at the studio.

• What are the Eight Limbs (or Parts) of Yoga

What's a "Sun Salutation"?

After the laundry, the ecstasy: first the Sun Salutations to the long final resting pose.

Sun Salutation series of poses

What's a Sun Salutation? First of all, no one needs to know to participate. Beginners are welcome. It will all be explained. But for those who are a bit an*l about jumping into things, it's a series of standing and bending poses that go both ways for balance. Here's a photo of it all at once from the India's Gandhi Airport.

• Why 108? It's a holy number, a mala (rosary, full string of beads)

Begin at Mountain, rise up to a Back Bend arch, Forward Bend with the breath. (It's all about the breath, which unites or "yogifies" Sun and Moon, Yin and Yang, Bright and Dark, Effort and Repose, Inhale and Exhale to bring about a UNION of complementary parts thought of as opposites).

I've never felt so good at noon on New Year's

Hatha is said by some to mean "Sun-Moon," whereas others say that's not what it means. Close enough. Breathe out for effort, in for repose, which is the reverse of how we usually do things. There are video tutorials. After plank there's the most talked about yoga pose since Full Lotus: Downward Dog. There's Upward Dog, too, then Plank. It's a lovely series. And there will be a room full of others on their journey to a great New Year.

• Participate live online, and donate to a great cause

All proceeds benefit Yoga Gives Back

Yoga Gives Back: Stella Han's fundraiser (networkforgood.com)

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Stella (@yogihantas)

All proceeds from this donation-based event support Yoga Gives Back (networkforgood.com), a charity that provides education to children and micro-loans to outcaste women in India to help families rise from poverty by their own efforts.

Yogini Stella Han is an ambassador out to save the world, country by country. But why India? It's the world's largest nation, now surpassing China. Why children? C'mon, they're kids! Why women? Women are the root of the family, and family is the root of traditional Indian society.

• RSVP at Dharma Buddhist Meditation (MEETUP):
• Disclosure Project (Greater LA) New Year's Day Moving Yoga Meditation: 108 Sun Salutations, Mon, Jan 1, 2024, 12:00 PM | Meetup
• PasaDharma (Foothills) New Year's Day Moving Yoga Meditation: 108 Sun Salutations, Mon, Jan 1, 2024, 12:00 PM | Meetup
• Nature Center (The Valley) New Year's Day Moving Yoga Meditation: 108 Sun Salutations, Mon, Jan 1, 2024, 12:00 PM | Meetup
• Connect with Yogini Stella at Kinship Yoga Studios
• PARTY LOCATION: 5612 N. Figueroa St.
• Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA 90042
• COST: This event is donation-based with proceeds benefitting an Indian charity that serves outcaste children and provides women micro-loans so they can help themselves: Yoga Gives Back - Stella Han's fundraiser (networkforgood.com)
• New Year Ceremony: Kinship Yoga Studios (12/30/23)

The Eight Limbs or Parts of Yoga

Here are the 8 parts of yoga. Samadhi-in-meditation is most important, breath the most basic.

Get spiritual with "New Age Chick" (JP Sears)

JP Sears, Chandler Juliet, Premiered Dec. 2021 and July 2023; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

✨New Age Chick steals parking space from the wrong guy (w/JP Sears) 🔮

(Chandler Juliet) Crystals cannot replace character. It's time to get woke, but a phony, pseudo, fake awakening just won't do. Anyone can talk the talk, but who among us can walk the walk? Is it NAC or JP Sears?

• "You stole my parking space!"
• "I have had my aura expanded to each corner of this parking lot, so my energy was technically occupying this space before you got here, and now you're standing on my indigenous homeland."
• It’s an honor to lose at the spiritual bypassing game from a true spiritual guru, hysterical JP Sears. Follow him. 

How to avoid taking responsibility using spiritual bypassing. Warning: Do not try this if you hit someone’s car. Just own up to when you make a mistake and apologize. It’s the most “higher self” thing to do.

Friends, hope you enjoy this half-baked comedy sketch my friend, Tara Parker, and I made about how some people in the local sangha, or "spiritual community," don't know how to take responsibility and own up to when making a mistake. Relate? It's a fun comedy skit [I will repeat years later with JP Sears] and have a LOT more in the pipeline [to project from by rear end chakra], mostly inspired by my bizarre experiences with bizarre characters one only meets in weird places like Los Angeles. Know someone who talks like this? They exist. LOL.

EXCLUSIVE content, more sketches, photoshoots, and first listens of upcoming EP, Language of Love, by joining my Patreon! PATREON: Patreon.com/ChandlerJuliet STREAM LOVE LANGUAGE fanlink.to/ChandlerLoveLanguage. Follow: instagram.com/chandlerjofficial. #spiritualbypassing #newage #awakenwithjp. Featuring @AwakenWithJP! #lovelanguage #behindthemusic #behindthescenes

Namaste Trump in India (video)

DD News (Doordarshan, India's PBS, 2/24/20); Seth Auberon, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly

(DD News) Well hated U.S. President Donald John Trump joins beloved right wing Hindu nationalist leader Prime Minister Nerendra Modi in addressing #NamasteTrump at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, India. Trump believes this is the largest gathering in the history of India, when it is less than 1% of the size of India's largest, the Kumbha Mela events, which are the largest human gatherings for any purpose. But don't tell Trump, as his ego might not be able to handle the truth. PM Modi is the Trump of India, like Duterte in the Philippines.

Namaste Trump: Why is Trump in India?
(Crux+, Feb. 19, 2020) U.S. Pres. Trump's visit to the AMC (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation) stadium tweeted a series of "Namaste Trump" posts. Pres. Trump and PM Modi will visit Sabarmati Ashram where Gandhi is interred along the 22 km-long route from the airport for a roadshow of 50,000 lining the way.

Mrs. Trump and husband, John, visit Muslim Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Buddhist Moon Days

Access to Insight (accesstoinsight.org) edited by Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, Bhante, Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly; video by Mai Ram Yoga (Ashram Vilnius (mairamyoga.lt)

Phases of the Moon (Chandra) over a lunar month: 13 "moonths" in a year (13x28=364). For karma, the Buddha taught the observance of virtue over yoga's Chandra Namaskar.

 

Getting ready for meditation (MRY).

Lunar observance (uposatha) days are times of renewed dedication to the practice of the Dharma -- the Buddha's Teaching on gaining enlightenment and bringing about the end of all suffering (nirvana) -- observed by lay Buddhists and monastics throughout the Theravada Buddhist world.

 

These are days of more intensive reflection and meditation for monastics and intensive practitioners. In many monasteries physical labor (repairs, construction projects, etc.) is curtailed.

 

Practice sila on lunar observance days.

On full moon and new moon days, the fortnightly recitation of the Patimokkha (monastic rules of conduct) along with its requisite confession of lapses takes place.

 

Lay Buddhist observe the Eight Precepts on these days -- instead of the customary Five Precepts undertaken at other times -- to support meditation practice and to re-energize the commitment to live in accordance with the Dharma.

Whenever possible, lay people use these days as an opportunity to visit the local monastic complex to make special offerings to the Monastic Sangha, to listen to the Buddha's Dharma, and to practice meditation with Dharma-companions late into the night, sometimes until morning.

For those without a local monastery, it can simply be an opportunity to step up efforts in meditation (for which Ten Precepts are most useful), while drawing on the energetic support of millions of practicing Buddhists around the world.

 

Gentle Hatha Yoga stretches prepare the body for joyful sitting meditation (mairam.lt).

 

The Calendar of Lunar Observance (Uposatha) Days is calculated using a complex traditional formula that is roughly based on the lunar calendar. (See local temple for exact dates of observance).

 

The result is that the dates do not always coincide with their actual astronomical dates. It further complicates matters that each sect within Theravada Buddhism tends to follow a slightly different calendar (across countries and communities).

 

Several full moon days hold special significance on the Buddhist calendar: More

• Lay Buddhist Practice, Ven. Khantipalo (BPS.lk Wheel 206)
• The Roots of the Lunar Observance Day Sutra (AN 3.70)
• Discourse on the Lunar Observance (AN 8.41)
• Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha (AN. 843)
• Sakka Sutra (AN 10.46): To the Sakyans (on the Uposatha)
• Ven. Ñanavara Thera's Q&As concerning the uposatha

Why we love the Sun (video)

Dharmachari, Macpherson, Wells, Liu

Why U.S. is getting 15 hours of sunlight

The summer solstice brings the longest day of the year and some unusual ways to celebrate. Summer solstice rituals - Lunar eclipse coming - Lightning on Saturn

(Wisdom Quarterly) -- Today is the Summer Solstice. Why do we humans worship the Sun? It's an ancient Indian custom, codified in a yoga series called Salutation to the Sun (Surya Namaskar). But it's a fundamental basis of most modern religions, particularly Christianity, the dominant "son" cult. Christianity is not an original religion. Instead, like America, it is an amalgamation of traditions from around the world (Mithraism, Scandinavian Paganism, Zoroastrianism, Egyptian rites, etc.).

Modern Sun worshippers in So. California

Buddhist principles (particularly of the Mahayana variety) figure into Christianity as well. And it's no wonder, given Jesus' travels in Ladakh, India and the frontiers of Tibet. (See research first published by Nicolas Notovitch and many other since). The Zeitgeist movie brought astro-theology in religious myths to nearly everyone's attention.

In Buddhism the Sun (Surya) is considered an akasha-deva (sky-god, space-being, radiant light spirit in the heavens), or in any case is spoken of as one in Buddhist rebirth stories (Jatakas). The Moon (Chandra) is spoken of in the same way, perhaps from legends told by visitors from space recorded in Vedic Indian history (a.k.a., mythology).

But the Sun is famous in Buddhism as the basis of the most important sutra for lay Buddhists -- the Advice to Sigala (Sigalovada Sutra). The Buddha uses the ancient Indian custom of "saluting" the sky to instruct a householder's son on how this should be done in the dispensation of the nobles. Rather than worshipping the cardinal directions, the Buddha says that honoring and upholding our social relations and obligations is the original meaning behind the ancient practice.

• Which relations? Our parents, teachers, nuclear family, friends and associates, employees and servants, wandering ascetics and brahmins.
• Which obligations? To make wholesome karma, avoid harm, make and keep friends, avoid fools, earn and save money, avoid the dissipation of wealth, and so on.
• More of the Buddha's advice to Sigala>>

WORLD NEWS
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Yoga: Global Mala Project

(globalmala.org)

Join 1,008 yogis celebrating 108 sun salutations and conscious music at this annual event. Enjoy exceptional yoga teachers, representing the variety in yoga and inspirational speakers, empowering musi-cians, yoga sun salutations, kirtan music, and dance performances. Supported by over 40 SoCal yoga studios, this FREE charity event is open to all. Benefiting Yoga Health Foundation's educational programs to bring yoga and health education into schools.

• RSVP + Donate for amazing gift bag...
• RSVP without a donation

Yoga Workout (Namaste video)

More free at: URL