Monday, May 01, 2017 A Message from Marydale – May 2017

Greetings!

What an absolutely awesome Yoga Day we celebrated together at gorgeous Rancho Providencia! Everyone has been “buzzing” with joy after the deep catharsis that took place for all through the powerful teachings of Larry Payne, remarkable Vedic Astrology of Vimal Sood, mesmerizing music of Amit Heri, wonder of The Valley Hive, and wisdom of Yogacharya Richard Peterson. And, of course, the beautiful land itself that always provides a haven for our celebration, lovingly created and cared for by our gracious host, Kelly Holland. I bow to all of you for making the day magical, memorable, and precious for everyone in attendance.

As we enter into the fifth month of 2017, it is a good time to pause and take a moment to fully embrace all that has happened so far this year in this, your one and only life. We have no time to squander, as all of us find the pages of our story turning faster and faster. As yogis, we reinforce the basic premise of staying awake in every moment, of being present to celebrate every breath, of responsibly choosing our thoughts, our actions, our happiness. During this momentary pause, tell me: how are you doing with all that? Are these Universal laws real in your life, or just good ideas that remain just that – ideas?

There’s a high cost in continuing to make excuses for not doing your best every day as you live in integrity with your Spiritual beliefs. Probably the biggest loss is the lack of change that takes place – which would allow you to truly live in joy, in love, in peace – for stagnation can leave you lacking and, perhaps, disappointed or frustrated. It all starts with recognizing that with a little effort, with baby steps, you are fully capable of creating the life you love.

How about using this beautiful month of May to redouble your efforts of self-transformation into a life of love? If you’re reading this, then it is a pretty good guess that you already have a path that you are following. Go deeper into that path and learn from those who have walked before you. Pay attention, humble yourself, be patient, be as supple as water, calm yourself, surrender. Then, and only then, will you discover the ease and Grace of living in the flow with all that is. No more struggle, no more confusion, no more loss. With that, I express my love and gratitude to you for trying and my confidence in your ultimate success in all that you do.

In May we are reminded to remember our mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, stepgrandmothers, godmothers, mothers-in-law, mothers by choice, and all that they represent, have done, and continue to do throughout our lives for us. As yogis, we are taught early on that the Mother is the first guru and, as such, we must love, respect, and support her all the days of her life and beyond. Make no mistake, having a day of remembrance is a good idea, but a better one is to honor your mother and your father every day, for without them you would not be! I bow to all the mothers in our Param Yoga community and wish each of you a restful and love-filled day of recognition.

May the blessings of God and Gurus shine forever upon you and yours. See you on the mat.

Love, Love, Love,

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“Use the utmost concentration to reach the goal of life. Look within and perceive the constant flow of change. Even in the body, in every moment, there is an element of creation and destruction. Old cells are constantly dying and many new cells are being born. Experience divinity through all the senses. While speaking, speak with love; be aware of addressing divinity in others. Remember the living presence of God in one and all. Manifest love through every work and every gesture. Nothing is impossible to a heart overflowing with love; life becomes complete.” — Paramahamsa Prajnanananda