I just can’t stop writing blog articles about my last pilgrimage to Mt. Shasta! You know when you have one of those peak experiences in life, and you just want to keep talking about it? Well, that’s how it is for me now with that sacred time on that holy mountain. In this photo, I am sitting at Bunny Flat, meditating on the majesty of Mt. Shasta, and relaxing my left knee which I had injured on my hike to Southgate Meadows the day before.  On that hike (see “A Vegan Yogini’s Radiant Shiva Bliss on Mt. Shasta!”), my left knee felt a little funny as I hiked into the meadows, but I ignored that funny feeling because I was so elated with the scenery. Well, when I stood up to hike back out (after lunching on the rocks at the top of the rushing waters), I was surprised at how much pain I suddenly felt in my left knee. As I began the long hike back to my car, I prayed to my Gurus (Ammachi and Neem Karoli Baba-ji), and I asked the Reiki Guides to send Reiki healing energies into my knee as I hobbled along… And, every few steps I leaned down and “iced” my knee in the rushing waters!

When I returned to my friends’ home for the Amma Satsang, I was surprised that my knee didn’t hurt anymore… And it didn’t hurt again until I got up to Bunny Flat the next day. As I sat there gazing at the mountain, I reflected on the strangeness of it all. You see, I had never had any problems with my left knee before those two days!

And now as I sit here typing, with a left knee that has been just fine since I returned home, I am delighting in the strange mysteries of life, especially the magical mysteries of that Sacred Shiva Mountain!

May all beings everywhere experience Delight in the Great Mystery. May all beings know the Happiness that arises from a Grateful Heart.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Teja by Mt. Shasta by Teja Shankara.

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Photo by Ashley Marie - CC License

On this playground of life, we get to choose how we spend our time: we can choose to run around doing things that lower our vibrations, OR we can choose to commit to regular, daily spiritual practices that raise our vibrations. Each small change that we make within ourselves then ripples out and benefits all of Creation. This year I intend to help raise the vibration of the human species, through my work as a cheerleader for spiritual practices. (This paragraph is repeated each month for emphasis, since this is the theme for the 2011 newsletters.)

Here is some recent news from the playground of my life ~

~ Well, life continues to be crazy and full, as ever. Recently a dear friend wrote to me in an email, “When will this life settle down?” I have to laugh as I ask myself that same question when I am running around to soccer games and school meetings and pilgrimages to Mt. Shasta! (I’ve written a few blog articles about my recent time on Mt. Shasta, and I plan to write more about that memorable adventure. For now, see “A Vegan Yogini’s Radiant Shiva Bliss on Mt. Shasta!” and “Barefoot Vegan Yogini Praying for Divine Grace on Mt. Shasta”) ~ If you can relate to asking the question “When will life settle down?” please take a moment to email me (teja@yogini-bliss.com) and tell me about your experience with that question. The first three people to reply will receive a free e-copy of my pocket book, Radiance Rising: Spiritual Practices for Daily Living. Your reply can be brief or long – just write whatever comes to you in the moment!

~ Amidst the colorful chaos, daily spiritual practices help keep me grounded in my Happy Teja Self. Recently I have been both receiving and giving Reiki healing sessions, as well as deepening into the process of sending distance Reiki during my morning meditations. And, I’ve been reading my Reiki teacher, William Bagley’s book — again! This is at least the third or fourth (or maybe the fifth?) time I’ve read his Reiki Study Guide… and this time I’m absorbing the information on a much deeper level. Here is a section that is quite potent for me:

“Part of advanced teaching is to see that we create our own reality. The ego world is real in the sense that we have created it. But it is unreal in how it sees itself. If we create our own reality, we cannot really be a victim of anything. We choose what experiences we go through. The paradox of the ego world is that people use their power to feel powerless. We can create any reality we want, including a reality where we are victims of an outside world where we cannot create our reality. Because the bottom line is that we create our reality, then any reality we create where we do not see ourselves as the creative agent must be an illusion…. We will sometimes find illusions which feel temporarily safe, but these illusions are fragile. They will be shattered by life simply changing. The natural flow of cause and effect undoes illusions. People are meant to outgrow all illusions and return to reality. Reiki heals by radiating love from a source beyond all illusions.”

~ The Reiki healing energies help me to stay on track in aligning with my purpose. Sometimes I question the process of manifesting intentions (see my blog article, “Manifesting Intentions”: a workable process in this decade?”), but recently my faith in this Magical Universe has been restored! (See “Barefoot Vegan Yogini’s Intentions are Manifesting!”)

~ Lately I have really been enjoying making guacamole in my vegan yogini kitchen. One day I wrote down the recipe, and I’ll share it with you here:

Teja’s Colorful Vegan Guacamole

4 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
1 medium red bell (sweet) pepper, chopped finely
1 jalapeño pepper, chopped finely, without seeds (or with seeds if you like it hot!)
juice (and some of the pulp) of 1 lemon
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (use half of stems)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon Himalayan krystal salt (or sea salt)

Combine all in a bowl as shown in first photo here, then mash all ingredients with a fork… then stir well, and serve. Serving suggestion shown in second photo is of guacamole served on top of cooked quinoa (for instructions on cooking quinoa, please see “Vegan Pinto-Quinoa Loaf”), with little tomatoes and pea sprouts on the side.

This is a fancy version of guacamole. Often I make a simpler version that is equally tasty, which is just avocado, lemon juice and pulp, salt, and pepper. So if you don’t have much time, you can still enjoy a tasty guacamole!

Please let me know how you like this recipe…

~ Whatever reality you are creating for yourself in this present moment, and regardless of how crazy it may be, I wish you inner peace amidst the chaos. May you take some time to ground yourself and cultivate happiness during this brief time on the playground of life.

May all beings have food, clothing, shelter, and peaceful sleep. May we all live together in Peace. Happy International Day of Peace tomorrow. (“International Peace Day this Wednesday”) Please join in the one-minute of silent prayer for peace at 12:00 noon in your local time zone, anywhere you are on this sacred planet earth.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photos of Teja’s Guacamole by Teja Shankara.

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This Wednesday, September 21^st, 2011, is the 22^nd Annual International Day of Peace. This global 24-hour observation is meant to demonstrate the power of prayer and other spiritual practices in promoting peace and preventing violence. Amma has asked everyone to participate in the collective minute of silence and prayer at 12:00 noon (your local time) that day.

Amma said, “It doesn’t matter where you are – whether at work, at home, traveling, or even in the bathroom – you can participate in this prayer. Just stop whatever you are doing at that time and spend one minute praying for the peace of the world. We should encourage as many people as possible to take part in this prayer.”

So, the International Day of Peace is all day, September 21^st, with a minute of silent prayer at 12:00 Noon, your local time, anywhere you are on the planet!

May all beings feel the Peace that radiates around the world this Wednesday!

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Sacred Mt. Shasta taken by Teja Shankara.

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This article is a continuation of the blog article posted on September 9^th, “A Vegan Yogini’s Radiant Shiva Bliss on Mt. Shasta!” As I shared in that blog, while hiking on Sacred Mt. Shasta (on September 4^th), I prayed to the mountain (and to my beloved Gurus, Ammachi and Neem Karoli Baba-ji) about my financial situation. Even though I have grown skeptical about the process of manifesting intentions (see “Manifesting Intentions”: a workable process in this decade?”), I said the following out loud to the mountain: “Please help me with my financial situation by September 16^th!”

In the “manifesting intentions” world, it is important to think positive thoughts and keep visualizing what you intend to manifest. Well, despite my growing worries (and despairing, negative thoughts) about finances, suddenly (and magically), over this past week quite a few job opportunities started coming my way! The most exciting one, which I was offered (and happily accepted) yesterday (September 15^th), is a part-time position of medical assistant at Morningstar Healing Arts. And, tonight I am going to give a Reiki session in someone’s home, since I now “have table, will travel” with my new business, Radiance Rising Reiki. So my financial situation is coming together, and today is September 16^th, the very date I asked for! 

I am filled with a Gratitude that is beyond words. I bow to the Great Mystery that is filled with a Magic which we cannot possibly understand with our little human brains.

May Divine Grace help all beings to have food, clothing, shelter, and peaceful sleep. May all beings know the Happiness that arises from a Grateful Heart.

Om Shanti (Peace), 

Yogini Tejaswini

Photos of Teja Bright in Lush Green Southgate Meadows (on Mt. Shasta), and of Teja’s feet by flowing waters in the meadow, taken by Teja Shankara.

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O Sacred Mt. Shasta,
I am praying for Divine Grace!

May all the beings in all the worlds be happy and at peace.

Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photos of Mt. Shasta and Teja’s barefeet on Shasta taken by Teja Shankara.

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LIVE STREAMING AUDIO & VIDEO of the HANUMAN CHALEESAS BEING CHANTED FROM THE NEEM KAROLI BABA TEMPLE IN TAOS---

HAPPENING NOW UNTIL 1:08 pm Saturday September 10th US Mountain Time.

GO TO THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE www.nkbashram.org AND SCROLL DOWN TO "WHAT'S NEW" AND CLICK ON THE LIVE STREAMING.

Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram

(From Yogini Tejaswini: I’ve been chanting along and it’s amazing!!! So much Gratitude!)

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Last weekend I continued my Mt. Shasta pilgrimages with a solo hike to Southgate Meadows. With bells on my ankles, and a cheery yellow dress, I felt like a sweet honeybee singing to the mountain spirits!

As I hiked through rocks and trees, chanting Om Namah Shivaya, my bare feet delighted in connecting directly with the sacred earth. I felt incredible Gratitude to be communing with such a holy power spot, and when I reached the meadows, the lush greenery and rushing water in all directions made me gasp with Pure Joy!

When I reached the upper meadows, I sat on the rocks next to a big patch of snow, silently eating my vegan tempeh sandwich and praying to my Gurus (Ammachi and Neem Karoli Baba-ji). After lunch I prayed to the Mountain about my financial situation. Although I am bright, intelligent, creative, compassionate, and well-intentioned, I have not yet secured the income I need for my basic living expenses. So I am praying, praying, praying for Divine Grace to help me! (And, if you know of any beings who have some abundance to share, please direct them towards the Donate button on this website’s Store!)

I took the photo above as I hiked back out… the lush green meadows were far behind me, and my heart was full of the Radiance of the sunshine, and of the Bliss of my beloved husband, Lord Shiva. A friend later told me that Mt. Shasta is considered to be a Shiva mountain… Indeed!

Jai Shiva Shankara! ~ Victory to Lord Shiva, who is Pure Consciousness and Pure Bliss!

May all beings everywhere know Radiant Bliss and Deep Gratitude. 

Om Shanti (Peace), 

Yogini Tejaswini

Photos of Teja~Shiva~Shasta~Radiance, and of Teja’s happy bare feet (with hiking bells) taken by Teja Shankara.

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My son Gabe took this amazing photo of the sun setting up on Mt. Ashland, the night of the Full Moon in July… After that night of speaking my intentions to the Full Moon, I posted a blog article entitled “Allowing Intentions to Manifest through the “I don’t know” Mantra!” Well, since writing that article, the hilarious (and sometimes not so hilarious) internal conversations have continued, and this morning the hilarity (and despair) of it all has prompted me to write the following article…

There are many “correct” expressions in the world of “manifesting intentions” – you’ve probably heard these a zillion times: “Follow your bliss and the money will follow.” “If you are in the flow, the Universe will support you.” “When one door closes, another door opens.” Well, what if these expressions were true in the 70’s and 80’s, and perhaps even in the 90’s, but they aren’t so true in this world of the present decade (whatever it’s called)? I mean, there are a lot more people on the planet now, and the gap between the rich and the poor has grown exponentially. There are nearly 1 billion people starving on this planet earth – are they finding open doors? 

Perhaps, with 7 billion people on the planet, if we were all truly “in the flow”, then the Universe would support us all, but that support would look quite different from the current state of affairs in which a small minority is very, very wealthy, while the masses are growing poorer each day. It is difficult to even contemplate this subject, because whether or not you are currently financially stable, when you read this article, perhaps you feel hopeless to help the situation in any positive way. I myself do not know the answers. I am simply sharing what is on my mind today. Please feel free to comment in the section below this article, and/or you can email me anytime: teja@yogini-bliss.com

May all beings have food, clothing, shelter, and peaceful sleep each night.

Om Shanti (Peace), 

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of sunset on Mt. Ashland taken by Teja’s son Gabe.

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