Welcome to the site of spiritual author Teja Shankara, a western yogini who the hugging saint Ammachi gave the name Tejaswini.

To view Teja's videos, please go to her YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/user/16Tejaswini

Introduction to this site, by Yogini Tejaswini Shankara:

Greetings and welcome to yogini-bliss.com, a site where you can enjoy spiritual guidance from the comfort of your own computer. In this busy technological age, we are fortunate to witness ancient sacred truths fusing with modern scientific discoveries. One such fusion is the understanding that everything is energy vibrating at different frequencies, and that energy is one connected energy. We forget that we are an inseparable part of that one energy. We forget our interconnectedness because we are in separate bodies, so we are deluded into thinking that we are separate… but in Reality, we are all connected in one energy that is essentially pure Love.

When we remember our essential nature, which is pure Love, a warm radiance rises within us. This radiance emerges from the Light that lives inside all of our hearts, and once we begin to open our hearts that Light spontaneously shines out, warming and inspiring the beings around us and beyond. Spiritual practices help us to remember who we truly are. When we dedicate ourselves to regular, daily spiritual practices, then we get to remember who we are again and again and again… As Gandhi-ji said, first we have to change ourselves and BE the change that we wish to see in the world. Although the changes may be slow, if we are determined to uplift our minds and open our hearts, then that will eventually be so.

It is my intention that this website radiates Bliss and Light. Through the information shared here on spiritual practices and teachings, natural living, veganism, and so forth, may your mind be inspired, may your heart be touched, may your energies align with your true purpose, and may your spirit be uplifted. May this site be an oasis of peace and bliss where you can return again and again to remember who you are: a spiritual being who is connected with all other beings in one continuous web of pure love energy.

I invite you to regularly enjoy my mystical and mundane musings on the Teja Blog. On the blog you can post questions, suggestions, and your own musings. Please post often, as I would love to hear from you.

May this site be an opportunity for you to experience on-line satsang (being in the company of others sharing spiritual teachings), sangha (spiritual community), and sadhana (spiritual practices). To learn more about spiritual practices – beyond what you find on this site – check out my book, Radiance Rising: Spiritual Practices for Daily Living. This pocketbook makes a great gift for yourself and for your family and friends. Written from the perspective of a raja yogini (a spiritual practitioner on the Raja Yoga Path), this book offers basic descriptions of spiritual practices that anyone – on any spiritual path – can learn and apply to daily life. May this book – and this website – spread the seeds of spirituality far and wide.

May all beings everywhere know peace and happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini Shankara

Gratitude Offering to teachers and Gurus

I offer a humble and grateful bow to all the teachers and Gurus who have taught me with so much patience, skill, and humor. Some of these beings I have met in person, and others I’ve known through dreams and/or through reading books with their teachings. A deep thank you to the following beloved teachers and Gurus:

David La Chapelle (named Basil in my books), who since he left the body I now call Yogi Shambho; Baba Rampuri; Prema Mayi Dasi; Krishna Das; Jai Uttal; Tenabah; Sri Adi Shankara; Sri Lalla Yogiswari; Sri Ramana Maharshi; Sri Baba Muktananda; Sri Ramakrishna; Sri Sarada Devi; Sri Anandamayi Ma; Sri Gandhi-ji; Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Ammachi); and Sri Sri 1008 Sri Neem Karoli Baba-ji!

Radiance Rising Circles with Yogini Tejaswini Shankara (“Teja”)

It is my intention to spread the seeds of spirituality far and wide, because the spiritual practices I’ve been doing for the past six years have radically changed me for the better. I have healed myself almost entirely of depression, migraine headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and destructive thought patterns. (To learn more about spiritual practices, check out my new book, Radiance Rising: Spiritual Practices for Daily Living.)

To spread the seeds of spirituality, I offer Radiance Rising Circles, which are Gandhi-style interfaith gatherings to spark the inner Light through shared silent meditation, spiritual teachings, poems, and songs from sacred traditions. To read more about these gatherings, go to my Events Calendar page. To invite me to facilitate Radiance Rising Circles, send me an email through my Contact page. I am available to teach meditation and other spiritual practices to individuals and groups in a variety of settings, including schools, businesses, corporate retreats, churches, and prisons.

Please consider making a donation to support my work in spreading the seeds of spirituality far and wide. 10% of every sale and donation on this website goes to Amma's charitable organizations. (www.amma.org)

To donate, click here on Store.

Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

~ May all beings everywhere be happy.

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Last Friday, in anticipation of beginning to read Tulasidasa’s Shri Ramacharitamanasa (The Holy Lake of the Acts of Rama), I cleaned my living room and bought myself flowers! The next morning I began reading the introduction, written by Ram Chandra Prasad, Professor of English, Patna University, Patna, India. Each morning this week, I spent my “time-out-of-time” spiritual practice in studying the introduction, and here I will share a few highlights from those studies…

Tulasidasa (1532-1623), poet-saint of Northern India, began writing the Ramacharitamanasa (his version of the Ramayana) when he was forty-two years old (my age now!), on March 30^th (today’s date!), of 1574. With his incredible capacity for work, and his determination to revitalize Hindu society, he set about the task of writing that great epic story anew, to remind his readers that there is no reason to despair. Through his depiction of Rama’s victory over the demons, the reader remembers the ultimate victory of truth over evil.

Ram Chandra Prasad, who edited and translated Tulasi’s great work into Hindi and English, writes, “Endowed with the prophetic vision of a true seer, Tulasi is alert to the present need and understands the requirements of modern times, of what he calls the Kaliyuga, and devotes all his creative energies towards providing a sure antidote to the poison that has corrupted human society today.”

Already greatly inspired by the introduction, I am very much looking forward to reading the first pages of the epic tomorrow morning, which happens to be Ram Navmi, the birthday celebration day for Rama! And, three weeks from tomorrow, in my own small way of providing “a sure antidote to the poison that has corrupted human society today”, I will once again be offering weekly Radiance Rising Circles! (Beginning April 21^st, Saturday mornings, 10:30am – 12 noon at the Unitarian Universalist Center, corner of 4^th & C Streets in Ashland.)

May all beings be Happy and Free. Jai Sri Rama! Victory to Rama!

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Shri Ramacharitamanasa with flowers by Teja Shankara.

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I snapped this photo of myself on New Year’s Eve, after returning from my true home, the Amma Satsang. It was the perfect way for this yogini to end the year: chanting the Names of God and meditating with a loving sangha (spiritual community). Just the day before I had finished reading Ram Dass’ book, Be Love Now, so I was already feeling quite full of loving spiritual energies.

Be Love Now is truly more than just some papers bound together. Whilst reading about Ram Dass’ experiences with Neem Karoli Baba-ji, I felt as though I received spiritual transmissions, and my daily sitting meditation practice has deepened as a result.

What I loved most about this book is the way the sacred and the mundane are woven together, which is reminiscent of what Maharaj-ji (Neem Karoli Baba) taught. Primarily a “householder guru,” who himself was married with children, he spent much time counseling people on the ordinary aspects of householder life. Ram Dass describes the way loving service can transform even the ordinary act of grocery shopping:

“That’s the Hanuman mode, serving through love, opening and opening until you become the Beloved or the Beloved becomes you. You’re absorbed into that consciousness, and the Beloved’s being permeates yours. Then the ego perception shifts to the soul perception, the whole world is radiant, and the grocery store is your temple, full of souls.”

Ram Dass explains that in India “holiness is not confined to celibate sadhus or renunciates.” In fact, Maharaj-ji himself said that one can reach God while fulfilling his or her duties as a householder.

Of course we householders need to be disciplined and committed to our daily spiritual practices, and Ram Dass also offers much in the way of spiritual teaching and inspiration for keeping ourselves dedicated to the path. In one section that really struck a chord in me, Ram Dass points out that attachment is attachment on any plane. In reference to the loving and helpful guides we can access on the astral planes, he writes:

“By acknowledging such immaterial beings and planes as equally real – but not more real – than this immediate reality, you start to free yourself of attachment to any one plane or level of reality. Thinking of them as more real than this physical reality, however, can create more attachment. The attraction to the energies and mysteries of other planes can be a tremendous distraction or side trip from one’s path. Attachment is attachment on any plane.” 

In addition to sharing much about his guru Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass (and his co-author, Rameshwar Das) also highlight the incredibly inspiring accounts of many other Indian saints, including Anandamayi Ma, Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nityananda, and more. I received darshan (a view or encounter with a holy being) from the photographs of several of these high beings.

And then what it comes down to, when I finished reading the book, is: can I apply these teachings to my daily life? Well, sometimes yes, and sometimes no… So, in the moments when I cannot rise above my own limitations, I am heartened by Ram Dass’ words in Be Love Now: 

“You can only go at the rate you can go…The only thing you can ask is that you keep awakening at the fastest rate at which you’re capable. You can’t go any faster than that…” 

That advice echoes my favorite part of his spiritual classic of several decades ago, Be Here Now, in which he wrote, “You can’t rip the skin off the snake. The snake must moult the skin. That’s the rate it happens.” (See my review of that book: Teja’s Review of Be Here Now by Ram Dass)

Obviously I highly recommend Ram Dass’ new book, Be Love Now. I have so much Gratitude for all the beautiful seva (service) that Ram Dass gives to help raise the consciousness of the human species. May all beings everywhere benefit from his work.

May all beings be happy and free.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Happy Teja on New Year’s Eve with Ram Dass’ book Be Love Now taken by Teja Shankara.

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Much to my initial dismay, this year I was not able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my beloved Guru, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the “hugging saint” from India who is popularly called Amma, which means “Mother.” Due to financial, health, and other issues, I just was not able to make the pilgrimage down to California. Although I felt some sadness, I remembered Amma’s teachings about the importance of celebrating life and of making the most of each moment, so I consciously transmuted the sorrow into joy by bringing Amma home to my heart here in my temple cottage.

On Thanksgiving Day I gave thanks for so many things, especially the memory of three years ago on Thanksgiving Day, when Amma looked in my eyes and gave me the name Tejaswini. Whilst cooking festive vegan foods, I listened to CDs of Amma’s bhajans, burned her Rose-Sandalwood incense, and remembered all the times I’ve sat near her, watching her give darshan (hugs). After serving the meals (lunch to my sweet boys and dinner to a beloved friend), my friend and I watched Darshan, the Embrace, a film by Jan Kounen. I had heard about this film for a while, but just hadn’t gotten around to watching it. Now I am glad I waited, because watching this film on Thanksgiving was the perfect way to bring Amma’s Darshan home to my heart!

I highly recommend this film. I loved it so much that I watched it again the next evening with my sons, and then today I watched my favorite parts one more time before returning it to the video store! The film really captures the Love and Beauty that Amma embodies, and I am ever filled with Awe and Gratitude that I have had the amazing opportunity to be one of the millions who have received her darshan in the form of her loving embraces. Kritajuutaa! Amazing Gratitude!

May all beings everywhere know the Sweetness of Deep Amazing Gratitude.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of sweet orchids from Advait taken by Teja Shankara.

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Happy Birthday to Gandhi-ji, who was born 142 years ago today! I’m celebrating his life as I head off to a soccer game with my parents who are visiting this week… Life is crazy-busy-full right now, which is why I’ve been away from the Teja Blog.

If you have any questions (see “New Teja Blog Feature: Ask Teja!”), please email them to me: teja@yogini-bliss.com

Let’s all follow Gandhi-ji’s advice and strive to be the change we wish to see in the world!

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Mahatma Gandhi sourced from TopNews.in

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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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Several years before I met my beloved Guru Ammachi, my other beloved Guru Neem Karoli Baba-ji had already jumped into my heart and life… so a magical thing happens when I go down to see Amma at her ashram in California: I just “happen” to meet other Amma devotees who are also connected with Neem Karoli Baba! On my most recent trip to see Amma, I was still reading Krishna Das’ book, Chants of a Lifetime: Searching for a Heart of Gold, and when people saw that book in front of me in the snack shop, they started up conversations about Neem Karoli Baba. One woman told me about this temple she visited in India, in which they had life-size posters of Neem Karoli Baba! After she told me about that peak experience, I shared a story that I’ve heard several times… in the story, an Amma devotee took his friend to see Amma: the friend had been a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba, who was known for wildly throwing fruit in all directions at his devotees… the two men sat near Amma for a while, and then the Amma devotee turned and asked his friend, “Well, what do you think of Amma?” The friend said, “Well, she’s okay, but she’s not like my Baba.” Right at that exact second, Amma picked up a banana and threw it at the guy! Needless-to-say, he became an Amma devotee!

So then… right after I told that story, I went back over to the Hall and sat near Amma, watching her give darshan (hugs and blessings) to people… and after a short time, Amma suddenly started throwing handfuls of chocolate kisses over her shoulders at the Indian musicians who were playing music and singing bhajans (devotional songs) on the stage behind her! She must have really liked the music because she was throwing those kisses hard, in all directions! I thought about how I had just told that story of Amma throwing the banana at the Neem Karoli Baba devotee, and I marveled at how splendidly connected in synchronicity everything really is.

All the time everything is connected in harmonious synchronicity, but we so often miss seeing it because we are caught up in our thoughts and life situations. I felt so much Gratitude for that moment of seeing the interconnectedness of it all. Amma doesn’t miss anything, because she is beyond thinking… and Neem Karoli Baba was the same – he lived beyond thoughts… I aspire to also get there – to that place beyond the thinking mind…

May all beings know Peace.

Om Shanti (Peace), 

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Teja Smiling Big in Amma’s Field taken by Kate Milliken.

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This is a short note to share the gorgeous beauty on my kitchen table today. This past week has been a wild ride: I returned home from my pilgrimage to see Ammachi (in California) on June 10^th; my parents arrived to visit on June 11^th; and I went back to work at the outdoor gear shoppe on June 12^th. This past week I worked over 49 hours, while my parents were visiting! They drove away today, and although I felt sad to see them go, I have to admit I am enjoying this quiet time to myself! With the boys at Papa’s house, I now have a little time for reflecting… while I catch up on dishes, laundry, bills, and shopping!

Here’s my little reflection for today: after being away from Amma for ten days now, I am amazed at how the transformation is not only lasting, but it is deepening and ever-unfolding. I asked Amma to help me release the attachment to the earthguy, and to help me find acceptance and peace… And Amma has given me all of that, and so much more! I am experiencing what Rumi called “the sweetness that comes after grief.” I feel so in love with everyone and everything!

Well, now I’m off to take a barefoot walk in the sunshine…

May all beings everywhere find Acceptance of What IS… and may that Acceptance lead to an experience of inner bliss! 

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of gorgeous roses on kitchen table by Teja Shankara.

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On June 1^st I drove down to Castro Valley, California to see my beloved Guru Ammachi, who is popularly known as the “hugging saint” from India. During the drive, I was feeling distraught and overwhelmed by the on-going grief over the earthguy who I long for but cannot be with… so when I went up to Amma for the first darshan (her embrace), I gave her a letter in which I asked for her help in releasing the attachment and finding acceptance and peace. So many transformational things happened during that week with Amma, and I will write about them in a series of blog articles. In today’s article I’m focusing on why I look so happy in this photo taken of me on that sacred land at Amma’s ashram.

Each evening there was a program with a talk, bhajans (devotional songs), and a guided meditation. The first evening, one of Amma’s devotees gave the talk. He said that in India everything is considered to be God: all of Nature is seen as Divine, so plants and trees are worshipped at sunrise and even the buildings are seen as God. He explained that Indian culture is based on the principle that the Creator and the creation are not two. Then he said – and this is what really touched my heart – that rather than being in love with just one person out of seven billion persons, Amma is in love with the entire Universe: past, present, and future. The fullness of Amma’s Love is what makes her Shine. He then said that when we get fed up with the current state of our minds, then we start trying to transform ourselves and be like Amma.

That talk affected me so deeply that the next day I felt my smile rising again, and I felt so happy to be smiling so much at all of the beautiful beings around me. In this photo I see that Amma’s shine was radiating through me, transforming the grief into joy.

I bow down to Ammachi, with Gratitude for all of her blessings. 

May all beings know Peace and Happiness. 

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Happy Teja in Amma’s Field by Teja Shankara.

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Over the years, I have created little altars all over my temple cottage. Lately I have been especially enjoying the one behind my bread basket, toaster, and fruit bowl. I just love all the orange and green tones in the images. And I am touched very deeply by seeing my beloved teacher, David La Chapelle (in the green hat), surrounded by Beings he loved so much while he was in his earthly body: St. Francis of Assisi, Green Tara, and Ammachi.

When I moved into this temple cottage in the summer of 2004, I invited some dear friends over for a housewarming gathering. At the end of the evening, we sat in a circle in the grass in my new backyard, and David (who is “Basil” in my books, and who left his body in July, 2009) strummed his guitar and led us in a chant to Green Tara, the Tibetan Goddess of Compassion: Om Tara, Tutara, Ture, Svaha. David said that chant is a good one for householders because calling on Tara helps the day flow with delight rather than with drudgery. 

Simple little altars remind me of the sacred at every step throughout my home space. Divine images raise our vibrations and bring delight to our days.

May all beings know the Divine Inner Light. May all beings have food to eat each day. 

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini, who is heading down to California tomorrow to see Ammachi!

~ I’ll be back on the Teja Blog after June 10^th…

Photo of Teja’s Toaster Altar by Teja Shankara.

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