Tag Archives: mindfulness

Apr5

Barsana Dham

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After a trip to India, what could be better than a yoga retreat at Barsana Dham? Organized by Jogendra “Jogi” Bhagat, it was a weekend filled with various yoga and meditation practices in a union of body, mind, and spirit. (A henna tattoo added a nice touch.)

Barsana Dham is dedicated to Krishna and his consort Radha. The two are depicted indoors and out, referred to as Radha Krishn. There are also examples of Gopis, female devotees, with whom Radha Krishn would dance and play. From a brochure: “Braj [present-day Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India]) is a holy land where Shree Krishn descended on this earth planet 5000 years ago performing uncountable loving leelas [plays]. Barsana is the village where Shree Radha Rani appeared.”

FYI, we didn’t see the guru hiding out in the ashram–apparently he’s somewhere in Mexico. We yogis just rented the space and enjoyed the surroundings. Bear Creek connects Barsana Dham with the Salt Lick. That has a touch of irony, since Barsana Dham does not allow meat or alcohol. Or pets, except for their own flock of peacocks and peahens!

Lovely temple. Its ceiling is painted like blue sky with white clouds, a perfect Texas sky. Gold-plated trim around the doors; beautifully decorated. Naturally, no pictures were allowed inside. However, I took photos throughout the weekend, including a purchased scarf and a miniature veena, a musical instrument I had admired in India.

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The ashram was comfortable and quiet (in part because we took off our shoes outside every building). The Ancient Yoga Center and the Gardenia yoga room held most of our activities. Food was very good and plentiful; we got used to snacks, coffee, tea, and Indian chai available most of the day. One delight was peach cobbler made with peaches from their orchard.

Visitors are welcome to services and darshans (devotionals). Here’s a link to their website. and another link to Barsana, U.P., India. Read the rest of this entry →

Feb5

Wellbeing for Clergy

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I am so gratified that I attended the Clergy Wellbeing seminar in Santa Barbara, CA. The retreat setting is lovely–La Casa de Maria. The 26 acres were once Indian land, of course, then became a ranch, then was turned over or sold to the Catholic Church for a novitiate, where young women prepared to become nuns. However, some time or other, the women got a bit uppity–they wanted to ditch the habits, for one thing. The Bishop said No way, and the women said, OK, we resign!

It became a retreat center. There are still religious statues and iconography like Mary, angels, and stations of the cross, but it is open to people of all faiths. There was a monastery on site until it burned a couple of years ago. No one was hurt, but the building was a loss. There are both a large chapel and also a small meditation chapel. The smaller chapel was donated by a Dutch family. Its focal point is a large circle of light on the back wall, bisected by a vertical line and a horizontal line, also of light. In the dark space, the image is striking. I had no desire to turn on the room light.

For the seminar, Larry Peers facilitated about 30 clergy of multiple faith traditions in a very interactive process of identifying our lives as they are, how we would like for them to be, and specific changes (however small) to shift in that direction. The participants often became the teachers, when they shared their stories and Larry asked questions to help them figure out new directions. We were Unitarian Universalist, United Methodist, Lutheran, Episcoplalian, Ukranian Orthodox, Religious Scientist, and seminary professor, all as equals. We made lasting connections.

I’m very glad I attended. It exceeded my expectations and has given me a lot of food for thought!

Jan30

Mindful Multi-tasking

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Preparing for travel is one thing. Preparing for 2 very different trips almost back to back takes a different approach. My basic packing list is in my computer, so I have a running start. But my mind starts fibrillating with fleeting thoughts about what to take, what to buy, what to set up. An example of each: take an extra memory card, buy packets of dried fruit for the room, set up Skype for this netbook I’ve borrowed from Donna and Jon. (Thank you!)

Meditation helps me stay centered, but sometimes it also requires a pen and notepad. Normally I would let those thoughts float by and disappear like clouds. This time I feel an urge to remember them. The monkey mind is insistent. So for 20 minutes that’s how the meditation went this morning. Then I was able to sit in stillness, knowing that the latest notes could do the thinking for me.

Now back in Austin after several days on the road, including a Jim Scott concert and a rain-drenched walk on the beach in Galveston, I am more fully detached from my normal routine. Wet clothes are in the laundry and I feel relaxed and ready for the next round of packing, first for Santa Barbara and Pacific Grove, California. I continue to look ahead to the trip to India. Weekly malaria pills start today.

Far more interesting than packing is the perusal of Lonely Planet: India and National Geographic’s The Geography of Religion. I’m reading the sections on Hinduism and Buddhism. Also watching a series of videos called Phantom India. Though the documentary is dated, the traditions it describes have not changed in centuries.

I appreciate the tips by Sateesh and Carrie, who live in Austin and who both know from Indian and American perspectives about what to expect. Tips are appropriate; usually a dollar is plenty. Women are not always allowed to enter temples. Statues of Kali will likely be available and of course, Ganesha will be everywhere!