Background: I was recently asked, rather last minute, to speak at a conference that was going on at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), in Varanasi India. The topic of the conference was “Recent advances and the role of basic sciences in Ayurvedic Medicine.” As India seeks to align it’s tradition knowledge with the way we do…
Sanjay is continually reminding me that the “goal” of yoga is not union with oneness, but rather realizing and maintaining your own zero-ness. Do not seek the spirit beyond your own zero point, nor the material life below that zero point. Gandhi’s zero is different Buddha’s zero is different, Donald Trumps zero point is also…
I’ve been lucky enough in my travels to meet a few Tantriks who were not trying to sell me anything, nor did they want anything from me: they never spoke about sex. They laugh at the west and their so called Tantric sex cults and the culture of permissiveness that has grown from the idea…
The true nature of wisdom is that it can’t be shared. Each person has their own wisdom that is tied to their true self. The nature of an artist is to try to share their wisdom when the best they can do is share knowledge. This is certainly more satisfying than sharing mere information, but…
I realized something the other day. For a man on a spiritual path, it was a solid realization like running into a wall. The realization came about thru practical analysis of my will and desire as well as thru acknowledging my fears. By mind and by impulse we want many things in life, but we…
I’ve met many people during my travels in Canada and abroad who sincerely want to learn yoga. They ask me what kind of yoga they should look for? They ask this question not because there is a lack of yoga classes around, but because even without any experience in yoga, they can see thru the…
As many of you know, when it comes time for me to make some money I turn to construction work. Philosophy, holistics and yoga just don’t pull in the big bucks like the brochures promised. I’m good at construction. They hire me to lead a couple or a couple dozen guys thru jobs that are…
Dear Woman of the Woods, I’ve been wondering about what I could say about yoga to someone who tells me they know nothing about yoga. Yoga is commonly translated as ‘union;’ the yoking of two things. The yoga sutra says that yoga is the cessation of modifications of the mind. The Tantraloka says that, “that…
Many westerners reject astrology in principle. They may read their own horoscope daily in the news-paper but when it comes down to it they cling to their illusion of free will and believe that the essence of astrology regects this very will. But astrology does not reject free will, quite the contrary, astrology can point…
I was welcomed to the City of Light this year by a cycle rickshaw ride from the train station that was a nice change from the ever-frantic auto rickshaws. The familiar odors of the city rose up to greet me as well: The pungency of burning garbage, the sour of urine, and the sweetness of…
I was reminded of a time in Varanasi, sitting at the burning ghats, watching bodies burn. Everything is happening here. The whole city goes by, nay, the whole world! Seasonal festivals pass thru, all the animals of the city are represented, except they’re bigger stinger healthier and more menacing somehow. Aghora tantrics sit around. Madmen…