Sun Nov 22th, 2015 9:00 pm Manhattan, NYC

DEDICATION:Pre-Hory Jayanti

A Hymn To Śrī Mahāyogī

The eternal Truth that dwells in all human beings;
That you awaken with love,
out of overflowing compassion,
You ignite the faith in one’s own Atman,
which is beyond death,
For the Bhakta of the Guru perceive in his very body
the imperishable Brahman manifested in a tangible form,
And because of the Paramahansa‘s immortal nectar words they feel
Enlightenment manifested in a tangible form.
Salutation to you,
the great lord, the great saint;
salutation to you,
Mahayogi, Om.

*

Our Dearest Beloved Shri Mahayogi,
Thinking about you,
With the gratitude for your Holy Presence,
Together we offered a Hymn to Shri Mahayogi
and meditated on You.
We felt Your presence here with us… Our Beloved…

Our Salutation to you, our Beloved Master,
We will meditate at the Cave tomorrow, on the day of Jayanti,
Your birth into physical form.

Jai Jai Jai!!!

Jai Sadguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahamsa Ki Jai !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wed Nov 18th, 2015 6:46 am Manhattan, NYC

GREETINGS:
California Sangha proudly put the MYM T-shirt on.

Feel the California air and breeze with MYM T-shirt~

We are All Children of Shri Mahayogi!!!

Jai Gurudeva!!!  Om Tat Sat, Om!!!

Wed Nov 4th, 2015 6:29 am Manhattan, NYC

A RECEIVER’S VOICE: Pranavadipa Vol. 11

Language and Culture in Understanding Truth

In the last volume of Pranavadipa volume 11, Shri Mahayogi and Sanatana had a conversation about the Twelve Dependent Originations and Nama Rupa. During the editing of this article I had a very difficult time understanding the material. I must have read this article about five to six times to gain some understanding of it. I have heard Shri Mahayogi speak many times of the mechanisms of the mind, but this experience showed me that although I had heard him I never fully understood him. I assume others may find themselves in this very predicament as well.

When Anandamali asked me of my opinion of this article, I expressed my view and the difficulty I had. A large part of this difficulty has to do with my Christian upbring. In Christianity there is no analyzing of the mind. We are taught that man is imperfect, if you make a mistake ask for forgiveness and try not to do it again. God is perfect not man. On the other hand the teachings of Buddha and the Twelve Dependent Originations are very different; nothing just happens, there is a reason why I think the way I do or behave the way I do. They give a systemic breakdown as to how the physical universe came into existence, as well as the functions of the mind and why we do the things we do, such as habits and desires. There are no sinners, only mistakes within the mind or ignorance, which can be corrected.

Another aspect of this difficulty in understanding Buddha’s teaching on the Twelve Dependent Originations, which is probably the most profound, I came to realize is language. Buddha’s original teachings and the Japanese language are similar in that they are “picture” languages, their symbolisms are similar and lend themselves to more fluidity and depth based on the individual. This is very different from the English language that is very confined and rigid in its thought process.

I never realized how much of a role language played in my thought process and how I perceived the world around me, which in term affects how I interpret the Truth. Anandamali and I did an exercise where she drew a few Japanese symbols for me and explained their meaning. From this exercise I realize Japanese speaking people interpret the world from a completely different perspective than English speaking people. For example she showed me the symbol that says in English “I feel sick”, but in Japanese it is written as “ chi (energy, ki in Japanese) is sick”. From this example the English speaker interprets the world from a physical stand point, while the Japanese speaker from a metaphysical stand point. Don’t you think this perception due to language is huge?

As English speaking practitioners of Yoga with the western influence of Christianity, you could say that for us, fully grasping eastern teachings can be a challenge at times and vice versa for our Japanese brothers and sisters. In Christianity, to achieve change it’s generally done through prayer and physical actions. In Yoga and Buddha’s teachings of the Twelve Dependent Originations, more is involved; it is knowing and understanding the causes of our actions, which originate within the mind. Only then can the errors in the mind be properly corrected. From this experience I have come to appreciate it deeper when Shri Mahayogi says “only after thoroughly discriminating will pain bearing obstacles and ignorance disappear.”

Aniruddha

*****

Pranavadipa  is a Monthly Publication of Online Study Material containing the Teachings of Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa ＆ the Experiences of Practitioners that is available by annual subscription. A new volume of Pranavadipa is issued on the 8th of every month, that means Sunday November 8th!!!

Go to Information

Sun Sep 27th, 2015 6:48 am Manhattan, NYC

 Seeking for the Truth,
Memoir of a Yogini

Written by Mirabai
Published by the MAHAYOGI YOGA MISSION Kyoto, April 2015

***  

A RECEIVER’S VOICE: Pranavadipa Vol. 10
The September issue of Pranavadipa, volume 10, contains a series of three Jayanti speeches by Endo or Gargi, now called Mirabai, covering a five year period that shows her amazing and progressive spiritual development through the years. Her development was no mere coincidence, but rather it occurred through her participation in the kirtan activities she speaks so lovingly of throughout her speeches.

From the first letter you can sense Endo’s childish side, as well as her gratitude towards Shri Mahayogi. It is around this time that she begins to experience the effects of her kirtan activities. (Watch you Tube:  Sakti at Shinpukan, September 2007) In the second speech, which takes place two years later, we see a very different Endo; she is full of love for God and for her Guru, whom she sees as one and the same. Her love for Shri Mahayogi is so intense, it can be felt throughout her writing. She is like a young lover yearning to be in the presence of the other. In the final speech, two years later, we see the vast depth of her spiritual growth. Mirabai’s Love and insight has broadened beyond Shri Mahayogi and the sangha, and now encompasses serving all of humanity.

After reading Mirabai’s Jayanti speeches, I was so moved and touched. I was forced to question the degree to which I love Shri Mahayogi, my Guru. “How can I love you with such intensity that it pains my heart to be apart from you?,” I ask myself. I began to realize that such a magnitude of love will be required of me in order to renounce the world fully and achieve Satori. Through her speeches, part of the answer was revealed. Her kirtan activities with the members of the Shakti group helped her to cultivate such deep love for God and Shri Mahayogi.

Feeling ashamed of myself, in my lack of that level of love and intensity that Mirabai expressed for Shri Mahayogi, my Guru, I expressed this to Anandamali, the yearning I feel to develop this deeper love. After some pause, she suggested to me that there are a few ways I can proceed in developing such intense love.

1. Involve myself in as many of the activities of the Mission as possible. By being in the company of holy ones, or like-minded seekers, our love for God and Shri Mahayogi grows and becomes pure. Likewise, using our bodies and minds for the service of the Mission serves to deepen this love as well.

2. Be consistent with my daily practice of asana and meditation. Recently when I re-read Endo’s writing, “Raja yoga: Asana” on the MYM’s website, it became apparent to me how having discipline toward my regular practice is important and effective.

3. The last one that I mention here now is actually the first one that she mentioned. It is to sincerely pray for this love. She said that when you pray, “there should not be any space in between and you should not have any expectation.” I did not understand what she meant by that at first. But after having discussed it further, when I saw her the next time, I started to understand what she meant by “to pray,” which was completely different from how I had understood prayer to be. What she meant was to be completely immersed within the Self, where there is no space between you and It. Gradually, after understanding what she meant, my heart felt it could no longer pray the way I had always prayed before.

To conclude, I seek to make it my obligation to develop this intense love for Shri Mahayogi, my Guru, the Master. It is the least I can give him for all that he has given me. Every day I can feel his power transforming me more and more into a real man.

Jai Sadguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa.

Aniruddha

***
Sakti are a group of yogi and yogini of the Mahayogi Yoga Mission in Kyoto, Japan.
Part of their spiritual practice is singing of universal love.
If you would like to watch a Kirtan activity by Sakti, please click the following link.
Sakti At Shimpukan, September 2007
This footage is a part of the recording from Sakti’s first official appearance in public,
two month before Mirabai (Endo or Gargi) made her speech—the first one of the three that are in Pranavadipa Vol.10—at the Jayanti of Our Beloved, Shri Mahayogi.

*****

Seeking for the Truth—Memoir of a Yogini
Written by Mirabai, a disciple of Shri Mahayogi
Published by the MAHAYOGI YOGA MISSION Kyoto, May 2015
(Book in Japanese)
If you would like to order a copy, please contact MYM, New York.

*****

Pranavadipa  is a Monthly Publication of Online Study Material containing the Teachings of Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa ＆ the Experiences of Practitioners that is available by annual subscription. A new volume of Pranavadipa is issued on the 8th of every month, that means Thursday October 8th!!!

Go to Information

Fri Sep 25, 2015 Manhattan, NYC

GREETINGS:
Colorado Sangha proudly put the MYM T-shirt on.

Happy family from Denver~!!  So proud of you!

GREETINGS:
Montana Sangha proudly put the MYM T-shirt on.

Beautiful Ladies in Whitefish wearing the MYM T-shirts!!

Photo was taken by Their Lovely Daughter
who has met SHRI MAHAYOGI~~!!

GREETINGS:
Chicago Sangha proudly put the MYM T-shirt on.

Wearing The MYM T-shirt at his garden~!!

We are All Children of Shri Mahayogi!!!

Jai Gurudeva!!!  Om Tat Sat, Om!!!

Wed Sep 9th, Tue 15th, Wed 16th, Sun 20th, Tue 22nd 2015, NYC

GREETINGS:
NY Sangha proudly put the MYM T-shirt on.

Right after delivery of the MYM T-shirts       At the Still Mind Zendo

Just picked up the MYM T-shirts at the Cave

With the MYM T-shirt on a skateboard, her go-cart right now~
At Astoria Site

Stopped by the Cave. So here he is with the MYM T-shirt~

The MYM T-shirt was waiting for you~ At the Still Mind Zend

After the meditation
Wearing the MYM T-shirt At the Cave

We are All Children of Shri Mahayogi!!!

Jai Gurudeva!!!  Om Tat Sat, Om!!!

Wed Aug 5th, 2015 1:00 am Manhattan, NYC

 The Kitchen of SAMARASA,
The Way of Cooking in Yoga

Based on the teachings of Shri Mahayogi and their application by practitioners.
Published by
the MAHAYOGI YOGA MISSION Kyoto, May 2015

 ***

 A RECEIVER’S VOICE: Pranavadipa Vol. 8

You are What You Eat

Before reading the latest article in Pranavadipa I never really gave much seriousness to my diet or how a meal came to be in front of me. Not that I ate junk food, but I never really put much thought into my meals and the effects they have on me. In the article, “The Essence of Diet in Yoga,” the last sentence reads ” ‘Eating’ is directly related to ‘living.’ What we choose to eat and how much we eat—by considering these aspects of our diet, our dietary lifestyle becomes an opportunity for us to inquire into the essence of our lives and how we ought to live.” Our diet is piercing into the essence of the state of our mind.

Speaking from my personal experience, I have observed that my eating habits or sudden urges for a particular food usually reflect the state of my mind; whether the mind is in a state dominated by the quality of sattva, rajas or tamas. Naturally, when asana is practiced regularly the mind has more of the quality of sattva and I tend to desire more vegetarian-style meals; then there are those times when my cravings are meatier and I tend to eat until I am full. During these times it becomes clear that my mind is in a state in which rajas or tamas prevails. My judgements are not usually the best, and old habits become more difficult to fight. As the saying goes “you are what you eat.” It is important to remember that eating is the transfer of energy, from one life form to another, to further its existence. That energy comes to be manifested in us, and can be restless or calm.  In The Universal Gospel of Yoga, Shri Mahayogi speaks of Gandi and how by controlling his diet he was able to gain control of his tongue and sexual energy.

In addition to the types of foods we eat and how they affect our mental state, the attitude we have towards our meals will also influence the mind.

From correct portion size to the importance of balancing how a meal is seasoned, proper nutrition is vital to support our bodies as we aim to realize the goal of Yoga. In showing gratitude towards each meal for how it got to our table—from the grocery store clerk, to the driver who transports, to the farmer who plants and to God who nourishes the plant to grow—and in taking the time to appreciate these processes, we begin to recognize that all things in nature co-exist and support each other. As practitioners of Yoga, having a yogic diet that is primarily vegetarian, as well as balanced and nutritious, greatly aids us in the battle to control the mind. Being mindful and showing deep appreciation for nature’s co-existence, I now give much more thought as to how much I eat, what I eat, and what kind of energy I want to incur, calm or restless.  I offer gratitude for each component that gave up its life energy so that I am able to sustain and nourish this body.

Aniruddha

*****

The Kitchen of SAMARASA, The Way of Cooking in Yoga
Based on the teachings of Shri Mahayogi and their application by practitioners.
Published by the MAHAYOGI YOGA MISSION Kyoto, May 2015
(Book in Japanese)
If you would like to order a copy, please contact MYM, New York.

*****

Pranavadipa  is a Monthly Publication of Online Study Material containing the Teachings of Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa ＆ the Experiences of Practitioners that is available by annual subscription. A new volume of Pranavadipa is issued on the 8th of every month, that means this Saturday August 8th!!!

Go to Information

Tue July 8th, 2015 5:32 am Manhattan, NYC

A flower from the special class with Shri Mahayogi before he returned to Japan.
PRANAVADIPA Issue #8 is published today!

***

EDITORS NOTE: PRANAVADIPA Vol. 8

A note on Satsangha:

“Under the Guidance of my Master, I Must Become Holy.”

These are the words written by Ms. Shibasaki, now called Yukti, in the article she wrote that is posted on the Mahayogi Yoga Mission’s website, ”Searching for God’s Love”. Written in 2012, our sister shares with us the story of her search for the answer to a burning question, how best to serve the dying, and the answer, which, after much searching, arrived through the words of Mother Theresa: “Be holy.” One can feel Yukti’s determination and dedication to really find the way to practice this, to practice “being holy.” And, although she wrote this article fairly recently, this conviction and willingness to practice seems to be something that has been evident in her practice for many years.

The Satsangha published in this month’s issue of PRANAVADIPA just so happens to center primarily around conversations between Yukti and Shri Mahayogi that took place in Kyoto, Japan in 1998, about fourteen years before the aforementioned article was written. At that time Yukti had only been practicing with the Mission for one year, but within this one year she had experienced a significant transformation and had completely healed from a condition that almost took her life, simply by diligently and seriously practicing Yoga in precisely the way that Shri Mahayogi guided her.

In reading through her questions, which are so direct and honest to her situation, in reading Shri Mahayogi’s responses, in which he is so gracious and generous in providing detail, and in reflecting on Yukti’s more recent experience, it is so interesting and fascinating to see how Shri Mahayogi has guided her seamlessly along a path that seems to be so appropriate for her particular propensities. In this Satsangha, Shri Mahayogi speaks about how both the Buddha and the Christ taught according to the needs of each individual and their situation. He intertwines various teachings of the Christ and expounds upon the essence of their meaning with precision and purity. He even mentions the importance of being in Holy company, which, from a slightly different angle, is redelivered to Yukti so many years later. It is hard to say whether anyone could have foreseen the path that Yukti would follow so many years after this Satsangha took place, going on to understand various aspects of Yoga through the lens of Christian teachings, and even writing a series of articles about Mother Theresa and another series about Teresa of Lisieux. Nonetheless, from this Satsangha, it seems that since the beginning, Shri Mahayogi guided her in this direction and by taking in his teachings with faith and the seriousness to apply them in practice she allowed herself to be guided.

The interactions (questions and answers) between Shri Mahayogi and Yukti reveal how the Master guides the soul ever closer to the realization of Truth. The Master continuously reflects the level of willingness and seriousness to practice and yearning for Truth that is present in the disciple. There is beauty in their interactions, as they arise out of the trusting and respectful relationship between Master and disciple that is Love.

Our Beloved Shri Mahayogi, Pranam to your beautiful and holy feet…

Go to Information

Pranavadipa  is a Monthly Publication of Online Study Material containing the Teachings of Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa ＆ the Experiences of Practitioners that is available by annual subscription. A new volume of Pranavadipa is issued on the 8th of every month.

Mon June 8th, 2015 5:24 am Manhattan, NYC

Pranavadipa Issue #7 is published today!

***

EDITORS NOTE: Pranavadipa 7

A note on Satsangha:
Have you ever wondered what state of mind is necessary to practice Yoga and under what conditions such a state of mind arises? These questions are at the heart of this month’s Satsangha, in Issue #7 of Pranavadipa, in which only our brother, Sanatana (Mr. Hotta at that time), is asking questions to Shri Mahayogi.

Sanatana begins by seeking guidance from Shri Mahayogi about an idea for a book that he would like to write, the purpose of which would be to stabilize the reader’s mind and in so doing, prepare it to understand the teachings of the Truth.

In reading and trying to understand the conversation between our Master and Sanatana, it is amazing for me to see how Sanatana is truly using his lived experience of practicing Shri Mahayogi’s teachings to understand how to write this book.

In seeking Shri Mahayogi’s guidance for the book, it is evident that he is also seeking guidance in deepening the thoroughness of his own practice, exemplifying the necessity for us to deepen our understanding and experience of Truth in order to serve others. Shri Mahayogi’s responses reflect the depth and thoroughness of Sanatana’s own willingness and readiness to receive and practice the teachings and both provide us with an example of how we too can deepen our practice.

 A note on “What is Yoga?”:
Mr. Shimada, who contributes the series of articles titled “What is Yoga?”, was just in New York for nine days during Shri Mahayogi’s last visit.

We were fortunate to have the pleasure of meeting him and at the end of a Wednesday class there was an opportunity for the NY Sangha to ask him questions about his experience and for him to ask us questions as well. I asked him about his process of writing the articles for “What is Yoga?”. I was curious to know how he went about writing them. For example, did he know the topics beforehand and then spend a month meditating and practicing to understand each topic before writing, or what?

He answered that “no, that was not how it was at all.” To begin he shared that he was asked by a senior disciple to write a series of articles for the newsletter in Japan, Paramahaṃsa. He thinks that most likely he was asked to do so because he would be able to learn so much from doing it and because he needed to deepen his practice!

The way he went about it was to look at himself and his way of being before being introduced to the practice of Yoga in comparison to now, after he has been practicing for 4 or 5 years. When doing so he began to write whatever came to mind and out of that the topics naturally arose on their own.

I found this so fascinating because it seems to me that it is out of Mr. Shimada’s comparison that it becomes evident how, by following the teaching of our Master, he has experienced many different aspects of what Yoga is. And what’s more, through his experience we can see that it is unmistakable that one can truly begin to transform oneself through the practice of Yoga!

In this month’s article, Mr. Shimada again shares with us the sincerity of his experience of daily practice and in so doing reminds us of the importance of not giving up at the mere thought of practice being beyond our capability, and strengthens our faith that we too can experience the truth of Shri Mahayogi’s teachings if we practice them and gradually bring our thoughts, words and deeds to unite as one.

Mr. Shimada provides a quote from Shri Mahayogi in this article that is so simple and inspiring that every time I read it my mind comes to a halt:

“If you would like to receive a treasure, get rid of the junk in your hand.”

– Shri Mahayogi

Sadhya

***

May the experiences of our brothers inspire us and bring passion and faith to our day-to-day practice so that we can all exemplify the Truth or our Beloved Master’s teachings!

Go to Information

Sun May 31th, 2015 10:00 pm Manhattan, NYC

After having been blessed by the presence of our Master, Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa, for the past three months, disciples and attendees came together this Sunday one last time to receive his teachings and guidance before his return to Kyoto, Japan. At the end of the Asana and Meditation class, Aniruddha spoke on behalf of the disciples in NY to express the immense gratitude we have for our beloved Master.

MESSAGE TO THE MASTER:

“On behalf of all the brothers and sisters in New York,
I would like to express to you our gratitude
and say thank you for inspiring us these past three months
with your teachings, guidance and wisdom.
It is a great honor and privilege for us to serve both you and the mission.
Your physical presence always brings us so much joy
as well as a renewed commitment to deepen our practice
and realization to prove,
Shri Mahayogi,
that your teachings are indeed the Truth.
In you, Shri Mahayogi,
our Guru,
is the Living example of True existence itself embodied in physical form.
It is through you
that we have come to know the true Self.
It is through you
that we began to feel its essence.
And it will be through you, our Guru,
that we will experience the full essence of Atman.
From all of us,
thank you Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa.
With the greatest love we wish you a safe trip home,
but truly we are also anticipating the news of your return
so that we can be in your presence once more.
Thank you very much from the bottom of our heart!”

大師への献辞：
「ニューヨークのすべての兄弟姉妹弟子を代表して、
貴方に感謝を捧げ、
教えと導きと叡知によって、
この3カ月間私たちをインスパイアしてくださったことに対し、
お礼を申し上げたいと思います。
貴方とミッションに奉仕できることは、
私たちにとって素晴らしい栄誉であり特典です。
貴方が肉体をもって目の前におられることで、
私たちはいつも大きな歓喜を与えられます。
そしてシュリー・マハーヨーギー、
貴方の教えがほかではない真実であることを身をもって証明するために、
実践と悟りを深めようと誓いを新たにします。
私たちのグル、 シュリー・マハーヨーギー、
貴方の中には真実在そのものの生きた見本が、
肉体という形をとって具体的に表れています。
まさに貴方を通して、
私たちは真実の自己の存在を知ることになり、
貴方を通してその本質を感じるようになりました。
そして私たちのグル、
まさしく貴方を通して、
アートマンの本質をあますところなく体得するでしょう。
私たち全員から、
サットグル・シュリー・マハーヨーギー・パラマハンサ、
貴方に感謝いたします。
最大の愛をもって旅のご無事をお祈りしています。
それでも本当は、 再度そばにいられるように、
お戻りになる知らせも待ち望んでいます。
心の底からありがとうございます！」

　　　　　                  ニューヨークの弟子を代表して、
アニルッダ

***

Shri Mahayogi, our Beloved,
Until the moment when we may rejoice in Your coming again,
May our hearts and minds rest solely in You.

Jai Satguru Shri Mahayogi Paramahansa Ki, Jai!!!!!

The offering of the flowers to Shri Mahayogi
was then arranged by the Master in the vase that night.

Om Tat Sat, Om!