The Heart of Yoga 

May - June 2004 Vol. 7 No. 4                                                                  www.americanmeditation.org

Meditation Instruction • Easy Gentle Yoga • Retreats

 

In This Issue:   Join our mailing list and receive a free copy of our "Transformation" newsletter, and periodic information about retreats and classes. *privacy guaranteed Click button to: Monthly Essay: "The Lesson of Sarcasm"     New - Transformation: "Archives" How American Meditation Benefits You Sages Speak AMI Yearly Memberships 2004 Weekend Retreats Classes, Workshops & Special Events Important Messages Questions and Answers Tell a Friend About Meditation Sign-up for this newsletter   The Lesson of Sarcasm     The concept of renunciation is often misunderstood in our modern culture. The idea of giving up anything attractive is often defined as the misdirected and unhealthy suppression of normal desires. Just look at the media. Our culture continually encourages us to embrace any thought, object or relationship that gratifies the ego or senses. If an object looks, smells, tastes, sounds or feels pleasant to us, Madison Avenue encourages us to indulge our senses and to buy it. In reality, the renunciation of short-term ego or sense gratification can become a tremendous opportunity for growth. If you learn to give your attention to only those thoughts, words and acts that are compatible with the advice of the buddhi (your discriminative faculty or conscience), the possibilities for a healthy, happy, loving and nurtured life are boundless. The concept of renunciation is simple, yet profound: you must let go of something of value in order to receive something of value. It is in giving that you receive. What follows is a personal experience. After my mother and father, I consider my maternal grandfather to be my first spiritual teacher. When I was less than a year old, Papa recognized that his grandson was "a very comical fellow." It's hard to say why some people are funny and others are less so, but as early as I can remember, I was aware that I could make people laugh. As I grew, it became a talent I increasingly relied on. Whenever I needed to break the ice in a relationship, my good sense of humor came to my assistance. As this skill developed, I came to rely on humor and later, sarcasm, as a defensive tool in stressful situations. All those years Bob Dylan was hearing beautiful poetry, I was hearing funny one-liners. In school, however, my timing often got me into trouble. While most of my classmates considered me extremely amusing, the teachers rarely shared such unbridled enthusiasm. There's no doubt that humor, and especially sarcasm, is most effective when the punch line is unexpected, surprising or even shocking. Really successful sarcasm often bears a poisoned tip. The laugh that follows a sarcastic punch line is frequently at the expense of someone's well-being or self-esteem. Practicing yoga science has changed my humor, and in effect, my personality. Now, I try not to utter sarcastic comments that might be upsetting or hurtful to another person. Rather, I make use of my desire to verbalize sarcastic thoughts as part of my sadhana (spiritual practice). I still hear funny, often sarcastic one-liners, but instead of habitually verbalizing them, I now chuckle to myself as I ask the buddhi, "Should I give enough attention to this joke to let these words pass my lips? Do I want these potentially injurious words to become manifest? Does the Divine Reality want them to be manifest? Is this thought really non-injurious and in harmony with yoga's highest precept, ahimsa?" Many times, the reply from the buddhi is, "No. This thought is not in harmony with ahimsa. It is only the passing pleasure of preya."   Centered in the fullness of the Eternal Witness and guided by the power of the mantra, I must admit that I silently appreciate the humor. Then, exercising self-discipline, I follow the judgment of the buddhi. I take my attachment to the joke (and to all those potential smiles on the faces of those within earshot), and I sacrifice it back to the Origin from which it came. As part of my sadhana, I willingly and consciously renounce the little zing, the passing ego pleasure I would have xperienced by making people laugh at the expense of another. In the process of surrendering my attachments, I fashion a personal prayer. As I mentally place the sarcastic joke into the fire in the cave of the heart, I pray:   "Dear Lord, O my Inner Dweller, while I am attached to the humor of this sarcastic one-liner, I hear the buddhi leading me toward the shreya and away from the preya. While the old personality desires to verbalize this humor, I willingly and consciously offer it back to You. Please accept this offering, consume it in the fire of your Light and transform its energy. Help me to purify this instrument that I may be of service and to lead me for my highest and greatest good."   This simple, conscious act of renouncing the preya in favor of the perennial joy of shreya facilitates the transformation of the power of desire for the sarcastic humor into strategic reserves of energy, willpower (resolve) and creativity (consciousness). This renunciation of sarcasm as a preya should not be confused with the therapeutic value of humor. "Cheerfulness," Swami Rama's master taught him, "is the most powerful mantra." Very often humor is the shreya. It has the capacity to nudge us away from our involvement in self will, bad moods and debilitating relationships.   In service - with love, Leonard Perlmutter & Jenness Cortez Perlmutter.   The essay entitled, "The Lesson of Sarcasm," is reprinted from the forthcoming book, "The Heart and Science of Yoga™: Living Free from Worry." Check future issues of "Transformation" or the AMI website for details. Top   Sages Speak     Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whosoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and happy purchase. John Balguy You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough. William Blake   Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate. Chuang Tse   Contentment is the Philosopher's Stone that turns all it touches into gold. Benjamin Franklin   Chance is a word void of sense. Absolutely nothing can exist without a cause. Voltaire   Perhaps man, having remade his environment, will turn around at last and begin to remake himself. Will Durant   God will not change the condition of men until they change what is in themselves. Quran   Only the changeable can be thought of and talked about. The unchangeable can only be realized in silence. Nisargadatta Maharaj   The desire to change the direction of your life is one of the surest signs of grace. For a while you may not know the direction in which to go. But you will know without doubt that the direction you have been going in is wrong. Eknath Easwaran   If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are headed. Lao-tzu     You can't choose how or when you'll die--only how you live. Joan Baez   Always there is a desire to accept some things and reject others. Who is making this choice, and with what wisdom? Gerald May   Life is a series of choices and nobody can stop you from making your choices . . . People punish themselves by making wrong choices. Constantly, enlightenment is being offered to them, but they refuse to accept it. Therefore, people are being taught by problems that are set before them, since they refuse to make right choices voluntarily. Peace Pilgrim   Be the master of your will and the slave of your conscience. Yiddish Saying   If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau   The real crisis is in our consciousness, not in the world. Kahlil Gibran Top AMI YEARLY MEMBERSHIPS Dear Fellow Seeker, Since its founding in 1996, the American Meditation Institute has been able to serve over 1,500 students--teaching practical skills to enhance personal, professional and spiritual growth. During this past year,  AMI has hosted such notable visiting speakers as 115 year-old Swami Bua, Vedic scholar Swami Veda Bharati, Vedic astrology author Linda Johnsen, Ayurvedic physician Dr. Abbas Qutab and Swami Hariharananda. In addition to its annual Guru Purnima celebration and bi-weekly dinner and movie series last winter, the Institute has offered weekly courses and retreats on meditation, hatha yoga, the Bhagavad Gita, chakras, Yoga Sutras and Katha Upanishad. As you can clearly see, Leonard and Jenness's vision of building a spiritual community has become a reality.  Now it is our turn to support this sacred teaching. We are currently asking for your financial support for the American Meditation Institute.  Won't you please take time from your busy schedule to become an active member of our AMI family?  Whatever membership level is comfortable for you will help immensely. If you are in a financial position to make a contribution beyond the basic membership rate, many people will benefit. But no amount is too small.  And the love, prayers and good wishes accompanying your membership will be just as important. The mission of AMI is simple: to help uncomplicate modern American life.  If you have personally benefited by reading the Transformation newsletters or by attending any of our classes or workshops, we humbly ask for your support now--to keep the teaching of yoga science alive in our community. With love and respect, Mary Balsam, Dan Beer, Kathie Carroll, Melanie Gloeckner and Jim Whiting, Membership Committee for the American Meditation Institute CLICK HERE TO BECOME A MEMBER AMI Membership Benefits • 10% Discount on all books, tapes and Meditation Supplies • 10% discount on all classes, seminars and retreats • Use of the Institute library of books and video tape lectures • Complimentary Individualized Self-Therapy Counseling • Subscription to the AMI newsletter, Transformation Your Membership Supports A 6,000 year-old tradition The perennial knowledge as taught by Leonard and Jenness Perlmutter AMI newsletter, Transformation A variety of classes, seminars and retreats Special seminars with visiting national and international teachers An authentic spiritual perspective in the midst of our busy, modern lives A unique environment to enhance your personal meditation practice The new AMI Home Center and teaching facility The production of instructional videotapes on various aspects of Yoga Science Essential office supplies and equipment Classes for corporate, government and religious organizations AMI Speakers' Bureau The Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, which serves the rural poor of the Himalayan Mountain region of India CLICK HERE TO BECOME A MEMBER Top   How American Meditation Benefits You If you did not desire your present situation, you would not be doing everything possible to maintain it. Leo Tolstoy Namaste. We pray to the Divinity in you. In March, 1775, a group of patriots convened at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. At that convention a thirty-nine year old man rose to his feet to deliver one of the most inspiring speeches in world history. Although he spoke about the desire to be free from the tyranny and oppression of the British Crown, Patrick Henry’s words could very well apply to the stressful, complicated and uncertain nature of modern American life and our own personal desire for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. “They tell us that we are weak, unable to cope. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction---by lying supinely on our backs hugging the delusive phantom of hope---until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak---if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power.” Names and forms have changed dramatically since Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, but most human beings are no less plagued today by the painful stress of daily life, the desire for freedom from worry and the endless search for happiness. In addition to our own personal duties and responsibilities, the world around us presents many challenging uncertainties. With apologies to Thomas Paine, “These (too) are the times that try men’s souls.” With history as our guide, it’s easy to conclude that the desire to end pain, misery and bondage is universal and timeless. How to fulfill that desire---in the midst of every circumstance and relationship---is the essence of American Meditation. Concerning such provocative questions, Henry David Thoreau offers some helpful insight. “I went to the woods,” Thoreau explains, “because I wished to live life deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” Unlike Thoreau, American Meditation does not require that we “go to the woods . . . to front the essential facts of life.” True freedom and happiness can only be experienced from within our own constellation of relationships. Toward that goal, life itself is the greatest of all teachers---if we can develop an ear to hear and an eye to see. American Meditation provides the framework to experience the peace of mind and happiness we seek. Unlike the physical sciences which investigate the laws of the external universe, American Meditation is a tool for knowing our internal landscape, the nature of our consciousness. The sages teach that we are citizens of two worlds---the outer world of names and forms and the inner world of thoughts, desires and emotions. To be free, we must learn to act skillfully according to our objective knowledge of both worlds. American Meditation provides step-by-step instruction on how to create a bridge between these two worlds. By employing scientific techniques, American Meditation teaches how to access the wisdom of the inner world, and how to employ that knowledge skillfully in our relationships through mind, action and speech. American Meditation teaches how to control, conserve and transform our greatest human resource---the energy of the mind---to attain our most deeply held desires. As we learn to master our internal states through regular meditation practice, the vast, hidden, habitual power of the unconscious mind is slowly transformed into healthy, creative, loving, nurtured and rewarding relationships and experiences. This bridge between the inner and outer worlds coordinates all our assets by harmonizing the body and mind with the Divine wisdom of the spirit. Though the basis of American Meditation is the ancient Himalayan tradition of India, its truth is echoed in every major religion and indigenous tradition: Hebrew, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Native American. But American Meditation is not a religion. It is an educational body of knowledge that does not interfere with any religious or cultural belief. On the contrary, American Meditation enhances the understanding of, and appreciation for, every religion and culture. In practical terms, American Meditation provides the technology for creating new mental software that empowers us to make conscious, discriminating choices---choices which unerringly lead us for our highest and greatest good. The basic American Meditation instruction is found in Psalms: “Be still and know that I am God.” This is accomplished through the practice of seated meditation. The root of the word meditation is related to the root word for medical and medicate. It means attending to or paying attention to something. In seated meditation, you pay attention to inner dimensions of yourself that are seldom observed or known. Meditation involves an inner attention that is concentrated, quiet and relaxed. There is nothing strenuous or difficult about creating this inner attention. In seated meditation, we try to let go of all the many mental distractions, preoccupations, and the fleeting thoughts and associations of our normal waking experience. We do this, not by attempting to stop or repress our thoughts, but by encouraging the mind to focus on one subtle element or object in the present moment. This internal focus of attention helps the mind cease its other constant and stressful mental processes. In seated meditation, you are fully alert, but the mind is not thinking about a problem nor analyzing a situation. Instead, the mind is asked to slow down its usual chatter by letting go of its everyday tendencies to solve problems, analyze, remember or focus on the memories of the past or concerns the future. American Meditation is not letting the mind wander aimlessly, nor having an internal conversation with yourself. American Meditation is simply a quiet, effortless, one-pointed focus of attention and awareness. The skills we gain in seated meditation---to witness and transform the power of our thoughts, desires and emotions, can then be employed in all our relationships throughout the day through the practice of meditation in action. Instead of always reacting impulsively to our fears, anger and desires, we learn through meditation how to observe and transform their energy into thoughts, words and deeds which bring us to a level of greater happiness and contentment. For individuals recuperating from any kind of surgical procedure or emotional trauma, meditation is therapeutic from the very beginning. Meditation helps relax the tension of the gross and subtle muscles and the autonomic nervous system, and it provides freedom from mental stress. Individuals who meditate attain a tranquil mind, and this helps the immune system by limiting its reaction to worry and anxiety. After just a few days of sincere efforts, meditation will begin to establish new, healthy, habit patterns. These skills increase individual willpower and help a person to make beneficial choices in life. Sound decisions concerning a beneficial diet, daily exercise, diaphragmatic breathing and lifestyle selection all become possible when the mind is not controlled by habit. In life everything is constantly changing, and yet the habits of the mind resist that change. To facilitate positive change, American Meditation practices have one singular goal: to know the true Self in every circumstance and relationship. After all, if you don’t know your true essence; if you don’t know who you are, it's impossible to make reliably beneficial choices. To put an end to stress and dis-ease we must begin the earnest exploration of the frontier that lies within. To find true joy and contentment, we acknowledge and serve the wisdom of our spiritual core by learning to steward the power of our thoughts, desires and emotions. American Meditation is a roadmap for this inward journey. American Meditation is a program of holistic practices and time-honored techniques to improve mental, emotional and physical well being. The only two requirements for benefiting from its use are your own personal determination and earnestness. In service - with love, Leonard Perlmutter & Jenness Cortez Perlmutter. Top Click to view our 2004 Weekend Retreats Schedule   Important Messages Internal Revenue Service Approval Received On February 5, 1999, the IRS officially recognized the American Meditation Institute as a tax exempt 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. This means that individual and corporate donations to the Institute are now tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. If you would like to know more about how this ruling can positively impact the growth of our teaching efforts, please feel free to contact Jenness or Leonard at the Institute.  Guided Meditation Audio Tape: A 17 minute Guided Meditation Audio Tape is now available. The cost is $12.95. If you are interested, please call the Institute at (518) 674-8714. Should I Take the Meditation Class Again? Several of our students have taken our American Meditation class more than once. With each class, new material is covered, but more importantly, you are now a different person. It's interesting that we hear different messages at different times. Perhaps now, with the preliminary information already assimilated, you might benefit greatly from a second go 'round. If you or someone you know is interested, send us their name and address and we'll mail them a schedule of upcoming classes and registration information. Top Questions & Answers Q: I have just completed your six week "American Meditation" class. Is there some additional advanced course you now offer? A: Yes. Throughout the year we offer numerous one-day wellness seminars on various subjects in addition to a new "Intermediate Meditation" class. As the dates for one-day seminars get closer, you will be notified by the newsletter and through the mail. Additionally, you might want to consider two very real options. First, take the six-week class again. Many of our students have found that having taken the course once before, they were better prepared to assimilate more of the knowledge. Remember, with each day of practice, your personality is transformed and your negative attachment to fears, anger and self-willed desires is diminished. By taking our "American Meditation" course a second or third time, you'll be more focused and one-pointed in your attention and the information presented will be of even greater value to you. Secondly, as we've so often mentioned in our classes, the post-graduate course which will be of greatest benefit to you is how you react to your next thought. If you have been conscientious in your practice, when a thought comes into your awareness, the power of your mantra will come forward to supply you the necessary amount of love, fearlessness and strength either to withdraw your attention from the preya or, to give your attention to the shreya. That process is called "meditation in action," and it is an ongoing process, occurring moment by moment by moment. Q: I am often angry at people. Sometimes I'm angry at those with whom I share close, personal relations and sometimes I just feel angry at politicians who do stupid things. I know that being angry will only cause me more pain, yet at the moment of anger, it is very difficult for me to withdraw my attention from the emotion. Could you make a specific recommendation? A: Anger, like fear and selfish desire, is a root cause of illness and dis-ease. When you give your attention to an angry thought, a torrent of hormones is released which, in turn, harm the body. The time to begin dealing with your anger samskara is not in the midst of an angry reaction, however. Practice japa (repetition of the mantra) continuously every day. The action of repeating your mantra will generate love, fearlessness and strength to help you deal with the anger when it surfaces. Think of this practice the same way you think about putting money away in your IRA. You're banking energy now to be used at a later date when you'll need it. Second, when you do find yourself aware of a thought which evokes an angry response, seek the good counsel of your buddhi. Remember, every thought is only a suggestion of what to give your attention to. If your discriminatory capacity advises that the angry thought you're attracted to is a preya (short-term ego or sense gratification), then lovingly, but firmly take hold of that subtle object and humbly offer it back to the Divine Reality from which it has been manifest. You can accomplish this by visualization. Simply imagine taking the angry thought and offering it into a fire in the "cave of your heart." As you do this, fashion a little personal prayer: "O, Inner Dweller, right now I feel so angry because of this thought. But I hear the advice of my buddhi and I know this anger is not leading me for my highest and greatest good. Please, Dear Lord, accept this offering which I give to you lovingly, earnestly and humbly. Please consume it in the fire of your light and lead me for my highest and greatest good." Then, after you've given the thought back to the Divine Reality from which it has come, repeat your mantra for all you're worth. If you can, go for a brisk fifteen minute walk, repeating your mantra. By freely and consciously giving up the thought of anger, that samskara is weakened and some of its energy is transformed into positive, useable energy which can be accessed later in service to the shreya. But don't take our word for it. As a yoga scientist, begin to experiment for yourself and mentally record your experiences. That's the only way you'll ever begin to know the truth of the knowledge of yoga. Top Tell a Friend about Meditation If you know someone who might benefit from our American Meditation class, let them know about the AMI program or call us with their name and address and we'll send them a brochure with our current class schedule. Can you help grow the teaching with "Karma Yoga?" Karma Yoga --- the practice of selfless and skillful action If, as part of your practice, you have a few extra hours during the week and are interested in helping grow the American Meditation Institute, we need your dedicated, volunteer energy. As a student of yoga science, you are already familiar with the kinds of practical services the Institute provides. Each month we write, edit and publish this newsletter, teach an average of thirty new meditation students and present stress-reduction seminars to various businesses and organizations. We also invite visiting speakers of interest to our area, organize seminars on yoga science and do continuing personal counseling. Our immediate needs include press relations, seminar management, clerical assistance and general delivery work. Remember, whatever time or talents you possess will be put to meaningful, productive use. If you have the time, please call the Institute at (518) 674-8714. Top