MahaMondo

The Guru-Disciple System in the West

Dharmanidhi had this to say in an article via Yoga Mag :

"The guru-disciple system in the West is undergoing a period of trial by fire brought about by the clash of eastern monastic traditions with our western culture and mind set. This is a natural and welcome process which will see the guru-disciple system emerge in a more streamlined and functional form, without losing its value as a very important method of teaching and transmitting SHAKTI – so essential to deep spiritual awakening and fulfilment."

A mentor assists in the shattering of patterns & habits. As I embark on this path with my teacher / mentor , one of the first tasks at hand is to generate a list of YAMAS & NIYAMAS. I have flirted with vegetarianism several times, but it is now at the top of " the list ".

As Cameron Alborzian suggested to me, "Just treat it as a temporary situation that you can return to. Once you start feeling the benefits, you will not look back".

In a modern context then , the primary ingredient in this process is that the mentor / teacher is there to respond specifically as a support for the individual needs of the practitioner in their general journey, to serve as an inspiration . And to unlock the GURU within-

I am very blessed and grateful that my teacher, Vytas Baskauskas, will act as a guide & mentor.

Jai Ma!

Rich Roll : West Magazine

Fellow yogi , co-owner of the JAI HOUSE & MySpace friend Rich Roll is profiled in the LA Times' WEST Magazine :

PRIME NUMBERS

40

Rich Roll

10/20/1966

Occupation: Entertainment lawyer, writer and filmmaker ( www.downdogmovie.com )

Hometown: Calabasas

Activities: Swimming, triathlete

Starting line: I've been swimming on teams since I was about 6.

Making time: We have a lap pool at my house. Now that it's nice out, I try to go [ocean swimming] at least once a week. I generally swim at lunchtime. That's sort of sacred. Long rides and long runs on weekends. Running is a good complement to the swimming. We just had a baby, [so] I'm probably training about 12 hours a week. It's an extension of who I am and what I love.

Benefits: It helps me achieve focus in all the other areas of my life. It's as much a meditative experience as anything else. It gives me a clarity of thought. When you're swimming in the ocean, there's a purity you don't have in the pool.

"No-whining" secrets: If I'm getting stale in one endeavor I can switch to another. I also do YOGA. It's an extension of a HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE that includes DIET and MEDITATION.

Fitness mantra: I feel it's what I'm meant to do.

Cameron Alborzian : A Guide & the Path

"There is much work to be done in the world on this path as most are walking another ."

Take good care,

Cameron

Amidst the frenetic energy of NYC and the good vibes & good times of the trade show circuit ( Damon Dash & Dao Yi Chow in da house) , meeting up with Cameron Alborzian was akin to stepping foot onto an island of calmness. What struck me most as I sat across him was the amount of light that he emanated. I had originally planned on practicing at Dharma Mittra's shala that evening , but he was away conducting a workshop in Arizona, so everything happened as meant to be.

It was uncanny listening to Cameron's story as to how he embarked on this journey several years back with a mentor. When his mentor passed on, he continued his studies in Ayurvedic medicine @ the Aryavaidya Shala in India learning to treat patients with herbal medicine. This process involved the use of Yoga and Ayurveda through treatments & therapies.

I use the term uncanny as I am at the point of a similar journey wherein I have sought ( and found) a mentor . His perspective on attaining health & happiness is through the observance of the yamas & niyamas such as pranayama & pratyahara , all components of the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga that lead to samadhi.

A tip that he shared with me regarding embarking on vegetarianism (ahimsa) was to treat it as a temporary situation. Once I felt better on the new regime, there would be no looking back.

Cameron believes in a fuller system to complete the journey one has begun with practice ; asana is only one aspect of this. He also knows that illnesses are a result of  modern day imbalance & negativity.

His intention is to share & communicate this philosophy. He will be conducting seminars in August @ Esalen & Harbin Springs. As a part-time resident of Madrid, there will also be an upcoming opportunity to share yoga  with the Spanish media via an open air class @ the Plaza de la Luna.

The biggest proof of his transformation was the energy and peace that I felt from him.

I will endeavor to organize a workshop / class that would feature Cameron's holistic & simple approach to living & inner peace here in Santa Monica. As he likes to put it , " Join us !"

Bless you -

Please visit www.camerongoodhealth.com for more info.

Psalm Isadora :Hari Om

Received this message from Psalm Isadora while in New York:

" I read your post about SEEKING GUIDANCE, it was touching to me.
I myself reached a point in my practice where I became much more serious about finding a MENTOR. I looked around and saw people taking classes from the same teacher for 10 years, who still could not do what the teacher could do, and I knew I wanted more. Not to achieve something, but to go deeper into something that tasted so sweet to me. It is difficult to find this in the modern way yoga is taught, which gives very little one-on-one time with the teacher, but "each to his own desire",
the strength of your desire will lead each person to what they are looking for. The expression, "self is the guru" has a very deep meaning to me. In the beginning, before we have refined ourselves with earnest effort and SURRENDER, the GURU in ourselves pulls us to go
deeper, to SEEK out teachers who can help us ".

I will think of you and pray for you while I am in India, you have
such an earnest heart. may God bless you and answer your prayers.

In love,

Psalm

OK Ma , Psalm! And in New York, I met with Cameron Alborzian , and had the opportunity to learn more regarding his path via a MENTOR and eventually a stay @ Kerala, India.

New York : SEEKING & INTENTION

I will be in New York for a week to attend PR powerhouse firm BPMW's launch of CAPSULE. They have quite a roster of clients under their belt ( Kanye West, Stussy , VH1 ,etc ) , so it should turn out to be a MAHA  platform for branding opps, selling & marketing.

My INTENTION is to be able to spend time at some point there with Dharma Mittra , Cameron Alborzian & practice with Uma Saraswati or Dechen Thurman @ Jivamukti.

As mentioned in a previous post, my path has come towards a junction where I am actively SEEKING guidance, mentoring & wisdom from teachers. I trust that a route to establishing a conduit to a more advanced practice will become realized once I discuss this intention with them.

Please check back next weekend for updated postings .Jai ma !

Yoga Beach Fundraiser w/ Psalm Isadora & Radha Shayam

This update from Psalm Isadora , Sunday July 22 6 PM :

This is the last class I will be teaching before I leave for India, I am looking forward to being in loving community before I go. The class is a fundraiser for my trip to India. For part of my trip I will be teaching free yoga classes to the people living at DeviPuram ashram, and the rural communities nearby. Devipuram was founded by my Guruji, Sri Amritananda.

Bring a towel to practice on
Bring Yummy food to BBQ

Venice Beach where Ocean Park Blvd meets the water. There is parking in the city lot.

MOCA Employee Art Show @ The Red Tent + Yoga Club

Something is def up @ Frank Gehry designed Edgemar on Main St. Stopped by the MOCA Store to discover it was on a massive CLOSING SALE; which is a sad day in the 'hood as it has always been a great resource for irreverent & rare product. Long time co-tenant HiLights  is likewise up for lease. The courtyard behind both spaces @ Edgemar is still a cool ( literally ) spot to meet up & hang; much preferable to the the SCENE @ Urth Caffe' a block up.

MOCA Store employees are holding a ONE NIGHT ONLY Art Show on Sat. July 28th 6-10 PM @ The Red Tent Yoga Studio , 629 Rose Ave.in Venice. DJ Boy Morgan will be spinning.

And check out Yoga Club's MySpace homepage update. This blog is now mirrored regularly for the Club's 10,000 + & counting friends . " Go do something productive with your life. Like read the news blogs of MahaMondo ".

Namaste to you Ryan M.-

Global Mala Project

Teresa Herrera ( Shiva Rea's student & friend ) sent this in prior to her departure for Hong Kong :

"Not sure if you know about this already...but here it is just in case.

  This will be a huge event held at the LA Convention Center, Sept 22.  ( Fall Equinox)
I will be heading the Global Mala Event in Manila that same day...

Check it out: www.globalmala.org -

Do spread the word....Hope you can make it...

peace, love , and soul..."

T

Julie Kleinman @ Quiksilver Edition Mission

Via Adam Katz of Quiksilver Edition Mission :

This is just a heads up to all our loyal & loving yoga participants.

We are happy to host Julie Kleinman of YogaWorks. She will talk about her own trajectory in life with Yoga & her experience working with an environmentally sustainable & socially emgaged company.

Julie began practicing yoga fifteen years ago @ Jivamukti NYC. In 1994, she moved to LA and underwent teacher training @ YogaWorks in 1996.

Julie will speak @ 12:30 Noon, Sat. July 14th. Snack & drinks will be provided. Please visit www.quiksilvereditionmission.org to reserve your space -

4DaLove.Org : YYoga Movie Screening July 14

Arthur Klein's YYoga Movie screening this Saturday , July 14th @ 10:30 PM , SMPY West hosted by 4DaLove.Org  ( 9:30 Open Wide Sessions ) and sponsored by YogiChocolate & MahaMondo .

88 yogic minutes of laughs, inspiration & awareness all for DA LOVE.

We will all be around to meet & greet before , during ( heh heh ) & after the screening. This will be my 3rd opportunity to view the film , but I always feed on all the INSPIRATION from the best sources. Plus , I need to start riffing on Diamond Dallas' moves.

Bring  friends , cushions & good karma -