Calling Little Yogis

Shanti the Yogi Home Page

Spirit Voyage is pleased to announce the launch of the Shanti the Yogi website!

One of my favorite parts of the site is the “Fun Stuff” section that includes all kinds of goodies for kids such as downloadable coloring book pages and beautifully illustrated wallpaper designs, lyrics sheets for all of the songs and mantras from the album, “Feeling Good Today!”, and a photo gallery of “Little Yogis” featuring flashback photos of Snatam and other members of the Spirit Voyage family doing yoga when they were kids, and a collection of “Tomorrow’s Teachers” featuring today’s children doing yoga and meditation.

Shanti the Yogi - Fun Stuff Page

So here’s the Calling Little Yogis part.  We are just beginning to add photos to the galleries and would love to see your little yogis on the site!  To include a photo of your child for inclusion in the gallery, please email the photo and an optional caption of your choice to ditta@spiritvoyage.com

Or, if you have a photo of yourself as a little yogi, you can send that too – and tell us what year the photo was taken!

Healing the Wounds of Love by Guru Raj Kaur and Nirinjan Kaur

I love when we are able to share new releases that really offer a tool for people to use in their own lives.  This new CD, Healing the Wounds of Love is a great example. The music on this CD is a special treat for lovers of Gurbani Kirtan.  Guru Raj Kaur’s rich, energetic voice has been a favorite at Gurudwaras for many years.  On this album, she teams up with her daughter, Nirinjan whose smooth, gentle voice is a beautiful counterpoint to her mother’s. 

About this CD, they write: “Love brings us to life, gives us courage and inspires us to service and sacrifice. To live fully, we need to learn how to heal the wounds of love which we all carry. Shabd Hazaray is the “Shabd Worth 1000 Shabds.” It is the purest and most powerful love song ever written. This amazingly beautiful CD will take you through that process of deep healing.”

 Here is the meditation – I pulled from our Blog Post: Mera Man Loche – Meditation to Heal the Wounds of Love you can see more meditations at www.yogamusic.wordpress.com, our Yoga Music Blog .

Meditation: Aad Sach Jugad Sach / Mera Man Loche

Source: Yogi Bhajan Lecture, July 7, 1987

Posture: Sit in easy pose with the eyes closed and the hands resting on the knees. (The KRI Authentic Relationships Teacher Training Manual shows sitting in Gyan Mudra, so you can use this mudra too.)

Music: You can find this mediation’s music on two different albums:

Nectar of the Name

by Sat Purkh

Click Track Name for Sound Clip:
Mera Man Loche

Healing the Wounds of Love

by Guru Raj Kaur and Nirinjan Kaur Khalsa

Click on Track Name for Sound Clip
Mera Man Lochai Meditation

Healing the Wounds of Love: This meditation is meant to bring positive change to your current relationships while removing past pains that have imbedded themselves in your heart and psyche.  To start with you can do this meditation for 11 days.  As you do it, you will feel clarity and empowerment to make positive change and to begin to experience authentic relationships.  You can continue doing this meditation daily for as long as you feel it serves you.

Mantra: This meditation merges two mantras. It opens with:

Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such, nanak hosee bhay such

This mantra is repeated again between each of the first four verses from the daily prayer Shabd
Hazaray  found in the Sacred Nitnem. After the fourth verse, this mantra is repeated four more times. For this meditation, you repeat this sequence 11 times.

So the entire recitation goes like this:

Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such

Mayraa man lochai gur darshan taa-ee
Bilap karay chaatrik kee ni-aa-ee
Trikhaa na utarai Shaant na aavai
Bin Darshan Sant pi-aaray jee-o
Hao Gholee jee-o ghol ghumaa-ee
Gur darshan sant pi-aaray jee-o (1)

Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such

Tayraa much suhaavaa jee-o sahaj dhun baanee
Chir ho-aa daykhay saaring paanee
Dhan so days jahaa too(n) vasi-aa
Mayray sajan meet muraaray jee-o
Hao gholee hao ghol ghumaa-ee
Gur sajan meet muraaray jee-o (2)

Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such

Ik gharee na milatay taa kalijug hotaa
Hun kad milee-ai pri-a tudh bhagavantaa
Mo-eh rain na vihaavai need na aavai
Bin daykhay gur darbaaray jee-o
Hao gholee jee-o ghol ghumaa-ee
Tis sachay gur darbaaray jee-o (3)

Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such

Bhaag ho-aa gur sant milaa-i-aa
Prabh abhinaasee ghar meh paa-i-aa
Sayv karee pal chasaa na vichhuraa
Jan Naanak daas tumaaray jee-o
Hao gholee jee-o ghol ghumaa-ee
Jan Naanak daas tumaaray jee-o (4)

Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such
Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such
Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such
Aad such, jugaad such, haibhay such,
nanak hosee bhay such

About Shabad Hazaray:  This shabd, found in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, was written as letters between Guru Arjan and his father Guru Ram Das.  It is beautiful poetry.
You can read the story abou these letters here: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Shabad_Hazaray

Here is an attempt at translating the words, although all translations contain some form of personal interpretation since Gurmukhi as a language can contain many depths of meanings.

My mind longs for the vision of the Guru’s Darshan
It cries out like the thirsty song bird for the nectar of your name.
My thirst is not quenched, and I can not find peace
Until I receive the Darshan the beloved saint.

I give myself, and my soul
for your Darshan, my beloved Guru!
Your face is so beautiful, and the sound of your words (shabd) is so filled with inner wisdom.
It has been too long since this rainbird has had even a glimpse of water.
Blessed is the land, where you live, my friend and loved one,
my Divine teacher.

I give myself, and my soul, to my beloved, my Divine Guru
An instant away from you, brings darkness
When will I meet You, my beloved Waheguru?
I can’t endure this night, sleep eludes me too
Until I see your home, my beloved Guru!

I give myself, and my soul to your true home, my beloved Guru!

By good fortune, I met my Saint Guru
and I have found that the immortal creator is within the home my own self
and so I will always serve you and never be separated from you even for an instant.

Guru Nanak says- I’m your slave, my beloved Lord.
I give myself and my soul. Servant Nanak lives to serve you.

- Yogi Bhajan’s teachings are copyrighted by and the property of the YB Teachings, LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

In Search of a Yoga Paradise for Snatam

About a year ago, I approached Snatam about putting on a yoga and music retreat in some beautiful paradise spot where people could really get the opportunity to delve deep into the music and yoga practice that she has made into her life.  I also felt that it would be a really special experience to be with her and her family and for a week-long vacation.  

Yelapa

In July, we were finally able to fix on the dates, so I boarded a plane to Mexico to go scout out locations.  I flew to Puerto Vallarta and had a 3-day schedule mapped out where I was going to visit about 15 different potential beach resorts for the weekend.

My first stop was Yelapa.  I had rented a car and was planning to drive all around from one place to another.  The night before I left, I called Jarrett at Los Naranjos in Yelapa and asked for directions to his center.  Jarrett laughed, he said I might be pleased to know there are no cars in Yelapa.  The only way to get there is either by boat, or a serious trek through the jungle.  While this caused my plans to have to change dramatically at the last minute, I was really excited at the prospect of finding a retreat location in a place where no car has ever been.  This sounded right up Snatam’s alley!

So, upon landing in Puerto Vallarta, I took a taxi to the pier and a 35 minute boat ride to Yelapa.  The boat ride was amazing.  We traveled south along the coast, and the landscape was magnificent.  The beaches were beautiful and sandy, and as soon as the sand ended, lush jungle began.  I felt like I was traveling back in time as the city disappeared behind us.  Along the way, we passed a few little fishing villages on the edge of the jungle.  Then suddenly there was a cove that turned into the junglescape and as we turned, the village of Yelapa sat nestled along the beach with the jungle rising up behind it.

Watching the sun set in Yelapa

My fabulous host, Luke, at Hotel Lagunita, met me at the pier and showed me to my room.  It was late, I was tired, so I sat on the beach and watched the sunset and felt so beautifully at peace.

Los Naranjos

The next morning, I woke up early, ready to begin my day of exploring the various hotels and retreat centers in Yelapa.  My first stop was Los Naranjos, which was about a 10 minute walk up a lovely cobblestone road from the beach.

Los Naranjos is run by Jarret, who is an American musician with a beautiful heart.  It’s an amazing sanctuary nestled along the side of a mountain.  Everything is built into the earth, keeping the natural environment integrated into every room.  It felt like spiritual Robin Crusoe escape.  Jarret explained that the entire village of Yelapa is a part of a larger property owned by the indiginous community.  No individuals can own property in this area, so everything is rented from the native people.  Jarret said that his property has been a meeting place for the native tribes for centuries.  He is certainly a worthy caretaker.  The property was beautiful, the gardens lush, and the eclectic mix of indoors, outdoors, and old world were so inviting.   I loved the hanging beds!  I was sorry to discover that they could only house about 18 people, as we were hoping to have 40 come for Snatam’s retreat.

Casa Los Suenos

After I left Los Naranjos, I visited Casa Los Suenos.  This was like a vibrant, quaint Mexican village in one big sprawling homestead.  With lots of vibrant colors, a half indoor-half outdoor kitchen to die for, and views off the side of the mountain that took my breath away, I was imagining yoga and singing filling every nook and cranny of the place.  Their rooms were huge, fit for kings, with lovely details and artistry. Unfortunately, it also was too small for our group, but I left longing to return.

Hotel Lagunita

I got back to Hotel Lagunita and, after a delicous lunch, was shown their whole property.  Their Palapa style huts were nestled  along a lovely curve of the beach.  The rooms are all reached by cobblestone paths.  The greenery is so lush and vibrant.  Each room was a bit different, but they mostly had 2 queen size that sat on rich brick-colored terra cotta floors.  The walls were stucco and the ceiling stretched up towards the sky with grand wooden beams.  The windows are made of wood and reed, and keep out sight but not sound.  There was a rustic charm that I immediately fell in love with.  Mosquito nets hangs above every bed, and there’s something very romantic about having them draped around you as you sleep.  I never felt a mosquito while I was there, but I used the nets anyway.

Because there are no glass windows, you could hear the water and the crickets all through the night.  The ocean breeze blows through the rooms all day and night, connecting you with everything around you.

Hotel Lagunita has a natural water swimming pool constantly fed by an underwater source and flowing out into the ocean. 

Hotel Lagunita’s restaurant is right on the beach, and in the evenings, the lovely candle-lit thatched roofs cover various seating areas.  Listening to the waves and watching the sun set was a daily miracle.

While I was there, a beach wedding was underway, and the love and hope and romance that was in the air was infectious.  I truly fell in love with Hotel Lagunita.

After two days in Yelapa, I took the boat ride back to Puerto Vallarta and I rented a car and drove north to the town of Sayulita.  In the town, I visited 6 diferent hotels, none of which I felt were right for our retreat, but outside of Sayulita, I visited 2 beautiful retreat centers.  The first was Haramara.

Haramara Retreat

Haramara is an incredible retreat center that sprawls from a mountain top all the way down to the beach.  Haramara was made to be a yoga and meditation retreat center, and it shows.  Alicia was my host for the day and she seemed as inspired and amazed by the property as I was.  It took over two hours to hike up and down to all of the amazing rooms, and we even got lost once or twice, the property was so large.

At the very top of the mountain are two beatiful yoga rooms with 360 degree views that overlook beatiful jungle covered mountains on one side and ocean on the other.  You feel like you are on top of the world in these yoga rooms.  The rooms where you stay are all palapa huts with very upscale furnishings, richly polished wooden floors and the most amazing bathrooms I’ve ever seen, all with outdoor showers.  There is no electricity in the rooms and as the sun sets, candles and lanterns glow throughout the retreat. 

The restaurant features all vegetarian food, and I was fed a beautiful and delicious vegan meal.

Haramara was not available for our upcoming March retreat, but I left with the certainty that we would be hosting a retreat there in the future.

Villa Ananda

The last place i visited was Villa Ananda.  Villa Ananda is a beautiful sprawling house with an Ayurvedic Spa in a gorgeous building next to it.  The house sits right on the beach with a gorgeous pool facing the water.  The house has soaring ceilings, a beautiful open floor plan, with a little indoor fountin and pond in the living room.

It’s a luxurious spot for a retreat, but was a bit too small for our group, so I’m keeping it in mind for future retreats.

After visiting Villa Ananda, I packed my bags and traveled to New Mexico to show Snatam and her husband, Sopurkh, the photos of all the places I had visited so we could decide which one was right for us.

We ultimately agreed that Hotel Lagunita would be the right place for this retreat, and we’re super excited to be getting everything organized and ready for this first of it’s kind retreat with Snatam Kaur, GuruGanesha Singh and their families.

Click Here to see the details about this upcoming retreat.

Snatam Kaur in The Union

Snatam Kaur’s message from Sikh tradition
Performer brings world tour to Grass Valley

Source: The Union: http://www.theunion.com/article/20060810/NEWS/108100130

In the cool shadows of the trees in the garden of St. Joseph’s Cultural Center in Grass Valley, Snatam Kaur looked more like an angel than a singer on a world tour.

Dressed in immaculate white, the 34-year-old American Sikh performer spoke of God, peace and music in a young, soothing voice.

The lush lawn – with overgrown hedges, foliage bent with purple blossoms and roses outlined by the afternoon sun – was a serene setting for Kaur as she explained the nuances of her craft: her spiritual music, chants and kundalini yoga.

“In all my music, my words are very positive and they are from the Sikh tradition,” Kaur said. “These words are meant to give a positive effect and inner peace. It’s been really powerful to be able to record positive music and see the effects of it.”

Kaur was born to American Sikh parents in Trinidad, Colo., in 1972. Her family was deeply influenced by the teachings of the kundalini yoga master, Yogi Bhajan. As the latter was a Sikh, the Kaurs were also drawn to the East Indian religion.

“I have the Eastern (Indian) and Western influences (in my music),” Kaur said. “But the most important thing is my heart and devotion.

“I compose my music. I compose with my musical colleagues on the road. Sometimes during a concert, I will be inspired. When I am in a state of prayer, oftentimes my heart just opens and words of inspiration will come within the concert experience.”

Kaur is now in Grass Valley as part of her international “Celebrate Peace” concert tour. She has already performed in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, and Canada, as well as in 28 major cities in the Eastern United States and 20 West Coast cities. Her next stop is Sacramento, where she performs on Aug. 11.

Kaur recorded her first solo album with Virginia-based Spirit Voyage Music in 2000. It was called “Prem,” meaning “love” in Hindi. She’s made five solo albums, and her sixth is awaiting release in September.

“Technically, there are so many ways to learn and expand in music that I am still learning to this day,” Kaur said. “But because of my devotion to the possibility of peace on the planet, I get out there and tour and get CDs out without inhibition because I feel the spirit of peace must be awakened in the heart of humanity.”

Kaur has a cozy band accompanying her. It is comprised of her guitarist, Guru Ganesha, and her percussionist, Krishen Prakash, and herself. She plays the violin – which she learned as a child – and the harmonium, an Indian reed instrument.

But Kaur is more than a singer. She is a food technologist, with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Mills College for Women, in Oakland.

She has worked for years in the Sikh-owned Golden Temple Peace Cereal in Eugene, Ore., and is now their brand ambassador. All of her concerts are sponsored by Peace Cereal.

“The Peace Cereal gives 10 percent of their proceeds to peace organizations around the U.S. and Canada,” Kaur said. “While touring, we give peace grants to local organizations. We gave out two grants last weekend at Eugene, Ore.”

Jai Dev Singh, 25, who works at the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley, brought Kaur to town.

“Her music is very inspiring to me,” said Singh, who also teaches kundalini yoga at the Wild Mountain Yoga Center. “It inspires me on my path. In her music, I can feel her devotion, and that makes me want to stay devoted.”

Singh said Kaur’s Grass Valley concert and chanting workshop are fundraisers for the Briar Patch Co-op Community fund.

Kaur will perform today at St. Joseph’s Cultural Center in Grass Valley, from 7:30 to 9 :30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 in advance and can be bought at Briar Patch Co-op Community Center. They can also be obtained for $20 at the door.

“It (the concert) is family oriented,” Kaur said. “There is a time when we invite children to come on stage and sing with us. We do this because we feel that for peace to manifest and to last, children have to be a part of the process of creating peace.”

After scores of performances around the globe, Kaur is surprisingly down-to-earth. And in her musical journey, she has learned lessons beyond her age.

“From what I have learned in my life, it’s the small steps that are right in front of you that are the most important toward peace,” Kaur said. “Sometimes people feel they are too small to make a difference.

“To be honest with you, I am fascinated with how creatively kindness manifests all over the planet in so many ways. I feel that people just don’t know about it.”

ooo

To call Soumitro Sen, e-mail soumitros@theunion.com or call 477-4229.

Click Here to see all of Snatam Kaur’s Music

What is Sikhism?

Sikhism is an Indian religion founded in Punjab, a state in western India, in the late 15th century. The followers of the religion are called Sikhs. As of the 21st century, there are nearly 25 million Sikhs worldwide.

Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak (1469-1539) and subsequently led by a succession of nine other gurus (Indian term for a “spiritual master”).

Ever since the death of the 10th master, the Sikhs have regarded their sacred text, the “Guru Granth Sahib” (also known as the “Adi Granth”), the sole guru or teacher.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica