Although I have every intention of returning to our journey through Patanjali, I’m not quite ready to go there. It’s something about this season.  The sense of fall’s new beginning combined with its dwindling of the light. Autumn Equinox, Navaratri, Rosh Hashanah.  It makes me want to sing the Name, to fill up with the luminosity of Being, to allow the teachings to come entirely from within.

This week’s class was inspired by CG Jung’s famous quote:

One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light,
but by making the darkness conscious.

We also chanted 108 repetitions of the Gayatri Mantra. If you’re unfamiliar with this Vedic mantra, I will tell you it’s considered the sonic form of light. Difficult though this concept is to grasp, one need only chant it for awhile to have the inner experience break open. It’s also considered the “Mother of the Vedas,” meaning the insight embedded in the syllables gives birth to all knowledge. I highly recommend chanting it every day through the end of the fall season. Here are words and a simple translation/commentary.

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat

Earth. Atmosphere. Heavens.
We meditate on the sacred light of the effulgent source.
Let that light inspire our thoughts.

I’m also uploading my dharma talk from this class. It runs around fifteen minutes and ends with a few repetitions of the Gayatri.

If you want a preview for class on 9/26, we’ll be chanting the amazing Navarna Mantra!