Dance, Lalla, with nothing on
but air. Sing, Lalla,
wearing the sky.

Look at this glowing day! What clothes
could be so beautiful, or
more sacred?

~ Lalla, 14^th century mystic of Northern India. Translation by Coleman Barks.

According to legend, Lalla left her husband and family at age 24 to wander India, naked, singing love songs to God. Lalleshwari (Lalla, the Great Yogini) first came into my “field” the month before I met my Guru, Ammachi. It was May, 2006, and I was at a meditation group in which a couple visited to give us diksha, a transmission of the state of Oneness. I wrote the following about that experience in my memoir, The Rita Lila: A Western Yogini’s Journey to Bliss:

“My projection of what I think it will look like to merge with the One Radiance is holding me back. I am afraid that if I really let go, I will be too wild and I won’t wear clothes! Fear of being too wild and naked. Fear of not being a polite, good girl. Fear of being socially inappropriate. Fear of singing in public.”

Of course everyone laughed along with me, when I shared that, and then someone said that I really needed to read the poetry of Lalla… so the next day I ordered Coleman Barks' book Naked Song. On the back of the book, he describes Lalla as a “lioness.” He writes, “She rides the breath, and she knows the way of courage.”

I love Lalla’s poems so much – I read them over and over, and I’ve memorized many of them to recite around the fire with friends. Last December, at the Winter Solstice Gala fundraiser for the Goddess Temple of Ashland, Lalla made her first public appearance through me. You can watch that performance at this link: Yogini-Bliss on YouTube.

And as for me going naked, well, that hasn’t happened…yet. Who knows what the future holds?! Of course I still have fear about that… but then, I remember that everything happens at the right time in the right way… like how I was also afraid of singing in public, but then I learned to sing and lead chants, by Amma’s Grace, and now singing in public is a joy rather than a fear. 

What fears are holding you back from merging with the One Radiance?

May all beings experience the healing warmth of Radiance rising within them.

May all beings know Peace and Love. 

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of blue bird in pear blossoms by Teja Shankara.

Comment (0)

Today I am filled to overflowing with Gratitude as I delight in the latest synchronicity. I love it how once you notice one synchronicity, many more begin to sprout! I’m so grateful for the magical lessons they bring to help expand our awareness.

Lately I’ve been writing – in my journal, in emails to friends, and on facebook – about how I’ve been witnessing so many ups and downs in my journey of openings and closings: one minute I open to God and see that Light is ahead, and the next moment I find myself riding yet another grief wave in which I wonder how I will ever get over that earthguy?!

So the key phrase has been ups and downs… so the other night, my brother (who lives across town and who didn’t know that I’d been writing “ups and downs”) suddenly got the inspiration for this cartoon and he scribbled it down so he wouldn’t forget… the next morning I received the cartoon in my email in-box, and I just couldn’t believe my eyes. I read it again and again. “We all have our oms and downs. We all have our oms and downs. We all have our oms and downs.” Amazing! My brother didn’t know where it came from, but I sure know where it came from… There is no doubt in my mind that the Universe gave me this cartoon through my brother, to let me know that yes, there are ups and downs, and yes, you can still have a sense of humor about it! 

And, the “oms” instead of “ups” could not be more perfect, because when I am chanting, I expand into the ups! So it was also a good reminder to get my harmonium out more often, because chanting is so good for my soul. Singing the Names of God is such a pleasing way to open the heart.

I am super, super grateful for this cartoon and for the synchronicity it embodies.

Jai Shiva Shankara! Jai Bajarangi Bali Hanuman! Victory to Lord Shiva, Giver of Peace & Happiness! Victory to Hanuman who is Strong like a Thunderbolt! 

May all beings everywhere receive magical synchronicities that build their faith and inner strength.

May all beings know Peace.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Cartoon by Teja’s brother Nastacho.

Comment (0)

So much happens each day in my brother’s outdoor gear shoppe, where I am now working as the manager. Yesterday, I asked my brother how to handle a certain situation that sometimes happens with customers, and I loved his answer so much: “When in doubt, help ‘em out.” That catchy phrase reminded me of what Amma says: “If it is someone’s karma to suffer, consider it your dharma to help them."

I am really enjoying meeting all the people there, and I am continually amazed by the phenomenon of people arriving in waves. I remember that happening when I worked in a clothing store in college, but it’s been interesting to witness it through the lens of a Reiki energy healer. Energy really does gather in fascinating ways! Waves swell: suddenly ten people are in the store asking lots of questions. Waves subside: no one is in the store, the rain clouds have parted, and I’m standing out in the sunshine eating my lunch while watching the crows fly from one evergreen tree to the next.

And the rain! Wow, I am super grateful for my rainsuit that keeps me dry as I put bikes out in the morning and bring them back inside in the evening. Speaking of Gratitude, I’ll end this note with paying homage to hot coffee, and I don’t mean the movie. I am usually a tea drinker, but right now, during this particular phase of my life, I am thoroughly enjoying a cup of hot black coffee each morning!

May all beings receive the help that they need, when they need it.

May all beings see the Light ahead, even if they aren’t basking in it at this moment.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of bikes by Teja Shankara.

Comment (2)

Recently I discovered a chocolate company called theo, that makes high quality, organic chocolate bars that are suitable for vegans. Unfortunately, the number of chocolate bars suitable for vegans has decreased, as many of the companies, including Dagoba and Green & Blacks, now put milk in many of their dark chocolate bars. If you intend to buy only vegan, you really have to read the ingredients on the labels!

My favorite theo bar is called Peppermint Stick. A few weeks ago, I was enjoying some of that dark chocolate-crispy peppermint delight whilst cooking this vegan meal for myself. The recipe is very easy, and tasty too.

As always, please buy organic food whenever possible. You will receive showers of Gratitude from your body and from our sacred Mother Earth.

Teja’s Easy & Tasty Vegan Mung Beans

Soak 3 cups mung beans overnight, change soaking water in the morning, and change the water again before cooking. Bring to a boil, then add 1 medium yellow onion, chopped; 1 strip of kombu seaweed (about 4-5 inches long); 1/3 cup fresh ginger root, chopped; 2 burdock roots, chopped; and 2 carrots, chopped. Simmer for 30 minutes, covered. Then add the following:

1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1 Tablespoon turmeric powder
1 Tablespoon dried basil
1 Tablespoon coriander powder
2 teaspoons sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons soy sauce

Simmer covered for about 45 more minutes. For the last 10 minutes, add the juice of one small meyer lemon. So easy, and so tasty! Hope you enjoy.

May all beings – especially the nearly one billion people who are now starving on planet earth – have food to eat each day.

And, may all beings know the delight of a good vegan chocolate bar!

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

See me live talking about my soup cookbook here: Yogini Bliss on YouTube

Photo of theo Peppermint Stick dark chocolate bar by Teja Shankara.

Comment (0)

Photo by Ashley Marie - CC license

On this playground of life, we get to choose how we spend our time: we can choose to run around doing things that lower our vibrations, OR we can choose to commit to regular, daily spiritual practices that raise our vibrations. Each small change that we make within ourselves then ripples out and benefits all of Creation. This year I intend to help raise the vibration of the human species, through my work as a cheerleader for spiritual practices.

Here is some recent news from the playground of my life ~

~ Lately I am delighting in synchronicities. It is a funny thing that once we notice one synchronicity, many more begin to sprout! The first synchronicity, in my recent series, occurred at the Grand Opening of the Goddess Temple of Ashland. There was a set of Goddess cards on the welcome table, and I casually picked one, and it was of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of creativity, wisdom, commerce, war, magic, and music. She is the one who helps artisans who create from the mind! And, amazingly, she wears an owl headdress and a chest plate with snakes… I say amazingly because my self-chosen totems for 2011 are owl, snake, and horse!

~ The next synchronicity was even stronger. One evening, I was sitting on my red couch, asking the Universe if I should continue writing blogs and Facebook posts, and right at the exact time I was asking that, a woman sent me a message saying that she has been following my blogs and life for months, and she asked to begin The Teja Challenge the very next morning! To learn more about this challenge, please read this blog article: “The Teja Challenge: For Healing, Light, Peace, & Love”.  I was so amazed at that validation for the work I am doing, and I thanked Amma again and again for giving me such a huge and clear “Yes!” answer.

~ I am really loving my job as manager of my brother’s outdoor gear shoppe. I love meeting all the people, and I’m even selling some copies of Radiance Rising: Spiritual Practices for Daily Living. I put a note next to the books saying, “This pocket book is the perfect size to take on a bike ride or hike”! ~ One very positive aspect of working there is that I am finding a better balance in my life… balance between: work and rest; home and world; computer and sadhana (spiritual practices); and also between alone time and people time.

~ On April 10^th, my youngest brother and his wife had their first baby, who is my first niece. Little Zoe was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I am super excited to be Auntie Teja! (And my boys are thrilled to finally have a cousin!) 

~ A few weeks ago I got my harmonium out again, after not playing it for over a month. It was such a sweet reunion, and I really enjoyed warming up my voice again, in preparation for Hanuman Jayanti, the auspicious holy day of celebrating the birth of the Hindu monkey god.

~ Yesterday was Hanuman Jayanti, and last night I led a special Radiance Rising Circle. It was so wonderful to be in circle again, sharing spiritual practices with some beloved souls who had become like family to me. We chanted to Hanuman, Rama and Sita; sat in silent meditation; read from the Ramayana; and enjoyed an inspiring discussion while eating fig cookies.

~ As Spring is finally blossoming in Ashland, I am feeling super grateful for all the magical synchronicites… And I am filled with Gratitude that the Universe has instructed me to keep writing, because I really enjoy writing the articles for this Teja Blog. (Recent article titles include: “An Energy Exercise for Protection”, and “Cultivating the Witness 101: Managing Anger”. I also really love posting on my two Facebook pages. Please join me there on the page called Teja Shankara Books. Here is the link for a note I recently wrote for that page: "A Note Inspired by a Note" ~ On Facebook lately I’ve been posting many quotes from Sri Neem Karoli Baba-ji. Here is a quote from him (from The Divine Reality by Ravi Prakash Pande “Rajida”):

“We meet only those people with whom our meeting is predestined. Duration of association with each person is also preordained. One should not grieve if one is separated or if the association does not last long.”

(Easier said than done, I say!)

~ May all of our playgrounds be filled with joyous synchronicities that inspire us to believe in Magic.

May all beings everywhere experience the warmth of the inner Radiance.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Teja in bike shoppe by her brother Greg. Photo of Teja Happy on Hanuman Jayanti by Teja Shankara.

Comment (2)

This is the second article in a series inspired by my friend Miles in Mallorca, Spain. Today I’m focusing on how the spiritual practice of Cultivating the Witness can help with managing anger.

In the Fall of 2003, when I met my beloved spiritual teacher, David La Chapelle (who is “Basil” in my books, and who left this manifest realm in July, 2009), I felt as though most of my anger dissolved upon meeting him. There are many possible reasons for that, and I think that one of the primary is that he transmitted the Witness Consciousness to me. He also taught me tools for skillfully Cultivating the Witness in my daily life.

For me, the most vivid evidence that Cultivating the Witness was “working” in my life, was in how quickly I stopped yelling at my sons. Before meeting David – and learning to Cultivate the Witness – whenever I got frustrated with my then 3 and 6 year old sons, I lost my cool and raised my voice. Each time I yelled at them, they became frightened and then I felt incredibly guilty… But even though I felt guilty afterwards, I continued doing it…

… once I learned to watch myself more closely, I began to notice when I was starting to get overwhelmed, and so then I would verbally share what I was witnessing with my sons. I would say, in a calm, neutral voice, “I am witnessing that I am starting to feel angry, and I feel like screaming, but I am not going to.” I did this each time I felt frustrated with them, and in a short amount of time, they developed trust that Mama wasn’t going to yell anymore, and their little systems relaxed, and their behavior actually improved. 

If you are witnessing yourself getting angry at your boss or a co-worker, it probably won’t work to verbally share that you feel like yelling at them, but even if you just simply notice it inside yourself, that witnessing may help to cool you down, which will then ripple out and help the whole situation calm down. As David often told me, “We create our realities from the inside-out.”

The main point is to train your mind to objectively witness the anger. When you can calmly witness your reactions to life’s craziness, then some part of you begins to settle down. After anger arises in your system, try sitting in silent meditation and witnessing what part (or parts) wish to be filled with peace.

If you have questions about this practice, please post them in the comments section below this article.

May all beings know the Peace that comes from skillfully witnessing anger.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Spring photo of Teja by Teja Shankara.

Comment (0)

A few nights ago I made a new vegan recipe for you… As always, please buy organic food whenever possible!

Teja’s Spring Quinoa Creation

Soak 2 cups quinoa (ancient sacred grain of Peru) overnight. Cook covered, in the soaking water (with a sprinkle of Himalayan krystal salt), for 20 minutes.

While the quinoa is cooking, mix the following in a large bowl:

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
juice of one small meyer lemon
12 medjool dates, chopped
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped (Italian flat leaf)
olives, chopped – 25 kalamata and 10 green stuffed with red peppers
½ cup wild capers
1 Tablespoon paprika
1 Tablespoon cumin powder
3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon Himalayan krystal salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
1 Tablespoon maple syrup

Mix those ingredients well, then add the quinoa and toss well again. Please enjoy!

With incredible Gratitude for the food on my table, I pray that all beings have food to eat each day.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

See me live talking about my soup cookbook here: Yogini-Bliss on YouTube

Photo of Teja with quinoa creation by Teja’s son Gabe.

Comment (0)

Recently my dear friend Miles (in Mallorca, Spain) suggested that I write a little more about Cultivating the Witness. He read my pocket book, Radiance Rising: Spiritual Practices for Daily Living, and then wrote the following to me: “You covered Witnessing in your book… I understand basically what you say to do but it’s the actual doing of it that I’m unsure of. Maybe you could show that this can be done easily by “newbies” too and not just the “inititated”. Sometimes it can be daunting to come across these methods and feel like one should know what to do. Witnessing 101 as it were?"

So, inspired by Miles, I am writing the first in a series of blog articles for people new to Cultivating the Witness. Today’s focus is on watching yourself. 

For example, you enter a coffee shop feeling just fine. The gal at the counter hands you the bagel and tea without being friendly, and as you turn your back on her, you feel irritated and roll your eyes. Right then, quickly think: ‘Watch myself. Cultivate the Witness. Irritation just arose in my system.’ Watching yourself is the first, most basic step to cultivating the Witness Consciousness. You can take it a step further and ask yourself why the irritation arose and then witness the answer, but just be careful not to get stuck in analyzing-yourself-mode. It is fine to just think, ‘Look at that, some irritation just arose in me’ and move on to watching the next thing! Initially, the important thing is to simply watch yourself, noting each little reaction with your mind. Watch yourself, watch yourself, watch yourself, watch yourself!

So, with each thought, with each emotional reaction, with each bodily sensation, think ‘Watch myself. Cultivate the Witness.’ – and then objectively think whatever it was that just passed through your system. Practice this as often as possible throughout the day, and you will begin to notice the effects. Please share your experiences here (in the comments below this article) for others to learn from.

In the next Cultivating the Witness 101 article, I’ll address how this spiritual practice helps with managing anger.

May all beings experience Radiance rising within their beings.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Teja watching herself by Teja Shankara.

Comment (0)

Teja Shankara's Memoir The Rita Lila: A Western Yogini’s Journey to Bliss - Reviewed by Prema Gaia

(The Rita Lila is written under the pen name, Rita Ann Shankara)

The Rita Lila is a beautifully written memoir about Teja Shankara’s personal journey of spiritual awakening. The book follows Teja as she finds her Spiritual Truth through an earnest exploration of personal relationships, retreats, gurus, healers, sadhana and self-reflection.

It is very enheartening to journey with Teja as she finds her voice and comes into her power through perseverance, humility, openness and devotion.

I really appreciated how transparently Teja shared about her ‘dark night of the soul’ experiences, inherent to the path of transformation.

“I began to doubt myself as a vessel for Light. I felt ashamed of myself, like I wasn’t doing it right. In that place of shame, all kinds of vasanas surfaced: loneliness, desire for union with an earthly man, embarrassment, and thoughts of suicide. I didn’t really want to end my life, but I wanted to escape the pain of the spiritual path.” (pg. 116)

Teja speaks openly and candidly about her personal inquiry into the role that sexuality, polyamory and celibacy play in the spiritual unfoldment process.

I’m tempted to call this book ‘Eat Pray Love’ for the advanced soul, and it certainly would raise the vibration of mainstream bookstores to have more books like ‘The Rita Lila’ on their shelves!

We can all see ourselves reflected in certain aspects of Teja’s story and this book serves as a sacred mirror for its readers. I found quotes such as this one to be particularly resonant:

‘My projection of what I think it will look like to merge with the One radiance is holding me back. I am afraid that if I really let go, I will be too wild and I won’t wear clothes! Fear of being too wild and naked. Fear of not being a polite, good girl. Fear of being socially inappropriate. Fear of singing in public.’ (pg. 177)

The themes of Teja’s journey are highlighted with beautiful poems throughout the book. Here is an excerpt from one that particularly struck a chord:

….Why is She in hiding?
They won’t kill Her this time.
Many times around the wheel
of oppression
She doesn’t trust
that this place is safe……

I enjoyed the insightful and often amusing reflections that Basil, Teja’s spiritual teacher, makes throughout the book, such as: “Rita, your intensity is your gift. Stop trying to modulate it.” (pg 93)

It is a true seva to write a book which shares so deeply and courageously from the heart, and I’m sure that many people will derive much sustenance and inspiration for the Path from reading ‘The Rita Lila’.

After working as an event producer, a videojournalist, a model, and a publicist, Prema Gaia received compelling inner guidance to give away all of her possessions, stop using money and embark on a Truth-Quest of indeterminate length. Several years of studying the world’s wisdom traditions, spiritual practices and healing arts followed. Prema traveled extensively and met or studied with a diverse range of spiritual teachers including: Baba Hari Dass, Shree Maa, A.H. Almaas, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Ammachi, Jack Kornfield, Tenzin Palmo, Mother Meera, Ajahn Amaro and others.  Prema now works as a freelance writer and lives at Hummingbird Community, a community dedicated to the evolution of consciousness.  www.hummingbirdcommunity.org     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2s3E0_IRX0

Comment (0)

Spring has finally sprung in Ashland, and I am delighting in the sweet, healing fragrance of the pink blossoms. I especially love the little violets in my yard, and I am remembering a spring day three years ago, when my younger son was eight years old. I was doing chores inside when I heard him calling out enthusiastically from the back steps, “Mama, mama, take a photo of this!” I rushed out with my camera to see his little hands filled with violets. This violet offering is one of my favorite photos, and today I was inspired to share it with you. It is wonderful to see the dirt on his fingers – makes me think of that inspiring song by Arrested Development, “Children Play with Earth.”

I’m also reminded of a wonderful quote by Mark Twain:

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

May Beauty and Inspiration fill your path today and all days.

May all beings know Peace.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of violet offering by Teja Shankara.

Comment (0)