For the past few years, each time I drive by Mt. Shasta (on my way to and from seeing Ammachi down in Castro Valley), I feel more and more drawn to spend time near that sacred mountain. This time in Amma’s Field, I connected with several beautiful beings who live in Mt. Shasta City, and I got on their Shasta Satsang email list… So, this past Sunday my dear friend Jill and I drove down and spent a fun day near the mountain. While walking barefoot in the snow (only for a few cold steps!), I thought of the Indian yogis who meditate naked in the snow in the Himalayas!

After a day of magical adventures, we settled in for the Amma Satsang in the gorgeous home of some Shasta devotees. While singing the Amma bhajans and smelling the aroma of basmati rice cooking, I felt like I was right back in Amma’s ashram again. I lit up and felt so HOME while smiling at all of the bright beings around me. I felt oh so happy to be there.

Last year my intention was to go down to Mt. Shasta three times. This year my intention is to visit Mt. Shasta at least 1-2 times per month, weather permitting. There is so much sacred medicine emanating from that holy mountain… and there is so much healing beauty transmitting from the bhajans sung by that satsang group. When I returned home that night, I thanked Amma again and again for such an amazing Shasta pilgrimage. I feel incredible Gratitude that I only live one hour away from such an awesome place!

May all beings everywhere know Peace and Happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace), 

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Teja with Mt. Shasta taken by Jill Rothman. Photo of Teja’s barefeet in snow taken by Teja Shankara.

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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 ~

~ The biggest highlight of the past month was my transformational pilgrimage to see my Guru, Ammachi, down in Castro Valley, California. Ever since that most fabulous trip, I have been resting in a state of Gratitude. I am so grateful for the Happiness; for the internal Transformation; and for the incredible Fullness of my life now. I feel like Amma gave me back my connection to my Self. I have already written two blogs about my time with Amma (“Grief Transformed into Joy in Amma’s Field” and “Amma’s Transformation Continues: Teja is Blissing on the Sweetness After Grief”), and soon I will write more blog articles with Amma’s teachings and my reflections.

~ Since returning home ten days ago, I have really been loving my life, because it feels so full and so fun. I love my job as the barefoot bike shoppe girl; I love my boys; and I love my whole family! My first niece, Zoe Leila, was born on April 10^th in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then my second niece, Lillian Rose, was born in Ashland, Oregon on May 21^st. One day, while meditating close to Amma, I thought, “Now I have two sons and two nieces” and I felt so satisfied by the fullness of our sprouting family! 

~ This past week was especially full because my parents visited, which meant that in addition to working a lot of hours (to make up for lost time from my trip south), we enjoyed a lot of family time… which, blissfully for me, included a lot of time holding little Lily! I am so utterly thrilled to be Auntie Teja! I am absolutely in love with that little being. Each evening, while holding her, and delighting in how she loves to look out the windows, I softly sang “Om Namah Shivaya” and felt a deep sense of contentment that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

~ This winter and spring, due to much sadness over losing my best friend (the earthguy who I was in love with but couldn’t be with), I felt as though I was drowning in the murky waters of grief… but after that time with Amma, I have gotten my spark back, and I am feeling like Fiery Teja once again. One morning last week, while walking in Lithia Park with my parents, I stared in awe at the fullness of the flowing Ashland Creek, and later I reflected that I want to simultaneously be Fiery Teja AND Flowing Teja! Amma often talks about how Love flows like a river… So now I am visualizing myself as a bundle of firecrackers sparking on a raft that is flowing down a rushing river!

~ With so much Gratitude for the Fullness of Life, I wish you a Most Happy Time on the playground of planet earth.

May all beings everywhere know the Fullness of Happiness and the Bliss that arises from a Grateful Heart.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Zak, Mama Teja, and Gabe taken by Teja’s Mom; photo of Ashland Creek taken by Teja Shankara.

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Today has been such a happy day for me that I feel compelled to share the joy here in a short little blog post, along with this photo that really captures the burst of brightness I am enjoying on this sunny Summer Solstice Day in Ashland, Oregon. This has been such a fabulous day – I felt the bliss from the moment I awoke this morning, and it has continued all through the day. Oh, how I love the warmth of summer! I am filled with a Gratitude that is ever-expanding my heart, and I pray for all beings everywhere to experience this level of Happiness.

Two people called me “Sunshine” today, which is an appropriate nickname for this happy Teja, since my Guru (Ammachi) gave me the name Tejaswini, which comes from the Sanskrit word “Tejas” – the fire element. Tejaswini means full of radiance, full of light – like fire sparks off the sun! Today I am so happy to be fully standing in the name Beloved Amma gave me! I know that it’s partially because the sun is shining so bright, but it’s also because I am turning within (rather than looking outside of myself), and finding much Bliss sparking in my heart. And, I think that chanting the Hanuman Chalisa several times daily (along with Krishna Das’ CD “Flow of Grace”) might just have something to do with all this Happiness! (More on that in a future blog… stay tuned!)

May all beings everywhere turn within and enjoy the Bliss in their hearts.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Happy Teja at Get ‘N Gear on the Summer Solstice taken by Teja’s son Gabe.

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This is a short note to share the gorgeous beauty on my kitchen table today. This past week has been a wild ride: I returned home from my pilgrimage to see Ammachi (in California) on June 10^th; my parents arrived to visit on June 11^th; and I went back to work at the outdoor gear shoppe on June 12^th. This past week I worked over 49 hours, while my parents were visiting! They drove away today, and although I felt sad to see them go, I have to admit I am enjoying this quiet time to myself! With the boys at Papa’s house, I now have a little time for reflecting… while I catch up on dishes, laundry, bills, and shopping!

Here’s my little reflection for today: after being away from Amma for ten days now, I am amazed at how the transformation is not only lasting, but it is deepening and ever-unfolding. I asked Amma to help me release the attachment to the earthguy, and to help me find acceptance and peace… And Amma has given me all of that, and so much more! I am experiencing what Rumi called “the sweetness that comes after grief.” I feel so in love with everyone and everything!

Well, now I’m off to take a barefoot walk in the sunshine…

May all beings everywhere find Acceptance of What IS… and may that Acceptance lead to an experience of inner bliss! 

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of gorgeous roses on kitchen table by Teja Shankara.

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On June 1^st I drove down to Castro Valley, California to see my beloved Guru Ammachi, who is popularly known as the “hugging saint” from India. During the drive, I was feeling distraught and overwhelmed by the on-going grief over the earthguy who I long for but cannot be with… so when I went up to Amma for the first darshan (her embrace), I gave her a letter in which I asked for her help in releasing the attachment and finding acceptance and peace. So many transformational things happened during that week with Amma, and I will write about them in a series of blog articles. In today’s article I’m focusing on why I look so happy in this photo taken of me on that sacred land at Amma’s ashram.

Each evening there was a program with a talk, bhajans (devotional songs), and a guided meditation. The first evening, one of Amma’s devotees gave the talk. He said that in India everything is considered to be God: all of Nature is seen as Divine, so plants and trees are worshipped at sunrise and even the buildings are seen as God. He explained that Indian culture is based on the principle that the Creator and the creation are not two. Then he said – and this is what really touched my heart – that rather than being in love with just one person out of seven billion persons, Amma is in love with the entire Universe: past, present, and future. The fullness of Amma’s Love is what makes her Shine. He then said that when we get fed up with the current state of our minds, then we start trying to transform ourselves and be like Amma.

That talk affected me so deeply that the next day I felt my smile rising again, and I felt so happy to be smiling so much at all of the beautiful beings around me. In this photo I see that Amma’s shine was radiating through me, transforming the grief into joy.

I bow down to Ammachi, with Gratitude for all of her blessings. 

May all beings know Peace and Happiness. 

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Photo of Happy Teja in Amma’s Field by Teja Shankara.

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