The Tejaswini Playground Press

Photo by Ashley Marie - CC license

We create our realities with our thoughts. Cultivating the witness, that part of our minds that objectively watches everything we are, allows us to clearly see all of our thoughts. Through the power of watching our thoughts, we gradually change the way we perceive the world. We shift from viewing the world as a serious court of justice to seeing this universe as a joyous playground. Like gleeful children, we get to play and celebrate during this lifetime we've been given. On the playground we enjoy ourselves fully, even if sometimes we scrape our knees or get our hearts broken! No matter what pains we go through, we can't let the heartbreaks keep us from opening up and having a good time on the playground.

Here is a bit of news from the fun I'm having lately on the Tejaswini Playground ~

~ Recently I have been feeling super grateful for the following themes that are arising in my life: I am feeling totally orchestrated by the Universe… I am delighting in how life is magically unfolding… I am feeling Held by Something Greater… I am noticing much more progress in releasing expectations and attachments.

~ My boys are now 10 and 12, and I am enjoying them more than ever. They are so sharp and worldly, yet still so innocent. I am falling in love with them again and again, and I feel incredible gratitude for this mothering journey. A few weeks ago I took them to see Alice in Wonderland. We all really liked the movie. Our favorite part was “I believe in 6 impossible things before breakfast.” What a great spiritual practice!

~ If you haven’t had the chance to read the articles on my blog, please check them out. You can sign up as a user if you’d like to post comments. We can create discussions that way… Some recent blog titles include: “Let us choose remembrance!,” “Parsley Musings,” “Happy Birthday to Hanuman!,” “Calling in Tranquility,” and “Let Us Choose Happiness.”

~ The weekly Radiance Rising Circles have become the highlight of my life. Recently we celebrated Hanuman’s Birthday (the Hindu monkey god who is a hero in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana), with stories, songs, and vegan chocolate cake. Then I attended Jai Uttal’s kirtan in Ashland and became inspired to try leading a chant myself… So, at the circle last night, I played my harmonium while leading a Sita-Ram chant. (Sita and Ram are the Divine Incarnation in the Ramayana. They represent the eternal union of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine. Symbolically, Sita is the human soul united with its Beloved, who is Rama.) I really enjoyed leading the chant, and I was pleased when my friend Andy told me later that I sang in tune the whole time! That was a big deal for me since I grew up believing that I couldn’t sing… But now, I can sing! I am looking forward to learning more chants on the harmonium.

~ I am feeling inspired to lead more and more circles, in a variety of settings. I feel really called to teach meditation (and Reiki energy healing) in prisons, so I am exploring different ways to begin doing that karma yogini work.

~ The 1,000 copies of my new book (Radiance Rising: Spiritual Practices for Daily Living) arrived in the mail last week. Thanks to Gaelyn Larrick’s cover design and Bram Larrick’s interior design, the books are beautiful. It was amazing to hold them in my hands. Now it’s time to promote this book, which is available on my website store at www.yogini-bliss.com. On the website you can read excerpts from this pocket book.

~ Today I am preparing for my friend Pete’s visit… cleaning the cottage and cooking a pot of kitchari, which to me is like vegan comfort food. You can find the recipe on my website under “Tips from Tejaswini,” and I’ll also share it with you here:

Kitchari
Adapted from a friend’s recipe

Soak mung beans overnight (or 4 hour minimum)

Cook the following:

2 cups mung beans
4 cups water (may need more)
5-6 or more cloves garlic, chopped finely
big piece of ginger root, chopped finely
optional: big onion, chopped medium dice

Cook for 45 minutes or longer, until the mung beans start to fall apart.

Then combine with the following:

2 cups cooked rice (brown basmati or brown long grain)
½ cup tamari
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons cumin seed
1 ½ Tablespoons coriander powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon red chili flakes

Stir until blended – don’t over-stir.

Let sit for 45 minutes before serving.

With all of the above quantities, experiment to suite your tastes. You may like it more or less spicy.

Please buy organic whenever possible. It is better for your body and better for the environment. Happy Earth Day next week!

~ Currently I am reading a really great version of the Ramayana, called The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic, by Ramesh Menon. (North Point Press, New York, 2003.) In the introduction he writes, “More than anything else, reading the Ramayana brings the reader close to the noble, holy, and living spirit of Rama. Regardless of which religion one professes, or if one is an agnostic or an atheist, the touch of Rama’s spirit is a profound, healing contact.” He continues to say that reading the Ramayana purifies the soul. I have only read 80 pages of the 686 pages, and already I do feel that it is having a profound effect on my psyche and soul.

~ Last week I was greatly inspired by the Jai Uttal kirtan here in Ashland. He began the evening by saying, “Don’t try to feel spiritual. Just sing, and sing, and sing… sing from your heart, and then you will be filled with Spirit.” Singing is definitely what takes me to Bliss. May we all enjoy our paths to Bliss!

May you have a lot of fun on the playground of your life.

May all beings everywhere know Peace and Happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace), Yogini Tejaswini