State of Cannabis Affairs
on Oct 9, 2009 in cannabis marijuana NORML I don’t typically concern myself with being “normal”, but a couple of weekends ago I went out of my way to attend a NORML conference. It was the 38th annual NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) Conference h...

Paramahamsa Nithyanada Grows in Popularity
on Aug 17, 2009 in Amma Self-realization Yoga paramahamsa nithyananda yoga sutras It was almost three years ago, on September 2006, that by chance I heard a talk given by Swami Paramahamsa Nithyananda at a Hindu cultural program held in Cupertino, CA. It was in a relatively small auditorium and he - although obviously well-respect...

When Feeling Bad Can Feel Good
on Apr 30, 2009 in Consciousness Health Eckhart Tolle present moment spiritual practice It happened again! That irritating co-worker made a snide remark to you and then walked off. Or maybe your roommate left for the evening without cleaning up the mess he left after eating dinner - even though he promised to be more mindful of it. Or m...

Aakhan Jor | Prayer of Acceptance
on Apr 22, 2009 in Chanting Sikhism Snatam Kaur Aakhan Jor Again I am struck by another of Snatam Kaur’s rendition of a spiritual prayer. The beauty of her voice as well as the musical arrangement truly convey the peaceful message of acceptance. The words, “Aakhan Jor”, come from the first...

Thoughts on Easter
on Apr 12, 2009 in Consciousness Meditation Yoga Easter Kriya Yoga paramahansa yogananda resurrection of Jesus Christ He is risen in our minds, our hearts, our souls - there is no separation between him and us. ~ Paramahansa Yogananda Christianity is not the only spiritual tradition that finds meaning in Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And I’m no...

The Value of Focused Attention
on Mar 20, 2009 in Consciousness Health Meditation focused attention multitasking This age of high-tech has had the unfortunate effect of favoring and fostering the practice of diverted attention. Young people these days MySpace their friends while checking out what’s on YouTube while texting while keeping an eye on the tele...

Synchronicities Help Us Recognize Our Spiritual Connection
on Feb 28, 2009 in Consciousness Paranormal Relationships soul recognition synchronicities Encounters with strangers can be very enlightening experiences, full of opportunities for learning about yourself. But often times the overwhelming lesson I come away with is how connected we all are. A couple of occasions - synchronicities and stran...

We Can Talk About Marijuana
on Feb 7, 2009 in Consciousness cannabis marijuana War on drugs Perhaps the biggest injustice in the US War on Drugs is the inclusion of cannabis, or marijuana, in that “war”. Because of the this, there is a stigma attached to marijuana and anyone who is known to use it. Michael Phelps has lost hi

Can you See the Star of Bethlehem ?
on Dec 21, 2008 in Meditation Yoga magi paramahansa yogananda sages of India see the star of bethlehem Could there be something more profound contained within the story of the star of Bethlehem - something with more universal lessons? Something which opens up the possibility of seeing this star today?

Do Binaural Beats Affect Kundalini Energy?
on Dec 6, 2008 in Consciousness Health Meditation Yoga binaural beats brain entrainment Immrama Insight CD kundalini Yogis and mystics spend years meditating and performing rituals and exercises in order to gain spiritual insights and achieve enlightenment. People have seen the effects of these practices, causing scientific researchers to try to explain spiritual p...