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Health and
Spirit
The
organizations below teach methods; none of them are
religions, all are non-profits, and none will ever ask
for more than nominal fees to cover their
expenses. Meditation is the world's most effective
practice for enhancing self-esteem and self-acceptance,
reducing stress, and cultivating compassion and
lovingkindness toward one's self and others. We
highly recommend that you develop a practice that suits
you.
Shambhala
- Founded by the late, highly-regarded
Tibetan monk Chogyam Trungpa (see Recommended
Books for some of his wonderful works), Shambhala
centers around the world are places of comfortable,
secular instruction in the all-important practice of
mindfulness meditation. There are no better, more
congenial places to begin the arts of paying
attention and love and compassion -- beginning with
yourself. To find a Shambhala center near you, click
here.
Self-Realization
Fellowship - In 1920, Paramahansa Yogananda
brought to this country an amazing body of teachings and
a generosity of spirit unsurpassed. The author of
the seminal "Autobiography
of a Yogi," Yogananda also taught advanced Kriya
techniques handed down from the Mahavatar Babaji.
SRF continues those teachings through its worldwide
non-profit based in California and India.
Hamsa
Yoga's Mahavatar Babaji's Kriya Yoga - In the
same tradition of Kriya Yoga that is taught by
Self-Realization Fellowship, though more accessible if
you happen to be able to attend a sanga with master
Yogiraj Siddhanath, the "crest jewel of the Hamsa Yoga
teachings is the rejuvenating breath of Kriya Yoga for
the evolution of human consciousness. Every cell
[of the body] becomes oxygenated and flooded with pranic
life. This initiation empowers the practitioner to
experience the expanded still mind, spheres of
consciousness and bliss: one's natural state of
enlightenment." Yogiraj Siddhanath is a Himalayan
guru with the wavy white hair and noble profile of
Socrates (or Karl Marx, you'll have to click to
decide). Yogiraj gives personal initiations in
Western Europe and the United States. His
experience of no-mind, projected into an audience, must
be felt and seen to be believed.
Humanity
one's only religion
Breath one's only prayer and
Consciousness one's only God
-- Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath
Art
of Living Foundation - Another very accessible
form of Kriya Yoga, the Art of Living Foundation's Kriya
teachings, by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, have behind them
documented scientific research, in the U.S. and India,
establishing significant health and mental benefits,
including significant and measurable reductions of the
stress chemical cortisol in the brain, and remedying of
depression equivalent to many medications. I
highly recommend this form of Kriya Yoga and can discuss
its benefits further with clients.
Zen
Centers (a.k.a. Zendos) Near You. For this
you'll want to use your favorite search engine.
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