Heaven

John 14: 1-4

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me

that you also may be where I am.

You know the way to the place where I am going.”

I imagine that in Heaven, all of the differences that divide us, all of the various ways of praying, relating, and attempting to connect with God all find a unison: a universal common theme that transcends boundaries and goes beyond the petty and the personal to find the common thread that unites us all in our desires to unite to God. I believe that this is one of the main attractions in Heaven- this profound beauty that seems to be so easily lost in our day to day efforts to stay connected to our faith.

I am a fan of Gustavo Dudamel. He is a very young orchestra conductor, and considered a prodigy by many. When he conducts an orchestra, all of the various instruments, the various sounds come together in the most exhilarating unison that is- Heavenly!!!

Not one section of the orchestra could produce this amazing experience...it's the unity of all of the various beautiful sounds coming together as one, each part playing with passion, creating a sound that could raise the most skeptical soul to a level of wonder.

This is a small taste of what Heaven must be like:

Teaching

It seems that it keeps coming back to this...teaching. How can I teach? How can I teach and serve God genuinely and whole-heartedly? I am taking a Directing class for my last semester of my masters program in Theatre Education. I have come to take a great liking to directing and working with actors...creating something from a playwright's work. It is a LOT of fun! And a LOT of work!

There is this phenomenal book we are reading: Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone
I cannot put it down!

"'...The sage keeps to the deed that consists in taking no action and practises the teaching that uses no words...When his task is accomplished and his work done the people all say, 'It happened to us naturally'...I prefer stillness and the people are rectified of themselves; I am not meddlesome and the people prosper of themselves. I am free from desire and the people of themselves become simple like the uncarved block...One who excels in employing others humbles himself before them. This is the known virtue of non-contention; this is known as making use of the efforts of others...To know yet to think that one does not know best...The sage does not hoard. Having bestowed all he has on others, he has yet more; having given all he has to others, he is richer still. The way of heaven benefits and does not harm; the way of the sage is bountiful and does not contend.'" -excerpt from Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre
quote from the Tao te Ching

CUA Power Yoga Class

Do you know, I have been teaching yoga at the Catholic University of America Fitness Center for over 4 years now...the classes are sometimes larger, about 20 students, but most often, a comfortable group of regulars shows up every week of about 8-15 students.

Not This Semester!!!

Just when I think I am DONE...just when I think it's Over, I failed...
It's NOT!!!
This year, I am teaching twice weekly rather than once @ Catholic University,
and there about 3x the amount of students!
The Power Yoga Class at Catholic University Blew UP this year- and look at what I'm going through! (see last post)

God truly does use the weak and makes them Strong, so that I realize just how much
True Power comes from Him, not from me!

Yoga & Prayer

I feel completely broken down....like completely.
Maybe that is a good thing?

The personal striving, the striving after some ideal or some goal which may not in fact be me or God's will for me is simply not working on the grand scale I had hoped for.
Perhaps that desire is just getting in the way...getting in the way of what it is I truly want & desire, and that is to let loose the love of God in my own life and heart and soul...to let it loose! To free all of the grace of God up in my life!

I have been finding so much solace, consolation, and guidance in prayer. Prayer has taken the priority in my life over and above yoga practice. Slowly but surely, I am realizing that yoga is for us as human beings- perfecting us as human beings, at least as yoga is taught here in the West. It is healthy and good, and can really help people on a therapeutic level. But I did not realize how much my focus was indeed more on myself in yoga, and not as much on God and His will. I felt as though the focus on myself was a striving towards God, and so it was confusing.
Since focusing my energy now on praying the rosary, daily mass, in other words, spending a substantial amount of time in prayer each day, instead of yoga practice, what I really wanted and want deep down, is not to be perfect according to human standards, but to be inside of God's favor...and I feel broken, but at the same time, free!

Our Lady said in Medugorje:
"...The true meditation is a meeting with Jesus. When you discover joy, interior peace, you must know there is only one God, and only one Mediator, Jesus Christ."

So, perhaps yoga was a way for me to focus myself back on the quest for God, and on my desire to be healthy, whole. Yoga did that, I felt integrated and empowered in a way I had never felt before yoga.
For me, yoga practice turned into a personal journey to God and the truth of God for me as a Catholic, rather than a continual self-empowerment upward climb, i.e., Journey Into Power.

At this stage in my spiritual journey, I realize by experience that prayer is where the Real Power is!

August 14th - My Birthday & Acro Yoga

MA Final Project

>I just completed my final project for the MA in Theatre Education this past week!
It was difficult because I have never actually taught in a classroom setting before and I have never actually taught drama, although I have been taking Drama and Education classes for the past 2 years! I was extremely unconfident about it!!
But...the kids were so great- I had to teach them for 7 hours a day, 5 days in a row!! Impossible for even a seasoned teacher to keep their attention for that amount of time! The first day I held their attention, I held it together and had everything perfectly planned. Second day, they saw through the cracks!! My energy level was low and they saw me flounder...this is my first time to teach this! That was the awesomeness of it- they saw me and I saw them...and when my advisor came to observe me on the last day of the workshop, every one of these kids stepped up to the plate and cooperated to their utmost! I was so GRATEFUL! They knew I was new at this and that I was getting a grade, so, in their own special way, they reached out to help ME! It was amazing, and I am grateful I got this opportunity to meet them!

What is the Object of the Game? Why are we Doing This?

Something happened to me in Medugorje when I visited in April. The change was subtle...so subtle I really didn't think I had changed that much. But when I got back, my friends and colleagues noticed a change, then I started noticing through them...I have changed!

July 1st-5th 2009, Marija- one of the Medugorje visionaries, came to Caritas in Birmingham Alabama. I went to Alabama and met my family there.

I was present, along with about 4,000 other pilgrims from all over the country, during her daily apparitions.

I want to believe that everything is already perfect, just the way it should be. In fact, many yoga and meditation teachers teach this: everything is already just the way it should be. I am praying, doing good stuff, everything is great... why fret or worry??

I do not want to water down the message of Christ...To be happy, you have to place Him first and most people need guidance, help, and support to continue this journey towards Christ as Truly, TRULY the center of our hearts! This is a constant striving towards the Highest Love Ever! It is in this Striving towards Perfection in Christ that we as Christians discover who we really are, discover our true identities is Beloved Children of God. It is a constant striving higher and higher towards the Highest and Most Beautiful reality of all- union with Jesus Christ. Everything...EVERYTHING in our lives should bow down before this profound calling!

Until the realization of God's Deep, Profound love hits home in a personal way, we're not seeing ourselves or our reality as believers in Jesus Christ clearly.

I am very thankful that Our Lady has come to help us on the journey...

www.yogavibes.com

Wisdom from "Anonymous"

About a year ago, I created a post confessing that I was honestly very confused:

"Is yoga good for Christians? Now I'm asking..."

I went back recently and re-read the comments. An Anonymous person replied with the most beautiful, comforting, and wisdom-filled words, and I would like to share it again:

Hi Melisa- "Yogash Chittam Vrtti Nirodhah" - "Union [Yoga] is the cessation of the modifications of the mind." -YogaSutra I:2.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -Phillipians 4:7

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." -John 14:27

There is no disharmony between Yoga and Christ; both are different terms for the One Truth: Reality. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:33

Yogis who have realized the truth of their own nature are known as Jnanis - "Knowers" - they are also known as Jivan-Muktis - those who are "Liberated while living."

"For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." -Luke 17:21

What, though, about Salvation? The word Salvation comes from the Latin sal, which originated from the Sanskrit, Sarvah - Wholeness, Completeness.

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." -Matthew 5:48

Yes, Perfect. From the Latin Perfectus - "Completed."

"Tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam" - "The seer [yogi or yogini] becomes established in his or her own nature." - Yoga Sutra I.3

What does this mean? "This false feeling that we are different from others, that things are constituted of isolated particularities, leaves us; and we get established in our essential nature, which is the community of existence in all things, and not an isolated individuality. This establishment of one's own self in one's own true nature, in universal character, is the aim of Yoga." -Swami Krishnananda

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." -Mathhew 22:39

Not "as if thy neighbor is thyself" ..... "AS thy self."

Could it just possibly be that the truth of Christ and the truth of Yoga point to the same, One Truth - that Reality is actually Advaita - literally "Not Two"? Yes.Though I certainly wouldn't ask you to believe me. I ask you to keep practicing yoga; keep an open and sincere heart, and know.

And enjoy the freedom that Christ showed: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." -John 14:6 So how do we do this? By trying to fit into the ever vacillating outlooks of Catholic or Christian culture? Maybe not. Maybe it's a lot more simple than that."Love one another, as I have loved you." -John 15:12

Practicing yoga, you may never harmonize with the opinions of Catholic Church members, or other Christian cultures or egos.However, practicing yoga, you can know Christ, and live as that liberated knowing; as the pure love of Christ. And as you do, you'll find you are in good company:Web Site in Memory of Catholic Hindu Monk, Bede GriffithsCatholic Monk Who Introduced the Benefits of Hinduism, Buddhism and other Eastern Paths to the West.

Peace Be With You; Namaste.

Back to the Basics

I would just like to thank everyone who offers their viewpoints on this blog in the form of comments...you are very welcome to post them! This blog was meant to be an open sharing and dialogue of ideas, beliefs, and experiences on the subject of Christians who practice yoga. We all have feelings, so please be respectful of that! Thank you!

After returning from Medugorje, I've been praying the rosary rather than practicing centering prayer, and re-prioritizing getting to mass every day. Instead of a cleansing or detox fast, I am following Our Lady's message to fast on bread and water every Wednesday and Friday, as she says: "The best fast is on bread and water".
Back to the basics for me since Medugorje...and it is like detox for my soul!

I remember when I was an undergraduate at Franciscan University, almost everyone went to daily mass. I was immersed in a Catholic culture that was absolutely alive with faith and love for Jesus Christ. I lived in a dorm room right next to the chapel, and went in there almost every night along with several other girls from the dorm. The call to love Jesus was not hard to hear, His presence was easily felt. I did not know exactly how to reciprocate this love for Christ...I was involved in theatre, and felt I needed a way to express my faith life in a very direct and alive way, other than being a nun.

I took my first yoga class five years later, after five years of living the un-inhibited teenage years I never had, and the experience was unbelievable. The class was very challenging, but by the end of the 90 minutes, I was completely open and receptive in a way I had not been since being at Franciscan University. I had a sense of clarity that I so desperately needed to get back on the right track with my life. The desire to go out to the club, to get attention, completely went away. I felt very peacefully centered..and I had been Longing for this grounding that seemed to nowhere to be found, not even in the local parish.

I believe there needs to be more "allowed" ways, outlets, for those who love Christ to express this love. If yoga can help me to get back on the right track, no matter how lost or wounded I am, it can help others to. If it can help me and others get back on the right track, that is one step closer to the Ultimate Peace and Joy, found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ.