Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Missing Everyone!
I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend! I just wanted to "check-in" to say that I think about you all so often. I have tangible reminders of you all around me--whether it be the candle screensaver on my iPhone, Norma's feathers, the "I am Enough" bracelet from Debbie which I wear constantly, the pic Nat took of us all, the white shawl from Audrey that is on display in my lavender room.... The list goes on and all I need to do is see one of these items and remember that you are all with me!
Over the weekend I rented a documentary on Amazon called "I AM" that I thought was wonderful and would recommend for anyone that is interested. The basic theme of the film is that ”We are all connected – connected to each other and to everything around us." The documentary was created by Tom Shadyac, the filmmaker behind comedies like Bruce Almighty, Ace Ventura and The Nutty Professor. When Shadyac was badly injured in a biking accident, it rocked his world. He suffered from post concussion syndrome and faced spending the rest of his life isolated from others and in a great deal of pain. His suffering was so great that he welcomed death--and it was from this dark night of the soul that the film was born. This film is very inspiring and touches on many different things. It talks about the heart, not the brain, being the primary organ of human intelligence. It underscores that human consciousness and emotions DO affect the physical world. The film talks about how it is cooperation, NOT competition, that is the most fundamental principle of nature and that transformation and man's true power comes only when we work together in cooperation and sympathize with one another. And the message that he leaves us with is this: “...The solution begins with a deeper transformation that must occur in each of us. I AM isn’t as much about what you can do, as who you can be. And from that transformation of being, action will naturally follow.” I found it to be a great reminder and an empowering message for how to cope in our daily lives and in this troubled world.
Love and blessings to you all! Nancy
Here is a link to the film trailer--hopefully it works!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Qr2dFYBgU&hd=1
Friday, May 25, 2012
Memorial Day Weekend
Hello Ladies!
I miss all of you. Terribly. I do feel a bit of a loss when I think about the gatherings at the Pear Tree Barn. It's a little hollow feeling that niggles at my heart, but I know we are all branching and growing on our own as well.
I wanted to wish everyone happy things for this (hopefully) extended holiday weekend. I did hear of a heat wave across the majority of NJ. Be careful if you are out and about. I found a few ideas if you were stuck looking for fun and different events. Please! Feel free to share your ideas in case these few aren't up your alley. Use the comments, or feel free to post!
Brooklyn Zombie Crawl - If you want to rave with the undead, this is your chance!
New Duke Farms Programs - So many new aspects have opened here as of last weekend. So much more open to the public, and some great activities are available.
SyFy's Memorial Day Weekend - If you aren't feeling the outdoor thing, this is an option for a fun-filled weekend of SyFy movies and such.
So, have fun, and know that I'm thinking of all of you. I hope to be BBQ-ing... I'm sure I'll have extra, and lots of space, so if you're bored, give an email. If we're around, our casa es su casa.
Love, Light, and Buddha Blessings!
Barbara
Monday, May 7, 2012
Mandala Reminder!!
Hey all! Here's the Link to the monks building the sand mandala in Princeton this week. It has all the ceremonies by day. I hope to make it there a bunch! Let me know if you want to meet up!
~ Barbara
http://www.princetonyoga.com/about/mandala/
Creating new space, energy… Princeton Yoga is honored to welcome monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery to the center. From May 7th to May 12th the monks will be creating a Sacred Sand Mandala. The mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning cosmogram or “world in harmony.” The event includes opening ceremonies, informal conversation and socializing as the mandala is created and formal closing ceremonies. Closing ceremonies include prayers, chanting, deconstruction of the mandala and sharing the blessed sand.
Donations to support the monastery and works of the monks are welcome. The monks will also offer for sale their sacred art, crafts and jewelry during their visit to Princeton Yoga.
Open to public. Space limited, please pre-register
Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
Each creation of a sand mandala begins with an opening ceremony. Come and join us as the monks consecrate the site and call forth the forces of goodness through chanting mantras accompanied by flutes, drums and cymbals. This event is visually and acoustically striking and not to be missed. The construction of the mandala begins with the drawing of the design on the base, or tek-pu. The artists measure out and draw the architectural lines using a straight-edged ruler, compass and ink pen. The mandala is a formal geometric pattern showing the floor plan of a sacred mansion. Once the diagram is drawn, in the following days you see millions of grains of colored sand painstakingly laid into place.
*PLEASE NOTE: PROGRAM IS NEARLY AT CAPACITY. WE ASK THAT YOU CARPOOL IF POSSIBLE. OVERFLOW PARKING IS AT THE ROCK BROOK SCHOOL ACROSS THE WAY ON ORCHARD ROAD.
Come observe, meditate or just watch in awe as the mandala takes shape.
During these times the monks will pour millions of grains of sand, colored with vegetable dyes or opaque tempera, using traditional metal funnels, called chak-pur. The two “chakpurs” are said to symbolize the union of wisdom and compassion. The mandalas are created whenever a need for healing of the environment and living beings is felt. The monks consider our present age to be one of great need in this respect, and therefore are creating these mandalas where requested throughout their world tours.
The finished Mandala is approximately 5 feet in diameter.
Open to Public
Open to public. Space limited, please pre-register
Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
Meet us for spiritual evening of prayers and chanting. The monks will chant prayers and perform traditional rituals. The intent of the rituals is to overcome negativities which may be obstacles in obtaining release from suffering and to promote spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. The prayers are recited in the traditional overtone chanting, each monk singing a full chord of three notes. The prayers are often accompanied by symbolic hand gestures, cymbals, drums, horns and flutes. Join us for this unique experience!
Open to Public,
Space limited, please pre-register
Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
See how the mandala gets its final touch and watch as the monks conclude their creation of the mandala with its consecration.
Location to be appointed
Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
During the Closing Ceremony, the monks dismantle the mandala, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists. Half of the sand may be distributed to the audience in small bags as blessings for personal health and healing.
Finally travel with the monks, along to a body of water (location to be announced). The sand is then ceremonially poured into the water in order to spread the healing energies of the mandala throughout the world.
~ Barbara
http://www.princetonyoga.com/about/mandala/
Creating new space, energy… Princeton Yoga is honored to welcome monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery to the center. From May 7th to May 12th the monks will be creating a Sacred Sand Mandala. The mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning cosmogram or “world in harmony.” The event includes opening ceremonies, informal conversation and socializing as the mandala is created and formal closing ceremonies. Closing ceremonies include prayers, chanting, deconstruction of the mandala and sharing the blessed sand.Donations to support the monastery and works of the monks are welcome. The monks will also offer for sale their sacred art, crafts and jewelry during their visit to Princeton Yoga.
During this week some of our regular yoga classes will follow a different schedule: Click here for more information.
Opening Ceremony
Monday, May 7 – 7:30 to 9:30 pmOpen to public. Space limited, please pre-register
Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
Each creation of a sand mandala begins with an opening ceremony. Come and join us as the monks consecrate the site and call forth the forces of goodness through chanting mantras accompanied by flutes, drums and cymbals. This event is visually and acoustically striking and not to be missed. The construction of the mandala begins with the drawing of the design on the base, or tek-pu. The artists measure out and draw the architectural lines using a straight-edged ruler, compass and ink pen. The mandala is a formal geometric pattern showing the floor plan of a sacred mansion. Once the diagram is drawn, in the following days you see millions of grains of colored sand painstakingly laid into place.*PLEASE NOTE: PROGRAM IS NEARLY AT CAPACITY. WE ASK THAT YOU CARPOOL IF POSSIBLE. OVERFLOW PARKING IS AT THE ROCK BROOK SCHOOL ACROSS THE WAY ON ORCHARD ROAD.
Construction of the Mandala
Tuesday, May 8 – Friday, May 11 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pmCome observe, meditate or just watch in awe as the mandala takes shape.During these times the monks will pour millions of grains of sand, colored with vegetable dyes or opaque tempera, using traditional metal funnels, called chak-pur. The two “chakpurs” are said to symbolize the union of wisdom and compassion. The mandalas are created whenever a need for healing of the environment and living beings is felt. The monks consider our present age to be one of great need in this respect, and therefore are creating these mandalas where requested throughout their world tours.
The finished Mandala is approximately 5 feet in diameter.
Open to Public
Prayers and Chanting
Friday, May 11 – 7:30 to 9:00 pmOpen to public. Space limited, please pre-register
Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
Meet us for spiritual evening of prayers and chanting. The monks will chant prayers and perform traditional rituals. The intent of the rituals is to overcome negativities which may be obstacles in obtaining release from suffering and to promote spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. The prayers are recited in the traditional overtone chanting, each monk singing a full chord of three notes. The prayers are often accompanied by symbolic hand gestures, cymbals, drums, horns and flutes. Join us for this unique experience!Mandala Completion
Saturday, May 12 from 1:00 to 2:00 pmOpen to Public, Space limited, please pre-register
Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
See how the mandala gets its final touch and watch as the monks conclude their creation of the mandala with its consecration.
Closing Ceremony
Saturday, May 12 from 2:00 to 3:30 pmLocation to be appointedOverflow parking is available across the street at the Rock Brook School
During the Closing Ceremony, the monks dismantle the mandala, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists. Half of the sand may be distributed to the audience in small bags as blessings for personal health and healing.
Finally travel with the monks, along to a body of water (location to be announced). The sand is then ceremonially poured into the water in order to spread the healing energies of the mandala throughout the world.
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