Sri Hari Moss Yoga

Guru Poornima – This Friday July 27th 1:20pm PDT 

I have always been in awe of the beauty and spectacle of a Full Moon. As a youth I would place a blanket on the roof of my car to sit and lie there in stillness and watch the majesty of the night sky, I would close my eyes and feel a connection between the moon and I.  Now, I can see that those moments of silence and stillness were my first steps toward meditation. My understanding and appreciation is much greater now and I look forward to This Friday July 27th 1:20pm PDT and the Full Moon called Guru Poornima. 
  

Guru Poornima is an opportunity to give thanks and appreciation for teachers, mentors, parents, friends and family members who have been positive life guides and influencers. For millennia in various parts of the world the tradition of keeping the day of Guru Poornima, the full moon in July significant, has been maintained. 

In the West we understand the word Guru from its two root words, 'Gu' and 'Ru' . The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru.  In the East Guru is not just a person but it is considered as the divine guiding energy, which helps humanity to realize its true nature. This energy works through an able person who is pure enough to hold it. 

I am fortunate to have sat in the presence of true Gurus, and the light, peace and guidance they embody is a blessing to the world. 

Swamini Turiyasangitananda my Sat Guru, made this day a celebration. She reminded us that the first Guru is our mother. The one who taught us while we were in the womb. The Saints, Sages and great Spiritual Masters were acknowledged.  We would often hold vigil staying up through the night until morning, filling the time with prayer, chanting, reading sacred text and meditating. 

Dear Swamini, thank you for all the blessings, guidance, and encouragement to . . . . . . “Go beyond salvation, beyond liberation, Self realization and install the Lord in the heart and Go forward all the way to God realization.” 

The Guru leads us from the darkness of spiritual ignorance to the light of pure consciousness/knowledge. 
The relationship of student and Guru is what is revered on this day. 

A simple practice might be to chant The Pavamana Mantra below. This mantra is asking the Guru for assistance so that we may transcend our lack of understanding about ourselves, life, the Divine and that we might be blessed with true knowledge. 

Asato ma sad gamaya 
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya 
Mrtyor ma amrtam gamaya 
Om shanti shanti shanti 

Meaning: 
1: Om, (O Lord) Keep me not in the Unreality (of the bondage of the Phenomenal World), but lead me towards the Reality (of the Eternal Self), 
2: (O Lord) Keep me not in the Darkness (of Ignorance), but lead me towards the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge), 
3: (O Lord) Keep me not in the (Fear of) Death (due to the bondage of the Mortal World), but lead me towards the Immortality (gained by the Knowledge of the Immortal Self beyond Death), 
4: Om, (May there be) Peace, Peace, Peace 

May you enjoy the auspicious Guru Poornima Full Moon. May you be guided by Wisdom and Light. May you find and live in Peace. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Maha Shivaratri which means "the Great Night of Shiva" is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of Lord Shiva. This festival is solemn and marks a remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and the world. It is observed by the reading of Shiva scriptures, chanting prayers, fasting, practicing Yoga, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as self-restraint, honesty, non-injury to others, forgiveness, and remembering Shiva. The passionate devotees keep awake all night. 

Nataraj the cosmic dancer is an asana practiced in many yoga classes. It is representative of Shiva as the cosmic ecstatic dancer. The term 'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (Sanskrit nata = dance; raja = king). His dance is called Tandava. As in Hindu mythology, it is a continual dance of creation, preservation and destruction involving the whole cosmos; the basis of all existence and of all natural phenomena." The purpose of the dance is to release men from illusion of the body and worldly attachment. 

The Nataraj statue is familiar to many. Inside the cosmic circle of fire, the King of dance has four arms. The upper right hand holds the Damaru drum of creation. The lower right hand is in the abhaya mudra of “No Fear”. The upper left hand holds the fire of destruction. The right leg stands on Apasmarapurusha, a soul bound by ignorance and attachment to the physical world. The left leg is raised and releases the enlightened soul from the physical plane. The lower left hand gestures that grace and liberation is available for everyone. The circle of fire represents the cosmos and especially consciousness. 

Lord Shiva is considered the Adi Yogi and Adi Guru. The first Yogi and first teacher of the science of Yoga. Every student of yoga can look to Shiva for guidance and inspiration in asana, meditation and spiritual wisdom. Tuesday evening is a special opportunity to cultivate a relationship with Shiva. 

MahaShivaratri is believed to be the day of convergence of divine powers of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. On this night, there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is a day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak. A great time to do sadhana, meditate and worship. "Om Namah Shivaya”

A Blue Moon is the second full moon to occur in a calendar month. We will be treated this month with not only a second full moon but also a Total Lunar Eclipse all on the same day. On January 31, 2018, just before daylight the moon will be Eclipsed inside the Earth’s shadow. While the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a “blood moon” and in addition, this is the third consecutive “Super Moon", because the moon is in a closer orbit to the earth and will appear up to 14% larger than normal. This makes the January 31st Total Lunar Eclipse, Blue Moon, Super Moon very special.

In the evening I find myself looking up to the night sky searching for the moon. I could easily meditate in the cool soft moonlight and feel nurtured and replenished by it. One such meditation inspired me to take my yoga practice outdoors under the Full Moon sky. I collected emails addresses of yoga friends and in May 2011, invited all to join me. We gathered at Malibu Bluffs Park on Pacific Coast Highway and Full Moon Yoga meditation began. The practice has continued from May through October each year.

So on Wednesday morning January 31st I will rise early. The Lunar Eclipse is said to start at 4:51am and continue to 6:07am. I will bundle up, make myself a comfortable seat and turn my gaze to 274 degrees and watch nature’s show. This special event will not occur again for 150 years. Join the many Selenophiles (persons who love the moon) and have your own Total Lunar Eclipse, Blue Moon, Super Moon experience. 

The schedule for Full Moon Yoga practice will be posted in spring. Join my email at sriharimoss.com for updates.