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Happy belated Valentine's Day! And here's a happy belated February newsletter to you as well!
The good news is, to paraphrase Mark Twain, we have made it through some of the worst winter storms that never happened. That's nature's Valentine to all of us. And, we have passed the midpoint of winter. The sun is rising earlier to awaken the slumbering sky with light, and it is setting later to extend its rays further into the night. We are witnessing the gradual demise of the dominion of darkness. Light is reclaiming its sovereignty over the day. May this be the way for all things to come.
In what ways might you see more light? More good news for you: you have a choice. It's a matter of your position. Like the sun at the center of the solar system, position yourself in the center, deep within, where the source of light shines forth. The sun is not subjected to the constant cycles of contention between day and night. It's always in the light, for it is the source of light. And when you know your center, your own Self, which is Consciousness itself, you will see the light — because the source of light is your Self.
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The light of Consciousness shines always, even when your mind is turned away from it. That's when you get lost in the shadows of the light. So turn your mind inward: toward the light, to find your Self. Let your light reclaim its sovereignty.
In an email I received earlier this month, which happens to be Black History month, I saw the following quote from Nelson Mandela. He's one who maintained the sovereignty of light. Here, he is reflecting on the day that he was released from prison after 27 torturous years. He was imprisoned because of being an activist, for his defiance of the South African government's unjust and cruel racial practices.
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” ~ Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
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The quote stopped me in my tracks. I cannot even imagine enduring one week of what Mandela had to face. Here's a man who spent 27 years at the prime of his life in the worst circumstances. He was subjected to verbal and physical harassment by prison wardens. He was confined in a damp concrete cell for several years, which measured 8 by 7 feet, with a straw mat on which to sleep. He spent the days breaking rocks into gravel. Reassigned to work in a lime quarry, he was not permitted to wear sunglasses, and the glare from the lime permanently damaged his eyesight.
He rarely saw his wife and children. At one point he was limited to one visit per 6 months. He was even forbidden from attending the funeral of his mother and, the following year, the funeral of his first-born son, who died in an automobile accident.
At night, when he was not forbidden to do so, he worked on his law degree, which he was obtaining from the University of London.
Nelson Mandela dedicated his life, in prison and out, to carry forth the torch of freedom and justice. Eventually, he became his country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative, multi-racial election. And he refused to use his power for retaliation and vengeance. He focused his government on ending apartheid by fostering racial reconciliation instead.
He had every reason to be bitter and vengeful. But he refused to carry such rancor with him. He had the discerning wisdom to know that if he did, he would remain in prison wherever he stepped. He also knew if he carried the heavy weight of that rancor with him, he would not be able to lift others. It would be a load too heavy to bear. In essence, he let go of the dark past to make room for a brighter future.
The quote reminds me that though I am not locked behind bars, I can still be locked up within my own mind. Anytime I hold bitterness, grudges, vengeance or hatred, I am not free. I suffer solitary confinement and harassment imposed by my own prison warden: my mind.
So my takeaway is:
- Be mindful of what you carry in your head and heart.
- If it's heavy and dark, let it go.
- Keep your mind turned toward the light. Keep your heart open to let the light shine forth.
- Keep your heart open to love, not hate; to reconciliation, not vengeance.
- You have the freedom to choose how to respond to any circumstances, even the worst ones.
- Hold your torch up high to shine the light others need to see their way through darkness.
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- Another Prison: Concord, MA, and a Visit by Mother Teresa
- Focus Activity for this month
- Announcements & Reminders
- Deepen Your Meditation Offered Again in March
- This Month's Fundraiser
- Class Schedule & Fees
- Testimonials
- Health Precautions
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- Tip of the Month: Save Energy, Costs, Your Clothes and the Environment
- Birthdays
- Freebies and Other Offerings from the Ashram
- Wisdom to Live By
- Video of the Month: Mr. Rogers' Advice
- Enlighten Up
- Problems Receiving Newsletters?
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Another Prison: Concord, MA, and a Visit by Mother Teresa
The MCI-Concord prison is set to close this year. Today's Sunday Boston Globe relates some of the history that transpired there.
Malcolm X was there in 1948 when he converted to Islam. During his incarceration, he became known as a bookworm, frequenting the prison library and reading every book he could get his hands on. "You couldn't have gotten me out of books with a wedge," he wrote about his awakening in Massachusetts prisons. "Months passed without my even thinking about being imprisoned. In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life."
Timothy Leary, a Harvard psychologist at the time, experimented with inmate volunteers to investigate whether a psychelic drug could reduce prison recividism.
And, in 1988, Mother Teresa, visited. The Globe writer, Mark Arsenault, reports:
A tiny figure clad in a white robe trimmed with blue smashed the daily rouine at Concord prison on June 4, 1988. Hundreds of prisoners crowded onto the bleachers in the prison gym to hear Mother Teresa, the Nobel Prize-winning Catholic nun and missionary, then 77, who visited several state prisons on a trip to Massachusetts.
"Make you stay together something beautiful," she told the incarcerated men, according to Globe coverage. "Make this a place of love... Even if a mother could forget a child, I will not forget you. You are precious to me."
The men rose to their feet in applause.
One prisoner, in for second-degree murder, told the Globe, "I've been here for 28 years and this is the best thing I've ever seen."
"She really gives you hope," said another prisoner, serving 18 to 25 years. "She gives you hope because she makes you realize that not all the doors are shut, that someone does care about you."
At a prison conference, a reporter asked Mother Teresa if the prisoners were sinners. Of course they were. "We are all sinners," she replied. "And that is why we need the tender mercy of God."
And then she told the reporters to pray before they wrote their stories. And to always write "something beautiful."
Read the Sunday Globe article in full
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Focus Practice of the Month: | |
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The Yoga of Yes
Whenever you are unhappy, it's your mind messing with you.
Your discomfort is caused by your inner objections, not the event or circumstance itself.
Yoga says you can track your knee jerk reactions all the way to your tailbone. Your tailbone has knots of tension. That's where the not's and no's come from. A Yes attitude - acceptance of what is - can bring release and more joy.
To help you embrace life more fully, just say "Yes!" Repeat "Yes" inside.
This doesn't mean you have to agree with what's happening. It means you can still be happy, even when you do not agree. As Nelson Mandela demonstrated, you don't have to be filled with bitterness and hostility. Swami Nirmalanda said, "Even if things aren't perfect on the outside, you can be happy... Your inner yes means you accept the situation as it is, but you still have the power of free will. You can choose what you are going to do in the face of these events, which might mean that you work to change them... Or something else..."
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Announcements and Reminders | |
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- Thursday 9:00 am classes are now on-site only - no Zoom.
- Keep Saturday, September 21 open: Swami Prajnananda is returning for a day of yoga and meditation.
- We now have more blocks available for sale, including the giant blocks. Regular size blocks are $20 per pair; giant blocks are $35 each.
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Deepen Your Meditation
Five-session course Thursdays 5 to 7 pm
March 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18
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You learned Svaroopa® Vidya Meditation. You started a home practice. How is it going now?
- Does your mind still get in the way?
- Do you have difficulty maintaining a consistent daily practice?
- You want to dive deeper with greater ease?
- Do you want to experience more bliss and peace?
- Do you have many questions about your meditation experiences?
- Do you want to meditate with others dedicated to learning and growing spiritually
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's a match!
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Class size is limited. Sign up soon.
Offered both onsite and online (Zoom)
Taught by Phil, Certified Svaroopa® Vidya Meditation Teacher
Fee: $135 ($125 if paid by March 14)
More information
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Help Local Farm Recover from Damaging Floods | |
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Song Sparrow Farm in East Hampton/Florence MA
Toni Hall, the son of one of our longtime students, Terry Hall, is a small farmer near Northampton and the Connecticut River. Terry comes to our classes Monday evenings. She says of her son: “He is a very hard-working person and has had a rough time farming. But its a passion and he's determined to make it work.”
She also says he’s been meditating and doing yoga for years.
The farm grows nutrient-dense organic crops and herbs, using “climate friendly” and environmentally sustainable farming practices. Toni is dedicated to his workers and the local community.
Right now, his farmland is not usable because of the damage caused by flooding. So he is using nearby land shared by partnering local farms. Song Sparrow Farm Kitchen prepares unique organic and vegan foods, beverages and herbs at the Mycoterra Farm in South Deerfield.
Farming is already one of the most challenging occupations there is. It’s especially hard for small farmers such as Toni. Small farms do not get much support from the government, and they have to compete with large agri-business farms that are heavily supported by government subsidies (“Corporate welfare”). For more information about the farm, see their website at www.songsparrowfarm.org.
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Ongoing: W. Brookfield Sharing Cupboard Food Pantry | |
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Special note: There are many hungry and destitute people living around us. They are very appreciative of the service the pantry provides. Volunteers are always welcome.
We continue collecting donations of money, food and other items weekly for the West Brookfield Sharing Cupboard Food Pantry. Top priority includes non-perishable food such as regular sized (not large) canned proteins (meats or beans), dried beans, grains, peanut butter or other nut butters, powdered milk and cheese that does not have to be refrigerated, cookies, crackers, coffee, condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, etc.), canned or packaged soups. Organic is appreciated by many. Also, toilet paper and paper towels. You can also bring cleaning supplies, hand cleaners, and can openers. There is a box in our mudroom where you can drop off your contributions. Thank you in advance!
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Class Schedule: Onsite and Online | All classes are offered onsite and online except Thursday mornings, which are onsite only. You can join the Experienced class Friday mornings if you know the basic poses and need little assistance. If you are new or need assistance, start with Thursday or Saturday mornings if you can , or sign up for a private session. | |
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Mondays
5:30 to 7 pm Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
Tuesdays
9:00 to 10:30 am Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
6:30 to 8:30 pm Svaroopa® Yoga+Meditation (except Deepen Your Meditation takes over Jan 23, 30, Feb 6, 13 & 27; no class on Feb 20)
Wednesdays
5:00 to 6:30 pm Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
Thursdays (On-site only)
9 to 10:30 am Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
Fridays
10:00 to 11:30 am Experienced Svaroopa® Yoga
Saturdays
10:00 to 11:30 am Continuing Svaroopa® Yoga
To ensure a space in the studio or to obtain Zoom join information, please contact us.
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Class Fees
For in-studio and online class fees, visit our website. Pay by cash, check, Venmo (@PhilMilgrom-TCP), Zelle (philmilgrom@comcast.net) or PayPal (paypal.me/TheCenteredPlace).
Discounts are available for retired seniors. Scholarships are available for students with financial need.
Gift certificates are available. Give a loved one ta gift that keeps giving.
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Testimonials
"Class was beautiful, peaceful and grounding. So glad to get yoga back in my daily life." ~ Carole R., Belchertown, MA
"The class released so much tension... I can now move more fluidly." ~ Kathy B., W. Brookfield and Florida
"I'm so grateful that you have the onine classes available for those of us in other places; it's a real gift and treat to see you every week and to have your guidance for my practice." ~ Maureen B., Minneapolis, MN
"I really enjoy reading your newsletter." ~ Tony F., W. Brookfield, MA
More Testimonials
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Masks Are Optional and Available at the Studio
COVID is still around. Masks are welcomed. We will wear ours. Class sizes will continue to be limited to assure social distancing in the studio. We also have plenty of air circulation and air filters.
If you feel ill, have a cough or runny nose, or might have been exposed to someone who tested positive, please do not come to the studio, even if you tested negative. Feel free to join classes via Zoom until you are symptom free.
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Scent-Free Studio
Help us accommodate those who are chemically sensitive to fragrances and other scented products. Thank you!
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Tip of the Month:
Save Energy, Costs and Your Clothes
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We have started following this advice, and it's making an amazing difference. Washing machines provide a wide array of options for washing your clothes, from "Heavy Duty" to "Delicate." As reported in Apple News, here's what we learned:
According to Patric Richardson, aka The Laundry Evangelist, there's only one cycle you ever need to use. "I only use the 'Express Cycle," he recently told Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost's "Am I Doing It Wrong?" podcast. "It's long enough to get your clothes clean but it's short enough not to cause any damage."
According to the lab studies that Richardson did while writing his book, “Laundry Love,” dirty items — even soiled diapers — will be completely cleaned and sanitized by using the “express” cycle, which may also be named some variation of “quick wash” or “30 minute wash” on some machines. Choosing a longer cycle causes more wear and tear on our clothes, towels and bedding, which means we have to replace them sooner (not to mention all of the water and energy we’re needlessly using).
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Saving the Environment
We were introduced to Earth Breeze a few months ago and highly recommend this eco-responsible laundry detergent. It is delivered to your home, and you can save costs by subscribing to automatic delivery.
The main thing that drew us in is it doesn't come in the usual heavy single-use plastic jug. Each cardboard package comes with 30 sheets good for up to 60 loads. The package saves space that a large jug would steal, and saves the planet from more single-use plastic throwaways, millions of which end up in landfills and oceans each year.
The detergent sheets dissolve easily. The detergent is good on stains, hypoallergenic and gentle for the skin. Plus, every purchase donates ten loads of detergent to those in need. Shelters and disaster relief in the U.S. and around the world list Laundry Detergent as one of the top requested items.
The cost may amount to more than regular household detergents, but the savings for the environment and those in need make us happy to pay a little bit extra.
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"There are two great days in a person's life: the day we are born and the day we discover why." ~ William Barclay
We wish the following students and friends a very happy birthday. Those whose names are in bold are students who are currently attending classes. Wish we could embolden the rest of you!
Steve Garabedian (1st), Nancy (Purna) Chang (3rd), Rich Eichacker (4th), Art Firl (8th), Ed Smith (10th), Donna Longtin (12th), Suzie Webber (15th), Cindy Dwelly (16th), Ruth Davis (18th), Mary Grace (19th), Kathy Bassford (21st), Michael Milligan (24th), Tracy Opalinski & Jim Meskauskas (25th), Dave Mazzarese (26th)
The best things about birthdays? You get to celebrate another year of being awesome.
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Freebies and Other Offerings from Swami Nirmalananda and the Ashram | |
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Free audio recordings of Swami Nirmalananda discourses are available online. Listen from home or during your travels. Listen
from your cell phone or PC at https://svaroopa.org/audio-recording
You can also join Swami Nirmalananda online in meditation every morning, by subscription.
Swami's latest book is titled Living Mysticism 2024, A Calendar Journal. There's a page for each day of the year, each with a unique inspiring quote on the top. The rest of the page is blank for you to write or draw about your meditations or your life, or both. Or you can use the daily quote as a jumping off point, to contemplate the teaching more deeply.
Another recently published book is Yoga: Embodied Spirituality, subtitled Navigating the Inner Quest for Wholeness. We have several signed copies for sale in the studio.
For more information, see https://svaroopa.org/books
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From Swami Nirmalananda
""You are not your body, nor your mind. You are the one who lives in your body and mind. You use them to have experiences and to express your light into the world."
"You truly are more than you think you are."
"Yoga's specialty is the opening inward to your inherent fullness, wholeness and holiness."
"Once you have found your own Self, everything else shifts into place. It all makes sense. It all works."
"What a glorious dance this is!"
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"Somewhere , there is the ideal soil for growing mangoes. Or the best possible wave for surfing. Or the most romantic sunset for a proposal.
But it's not right here and it's not right now.
Our success has a lot to do with how we dance with conditions that aren't quite perfect." ~ Seth Godin
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Inquiring Mind
A mother who was pregnant allowed her 4-year old daughter to place her hand on her belly and feel the baby kick. Her little face scrunched and she said, "How does the baby get out of there?"
Mom wanted to keep it simple so she said, "The doctor will help."
The little girl's eyes widened in amazement as she exclaimed: "You've got a doctor in there, too?!"
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The Superbowl You Didn't See | |
During the Super Bowl, there was another football game of note between the big animals and the little animals.
The big animals were crushing little animals and at half time, the coach made a passionate speech to rally the little animals.
At the start of the second half the big animals had the ball.
The first play, the elephant got stopped for no gain.
The second play, the rhino was stopped for no gain.
On third down, the hippo was thrown for a 5 yard loss.
The defense huddled around the coach and he asked excitedly, "Who stopped the elephant?"
"I did" said the centipede.
"Who stopped the rhino?"
"Uh, that was me, too," said the centipede.
"And how about the hippo? Who hit him for a 5 yard loss?"
"Well, that was me as well," said the centipede.
"SO WHERE WERE YOU DURING THE FIRST HALF?!!" demanded the coach.
"Well," said the centipede, "I was having my ankles taped."
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A newscaster interrupted scheduled programming to announce the outcome of a political election. "More on candidates at 10pm," he said.
A ten-year-old looked at his father in disbelief and said:
"I didn't know they could call politicians 'morons' on national television!"
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Acceptance Exemplified
A reporter, interviewing a man celebrating his 110th birthday, asks, "What's the secret to your longevity?"
"No matter what, I never ever argue with anyone," says the elderly man.
"Surely there must be more to it than that," insisted the reporter. "What about genetics, diet, exercise?"
"The old man shrugged, "Maybe you're right."
| Sign spotted outside a church in Kentucky: "Whoever stole our AC units, keep one. It's hot where you're going." | |
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Weather or not you like puns, these 2 are pretty good!
Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius died in 1744 aged 43 though his rival Fahrenheit was convinced he was really 109.
The inventor of the wind chill factor died recently. He was 82, but felt like he was 64.
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Based in your Self, Bliss is Ever Arising! Enjoy your Self!
Much light and love,
Phil and Nancy
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