If you ever wondered about what it all means, here is a detailed explanation of the theory of karma from a comprehensive resource Buddhanet.net.

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Eckhart Tolle is a best-selling author and spiritual teacher and is currently being featured on Oprah.com in a first ever worldwide web classroom. Together, each Monday night, Eckhart and Oprah go through each chapter of his new book- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.

For the first time ever, you can join Oprah and Eckhart Tolle “live” on the web via a worldwide classroom . If you missed any of the classes, you can simply follow my link to the New Earth downloads on Oprah.com. and can download webcast videos, audio files or transcripts and take them with you wherever you go.

You can even subscribe to iTunes and have them automatically download each week.

Eckhart’s last book The Power of Now, is also truly a must read.

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After taking teacher’s training course in yoga , the one piece I was not not good at was incorporating meditation into my daily life. I had a hard time meditating , being skeptical about just sitting still -a typical type A personality. Recently, I attended a yoga conference offered by Omega where I browsed through an amazing assortment of books + Cd’s for sale and discovered “Relax into Greatness” by Rod Stryker. I popped in Rod’s CD on an unusually quiet Saturday at my apartment. I followed the instructions as best I could and without any great expectations, in less than 10 minutes, I zoned out. I wasn’t asleep nor was I awake, I was somewhere in between. I think I actually achieved, what is called Yoga Nidra.

Intrigued about this state of mind, I did some research and learned that Yoga Nidra is a universally known feature of deep sleep where there are no images in the mind. It is a conscious but deep sleep. I came to learn that lucky for me and my random Cd purchase, that Rod Stryker is widely considered to be one of the pre-eminent yoga and meditation teachers in the United States.

Yoga Nidra is very well documented and eons old. Another expert source, Swami J, came up in my intense Google search and I recommend visiting his website for more detailed background and historical information on the subject. The Swami’s site that is packed with information, just reading it can put you into a state of total relaxation.

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There is an amazing series of Buddhist classes being offered in Hoboken through the Chakrasambara Buddhist Center in NYC. The series is taught by Buddhist Nun, Kelsang Tsoglam, who offers incredibly insightful teachings that include meditation. For a busy person, meditation seems like the last thing you have time for, but after even an evening with Tsoglam, you will quickly realize how essential meditation can be. The next series starts on Monday, January 7th at Devotion Yoga Studio at 7:45pm.

I ran into my favorite Buddhist nun on the streets of NY ( what are the chances of that) , she was carrying an eight foot White Tara dressed in her super styling robe. Tsoglam has a unique ability to communicate the principles and practices of Buddhism and makes them relevant for the average “layperson” and inspiring to those who are more knowledgeable. She offers insights that can apply to the lifestyles of busy urbanites that can be applied with ease. She describes her upcoming series as ..

The Confidence To Change :
“The purpose of practicing Buddhist meditation is to change who we are…to improve who we are. In this series we will develop deep insights into our true nature and through this we will naturally acquire confidence in our potential for transformation. Combining this confidence with Buddhist spiritual practice will enable us to become the person we truly wish to be. ”

Chakrasambara Meditation Center:
http://www.meditationinnewyork.org/mcnj-hoboken-hudson.php

The book that we reference in the series:

Transform Your Life: A Blissful Journey by Kelsang Gyatso
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0948006757

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We love this class at Devotion Yoga, in Hoboken , NJ.  If you are the least bit curious about Buddhism, meditation or just exploring new ways to look at life…check out this series. Mondays, at 7:45pm,  beginning November 19.

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This book was recommended by Cyndi Lee, founder of Om Yoga Center in New York.  http://www.omyoga.com/.

The Buddha (ca. 560-480 B.C), born Siddhatta Gotama, left his wife, his young child, and his prominent social caste in his late twenties and embarked upon a new life of spiritual enlightenment. He went into the woods to begin years of profound contemplation and teachings that became the basis for the Buddhist philosophy.

World-renowned religious thinker Karen Armstrong provides a fascinating portrait of the Buddha and analyzes what made him pursue a life of spirituality. She assesses his enduring influence and considers Buddhism in the context of various world religions today.

Ms. Armstrong, a former Roman Catholic nun, is the author of the bestselling The Battle for God and A History of God. This lecture was given at the Smithsonian in March of 2001.

http://smithsonianassociates.org/programs/Armstrong/armstrong.asp

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Lime.com is a website -with a tagline healthy living with a twist. Here is a twist on meditation that fits in nicely with an iPod or VideoiPod. Download from the site or subscribe to different moods/rooms via i Tunes. recommend : space room, winter room and zen room. A nice idea for modern meditators on the go!

http://http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

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One of my favorite audio books is Getting Unstuck by Pema Chodron. This is a perfect Ipod download, because it is so nice to listen to it while you are on the ferry or the PATH to NYC. Pema uncovers this thing called shenpa. I describe shenpa as the deisre we have to scratch an itch –and the knowledge that scratching it won’t make it better, but we do it anyway…seriously listening to Pema on the audio is like attending an amazing college lecture that you never forget. I’m still a little stuck, but now I’m stuck on Getting Unstuck.

“It isn’t the things that happen to us in our lives that cause us to suffer, it’s how we relate to the things that happen to us that causes us to suffer.” Pema Chodron

Pema was also part of the PBS Series Faith and Reason moderated by Bill Moyers , you can see hear her interview in full and explore other great thinkers.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/faithandreason/portraits_chodron.html

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