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Vastu

By Gwen Burdick Vastu, which means “science of space” in Sanskrit, is a sister science to Yoga, Jyotish and Ayurveda, and is the precursor to Feng Shui. The ancient Shastras are the books of rules of the Vedic sciences and the Vastu Shatra is the text that explains...

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The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

by Gwen Burdick Om Triyambakam yajamahe Sugandhim pushti vardhanam Urvarukamiva bandhanan Mrityor mukshiya mamritat Translation:   I meditate on, and surrender myself to, the Divine Being who embodies the power of will, the power of knowledge and the power of action. ...

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The Four Purusharthas: Moksha

The Fourth Aim: Moksha Our investigation of the four Purusharthas, or aims of life in the Vedic tradition, concludes with Moksha, which means release, liberation or self-realization. The harmonious interactions of the first three aims, Dharma, Artha and Kama, are the...

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Yogi of the Month: Anita Weisglass

The Yoga Sanctuary: Tell us a little about yourself. Anita Weisglass: I was born in Greece in 1937, which means that I am a survivor of the Holocaust. My family name is Castro, a Spanish name, and that means that my ancestors came to Greece in 1492 when they were...

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Yogi of the Month – Cathy Getz

The Yoga Sanctuary: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Cathy Getz: From my first trip to Florida with Grandma when I was 18, I knew I wanted to live here, so when my husband Jim and I retired in 2003, the move was imminent. Jim and I already owned a vacation...

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The Four Purusharthas: Artha

The Second Aim: Artha The second Purushartha or aim of human existence as described in the Vedic texts is Artha, which means "wealth," "means" or "goal" in Sanskrit. Artha is kept in check by Dharma. The Purursharthas are not to be considered in a stand-alone fashion....

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The Four Purusharthas: Dharma

The First Aim: Dharma The regulating moral principles of the Universe are described in the ancient Vedic texts to be the four Purusharthas, ususally translated as "aims of human existence." Specifically, they are defined as Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama...

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Yogi of the Month: Diane Smolen

The Yoga Sanctuary: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Diane Smolen: Talking about myself does not come naturally. I arrived in Florida following retirement from a career in Michigan where I had earned a PhD at Michigan State University. Several years were spent...

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February Yogis of the Month

Miguel and Nicole Dotres The Yoga Sanctuary: Can you  tell us a little about yourselves? Miguel and Nicole Dotres: We have been married for 15 years and have 2 children.  We moved to Punta Gorda from Miami 3 years ago in an effort to find a great place to raise our...

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SANKALPA and the Power of Mars

By Gwen Burdick In Yogic philosophy, when the intention of the heart and intention of the mind merge with resolve and determination in search of Truth, we have what is called Sankalpa in Sanskrit, or solemn vow.   “Kalpa” means vow and “san” means truth.  It refers to...

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The Transformative Value of Fire Ceremony

by Lisa Ahrens For centuries, fires have been used by ancient and native cultures around the world to create ceremonies. Fire, or Agni in Sanskrit, is a transformational force of purification and creation, and indigenous cultures have been infusing this sacred element...

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The Vedic Fire Ceremony

by Gwen Burdick Fire, or Agni in Sanskrit, is one of the five basic elements of creation. It dominates the Pitta dosha of Ayurveda. Agni allows for heat, light, color and vision and is essential for combustion, cooking and our ability to digest food. When the element...

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The Myth of RAHU and KETU: the Lunar Nodes

In Vedic Astrology, Rahu and Ketu are the important Lunar Nodes. Unlike the seven visible planets, Grahas in Sanskrit, they are massless yet potent mathematical points in space, sometimes referred to as the shadow planets. Our solar system is structured such that it...

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Sister Sciences: Ayurveda and Jyotish

The purpose of the Vedic sciences is to promote Self-realization, and the spiritual disciplines of Ayurveda and Jyotish, Vedic Astrology, share their ancient roots. Ayurveda, which means knowledge of Life in Sanskrit, provides regimens to harmonize the mind/body...

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Surya

"The Moonbeams are also the rays of the Sun." - the Vedas Our Sun, Surya in Sanskrit, is the 4.5 billion year old yellow dwarf star at the center of our solar system. It is an almost perfect sphere of gas (mostly Hydrogen and Helium) 860,000 miles in diameter and...

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Shreem, Shreem, Shreem

The technology through which Spirit takes form as the manifest world commences with sound vibration traveling through the Akashic realm of space. The shortest possible sound in Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Vedas, is the mono-syllabic sound or Beej Mantra. The...

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Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 3.7

Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 3.7

  Our most recent exploration of the yoga sutras ends with sutra 3.7, which states, trayam antarangam purvebhyah: These three [dharana, dhyana, and samadhi] are more internal than the preceding limbs. Following last month’s sutra, also focused on the last three...

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The Four Ashrams: Stages of Life

According to Vedic tradition, a human being spends a lifetime in four stages or ashrams.  The word ashram in Sanskrit literally means "place of spiritual shelter."  The framework of the four stages allows for comfort and clarity as spirituality is developed throughout...

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