Do It With Awareness

Events for July - Sept 2010

bhaktip — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:46:48 +0000

Hari Om one and all,

That phrase “one and all” has come to have new meaning for me! While I have been withdrawn due to recent illness I have pursued a new perspective and understanding of this our spiritual life. One and all is what we are! Individually and collectively.

But now it is time to come back to earth (too) and start thinking again about term3 classes and satsang and fire ceremonies etc.

Our first celebration will be Guru Poornima on 26th July - actually my research shows the Full Moon time here in Australia is at 0137 so it could be the 25th in your part of the world. We will book a Satsang call on the conference lines anyway on Monday morning at 10am Australian Eastcoast Time (in the USA 5pm PT on 25th). It’s a time to come together and celebrate Guru in a way that helps us connect more deeply. So if you don’t have anything you can attend, join us on that call. No charge.

Online classes will recommence on 7/9th July (Wednesdays at 1800hrs and Fridays at 0530hrs) and go for 10 weeks to 10th September. We will be focussing on longer and deeper meditation practices. If this is something you have yet to try your first class is free - just email me so I can send you the dial in details: email

A busy month ahead

bhaktip — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:33:06 +0000

We have a busy time coming up in September. I’ll summarise what is happening first - follow the links to details:

When	What	Where	Contact for more info
Saturday 5^th Sept 5.30 pm	Full moon fire ceremony	176 Wright Rd Strathdickie	Bhakti 49454413
19 – 27^th Sept 6.30am	Navaratri chanting	Phone / Skype Worldwide	Email bookings: bhakti@doitwithawareness.com
Monday 21^st Sept	World Peace Day	Worldwide	http://mypeace.tv/video/an-introduction-to-peace-one
Tuesday 22^nd Sept 6.30 pm	Equinox fire ceremony	51 Moonlight Dr, Jubilee Pkt	Bhakti 49454413
Tuesday 22^nd Sep	World car free day	worldwide	http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/
Saturday 26^th Sept 4pm onwards	Temple opening celebrations	Timberland Rd, Jubilee Pocket	Jo 0438137222

Temple Blessing in Jubilee Pocket

bhaktip — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:29:38 +0000

We are blessed to have another Temple opening and I feel honoured to have been asked to come and lead the blessing of this sacred space.

On the 26th there is a gathering at Joe’s place in Jubilee pocket to bless the temple that she has built on her block.

Celebrations will start at 4pm with a temple blessing.
Then the home school kids will do their puppet play ‘n songs.
After that, around 6 the live music will start.
A shared dinner will be around 8pm.
Live bands till 11pm.
Then the reggae show will begin - til 1am.
Acoustic jamming from then on.

Bring a plate of food to share and your musical instruments, chairs etc…

Navaratri - what’s the Yogic perspective?

bhaktip — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:23:16 +0000

Navaratri chanting

There is a nine night (10 day) celebration called Navaratri which starts this year on the 19th of September and finishes on the 27th. During that time we will have daily chanting on the conference line at 6.30 am – 12 verses each day of a beautiful spiritual poem called Saundarya Lahari.

Yogis see Navaratri as a psycho-spiritual process and a unique opportunity for yogic practice. The first three days are devoted to that aspect of Divinity that represents new growth in our life. We chant to gain the strength to overcome the obstructions to our progress and transform ourselves. The next 3 to maintenance and sustaining ourselves - to find the energy that supports having all we need to feel abundant. During the last 3 we connect with excellence and detachment so that we can move on and grow yet again.

Throughout the whole period we acknowledge “Durga” - that aspect of the divine that supports our will to change so that we can succeed. Get in touch with me if you are interested in joining in with the chant.

About fire ceremonies

bhaktip — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:56:17 +0000

Full moon & Equinox fire ceremonies

On the 5th it’s full moon so we will be having a fire ceremony at 5:30 p.m. – it’s part of our monthly pattern to take conscious action while the moon is at it’s most powerful.

On 22^nd it’s the equinox – a time of subtle planetary balance and ideal for meditation and spiritual reconnection. It occurs at exactly 7.20pm local time and our ceremony (at the temple at Steve’s place in Jubilee pocket) will span that time so that we are in active meditation as the transition occurs. A time for powerful and deeper experience.

So what is a fire ceremony and why would you want to attend?

In Yoga Ecology a fire ceremony is a practice to purify and energise the environment through a practice using all the elements: earth in the form of statues, incense and stone, water in a dish for sprinkling, fire firstly as a candle then the fire itself (in a tiny copper pyramid) and incense, air to carry the smoke (and the benefits) up and out into the surroundings and space which absorbs the mantras and holds the sacred energy we are creating.

Sacred fire

A beautiful space is created to attract divine grace and empower the practice to succeed. Different mantras are chosen according to the current needs or intentions e.g. for healing or purification of the environment.

It’s a good idea to turn up early for the ceremony so that you can add your energy and creativity into the event. Help is needed in decorating the fireplace with flowers and gifts of fruits or sweets. During the ceremony itself you may be requested to:

make offerings to the fire in the form of samagri (a mix of herbs and grains with ghee which represent our negativity and limitations which are offered to the fire for transformation into positivity and creativity)
Count the mala so that the correct number of mantras are repeated
place a Tilak (red dot) at the eyebrow centre of each participant or tie a sacred thread at the wrist (these are triggers that help to hold the energy of the ceremony so that it continues to work for you)
sprinkle the water or distribute the sweets (Prasad - blessed food)

Once we are ready mantras are recited to invite the support of God/nature/the angels (the divine in whatever form you relate to) and then the fire is lit and appropriate mantras chanted. Afterwards participants are invited to make their own resolve or statement of intent and after the closing mantras the Prasad is shared.

The ceremony lasts from 30 to 45 minutes. It is offered free of charge but a coin donation helps towards the cost of materials and travel.
Havan (fire ceremony):

A traditional tantric practice of making offerings to a fire

for transformation, purification and upliftment.

This practice uses the elements of fire, offerings and mantras

to purify the environment and send out healing.

The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes.

All welcome. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Our next Special Havan will be at

51 Moonlight Dr. Jubilee Pkt

at the equinox (Tues 22^nd Sept)

Please arrive by 6pm for a 6.30pm start

Held regularly on the Saturday before the full moon

at 176 Wright Rd at 5.30 pm: 4^th July, 1 Aug, 5 Sept, 3 & 31 Oct, 28 Nov.

Bring flowers for decoration & a cushion/stool.

Fee: by donation. Cancelled if raining!

Provided as a service to the community by Swami Bhakti Saraswati

Swami Satsangananda is our next guest

bhaktip — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:06:17 +0000

In April Swami Niranjan joined with 20 people from all around the world for satsang via the phone . He is very keen to do it again but he is not touring for the rest of this year. Swami Satsangananda (Satsangi) is touring in his place and is keen to give this (new) medium of connecting a try. For details of her tour go to theSYC London Site

If you are unable to attend her program then don’t feel left out - get connected - Join us on the phone!

On Tuesday 14th July at 8.45pm Eastern Australian Time (11.45 am UK) we will get together via conference lines (phone or Skype) to discuss “Emerging from practice and holding the sacred presence”. If you’ve ever finished your “Yoga” feeling sublime and blissed out only to find the (un)real world a bit jarring then this discussion is for you!

If you would like to join in or just hear about future calls with the Satyananda Swamis register here and details will follow shortly:

Notes from Swamiji

bhaktip — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:59:34 +0000

During our conference call (a first for Swami Niranjan) Swamiji defined Spiritual life as using all the tools we can to move from a tamasic life to a sattwic one. We use practices to harmonise, purify, uplift and create a greater awareness of our mind/emotions and spirit. This was the teaching of Swami Sivananda - to live a divine life based on the 18 “ities”. Through practice we develop a greater awareness of our interaction with our environment. We become more stable and grounded.
We need to have a fresh look at ourselves; to make the changes to ourselves so that we can adapt in our changing world.
Morning sadhana should include:
Gayatri mantra with sankalpa for wisdom, peasce and understanding
Mahamrityunjaya mantra with sankalpa for health and wellbing
Durga path with sankalpa for removal of stress and difficulties
Then (for people with no special needs) tadasana (palm tree), tiryaka tadasana (swaying palm tree), kati chakrasana (waist rotation), surya namaskar and an inversion of your choice.
Pranayama: bhramari and nadi shodhana in ratio of 1:1 (= inhalation and exhalation)
After work Sadhana is Yoga Nidra to reduce tensions
Before bed: mantra for 10 mins either Guru mantra or So-ham. This acts as nourishment to develop body and mind.

I’ve asked Swamiji to join us on the phone!

bhaktip — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:09:59 +0000

This was a first! On Wednesday 15th April we met to discuss “Keeping Connected” and Swami Niranjan joined us on the call.

If you would like to hear about future calls with Swami Niranjan place your details here:

Making a bald statement

bhaktip — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:33:01 +0000

There’s a push on at present to raise funds for leukaemia research by getting people to sponsor you to shave your head. I’ve been tempted to do the same but a part of me wasn’t comfortable with that. Not the idea of being bald - that’s something I’ve done several times over the years of being a sannyasin. It’s something that brings up the question “Why shave your head?” For me it’s an outer sign of an inner difference. A bald statement that I am making a different choice about how I live my life.

It’s often something we Swamis do to remind ourselves that we are spiritual beings living a human life. And we shave when we are making a fresh start. So with 21st March coming up, I realise not only is it our “Election Day” here but it is also the equinox, when we emerge from the wet season and shift to the “dry”, or shift from Summer to Autumn (if you are an antipodean). So it’s a great time for a fresh start and a celebration. For me to make a bald statement and shave my head. To make a fresh start with my

sadhana (practices getting a bit stale),
diet (getting boring)
abode (getting renovated)
friends (having a meal together),
hobbies (what are they?!!!)
singing, dancing, laughing, playing, fitness …

So if you are ready for a fresh start, if you would like the company of like minds we are getting together on Saturday 21st March after 3 pm at 10 Moon Cres, Sugarloaf. Bring a smile, munchies, resolutions. There’ll be a fire ceremony at 5 (ish) - you can bring something to offer to the fire as a release from the past.

I’ll be shaving and if you feel to make a donation to the Worlds Greatest Shave then please visit my Profile Page by clicking this link:

http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?SID=69085

For those who live elsewhere why not make your own fresh start with friends? Possibly shave your head and if friends insist on giving money to the Leukaemia Foundation that’s a bonus!

with love,

Bhakti p

A moving experience

bhaktip — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:19:38 +0000

Cyclone Hamish has just rushed past and continues to wreak havoc further down the coast. Thank you for your messages of support. Many of you have asked how I was affected by the cyclone and recent floods.

Well, Hamish was a bit of a fizzer. We had worse weather in the tropical monsoons of February and found ourselves cut off many times by floods both locally and across the main highway. I had my own local flooding across my veranda,

Monsoon waterfall

but the owner arrives next week to do lots of renovations to the retaining walls and veranda so that I’m no longer suffer from so much damp! This is very exciting and will mean that I have more space when it’s all finished. But meanwhile I need to move out as it’s going to be a very messy procedure.

So this week I am moving to live at a friend’s place (a bamboo farm), to look after his dogs and chooks while he is in Laos. He’s going over there to source some new bamboo seed and will be away for about 5 to 6 weeks. So that just gives time for the builders to finish my place! Yahoo!!

Meanwhile life will continue to be quite busy. I now have three yoga classes each week on the phone, coaching clients, and yogic studies students whose homework I mark on the Internet. Add to that a trickle of orders for audio and booklets, singing in the local choir and generally keeping up with friends and commitments and you can see that life is very full.

That’s all I have time for right now. Keep well, stay inspired, share your abundance and celebrate each success,

with love,

Bhakti