Practice and Devotion: A Weekend of Chanting and Sanskrit - NYC January 24, 2009

We are delighted to welcome back Dana’s sister, Kimberly Flynn, for a weekend of deepening our Sadhana through Chanting and studying two of the most important Ancient Texts, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and The Bhagavad Gita. You will become immersed in the sounds of Sanskrit as a way of developing the philosophical tools needed to cultivate the mind of a Yoga Practiitioner.

SATURDAY: Practices Makes Perfect
The Second Chapter - Sadhana Pada
Chanting is an exhilarating experience that liberates and readies the mind for clear and bright comprehension. We will chant the entire second chapter on Sadhana, or yoga practice. Sadhana encompasses those techniques that lead to perfection of the mind, freedom from limitation, and from the cause of suffering. More chanting, less talking. More joy, true freedom!
*Please bring a copy of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Sunday: Bhakti Yoga – The Yoga of Devotion
Inside and Outside of Tradition
Inside Tradition: The first half of the day will be devoted to Chapter 12 of The Bhagavad-Gita. The Bhagavad-Gita, composed in Sanskrit verse, is a revered authoritative text guiding the individual to true knowledge of self and Supreme. In the 12th chapter, Arjuna asks the Lord Krishna to clarify, should one worship God as the Unmanifest or as a Beloved Person? God instructs his confused yet dear devotee in the qualities deemed best for a bhakti.

Outside Tradition: In the afternoon, we will look at the Ecstatic Poet Saints of India. The ecstatic devotee abandons family and temple tradition crying out for union with the Beloved. The language of these songs and poems is the spoken daily language of the poet and the people; the desires are those of the lover, the intimate companion, or dear friend.

*Students should bring a Bhagavad Gita with English transliteration of the Sanskrit. Review and read 12th chapter before the course. Not required but helpful: Poems of Mira Bai (many translations are available), Speaking of Siva by A.K. Ramanujan

Kimberly Flynn began practicing yoga in 1982 while a student at NYU. She was introduced to traditional Ashtanga Yoga in 1993 in Sri K. Pattabhi Jois's classes at Jivamukti Yoga Center where she was a student and teacher. In 1995, she first traveled to Mysore, India to study under Pattabhi Jois. She continues to return to Mysore to further her studies and recently completed her 10th visit. Since 1998 she has also been a student of Sanskrit Recitation and Yoga Sutras under Dr. M.A. Jayashree of Mysore
http://www.laughinglotus.com/pops/20090124kimberly2.html

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita Text and audio recitations in many languages, along with a description of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya and avataras of Krishna.http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/

The Bhagavad Gita (Sanskrit भगवद् गीता, Bhagavad Gītā, "Song of God") is an important Sanskrit Hindu scripture. It is revered as a sacred scripture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita

Bhagavad GitaRead the entire Bhagavad Gita online and hear the original sanskrit verses sung in traditional melodies. http://www.bhagavad-gita.us/

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Original by PrabhupadaBhagavad Gita is Krishna's battlefield discussion with Arjuna. By AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. With search engine, art gallery, original Sanskrit, http://www.asitis.com/

The Bhagavad Gita Home PageTranslations, essays, philosophy, symbolism, history and concepts of the Bhagavad gita. http://www.hinduwebsite.com/gitaindex.asp

Official Website: http://www.laughinglotus.com/pops/20090124kimberly.html