Movie night - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - Thursday 22nd March at 6.31pm at Event Cinemas, Westfield Bondi Junction

All meditators (and non-meditators) are invited to join us on Thursday 22nd March at 6.31pm to view The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - a hilarious film about our beloved India.

You can read more about the film and watch the trailer by clicking here: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

If you would like to come then you need to simply purchase your tickets in advance by clicking here: Purchase Tickets and then scrolling down to "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and clicking on the 6.31pm (NFT) session time next to Thu 22 Mar. 

We will then see you in the cinema.

Please feel free to bring family and friends.

The Solution to Problems

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

This quote from Albert Einstein beautifully expresses the cognition of the Ancient Vedic Rishis (See-ers) - that all problems are based in a lack of consciousness.

If a man has 2% vision then crossing a road is an enormous problem.  When we analyse this, it is clear that the problem isn't the road but rather the man's lack of vision.  Trying to solve problems by manipulating the elements of the problem (in this case - the road, the cars, the people on the road etc.) is not the solution. The solution is to add a second element - Consciousness.

We need to expand consciousness.  In the above example, if we could give the man more vision, then crossing a road would become less and less of a problem and with 100% vision it wouldn't be a problem at all.

In our example, vision is an analogy for consciousness.

In unconscious (stressed) states, we experience a disorderly world full of suffering and neediness.  In this state of mind, we attempt to control other people, places, and things.

As we upgrade our own state of consciousness, we experience a shift in the world around us. Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.

If you would like to shift your experience of life, you need to shift the one who is experiencing it: YOU.

Our meditation technique is not only a profound system for releasing stress but also a supreme tool for the expansion of consciousness.

With love,
Limor

Embracing Change

A Meditator Asks: I have heard you say that I should embrace change.   How can I overcome my fear of change and embrace change in my life?

Evolution means progressive change.  There is no progress in life without change.

Fear of change develops from a lack of awareness of that deep, inner quiet, non-changing aspect of consciousness that we refer to as "Being" or "Pure Consciousness" - the underlying or transcendental aspect of our consciousness.

Being is the foundation of consciousness.  Without a foundation, instability is guaranteed and from that fear develops.

When a change occurs and we have insufficient adaptation energy to adapt to that change then we mal-adapt and our body begins to try to fight or flee from the change.  The fight or-flight/stress reaction is a well-known reflex where the nervous system mobilizes a set of physiological responses to a demand/change in environment when it is unable to adapt to the demand marked by an increase in the stress chemicals plasma cortisol and arterial blood lactate, increases in blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to the muscles and oxygen consumption.  This leads to the accumulation of stress in the body.

How can we avoid having this stress reaction in response to a demand or change of expectations?

The most effective course of action is to stabilize our own state of consciousness; to make our own capability, adaptability, creativity, and happiness non-variable.  A non-variable, high state of consciousness is the only basis on which we can embrace progressive change in our life and we can consistently meet the demands in our lives without unconsciously resisting the process of evolution and thereby accumulating stress.

We need to simply sit twice a day for 20 minutes and practise the technique that we have been instructed in.

Our technique of meditation is designed to deliver that deep inner quietness to the mind in meditation, and over time with consistent regular practise allows us to experience this with our eyes open - first for a little while and then as time goes on more and more until it becomes a permanent, 24 hour experience - "Being" becomes well established in our awareness.

As our state of consciousness grows and we begin to stabilize that state of Being in our awareness we begin more and more to have adaptive responses to change and our desires become more easily fulfilled.  This is the way to live a blissful life.

We can make a decision to stop resisting change and start embracing it by bringing more of that deep, inner quiet, non changing, transcendental aspect of consciousness into our awareness.

If you have lapsed with your practice, you can simply sit and practise your technique again - it will come back to you naturally.  Join Group Meditation Meetings - these provide the opportunity to strengthen your practice of meditation through a review of technique, and to broaden and deepen your personal experiences and results through more advanced understanding.  Lapsed meditators find this an ideal way to get refreshed.  Come and ask questions about your experiences.

With love,
Limor

Upcoming Weekend Retreat - May 24th - 27th, 2012

All Vedic Meditators are invited to attend this Long Weekend Retreat in beautiful Bundanoon from Thursday 24th May (6.30pm) to Sunday 27th May (2pm). 

During the Retreat, you will learn and practice 'Rounding'.  ‘Rounding' combines a simple sequence of yoga positions (asanas) and a Vedic breathing technique (pranayama) with your current meditation practice.  The result is an 'industrial-strength' program designed to enhance the restfulness of meditation, release your deepest stresses and expand your consciousness.  

In addition to advancing both your meditation practice and waking state experience of life, you will come away from the Retreat feeling refreshed and revitalised for months to come. 

For further details, please click here: Weekend Retreat

A weekend of Ayurveda and cooking with Tim Mitchell

My dear friend and Master Ayurvedic Chef Tim Mitchell will conduct a weekend of Ayurveda and cooking as follows:

Friday 30th March, 6-9pm

Saturday 31st March, 1-5pm

Sunday 1st April, 1-5pm

The course will be held at The Intuitive Well in Bondi Junction and is suitable for everyone. You will learn the basic principles of Ayurveda (the science of longevity) and how you can bring balance to your mind and body through food.  You will also enjoy feasting on Tim's delicious cooking.

For further details, please click here: Ayurveda and Cooking March-April or visit the website, Tim Ayurveda.

Double Bay Meditation Centre Christmas Party Photos

Some photos below of the 2011 Christmas Party.

Our beautiful Ayurvedic Chef Jahnavi preparing our feast

Jahnavi explaining the dishes in the feast

Manie Guenot, Camilla Baker

Tiana Wallace, Vicki Lee

Kirsten Piper, Sandra Hyde

Sandra Hyde, Rodney Blackman

A Rainbow Lorikeet crashes the party

Some of the group enjoying the party

In case you missed Jahnavi's details, here they are:

Jahnavi Vinden-Clark

Personal Chef, Ayurvedic Cooking, Catering and Classes

Mobile: 0431 373 805

Christmas Party - Monday 12th December at 6.30pm

On Monday 12th December, we will have a Christmas gathering here at Double Bay.  We will enjoy group meditation as usual from 6.30pm and then an informal gathering afterwards to celebrate another great year at the Centre.

Catering for our party will be provided by Jahnavi Vinden-Clarke.  Jahnavi is a brilliant Ayurvedic Chef who has been studying Ayurvedic Cooking (in Australia and India) since she was young.  Until recently, she was the head chef at the Govinda Valley Retreat Centre.  She specializes in authentic Indian and contemporary vegetarian cooking.  She currently teaches cooking classes as well as offering personal chef services.

Please come along and enjoy some sweets and Chai (made with love by Jahnavi) and socialise with your fellow meditators.

Take responsibility for what you experience

You don't live in a world; you live in a state of consciousness.

Consciousness means awareness and state of consciousness refers to the degree to which we are aware - of ourselves, others, the world around us.

All knowledge is structured in consciousness; all action is performed on the level of consciousness and all perception and experience comes through our state of consciousness.  According to the Vedic worldview, "As you are, so you see" meaning the world is a reflection of our own state of consciousness.  Just like a man who wears red glasses sees the world as red; in fact, he can see nothing but red.  In order to create any change of perception, it needs to be done on the level of consciousness.  The glasses simply need to change.

Acquiring a higher state of consciousness naturally yields greater perception, broader awareness and more dynamic fruitful action.  Our technique of meditation is not only a technology for the elimination of stress, but also a supreme tool for the systematic expansion of consciousness.

Everything is Self-referral; the following quote, which has been adapted from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's book, the Science of Being and Art of Living explains this concept brilliantly and provides a beautiful prescription for the Art of Behaviour:

“The influence of the atmosphere on the individual depends upon his own state of mind.  According to his state of mind, the nature of the atmosphere changes.   If he puts a red glass to his eye, he sees everything as red; if he looks through a green glass he sees everything as green.  Whatever the individual's state of mind, the atmosphere is evaluated accordingly.  The individual is responsible for the atmosphere.  He creates it and in turn is influenced by it.  When his mind is strong, functioning at its full potential, then he is able to make the best use of his surroundings and circumstances. The art of action and the art of behaviour lie in making the surroundings favourable instead of unfavourable to us.

The atmosphere is there for us to use and not to make us miserable.  If someone has said something, it is his action, his responsibility.  If it is useful to us then we enjoy it, accept it, think about it, act on it and derive benefit from it.  But if it is not useful or elevating to us, then we do not think of it again, we pay no attention to it.  We do not bring it to mind and brood over it.  If we do so, we shall be polluting our mind with a bad thought.

Therefore, we must so cultivate our minds that we think and act naturally in a manner which is elevating and beneficial.  In this way, we will benefit ourselves and others.  We do not encourage damaging or malicious thoughts either by rejecting or accepting them; indifference is the weapon to be used against negative situations in life.

This is the art of behaviour.  If someone has done us an injustice, we do not harbour it or think about it; perhaps it was a mistake.  If we allow it to affect our future actions towards him we are not giving him the opportunity to improve his relations with us, and we also suffer.  Even if he does harbour ill-feeling towards us, we heap benefit on him and ourselves if we behave towards him with love and tolerance.  In this way, we help the atmosphere to improve and the improved atmosphere serves us better.  (When, during meditation) the mind is brought to the level of Being, the body is also brought to the same level.   Thus by our thoughts, words and actions and even by our presence, we radiate an influence of life, peace, harmony and joyfulness."

With love,
Limor

Weekend Retreat

Weekend Retreat - September 2011, Bundanoon

A photo of the group of meditators who attended the recent Weekend Retreat in beautiful Bundanoon. 

Participants learnt and practised 'Rounding'.  'Rounding' combines a simple sequence of yoga positions (asanas) and a Vedic breathing technique (pranayama) with meditation. 

The depth and restfulness of meditation is multiplied exponentially as meditators extend the number of rounds through each day, from three to five to seven and beyond, diving deep into Nature and the Unified Field.

It was 3 days of deep rest, advanced knowledge, delicious food and fun.

Thank you to the highly conscious group who attended.

Ayurvedic Cooking with Tim Mitchell

My dear friend and Master Ayurvedic Chef Tim Mitchell will conduct a 1 day Ayurvedic cooking class on Sunday 28th August from 9.30am to 4.30pm at The Intuitive Well in Bondi Junction. 

This class is suitable for everyone. You will learn the basic principles of Ayurveda (the science of longevity) and how you can bring balance to your mind and body through food.  You will also enjoy a delicious lunch.

For further details, please click here: Ayurvedic Cooking August 28th or visit Tim's website, www.yogaofthekitchen.com

What we put our attention on .... grows

Magnolia Tree - Double Bay Meditation Centre, August 2011

The most valuable asset each of us owns is our attention. 

Whenever a demand or a change of expectations is made upon us, as meditators, we are able to make a choice and ask ourselves the question: where will I place my attention right now?

In other words, do I place my attention on what I feel I am (or someone else is) lacking?  Am I going to focus on the worst possible interpretation of this event and construct an assumption-laden storyline to support that viewpoint?

Or, do I make the conscious choice to affirm the high end of all that I am (or someone else is)?  And am I going to acknowledge that this too is happening for my highest and best good, even if I don't yet fully understand how and why.

These two directions lead to polar opposite inner experiences: one where we play the victim in an unfair life versus the other where we accept the role of co-creator in a life that is unfolding perfectly.

Attention is like currency.  It funds or provides growth to that which we are attending to.  In every situation in life there is always a high end and a low end.  Sometimes it can seem easier to sulk, to gossip, to negate, and to allow our emotions to control us.  If we engage in entertaining these thoughts and actions then we are funding that which we do not want to grow (akin to watering the weeds in our garden).

If we allow our attention to fall on that which we do want to grow – all that is good and worthy in our life – then that begins to grow (akin to watering the flowers in our garden).

We can make the choice to put our attention on the high end in every situation and not to entertain negativity.

With love,
Limor

The Bondi Experiment

Next Monday, July 25th, there will not be a Group Meditation Meeting here at Double Bay.  Instead, all meditators (and non meditators) are invited to The Theatre, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach for a special large group meditation event. 

The meeting will commence at 7pm and Thom Knoles will be the keynote speaker.  It will be a wonderful coming together of meditators, not only from our community but from many other practices and traditions.

Everyone is welcome at this event, meditators and non meditators alike. Please come along, bring your friends and family, and participate in a great group meditation experiment. 

For further details, please click here: The Bondi Experiment.

Special Meeting - Guru Purnima - July 15th at 8pm

All Vedic Meditators are invited to attend the special Guru Purnima meeting (full moon celebration) this Friday 15th July at 8pm at the North Bondi Meditation Centre; 32 Wentworth Street, Dover Heights.  

The meeting will be conducted by Thom Knoles.  It will be an evening of stories, eating of rich sweets together, taking in a moonlit stroll, and enjoying the great good fortune of being a meditator at the dawn of the age of enlightenment.

Please bring a flower with you and a wish!

Double Bay Meditation Centre - 5 Years Old Today!

5 Years ago today (on 9th July 2006), the Double Bay Meditation Centre was officially opened by my teacher, Thom Knoles.

Thom inaugurated the newly built Centre with the first Group Meditation and Knowledge Meeting.

You can see from the photos below of the event that the Centre wasn't quite finished (concrete floors and tissue paper curtains) but a great night was enjoyed by all.  Since that time, the Centre has been home to many new students and group meditation meetings.  Thank you to all who have shared in making it a sanctuary of Bliss.  We hope to continue to bring joy to all who come for many more years.

Limor's famous Kitcheree Recipe

Kitcheree is basmati rice and yellow mung dal (or red lentils) cooked together usually with ghee and spices and vegetables.  Many consider it to be an Ayurvedic panacea helping normalize the digestive system and supporting the healing of the entire body.          

It is said that there are 108 different varieties of Kitcheree.  My recipe is particularly suited for balancing Vata.

KITCHEREE (for 3 people)

1 TB Ghee                                                       Heat Ghee,

2 Pinches of Asafoetida/Hing                      fry spices in the Ghee for a few seconds.

1 ½ tsp Cumin Seeds

½ tsp Fenugreek seeds    (careful not to burn these.  They shouldn't go darker than a terracotta colour)

½ tsp Fennel Seeds

1 tsp Jaggery or Brown Sugar

½ TB Fresh Ginger (grated)

3 TB Yellow Mung Dal (or Red Lentils)        Wash rice and lentils together, add and stir around in spices.

3 TB Basmati Rice                                         

2 Cups of Boiled Water                               Bring to boil and simmer for up to 1 hour (until cooked).

1 tsp Salt                                                       

1 tsp Turmeric 

1 cup fresh-in-season vegetables  (Sweet potatoe/kumera, beetroot, carrot, pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, zucchini, snow peas, spinach). Simmer until vegetables are cooked.

Serve and add Lime or Lemon Juice and chopped parsley/coriander.

P.S.  If you want to make a bigger quantity, you can multiply the seeds and vegetables/rice/dal/lentils/liquids but don't multiply the powders (salt, turmeric) exactly; only slightly increase the quantity of powders.

Spice up your life - Ayurvedic Cooking Class

Some photos below of the recent Ayurvedic Cooking Class held at the Double Bay Meditation Centre; conducted by Ayurvedic Chef, Tim Mitchell.  Participants learnt the basic principles of Ayurveda and how to make Ghee (clarified Butter), Paneer (Cheese) and various other vegetarian dishes.  It was a day of fun, knowledge and delicious food.

For details of other Ayurvedic Cooking Classes conducted in Sydney by Tim Mitchell, please go to: www.yogaofthekitchen.com

Making Paneer (Cheese) from Milk.  Draining Curds from Whey.

Scrambled Paneer with Vegetables.  Yum!

Spices in a Masala Dhaba Spice Tray

Tim and Limor with Pear, Coconut and Cardamom Muffins about to go in the oven.  Yummy!

Meditation boosts Adaptation Energy

Endocrinologist, Hans Selye (1907-1982) introduced the "general adaptation syndrome" model showing the effects of stress on the human body.

In his work, Selye - 'the father of stress research', developed the theory that stress is a major cause of disease because chronic stress causes long-term chemical changes. 

Pressures, tensions, and other stressors can greatly influence normal metabolism.

Selye observed that if the body didn't have sufficient adaptation energy, the body would respond to any external source of stress with a predictable biological pattern - this hormonal reaction is the fight or flight stress response. 

He determined that there is a limited supply of adaptive energy to deal with stress. That amount declines with continuous exposure.

Selye concluded: “Every stress leaves an indelible scar, and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful response by becoming a little older.”

Thankfully, our meditation technique is a systematic way of eliminating the scars of stress from the body and at the same time topping up our adaptation energy so that more and more we have adaptive responses to demands rather than stress responses.

What we know from science is that our central nervous system acquires deeper rest from meditation than it does while sleeping - which, over time, makes us impervious to the debilitating effects of stress.

The relatively small amount of time we invest in meditation will continue to pay off over and over in every area of life, forever.

Deep rest is the basis for all dynamic action.  If being confident, secure, fun, and adaptable were drops of water, meditation would be our ocean.

In the words of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi:

“Meditate and enjoy."

"Meditation in the am and the pm."

"Water the root to enjoy the fruit."

"20 minutes in the bank, all day in the market place."

With love,
Limor

Why Meditation is the key to Peace

No person is an Island.  You cannot suffer in isolation; you bring everyone around you down with you.  In the same way, one cannot be happy in isolation; it radiates from you and you have a positive effect on everyone around you.

At the end of every day, every individual, through their responses to demands, is either a net contributor to the stress in the atmosphere or a net contributor to harmony in the atmosphere.

Every day we are faced with a number of demands.  These are changes of expectations.  A simple example might be:  waiting in line for 5 minutes to buy a loaf of bread when you expected to buy it straight away.  In this situation, there are 2 possible outcomes - we can adapt to this change of expectation and enjoy the opportunity to be in the present moment or we can mal-adapt and have a stress reaction.

If we mal-adapt then stress chemistry (plasma cortisol and plasma lactate) will start flowing through the body and the emotions of anger and anxiety might accompany them.  By the time we get to the front of the line and are greeted by the shop assistant, we are in a bad mood and may take this out on the assistant.  We have now created stress in the atmosphere.

If, on the other hand, instead of having a stress reaction while we were waiting in line, we enjoyed the sun heating up our body and the other sensory delights that are always available in the present moment, then by the time we get to the front of the line and are greeted by the shop assistant, we are smilingly paying for our loaf of bread.  We have now created harmony, happiness and peace in the atmosphere.

As Meditators, we are fortunate to be able to twice a day contact the state of Bliss and remove stress from our physiology.  This equips us with the ability to have adaptive and interactive responses to demands rather than reactive stress reactions.  And in this way we are making an individual contribution to world peace.

Each individual is an individual unit of world peace.  The greatest contribution we can make towards world peace is to experience peace individually in our own lives.  If you want a forest of green trees, you need to start planting individual green trees.  A peaceful world is a world of peaceful individuals.

With love,
Limor

Thom Knoles tour of Australia - June/July 2011

My brilliant and inspiring teacher, Thom Knoles will be touring Australia in June and July this year.

Thom has been teaching meditation for the past 43 years.  He is a master of Vedic Meditation as well as an expert in physics, psychology, cognitive neuroscience and consciousness.

Thom will conduct two meetings at the Double Bay Meditation Centre: 

An INTERMEDIATE MEDITATION MEETING - Monday 20 June 2011, 7pm to 8.30pm - free and open to all Vedic Meditators.

An ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE MEETING – Sunday 3 July 2011, 7pm to 9.30pm - attendance fee of $55 per person. Pre-registration required.  Topic: Stabilising Enlightenment by correcting the mistaken intellect.

All Vedic Meditators, regardless of experience level, are welcome to attend both meetings.

For further details of these meetings and Thom's tour of Australia, please click here: Thom Knoles Tour of Australia 2011

Ayurvedic Cooking Class - Sunday 26th June, 10am - 4pm

Enjoy a day of Ayurvedic Cooking and eating here at Double Bay!

My dear friend and Master Ayurvedic Chef Tim Mitchell will conduct a 1 day Ayurvedic cooking class on Sunday 26th June 2011 from 10am to 4pm. This class is suitable for everyone. You will learn the basic principles of Ayurveda and how you can bring balance to your mind and body through food.  We will also share a delicious lunch. Space is limited to 8 participants. For further details, please click here.