Rajanaka News: Empowered Women, Mantra Studies, Buddhism, and More
Invitations & Links to Sessions and Archives
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Aho’Rajanaka,
I hope this finds you well. We are living in interesting times, far too interesting for my tastes. It’s one thing to stand looking over the edge from the 103rd floor, it’s another to feel like that’s the only place left to stand. No one ever said this life was going to be safe or fair. What we create for each other makes all the difference. If you’re feeling precarious, especially personally, reach out, talk to a friend, take a step back and get yerself a hug, okay? Maybe take some time to enjoy a story, even a long book, perhaps a Rajanaka Session on audio--- listening is our most natural way of learning.
Mahabharata: A Conversation of Women’s Empowerment
Last weekend during our Mahabharata studies we reached the conversation between the young princess Satyabhama, married to Krsna, and Draupadi wife of the five Pandavas, perhaps the most formidable heroine in Indian lore. What happens between them is nothing short of remarkable.
We’re made privy to feelings about sex and love, the traumas and demands of society, tribe, and immediate family, about how they each have learned to live as empowered women in their world.
One cannot diminish the underlying sexism and misogyny any honest reading renders, but we were also made party to a conversation in which emotionally astute, intellectually perspicacious women are sharing individual experiences, revealing secret hopes and dreams, and expressing heartfelt needs, concerns, and values.
Here, I think, is one of the more revealing, important conversations in Indian lore about women’s personal life experiences.
We took some two hours to tell the story, making our way through its subtle weavings and meanings. Here is the link to the audio, which you can download and listen to anytime. (You must download to receive the entire file.) Dropbox link reduced for easy access: https://bit.ly/4aEiUoe
Tantric Ganesha
We have one more Session of Tantric Ganesha introducting the study and practice of contemplative mantra. I have made at least six recordings of different Ganesha mantras, along with notes. You can access the Sessions, notes, and mantras from the Rajanaka Archive in Dropbox here: https://bit.ly/3vQCX3S
Even if you don’t have time to listen to the Sessions, perhaps you might enjoy the mantras. Poke around the Archive in the link, you’ll find something. If it serves you, offer tuition: the entire course is $100 and Sessions are $12 each. You’re on your honor, offer as you choose.
Buddhism Sessions have been really fun, really illuminating and interesting. We’re going to continue because it’s just too good. That’s on Saturdays at 5pm. Join us, link below the line. Good learning, good company.
See you this evening, Sunday at 5pm for Mahabharata, as usual. Link below the line.
On a sad note, we have lost a very, very good friend. Many of you knew Maureen Gillum, an incredible soul of such generous heart and deep curiosity. Mo came to Summer Camp last year, making the trip all the way from Florida. She’s been such a pal to so many. Even as she endured the last weeks of her battle with cancer, she was ever engaged, asking about the welfare of others, staying engaged in the conversations that she so loved. Mo came to dozens of Rajanaka Zooms over these past pandemic years, how she loved the community and the work we do together. My heart breaks, we know we have loved for the grief and memory that drenches the soul. She will be so truly missed.
If you see or hear of Randall Buskirk, offer him all the love in the world. Randall’s been a Rajanaka pal as long as we’ve been. You may not know that he recently had a very serious heart event that nearly took him from us. Love, medicine, care, and courage---each in immeasurable offerings---and now he is on the way to recovery. If you’re on FB, drop Randall a note. I’ll find his mailing address and we’ll flood him with cards and love, ‘cause nobody’s more deserving. We’ve got to shout out Randall’s partner Penny Billings who is simply remarkable in every way for all she has been and done. Hurray. We hope to see him soon completely on his feet, playing guitar, and writing those remarkable essays about yoga and life.
RIP, dear David Newman. What a life of love and blessing you have been.
I wanted to mention these events in our community, I hope you know how much you all mean to me. Let’s talk soon. Do take care.
Saprema, with affection, Douglas
&&Below the line starts here
The Saturday Conversation for Winter Semester: January-April 2024.
Buddhism: Origins & Evolution, Philosophies and Practices
Buddhism began on Saturday, February 3rd. Each Session runs about 90 minutes.
All Sessions are at 5pm Eastern and will use the same Zoom link (the same as all Saturdays past).
A downloadable Archive of recordings is available for all completed work. If you can’t make the Sessions live on Zoom, this is a good option, you can listen anytime.7
Tuition for all Sessions in advance is $120. This includes access to the Archive and all study materials. Otherwise, tuition for individual Sessions will be $12. Please use the usual methods: Venmo (douglas-brooks-8 or svcourses@gmail.com) or PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com). If you can’t afford tuition, please let me know because you are always welcome.
Scheduled Dates:, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24, March 2, March 9, March 23, March 30, April 6, April 13, April 20.
Zoom Link requires no special codes, just come! https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95057662268
The Dropbox Archive will include all lectures and handouts here in reduced form: https://bit.ly/3xJs6cz
(To listen to any Dropbox you must download the file to get the entire recording. No risk, no cost.)
2. Thursday Evenings at 7pm Eastern for Winter Semester: February-April 2024
Practicum: Ten Tantric Ganeshas with Visualization, Mantra, & Meditation Practice
Each week we will study a particular form of the elephant-headed Ganapati with particular reference to his nuanced expression and spiritual purpose. Who is this Ganesha? How do we visualize him? What is his mantra and what does it mean? What is his purpose within a spiritual practice? In Tantric practice, there are dozens of forms of Ganesha, each associated with different kinds of insight and empowerment. No prerequisites, just bring your open heart!
The Practicum began on Thursday, February 1st. Sessions run about 90 minutes.
All Sessions are at 7pm Eastern and use the same Zoom link (the same as all Thursdays past).
A downloadable Archive of recordings will also be available each week. If you can’t make the Sessions live on Zoom, this is a good option, you can listen anytime.
Tuition for all Sessions in advance is $100. This includes access to the Archive and all study materials. Otherwise, tuition for individual Sessions will be $12. Please use the usual methods: Venmo (douglas-brooks-8 or svcourses@gmail.com) or PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com). If you can’t afford tuition, please let me know because you are always welcome.
Scheduled Dates: Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, Feb. 29, March 7, March 21, March 28, April 6, April 13.
Zoom Link requires no special codes, just come!
https://rochester.zoom.us/j/98183733328
The Dropbox Archive will include all lectures and handouts here: https://bit.ly/3vYAtjT
3. Sunday Mahabharata, 5pm Eastern for Winter Semester: February-May 2024
For those of you who have been with us (or at least some of the time during these last two years), we carry on! Every week there is a complete story, a Session that stands on its own. You’ll have context and a way in each week even if this is your first time or you just like to drop in now and then. There is nothing better than Mahabharata. And I rarely speak in absolutes.
All Sessions are at 5pm Eastern and will use the same Zoom link (the same as all Sundays past).
A downloadable Archive of recordings will also be available each week. If you can’t make the Sessions live on Zoom, this is a good option, you can listen anytime. HERE is the entire Archive:
Tuition for all 12 Sessions in advance is $120. This includes access to the Archive and all study materials. Otherwise, tuition for individual Sessions will be $12. Please use the usual methods: Venmo (douglas-brooks-8 or svcourses@gmail.com) or PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com). If you can’t afford tuition, please let me know because you are always welcome.
Scheduled Dates: Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 18, Feb. 25, March 3, March 10, March 24, April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28, May 5.
Zoom Link requires no special codes, just come!
https://rochester.zoom.us/j/314987250
The entire Mahabharata Archive is here ANYTIME: https://bit.ly/3vYADrv
you are the only email worth listening to