Rajanaka News, March 2nd 2024

It's Time to Bend the Spoon

Mar 02, 2024

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Aho’Rajanaka,

I hope this finds you well. It’s been a while. Miss me?

As a kid I thought it would be especially cool to be born on Leap Day. Then you could say that you’re three years old when could be twelve or sum’thin’. Of course, having a birthday only once in four years might interfere with cupcakes, to say nothing of hats and hooters. But some things are worth bending the spoon. Remember that?

In the waiting room before Neo meets with The Oracle---we’re talking The Matrix here---our Very Own Keanu is with other candiddates, mostly children, all of whom want to know if they are ‘The One’. (Well, who isn’t?) Neo encounters a youngster with shaven head, berobed like a Buddhist monk, holding a spoon. The spoon is bending this way and that apparently to the boy’s will, driven solely it seems by his intention. That road paved with good intentions is back. Now what?

Neo is requisitely fascinated, and we are treated to an iconic Keanu head tilt. (I have been attempting to perfect this for decades now: not the spoon bending, just the head swagger.) The boy then says “Do not try and bend the spoon, that’s impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth… there is no spoon. Then you’ll see that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.” When Neo then attempts to bend the spoon, well, that happens or at least it appears to. My Jersey Self says, “now that can’t be too hard, even a chooch like me could pull this off. Do they know I’ve been deciphering the CBC on the bottom of cereal boxes since ever, that the “U” in a circle followed by a “D” means it’s not treif, and that I’ve actually reset a GRE without even electrocuting myself?*” (*yet)

Perhaps there is no greater mystery than what lurks in plain sight. Maybe not but that is why we are still at this. Can we know? Life is like the steam you see coming up from the streets of Gotham: it cons you into thinking it's the ghost of Firorello LaGuardia blowing smoke rings until you figure out it’s just Con Edison dealing with 105 miles of main pipes, 3,000 manholes, and about 1,800 buildings. When you hang out in The Oracle’s Waiting Room your Inner Sandhog mines all of these nooks and crannies. Got sandhog? Get out your spiritual English muffin it’s time to figure out what’s going on and how they did that. Enlightenment is no small matter.

As you can see (note to self: no one is still reading) I’ve been learning stuff and I mean to share it with you. Neo’s Buddha Boy wants us to know that some Buddhists think it wise to remember how truth exists without logic and thinks that if we can cease little by little our inner dialogue we’ll extinguish (that’s the nirvana-word) the thirst to reveal the more possible. Maybe there’s nothing there at all. But that’s okay. We can try that on too. After all, it’s all in yer mind until it’s not. However, if it’s only in your mind then you might have a beautiful problem---our Buddha Boy shows Neo that what’s possible is only what’s shareable. Take that one to heart, I say. Come to some Rajanaka Sessions, we’ll bend some spoon.

TODAY, Saturday March 2 at 5pm we resume BUDDHISM SESSIONS. We are going to bend the spoon tonight about just exactly happened underneath that bodhi tree. Early Buddhist literature is not shy nor is it given to silence about the Enlightenment. Don’t you wanna know? Like the seemingly mysterious wires in certain Brooklyn neighborhoods (hint: they are called eruv lines by the locals who are minding their meaning), there’s a lot to explain despite admonishing to stop making sense. We will persist in both tonight. You are NOT TOO LATE to join us. Here is the ZOOM link AND the Archive where you can hear all of the previous Sessions. Come along, bend some spoon, have a seat beneath the tree, the steam will just rise from your inner bodhisattva.
ZOOM HERE:

https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95057662268

RECORDING ARCHIVE HERE: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yted2ht281tfrn74ig0c2/h?rlkey=8j5bvomcf9ate80us41n2vj25&dl=0

Have you really gotten this far?

THURSDAYS WITH TANTRIC GANAPATI is also happenin’ and you are warmly invited. Come, it’s on Thursday at 7pm. That’s Thursday. Zoom here:

https://rochester.zoom.us/j/98183733328

Recording Archive here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zbs7vlhprzjzumggr56sn/Tantric-Ganapati-1.pdf?rlkey=imz489guhg1dggyjcm7akxsqt&dl=0

Tomorrow is SUNDAY MAHABHARATA @5pm Eastern. It’s nothing like church and the stories are way more crazy but in a good way. Zoom:

https://rochester.zoom.us/j/314987250

You can always listen to the Recordings here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bfqt15y3n0uglir/AAAB_89LiCOob0hJI1w8BK7_a?dl=0

Rajanaka Summer Camp is July weekend after the 4^th. More details soon soon. Let’s make plans.

Saprema, with affection,

Douglas

**below the line stuff here, like tuition etc.

Buddhism: Origins & Evolution, Philosophies and Practices

For 12 Weeks we will study the origins and development of Buddhism in south Asia. This course will give you a solid foundation in how the Buddhist tradition began its journey into a world religion. There will be 12 Sessions, each 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 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.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: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yted2ht281tfrn74ig0c2/h?rlkey=8j5bvomcf9ate80us41n2vj25&dl=0

(To listen to any Dropbox you must download the file to get the entire recording. No risk, no cost.)

· THURSDAY PRACTICUM IS UNDERWAY! JOIN US! LAST WEEK IS IN THE ARCHIVE AND SO MUCH TO COME!! ENOUGH FUN TO WARRANT CAPITAL LETTERS, HA!!

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. We’ll take up ten and see them as a kula, a collective, such that the practice can focus on any one of these forms or as a group. We have studied Tantric Ganapati before but have not considered the work as a practicum: this means we’ll be looking through the lens of practice in ritual and meditation with a particular focus on the subtle mantra body. No prerequisites, just bring your open heart!

The Practicum will begin on Thursday, February 1st. There will be 10 Sessions, each about 90 minutes.

All Sessions are at 7pm Eastern and will 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://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/aj2q0pqv6k62vaxy2h810/h?rlkey=ag6ijieez888x4yi9kjggthq2&dl=0

· MAHABHARATA RESUMES TOMORROW! SUNDAYS AT 5pm. COME ANYTIME!

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.

We begin on Sunday, February 4th. For this Semester we’ll have 15 Sessions, each about 90 minutes.

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.

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://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wn3icbb418qcsrjqhk6ke/h?rlkey=nzdh43ld5xitb96duffoflhlg&dl=0

I want to end here with one of those annoying Facebook posts where people ask to copy or reply to the post to test who’s reading or who’s your real pal. Who has time to read anything? It depends on what you want to do with the time you have, and of course so much of that is spoken for by our responsibilities and what the world steals. So if you’re still reading, know that I’m here still wanting to be here, to not lose the plot. There will be no Powerpoint presentations, no smoke machines, or light shows. There’s conversation and community whenever you can make it. No hassles, no pressures, you are always, always welcome. Drop me a line, douglas@rajanaka.com And in the meantime, take care. Enjoy the weather, inside and out.

RAJANAKA TUTORIAL: PERSONALIZED LEARNING, STUDY, CONTEMPLATION IN EVENING WEEKDAY SESSIONS

Our community has evolved and matured to the point where many of you are eager for more personal and directed work. There’s nothing quite like a personal conversation. Do you want to talk about your life in yoga? Discuss a particular subject, topic, or vocabulary? Read a text together? I’m will make available time on Monday, Wednesday, and some Fridays after 7pm Eastern time. We can schedule one session, weekly, bi-weekly, whatever suits you. The model is the so-called Oxford Tutorial or more like what Appa did for me: it was just us. You can invite friends, you can organize this for your own yoga students for Q&A or teacher training. You will have your own ZOOM link and all material will be wholly private and confidential. Learning in good company is what we do. Tuition can be paid over time. $165 for Four Sessions, 90 minutes each, or as you please. Write to me and we will schedule: douglas@rajanaka.com

THE DROPBOX ARCHIVE

This is truly a vast repository of recorded Sessions, Seminars, Camps. If you want any past course or session (and find Dropbox less than optimal), just write to me, I will hook you up.
You can access this anytime by downloading from provided links. And a very select bit is still on the Rajanaka website. You’ll find the hundreds free Saturday Storytellings, Sunday Mahabharata, our Gita Sessions, and so much more. I’m trying to figure out how to make this more organized and accessible (currently with Substack, ‘cause it’s got tools). Look below the line for some selections. I hope to move most of this to Substack where you can more easy subscribe and purchase. Proceeds to our good causes.

ALL PAST NEWSLETTERS on the Kalliyam Blogspot here:

https://kalliyam.blogspot.com/2023/01/rajanaka-newsletter-january-10-2023.html
I’m hoping to put all future Newsletters also on Substack. Our mailing list server is fine but it’d be better to have things all in one place.

All FREE Special Saturdays for 2022 and 2023 are in these Archives for download. For 2022 go here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/a34ja95pg4t8bamatfq3q/h?rlkey=0dcorxwfqhocsiime5rhcju1t&dl=0

For 2023 Specials go here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rm505c2fcy04y3upn5abv/h?rlkey=6gk1d5rzyypn0r37100wzv5hk&dl=0

Rajanaka Summer Camp 2023, “The Sorcery of Śiva: Teachings on Abhicara and the Luminous Shadow”.
Dropbox Archive link is here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/836d746qa8917cdcgnjll/h?rlkey=bqb06vxanp69s4o17gar035nx&dl=0

Tuition for the Archive is $200, please use the usual PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com) or Venmo (same email or douglas-brooks-8).

THE HEART OF RECOGNITION SESSIONS

Please use the usual PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com) or Venmo (douglas-brooks-8).

*Dropbox Recordings Available IN FULL, NOW, Anytime!: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/3lvz5j1ajcidwjasy7fsl/h?dl=0&rlkey=qibpejcv3blkq0ngmjx6atsc8

*All Courses are recorded and available on our Archive for download.

*Tuition for the Archive is $150, please use the usual PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com) or Venmo (same email or douglas-brooks-8).

INDIA is a go. If you are interested in joining us on the India Pilgrimage that can still happen for you. There’s room. There are more details below the line but you can write to me directly with any questions or interests, douglas@rajanaka.com. Join the Facebook Group Rajanaka 2023 India Pilgrimage even if you don’t think you can come this time. You’ll meet lovely people and you won’t be able to resist. This is the real deal.

NEW ARCHIVE COURSES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THIS PAST SPRING 2023.

· The Tamil Goddess in Six Sessions, tuition for all Sessions is $95. You can download from here directly. Tuition is on the honor system, use Paypal or Venmo (svcourses@gmail.com)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/owz6urldp6rnl4nv6bpdh/h?dl=0&rlkey=7rty7mxnjwk301bjk6vt7qtpi

· Muruga of the Six Temples, tuition for all Sessions is $95 payable as PayPal or Venmo (svcourses@gmail.com), here is the Dropbox link for downloading directly: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1fwu9qhlghlmz9t1a1sd2/h?dl=0&rlkey=2lz0ox3znbhl0iqc48qu59gpx

And so much to read on the Rajanaka Sammelana, Rajanaka Adesa, and the Contraiety [SIC] Blogspots, links here:

https://rajanaka.blogspot.com/2023/01/a-story-in-news-rajanaka-past-and.html

https://rajanakadesa.blogspot.com/2023/01/vrata-resolutions-and-new-year.html

https://contraiety.blogspot.com/2022/08/what-you-havent-earned-is-more-important.html

Pancamukha Anjaneya, The Five-Face Hanuman of the Tantra.

Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/d62llefrjvyidefn3uequ/h?dl=0&rlkey=p774e7zbme37d8cc49ocysog2

What will you find?

Six Sessions and PDF to aid in study. Write to me if you need helpDescription: No form of Hanuman is more important or less understood and studied than the great Pancamukha. Here Hanuman bears the visage of Varaha the Boar, Garuda the Raptor, Hanuman the Monkey, Narasimha the Lion Man, and Hayagriva the Horse. We will bring this character to life in mythos, mantra, and mudra, in theory and practice, and there will be new stories and work that extends far beyond what we have done before with the Tantric Hanuman. Everyone is welcome. We start at the beginning and we go deep.

Tuition for Six Sessions is $150, payable over time if you need, use PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com or nallapaampu@gmail.com) or Venmo (douglas-brooks-8 or svcourses@gmail.com) If you can’t afford full tuition, talk to me. Your access is guaranteed. Tuition further promises unlimited access to the Recorded Dropbox Archive that will allow you to listen whenever.

Rasa in Theory and Practice.

Six Sessions on Saturday Evenings

ARCHIVE is HERE: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/d4uwwjw17seca2livd6r2/h?dl=0&rlkey=nh4g7xj6x7skeghw4x6tcsk2c

Description: Rasa means essence, taste, liquidity, flavor, sentiment, elemental feeling and emotion. At the heart of the study of poetry, Rasa Theory is a remarkable, rich, and complex method of analysis and appreciation of artistry and aesthetics. But rasa is also a roadmap, a process and practice, a method for understanding and exploring our most elemental feelings. Rajanaka has among the most developed and useful rasa traditions of yoga. At the center of every yoga is engagement with feeling and the development of “taste”: rasa is the core of our being and here we learn the way through that labyrinth of essence.

TUITION FOR ANY OF THESE ARCHIVES IS $150 FOR COMPLETE ACCESS. YOU ARE ON YOUR HONOR TO ACCESS THEM AS YOU PLEASE AND OFFER TUITION VIA PAYPAL (SVCOURSES@GMAIL.COM OR NALLAPAAMPU@GMAIL.COM) OR BY VENMO (SVCOURSES@GMAIL.COM OR DOUGLAS-BROOKS-8).

Gayatri Mantra

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/r58rwnp3ryxgi6a6y8yme/h?dl=0&rlkey=59kbd7hjdrl8n809zv8becmdi

Lalita 1000 Names

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/18o5rtle7p91hz2/AADQnph8ofpPAX5mtW7mX-L4a?dl=0

OM Autobiography

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/11jd30d14ibjjtv3wauaj/h?dl=0&rlkey=1wugbag9m7myo1c50gt6qoa6d

Shakuntala for India

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/osx5n6i9vrz5vi5ek9vch/h?dl=0&rlkey=pa7akqysgrauu07mw9te61yb1

Pancamukha Hanuman

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/d62llefrjvyidefn3uequ/h?dl=0&rlkey=p774e7zbme37d8cc49ocysog2

Rasa Theory

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/d4uwwjw17seca2livd6r2/h?dl=0&rlkey=nh4g7xj6x7skeghw4x6tcsk2c