The M.A.N.A.S.A. Code of Practice

Do you know the The M.A.N.A.S.A. Code of Practice?

A note on friends and the roles they play

Manoj recaps on a talk he gave during class last week. He talked about friends, the different types, the roles they play in our lives and how with the help of the right kinds of friends, we can get on the ‘right’ path in life.

Can you ‘experience’ your body?

Manoj goes into depth about how one can and should try to ‘experience’ the body without the use of one’s senses or sensory perceptions, and without the preconditioned knowledge you have about body. Just be open to the idea of experiencing the body, and one day it just might happen…

Specific Concentration Vs Open Awareness

Manoj sheds light on some post-Tapasya doubts from a student concerning specific concentration versus open awareness.

Backbend It Away!

Manoj relates through a personal experience how one can backbend away from thoughts or feelings that might negatively affect us. By ‘bending back’ one can start to understand the chain of dependent effects and strive to rise above it.

A Review on the Backbend Talk

Manoj talks about our relational selves and reminds us to keep identifying the different selves we assume throughout the course of a day. With the different Selves identified, we should try not to let the expectations of these individual selves cling and take over as we continue in our strive to connect to the Independent Self within.

Take An Awareness Break

Manoj urges us to take an awareness break every two hours. He says, ‘Whatever you are doing, just become really aware of what is happening; as to what exactly you are doing, what muscles are being employed, how the ego is reacting, how is the body posture, how is the breath, the degree of attention, etc. In that moment of awareness, let go of the ‘my, me’ ideas.’

Mindscapes and Mindstates

Manoj shares how by “…focusing mind, ego and intellect into the body and senses, we can discipline them into being present in the ‘now’.. and then, as it deeply immerses into the moment, abidance with a more wholesome, empowering mental state can be realized.”

New Year Message

A new year message from Manoj to Manasa yogis and friends.

Svadhyaya on The Move

It’s almost the end of another year, and for most of us, it is a time of reflection. In this post, Manoj explains how svadyaya isn’t just plain reflecting– like when we reflect on our problems or their sources. He goes on to ’spell’ out how we can practice svadyaya correctly, by observing what is happening with an open ended curiousity. Happy Practising Svadyaya everybody- and Merry Christmas!!!

Karma & Yoga

Manoj goes in depth on the meaning of karma yoga quoting the Vaisheshika sutra and the Bhagavad Gita. He also expresses how karma yoga can and should be practiced in our daily lives.

A Matter of Owing

Namaste
Being with the kids without Sandhya is challenging. Not always, but definitely sometimes!
But when looking into ‘why feeling challenged?’, it is easy to see that it is because of my clinging to some desires. Such as my clinging to desire for typing down some  train of thoughts, some inspirations, desire to have some silent time [...]

On Truth & Pleasantness

Namaste all, 
just some reflections..
Scenario 1- identity- teacher; association- students

Last week’s TTC class, among other things,the yamas(moral don’ts in yoga) were focussed. 
In it, spoke at length about ahimsa (non violence) and satya (truth). Ahimsa is given the utmost importance in yoga, which is non violence in thought, word and deed. 
Now, [...]

A Note on Non-Violence (Ahimsa)

Every October 2nd, people the world over celebrated Gandhi’s birthday. On this day, Manoj remembers Gandhi, reflects and shares on the importance of Ahimsa (the practice of non-violence).

Abhinivesha- The Purifying Affliction

Manoj emails from India about his experience on a turbulent flight experience that got him thinking about abhinivesha– the fifth and final klesha, in the list of kleshas (afflictions) which Patanjali enlisted in the second chapter.

Of Elephants and Cell Phones – A message from Manoj to the Manasa FB Group (Aug 23, 2009)

Namaste all
First of all, I see a few non students in our face book group. I take this opportunity to welcome you all into this mail group.
Also just to warn you that sometimes, this kind of long mails might come, where I try to communicate certain incidents and happenings with students, trying to bring [...]

MISSING PUPPY – Manoj wrote to the Manasa FB group on Aug 17

Namaste all
Since I have been getting lot of concerned goodwill mail for the lost puppy which made studio2’s stairway its temporary home, Iam sending you thisupdate.
The same day the mail was sent to you, I met a tearful Penny at studio 2 entrance who told me that the puppy was missing. Though at first we [...]

Pratipakshad

Namaste all
just waiting for sandhya to return after her dance practice.. then thought of typing a mail to you.. apologize if it runs a bit long..
After the retreat, and through it, some students have asked me about the concept of pratipaksha. Let me try to elucidate this subject a little bit through this [...]

Post Yatra Bliss

Namaste all
I am still basking in the good memories of a great yatra.. the resort was really nice, the forest unbelievably good and the lake so tranquil.. for me it resembled our path itself..
The resort structure we stayed in- reminded of the physical body our consciousness is inhabiting.. (it is beautiful but needs little bit [...]

Pre Yatra Prep

Namaste yatrites, as well as non yatrites
 
Just want to give a brief of what was talked in yesterday’s brief to the yatra students. Majority could not turn up. And for those not coming this time, you can just read on, as almost all of you have come with me for one retreat or the other, [...]

Wesak Night

Namaste all
The following mail is mainly a narration of a ‘driving’ contemplation on the topic of prana.. which i thought might be useful for current ttc students revision and contemplation of the topic (i missed a lecture session with them).. but since all in this mail group are previous ttc students or retreat students, i [...]

Appreciating What is There

‘Rotate the spine clockwise but the leg anticlockwise..
keep your head pointing 3 ‘o’ clock but arm at 6 ‘o’ clock..
look at the right thumb with the right eye and the left toe with the left eye’
Kwan kept on teaching.. and at the end of the very well conducted class, wiping sweat off her brows, she [...]

On Wesak Night

On the full moon night of Wesak i sat resolutely..
Then, in the first watch of the night, 11-2, i had the revelation of all previous births
In the second watch, 2-5, the revelation of all thoughts, words and doings of all my students
And by the third watch, full enlightenment..
Hmm.. how nice if it had really happened [...]

Benefits of Football

On the full moon night of Wesak i sat resolutely..
Then, in the first watch of the night, 11-2, i had the revelation of all previous births
In the second watch, 2-5, the revelation of all thoughts, words and doings of all my students
And by the third watch, full enlightenment..
Hmm.. how nice if it had really happened [...]

Football Awareness

Namaste all
Sandhya has gone for an awards night show, as the dance she participated last year is nominated for the awards. I dont clearly know what to do in the house, and then thought of sending a mail to you. Have to apologize beforehand in case it runs a bit long.
Basically i want to drive [...]

Abuse

Namaste all,
I had two incidents with children, on back to back evenings, and thought i will share it with you.
1. This saturday evening, after class, at around 7 pm i was walking to my parked car. Even as i was nearing the car, i heard some heavy shouting from a chinese middle aged man. He [...]