"The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness."

- Tulshi Sen

Sat Nam Friends, 

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback on our first newsletter. 

Enjoy the fresh perspective of this month's article about what it means to be a student in life. 

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 F E A T U R E   A R T I C L E

Get Smart About Learning

By Santokh Kathy Humphrys

Once someone asked me what my favorite month of the year is.  As I pondered each month, I immediately disqualified September because of my back to school memories.  Even after many years away from school, I can easily bring to mind the stress, pressure, and performance anxiety I felt as a student.

In some towns, the Drivers Licensing Office marks a big 'L' on the license plate or back window of the car to indicate the driver is just learning to drive. My friend remembers people joking that the 'L' stands for Loser. Though it was a joke, she had a realization that an actual connection did form inside her; being a Learner was being a Loser. Now that she is taking courses as a part of a career change, she also wants to change her understanding of what it means to be a learner. 

What concept do you have of learning?  Can you name something that you learned in the last twenty four hours?  This beautiful Zen story shines a light on what is required to have the mind of the student: 

Once, a student went to learn from a Master and asked the Master to teach him. The Teacher began to patiently explain the lesson but the student continuously interrupted to add his own comments and insights.

Soon, the Master became silent and picked up a tea pot, offering tea to the student.  The student graciously accepted, feeling that because of his wisdom the lesson must be over.  As the Master poured tea into the cup in front of the student, it filled to the brim. The Master kept pouring the tea and it began to spill over the sides of the cup and flowed over the tray.  The student watched in disbelief, unable to control himself he shouted at the Master, "Can't you see the cup is full, it won't hold any more.  Stop, you're wasting the tea!" 

The Master nodded and explained, "You are like the cup. How can I add any wisdom to your cup when it is already full? You must empty your cup before you can learn."

When it comes to living, every day we must empty our cup to see the learning in big things as well as small events and feelings.  Instead of going through the day as if it were the same as yesterday, as if there is nothing new to learn, we must empty our cup each morning, then fill it with all that the day offers. 

With this attitude, you will find yourself excited to get out of bed in the morning.  The idea of being a student will bring a feeling of anticipation, joy and fulfillment. And like my friend who realized Learning was not for Losers, she changed her thinking and associated "L" with positive feelings like Laughing, Leaping, Loving, and Living.  

S P E C I A L   N E W   W O R K S H O P

 3 Common Obstacles that Get In The Way of Your Success And How to Remove Them

Saturday, September 23, 1-5 p.m.

Do you know the roadblocks that most people face when they think about their lives and their happiness?  Often people either don't know what they want, or get what they want, only to find out it doesn't make them happy and wasn't what they really wanted after all. 

Come to this workshop to learn how to remove the three most common obstacles to success. 

Click here for Workshop details.

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Y O G A

Easy Yoga for Tired Legs

Legs tired?  Here's an easy move that, in a short time, leaves you feeling refreshed.

These simple yoga postures bring strength and flexibility to the muscles in your abdomen, in front of the stomach, as well as the muscles in your spine and back.  Plus they improve circulation in the legs and hips. Try them for 1-5 minutes to remove fatigue and increase energy.

Start by sitting on the floor with your shoulder to the wall.  Using your arms for support, lean back and slowly lift each leg up the wall as you lower your back around and to the floor.  Keep your torso in line with the legs and the head.  The buttocks are close to the wall and even.

Relax your neck and let your shoulders drop down.  Rest your hands on the floor with the palms facing up.  Relax the feet and let the lower back rest on the floor.  If necessary support the head.  For variation, open the hips by gently opening your knees and bringing your feet together against the wall.

Begin a slow, deep, relaxed breath.  Focus your mind by silently thinking Sat (Truth) as you inhale, and Nam (Name) as you exhale. Feel the truth within you. Continue up to five minutes.  To finish, bend your knees and gently turn to the side.  Then slowly get up.

Alternative :  It may be easier to try this exercise on your couch before trying it against the wall.

Always use yogic common sense when practicing, and listen to the guidance of your body and your inner wisdom to make adjustments and determine the length of time and frequency of your practice.

D E V O T I O N A L   R O O T S

Understanding the origin of a word can deepen our experience of its meaning. This month's word is sacred.

The root of the word sacred is the Indo-European 'sak'. In Latin this becomes the word 'sacrere' which means to make holy. When you take something to be sacred it means you have made it holy. The key concept is that you are making it holy. You are giving it a special place in your heart and mind and declaring it deserves respect and honour.

Another word that shares this root is sacrifice. The dictionary definition of sacrifice is 'the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else more important or worthy.'   Sacrificing something is not supposed to be a negative thing. Spiritually, it means to give up something and make it holy. For example, by sacrificing your time and using it to pray or meditate, you make that time holy for yourself. You create sacredness in your life.

This Latin 'sacrere' is also the origin of the words sacrament, sacrosanct, sacrilege, and sexton.

The Indo-European root 'sak' is also the root of the word saint, someone who has decided to make everything in their life holy.

Reference: www.etymonline.com, http://www.oxfordreference.com/, http://www.bartleby.com/

Devotional Quotes

"..let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

- Hebrews 13:15-16

"I am a sacrifice to that Song of Praise which brings eternal peace."

 -Guru Nanak Dev, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 12

"The nectar is obtained by those who sacrifice. They go to the Eternal Being.

O Arjuna, if this world is not for the non-sacrificer, how then can heaven be for him?"

- Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 31

Sat Nam (The Truth is In You)

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