Feel the Vibrations! Studying Sanskrit

For the next two days we have an intensive program of Sanskrit language training. We are blessed to be taught by Manorama herself, who is the director of the School of Sanskrit Studies in NYC and is nationally recognized as one of the best experts in Sanksrit today. Manorama studied with the same Guru that Sharon Gannon and David Life studied with, Sri Brahmananda Sarasvati, the founder of Ananda Ashram. Part of the wonderful experience of learning from her is hearing all these delicious stories about her experiences with this holy teacher, Sri Sarasvati. Much of the teachings of the Jivamukti Yoga Method are from the lineage of Sri Brahmananda Sarasvati, so it is delightful to get to know him a bit more, vicariously at least, through one of his beloved devotees, Manorama. Sri Sarasvati was an amazing scholar - he was a widely recognized authority on the science and philosophy of Yoga-Vedanta, a medical doctor and brain surgeon, a yogi, prolific writer, and a master of the Sanskrit language. These two days we are learning from his teachings about Sanskrit, this language of Yoga.

Some great quotes from Sri Brahmananda Sarasvati:

"You are either wise---or otherwise."

"If you want to see Rama (God), you have to drop the "D" in Drama."

"Mind your own business……which is knowing who you are. That YOU ARE."

"Yoga is the state of missing nothing"

"The repetition of mantras is the controlled craziness which destroys uncontrolled craziness."

And my favorite, also Manorama's favorite:

"We're tired of faith and belief, let's have a direct experience."

Here are some interesting tidbits we learned about Sanskrit.......There are more words in Sanskrit dealing with spirituality and describing the Divine than in any other language. Also, the language was designed specifically to achieve harmonics in breathing, with a fluidity that creates a sort of "vinyasa" in your mouth! Isn't that awesome? Here are some other cool things about this sacred language:

There is no word for guilt (there is no such concept because this is viewed as a toxic emotion and another form of selfishness because you are obsessing about yourself, albeit in a negative way)

There is no way of saying "should" (in Vedic philosophy, everything you do is the result of your past karmas and it is understood that you are doing the very best that you can at that time)

There is no way of saying "to have" (because there is an explicit recognition that we cannot really own anything but we are temporarily borrowing things from Mother Earth before we all ultimately die and leave all our accumulated possessions behind)

What a wonderful treat to have both holy beings with us; Manorama and her Guruji. As Manorama ends her sessions:

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!