Rajanaka Newsletter 19 May 2023

 Friday, May 19, 2023


Aho’ Rajanaka,


I hope this finds you well.  Yesterday we woke to a significant frost.  I took pictures.  I got receipts.  I really don’t remember frost quite this late but neither neither am I looking forward to using having lived too long as an excuse not to remember.  I do want to leave all “senior option” opportunities open---I discovered I am a “senior” in the eyes of the world about three times this week.  This should not warrant capital letters or even a WTF but I still take this more like accusation than mere description.  Am I being too sensitive?


I have, how shall we say, about my seniorness ideas, even feelings.  (I am as you know skeptical of mere feelings, in a Krsna Gita sorta’ way).  I mean to embrace the paradox in good Rajanaka fashion: hoary, time worn, obsolete, moth-eaten, antediluvian, out-moded versus venerable, mature, wiser for it.  The consolations we conjure are never simple because we are in the end only human.

I also have feelings about the state of popular to say nothing of political culture, modernity such as we find it, and things I am just noticing hurt more than they used to?  The good bad news: we get even less equipped to notice.  Bad Good news: we actually notice despite using the senior excuse that we are enjoying cocktails from Lethe not merely indulging heedless paramnesia or dishonest repression.  We all try to find our way through, don’t we?  Life invites wonder.  Wonder means at least two things, one of them not so good, the other just wondrous.  Did I make you smile, just a little?



TOMORROW we begin our new Saturday Session, 5pm Eastern, the usual Zoom link and it will be recorded.  The subject is The Heart of Recognition, the Pratyabhijnahrdaya of the 11th century Ksemaraja.  We will do two things over six sessions: first, we will give this work a clarifying and considerate study for what it assumes, claims, and offers.  Second, we will ask what we really think about those ideas, values, and “teachings.”  This is one of the genuinely important works of Kashmir Saivism.  You may have familiarity, you will not likely have dived in like we will.  Join us.  It will be fun.  I mean, who knew that medieval Indian philosophy could be fun? I will also make it worthwhile.  New translation will be available too.  Tuition is $16 per Session and $90 for all.  Sessions about 1.5 hours, other details:
*DATES: May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 17, June 26.

*Tuition is $16 per Session or $90 for all.  

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

*Zoom link is the usual Saturday link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95057662268

*All Courses are recorded and available on our Archive for download.  If you can’t make it live, you can still take the course, as usual.


SUNDAY is Mahabharata Sunday, 5pm Eastern. NEW story begins.  Nothing is better than the great Epic.  Really, nothing.  If I had only one work on that Castaway island it would be Mahabharata.  Sunday, May 21st, 5pm: All Sessions are recorded and available for download on the Archive (see below the line for the link).  The usual Zoom is always the right one

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


CAMP is still open.  You can still come to INDIA.  Write to me. I will remember to write back.  I will not use the senior excuse.  Truth is, I think my game has never been better.  This is either ironic or sad---because it took so long---or it is another senior moment of self-deception that I don’t even know is self-deception.  What a life, eh?  Do take care.  Write to me about anything. douglas@rajanaka.com


Saprema, /d


&&

BELOW THE LINE

&&&


Rajanaka Summer Camp, Bristol, New York
*Dates: July 6th-July 10th    

*Venue: Bristol Valley Vineyards, 7235 Lane Road, Bloomfield, NY 14469 (Note: The Town of Bristol is so small that it uses several other town addresses.  Really.  This is the correct mailing/maps address.)  YES to wifi on site and two brand new bathrooms!

*Cost: $600, deposit of $200 is due now; complete payment due by June 1st via Paypal (friend and family only, use svcourses@gmail.com for the PP address) or Venmo (douglas-brooks-8).

*Facebook Group: Rajanaka Summer Camp 2023 is up and running.  Just search FB and you will find a host of folks with whom you can talk to about Camp, logistics, details, whatever you like.
*Camp includes Sessions, lunch, tea, water, and snacks all day, and Curry Night Dinner.  It does not include accommodations, travel, or transportation.  The nearest airport is Rochester.  The nearest towns with hotels are Naples, South Bristol, and Canandaigua.  Air BnB is a good bet.  If you are flying and need a ride the best place to find some help is on the FB group---we can’t provide transportation.  This is a mom&pop operation that has worked well for 20 years and we’re here to help every way that we can.


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






&&&MORE

So much more.  NEW FREE ONE HOUR, A Conversation About the Goddess Aranyani, The Wild One of the Forest, on the Archive here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fzcqc48pzzlilxa/AAB6LMj-WGPpjEBuEp6eqjz5a?dl=0


THURSDAYS IN MARCH & APRIL at 7pm Eastern

SIX MURUGA MYTHS: THE NONBINARY ARCHETYPE

You may not be much familiar with Ganesha’s brother Murugan.  He is really only “important” in south India where his temple cult is significant.  But in this archetype of the Tamils resides one of the great body of stories and imagergy.  One of Muruga’s names is Shanmukha, Six Faces, and for each there is a temple and a very particular story.  We will go on mythic pilgrimage together to the six temple myths of Muruga.   (In December we are visiting these very temples on India Pilgrimage.  This would be a great opportunity to make these trips. 

Tuition is $15 per Session, or $90 for all Sessions to PayPal or Venmo (svcourses@gmail.com) .  If you can’t make it live, the Archive recording will always be available.  

The Zoom for all Thursdays at 7pm is always the same. ZOOM LINK: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/98183733328


You can find all of our Newsletters on the Kalliyam Blogspot here:

https://kalliyam.blogspot.com/2023/01/rajanaka-newsletter-january-10-2023.html


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


What will you find?

Six Sessions and PDF to aid in study.  Write to me if you need help.

Description: 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 you like.  Registration for all is by attendance and tuition is on the honor system.

  • Saturday CORE: Rasa in Theory and Practice.

Time: Six Sessions on Saturday Evenings, 5pm Eastern

Dates: January 14 we begin!  Jan 14/21/28 then February 11/18/25

ZOOM link for all Saturdays: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95057662268  

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 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 you like.  Registration for all is by attendance and tuition is on the honor system.


  • SUNDAY MAHABHARATA.  

EVERY Sunday is a new story, every bit of it makes sense no matter when you choose to attend!

Time: Sessions on Sundays at 5pm Eastern.
Dates: Every Sunday unless we announce otherwise!

ZOOM link is the same for all Sundays: 

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

Tuition: $15 per Session or $20 and all goes to India causes. Your call. Complete Archive INCLUDING a free Audio book is here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bfqt15y3n0uglir/AAAB_89LiCOob0hJI1w8BK7_a?dl=0  


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


Free Saturdays in 2023

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rm505c2fcy04y3upn5abv/h?dl=0&rlkey=6gk1d5rzyypn0r37100wzv5hk


Sricakra Puja Appa Svadhyaya

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bi7z70589ztuak4/cakra%20puja.wav?dl=0


Religion 270 The Meaning of Life

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ab5ioprn7bk2qgsd8800i/h?dl=0&rlkey=k9g4xukvctff91fkye1wo5mdr


Poised for Grace Audio Book

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iw0za7jwml6m7mc/AACjDhxf9owOXjbkzT2r2k-Ra?dl=0


Patanjali Essential Core

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2qd7wc5qroiva3v/AAAaZPvnc9I2JQSrO88Iv1exa?dl=0


Sivakamasundari Practicum

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ifddb0hglwrm5hx/AABGyYYfSJ9B_KHhU1LgdsT3a?dl=0


Mahabharata Sundays
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bfqt15y3n0uglir/AAAB_89LiCOob0hJI1w8BK7_a?dl=0
























 





 

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