Rajanaka Newsletter June 17 2023

 Saturday, June 17, 2023

 

Aho’Rajanaka,

 

I hope this finds you well.  It’s hardly been summer here, a week of smoke followed by a week of rain, Sadie the pup is far happier without the heat---but the heat’s on over here ‘cause Camp is coming and there’s still so much to prepare. Without you where would I be?  I need this purpose in life and, dare I say, we all need more than anodyne Dharma met, of course we can’t ignore the bills and banalities, but there has to be some conversation that inspires the mind and invites a maundering heart.


Despite all the news that might preoccupy every square Plank length (that’s the smallest size of anything in the known universe, thus 1.6 x10-35m across) of our brains, including only the first of several coming indictment of a past US president, what meant the most to me was news of the passing of Cormac McCarthy.  If being human turns dust into gold then McCarthy returned us to dust so that we might reclaim the proleptical.

 

McCarthy is hard to read not only for the deliberate absence of punctuation and a vocabulary that remonstrates and confutes (said to be Joyceian by way of Faulkner) but for the unremitting savagery.  Sometimes it felt more Old Testament than I could bear.  McCarthy was that kind of prophet.  In his last two books, released in 2022, The Passenger and Stella Maris, not one horse is harmed nor human scalped, dismembered, or consumed. The characters are no less laconic and sententious but bear a kinder, gentler mordacity.

 

But even in the tough ones like Blood Meridian, McCarthy alchemized the soul with love, death, guilt, and the human need for chimera.  He wrote in registers so otherworldly and anachronistic to the temper of our current age it was as if Kalidasa’s Cloud Messenger had arrived with news from the far side of the sky’s broken vault.  He wouldn’t be interviewed, turned down lucrative speaking engagements, and once said that all he had to say was in the novels.  As taciturn as he was irascible, this was a voice as much from an ancient past as the distant future.

 

I am reasonably sure there is no heaven, here or elsewhere, but wherever McCarthy’s soul has gone, I want to spend eternity in that conversation.  He made us all more humane if you can see irony in it all.  Who is the one to whom we owe our celebrations, asks Rg Veda.  Yes, Who. How shall we live and die as mere mortals?  McCarthy didn’t care to comfort us.  Instead he invited us to reckon will that is likely truth and tell us that Who is the one.  Iti Śivam, Cormac.

 

TODAY, Saturday June 17th at 5pm Eastern, The Heart of Recognition.

TOMORROW, Sunday June 18th at 5pm Eastern, Mahabharata Sundays.

All links and details below.

RAJANAKA CAMP is coming and there will be a Zoom option and recordings.

INDIA is still a live wire, write to me if you want to go.

 

May all your horses be pretty and The Road be good company even during these tumultuous times.  All the rest is below the line.  See today?  I hope so.  So very much.  Write to me anytime, douglas@rajanaka.com, or send a postcard: 7296 Gregg Road, Bloomfield, NY 14469, ‘cause who doesn’t like that.  I’ll send one back.  Promise.

Saprema, Douglas

 




&&&

 


THE HEART OF RECOGNITION SESSIONS

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

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

*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 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 Recorded Archive INCLUDING a free Audio book is here:

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

(Remember that you must download Sessions from Dropbox because when you listen directly on Dropbox you receive only the first hour.)

 

RAJANAKA SUMMER CAMP, BRISTOL, NEW YORK, COME!!!
ON ZOOM TOO!!!  SO YOU CAN STAY HOME AND COME TO CAMP TOO! 
*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.

*ZOOM LINK FOR CAMP LIVE: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95779901732 
*LIVE 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.



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

 

 

 


&&&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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 25th, 2024 UPDATE: Rajanaka Winter Sessions, Summer Camp, and a Free Session This Saturday

Image
  Thursday, January 25, 2024   Aho’Rajanaka,   I hope this finds you well.   We’re going to need each other this year, maybe more than ever.  Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse or weirder, it will and you’ll feel a lot better in good company.  It will be good to be in the conversation with you.   India Pilgrimage this year was pretty darn wonderful this year, gotta’ say.  Re-entry has been interesting.  (N.B., not every use of the word “interesting” is a good thing, much like the word “fragrant.”  Except when it isn’t.  You take my point?)  There are good stories yet to be told.  And there are a few more Pilgrimage Diaries yet to come.  I hope you’ve enjoyed these---all on the Rajanaka Substack and all free.   I thought it prudent to take another week before we begin Winter Semester.   It may some are actually looking forward to these Sessions, I sure am.   But I think we need to get the word out and refreshed. When was the last time (maybe ever?) that you had a solid, serious
Read more

Rajanaka Newsletter January 10 2023

January 10, 2023   Aho’Rajanaka,   I hope  you’re doing great  you’re well.    I think it’s safe to say ---wait, you know darn well that that  isn’t  safe to say--- that we’re learning more how “to live with.”    Living with ourselves may be the hardest yoga but it’s not the only.    There are others too.    Don’t you  always  just sometimes want to hit  ESC  and make it all go up and into the corner of your soul’s home screen?    We’re not eva’ going to be post-Covid, democracy like  most  everything else isn’t safe and secure  and never has been , and there’s no conclusion in sight.    Shall we add a dollop of gallows humor?  So rarely enjoyed in UnicornYogaWorld.     We  do  know that  sooner or later  the bleeding  does  stop. (<- Yes, I stole that from a doctor among you.)   Got meaning?   I’m teaching a University course this semester entitled  The Meaning of Life  and on the eve of the semester considering the educational value of dropping the entire proposed syllabus in favo
Read more

Rajanaka Newsletter February 3, 2024

Image
  Saturday, February 3, 2024   Aho’ Rajanaka,   I hope this finds you well.  The sun, well at least I think it’s the sun, has peeked through this wintry morning in Bristol.  My first reaction was “what’s that big orange thing in the sky.”  Then I remembered, oh yeah, there  is  a sun just not much ‘round here.  That’s cool, I say.  Short of catastrophe, every day has got its longs and shorts.  I really do want every day to be its blessing, even out here in the cold cloudy nowhere sane people would move to and mostly filled with rednecks wtf am I doing here Great Lakes.  It has its charms.  Living with yourself will be the hardest and the most important thing you ever do.  Lord knows, others will appreciate your efforts.  Well, maybe.   Good to keep it real, I say.  I am no optimist by nature because I find looking for the bright side is too much wishful thinking.  But the cynic or pessimist won’t do either because, if you think about it some, those attitudes create the  same deficiency
Read more