Newsletter for September 30th 2023: Holding Light

Saturday, September 30, 2023

 

Aho’ Rajanaka,

 

I hope this finds you well.  It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is October.  I mean, keeping track of time from inside this mortal coil may be a feature not a quirk of being human but it never strikes me as easy as it is obvious.  Days are getting shorter, gotta hold the light.  I’ve been working on the podcasts for our move to the Substack platform, Zoom Sessions on Thursday Evening---one more this week on the poetry of Ma Kālī---Saturday Evenings, Sunday Mahabharata both of those as usual at 5pm Eastern .  We’re actually coming close to the end of these Fall Six Week Short Courses and I’ve got more and new ones in the works.  I will write again this week to introduce the new Sessions coming in October through November.



Truth is, and I mean it, the work we do helps keep me together.  Lokasamgraha, as Krsna calls it.  “Holding the light.”  As I see it, the world isn’t getting easier to deal with: it literally burns and floods, our democracy is in some very serious peril, the everydays of everyday can be just as daunting even if they are normal stuff, this post worst of the pandemic world takes its toll.  That strikes me as occasion to breathe, take a moment, and to stay the course, create purpose, and find meaningful engagements that tend to the soul, supply something better, keep us emotionally hydrated.  Desiccation is no way to live so we have to remember to drink.  When you can, come to a Rajanaka Session, hang with some very lovely people and take a swig from the firehose.  I will keep showing up and you are always, always welcome.

We all need purpose and that we must choose.  We have to have meaning and that must be made.  Doing that all by your lonesome?  It’s better to keep good company and carve out a good place for yourself.  I’ll never tell you what to think or how to feel.  Rajanaka offers the chance to do those important things if the learning suits you.  Stay close, give yourself what you need.

 

If you’ve missed stuff there is the Archive with recordings, including the latest Sessions that feature the poetic genius that loves Ma Kālī and tales of Krsna that tells us how sorcery can be more good Jamie Raskin Gandalf than evil TrumpSauron.  It’s usually the case that mythology tells us more about life than all of those so-called real worlds that just won’t agree to make an honest deal.  Join us for Krsna today, Saturday at 5pm Eastern.  Tomorrow, Sunday Mahabharata is yet another amazing story and each Session stands alone so dropping in is always a good idea.  One more Ma Kālī this coming Thursday at 7pm Eastern.  All the links are below the line.  

 

If you would like a Personal Zoom Session write to me and we will make an appointment.  Got something on your mind?  

If you’re not yet subscribed to Substack, please, please, please (like Dorothy says, three times a charm).   I will continue to write but podcasts mean that you can also just listen when another long Newsletter is so long I resort to a Capital Letter.  Go to the Substack page https://rajanaka.substack.com/  or go to Substack and search Professor Douglas Brooks.  There is very cool stuff on Substack for free, and all Rajanaka content will remain forever free, no paywalls.  I think it would be lovely if you could offer a pledge of subscription because that really does pay forward to our good causes.   I’m trying to keep our good work in India alive and even a little helps a lot for all concerned.  That said, you are always welcome here and wherever Rajanaka makes a difference to you.  If you ever need help with tuition for Sessions, just let me know.  
Let’s call it here.  Look below the line for all the links to Sessions and the Archive.  Join us on Substack, check your email for podcast alerts, and tell me what you think of the latest efforts.  Is the podcasting a good idea?  What would you like to hear about?  What do you want to learn that we can study together?  Poets? Stories? Philosophers? What do you want to talk about?  Let me know.  Till then, take care,

 

Saprema, 

Douglas

 

***

TODAY, Saturday, September 30th, 5pm Eastern.  We have KRSNA TALES.  The spin on these stories, whether or not you are familiar with any of them, is well worth the time and the company is good.  Last week went very well (can I say that?) and we have recordings, if you can’t make it to the live Zoom.  Here are the links.
ZOOM: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95057662268

DROPBOX RECORDINGS: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yns6f7e5ftv0oftngesb1/h?rlkey=v2445440ppmm7llgfj3jn9rm0&dl=0

 

TOMORROW, Sunday, 5pm Eastern  SUNDAY MAHABHARATA, last week’s story was particularly good and we’ve got really really good one for tomorrow.  If you wonder why we stick with Mahabharata (and have for more than a year), it’s cause there really is nothing better, not ev’a.

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

DROPBOX RECORDINGS: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wn3icbb418qcsrjqhk6ke/h?rlkey=nzdh43ld5xitb96duffoflhlg&dl=0

 

THURSDAY EVENINGS, KĀLĪ’S SONG, 7PM EASTERN.  This has been so interesting and fun.  We have two recordings for you ready and three more Sessions.  Join us.
ZOOM: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/98183733328

DROPBOX RECORDINGS: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/4iugvd3a6s6x1kkqr7nyn/h?rlkey=yqalpm73mvxpk5c66636bmw7l&dl=0

 

PLEASE, please subscribe to the new Rajanaka  SUBSTACK
I’m going to keep everything “free” AND offer subscription.  This means that you can have it for any price, including free---that will be up to you.  There is content.  You subscribe to the person, that’d be me, and from there you will find access to the Rajanaka materials, including the Notes, Podcasts, and the rest:https://substack.com/@professordouglasbrooks?utm_source=profile-page

 

All the rest including, free recordings and Session archives and years of learning are below the line.  I hope to see you this weekend.  “Shall we make a program?”  Do take care.  See you soon, whenever you can make it, I’ll do my steady ready best to be there for you.

 

With affection, Douglas

 

&&&&&

 

 

If you want something personal, just for you or for you and a handful of friends, then I’ve got this for you:

 

RAJANAKA TUTORIAL: PERSONALIZED LEARNING, STUDY, CONTEMPLATION IN EVENING WEEKDAY SESSIONS 

Our community has evolved and matured to the point where many of you are eager for more personal and directed work.  There’s nothing quite like a personal conversation.  Do you want to talk about your life in yoga?  Discuss a particular subject, topic, or vocabulary?  Read a text together?  I’m will make available time on Monday, Wednesday, and some Fridays after 7pm Eastern time.  We can schedule one session, weekly, bi-weekly, whatever suits you.  The model is the so-called Oxford Tutorial or more like what Appa did for me: it was just us.  You can invite friends, you can organize this for your own yoga students for Q&A or teacher training.  You will have your own ZOOM link and all material will be wholly private and confidential.  Learning in good company is what we do.  Tuition can be paid over time.  $165 for Four Sessions, 90 minutes each, or as you please.  Write to me and we will schedule: douglas@rajanaka.com  

 

ALSO,

 

LIVE COLLEGE ON ZOOM, FALL SEMESTER 2023 

REL 252 HEROINES AND HERO’S IN INDIA’S MYTHOLOGIES

This is entirely free and you are welcome as my auditing guests to attend the classes and lectures held during this fall semester at the University of Rochester.  You will have your own chat box.  The condition is that you must put up with the conditions of a college classroom and the Zoom is not as personal as our sessions.  Class meets every Tuesday and Thursday.  I will provide you the syllabi on request so you can read along.  Come whenever you like, take the whole course or drop in whenever you can.  Here is the ZOOM link.  (I will open it sometime after 11:05, not usually right on time.) https://rochester.zoom.us/j/98183733328 

 


THE DROPBOX ARCHIVE 

This is truly a vast repository of recorded Sessions, Seminars, Camps.  If you want any past course or session (and find Dropbox less than optimal), just write to me, I will hook you up.
You can access this anytime by downloading from provided links.  And a very select bit is still on the Rajanaka website.  You’ll find the hundreds free Saturday Storytellings, Sunday Mahabharata, our Gita Sessions, and so much more.  I’m trying to figure out how to make this more organized and accessible (currently with Substack, ‘cause it’s got tools).  Look below the line for some selections.  I hope to move most of this to Substack where you can more easy subscribe and purchase.  Proceeds to our good causes.

ALL PAST NEWSLETTERS on the Kalliyam Blogspot here:

https://kalliyam.blogspot.com/2023/01/rajanaka-newsletter-january-10-2023.html
I’m hoping to put all future Newsletters also on Substack.  Our mailing list server is fine but it’d be better to have things all in one place.

==

 

&&this is the below the line part…

&&

All FREE Special Saturdays for 2022 and 2023 are in these Archives for download.  For 2022 go here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/a34ja95pg4t8bamatfq3q/h?rlkey=0dcorxwfqhocsiime5rhcju1t&dl=0

For 2023 Specials go here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rm505c2fcy04y3upn5abv/h?rlkey=6gk1d5rzyypn0r37100wzv5hk&dl=0

 

&&

Rajanaka Summer Camp 2023, “The Sorcery of Śiva: Teachings on Abhicara and the Luminous Shadow”.
Dropbox Archive link is here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/836d746qa8917cdcgnjll/h?rlkey=bqb06vxanp69s4o17gar035nx&dl=0

Tuition for the Archive is $200, please use the usual PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com) or Venmo (same email or douglas-brooks-8).


 

THE HEART OF RECOGNITION SESSIONS

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

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

*All Courses are recorded and available on our Archive for download.  

*Tuition for the Archive is $150, please use the usual PayPal (svcourses@gmail.com) or Venmo (same email or douglas-brooks-8).

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

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

 

Pancamukha Anjaneya, The Five-Face Hanuman of the Tantra. 

Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/d62llefrjvyidefn3uequ/h?dl=0&rlkey=p774e7zbme37d8cc49ocysog2

What will you find?

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

 

Rasa in Theory and Practice.

Six Sessions on Saturday Evenings

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 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

 

 

 

 





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