Review: A Month of Mindfulness Meditation Practice with Peter Fernando

Peter Fernando, teacher of A Month of Mindfulness

I’ve been a bit of a nomad these last six months, doing house-sits, camping, festivals, cruising in my van, and a bit of Wwoofing. I love the freedom of this lifestyle, but what I noticed after a few months was that I needed a routine that would give priority to my meditation practice no matter where I was or what I was doing. For that reason alone, I was excited when I heard Peter Fernando was offering an online course of his wonderful guided meditations, wisdom and insights. It’s … [Read more...]

The benefits and pitfalls of conscious community

Consciously creating space

Living in an intentional community in the city Given the discussions I often hear around me, and the positive reception from Jennifer’s recent article about family friendly spiritual communities, it seems like there are many people wanting to be involved at some level in a spiritually motivated community. Not only being a part of such a community group, there appears to be a growing swell of people wanting to live within a conscious and intentional community. I’ve co-created and … [Read more...]

I’m not flexible enough to do yoga

Feeling inflexible but doing yoga anyway

It took me years to turn up to a yoga class. Years and years of liking the idea of yoga before actually appearing on a yoga mat. Why? Whenever I confessed I’d never done a yoga class; I’d always append the confession with – I’m not flexible enough. Never have been. I got dropped from the gymnastics club at the age of eight because I couldn’t reach my toes. I could do handstands, I could vault, I could balance on the beam, but I couldn’t touch my toes. Perhaps there … [Read more...]

How does Gangaji describe the practice of enquiry?

Gangaji

The path of direct enquiry is the lineage of Ramana Maharshi and what he offered as a path to his own spiritual self-realisation. It is what Papaji taught, and what Gangaji now teaches. Ramana once defined the practice of enquiry by starting with the question: Who Am I ? For all thoughts the source is the 'I' thought. If thoughts arise, without trying to complete them, enquire; to whom did this thought arise. What does it matter how many thoughts arise? As each thought arises, be … [Read more...]

Rolling with Gangaji and how she scuttled my boat Part 2

Gangaji

My first impression of Gangaji, the person in real life, left me a little surprised. On the YouTube clips, I remembered her being a wise and encompassing energy, a presence larger than life with a chameleon of hairstyles. When I opened my eyes as we finished our coming-together mediation, I saw the energy of a child sitting up on stage. She was calm and so innocent. Her distinctive locks of hair were pulled back into a neat librarian’s bun. This is Gangaji? Slowly her presence … [Read more...]

Rolling with Gangaji and how she scuttled my boat Part 1

Gangaji

You know, I’m often tempted to start many of the article I write with marveling at how synchronistic our world is. How missing out on one event meant that I turned up to another. How I ended up at the right place at the right time. So forgive me for overstating it right up front, but isn’t life’s timing perfect! In this instance, I am referring to Gangaji’s visit to Australasia late last year. Timing had it that I missed out on her New Zealand visit, something I really wanted … [Read more...]