This podcast is a talk by Swami Vishnudevananda from the 1970s. His talk focuses on what the difference is between something that is good versus something that is pleasant. In this universe we always have a choice between 2 ways to go. Something that is pleasant is for gratifying the senses. For example when you scratch an itch it gives you instant relief but brings pain later on.
On the other hand something that is good does not give instant gratification and is a more rough and tough choice. However the good choice is the source of all happiness and belongs to the True Self.
The pleasant path is more commonly taken and can be said to have big neon signs and gives you a golden nugget such as a trip to Las Vegas. However following this path is like the moth which flies into a fire thinking that it will find happiness by ends in suffering.
This video is for anyone who wants an introduction to the details of permaculture, how important it actually is, and the impact it can have on a local level, on a local climate, through coming together as a community and using our shovels.
The teacher in the video is Lydia Nielsen, who co-teaches our Permaculture Design Certification at the Yoga Farm each year. Learn more about the program here.
Transcript
We don’t have to wait for all of our governments to get together and sign agreements to reduce our carbon emissions. There are things we can do as communities to bring stability to what is happening on the planet. That is the big message of permaculture.
Permaculture is a design system based on connections and relationships. The idea was put forth by two Australians: Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. They met in a university setting and their joint conclusion about the problem with academia was that it was all very compartmentalized.
They agreed that people could be thinking more interdisciplinarily, looking at relationships and how actions interacted with other fields instead of staying isolated. As their model, they saw the forest as the epitome of this system where things are all connected.
The Forest as a Design Model
If you think about it, the forest doesn’t need to go to the nursery to buy any mulch or any plants. It does not need anything to be hauled away to bags on the curb, or to have anything brought to the dump.
The forest is a self-sustaining system where it provides everything that it needs, and it utilizes and enhances every piece of everything that is given to it i.e through the rain, nutrients and sun. The forests are responsible for why we have moisture and more plant life further inland on continents.
The first pieces of understanding permaculture are the permaculture ethics. There are many ecological design systems that similarly related in their connections, resilience, and self-sustaining nature. Permaculture puts everything into ethics: what are we here to do? We are here to take care of the Earth: to repair, conserve and regenerate.
Designing for Society
We are here to take care of people: we cannot have a healthy planet if we don’t have healthy people and vice versa. To seek peace, to guard human rights everywhere, to love everybody’s children no matter what political persuasion, what country they live in, or how many resources they use.
People care guides to all love and respect each other, see each other, and honor each other from where we are right now. Recognizing that today is a new day and we can all make a new choice, no matter what our past actions. At the end of the day, we all want our children to have a beautiful and healthy place to live.
Share the Abundance
The third ethic is fair share: investing all capital, intelligence, labor and resources to ensure the future of the previous two ends – people and earth care. These ethics outline our mission, right now on the planet, which is getting more and more important every day.
Permaculture Principles
Permaculture also has a set of principles, such as working with nature not against, making greatest change through least effect, and indicators of sustainability that are drawn of self-sustaining, natural systems.
You could spend days or weeks spending time looking into the principles. The principles are filters for design and decision making – is this an intelligent, ecologically and socially responsible thing to do?
If you want to learn more, you can look up “The 12 Permaculture Principles”. Eric Ohlsen of the Permaculture Skills Center in California, has some great videos on these principles.
Permaculture for Resilience
Permaculture helps us build resilience, so when we come into periods of stress, crisis and emergency, we have a default of ethics and principles to follow on the path to rebuilding and healing the planet. In this way, we come to have more security, resources, and resilience without having to steal from others or ravage the planet.
Listen to the full video above for more on the details of permaculture.
This podcast is a recording of a Sivananda Yoga Class. Please listen to the class and practice along. You can see our website for more details on the practice. Enjoy!
Eat at least 2 hours before the asana session. It is difficult to perform asanas with a full stomach. Also, do not eat or drink half an hour after the session.
Find a cool and ventilated, quiet place with an even, level floor. The best place is a space reserved for Yoga and meditation, with an altar. It is suggested not to do Yoga in the bedroom as the energy is more tamasic.
It is better to practice in silence without music or chanting.
Group performance of asanas brings about awareness of collective energy.
Wear light and loose fitting cotton clothing for better efficiency of movement.
Use a sticky Yoga mat for better grip.
Order, Timing & Rythm
Perform the sequence of the postures in order. This will ensure the proper flow of energy.
Try to hold each posture for at least one minute to three minutes. It is said that holding for three minutes is the minimum time required to get all the benefits of the postures.
The sequence of the postures follows the chakras, stimulating the chakras from the top down.
The headstand cycle goes first and the standing cycle goes last because of the spiritual principle of turning inward first to find inner balance (headstand inverts all energies, stimulating the highest chakra, going against normal tendencies, after which the energy is flowing properly) then tuning the mind outward and trying to achieve balance and composition with worldly activities (standing postures are performed with the focus on external object to ground oneself).
Practice daily, or at least 4 times a week, for 1-2 hours for maximum benefit.
Breath & Mind Awareness
Breathe consciously during the performance of postures. When holding the posture, the breath becomes calm and the mind focused.
When holding, know where to concentrate for the specific posture.
If there is tension, focus your attention on the tension, breathe consciously while focusing on the area, sending prana to the muscles or ligaments, and during every exhalation try to progress a little more.
Keep the mind inspired by being aware of the physical and mental benefits of each posture.
Yoga is not a competition, so try to do what you can but observe your limit. Always try to feel comfortable. Never push yourself to the point of pain, strain or exhaustion.
Do not compare or compete with each other when perform in group.
This recording is of Swami Vishnudevananda singing kirtan music. Swami Vishnudevananda lived with his master Swami Sivananda for 12 years. In 1957 he traveled to America, and in the early 70´s came to Europe, founding international Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers in many cities. He was a dynamic Hatha and Raja Yoga master, bringing the classical teachings of Yoga and Vedanta in its purest form to the West. Swamiji was also a tireless campaigner for world peace who brought the message of peace to many troubled spots all over the world. Thousands of students have been personally trained by Swami Vishnudevananda as yoga teachers and many more have been inspired by his books, “The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga”, “Meditation and Mantras” and “Sivananda Companion to Yoga”.
This healthy, sugar free, savory vegan tofu recipe is an Asian inspired delight! It makes a delectable treat for any occasion. Additionally, it’s an important protein addition for vegetarian and vegan diets.
Adding black sesame seeds, cilantro, and orange peel gives the dish an attractive flair, too. Pair this dish with with rice and steamed or sauteed vegetables for a well-balanced, delicious and nutritious meal.
Serving Size:
3-4 people
Ingredients:
1 pack of Soft Tofu
1.5 cups of toasted Sesame seeds
1 tbsp of Chopped Ginger
1/2 tbsp of sesame or sunflower oil
2 tbsp of Chic pea miso
2 tsp of Soy sauce
1 tbsp of water (add more if necessary)
Cilantro, orange peel, black sesame seeds (optional garnish)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Drain the tofu and cut into bite size cubes.
Marinate tofu with the sesame oil (or sunflower oil) , chopped ginger and soy sauce. Let sit for at least 20 minutes.
Place the marinated tofu into pan and bake 10 mins in the oven.
In order to make the sesame sauce, mix toasted sesame seeds, chic pea miso, soy sauce, ginger and water. Blend in a vitamix, blender of food processor until it makes a thick paste.
Take tofu out from oven add sauce on the top bake 15 more mins again.
Garnish with black sesame seeds, cilantro and/or orange peel. Serve hot and enjoy!
Ananda Mayi
Yoga Farm Staff
Ananda Mayi is a full-time staff, hails from Japan, and took TTC at the Yoga Farm in 2014 and ATTC in 2015. She is currently enrolled in the 800-hour Yoga Health Educator Training.
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