abide in the experiential knowing of your own divine essence...
Reside in the Knowing of Your Own Self
ASHRAM LOGO
| Offering a Candle Flame to the Sun by Swami Nirmalananda | |
 Our new Ashram logo features your hands, offering the traditional arati (flame ceremony) to the sun, which shines with the light of consciousness. Part of what makes an Ashram be an Ashram is the morning and evening aratis, which an important part of training your mind to see the divine radiance shining in all its many forms. While the morning ritual of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) is well known in American yoga, the more traditional namaskar (worshipful greeting) to the sun was with the arati flame. My Guru used this as a metaphor for our own process of Self-discovery, telling us that our tendency to see him as being consciousness, and not our own selves as being consciousness, was "like offering a candle flame to the sun." The many layers of meaning in his short phrase will take many years to explore together. I have chosen this image to present the whole science of svaroopavidya to you in a visual form. I offer my deep gratitude to Sara Mukti Rosseter for creating the image, working with me to refine it again and again in the last few weeks and days of her pregnancy! She has offered her artistic skills in service many times before, to Master Yoga and now to the Ashram. She is able to express the teachings visually for us, which makes them more approachable and more powerful. Kemm Sarver worked with the logo to adapt its size and shape for multiple uses, including brand new mugs and tote bags, along with other wonderful things that are newly available in our Ashram store. Clck here to see the offerings and be inspired to shop! One of the layers of meaning in my Guru's teaching is how important it is for you to honor the source of light in our lives. At the same time, you can see that the sun does not benefit from the light you are offering, so you must ask, "When I worship God or my Guru in this way, is it for their benefit or for mine?" In addition, you can see that the light that you are offering to the sun is the same light that the sun is giving to you. While you are the the one who is making the offering, you are the same light, made of the same radiance. In the one image, you have the goal and the process of yoga. You have the unity and multiplicity of consciousness, all at the same time. OM svaroopa svasvabhavah namo namah |
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