Lama Marut

August, 2010

"Divine Forces At Work"

In this issue, we begin with a news story which encourages us to look for the divine in the everyday world and people around us, followed by the account of a woman in Texas who must have a strong connection to such divine forces – she’s won the lottery four times!

In addition, see below for Interview of the Month, Photo of the Month, Images of the Month, Scary (and Stupid) Consumer Products of the Month, On-Line Videos of the Month, Websites of the Month, and Newsletter of the Month. We also have sections for new audio and video teachings now available, fund-raising and volunteer opportunities, plus announcements of upcoming teachings this summer and beyond (check out the January teaching on the Diamond Cutter Sutra at the sacred Buddhist site of Borobudur in Indonesia!).

New full-length podcasts now available on iTunes.

Thanks to a request for longer teachings via iTunes, we have launched "Inciting Happiness," full-length, two hour podcasts by Lama Marut. Please visit aci-la.org to subscribe. Many thanks to Judith Ring and Bob Arnold for launching the project.

These "Dharma in the Media" newsletters have really been fun to put together and we hope you have enjoyed them. We regret that this will be the last edition of the bi-monthly "Dharma in the Media" newsletter. We’ll also be concluding the Lama Marut Newsletter with next month’s finale as we move into a more retreat-oriented lifestyle beginning in September.

Subscribers to the Lama Marut newsletter will automatically be subscribed to the new quarterly "Awakenings" e-magazine. Lama Marut will be contributing an article to each edition of this magazine and you’ll be able to keep up with our teaching schedule and other news in "Awakenings."

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Thanks to our close spiritual friend, Reverend Anne Deneen of Cape Ann, Massachusetts, for this article from an on-line magazine called "Faith and Leadership," published by Duke University. The article, written by Scott Benhase (the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia), is entitled "Stability seeks God in the ordinary" and was published on April 23, 2010.

John Keble referred to Benedictine stability as "the trivial round, the common task". It is in trivial and common things that opportunity exists "to bring us daily nearer to God". Yet our culture engenders in us an ethos that seeks the non-trivial and the uncommon. It suggests that if we were just somewhere or someone else we would be closer to God. It promises that if our spouses, friends, parishioners or co-workers were just different – that is, a little nicer and more like us — then our lives would be much better. This cultural ethos serves as our very own version of C.S. Lewis’s Uncle Screwtape.

The truth is we find God’s presence more deeply when we make a conscious, intentional decision not to run away from ourselves, those closest to us, and the "givens" of our lives, but to seek God in those places and people. Such is the virtue of stability. Parker Palmer has written: "Community is that place where the person you least want to live with always lives . . . And when that person moves away, someone else arrives immediately to take his or her place." Palmer is right. There will always be people in our lives who seem to make it their life’s ambition to make our lives difficult. The sooner we accept that truth, the sooner we will benefit from the virtue of stability.

The practice of stability helps us accept a particular community, friend, place, or time so we can attend to what is before us and open ourselves to what God is up to in the present. In so doing, we can become "at home" with a particular person, place, or event, not waiting for someone or something else to make us feel "at home".

For us to practice such "at home-ness" we need to be "at home" with ourselves. Seeking stability helps us to understand how and why we are tempted to run away from others and ourselves. This means we need to listen with grace to the grumbling of our own hearts so we might accept responsibility for why we so often seek to blame others for what is happening in our lives. The grumbling is also a nasty "gift" from Uncle Screwtape.

The implications of stability for our leadership are profound. Over time, leaders create the adjectives of the congregations they lead. Leaders have the opportunity to shape congregations as places that incarnate such adjectives like: non-anxious, grounded, prayerful, reflective (rather than reactive), intentional, and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. If we as leaders incarnate such adjectives in ourselves, then they will, over time, become the adjectives of the community.

We can never "fix" our congregations. What we can do is work on ourselves by practicing the virtue of stability. As we inculcate stability in our own lives, we will see it become present in others, even those with whom we find it difficult to be "at home."

CLICK HERE for source.

> http://faithandleadership.com/blog/04-23-2010/scott-benhase-stability-seeks-god-the-ordinary

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David Simmons finds the most interesting stories! Check this one out: "Here’s someone with very interesting karma," writes David. Published in the Corpus Christi Caller Times on July 2, 2010, and written by Mike Baird. The article is headlined, "Bishop native wins millions for 4th time." If you still are holding on to the idea that things happen randomly (see below for the comment that this lady was "born under a lucky star"), go ahead and try to calculate the odds! You’re going to need a lot of zeroes!

Once, twice, three times a millionaire — now it’s four.

Joan R. Ginther, a native of Bishop who moved to Las Vegas, made her fourth appearance Monday at lottery headquarters in Austin to collect seven figures, lottery officials said.

Ginther, 63, won $10 million, the top prize in Texas Lottery’s $140,000,000 Extreme Payout scratch-off ticket, pushing her total wins to $20.4 million.

It was her third time to win on a ticket from a Bishop store, and second one at Times Market at 525 Highway 77 Bypass, in Bishop.

"This is a very lucky store," said Bob Solis, store manager. The owner Sun Bae is the one with the lucky hand, Solis said. ";Sun sold both the winning tickets to the woman".

The store, which sells about 1,000 lottery tickets daily, now is eligible to receive a bonus of $10,000 for the second time, lottery officials said.

"It’s incredible for the store owner," said Bobby Heith, spokesman for the commission. ";Most of our 16,000 retail stores have never sold a winning ticket".

In 1993 Ginther first won a $5.4 million share of an $11 million Lotto Texas jackpot for a ticket bought in Bishop. She opted for annual payments of $270,000 (excluding tax charges) for 19 years.

On year 13, while visiting Bishop to care for her father in 2006, Ginther won the top prize of $2 million in the Holiday Millionaire game. It was on a $30 scratch-off ticket she bought at Diamond Shamrock at 525 S. 14th St. in Kingsville. Ginther requested a lump-sum payment of about $1.5 million, after the 25 percent taken by the commission for taxes.

Two years later she collected a $3 million prize in Millions and Millions, another scratch-off, at the same Times Market where she won this week.

Ginther requested minimal publicity, according to the lottery commission, and could not be reached Friday.

The commission doesn’t calculate the odds of winning millions more than once, Heith said.

"We have had multiple winners before," he said. "But she’s obviously been born under a lucky star."

CLICK HERE for source.

> http://www.caller.com/news/2010/jul/02/bishop-native-wins-millions-for-4th-time/

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Another one from David Simmons – a link to this video interview with our favorite faux evangelical preacher, Reverend Billy, founder of The Church of Life After Shopping. The interview is entitled "Beyond the Shopocalypse" and is a conversation between Reverend Billy and his wife Savitri D. and Jonathan Talat Phillips, the director of Evolver.net. It includes footage of the Reverend preaching ecstatically against the evils of consumerism – always a treat!

CLICK HERE

> http://www.realitysandwich.com/video/beyond_shopocalypse_part_one

Photo of the Month
This snapshot taken in Los Angeles was sent in by Lauren Benjamin.

Images of the Month
John Calabria sent us these two images. Not sure what the message is, but it is an interesting juxtaposition.

In the June edition of the newsletter, we directed you to the Huffington Post website for ”The Most Ridiculous SkyMall Products Ever”. This month we encourage to revisit their site for another astounding collection: ”Stupidest Pet Products”.

Like what? you might ask. Well, how about a pet high chair or sunglasses for your dog? Perhaps your Fido would enjoy eating from a box of "People Crackers" ("The people dogs love to eat"), or riding in a pet stroller (like a baby stroller but, well, with dogs in it), or applying a bit of "Sexy Beast" (a perfume for your pooch). And you know your dog is going to love the "Hot Doll", a doggie sex toy.

Here’s a particularly stupid one: the "Purr Detector", a collar that lights up when your cat purrs. The Huffington Post people say, "What is going on here? If you can’t tell whether or not your cat is purring, you probably shouldn’t have a pet".

Finally, from the ”you have to see it to believe it” department, click on the picture for the ”Rear Gear Butt Cover”; — ”These little covers fit over a dog’s tail to conceal the ‘business’ below”.

Truly scary!

CLICK HERE:

> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/23/the-stupidest-pet-product_n_548146.html

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John Calabria has posted a link on his website to a video of a choir of middle school students singing a well-known Sanskrit mantra. ”You’ve got to hear these kids sing!” says John. Indeed. Check it out:

> CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Jerry D. Tiberi sent in the link to this amusing clip on "How to Be Happy." Plenty of good practical advice:

> CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

David Simmons sent in this story of a woman who has really downsized: she lives in an 84 square foot home – smaller than a parking spot, five steps from one end to the other — made partly of materials found in a dumpster.

> CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO  

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Our friend Michael Hewett is a popular and accomplished yoga teacher in New York City (as well as a first rate musician). He has launched a yoga teacher training program called the ”Sarva Yoga Academy” and as part of that new enterprise has put up an extremely informative and entertaining website. You will learn a lot from the interviews with Michael on the site. Check out especially the ”Q & A” section:

> CLICK HERE

CNN has a religion page on their website with lots of interesting articles related to religion and spirituality (for example, news of a recording of chants by cloistered Benedictine nuns on a new music label run by Lady Gaga):

> CLICK HERE

Newsletter of the Month

Geshe Michael Roach has founded a new organization to teach the principles of how things really work to the business community. He’s named it the "Diamond Cutter Institute". To subscribe to the free newsletter connected to that organization please visit their site and sign up.

CLICK HERE
> http://www.diamondcutterinstitute.com/

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Lama Marut’s weekly podcasts continue with some special teachings on the deep practice of "Lojong". Taken from his Los Angeles classes on "Running a Car Bomb into your Self-Cherishing", Lama Marut teaches on problem of our self-cherishing that perpetuates our ignorant belief in our self-existence which causes our self to suffer. (Do we notice a theme here?)

> http://www.aci-la.org/lama_marut_podcast.html

Thanks to David Simmons for taking over the video podcast project! David has mined the wonderful teachings from Lama Marut’s "Match Made in Heaven" retreat and is podcasting excerpts on the practice of Guru Yoga and seeing your life as extraordinary.

> CLICK HERE to download Lama Marut’s Video Podcasts
http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/a-lama-marut-video-podcast/id261249111

Lama Marut’s Web Gallery

We tried to get as many photos as we could on the road for the ”Great Awakening Tour”. The Gallery page on lamamarut.org has plenty of images of teachings, retreats, the opening of the Diamond Heart Center, marokes and much, much more… If you couldn’t make it to any events, rejoice now in the goodness!
http://www.lamamarut.org/?page_id=254

Twitter Into Happiness

Just sign up at www.twitter.com and then text "follow Lama Marut" to 40404 from your phone.  You’ll get daily inspirational thoughts sent as text messages.

“Marut Motorcycle Mayhem - You Can’t Win It Unless You’re In It!”

Last chance to buy raffle tickets for Lama Marut’s beloved BMW motorcycle! Steve Yochum is still selling tickets until August 15th and Lama Marut will draw the winning ticket on August 21st. All proceeds go toward Lama’s retreat. To purchase tickets, please contact your local ticket-seller below, or email Steve Yochum at steve.yochum@charter.net(Post: PO Box 396, Genoa, NV 89411).

Help ACI-LA with their website!
If you have HTML or web design and development skills, why not work on the coolest website on the planet?! If you can volunteer some time, please email the incomparable Brian Reid.

Help Transcribe Lama Marut’s Teachings!
We always need transcribers to transcribe Lama Marut’s precious teachings, to form the basis of books and also to offer to students who prefer to read than listen to audio.
If you would like to volunteer to transcribe, please > email Carmencita.

For a more extensive list of our Dharma projects and volunteer opportunities, please visit:
> http://thousandarms.wordpress.com/

Help the Retreat Fund!
Find out more about the Mahasukha Kula Retreat Scholarship Program and help our students take what they are learning into deep retreats.
> http://www.aci-la.org/retreat-scholarship/

Check out our new "Awakening Magazine", your online retreat resource. It includes an article by Lama Marut, quick tips on retreats, and much more.
> http://awakeningjournal.com/

Go shopping at CaféPress – or offer to design a series of items for the retreat fundraising program (email lamamarut@aci-la.org)
>http://www.cafepress.com/lamamarut

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“THE MISSING TEACHINGS OF YOGA”

A CLASSICS OF YOGA 200 HOUR TEACHER INTENSIVE

with LAMA MARUT, CINDY LEE, BRANDY DAVIS, DAVID FISHMAN, DAVID WHITE

More Information: http://www.classicsofyogaretreat.com

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN YOGA,
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN BEAUTY!
August 6-21st
Shorter  study modules are also available.

Join us this summer for an extraordinary two weeks of intense study, practice, and fun in the stunning surroundings of beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Lama Marut will both provide a comprehensive overview of classic yoga texts – Yoga Sutra, Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Bhagavad Gita – and he will unveil an exciting new translation and commentary of the Ashtavakra Gita.

"THE SUMMER RETREAT"

“RECOVERING SILENCE: THE MEDITATIVE LIFE AS THE PATH TO FREEDOM AND GENUINE HAPPINESS”
August 25-29

With Lama Marut and Cindy Lee, Rick Blue and Lindsay Crouse
And yoga with Michael and Stephanie Johnson, Julie Upton and Pattie O’Brien

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.thesummerretreat.com/

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For those who wish to begin or deepen their daily meditative practice, and for everyone wishing to live a quieter, happier, and more rewarding life, join us for this exciting (and silent!) residential retreat with Lama Marut in Massachusetts.

The Summer Retreat will offer five days of conscious living, mindfulness, and tranquility.  Lamas Lindsay Crouse and Rick Blue will teach on living meditatively in relationships and opening ourselves up to others through ‘exchanging self for others’ techniques. You will also learn how to meditate, what to meditate on, and how to live all day long – alone and with others — with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.  

Lama Marut and Cindy Lee will offer classes on maintaining stillness through the vicissitudes of life, seeing the sacred and being the sacred in everyday life, and exploring various spiritual texts that describe what the liberated and enlightened being looks like.

Lama Marut will offer not-to-be-missed evening classes on how to use meditation to penetrate the illusions of life, discover ultimate reality and finally go beyond conceptions; recovering true silence.

"DEVELOPING THE GOOD HEART"
September 17-19
With Lama Marut and Cindy Lee
Join us again for a residential retreat at the glorious Satyananda Yoga Ashram
in Rocklyn, Victoria www.yogavic.com

Teachings on wisdom and compassion, heart-expanding yoga, meditation, great food, ashram lifestyle and more . . .
For more information, please contact Maree: chickens@bigpond.net.au
Cost: $210
Registration at http://yogavic.com/monthly_calendar/september_2010

NEW TEACHINGS ANNOUNCED!

Thanks to The Three Jewels Singapore, Lama Marut will be teaching in January in Singapore and Indonesia! We are excited to announce the "Perfection of Wisdom" retreat on the Diamond Cutter Sutra, to be held at the sacred pilgrimage site of Borobudur, Indonesia. from January 10-14th. Please see the website for more details:

> http://perfectionofwisdom.wordpress.com/

In Singapore, Lama Marut will teach on The Way of Devotion, January 4, 5, and 6. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika Essentials at Pure Yoga January 7, 8 and 9.