An Essay from Ganga's Forthcoming Book

Crises

The nature of existence is change, and upheavals regularly come our way, bringing with them the challenge of growth or metamorphosis. From crises we can learn the alchemy of transmutation, taking the opportunity to move from crisis to chrysalis. Looking back, most of us can find that many past painful and difficult times brought some of our most valuable lessons. How we respond to these events and circumstances helps determine the outcome. Even long after a crisis we may reframe the trauma into a positive growth experience. Learning to accept and engage with our challenges is one of the great lessons in the art of living.

It's Time for Another Breath

Easing into Alternate Nostril Breathing

We welcome you to another breath practice and meditation. In these times of prolonged uncertainty, connecting with our breath can be a place of solace. Simply the time spent sitting with intention and focus is a balm for the soul.

Please enjoy the Kabir poem below, your breath practice, and taking a few moments of quality time with yourself.

Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
you will not find me in the stupas, not in Indian shrine
rooms, nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals:
not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding
around your own neck, nor in eating nothing but
vegetables.

When you really look for me, you will see me
instantly --
you will find me in the tiniest house of time.

Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God?
God is the breath inside the breath.

--Kabir

Aging in Place

by Tracey Rich

Recently, on numerous occasions, I have said to Ganga that I am going to emerge from this seclusion looking like a sixty-three year old woman. It's one of my pandemic chic jokes. Having enjoyed usually appearing younger than my sixty-three years or at least looking pretty good for those sixty-three years, thanks to the privilege of Yoga, a healthy diet and most likely good genes, I am faced with an important meditation. This extended period of enormous external stress on everyone cannot be denied, even with personally insightful, often precious, unstructured time, stress is affecting all of us.

Staring in the mirror, over the span of these four months, I have seen the rapid emersion of time. It's as if all sixty-three of my years came home to roost at once. It's both morbidly fascinating and...

From the White Lotus Kitchen

When Life Gives You Lemons: Ginger Mint (Matcha) Lemonade

Lemons and summer go hand in hand. So when life gave us lemons, we have made lemonade about as many ways as we could possibly think of. This drink screams summer with the soothing aroma of mint which is easy to grow in small window pots or in a garden. The matcha gives your drink an added green glow which always makes me happy, and matcha contains l-theanine which can promote a relaxing, calming effect and is also touted to improve cognitive function. Ginger, with its anti-inflammatory properties, helps assist the immune system, and adds a nice, spicy kick to your lemonade. We can all benefit from any positive support available to us.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice mixed with...

What We Are...

Watching & Reading

Hamilton - a work of such brilliance and creativity. What a way to get a great education. Thank you Lin-Manuel Miranda. It's a good time to review or learn anew American history. Film of the play by the original cast. On our third or fourth viewing. Time to sing and dance at home. Disney+....free for the first month.

Hollywood Park - author Mikel Jollett tells his story of navigating the landscape of the human emotional and psychological experience with such tender and poignant perception that you will laugh and weep. Born into an infamous California cult in the sixties, Mikel struggles heroically to understand life and find himself worthy of love. Going along for the ride through his life's trajectory is so worth it. An extraordinary writer and someone easy to love.