AFFIRMATIONS
The Golden Egg - Your Radiant Life
Positive affirmations are a powerful life tool to achieve what you want, to transform your life, and to renew your health and zest for life.
OUR BELIEFS DEFINE OUR REALITY. Self approval and acceptance are key to making positive change in your life.
Say YES TO LIFE!
Say these words to yourself every day, when you wake up:
“I am Loved. I am Loving. I am Grateful. I have Infinite Potential. I Love Myself. And I See the Infinite Love and Creative Potential in Others. In Gratitude, I send blessings to __(fill in the blank with people you care about, “the world”, etc.)__ I am ( fill in the blank with something positive ) . I Am Living My Truth (Sat Nam).”
DAILY PRACTICE
A daily practice, also known as sadhana, consists of silent reflection and meditation, an exercise routine, and a healthy diet – all of this will nurture your growth and balance. Consider waking up earlier to set your intention for the day. Warm your body with yoga or walking or other physical exercise. Think about what you are putting into your body, including your thoughts, and make a conscious decision each time – choose you – choose healthier options. Surrounding yourself with supportive, loving relationships will enhance your daily experience. Smile!
SADHANA
Sadhana is the daily practice of waking up in the amrit vela time (2 1/2 hours before the sun rises also known as the ambrosial hours) to meditate and be engaged in mantra. In the words of Yogi Bhajan, “Sadhana is nothing but where a disciplined one, the love, talks to one’s own soul. It is nothing but where one cleans his own mind.”
So, why Do Sadhana – what’s the purpose? Sadhana is when/where one prepares for the day…to become kind and compassionate for everyone, including “enemies” or those we might find some conflict with. When we rise and get up early in the morning, we do our sadhana so that we can match up with the day – so we can match up with absolute reality. Face the reality – with reality. Not facing the reality with laziness and slowness. If you do so, you will never be successful and then you are your own enemy. You can’t make it. And that’s why sadhana is an act.”
“Everybody has God’s light and it must be lit by a person’s own discipline. And the glass to keep it lit and shining should be kept by the person’s own courage, strength and grit. I believe it. I believe this is the love. I believe everybody has the chance to love one’s soul and every soul has the right to shine and every shine has to bring light and brightness, beauty and bountifulness to all, generation after generation… “You love your children? You do. They are beautiful. Isn’t that innocent soul in you also your life child? Have you kissed the soul? Have you hugged the soul? Have you communicated with the soul in the morning at the ambrosial hours when there is absolutely no disturbance? Sadhana is nothing but where a disciplined one, the love, talks to one’s own soul. is nothing but where one cleans his own mind. Sadhana is nothing but where one prepares for the day to become kind and compassionate for everyone, including the enemies…
“When you stand, take a stand, and stand tall. Walk tall and stand by the strength of your soul. Not the strength of your intellect, intelligence and your cowardice. If you want to speak to anybody, to deal with anything, to have any relationship, just have relationship by the strength of your soul. Otherwise you will miss the goal of life.” – Yogi Bhajan
How do I start and keep up a Sadhana?
Start with what you think you can handle. First, try getting up one hour earlier than usual; this may mean going to bed earlier. It is good to start with some simple yoga exercises to stretch your body and get it going, and then practice a meditation. Do this routine until you are able to do it easily, daily for a month or 40 days. Then slowly expand the length of time.
For some people, all they can manage of a morning sadhana is one 11-minute meditation, but doing that is better than doing nothing! It is important to understand that yoga and meditation bring light energy into the body, and over time, this replaces the need for that extra hour or two of sleep in a normal routine (not counting illness and late nights!!). It helps a great deal to have a sadhana partner or community.
Yogi Bhajan used to say that half of sadhana is showing up, so if your local Sikh community has an organized sadhana routine, participate in it whenever you can get there, even if it’s only for the last few minutes. Many of us find that the more we do sadhana, the more we find we need it and the support it gives us. In other words, it grows on you.
RECIPES
YOGI TEA RECIPE
This is a classic Indian recipe for a delicious and healthful beverage. At least half an hour is needed for its preparation. For best results, use fresh bulk spices from your local health food store. Making at least four ten-ounce servings of tea in your pot, wait until the water is boiling, and then add the following for each serving:
- 3 whole cloves
- 4 whole green cardamon pods, cracked
- 4 whole black peppercorns
- ½ stick cinnamon
- 1/8 inch thick slice of ginger (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon oregano seeds (optional, as a flu and cold deterrent)
Continue to boil at least 10-15 minutes, or up to an hour or even longer if a stronger beverage is desired. Turning off the heat, then add for each serving:
- ¼ teaspoon black or green tea, steeping for several minutes*
- 4 ounces milk, making sure temperature has cooled somewhat**
- honey to taste (wait until mixture has cooled somewhat)***
* If you are making yogi tea for a larger number of people, you might consider decaffeinated tea, as some people can be sensitive to caffeinated beverages. The original Yogi Bhajan recipe uses regular black tea.
** If you are making the tea for a larger number of people, consider using soy, rice, or almond milk, instead of cow’s milk–some people have allergic responses to cow’s milk. The original Yogi Bhajan recipe uses cow’s milk.
***You could substitute Yogi Bhajan’s original recipe of honey as a sweetener. Try stevia, sucanat, maple syrup, jaggery, or agave. Each ingredient has a specific use within the physical body: the cloves fortify the nervous system; the cardamon, the colon; the peppercorns purify the blood; the cinnamon strengthens the bones; the ginger stimulates the immune response and provides extra energy. The milk aids in easy assimilation of the spices and prevents irritation to the digestive system. The tea acts as an alloy of all of the ingredients, and makes this beverage delicious to drink.
Enjoy!
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Artful Living: Yoga, Healing, and Art 
Sat Akal, you are such an inspiration in my life. I am so grateful for your sharing this information about how to make a sadhana something that is realistic and approachable… something for everyone, not just for hardcore or “perfect” yogis who don’t have to make a living. The possibility of waking up a little earlier each morning, rather than having to begin at four in the morning, may be what works for me as I focus my intention on reclaiming early morning sadhana again and pushing through this past wave of resistance… You remind me also (with a beautiful, inspiring photograph!) that yogi tea is an accessible and enjoyable yogic tool… Thank you so much for sharing your light and these practices here!
Sat Nam Manavjeet! The teachings have been a guiding Light as well as the teachers like yourself who can live each day with the sat nam of being real. For ourselves and for others who walk with us. I love how this technology is about Living one’s Sat Nam – being honest with where we are and Knowing where we’re headed, the teachings guiding us on that journey. It’s like one lifetime is one big sadhana and I’m barely through the first line of the Japji! So glad you enjoyed this page..when I would consult with other co-teachers about their sadhana I realized I didn’t have to be so rigid and by the book..just accepting and appreciating where I am in my journey. ❤ Sat Nam!