Spirituality – Holistic Yoga & Spiritual Guidance

What’s the Point?

May 9, 2026 Jivani Lisa

Looking through old journals today, I came across this entry from May 17, 2011:

There is no point to life other than to achieve union with God — which requires many lifetimes to free ourselves from the delusions of this world. We don’t remember our past lives because, for the most part, we make the same mistakes over and over again in each life just as we tend to repeat mistakes in this life. The average person would become very discouraged if he/she knew about this.

Everything in this world, including organized religion, is a delusion. Some delusions, such as our work or our family relationships can actually move us closer to union with God if we can participate in them without attachment. Highly advanced (spiritually) souls are able to see all of this (including their past lives) without becoming discouraged, and without falling into sadness, depression, or despair.

I received this profound insight (as stated above) when I awakened this morning [5/17/11]. Perhaps I was in a superconscious state very briefly when transitioning from sleep to the waking state. For a moment, I understood everything about this life, everything about karma, rebirth, delusion, and the goal of union with God. I understood it all without words, so it’s hard to explain it in words. I felt very calm and peaceful in seeing this. There was no sense of fear or confusion. It was just a deep knowing of reality as it is.

I believe our souls retain this kind of knowledge and carry it from lifetime to lifetime even though our conscious minds may not remember. This is what allows the soul to continue making progress toward union with God.

It amazes me how fine the line is between this profound, peaceful “knowing” of reality and a severe existential crisis. Perhaps people who are prone to severe depression and existential crises are actually blessed because they are so close to being able to encounter true reality.

Spirituality

Christ Consciousness

March 22, 2026 Jivani Lisa

I love Richard Rohr’s explanation of the Universal Christ. “No one comes to the Father except through Christ” (not the mere person of Jesus). The Christ is the universal unitive consciousness that is available to everyone. Some people have realized this universal consciousness, but most people have not. Many people who have realized it do not identify as Christians. And they are saved.

Photo by Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.com

Spirituality

Seeing into the Heart

March 15, 2026 Jivani Lisa

This passage is referring to the anointing of David as King of Israel. David’s eldest brother, Eliab, is NOT the chosen one. We are reminded not to be persuaded by external appearances or preconceived notions – because God is the One who sees into the heart of the one who is placed in charge of others. This reminds me of a certain false “king” in our own time….

“As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.’ But the Lord said to Samuel: ‘Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.’”

(1 Samuel 16:6-7)

Spirituality

Listen for the Requests

November 30, 2025 Jivani Lisa

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the time of year when Christians prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and prepare for his return.

I love the idea that, just like with Mary, the mother of Jesus, God somehow makes “requests” of us to enable God to manifest in the world. These requests are happening all the time, but we often miss them. Every day we are given opportunities to let the Light of God in, but we might also choose to obstruct the Light or even bring darkness instead.

From Rev. Richard Rohr: “Mary is the model of the faith to which God calls all of us: a total and unreserved YES to God’s request to be present in and to the world through us.”

Spirituality, Yoga

Karma Yoga

August 31, 2025 Jivani Lisa

“When you hold a lunch or dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.”
– Luke 14:12-13

Commentary on this Scripture passage from Contemplative Outreach: “Jesus’ concluding remarks in this parable point to an even deeper invitation: Let go of all self-focus and move into agape, the unconditional love that seeks the well-being of others. He tells the holder of the banquet to host a meal for the neediest people with no thought of what might be received in return. In other words, we are to offer our ‘banquet’ of talents, service, and love magnanimously and without attachment to the outcome of our efforts.”

This selfless service – giving without thought about results or being repaid – is also known as Karma Yoga. Lord Krishna in chapter 3 of The Bhagavad-Gita, tells the warrior, Arjuna:

Man does not reach actionlessness by not performing actions; nor does he attain perfection by mere renunciation. (3.4)

Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction. (3.8)

The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform actions for that sake alone, free from attachment. (3.9)

Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by performing actions without attachment, one reaches the Supreme. (3.19)

As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, . . . so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world. (3.25)

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Do all things for the betterment of the world, in selfless service! Share a smile, pick up a piece of trash, hold a door open for someone.

May we think of the welfare of the world with each of our actions. Karma Yoga can be practiced every moment of every day.