In this sermon we return to the question: What do I want to remember? But we turn our focus toward how we remember the most important things. We turn our attention toward the practice of Kriya Yoga (yoga in action). Kriya Yoga includes three aspects that need to be in balance with one another. It's not all about effort and discipline. It's not all about self-reflection. And it's not all about handing it over to Divine Mystery. It's about all three. It's my prayer that this practical sermon will help you (and your practice) move in the direction of balance. https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-1-kriya-yoga/

Spring is a lovely time (a potent time) to work toward goals. But in order to move toward our goals with integrity, we need clarity on where we're coming from. So today, I have a new sermon to support your efforts to articulate your sense of intention. One of my favorite Sanskrit words is bhāvana, which can be translated as cultivate, bring about, or dwell upon. Having a clear idea of bhāvana is a crucial part of spiritual practice. In order to design an effective practice, you need to know: What are you trying to cultivate in your life? What state of mind are you trying to bring about? What are you trying to dwell upon (what truth are you trying to remember)? https://www.summercushman.com/bhavana-to-cultivate-bring-about-and-dwell-upon/

This week I sat down to write a sermon and what poured out of me was a message I needed to hear about sitting with what’s real, without getting stuck in it. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by grief (yours and that of the whole world’s) I pray that this short sermon can offer you a sense of ease and balance. https://www.summercushman.com/coming-to-practice-as-a-refuge/

This week's sermon, written by my friend and colleague Marci Becker, brings our official study of the niyamas to a close (for now... We'll keep cycling back to them!). Marci offers deep reflection that I think you'll relate to. She bravely shares the places where she struggles in her own practice of the niyamas. And she shares her hope for what’s possible when we're able to do the hard work of personal practice within the container of supportive community. https://www.summercushman.com/niyama-recap/

Today's sermon dives into the final niyama, which asks us to explore our relationship with the Mystery we most often call God. I know this topic can be tricky. It can be difficult and loaded with painful baggage. And so I offer you this sermon, which I hope will arrive in your heart as an open invitation. https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-45-ishvara-pranidhana/

In this week's sermon we turn our attention toward the 4th niyama (remember, the 5 niyamas form the foundation of our personal practice). The 4th niyama is svadhyaya, which means "to move toward one's self." There’s an understanding in spiritual traditions that as we move toward the Self we move toward Divine Mystery and as we move toward Divine Mystery, we move toward the Self. It's an ever deepening spiral. The teachings of svadhyaya are rich and I'm excited to explore them with you. https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-43-svadhyaya/

Tapas is such an integral part of practice that my teacher says: “There can be no Yoga without tapas.” This sermon is about inner fire. It’s about what it takes to build, contain, harness, and direct energy. It’s about what it takes to create sustainable, transformative change in your life. It’ll offer you a dose of realness (’cause we have to be real with ourselves) and a boost of inspiration (’cause sometimes we just get stuck). https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-43-tapas/

We’re currently studying the limb of yoga practice called niyama, which gives us a foundation for our daily habits. The five niyamas are active practices we observe on a daily basis in order to live in right relationship with ourselves. This sermon explores the second niyama, which is santosha, or contentment. https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-42-santosha/

We’re currently studying the limb of yoga practice called niyama, which gives us a foundation for our daily habits. The five niyamas are active practices we observe on a daily basis in order to live in right relationship with ourselves. We begin with the first niyama is śauca, which means purity or cleanliness. https://www.summercushman.com/yoga-sutra-2-40-41-sauca/

Happy New Year! Let's begin 2021 with a study of NIYAMA, which are the daily rituals we enact in order to care for ourselves. This first sermon is an introduction. It helps us explore the question: Who are we becoming? https://www.summercushman.com/niyama-foundations-of-personal-practice/