VSC COMMUNITY FORUM 

I have been a part of this community since May of 2025. My first experieince with YOGA was 20 year agos with a teacher(s) from the Himalayan Institute. I learned quickly that Yoga goes deeper than asanas. I was hungry for more - so I studied, read about yoga, learned a bit of sanskrit and headed into the yoga sutras.

At the same time, I was a Christian pastor of a mainline church. My yoga study and interests were kept behind closed doors. One time, I asked my yoga teacher to share at a women's retreat on breath work and relaxation. Everyone loved his presentation and I received a letter from a local pastor who reminded my that I am Christian and not Hindu. This didn't stop me as I continued to seek and search, listen and study.... until I left church ministry, and now serve as a hospice chaplain.

Jai Maa and Jai Guru Deva,

I look forward to continuing our Sadhaka Sadhana journey together this Thursday morning at 7am Pacific Time. In Class 5, we'll explore the second sadhana, Vairagyam (dispassion).

You can find all of the previous classes on this private YouTube playlist.

These classes are free and open for all members of Acharya Shunya's Vedic Study Circle. All students, all levels, are welcome to join Thursday mornings at 7am Pacific Time.

Class Zoom link can be found on the "All Sessions and Links" page on the Member portal or at the series description page linked below.

In Sacred Service,

Jai Maa ! 💛

Thank you, Sadhya Atmajoyti, for showing us how art can be experienced as a devotional practice.  It was so beautiful and gentle to connect with Maa and honor her in the Echo of Navratri.  Allowing grief to express itself and inviting Maa to embrace it was an intimate and powerful exercise.  Connecting with the Divine waves flowing through pencil and paper loosens what is stuck and reveals what is hidden.  Without expectation, the outcome of the artwork is not mine: idam na mama.  🙏 Jai Guru Dev

Jai Maa,

Sadhya Atmajyoti will lead us through another experience of soulful art creation journey on Saturday, October 4th at 8am Pacific Time. No experience needed, just a heart open to play, explore, and connect with the Divine.

Join Zoom Session: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87401495076?pwd=PY4dSbcPzybwSo4SlbXRDxVW1rYrV7.1

Meeting ID: 874 0149 5076

Passcode: 131101

Join us live or you can view the recording here once it is posted after the session.

Jai Maa,

While the Karma Yoga series with Acharya Shunya begins again on Tuesday, we will complete the final two sessions of the How to Be Happy series on the first 2 Fridays of October.

Join me this Friday, October 3rd at 6pm Pacific Time as we receive the next part of Acharya Shunya's archival satsanga on the blockages to our happiness.

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82213164779?pwd=MGy0B3CqKA8AttG1ZCsdi5TtkXmbRx.1 

Meeting ID: 822 1316 4779

Passcode: 684060

Jai Maa,

I've been listening to the Sovereign Self audiobook, and am so delighted that Acharya Shunya is the narrator. Her calming voice and fierce passion and reverence for the teachings shine through in a way that is helping me to go deeply within and begin to rouse my higher self.

What I did not realize when I purchased this book was how relevant the teachings would be — that Shunya-ji would call out my ahaṃkāra in ways that gently demonstrate to me how to be fully present, to get real with myself, and to go deeper to find my true, sovereign self.

The first 'gotchas' felt miraculous, but were relatively small compared to those that have occurred since. The first was when, while on a walk at the park with my dog, I reached for my phone to speed up the reading — if only a little. Though I felt…

Jai Maa,

Calling for your insights and best practices!

In the Meet & Greet session on Tuesday, we got to connect with new and long term members of the Vedic Study Circle.

There was excitement and curiosity looking at all of the live sessions happening each month, and the rich library of recordings and resources inside of the membership platform.

Let's share with each other: How have you crafted your pathway through all of the opportunities in the Vedic Study Circle? How do you stay steady on your spiritual journey, while also not feeling overwhelmed by all of the sessions and wisdom offered?

Jai Maa and Jai Guru Deva,

I look forward to continuing our Sadhaka Sadhana journey together tomorrow morning at 7am Pacific Time. In Class 4, we'll be completing our initial exploration of Vivekaha (discernment).

These classes are free and open for all members of Acharya Shunya's Vedic Study Circle. All students, all levels, are welcome to join Thursday mornings* at 7am Pacific Time.

Class Zoom link can be found on the "All Sessions and Links" page on the Member portal or at the series description page linked below.

In Sacred Service,

Sadhvi Aparna

In praise of the Goddess Sarasvati

To all the buddhas who regard you with their love,

And glance at you with their eyes of wisdom,

You offer great cloud-like gifts of blissful union,

To you, the great mother of joy, respectfully I bow!

Excerpt of poem to Sarasvati from a Tibetan Buddhist master. “Blissful union” refers to the indivisibility of emptiness (shunyata, sometimes translated as ‘infinite potential’) and compassion.