With every effort of will toward purification and unity with that `Self-god,' one of the lower rays breaks and the spiritual entity of man is drawn higher and ever higher to the ray that supercedes the first, until, from ray to ray, the inner man is drawn into the one and highest beam of the Parent-Sun. H.P. Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine I-639.

When you say, I enjoy doing this or that, it is really a misperception. It makes it appear that the joy comes from what you do, but that is not the case. Joy does not come from what you do, it flows into what you do and thus into this world from deep within you. The misperception that joy comes from what you do is normal, and it is also dangerous, because it creates the belief that joy is something that can be derived from something else, such as an activity or thing. You then look to the world to bring you joy, happiness. But it cannot do that. This is why many people live in constant frustration. The world is not giving them what they think they need. Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to your life's purpose

When an idea reaches critical mass there is no stopping the shift its presence will induce. Marianne Williamson

Whatever you have in your mind - forget it; Whatever you have in your hand - give it; Whatever is to be your fate - face it! Abu Sa'id (Essential Sufism)

Whatever we perceive in the world around us tends to reflect who we are and what we care about most deeply, as in the old saying, "When a thief sees a saint, all he sees are his pockets." Robert Frager, Heart, Self & Soul, The Sufi Psychology of Growth, Balance and Harmony

What is done for you - allow it to be done. What you must do yourself - make sure you do it. Khawwas (Essential Sufism)

Funny, how we come to yoga or find our first teacher. My first experience of yoga was on the Greek island of Skyros back in 1995. My husband had booked me on a two week holistic holiday. I had been through a fairly traumatic period. I had sat with my mum in hospital where she passed away after a two week illness; I was with her when she died and watched her take her last few breaths. Having left my husband and two young children at home, I arrived in Skyros emotional and exhausted. My husband had booked me on a workshop called “creative change”, bless him. I lasted two days on this course, as it really was not for me at that time. I changed courses and moved to the other side of the island, where they offered windsurfing and yoga. The yoga was practised outside under the pine trees and while practising yoga you would occasionally be hit on the head by a stray pine cone. The smell of pine takes me right back to that outdoor shala . Now to my first teacher and class... The teacher on tha

What happened to my generation is that we never grew up. The problem isn't that we're lost or apathetic, narcissistic or materialistic. The problem is we're terrified. Marianne Williamson

We have all had the experience of failing time after time in changing old habits. Then suddenly these old habits lose their hold on us. What was so attractive suddenly becomes unattractive. This is a sign that God has accepted our repentance. At this point, my sheikh used to say that we are no longer responsible for those old sins. We have truly changed and we are now someone who is not even tempted to commit them. Robert Frager, Heart, Self & Soul, The Sufi Psychology of Growth, Balance and Harmony

I recently found this Ashtanga yoga footage from the mid 80's in which Sri Pattabhi Jois is teaching to advanced yoga students. It is an amazing piece and you can clearly hear Gurjji teaching in both Sanskrit and English. I really enjoyed watching some of his hands on (feet on) adjustments too.