Day 3 - Oct 16, 2017, Monday

Since last night's Satsang ended late (at 10:30 p.m.), Swami Sita asked us to report at 6:45 a.m. today (instead of 6 a.m.). We were asked to meet at the Krishna temple. We had a Havan ceremony there. It was out in the open. I've posted pictures of Krishna temple in Day 1's post. It was beautiful to see the sun-rise along with Havan, chants and Vrindavan pond in the background. It actually felt like blissful Vrindavan - ducks floating in the pond, havan ceremony, sun-shine and birds chirping.

I realized how after coming to the US, I've never attended any Havan ceremony and therefore, Ariv and Krisha don't know anything about it. Maybe we should expose them to it. It's part of our Vedantas. Well, here's glimpse for you kids.

basking in fresh morning sun rays with Havan in the background, at the Krishna temple.

Swami Vashishtananda performing the ceremony

Look at the beautiful setting of the ceremony. The person in the chair is Steve Fiske who sang last night.

A glimpse of myself in the end of this video

I am bliss

Today was actually the Day 1 of the TTC. We had a proper schedule. After the Havan ceremony, there was the Asana class, then brunch, followed by Karma Yoga. I have to go help at Swami Sita's house for my Karma Yoga. Today I cleaned her bathrooms  - hmm, it's OK. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel bad about it at all. My Karma Yoga is with another TTC girl - Hitomi. She is also from the Bay Area, mother of 3 boys , although she looks like a college going girl and very nice. 
After Karma Yoga, we had a chanting class with Swami Shiva Shankari (she runs the San Francisco Sivananda center). Then, we had our first lesson on meditation taught by Swami Sitaramananda. We learned why we should meditate and some tips to properly meditate.
So Why meditate: To transcend the mind, to control the mind which is constantly churning thoughts, reasoning and looking out for one's self. When we meditate, we realize that there is a higher consciousness than just "me". It's a consciousness that is one with the universe, it's a consciousness of union.

Tips of meditation were around assigning a proper place, time, and getting in the habit of meditation. Sitting in a cross legged posture, focusing on a point of concentration like Anahata chakra (center of forehead) or Ajna Chakra (heart/chest center), dissociating the mind from  any attachments; only witness the feelings, don't associate with them if they arise. Turn the mind inward; Have pure thoughts - think non-controversial thoughts.When the knower, the knowing and the known become one, that is a state of Samadhi.
She assigned us to summarize what we learned as homework.
Then we went for evening Asana class where we learned how to teach a beginner's class No. 1. We also got HW from that to summarize what we learned.

Then dinner at 6 p.m.

 I got some time to talk to the kids. Aunty had picked up the kids today as Arpit had to go to Lee's (Head of Engg. at Pinterest) Diwali party. Kids were totally fine, doing their things, regular routine. Aunty was cooking. Thanks to her also in helping us while I'm here. She cooks with love and affection and Arpit loves her parathas. She also takes care of the kids like their own grandmother. The kids love her too. That's it. I slept after talking to Arpit.