Yup. For lack of a better term. That about says it.
This is super sneaky stuff. Dangerous sneaky.

How to use your yoga practice to change the world.
How to make it a platform for creating your boldest,
most BRILLIANT life, where nothing stands in the way of
your ability to live passionately and abundantly...

And offer your GREATEST contribution to the world.

7 Questions. 7 Answers. Infinite Possibilities.
Take the Trikaya Quiz now and join the tribe
that's raising the vibe.

www.trikayaquiz.com

...while it lasts.

My husband Kraig turns 29 today. He's off in AZ climbing with our buddy Gordon and comes home to celebrate with me tomorrow (he kinda gets two birthdays that way... good strategy babe). Just thought I'd shout it out to everyone how incredibly fortunate and blessed I feel to have him by my side. He is my best friend and most humble and sweet teacher. I love you Kraig! Thank you for being you.

I stumbled across a newsletter from the popular dating series, "Catch Him and Keep Him" and there was footage from a seminar they did called From Casual to Committed. It was produced by one of Eben Pagan's companies. Eben is a brilliantly balanced marketer and entrepreneur so I follow his work. They walk the talk there and I'm all about authenticity.

This footage included a clip from a female educator who was talking about respect in relationships. I was making some chai and had this playing in the background. My ears perked up when I heard her say "Ask yourself if you respect this person enough that you would want to have children that turned out to be just like them."

I stopped in my tracks and smiled a huge smile to myself. I was thinking about Kraig and how proud I am to be his wife and partner in life. "You're damn right I do" I thought to myself. I can hardly wait to have a family with him and be the friend and leader those kids will need to maneuver and flow through this magical and awe-inspiring existence. What a precious experience those thoughts brought to me.

Relationships take work but one thing is for certain; it's gratitude and respect for one another that will keep you strong and connected. Not that they always come easy... they sure as hell don't. But that's part of living authentically... taking responsibility for ALL of our choices, including the one we make each moment that we choose gratitude and respect over judgement and withdraw. I'm so happy that I've continued to make that choice with my husband everyday up this point. I have no plans to change that practice because it serves me well.

Here's to choosing a life I love and a relationship that supports me in doing that consistently.

Thankfully, Namasté.

What a great topic this is to comment on. Everyone has her or his way of creating happiness. Right now, among about 3 other books, I'm reading Tim Ferriss's Four Hour Work Week.
He makes a good point about "happiness". He defines it by posing the question, (and I'm paraprhasing here) "what would we consider the opposite of happiness to be... sadness? You'd think so, but no. The emotions of sadness and happiness are not all that different, really.  Sometimes we can be both happy and sad about the same situation. The opposite of happiness is more like apathy or boredom. Therefore, true happiness, on the other end of the spectrum, should be closer to EXCITEMENT and enthusiasm." This idea really rings true for me.

So now I don't think so much about how I can make myself happy, which is kindof an elusive thought. Instead I focus on how I can create positive excitement and genuine enthusiasm in my life by spending time with people and engaging in activities that inspire these feelings. How I can prioritize my life so that I'm putting my best talents and resources on my greatest opportunities (Robin Sharma, the author of the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, often speaks to this.), those that are near and dear to me that I feel passionate about progressing. For me, it's anything having to do with designing my life through yoga and helping others to do the same. And any education or activity that helps me to do that better, to reach more people and create stronger relationships.

In reading this book I've learned a lot about outsourcing, leveraging, and creating time for what counts most... the things that bring us excitement. Whether that be travel, art, family, philanthropy, yoga, business, nature, our pets, whatever!

So in a nutshell, my philosophy (which was influenced by both of the aforementioned authors) on the easiest way to become happy is:

• Do what you love to do, and do it SO well that people HAVE to talk about you. Give them 10 times what they expect and you'll create a buzz around town (and the Internet if you design it that way).
• Every so often, go on a rampage of gratitude, just for how good it makes you feel and what goodness it allows to to attract.
  
• Study and enhance your skill set on this one passion of yours for 2-4 hours a day and in 3-5 years, people will call you a genius... and your work will be influencing hundreds of lives.
• In return for adding value to the lives of others, for offering this talent or service you have meticulously developed, allow yourself to make enough money to pay others for the things you DON'T enjoy doing or don't have a talent in. Dan Sullivan, the Strategic Coach calls this "creating enough resources--money--to make YOUR problems someone else's problems." This is outsourcing; you pay others who DO enjoy those things (laundry, taxes, bookkeeping, cleaning, etc.) and you get them done while doing the things you DO enjoy. It's a win-win.
• Schedule mini-vacations and micro-adventures regularly. These don't have to cost an art and a leg but they'll allow you to create priceless memories and experiences. Ideas: Go on weekend trips for fun once a month. Every week, do one thing that scares you. Twice a month take someone to lunch who you consider a mentor or expert in your field and absorb their knowledge. Once a year design "the perfect day" for yourself and LIVE IT. Then do the same for each and every member in your family according to THEIR design.
  
• Eat living foods and use the full potential of your body and mind.
  
• Plan your week. What gets measured... progresses. Be accountable to yourself.
• Be accountable to others as well by creating a Mastermind team for regular meetings or discussion about your highest priority goals.
• And HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP YET... Do no spend a second of your time focusing on what you DON'T WANT. Instead, be grateful for the perfect contrast that creates the perfect storm in your life to bring about new and brighter conclusions, solutions, and perspectives. Life is about inhaling and exhaling, shifting and changing. Contrast is the spice of life that gives birth to new desires that we can then bring into being. That's the power of intentional creation. That's life by design rather than by default.

And that... we'll that's all folks. Except for this quote about outsourcing to sum it all up.

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone." —Henry David Thoreau, naturalist

Until next time.

All the love,

Kris

Hang on 'cuz you're in for a wild ride. Just trust. All that you need will be provided. The stream of expansion your life has caused you to launch will carry you to all that you desire... in good timing.

You'll purchase your first home and it will blow your mind! You'll find some new mentors who will offer you tools and knowledge that answer business and personal quesitons you've had for a while. You will be highly effective in your community with yoga and charity projects, which will pave the way for others to be more active in creating positive change.

You'll learn some hard lessons about trusting your inner guidance system, all which serve you. You'll also strengthen friendships and business relationships that will help you build powerful leverage to serve and empower more people.

Your health will be strong all year long, no sickness or setbacks. Your family will be well too, safe, and happy. Two healthy new members of the family, one on each side, will be born to proud parents. Your marriage will feel healthier and more relaxed, you're progressively learning how to support each other in your growth and expansion.

You will have more and more reasons to be grateful, daily. Look for them and spend time to acknowledge the beautiful people, places, and events that come into your experience. Most of all, be gentle with yourself. You are where you are and that's just fine. Wherever you are, you can always reach for thoughts that bring you relief and you'll keep floating downstream towards all that awaits you in your vibrational escrow.

If you want it, Source becomes it. It is your job to let go of the oars and flow towards it. Nothing you want is ever upstream, so lose the struggle. Life is not meant to be a struggle. It is however, meant to be rich with contrast. That contrast, coupled with belief that you are worthy of all that you desire, inspires and activates within you the same energy that creates worlds. That contrast gives rise to new solutions, to your own expansion. You are always flowing to that so long as you are not pushing against what life is causing you to become.

Let go of the oars, know what you want, know you are worthy of it, and simply allow it to come to you. Not that there won't be action. There will be. A lot. But it must be inspired by your desire, your belief in your ability to be, do, or have what you want. Then it must come to you. It is law. Watch and see.

Two questions.

1) What's you'r biggest fear (the really juicy irrational one)? The more personal, the more Universal, so let her rip.


2) What's the greatest, grandest vision or desire you've ever held? Seriously, no holds barred. Only one. What is it?

I want to know.

The greatest truth is that we are all exactly where we are meant to be right now and in every moment. Exactly. No exceptions. So the greatest cause I believe in is supporting each and every person in accepting and loving their life, exactly how it is, whatever that takes. This is the first step to harnessing all of their resources, desires and abilities to begin to improve their situation. There's always room for more expansion.

My husband, because he's more like my best friend. We tell it like it is, and we don't put up w/ each other's BS when we're being less aware and less responsible for our thoughts, actions and reactions. He knows my dreams, my fears, my goals, and the fastest way to make me laugh or smile when something's got me down. When we got married, our vows said that we would learn the song in each other's heart, so that when either of us forgot our song, the other person could sing it for us.

And my sister, because she's my "little" sister, but I see so much everyday how wise she is and how much she is her own person. She's never pretentious. She is beautifully and genuinely... her. Because there's no fluff there, I dont feel a need to add any fluff. I just be myself and love her for being herself and it's a fun time, no matter what's happening or NOT happening.

And my brother, for the same reason as my sister. I don't know anyone more real, relaxed, and happily himself than he is. He's an engineer, so he likes to find problems and their solutions. I used to get all bent out of shape every time he picked me or my ideas apart, then I realized one day... he's just being him. That's his JOB and his way... to search for soft spots, suss things out, test for weaknesses, and then manifest a way to make it good and strong. I always welcome his input now, and I appreciate him so much more. I notice he does the same for me so I can really open up to him 100%.

I'm so blessed to have these people in my life keeping me in check, supporting me, and helping to be enjoy the little things.

Community versus competition.
Flow versus frustration.
Integration vs. separation.
Freedom versus limitation.
Come together for this evening of Yoga, Dance, Kirtan, Drum Circle, Acrobatics, Life-enhancing, Paradigm-shifting workshops and performances, Raffle, Journaling, Meditation, and more. Raise consciousness and funds for Global Warming, Earthquake Survivors in Peru, Animal Rights, HIV and Cancer - both locally and globally. Connect and empower!

Tickets available now. This event will sell out.
www.GlobalMalaSD.org

This is a green event. Bring your own reusable water container to help us in this effort. Water will be supplied.

• Bring monies for raffle tickets, Malas, and tees and tanks that will support Trees for the Future!
• Bring monies for munchies, you'll work up an appetite.
• Bring your yoga mat and sweat towel, and get ready to shake the earth!

The trinity shows up in life and in yoga repeatedly.  Mind, Body, Spirit;  Work, Rest, Play;  Past, Present, Future;  Subconscious, Conscious, Super-conscious;  the Hindu trinity of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the transformer.  As previously mentioned, even the **OM is made up of 3 syllables–A (“ah”), or wakefulness, U (“oh”), the dream state, and M (“mmm” or "hum") the quietness of deep, dreamless sleep–which is why we feel so calm when we express this sound.

When we are reaching for our best life, our greatest visions, our most profound awakenings, we must address the whole person, the complete TRIKAYA.  Practicing Trikaya Yoga, through consistent journaling (self-study) coupled with intentionalized yoga, dance, and other purification systems, is the ultimate way to "know thyself", honor others, and co-create within the Trinitarian nature of our experience.  Robin Sharma so beautifully acknowledged the importance of addressing all three aspects of ourselves in his best seller The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari:

       "This is the trilogy of our human endowments.  To improve your mind without the cultivations of your physical gifts would be a very hollow victory.  Elevating your mind and body to their highest level without nurturing your soul would leave you feeling very empty and unfulfilled.  But when you dedicate your energies to unlocking the full potential of all three of your human endowments, you will taste the divine ecstacy of an enlightened life."

Yoga is indeed a practice, and a sacred one at that.  So is life.  With Trikaya, we use yoga as the practice for co-creating our life.  One simple choice after another, we shape our world.  Instead of falling into the old habit of unconscious creation or creation by default or by chance--which is a result of continually OBSERVING > JUDGING > REACTING, we learn the art of intentional living and commit to OBSERVING > CHOOSING > ACTING DELIBERATELY.   It is these subtle, yet powerfully profound shifts in perception and action that quickly transform an unfulfilled or unsatisfying life into one of immense joy, freedom and prosperity, allowing us to manifest more of our inherent divinity.


**referenced from body+soul magazine, May 2007

Buddhism

(*referenced from http://www.khandro.net/doctrine_trikaya.htm)

In Buddhism, the word trikaya refers to the three kayas, bodies, or levels of Buddhahood–the dharmakaya, samboghakaya, and nirmanakya.  In English… truth-body, bliss- or enjoyment-body, and activity-body. 

A simplified explanation is that the dharmakaya (truth-body) is the Absolute. It is the source of everything… not different from the Void.

The sound Aum (Om) evokes the Absolute. One explanation found in the Hindu Puranas is that it is the grunt of the Goddess as she gives birth to creation.  In Buddhism, that which it represents is entirely unborn–pure creative potential.  

The 3 components of this syllable, here in a Tibetan form, can also be understood as the kayas.

The samboghakaya (enjoyment body) is rarely experienced.  Its description is likened to stories told of deities, and it has been referred to as “timeless communication.”  The sound Ah, the expression of joyous wonder, is written and used to evoke it. 

The nirmanakaya (activity body) is the phenomenal world–our reality.  The sound Hum, which actually means us in Sanskrit represents it.  It is the here-and-now, with all its future potential. 

It may be helpful to think of the three as: abstract, mythic and human realms; or as the blank canvas, the paint, and the hands that do the painting.

Brahmanism - the Vedas & Upanishads

(*referenced from http://www.cosmiclight.com/ofquasarsandquanta/omnipresence.htm)

Brahmanism is the forerunner of both Hinduism and Buddhism and provides us with the oldest texts (the Vedas) and best preserved metaphysical system of teaching on our planet. Brahman is the term used to refer to transcendental omnipresence, and it is attributed with the characteristics of consciousness and love -- it is a non-manifest yet living state of being -- pure spirit.  This is expressed in the Sanskrit word Saccidananda, which is a run-together of three words, Sat, Chit, and Ananda, meaning, Existence, Consciousness of Existence, and Love of Existence, or simply, Being-Consciousness-Bliss.  This is the trikaya, the three-bodied or triple-aspect characteristic of Brahman.  The Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (the Creator, the Preserver, and the Transformer) are personifications of the trikaya. Krishna, Indra, and all other gods and enlightened teachers of the tradition, historical and mythological, are manifestations of Vishnu.  (Note the difference between the words Brahma and Brahman, the former being a masculine noun, the latter being neutral.)

As pure metaphysical principles, the trinity is the same in any tradition.  The first body of the trikaya is fully transcendental, like the Universal Singularity "just before" the Big Bang.  The second body of the trikaya is the shining-forth, the Dharmakaya, the perfect embodiment of Divine Law, and is known variably as Prana, Life Force, Cosmic Light, Supermind, Universal Consciousness, Buddha-Consciousness, Christ-Consciousness, the Word, Logos. The third body of the trikaya is Brahman manifest as the Universe, the Divine Play, leela, the cyclic movement of the Cosmic Dance itself.