Namaste, Hakuna Matata (fewer worries, be happier!)

I lived a 24/ 7 spiritual life in a yoga ashram from 1984-1996. KARMA Yoga, or selfless service, took us through 8 hours of the day. Yoga and meditation practices occurred from 5-6:30 am, three meals per day eaten in meditative silence, afternoon yoga and meditation practices from 4:15-5:45 pm, followed by evening meditation, discourse, and chanting. In that era, there was no real scientific, medical research or data to show that we were on to something remarkable. We were considered the Kripalu cult on the hill. We used to paint the walls, serve the guests, cook the meals and wonder: “Could yoga and meditation ever one day become mainstream?” Nowadays I recall our ardent desire to love, serve, surrender -  sans pay check –and I observe the ways the world has caught up in some ways, at least in the field of academe and scientific research! Now if you google Meditation Research, you will see enormous amounts of literature on the topic. A brave new world…