## Meditation 1. **In this meditation, which bija syllable is emphasized, and what does it represent?** AH. It represents the pause—the space between inhale and exhale—where winds merge, the mind becomes still, and bliss and emptiness unite. 2. **Which three winds come together in the bija AH?** - Life wind at the heart (first “a”) - Upward-moving wind at the throat (second “a”) - Downward-clearing wind at the secret place (“ha”) This parallels pranayama practice, where the winds are guided into the central channel and allowed to rest. 3. **The meditation teaches us to see bliss not as something to cling to, but as a doorway. In your daily life, how might you shift one moment of pleasure or relief into a deeper reminder of your potential?** Answer (examples): When enjoying a meal, pause to dedicate it to all beings; when feeling relaxed in nature, recognize it as a glimpse of inner stillness. 4. **The practice asks: “Bliss without emptiness is a beautiful mistaken dream. Emptiness without bliss is a black and white mirror.” Which side do you tend to lean toward in your own experience—and how might you bring them closer together?** Sample Reflection: I often feel emptiness as dry clarity (the mirror), but rarely bliss. To bring them closer, I can soften into gratitude and let joy be present alongside insight. ## Asana 1. **Which are the three “Small Drops” postures we work with in this asana sequence, and where are they located?** The Three Small Drops are performed three times, each activating a sacred region: - Lower Drop: base chakra area. (Muladhara) - Middle Drop: sacrum and navel region (Svadhisthana–Manipura). - Chest Drop: heart center (Anahata). ## Sadhana 1. **Why does the lake still, allowing us to see the reflection of the Angel?** Because of the practice of “the book”, done properly, every day, and with no gaps, we finally have the goodness to get a glimpse of the divine. 2. **Why does the Angel disappear? And if they do, what should we do?** When we buy something really expensive, our bank account drops dramatically. The same can be true of our seed bank account when something very special happens. The appearance of the divine disappears as we no longer possess the seeds for that projection. Then, we have a decision to make. Do we react to the world as it now appears, or do we hold onto that pure projection as real? Or “real”. 3. **Why do we see OM AH HUNG in places throughout the text?** The OM AH HUNG is to remind us of our Meditation practice, Song of the Indivisible. At these points in the sadhana, we could stop and do this meditation practice. Further, it is this song, or the calling from the most subtle winds of the heart, that leads us to the Lady of Illusion and our ultimate destination. 4. **At last, we meet the Lady of Illusion. She is described as having *adornments and attainments*. What is your favorite adornment, and what attainment does it refer to?** Possible Answer. For example, a student could choose the chop knife, which is symbolic of cutting off all of our negative thoughts and negative emotions. ## Pranayama 1) **How can we use Nadi Shodhana to purify the channels and prepare the winds for meditation?** Begin with the Blue Sky Body visualization — see your form as hollow, luminous, and filled with light. Then bring to mind the three main channels: - Ida (left) – moon channel, cool and receptive. - Pingala (right) – sun channel, warm and active. - Sushumna (center) – the radiant pathway of awakening. Start gently: - Inhale through the right nostril, exhale through the left — purifying attachment. - Inhale through the left, exhale through the right — purifying anger. - Inhale and exhale through both nostrils — purifying ignorance. Three rounds each, nine in total. Breathe softly, evenly, allowing the winds to travel down to the triveṇī (the juncture beneath the navel) and up the central channel. With each exhale, visualize dullness and distraction dissolving into space — like clouds fading from the sky. 2) **How do outer methods like Nadi Shodhana and inner visualizations work together?** When we combine breath control with subtle-body awareness, the outer and inner paths merge. This reflects the YSI axiom chi nang tab la tsowor bey — working from the outside in and the inside out to reach realization. Outer control steadies the winds; inner visualization gives them purpose. As another saying reminds us, lung sem jukpa chikpa — winds and thoughts move as one. When the winds become still, the mind naturally becomes still. When the mind settles in compassion and clarity, the winds find their home in the central channel. 3) **What are the key Sanskrit terms for the breath cycle and the three primary channels?** Breath Cycle - Puraka – inhale - Recaka – exhale - Antara Kumbhaka – retention after inhale - Bahya Kumbhaka – suspension after exhale Channels - Ida – left channel - Pingala – right channel - Sushumna – central channel Numbers 1–10 (for mantra counting) eka, dve, trini, chatvari, pancha, shat, sapta, ashta, nava, dasha ## Storytime 3 — Marpa’s Visions of Devotion 1. **In Marpa’s first vision, how did Naropa appear, and what did the tiger, sun, and moon represent?** Naropa rode a tiger through the sky, with two radiant maidens standing on the sun and moon. The tiger symbolized transforming desire into the path; the sun and moon were the right and left channels. To rise above them is to move beyond duality. 2) **Who were the two maidens in the vision, and what qualities did they embody?** They introduced themselves as Jñānamatī (“she whose insight is pure wisdom”) and Guṇasiddhi (“she who has perfected the qualities”). Together they represented direct perception of emptiness joined with perfected compassion and virtue—the wisdom and method that complete the path. 3. **What lesson did Marpa receive in his second vision of the golden deer and the “whip of exertion”?**** He learned that devotion alone was not enough. He must urge the horse of faith with joyful effort—tsundru—and avoid the trap of grasping at “me” and “mine.” When he offered effort as devotion, longing turned to bliss. 4. **What realization came from the third vision and the footprint in the crystal?** The voice in the sky taught him that the footprint was like the trail of a bird in flight—freedom leaves no trace. True practice means seeing causes, not chasing results; learning to act from the level of seeds rather than appearances.