Tag Archives: tradition

The path of the Orthodox tradition

We have all been rocked in our childhood by the journey of Ulysses and the twelve labours of Hercules…

The journey of Odysseus symbolizes the quest for self, the twelve steps have an initiatory value as the twelve labours of Hercules represent the quest for the ‘self’ to the ‘self’ through the obstacles encountered on the path toward oneself. It is through these myths that man realizes himself. It is a YOGA.

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 The path of the Orthodox tradition

 Making emptiness, finding absence, in order to find Presence… meeting heaven in Earth. In the Orthodox tradition, it is experience that matters, it is by the sensorial and emotional feeling that meeting occurs and not through a theory or a religious ideology.

“To see oneself in someone else and in the loved”.
Father Georges 

Tradition, is a “charismatic” experience, it’s meaning is the one of the word communion; it is not just a historical memory of the words.

All Orthodox churches claim according to the tradition of a foundation dating back to the first century of our era.

As the Hindu tradition is faithful to the Veda, the tradition of the Orthodox churches is faithful to the Gospel, to the teaching of the Apostles, to faith, to prayer, to the Tradition. This ‘Tradition’ relies on witnesses, called here Fathers of the Church, Fathers of the desert, and instructors of monastic life because their asceticism and spiritual lives are eminently doctrinal. They are like the Rishi (s) in ancient India with all the strength brought from ascetic experience and from the experience of the divine gained through prayer.

They are the ones who, as the Yogi, embody, make live and flourish from generation to generation, the path, the road, in their own lives and transmit all there strength.

The vocation of the desert passes through Mount Sinai, Mount Athos and the monasteries of the Meteors.

  • Mount Sinai (Moses mountain) houses the Monastery St. Catherine of Sinai, also called Monastery of the Transfiguration, which attracts many pilgrims. To go to the Summit of Mount Sinai, take Siket Sayidna Musa, which enters the ravine behind the monastery “the route the 3750 steps of penance”.
  • Mount Athos (the Holy Mountain) brings together twenty monasteries which support about 2 000 Orthodox monks and other searchers of truth in a mountain landscape also called “Christian Tibet”.

To stay on Mount Athos: it is necessary to obtain a permit (the famous “diamonitirion”). To get it, make a demand addressed to the Office in Thessaloniki pilgrims, “Grafio Proskikiton 109 rue Egnatia – 54622 Thessaloniki Greece”. Give your desired date to visit Mount Athos. You can write, send a fax (00 30 2310 222424), email (pilgrimsbureau@c-lab.gr), or call (00 30 2310 252578). The easiest is to telephone.

The Manager speaks French, English and Greek; he will give you all the useful information for obtaining the “diamonitirion”. Supporting documents can be sent by mail. You can request a renewal for a period of 4 to 8 days at Karyes, the administrative capital of Mount Athos (offices at the top of the stairs, on the right of the church)

  • The monasteries of the Meteors or the monasteries hanging from the sky (Μετέωρα Μοναστήρια). Athanase the Great is the founder of the Monastery of Transfiguration or Monastery of the Great Meteor. Today only six monasteries are still active.

Kyrie Eleison

The prayer of the heart is intended to be repeated continuously, without distraction of the mind, like a mantra. It is the keystone of the spiritual practice of the Church of the East, which leads to mystical union with God

” Man is similar to a tree:”
body work represents the leaves,
while the guard of the inside is the fruit.
Yet the Scriptures say:
Every tree that does not produce good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
It is therefore manifest that our efforts must look at the fruit,
i.e. the guard of the mind; we nevertheless
need the cover, and the finery of the leaves: it is the body work. ”
Apophtegmes, Agathon, 8″

This will be the teaching of the masters of hesychasm: they will never cease to recommend first and foremost to be attentive to oneself, to enter one’s heart; or, in the words of Saint Jean Climaque, «to aspire to circumscribe the intangible (spirit) in the body “, instead of letting it (the intangible) disperse outside. This is what we call Pratyahara and Dhāraṇā in the asceticism of yoga.

But to the practice of the invocation, we must add some more external conditions:

The first – the retreat into solitude and silence, far from all worldly fuss.

The second – to life in retirement, hesychast tradition added later the practice of a determined body posture and some control of the respiration. This is what we call Āsana and Prāṇāyāma in Yoga.

”One should not think, Christian brothers, that only priests and monks have a duty to pray continually and not the laity. No, no, All Christians have in common the duty to be always in prayer. »
Gregory Palamas

In the philosophy and basic practice, there is virtually no difference between an ascetic Hindu and the approach to God in the Orthodox way. It is through the asceticism of the body, the respiratory control and control of the mind through the repetition of a mantra that we succeed in the Ultimate.

To go further:

  • Petite philocalie de la prière du cœur, Éditions du Seuil (1 novembre 1979) ISBN-10 : 2020053489
  • Philocalie des Pères Neptiques T.A1, Bellefontaine59 (1 décembre 2004) ISBN-10 : 2855899753

You can read the excellent article by Jacques Vigne, titled “ Non-dualité et Mystique Chrétienne,” Vedanta and hesychasm, published in Question de n° 99 et 100 (1995).. This text is a study on Christianity and Hinduism, especially the hesychasm, i.e. the mystique of the Fathers of the desert, and of the Vedanta.

 

“Greek Cuisine” Travel information, Ashtanga Yoga workshops in Greece (Athens & island of Andros)

Greek cuisine is famous thanks to its “Mediterranean diet” or “Cretan diet”. The countries of the Mediterranean basin have a food tradition based on fruit, vegetables, cereals, walnut and olive oil, dairy products (yoghurt, cheese), aromatic herbs and a low consumption of animal products (meat).

Unesco has recognized Mediterranean cuisine as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2010[1].

This cuisine is not only tasty but also very good for your health, protecting against cardiovascular diseases; degeneration of cognitive functions (memory lapses, etc.)…

Contemporary Greek cuisine uses a lot of olive and walnut oil (omega 3), spices, vegetables, and cereals. Olives, aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes, yoghurt, as well as the cheeses, are world famous. The wine is delicious !

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Greek desserts

Sugar lovers will be in paradise with Greek desserts that are often made with honey and nuts.

Served with wine, ouzo or raki, mezes (something between appetizers and hors d’oeuvres) offer a variety of typical Greek dishes. In a Greek restaurant, if you do not speak Greek, no stress, you go directly to the kitchen, you lift the lids and order what you like.

Most Greeks do not go to a restaurant for gastronomic reasons but to feel well and have a good time with friends. The standing of a restaurant is therefore not a concept which really applies to Greek restaurants: expect paper tablecloths most of the time and no concern for the way the food looks and the muddled order in which it comes to table…   What counts is that you eat well, cheaply and rather copiously in most of the “taverna” found everywhere. You will be charged for the bread and cutlery!

In theory, there is a difference between a taverna and a restaurant (estiatorio). The first is more relaxed and friendly than the second. In practice, the label “restaurant” gives a ‘smarter’ impression for some people, but the label does not always describe what you find inside.

Finally, you will also find Greeks eating in the ouzeria (plural of ouzeri), sometimes also called mezedopolia or even ouzadika. Mezes (or even pikilies when they are larger) that accompany ouzo (local pastis) may be enough for a small meal.

On Andros Island, for your seminar of Ashtanga Yoga, you will eat in the Karanasos Hotel. Our host Sophia is not only a very good yoga teacher; she is also a wonderful cook. At each meal, you will be surprised by the taste and the quality of the food, by the lushness and inventiveness of the Greek culinary tradition. Most of the ingredients are grown organically.

Some tasty standards :

  • Feta: famous Greek cheese, not only eaten in a salad. It can also be fried, coated with sesame seeds, served with honey or coated in batter.
  • Greek Salad (khoriatiki): essential first course and cheap.
  • Tzatziki: yoghurt, cucumber, crushed garlic, olive oil and herbs.
  • Melitzanosalata: eggplant salad.
  • Moussaka: there are also vegetarian moussakas… yummy
  • Kolokithia tiganita: zucchini cut into slices and fried.
  • Dolmades: well known stuffed vine leaves.
  • Briam: a kind of ratatouille (potatoes, zucchini, peppers and tomatoes).
  • Imam baïldi: a dish of Turkish origin, like so many others (eggplant stuffed with onion, tomatoes and herbs).
  • Stuffed Tomatoes – Yemista (orphana): when the tomatoes and peppers are stuffed but with rice (no meat), they are known amusingly as “orphana’ (orphans), my son Surya’s favourite dish.

Snack time.

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Greek cafe

 

Greek coffee, avoid asking for a “Turkish coffee”: you won’t be well thought of. Ask instead for “ena helliniko, parakalo!”(One Greek coffee, please). It is normally served with a glass of water.

Retsina, the French are often surprised by its taste. It is a slightly sparkling table wine that is typically Greek.

Additional information:

  • Travel, ‘flight’ and ‘transfer’ information
  • Finding a ‘hotel’ in Athens
  • Taking photos in Greece
  • Information on ‘Health’ in Greece

[1] Wikipedia: the Mediterranean diet  (In 2010, Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco were the first to be recognised, but on December 4, 2013, Portugal, Cyprus and Croatia were also recognised by UNESCO.)

Dakchinachitra

DakshinaChitra is a centre for the living traditions of the arts: arts of the popular show, craft and architecture of the India focusing on the traditions of South India. Many exhibitions of artists.

 

It is a non-profit organisation.

DakshinaChitra opened to the public in 1996. The centre occupies 10 Ha dominating the golf of Bengal in Muttukadu.

 

Open from 10am until 6pm everyday, but Tuesday.

Admition price :

  • 200 RS.

DakchinaChitra, on the road to Chennai, 35 km north of Mahābalipuram, and 25 km south of Chennai.