The twenty-ninth reading from the Torah and sixth reading from Leviticus is named Acharei Mot (אחרי מות), two words that mean “after the death.” The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which say, “Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron” (Leviticus 16:1). Leviticus 16 describes the Tabernacle ceremony for the holy festival of the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 17 establishes general rules for sacrifice and sanctuary. Leviticus 18 lays down specific laws about permitted and forbidden sexual relationships.
Kedoshim
The thirtieth reading from the Torah and seventh reading from Leviticus is named Kedoshim (קדושים), which mean “holy.” The title comes from the words in Leviticus 19:2, which says, “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” Leviticus 19 describes the holy community through a series of specific commandments. Leviticus 20 warns against the snares of sexual immorality and idolatry, mandating a death penalty for certain sins. Except in biblical leap years, Kedoshim is read on the same Sabbath as the previous reading, Acharei Mot.
Dive into this study. I have embedded 2 podcasts of Bill Harris talking about his experience of a teaching of the 5 ranks. It will take you about an hour to learn about it. This process is what I think the yoga and the meditation and all the spiritual inquiry is all about.
The name of the twenty-seventh reading from the Torah is Tazria (תזריע), which means “she conceived.” The name is derived from the words of Leviticus 12:2, where the LORD says to Moses, “When a woman [conceives] and bears a male child …” Leviticus 12 discusses the laws of purification after childbirth. Leviticus 13 introduces the laws for diagnosing and quarantining lepers. Except in biblical calendar leap years, Tazria is read together with the subsequent Torah portion, Metzorah, on the same Sabbath.
Metzora
The twenty-eighth reading from the Torah is Metzora (מצורע), a word that means “leper.” The word appears in the second verse of the reading, which says, “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing” (Leviticus 14:2). Leviticus 14 spells out the complex purification rituals for the cleansing of a leper and a leprous home. Leviticus 15 briefly covers the laws regarding ritual unfitness stemming from bodily emissions. Except in biblical calendar leap years, Metzora is read together with the previous Torah portion, Tazria, on the same Sabbath.
SO, I think we can all agree that the past year has yielded some kind of a “paradigm shift” in how we see the world around us and our “role” in it.
YOGA is one of the fundamental maps in our inquiry. We know our DESTINATION in yoga. The Eight Limb Path ‘marks’ THE PATH. The Eighth Limb is where we want to BE. Samadhi; Union with Source
THE FIVE PHASES
You can say Phase Zero is Awakening,
Phase One is Exploration: Inquiry.
In Phase Two “it” becomes Understanding.
In Phase Three” it” shall be Mastery.
The fifth and final phase, Phase 4 is an individual’s, direct, personal experience of Samadhi, Bliss, Celebration, Accomplishment, Gift, Fruit, Union with Source, Oneness; HOME
NOW WHAT?
What have we awakened to?
What knowledge and wisdom has occurred because of our inquiry?
I think it would be safe to say that each individual member of The Way Seekers Yoga group would answer that differently. Sure….some responses would be similar and some would be divergent.
Our mission now is to synthesize our awareness and the fruit of our inquiry into an enhanced understanding with a “blueprint” for the quest toward “The Final Correction.”
Here is what I propose.
I wish to manifest a kind of Template that is creative and innovative and designed from all that we have done in the past year.
Therefore, No new “maps”. We will take what have looked at and through a process like alchemy manifest this template.
I need your help. I would like our Monday sessions for the next 5-6 weeks to be meditation plus a discussion on this template I envision. Our yoga sessions will evolve to mirror our process.
Each week I will provide you with “pieces of the puzzle.” On Mondays I will have a 15-20 presentation for you. We will then immediately enter a 13 minute meditation sit followed by a wrap up discussion. You will have access to the work product in the form of videos (2 are already on the yoga page on choicetimes), manuals, live sessions, emails, etc…..
We hit Phase 3 after Shavuot (May 17) and it is my intention to have completed the “blueprint; design plan, business plan.: Template” by this time. Then the next phase, Phase 3 is about securing all of the resources necessary to implement the plan.
The template is universal in nature although it must, in the end, be practical in its application.
I have brainstormed on designing a practical application for business training managers or owners of yoga studios or sales people. I have experience in training in the hotel and financial services industry. particularly in human development and sales. But, I have listened to many of you and I think, perhaps, the initial narrowly focused application could be targeted to people dealing with and living with diabetes (Both Type 1’s or Type 2’s). It could include health care workers, friends, family etc. Give me a few weeks to expand and explain my thinking to you.
As preparation for Monday night’s session please watch this 10 minute video on The Golden Ratio and The Fibonacci sequence. This is not a new map. I introduced it last summer and now is the time to review it. I want to use this to buttress my rationale for The Template.
Shemini is the twenty-sixth reading from the Torah and third reading from the book of Leviticus. The word shemini (שמיני) means “eighth,” and it comes from the first words of Exodus 9:1, which says, “Now it came about on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel” (Leviticus 9:1). The text goes on to describe the events of the eight day after setting up the Tabernacle, a phenomenal worship service followed by a tragic incident. The reading concludes with the biblical dietary laws regarding animals fit for consumption and prohibitions regarding those that are unfit.
