Ganesha Greetings for a Year with Auspicious Benefits:

As I write this I'm feeling the beauty of this perfect moment at the same time considering intention, sankalpa, for the new year, 2010.  I found the wall hanging to the left of the purveyor of yoga and remover of obstacles, Ganesha, at an Indian restaurant/store in southern Florida while on holiday.  I was delighted to learn new Sanskrit words in the top:

शुभ लाभ

pronounced shubha laabha and meaning wishes for auspicious benefits, or as the shopkeeper translated into American short hand,

Good Luck. 

He'd had the experience of a large sculpture of Ganesha appearing at his door step on the first day of his store opening many years ago.  He had no idea how it got there, but was moved with appreciation of the support.

As I considered and meditated on my personal intention for the year, I was given (in the same sort of way the shopkeeper was given Ganesha) a sloka from the second book of Yoga Sutra:

From self-study and reflection on sacred words (svadhyaya), one attains contact, communion, or concert with that underlying natural reality or force.

(svadhyayat ishta samprayogah)

My focus then will be this important act of self study so that I can remain in contact with this strong natural force or reality, as opposed to the externals that sometimes whip me around.  This verse will be my mantra for the year and I hope to be able to use this focus to see more clearly the True Self which is beyond the comings and goings of daily life and lives in the great ocean of true Bliss.  I hope to be able to more fully serve the world by cultivating increasing inner clarity.

I so look forward to meeting you on the mat, in cyberspace, in any loka (place) we may find ourselves,

with so many blessings,

and many many auspicious benefits.

शुभ लाभ

and much love,

Metaji.