Thursday Satsang: “The Vedic and Yogic Tradition of All-Inclusiveness With Stories about Swami Veda’s Life in Honor of Father’s Day” with Sushumna (Sushi) Sharma and Stephen (Stoma) Parker – June 14, 2108
June 14, 2018
“The Vedic and Yogic Tradition of All-Inclusiveness
With Stories about Swami Veda’s Life
in Honor of Father’s Day”
How did Swami Veda Bharati and other spiritual teachers practice gender, race, and religious inclusiveness in their lives? These concepts are rooted in both our ancient books and oral traditions. Sushi Sharma will tell stories from the ancient texts and oral traditions as told to her as a child by her father (who later became Swami Veda Bharati). She will share personal experiences she had as a youth with Swami Veda that show his compassionate practice of inclusiveness. Stoma (Stephen Parker) will share stories from the ancient texts about gender identity and sexual orientation.
Sushumna (Sushi) Sharma is the daughter and student of H.H. Mahamandaleshwara Swami Veda Bharati, and part of a matrilineal lineage of Vedic ministers as the daughter and student of Lalita Mohanram Arya. She was initiated into, and began training in 1970 in the guru lineage of a former Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham. She has taught in the Himalayan tradition since 
1977, traveling internationally. She has a B.A. in graphic design and graduate level licensing as an ESL teacher. She has worked in publishing and is presently an educator. She is also a published writer, visual artist, and activist. She was raised in Minnesota. She has exhibited art in New York and Minnesota. Her indigenous training in her tradition informs her art, writing, and teaching in the Vedic and Himalayan yoga tradition.
1977, traveling internationally. She has a B.A. in graphic design and graduate level licensing as an ESL teacher. She has worked in publishing and is presently an educator. She is also a published writer, visual artist, and activist. She was raised in Minnesota. She has exhibited art in New York and Minnesota. Her indigenous training in her tradition informs her art, writing, and teaching in the Vedic and Himalayan yoga tradition.Stephen Parker was initiated in the Himalayan Yoga tradition by Swami Veda Bharati and was given the initiate name Stoma in 1971. Among the
first teachers certified by the Himalayan International Teachers’ Association, H.I.T.A., he began teaching hatha-yoga in 1974. Stoma is a 
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500 hour level of the Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500). A member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, he serves on the faculties of the Meditation Center in Minneapolis and the Sadhana Mandir and Sadhaka Gram ashrams in Rishikesh, India. He is also a senior faculty member of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition Teachers’ Training Program. Academic Medical Center. In 2007 he received took preliminary vows of renunciation from Swami Veda and the Shankaracharya of Karvirapitha. Stoma is author of “Clearing the Path, The Yoga Way to a Clear and Pleasant Mind: Patañjali, Neuoscience and Emotion.”
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500 hour level of the Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500). A member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, he serves on the faculties of the Meditation Center in Minneapolis and the Sadhana Mandir and Sadhaka Gram ashrams in Rishikesh, India. He is also a senior faculty member of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition Teachers’ Training Program. Academic Medical Center. In 2007 he received took preliminary vows of renunciation from Swami Veda and the Shankaracharya of Karvirapitha. Stoma is author of “Clearing the Path, The Yoga Way to a Clear and Pleasant Mind: Patañjali, Neuoscience and Emotion.”6:00pm Hatha Yoga with Lori Beron
7:00pm Meditation with Stephen Parker (Stoma)
Sushumna (Sushi) Sharma and Stephen Parker (Stoma)
8:30pm Soup
9:00pm Prayers and Meditation