About Hareesh
Christopher Wallis (Hareesh) was initiated into the practice of meditation and yoga at the age of 16. His degrees include a B.A. in Religion from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley, and an M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from the University of Oxford. He is currently finishing doctoral research at Berkeley on the traditions of Tantric Shaivism. He received traditional education at yoga āshramas in upstate New York and India in meditation, kirtan, mantra-science, asana, karma-yoga, and more. He currently teaches meditation, yoga philosophy, and Sanskrit in the yoga community. His goal in teaching is to balance accuracy with accessibility, profundity with clarity, and intellectual integrity with heart-expanding inspiration.
PRAISE
“I wish that my life and schedule would have allowed me to attend more of these beautiful classes. Each evening that I was fortunate enough to be there was more of an experience than a class – a gathering of a powerful community, working with amazing teachings and a masterful guide to feed our souls to the point of perfect satiation. Hareesh is so articulate and has a way of making these sutras accessible to those truly wanting to receive them. He also cares deeply for the practice and all those who choose to partake in it.”
~Student, 2010 Summer Heart of Recognition Series
You can find out more about Hareesh on his site at http://wallis.yogasthana.org/
[...] mat in this exquisite space, and Sianna Sherman guides you through an inspiring practice… Hareesh Wallis illustrates how Tantrik philosophy embraces modern physics… and you savor a delectably satisfying [...]
[...] it. However, I’d been mindful, in the weeks we’d been dating, of advice given by my teacher Hareesh Wallis about relationships of all sorts: that one of the best things we can do in a relationship, in [...]
[...] view out the window of our bus in the state of Kerula in South India as Hareesh leads us in a chant: Share this [...]
[...] February 8: How Should the Teacher Behave? vs. What Can I Receive?: Understandings and Misunderstandings Around the Role of the Teacher by Chris (Hareesh) Wallis. [...]
[...] Christopher Wallis starts his recent post with these words, “It’s extraordinary, the capacity of human beings to complicate things.” Yes, exactly. That is part of our humanity. We judge, we act out without always having the capacity to reflect on our motivations. It is a long hard process to uncover our defensive structures. It is harder even to develop the capacity to see them when they arise, catch ourselves in the act of behaving out of our fixations. Only then, maybe, stop ourselves, breathe, and chose to act from the fullness of our whole being. In the same article he says, “Leave the dream-world of the mind behind and pay loving attention to your own inner experience. Do what uplifts your heart. And stay open as to what direction such upliftment may come. It really is that simple.” In a private conversation with Christopher (Hareesh), I argued that it really isn’t that simple to get to this level of paying attention to our inner experience, especially if we are talking about the whole of our experience. The whole energy field, including our BodyMind. Until we are fully liberated and have released all of our Samskaras, we will remain psychological beings. I have been studying with Hareesh for over a year, and these studies have brought me closer to being able to at least notice when I am drifting into Judging Mind and step back in order to lessen it’s grip. So far I have never met anyone who can stay “simply” with their own inner experience and leave their dream world without effort and vigilance. On my refrigerator is a fading quote from Patrick Henry, “Eternal Vigilance is the price of Freedom. ” Yes, I must be ever watchful for my “stuff” as it arises in order to be fully adult in my actions. Next to it is is a quote from Sonyal Rimpoche, “Remember to Remember, Whenever you Remember.” Looking in at my defensive structure and my habitual behaviors is one path that works for me in self-remembrance. They’ve been there for years and I use them daily. We continually need guidance and feedback from our friends, and not-friends. [...]
[...] TweetHareesh Wallis and I are very grateful to those of you who immersed in the sacred teachings of Tantric Shaivism with us, whether in person, online, or both. It touches us deeply to know that we have been of some service in bringing the liberating and empowering teachings of this tradition to life for you for the past 8 years. [...]