มุทิตา
All continuing education workshops taught and hosted by me, Naj, at The Naga Center, now offer a 18% off discount to single moms and to anyone who identities as black, indigenous, or other person of color.
There are many reasons why this discount is offered, ranging from historical injustices to the ways that wealth is often accumulated in this country. All of these reasons matter, but what motivated me is that modern western wellness communities tend to be disproportionally white to a rather extreme degree, especially on the west coast, and including my classes. I simply wanted to invite and welcome people into this circle who may not always see themselves invited and welcomed. As for the single mom discount, well, between the gender income gap and the high expense of raising children, and the added expense when one needs to hire childcare in order to take a class, I just wanted to equalize costs a little bit.
If you are a single mom or identify as black, indigenous, or other person of color, registering for a continuing education workshop, I invite you to use the discount code MUDITĀ18
I will also be implementing a discount for the pre-licensure Professional Program, but this is a bit more complex, so please check back on this.
I acknowledge that there are many demographic groups and individuals facing financial struggle. The Naga Center is a small business that falls into the survival business category. As such, I have to make selective choices about offering discounts, but I have always believed that knowledge should not be cost prohibitive and have never turned anyone away from a class solely due to money; I offer payment plans to anyone who needs them, just reach out.
The discount code word, Muditā, also written in Thai script at the top of this page (มุทิตา), is a Pali word that can be translated as “sympathetic joy”, or “altruistic joy”, or sometimes, just as “joy”; there isn’t a perfect translation, but it means having happiness for the happiness of others. I chose to include it here because I know that when one is not the person being offered something, sometimes this causes feelings rooted in jealousy to arise, feelings that we are all vulnerable to. Muditā, a quality that Buddhism teaches us to nourish, is the antidote to jealousy. The beauty of it is that when we are able to feel happiness for the success, bounty, health and joy of others, we are ourselves, happy. It is a giving that immediately gives back. I embedded Muditā into this page as a protective ward against jealousy and resentment, and as a nourishment of happiness for all. May we all rejoice if this discount may bring happiness to anyone.
Ganesha is here because he is the breaker of obstacles and it is my sincere hope that this page may be just that.