humankind through the messages of Love and mercy that Gregory offers each week.
The word Aspire means breath of spirit and offers to those who seek an authentic spiritual practice a home base where others of like Heartedness can gather and mature into Love through the practice of meditation. Aspire's immense library of offerings provides insight and support for every aspect of a person's life as it relates to the bigger picture of consciousness, meditation and Love…the origins of all Life. Your donations serve to invite humankind to the celebration of inner spiritual awakening!
An authentic spiritual practice is a tectonic shift toward the authentic meaning of living and recognizing Life itself as Love. If money and time are an issue, weighing these elements of earthly urgency as the litmus test of importance in your life leaves no possible way for an authentic spiritual practice to find its place in the priorities of your living.
Through the practice of meditation and inner enfoldment, you realize the bigger picture of your life and can see that the donations you have given in your effort to awaken through Workshops, Retreats and Meditations were the most precious and merciful acts of your lifetime.
A practice is about the entirety of all that is Love. So when you give a donation for a Retreat, to be there and participate in the process of inner awakening, you are also making a gift to Mt. Madonna, to airtime for Aspire and to Gregory so he can continue in the effort of Love.
You never know who is in front of you asking for your help, your money. When a person is before you, no matter who you think they are, it is wise to recognize the virtue of this and respond with a generosity that sets into motion actions of kindness and compassion that break your genetic patterns and liberate you from pride and hate.
Every time you liberate yourself by donating to Aspire for a Meditation, Insight Session or set of Discourses, you are promoting the teachings of authenticity and helping yourself at the same time. Each gift given is used to help people who, like you, are seeking the Way both consciously and unconsciously.
In true wisdom, you realize the order of your life must match and harmonize with the order of Life itself. When you take yourself out of this spiritual order, you put everything you live for in jeopardy and this affects every nook and cranny of your daily life.
Your donation may be the only catalyst that changes the direction of one person in this world. This is most valuable and important to note. Offering one person the chance to liberate him or herself to Love is a most noble way of living and offers the Karma of Love to once again enter into the lives of those who, without knowing it, are seeking.
Every time you come to a Workshop or Retreat you are giving a donation to the community that is hosting it. Your effort to awaken through these venues also helps with the cost of production of Aspire TV and Radio, which in turn helps the community and people who come to our website. You are also making it possible for Gregory to go to hospice and help the dying. All of this is generating new energies on the pathway of your Karma to liberate you from current as well as past lives that were lived in hardness of heart.
When you come to a Workshop or Retreat, or give a donation for Meditations, Discourses, Sponsorship, TV, Radio or anything else offered by Aspire, your donations pay for the airtime and expenses that carry these services forward to contribute to the well-being of this world through the goodness of Love. This returns to you as a blessing to your Karma.
Siraj (Dr. Gregory Penn) serves at his local Hospital and Hospice every week to help those who are in need or dying. It is most demanding and deeply important to people throughout the Monterey Peninsula area. Aspire also offers spiritual insight and deep inspiration through many services at no cost to the public.
Aspire TV has been serving the world since 1983 and Aspire Radio since 1977. Both are viewer-listener supported. Both are now available worldwide via this website. Aspire TV has won 6 Emmys and 7 Telly awards for its over 100 productions. Aspire Satsang With Siraj radio programs are fun, insightful and deeply penetrating. Over 9 years of question and answer sessions with Siraj are available on this website, with 2 new programs added every week!
Presented in a visual, user-friendly format, the Aspire Blog offers articles, lyrical videos and Zen stories devoted to helping people insight compassion and mercy through changing their lifestyles from selfishness to that of selflessness.
Siraj has dedicated his life to providing the tools necessary to support an authentic spiritual practice. A large portion of the income earned from Meditation Workshops, Retreats, Counseling, Meditations, Ambient Music, Discourses, Monthly Messages and the Breath Journal is required to sustain the many services Aspire provides as help and inspiration to the world. After all expenses for each of these services have been paid, whatever remains is used to support TV and Radio Programs and Hospice efforts. Often times, it is quite a financial stretch to continue to cover these costs – your support is crucial.
Thank you beloved for your beautiful teachings on being a Teacher….thanks for being our teacher.
Thanks to the energetic journey that brought it through you to me.
To share such intimate detail of your personal life takes so much courage. I am deeply touched by your Commentaries and I deeply Love you.
You are a very special teacher and I'm very grateful for your kindness. I still feel like you are a part of my life. Much Love.
It has been a very long time since last we spoke in that mall in San Diego, called Horten Plaza. I am glad to see you are continuing with the work you are doing on You Tube and in other venues. Always an influence with impact on my life and in the lives of others I touch. Glad to see that you are enjoying another turn of the wheel on this ball in space, with others being impact for your heart's work. You are a blessing and a joy to have in this exploration and experiment called life. Much love to you and yours.
"I can't begin to tell you how much your support with Meditations and Discourses have fulfilled my life. Thank you for everything you do, it truly makes a difference."
"I've been watching your broadcasts since the 90's when it was on XETV channel 6. I always felt that your shows were talking 'to' me and not 'at' me like most religious programs on Sunday mornings. I miss seeing the beautiful, tranquil scenery where Aspire was filmed. I especially miss your series a few years ago called: Nobody Likes You Anyway! For some reason, that really resonated with me. I've always been the type of person to try and 'please' everybody. While watching that segment, I learned from you that I simply can't please everyone all the time and to just do my best in life. I have begun watching you again Greg. I really have missed you and Aspire in my life. Thanks for all that I have learned from you over the years. I practically grew up watching you. I was a mere 20-something when I first started watching Aspire back in the 90's. I now look forward to having you guide me as I move through middle age. Namaste…"
"Your website is magnificent - congratulations on your excellent work."
"I'm SO happy to find and connect with you again! My mom used to attend your biofeedback classes in Escondido way back when and loved you very much. I grew up watching Aspire and have missed seeing it. You taught me the value of 'surrender' and 'namaste.' Thank you for that."
"I wanted to thank you for what you do and the impact you have had on my life. Even though we have never met, from the beginning you were saying what I have always felt. So, thank you and please take care of yourself, too. I have had to learn to take care of myself (physically and mentally) so I can be there for myself and others. Always wishing you the best!"
"You said something so profound in your Sunday radio broadcast when you mentioned the time you were in India meditating. What you said has stayed with me ever since and wanted to share. When you completed your meditation, something changed for you when you looked down and decided to 'get rid of Gregory.' You are quite a special person in this Universe, dear Gregory. There is only 'this moment' and the 'beauty of silence.' I discover so much about myself when I take 'Charlene' out of the picture. Thanks for being the light and blessing you are!"
"Thank You. I look forward to your new series as I look forward to your Commentaries. I enjoy my time in the morning reading your insights. Thank you for all that you do."
"Your consistent and persistent energy, insight and talent continues to enable me to WAKE UP. I hope you realize how much you're helping us see the true nature of our minds. Namaste!"
"For 50 years I worked in our family business so I understand your situation. Not only do you work long hours, but there is always something to deal with... like equipment dying. I get emotional when I think of the gift that you have made available to humankind. You have done all the hard work (the heavy lifting). As someone who has waited many lifetimes, it has taken me 70 years to truly appreciate your gift."
"I started watching Aspire over 10 years ago, I just want to thank you. Your shows changed my life. I thank you. You don't even know the strength it gave me. And the ability to face some difficult times I had."
"One of the most precious resources of life is the opportunity to have Gregory (Siraj) as my teacher/spiritual counselor. He sees me anew each session. We can and do dialogue about human foibles and paths forward, yet I always know he is seeing who I truly am and is gently coaxing that to manifest."
"My weekly sessions with Siraj have helped me to see those aspects of myself that keep me in fear and anger...those aspects I, at times, cherish. And yet he shows me such mercy and grace that I am humbled and blessed. These sessions are a guide on the path to Love."
I enjoy sessions with Gregory first thing every Friday morning. It is a way for me to keep an eye on my inner self. Greg gives me the opportunity to see how I view my own state of being with compassion and forgiveness in my life. Every one needs a teacher to show the path. I am honored to have Gregory guide me along my journey.
I find that having a weekly session scheduled keeps me focused on my practice during the week so that I am prepared for my one on one time with Greg. He guides me and presents questions that challenge my human beliefs and pretense. In all he does, Greg bestows encouragement, inspiration and wisdom.
More than anything else, it is doing session with Greg that keeps me on the path. In his wisdom and kindness he always seems to know just what direction to take.
Insight sessions with Gregory teach me to see the futility of my behaviors and to accept everything as a chance to transform and see the bigger picture of my life. Gregory is patient, kind and compassionate - he sees the intrinsic goodness in me even when I can not.
It was only thru weekly Insight Sessions with Gregory that I began to realize how I have lived my life in judgement and selfishness. Because of this, I have been able to begin living a life in mercy by truly beginning to give and forgive. Thank you Gregory for your patience.