What does the fourth of July mean to you? How do you integrate the yoga and/or other spiritual practices into your duties (I would call this part of our dharma) as a citizen (this is different than the wise separation of church and state)?
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
When I first got to my room on the fourth floor of the hotel, the airconditioner was straining noisily, and the room was very stuffy. To My great delight — the windows not only open, but have screen and look out onto an unveveloped tract of land with trees higher than my window. I immediately opened the windows and let in the smell of fresh air and the sounds of the forest. There is occasional car noise, but it is muffled by the sounds of wind and rain in the trees.
I thought this morning how often I end up in an office building or hotel where the windows do not open. That cutting off access to the realities of nature, of what is greater than our little world, in order to have a controlled climate seems like much of modern life.
Many I know do not even notice that the windows do not open. Others of us, see the windows and want to know what is outside and to be with the greater energies. We seek to oprn the windows and know. Those who are able and so moved and who are able — rare beings — leave behind the buildings and go entirely on the renunciate path. The rest of us who live the life of householders, seek to have windows that open and spend time each day breathing in the sweetness of what is greater.
With each new horror — another I have been blessed to avoid proximity and immediate impact—I ask myself (and make some follow through) on how I can contribute more both to speaking out against injustice, inequality, and warmongering, and also to making collective life more joyous.
On a day I grieve and speak my outrage , I share work, and food, and moments of beauty.
I was not able to go to the Washington, DC event for Global Mala Day because I am scheduled to do my regular volunteer work. I did, however, include the focus of this call for a unified, intentional offering in my morning meditation and asana practice.
Do join in, remembering to celebrate yourself as part of the community however and whatever your offering. Be mindful of your body and energy as you choose a practice to be sure that the repetition of 108 will serve rather than deplete.
Om shanti, shanti, shanti.
The trees are magical in the dark and the light.
