Om Mane Padme Hum
Similar Posts
Peacock Pie for Lunch
I had a work day full of things that it would not be hard to find annoying. I recognized that the challenge I was having with being at peace with my day was not unrelated to the morning news of us lurching closer to nuclear holocaust than ever before in my lifetime. I took myself to the museum to refresh myself with art–the place I most readily find nourishment and refuge.
Good Morning, Moon
As the nights get longer and colder and darker, it can be very tempting to hibernate. It is not a bad thing to focus more on the indoor things, but for health and happiness make sure to get out and soak up some light every day.
The moon just past full greeted me this early morning as I headed for the metro to ride up to Silver Spring to assist at the therapeutics workshop with the wonderful Todd Norian who has come to visit and make offering to our community. Seeing the moon over the vivid trees made me glad I had a reason to get out of the house extra early on a Sunday morning.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
- Asana, Pranayama, and Yoga Practice | Community and Family | Food for the Mind (Yoga Philosophy, etc) | Meditation
The Paths Are Many…
The yoga texts speak of a number of paths to enlightenment–the instant one (for those who have spent many previous lives on the path), the path of action, the path of knowledge, and the path of devotion. They are not completely separate. They intertwine and support each other. Individual practitioners do, though, tend to find themselves drawn more to the methods of one path than another. We have the greatest likelihood of staying and progressing on the path, if we do not fight with the practices, but go with what suits our nature.
That being said, it good also to challenge ourselves by trying practices that push our buttons. Those are the practices that truly give the opportunity to learn to be grounded, at peace, and centered in the face of frustration and discomfort.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
A Walk to the MLK Jr Memorial
I was moved to walk to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial today, seeking inspiration for what more and how better I can contribute to a just and compassionate world.
When I was down at the tidal basin, a hawk flew so close to me, coming from behind, that I heard the movement of its wings before I saw it fly off across the water. I did not get a photograph of the hawk. Here is one of a gull at the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol that I saw on the way home. Below that is a picture of the Memorial.
On the Way Home From Tuesday Night Yoga Practice at William Penn House
Quince on a neighbor’s fence
Feeding the Demons (Bali Dana)
On the last morning of the trip, when we were standing next to the bus (how blessed we were to have a well-driven, air-conditioned bus to take us through southern India; I was most grateful and conscious of its protective bubble) getting ready to head north for Chennai, I noticed that there were limes under the wheels of the bus. I was standing next to Douglas Brooks, the leader of the trip. “Why are there limes under the wheels?” I asked. “To feed the demons,” he replied, “so that they do not feed on you. We make offering (bali dana) for auspicious memories and a safe trip home.” The offering to the demons, bali dana, recognizes, I think, that we cannot eradicate demons. We can feed them, though, avert their gaze with our offering to something they find more desirable and delicious than feeding on us.
On our last day of riding the bus, we were witness to the aftermath of a cyclone that downed trees and shut down power and tore roofs off of houses and rutted roads (thanks to all who noticed that I was in that part of the world and sent emails inquiring about our safety). When it hit, we were far enough south that all we got was a little rain. We flew out long enough after it showed, that it did not impact our flight, which went perfectly smoothly. I do not know whether putting limes under the wheels of the bus made any difference to the external flow of our trip. I do know, though, that I cannot kill off my demons; they are an essential part of me and my history. Shifting the gaze of my demons and shifting my own gaze at my demons, though, is another matter entirely. When we can turn our gaze (drishti) to the auspicious, even when looking through the eyes of our demons, that is when we can truly see what is best in things and better be able to respond with true embrace to whatever life hands us.
