What we do matters even if it does not (or apparently does not) change the big picture.
I find contributing in some way helps me feel less despondent, even if that is because I have occupied my mind with positive action for as long as I am doing it.
When we know how much of what we perceive is a trick of the light of our own perception, we are that much closer to witnessing from a more spacious, and thus more compassionate, consciousness.
What is optimal with our diet, exercise, and practice, depends on where we are in life.
Here’s the text of an email we received earlier in the week from building management:
As a result of sequestration, effective Friday, March 8th the Frances Perkins Building (FPB) Facilities Management Office will be modifying the hours of operation for the FPB heating and cooling systems to achieve required savings detailed in OASAM’s sequestration plan. Normally, the FPB heating and cooling systems are operational for 14 hours, from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. In order to achieve the reductions required by the sequestration, the FPB hours of operation for the heating and cooling will be adjusted to the General Services Administration standard 10-hour operating day, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
We encourage you to prepare for the building being cooler/hotter in the morning and evening hours by:
–making sure that window blinds are opened or closed appropriately to maximize the sun’s effect,
–leaving private office doors open to maximize air circulation, and
–dressing appropriately, layered clothing that can be added or removed during the day.
We appreciate your cooperation as we implement these sequestration-driven cost reductions.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Here’s what I wrote back (restraining myself from noting that when President Obama called upon federal workers to make suggestions for how to save money two years ago, I suggested that we change the dress code and the building temperature to reflect the season, not some outdated notion of what is “professional” dress and was resoundingly ignored):
This is fantastic news. I have long advocated making the inside temperature more consistent with the outside weather for our health and for the environment. I hope that you will keep a policy of spending less money and precious fossil fuels on heating and cooling even if the budget picture improves.
I’m thinking that building management doesn’t usually get positive feedback. 😉
I adore having a library and will rarely say no to a philosophy text or a book about anatomy, therapeutics, or yoga methodology. I am less interested in “self help” types of books or gadgets. Every once and a while though, I come across something that truly supports my practice and my teaching. When I first went to Inner Harmony to study with John Friend in mid-2003, there was an altar in the corner of the practice room, just at the entrance. On the altar was a set of cards (a little smaller than 2″x2″). Each card had a word in English, the devanagari, and the sanskrit of the word transliterated into our alphabet. Following the lead of others who had been to Inner Harmony for previous retreats, at the beginning of the day, I would select a card and think about how the word on the card might inform my practice and intention.
At that time, I was first starting to use Anusara’s “heart-oriented posturing language,” using a theme for class that was designed to lead the students into a deeper place in their hearts through their asana practice, and I found that the cards were an excellent source of inspiration.
Even though I first bought the cards in 2003 to serve as a basic class preparation aid, I have continued to use them regularly for my own practice and contemplation. Often, the word that appears resonates with something that is of immediate concern. The day after Becky (my beloved cat who lived to be 21) left her body last year, I went to the set of cards, which I’d not used in a couple of months. The card that I selected at random (like picking a card from a deck when someone is showing you card tricks) was moksha — liberation, and in classic yoga, literally liberation from the body. I was moved to tears.
This summer, with myself and my students, we have been working on manifesting intention. As I’ve blogged about previously, I invited us to think about an intention. Whether an intention is something basic with the body or mind or something more universal, whenever we seek to manifest an intention, ultimately it is because we want to be more blissful, more open, and more at peace with ourselves and others. The question becomes how do we use our practice both to discover an intention and to seek to make it manifest. To help me with the contemplation of this question, I have gone again to the cards as a source of inspiration. This week, the card that turned itself up was racanatmakata — creativity. “Perfect,” I thought, when I saw the word. Creativity is a human reflection of the wild, pulsing, diverse and ever-extraordinary dance of all being. When we open to our creative impulse to allow things to unfold, we can witness the fullest range of possibilities and the variety of paths to manifestation.
The sky was spectacular this morning. Although it is hard to get myself out of the house at 7, it is a wonderful time of day to walk and watch the sky. Without the requirement to be across town by 8:30, will I get myself out first thing and lengthen my morning walk to work? I think yes, but not tomorrow.
In the middle of this chaos. She reveals my privilege. Self care is not adequate without community care.
