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Collaboration - A Form of Yoga... or Linking Two Forces for the Good of All...

25/9/2012

Sorry, been a little bit - I've been having some busy days getting ready for GaneshFest!! Have you purchased your tickets, yet?? You can do so here - we're looking to have a full house, to raise spirits, funds, consciousness and the roof!!

If you were in the ATX this past week, we've had some good things going on. We were one of the cities globally that hosted an event and held the BeThePeace gathering, hosted by LOVEATX, this past Friday night.

Check that link and go to the photos of the event, some really incredible moments captured in there! Hundreds of like-minded folks came together to do yoga, to celebrate in a moment of planetary community, to chant together, to march together and to meditate together!

I had the pleasure of co-leading the yoga session with my newest collaborator, Joshua Sukhbir. We were those Facebook friends, you know, with many common friends and similar tastes, and I'm sure we liked each others posts! But, until Thursday afternoon of last week, we hadn't met or rapped in person; so we did just that!

It was great - I love working with other yogis all the time, but this was particularly sweet! I know his training background and he is in my lineage of teachers and from my 'world.' So, we easily created common space, and just started talking about what we wanted to bring to the yoga, what our message was, and how that related to Peace.

Didn't take long, we just shared some thoughts, some anecdotes, agreed and hit some resonances pretty early on, and then just agreed to play it by ear, and by eye. I'd have to say, that this is my favorite way of collaborating - find and share common ground, then just play with what arises in that laboratory! And, we did!

Our shared message was that 'One cannot fight for Peace' - we can't force it, enforce it, or expect it if we are fighting people; nor could we continue with language that separates, makes other into 'other' and doesn't recognize both the divinity within, and the struggles and traumas imposed from without! Our messages were from our own perspective, but supported and complemented the other. The folks got into the groove and let go - there were times where one of us simply finished a sentence, turned his head, made eye contact and the other just picked right up. Again, feels like true collaboration - no leading, no following, just syncing and sharing.

We were able to bring folks inside themselves, then connect folks to each other - we even did some standing assists as a complete group in our Trees - feeling the support, the community, and how struggle can become play, when shared. We did a lovely heart-to-heart meditation where we tried to imagine ourselves as others and the other as our self. We did a healing circle, for those who attended and needed, but also for the world. We did a 'metta' - loving compassion - pranayama, and we simpy made linked community.

I feel really fortunate to have the opportunity and the community within which to collaborate. It's very satisfying, is most often done in the spirit of service, and it feels like we are changing a paradigm. From top-down to side-to-side...

That's part of my mission, and part of the entire conversation about Peace. Don't fight, work. Don't struggle, endure. And, make every change you can within yourself, and let that shine. Can you be the calm flame in the roaring fire? Can you be the soothing voice in the screaming tempest? Can you show peace, create it and make it obvious, in that others might find it?

Good work, good news - you can do it!! Give thanks and praise!

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Dah Diddly Qua Qua...

20/9/2012

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Saw Adam Ant last night - it was the best of times, it was the worst of times!!

I'm of the era where Dirk Wears White Sox was the first album and Kings was a little bit of a sellout. But, what a sassy sellout! I do admit, many of the songs on Kings of the Wild Frontier were foundational anthems of my adolescence. And, Adam et al perfectly captured that sense of alienation and then wrapped it in this sweet and gauzy and billowy sleeved guise of romanticism, tribalism, warrior, purpose and pride.

Maybe it reads or listens kinda hooky, some three decades later, but I remember traumatizing our High School Talent show with an incredibly earnest and shitty version of Dog Eat Dog - which essentially summed up our collective experience, the three of us who figured out how to make a mocking resemblance of that tune, and then sell it with that vitriolic hate that only adolescence can generate. Oh, the days.

Therefore, even though stage time would be well past my bedtime, I got it up and out for Mr. Stuart Goddard, sans the boys, since the Ants weren't really the Ants when they were the Ants - they were already Bow Wow Wow, but I digress.

The venue - Emo's East. No offense, never been a fan of Emo's, but you go where the music is. Emo's East just happens to be a much reftro-fitted version of the old Back Room. I did have the pleasure of seeing the SugarCubes at the Back Room, for my birthday, I'm guessing the year was '88. Good times, my friends treated me, the band played "Birthday" so I felt is was all for me.

We bought a box of Domino Sugar Cubes and thought it would be cool to 'rain' the stage with them in appreciation. It was great, we did it once, and Bjork, quite sweet and sternly, in her little clipped accent voice says "this is very cute until it goes in my eye and then you are the asshole who ended the show..." so it was even a pleasure to be scolded.

This place is barely recognizable as that place, and while on appearance it seems a great venue, the sound just sucked!! And, you know, ultimately, you're there for the show, and it's a drag to not be able to hear. Much less, most of the folks from that era that tour have lost a lot of the lungs and pipes, and just can't deliver at top volume, full notes, long holds, even for the 45 minutes that counts as a concert nowadays.

Adam was not in best form, he really struggled, visibly panting at times! He stuck with it, full on sassy stage show, even though I feared for his life. He did show in full regaiia, and spectacles. Very cute, still to this day. Not a paunch, but he wasn't going to take his shirt off.

On that note, I did detect a note of irony - I think he knew that there was almost an absurdity to the theatre of it, and that it was hopelessly retro - and all the goth girls got really heavy, so it wasn't 'sexy' and 'erotic' like his shows of the 80s... anyway, the highlight was when he ripped his flouncy pirate shirt open to expose his own tour shirt, from the 80s. It was a nice moment!

If you can relate, it kinda got so bad, it got good. I was into the dual-drummer thunderbeats, I was into the lyrics and his absurdity of yelping and squealing. I was amused by the folks in the crowd who showed up in all their finery. I appreciaed the memory of what is was to find connection, and inspiration, at a time when I felt really disconnected, I was an Ant-Person. I still consider myself one of the Ant People.

Just wanted to share the experience, how it felt, what it made me grateful for, and how silly it is and was... enjoy, give thanks and praise!

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Ganesh Chaturthi - You Say It's Your Birthday? It's His Birthday, Too!

19/9/2012

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It is an auspicious day!!

First and foremost, it is Ganesh Chaturthi - the occasion on which we celebrate Ganesh, his birth and his works! It just also happens to be my beloved teacher, and solid friend, Seane Corn's birthday, and I find no irony in that - Seane has done a lot to remove obstacles and be a support on my own personal growth.

We are celebrating Ganesh's birthday because it is worthy of celebration and contemplation, but also, because we are in the last days of preparation for GaneshFest, 2012 - our "Off the Mat Into the World" Global Seva Challenge fundraiser!

We're hosting three nights of music and two full days of yoga (live music an DJs accompanying) with 20 beloved Austin Teachers sharing the flows. Please come check it out - we need your support to be able to reach our goal, as well as bringing folks from all over together in shared joy, service and purpose.

Why Ganesh?? Well, he's a helpful soul. He sometimes puts obstacles in our way, when we need them most. He may test us, temper us, see what we are made of. He also removes obstacles, he is invoked for good beginnings and fresh starts! He's lovable, jolly and in service to us all.

There's a great legend, as there always is, behind the story of Ganesh. Traditional stories tell that Lord Ganesha was created by goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva. Parvati created Ganesha out of sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her door while she bathed.

Lord Shiva returned and, as Ganesha didn't know him, he didn't allow him to enter. Well, Lord Shiva didn't know Ganesh either, and wasn't excited about him standing at the bath of his lover... Lord Shiva became enraged and asked his follower ghosts to teach the child some manners. Ganesha, being born of Parvati, the embodiment of shakti or power was very powerful himself. He defeated the ghost-followers - called the "ganas" - and declared nobody was allowed to enter while his mother was bathing.

Sensing a growing turmoil, the sage of heavens, Narada, along with the Saptarshi - the seven wise rishis, or sages - went to appease the boy with no results. Angered, the king of Gods, Indra attacked the boy with his entire heavenly army but even they didn't stand a chance. By then, this issue had become a matter of pride for Parvati and Shiva. After the devas were defeated, the trinity - the controller, preserver and destroyer of the universe - launched an attack against Ganesha. Amidst the fight, Shiva severed the head of the child, and brought on Parvati's rage.

Seeing her son dead, Parvati revealed her true self, as the Adi-Shakti, the prime energy that fuels the universe and sustains matter. Taking on a terrible form, she vowed to destroy the universe where her son was killed and re-create a better one. The Gods prostrated before her and Shiva promised that her son will live again.

The trinity hunted the world for a head and came across a mother elephant crying for her dead baby. They consoled the mother and fixed the head of the baby elephant in place of Ganesha's head. Lord Shiva also declared that from this day, the boy would be called as "Ganesha" (Gana-Isha - lord of the Ganas). In this way, Lord Ganesha came to be depicted as the elephant-headed God.

Lovely story - and just for fun, contrast it to the story of Isis - aka Isha, a female diety - who also is served by a family member, once killed and dismembered, and reconstructed, with a Hawk's head. Just sayin', a good story travels a long way.

So, what does it mean for you - it means what needs be meant. Things seem blocked, stuck, in a rut - look to Ganesh for some release. However, if things are going well, don't be surprised if you get a little test.

The GaneshTest we'll call it - just how serious are you about your purpose, your calling and your dream?? Purposeful enough to endure some hardship? Committed enough to stay placid through the moments where nothing is happening? Are you up to the test?

Whatever you decide, make it a sweet day - enjoy, give thanks and praise!!

Tickets for GaneshFest are on sale now - grab them HERE - we need your help to address the shame and disgrace that is human sexual-trafficking in India. Please join us in practice and in Seva!

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Empty Mind - Mindfulness and the Paradox in Practice.

15/9/2012

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Brain Burned Away - Mindfully Empty...

I was thinking about this a lot this week, then teaching yesterday was a great opportunity to explore the idea and the theme a little more.

I know a lot of folks struggle with 'mindfulness' or 'meditation'. Perhaps more accurate to say they even struggle with the thought of the practice much more than the practice, if you see the nuance.

Meditation is a tough word, probably carries to much imagery and gravitas. Mindfulness works, I like it, but it provides a subtle paradox - what doesn't in this tradition? We want to be 'mindful', yet the problem is our mind if full - full of monkeys, full of ama (undigested sticky matter - the 'junk food' we watch, listen to, the drama, the shite), full of negative thoughts, full of projection and reflection... At least, that's what I experience.

When I came to the practice, it took me the requisite time to figure it all out. To get body awareness, learn left and right, be able to pay attention, to learn to listen, and to build bone density and basic upper body strength. After I got to the baseline, I was able to work deeper into the practice.

I moved into the more vigorous practices - Flow, Vinyasa, Ashtanga. It was in those practices that I found a way to apply the vigor, and the necessity of staying focused on transitions as a way to burn away the monkey mind, to find a bit of clarity, emptiness and solace. I noticed this to be true in my practice, and later to be true as a teacher. There is a student who presents to the vigorous practice because it takes that to wear away or to burn off the over-riding mind. Therein, those students find their quietude.

You teach from your practice - so I teach that. That's at the foundation of my perspective and it's what defines the tribe I serve. I've got to keep looking at how that might evolve, how that might grow, how that might continue to mature in it's service, both in my practice and in my teaching.

I've also recently really enjoyed teaching MBSR - Mindfulness, in atypical settings and non-yoga environments. More specifically, to folks who don't normally do yoga, or traditional meditative practices, or may not even be active. It's amazing, humbling and encouraging to watch the almost immediate changes this basic practice of mindfulness can bring - calmness, softened features, slower and more deliberate speech, presence, amity, and so much more. It's been a privilege to take these techniques and share them.

To the point of this post - for some of us, we're so full in the mind, so cluttered, so frenetic, that we need a deliberate practice, a threshold, perhaps even the gross sensation of vigor combined with focus, to burn away those thoughts, projections, reflections and assumptions. Then, to our surprise, there is a clarity afforded. Once the mind has been 'emptied', then we can be 'mind-ful'.

What helps me is ritual - routine, discipline. Doing Surya Namaskar is ideal. There is an inherent grace and rhythm to the kriya, and it easily becomes muscle memory. Therein, we have two choices... check out, or dive in. When our body knows what to do, we can often just drift away - mind emptied. Ever arrived at work in your car, really not remembering any of the traffic lights or cross-traffic turns?? Hmmm.

But, if we take that same muscle memory, and the subtle disconnect that it affords, then we can truly train the freed attention to become the observer; not participant, not driver. And in that observation, become completely mindful - in true Mindfulness.

Meditation, Mindfulness, Yoga - here's where they meet - 'undivided, uninterrupted, single-pointed focus that is sustained'. Make sense as an operational definition?? How does it work for you? Where do you find single-pointed mindfulness?

Give thanks and praise.

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First World Problems

12/9/2012

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Hey, friends,

Just wanted to stay in touch - I'm at Taliesin, in Spring Green, WI. This is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest achievements, one of his homes and still a working school of architecture! It's beautiful, and bucolic and pastoral and super to just sit in this much great green nature...

The flipside, is that I'm right now, sitting on a ledge, crouched under an eave, and pirating the wireless from the grounds of Taliesin, because much to my amazement and chagrin, there is no AT&T cell phone service here! I mean none.

On top of that, there are only two hotels in the surrounding dells, and the one I'm at has wireless, in the lounge primarily, but I find it to be dial-up speed!

So, those are my first world problems! Just wanted to send a shout-out and let y'all know I'm not out to lunch permanently!

I'm delighted to be here, I'm participating in the inagural run of the Academy of Conscious Leadership. I'm here to facilitate MBSR - Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, as well as Spiritual Intelligence, in order to offer skills and support for growing Conscious Leaders. It's really an honor and a privilege to be on the adjunct faculty, and I get to throw a little yoga in there as well.

It's necessary and important to share these techniques and skills with folks in the business of Conscious Capitalism. We're all under stress and we can all use some more time in reflection, discernment and self. And, mindful and purposeful organizations can serve purposes above and beyond 'maximizing shareholder wealth'.

Well, I just finished teaching yoga in a Barn named Aldebaran, and now I'm gonna grab some breakfast, and then get some people into their bodies, via their breath!

Thanks and praise, back at it and present on Friday - be well!

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Yo, Yo, Yogis, It's Yoga Aid Challenge Day!

9/9/2012

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Well, if you missed it, Septemeber is National Yoga Month, and Labor Day has become Free Day of Yoga. And, we'll be rounding out the month with our benefit event, GaneshFest!!

So, fittingly, we're here at Yoga Aid Challenge Day! Today it is, and I love this day. Read more about it here, a their site, but simply: Teachers, students and communities from all over the country --- well really, the world! --- will be coming together to raise One Million Dollars for Charities around the world in this global day of Seva (selfless service).

As you know, I'm heavily devoted to conscious activism this year, and as an OTM Global Seva Challenger, I'm personally committed to raising $20,000 through my own collaborations, actions and fundraising activities.

I've still got over $15K to go, so any consideration or support you want to make to either my cause, or supporting the collaborative fundraising of the Austin Yoga Tribe would be appreciated.

You can follow this link to learn more about my cause --- you can follow this one to make a donation to the Austin Yoga Tribe's collaborative effort --- you can support this endeavor by attending GaneshFest, purchase tickets at this site!

Today, you can support this spirit-, consciousness- and fund-raising endeavor by attending an excellent Yoga Aid Fundraiser practice, led by the world class Gioconda, and accompanied by the incredible grooves and vibes of the Austin Bhakti Kirtan Tribe!

Good times, great works, lovely people, and to be frank, tough situations we're trying to address. Please, ask more, learn more, and help us to work towards each of these goals.

Austin Yoga Tribe's motto says it all - Local Action for Global Change.

Give thanks and praise - see you today or on the mat!!

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Faith in Humanity Restored - Ethereal, Graceful and Emotional...

8/9/2012

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What a pleasure, what an afterglow...

I know I'm blessed, I've had many pleasures and really only a few deep travails. I've been afforded excellent opportunities in my life - to travel and to experience other places and peoples and cultures. To be interested and to have the ability to indulge that curiosity through study and experience.

Many years ago, in those early 4AD days, I discovered Dead Can Dance.... those were great days, back when Goth ruled (the first time) and music got really downbeat, somber, and self-indulgent. The kind of stuff you wanted to play on a drizzly and cold gray day, while cuddled up on your mouldering victorian settee, reading Sylvia Plath, and smoking bad cigarettes and drinking coffee as black as your cat, and nearly as bitter as you. Or, that was the girl you dated.

I dug them, for their otherworldliness, but I also dug them because I had a little background in ethnomusicology and could clearly tell this music was timeless, ancient and yet relevant. Most of the earlier work was actually music from hundreds of years ago, in other languages, or in glossolalia - haunting, emotional, primordial.

Been a fan, ever since. Great music for many experience, but in my yoga teaching career, I can say that it is some of the most evocative and resonant music for some practices - from the deep tribal beats and jungle-thrums, to the eerie cantaras, to the incredible laments, to Lisa's "Sacrifice", perhaps the best Savasana song, ever.

DCD played last night, here in the ATX. It's been years; I'd seen Brendan, et al, in Detroit, about a decade ago. He was excellent, but it was half of a whole. Then, years later we saw Lisa in Chicago - I'll tell that tale another day. To have this experience to unite those two, and to have them collaborate - each ceding to the other, each highlighting the other - was a glory.

ACL is such a great venue - the sound quality is so crisp, and that was appreciated for music that goes from one ping of finger-cymbals, to Lisa's highest range, to Brendan's deepest growl. The opener was one of their traveling percussionists and he was fantastic. He opened on three hang drums and did a beautiful piece. Then, gave a really lovely overview of the instrument and it's qualities, and then played again.

Thought that was great - it was - then he stands up, goes to this little round case and pulls out a tambourine. Let me suffice to say, he ripped that instrument apart over the course of 5-6 minutes, only hitting the cymbals after he was halfway through.

The brother solo'd on a tambourine, in a hall, and not only kept us enraptured, but multiple times set the room on fire - I daresay it was the first city on tour that screamed our love out to him as he riffed. You could tell he dug it, and he dug in and shook that thang! A new standard for percussionists.

The show itself was great - plenty of range through the archives and some newer works. Brendan was chatty, Lisa was poised as ever. I have bad eyes for far vision, so I kept thinking "Is that Meryl Streep playing LIsa?". I love her poise and grace, and she owns Diva like none other!

This was the last show on the North American tour - ATX is a music town, we've got our Goths, our hippies, our yogis and metaphysicals, so we were out and out for a good time. We approved, vocally and loudly - and we treated by 5 encores!!

Yes, 5! They gave us the traditional two songs, we didn't take that as it - they came back out, did introductions and thanks, did two more songs, and then left. We weren't done. So Lisa and the keyboardist came out and sealed the deal.

The last encore was a beautiful aria, ending with Lisa simply going from the exquisitely held last note right into "You all are so fantastic, thank you." Took the words right out of my mouth...

So pleased to be there, to hear and to feel it. To share with friends and strangers, to feel and dream and explore the depths and soar to the heights... now, via FB, I see how many friends were there, and I missed you, in my bliss!

Enjoy, be well, give thanks and praise, carry a song in your being!

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When the Ego Erupts, Perhaps Eagle-Armed Eradication is in Order!

5/9/2012

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Well, it's bound to happen to anyone - but today I got really triggered. Seems like something that I did, by the specs and to the guidelines, and in time according to the "thanks, looks great!" email we got as confirmation, well, it actually never happened.

A big issue is that I've communicated with the other party a few times in the meantime, and they never bothered to say anything about it, even though I THANKED THEM for doing the work. Today would've been the outcome, the proof in the pudding, and guess what - no pudding, no oven, no mixing bowl - nothing... and, the answer I got was "oops, really busy, sorry we didn't run it - didn't I tell you?"

No, you didn't. And, so, I do my yoga, I teach the practice, I read the books and learn the lessons and right now I'm still so pissed that anything I say to that person will hurt, will cause anger and distance. I'll violate my own Prime Directive, the first Yama - "Don't Be Mean!". That's not ok, so time for skillz, mad skillz as Napoleon says.

Therefore, in the spirit of the practice and the teachings, let me offer you, from the Kundalini tradition, the Kriya known as Ego Eradicator - what to do when "I" and "ME" is all you can say, and it's all sooo personal!

First, you'll need to be able to do "Breath of Fire" - too tedious for me to teach in the little window with just open-mic sound, so check this link for a really good description of "Agniprana", a.k.a. breath of fire! She does a good job of teaching, of getting the physiology set, and gives some nice background.

For Ego Eradicator, begin by sitting on the heels , or with your legs nicely and comfortably crossed... sukhasana is fine.

You'll want to sit up nice and tall, apply a minimal engagement of the pelvic floor and the lower abdominal wall (mula- and uddyanabandha) to support the lumbar spine and keep the ribs floating above the belly.

Lift the arms up to 60 degrees, like you are making a big Y-shape. Then draw the shoulder blades down over the back of the ribs, so the shoulders are away from the ears; another way to think of this is to make your armpits more narrow to the front. This will keep your arms supported by your skeletal body, not so much muscular energy involved and a more comfortable and grounded experience.

Curl the fingertips onto the pads of the palms right at the base of the fingers, with the thumbs stretched outward, like hitch-hikers. The thumbs aim at each other above the head. These are the "Eagle Arms!!"

Begin the breath of fire - establish a rhythm, and for your first attempt, just go for 45 seconds to a minute. You can build up to 3 minutes over time. Breath of fire counts as one breath, but if you loose it, just breathe normally and then resume.

To end, inhale deeply, and then hold the breath. Lift up from the pelvic floor and concentrate on the spot one feet above the head as you slowly bring your thumbs to touch overhead. Open the fingers out, exhale and allow the arms to go gently down by your sides.

Some additional things to consider as you are working the kriya:

Do not bend the elbows - keep your arms straight and powerful.
Stretch up from the shoulders - root the shoulderblades down and reach outward.
Do not arch the spine - keep yourself grounded and tall in the seat.
Check the angle of the arms; it is a common mistake to have the arms lower than 60 degrees.

This is a great one, and if you can find a quiet spot and one to three minutes of your time, you can change your attitude immensely, almost immediately. When you've got a big case of the ego, the hurt feelings, the 'what about me' - get your Eagle Arms going and Breathe that Fire - Eradicate the Emergent Ego and get back on track!

Here's a quick video below of me giving you a demo - check it, try it, let me know what you think!

Give thanks and praise!

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A Spiritual Practice That Seeks to Eliminate Separation - "Don't Be Mean".

4/9/2012

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apostrophe-hell awaits these judgy fudgers!

To be fair, let me start by saying that I've been feeling pretty emotional this week, and I've got a dog in this hunt, so I'm probably more 'charged' than I should be.

Emotional, weird, but yes - perhaps the blue moon, pulling it all up. I've cried time after time while watching SYTYCD (not a guilty confession, true emotional catharsis)... but, I also cried a bunch in classes at Wanderlust, and few times since then; like watching the really old German Shepherd from down the block, literally stumbling home on his walk, because both his back hips have given out. - insert heart-break and a vision of me carrying old dogs who's legs don't work anymore around... I'm just in that mood where anything tips me.

Add into that a few random and mostly mean-spirited discussions and postings on the Yamas and Niyamas that have come up recently (really, yogis, have opinions, but get off the 'everything is shit and you're a phony' asana-box). I have lots of opinions, so do others, sometimes makes it quite interesting and sometimes it just adds confusion to a simple message.

Thus, someone blogged this week about how little they like the fact that some of the Yamas and Niyamas are formed as negatives, e.g. ahimsa is 'non-harming', and they'd like to restate them in the positive. Well, Sanskrit is a robust and varied language, and if Patanjali wanted them to be phrased as positives, he could've and would've.

I think we do ancient texts disservices in both ways - we often take them too literally; remember, these were aphorisms written in a largely agrarian and serfish society, of another culture anywhere from half a millennia to 3 or 4 millenia before the common era.

Kinda like being really fundamentalist in interpretation of the Old Testament Leviticus - much more about how to survive as a tribal-desert-nomad or herder in the Levant, prior to the common era, but not much to take day to day advice from at this point. The deepest moral lessons remain - be kind, be loving - the day to day proscriptions must cease!

The other error we make is the opposite, but just as egregious... we'd like to update the sentiments to modern sensibilities. Somewhere around the 70s, the 'feel-good generation' evolving into the 'me generation', we became enamored with positivity, even false, forced or faked. We ended up with '15th place ribbons', because no one is a loser. We got to say 'differently-abled' versus disabled, because that is so negative! Next thing you know, dead people are 'collateral damage', fired folks are 'downsized' and no one is a loser, even when they've lost.

When did we get so afraid of reality? Really folks, the message is DON'T, as in DO NOT, as in a statement of how not to act. That's viable, and frankly, how we learn. No one says "prefer to touch the cool burner on the stove, Starflower" as her hand approaches the scorcher - you say "Don't" and then say why not. Can't we leave that language as is and understand we are being warned, not cajoled?

Further, where does Patanjali say not to eat meat?? Quote the sutra, I bid ye... I'm not arguing for or against any diet; I'm speaking against folks being so judgmental, verbally and mentally violent and harmful to others about a personal dietary choice.

I was with some yogis, at a sushi restaurant, when another person at the table said "well, I guess I'm the only real yogi, since I'll be having the veggie roll..." I really appreciated the polite, yet ready answer from a fellow at the table, which was "It says in the sutras clearly not to be violent, but nowhere to not eat meat. First charge, 'don't be harmful' - that applies to people, dinner guests and waitresses - now, what we're you going to order?"

Or, we can go with what one of my favorite teachers goes with - and he studied directly with Desikachar, so I take that provenance... "Ahimsa - how about 'don't be mean'" and we leave it at that. Judgmental is mean, dictatorial is mean, spending time believing folks are more or less enlightened then you or others is mean to you, and to others. Be nice to you, stop being so judgy!!

There, I've let it go - I'm not sure for the better as I'm sure I've sounded judgy and violated my own admonishment! Always being a student, while taking the seat of the teacher - interesting to play this game with one's self.

Just trying to offer the opportunity to see things as they are, and for us all to start treating each other a little more nicely... Stop looking for blame, it's too easy to find.

Stop looking for separation, it exists... look for opportunities to be nice, to NOT not be mean - take the time, listen, share, thank and praise. When in doubt, start any conversation with one of the following four (or all of them!):

Thank you, I love you, I'm sorry, Please forgive me...

Give thanks and praise!

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Collaboration - A Form of Yoga... or Linking Two Forces for the Good of All...

Dah Diddly Qua Qua...

Ganesh Chaturthi - You Say It's Your Birthday? It's His Birthday, Too!

Empty Mind - Mindfulness and the Paradox in Practice.

First World Problems

Yo, Yo, Yogis, It's Yoga Aid Challenge Day!

Faith in Humanity Restored - Ethereal, Graceful and Emotional...

When the Ego Erupts, Perhaps Eagle-Armed Eradication is in Order!

A Spiritual Practice That Seeks to Eliminate Separation - "Don't Be Mean".

Chrispy - Bhagat Singh

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rockstar@rockstaryoga.us

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Connect with me:Facebook: chrispy bhagat singh Facebook:RockStarYogaFacebook:RaSaYana YouTube:chrispy bhagat singhInstagram:petrastellaTwitter: petrastellaEmail: rockstar@rockstaryoga.us

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Connect with me:
Facebook:
chrispy bhagat singh
Facebook:
RockStarYoga
Facebook:
RaSaYana
YouTube:
chrispy bhagat singh
Instagram:
petrastella
Twitter:
petrastella
Email:
rockstar@rockstaryoga.us