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She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes without danger. She perceives the universal harmony, even amid great pain, because she has found peace in her heart.

~Lao Tzu

I finally feel a sense of normalcy, which is comforting. Woke up early, and started practice at around 4:30am. Mr. Wang was generous enough to give me a key to the studio. There is an abundance of natural light and airy open space which makes practice here pretty special. I've become accustomed to starting the practice as the sun rises...and enjoy the short walk to the studio before dawn as all is quiet and still. This time of day, and the energy it brings, has become a special time for me...how I enjoy it.

Practice felt good...however, there were many kinks that needed to be ironed out. Its amazing what a long flight can do. Before I even started my sun salutations I was already dripping with sweat. So, you can imagine what the remainder of the practice was like. At times I had to just stop and take it easy...as to not get overheated...it's just gonna take time adjusting. But, its true, this climate it quite conducive to the practice of yoga. Not just the temperature, but also the diet here is naturally pretty light...and with there being plenty of tropical fruits too...and many vegetable choices...I'm totally down.

My apartment is very simple. I declined having a T.V....Wanna experience as much simplicity as possible, and see what it brings up.

Start teaching tomorrow...I come knowing nothing...however, everything is born from experience...and, the process of continually emptying myself has become an important part of the process.

I finished reading Siddhartha last night. I really enjoyed it, and took in some interesting pearls to ponder. A simple short read with depth.

But today he only saw one of the river's secrets, one that gripped his soul. He saw that the water continually flowed and flowed and yet it was always there; it was always the same and yet every moment it was new.

But he learned more from the river that Vasudeva could teach him. He learned from it continually. Above all, he learned from it how to listen, to listen with a still heart, with a waiting, open soul, without passion, without desire, without judgment, without opinions.

Wisdom is not communicable. The wisdom which a wise man tries to communicate always sounds foolish.

Vasudeva listened with great attention; he heard all about his studies, his seekings, his pleasures and needs. It was one of the ferryman's greatest virtues that, like few people, he knew how to listen. Without his saying a word, the speaker felt that Vasudeva took in every word, quietly, expectantly, that he missed nothing. He did not await anything with impatience and gave neither praise nor blame--he only listened. Siddhartha felt how wonderful it was to have such a listener who could be absorbed in his own life, his own strivings, his own sorrows.

~excerpt from, Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse

On the plane ride over I finished the Toa Te Ching. Well...I feel silly saying I finished it...truthfully I read through it the first time. But, how can one really finish it? Every verse comes with so much depth and insight...it's something I will continually have to revisit. Just like with each thread the Yoga Stutras, each verse in the Toa Te Ching carry with it a bottomless depth of insight, inspiration, and wisdom. Again, with the same theme of simplicity.


16th Verse

Become totally empty.
Let your heart be at peace.
Amidst the rush of worldly comings and goings,
observe how endings become beginnings.

Things flourish, each by each,
only to return to the Source...
to what is and what is to be.

To return to the root is to find peace.
To find peace is to fulfill one's destiny.
To fulfill one's destiny is to be constant.
To know the constant is called insight.
Not knowing this cycle
leads to eternal disaster.

Knowing the constant gives perspective.
This perspective is impartial.
Impartiality is the highest nobility;
the highest nobility is Divine.

Being Divine, you will be at one with the Tao.
Being at one with the Tao is eternal.
This way is everlasting,
not endangered by physical death.

~The Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu