Shakti

18.2.10



Ah. Everyday, when leaving the shala, I feel as if it's another tiny miracle that I made it through another practice session. It's been great. The energy in the room almost over takes me. The shakti energy is like a wave. It just might consume me if I don't ride it just so. Everyday is a lesson in transformation. For, how can you be the same afterward? I don't see how it's possible.

With feelings of hypersensitivity I've had to sit with the "stuff" intense practice brings about. Oh yes. My awareness has taken me to those places. You know. Those places we do all we can not to look at. Taken me to those places, and samskaras that simply need to burn away. It's time.

One cannot deny the essential part of what it means to practice yoga everyday. If I don't steadily take a look at the dark as well as the light. If I don't adjust and listen, then what's the point? Yoga is about life. Am I coming more alive or am I continuing to delve deeper into the turnings of the mind? Do I live in separation or do I live in unity?

I can see where even in the little things EVERYTHING matters.

Everything.

IF

17.2.10



We participated in an inspiring session of chanting with an amazing student/teacher out of the U.K., James. He ended with an amazing poem by Rudyard Kipling, where he expressed much of what is represented directly connects to the yogic path. It's lovely.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

(Rudyard Kipling)

On the Night Stand

15.2.10



I recently finished the greatly anticipated novel by Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed. For the millions who read Eat, Pray, Love, it doesn't exactly have the same energy and intrigue, however it's still interesting. A continuation of the love story that developed in Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert brings up many insightful thoughts on the institution of marriage while digging into it's history. In that regard, it was educational on some level. Though, she does explain she isn't an expert on the topic. If anything, she myth busts many of the beliefs we are fed regarding marriage. A quick read.



On tap next is The Palace of Illusions, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Since I'm in India, I was really feeling a good fictional read by an Indian author. I've read several books by Divakaruni and have thoroughly enjoyed them. This one so far has really peeked my interested and I find myself looking forward to picking it up whenever I get the chance.

Spectrum

14.2.10




“All day I think about it, then at night I say it. Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? I have no idea. My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there.”

(Rumi)


India. A place vibrant with color and chaos. Vibrant. Dirty. Noisy. Lovely. A mixture of the senses.

It took no time getting settled. After several trips it's become easier to get into a rhythm. Thankfully. Being here feels awesome. Although, it's funny how India has a way of smacking you in the face as you arrive. In a good way. I mean, if I were to think of a place that is the exact opposite of India, it would be Sweden. No doubt. Sweden is orderly and efficient. India is not. I could go on, but I won't. Both are great, it only tickles me how different they are.

When we arrived at the airport all went it well except for the fact that my bag was the the last one to arrive in baggage claim. Thoughts of lost luggage entered my mind, thankfully that wasn't the case. Our taxi driver was patiently waiting at our check point. Once we gathered everything and crossed the airport driveway we heard a loud crash. Yep. One of those tiny cars was hit and flipped on it's side. The sound of breaking glass and smashed metal is never good. Soon, a mob started to form. For those who have read Shantaram, or ever experienced an accident here, you know what I mean. However, it wasn't an angry violent mob like the one portrayed in the book. That would have been too much with all the jet lag. Needless to say, we quickly scampered into our own cab, looking forward to arriving in Mysore. About a 3 hour drive from Bangalore.

Day one in Mysore is always about getting business taken care of. Finding a place to stay, registering at the shala, securing a scooter, unpacking, resting from jet-lag ... blah, blah, blah. It wasn't that bad getting organized. We stayed at the Green Hotel for two nights since it took a bit longer to find a place to live.

First day of practice as always is an out of body experience. Not feeling as if I have completely landed from the flight, and getting used to the energy in the shala, makes for an interesting experience to say the least. My very first jump back I sprained my right wrist because there was a bump in the carpet underneath my mat. Great. Just great, I thought. This isn't exactly the way I wanted to kick off my time here. However, it didn't become too much of a problem throughout the week to then have caught an awful sinus infection/cold that has managed to hit just about everyone practicing at one point on another. I took it as a cleansing experience.

Now I'm all better, and couldn't be happier to be here. Ahhhhhh.

What blows me a way the most about being here is the spectrum of people I've met. Just about every age, class, creed, and race is represented in one way or another. We breathe together, we practice together. It causes me to reflect on how lucky and appreciative I feel to be part of this community.

Sharath has taken the reigns since Guruji's passing with such grace and humility. It's a beautiful thing. And, Saraswati .... dear sweet, Sarawati. That woman. That amazing, heartfelt, tireless woman, who warms the room with her smile. I can't say enough.

It's a special time. It's a special time indeed.

Happy Shivaratri!

12.2.10



Happy Shivaratri, Everyone!

A Dedication

4.2.10



"Yoga, as a way of life and a philosophy, can be practiced by anyone with inclination to undertake it, for yoga belongs to humanity as a whole. It is not the property of any one group or any one individual, but can be followed by any and all, in any corner of the globe, regardless of class, creed or religion."

(Sri K. Pattabhi Jois)

Wow. So I'm here. Another trip to Mysore, India and it's odd to feel as if I've never left. This place has a way of doing just that. A home away from home. A coming in one way, a leaving out another. Things begin to transform in a way you don't even realize they have. Like a thief in the night. What I once thought was there, was not, to comfortably understand I didn't need it anyway. Less is more. There is more in less.

First things first. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. His spirit lives on with each breath taken in the shala from each and every person. It's felt. Joyously felt.

Before I go on and on into the inner workings of my trip, I'd like to leave it at that. Through tireless devotion, dedication and love, mountains move, hearts join, and lives are forever changed. KPJ was an example of it, and for that, I'm forever thankful to experience, if only a little bit, what the path of yoga reveals.

Weight of the World

3.2.10

I used to carry the weight of the world

And now all I wanna do is spread my wings and fly

I don't know why I was so afraid... all the time

Memories seemed to bother me.. my whole life

I used to carry the weight of the world

And now all I wanna do is spread my wings and fly

I used to carry the weight of the world

And now all I wanna do is spread my wings and fly

I don't know why I was so ashamed

Such a waste of time

And I don't know who I was trying to be

All those lies

I used to carry the weight of the world

And now all I wanna do is spread my wings and fly

I used to carry the weight of the world

And now all I wanna do is spread my wings and fly

Oh and there's always something

Or somebody right behind

Well we're not meant to be everything

We're just a piece

So spread your wings

Oh I don't know why I was so afraid all the time

I used to carry the weight of the world

And now all I wanna do is spread my wings and fly...



(Chantal Kreviazuk, Weight of the World)

 

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