Yogafly2

financial karma

There's nothing like money to show us how connected we are in the physical world.   Intriguingly enough, we are far more connected spiritually and psychically than we are monetarily - yet finances do link us all inextricably to each other on this planet.

At the same time, there is a greater force that connects all of us in the material world.  That force is nature.  That's the force we must contend with in order to live, period.  What is a human being without trees, sky, land, water, earth, ecosystem? 

So of course, as our economic structures falter and fail around us, I think we should get a little bit closer to Mother Earth - the source of all material sustenance and work with her to provide for ourselves and our families.  I keep joking with my banker friends that they should learn how to farm, raise their own food, sustainably.  Some agree, jokingly, that this may be a better career choice given the recent Wall Street meltdown.

I like this article about what $700 billion buys us:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_go_co/billions_of_possibilities

At the same time, we have to realize that what impacts Wall Street money - impacts the rest of the United States and the entire global financial system.  But - from a divine perspective, the Witness, all is perfect - no matter how chaotic it is in the outside world.  It is up to yogis to stay centered through ANYTHING.    

Mudita Yoga Center Opening and Blessing

What a phenomenal blessing we had.  I am writing more about it soon.  Just catching up with my self, life, work, yoga teaching, etcetera...

blogging, meditating while sitting in traffic

the light is green but none of the cars are moving. Enter the mystery of traffic in nyc. I didn't finish my oatmeal this morning and I'm regretting that a little bit. I'll have to admit that this is where meditation is key. May the force be with me.

dejavu

I had an Ayurvedic consultation today on 96th street near where I live on the upper west side. As Dr. Bapat spoke to me, I looked up at the picture of a meditating yogi, a quote from Gurumayi and at the dear doctor and had this super intense feeling of having either dreamt this scenario long ago or having gone through it all exactly before. Not in that, this is somewhat familiar sense, but as if I knew this exact moment before. It was uncanny. I held it - the feeling - a number of moments to understand it. We all know we can't quite understand these things. Of course she read me from the mind down to my gastrointestinal tract, and I had this desire for her to tell me that I needed Shirodhara and massage on a regular basis. She agreed. Oh goody - to need these wonderful treatments on a regular basis and to have them steps from my door.

forgiveness, apology and remorse

We (Shawn and I) have been given scholarships to this powerful weekend retreat at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, a few minutes away from Mudita Yoga Center in Kingston. The teacher, Pumla, is from South Africa and works to reconcile the suffering of everyone who lived with apartheid. She works with assassins and the families of the murdered victims to bring about true forgiveness. It's tough work. But I see Pumla's aura - bright lights shining sweetly around her sweet, powerful body. I am looking forward to what we will uncover throughout the weekend. Kavita, the woman who gave us the scholarships is a devotee of Ramana Maharshi. Coincidences like these are not lost on me. We are guided beyond measure.

pause

the body and mind are healthiest when they pause. Take a breath now. Feel. Empty the mind. Feel the chill in your bones. Feel the warmth of your breath. Watch as the mind grasps on to anything to ensure that it still exists. Empty everything. Be not afraid. The emptiness is filled with astonishing amounts of love.

Shantaram - the Novel Rivets Yogafly

It happens. It happens to me quite a bit - with writers of the finest caliber - truth-bearers, heart-openers, unflinchingly honest writers like Gregory David Roberts - the writer of Shantaram. What happens? I get riveted in my asana and I can't stop turning the pages as I read, swallow, feel and visualize everything the protagonist is going through in the book. So I sit in agni stambhasana (ankle to knee or fire log pose and read and swallow it all up.) Switch legs and into Siddhasana. Switch legs and up I am into a full vinyasa and routine for a while of Hatha Yoga. And then back to the computer typing this and umpteen million other things. And back to the book...the books that follow me around asking me for attention. The writers who love readers like me who simply LOVE them.

And I have to muse that what happens as I read about an ex-con escapee in India through Gregory David Robert's mind is that I feel the overwhelming presence of God. This incomprehensible God of ours - who lets us go through the most difficult moments and yet is holding us through the process. The all forgiving God who only wants us to understand the power of conscience and deference to divine laws. Deference to love. By the love of God alone do I whisper constant prayers to everyone whom I believe is in the "wrong" and even those whom I believe are in the "right." Knowing that the vacillating, thinking mind is not the one I rely upon any longer for any of my decisions.

Check out this quote from Shantaram: "'No, no, you do not understand. You must be careful, here, with the real affection of those you meet. This is not like any other place. This is India. Everyone who comes here falls in love -- most of us fall in love many times over. And the Indians, they love most of all. Your little friend may be beginning to love you. There is nothing strange in this. I say it from a long experience of this country, and especially of this city (Bombay). It happens often, and easily, for the Indians. That is how they manage to live together a billion of them, in reasonable peace. They are not perfect, of course. They know how to fight and lie and cheat each other, and all the things that all of us do. But more than any other people in the world, the Indians know how to love one another.'"

"...'without love, India would be impossible.'"

Indeed, without love, LIFE would be impossible. I mean, one of my yoga students represents employees from Lehman Brothers. I chanted for him and all of them. I chant for all of us. And all of you.

the universe in a cup

le pain quotidien yesterday - with caroline myss expounding her wisdom at me, classical music pouring in and my mochaccino pictured revealing the universe. You get to pour the chocolate into the cappuccino at le pain. I'll have to admit that "quotidian" is one of those words that I wish I could say without sounding pretentious. But when speaking of bread, in french, the word makes a whole lot more sense and leaves pretension behind. Speaking of behinds, Caroline Myss just makes sure that I know what to leave behind, not to look behind, just tells me to sit on my behind and "empty, empty, empty" my self so I can hear God. What a cacophany of beautiful music he - she - God gives when I empty. Yes, the Cosmic Temple at Ananda Ashram and Silence are the noisiest places in the world when you listen. I don't mean ordinary "noise." I mean the laughter of bells. I mean the whispers of angels. I mean the chanting of Gurus. I mean listen to the sound of hot water pouring into a ceramic mug. Or listen to the sound of your spoon swirl the mocha in your cappuccino (capuchins are the friars who wear the 'capo' or hooded vestment like Padre Pio). Listen to him walk beside me. Just listen.

light up the world

tripping the fountain lights fantastic this weekend at columbus circle. I fall in love with this city over and over again. Shanti - visiting from California - and I had some amazing satsangs, transforming energy and past karma by talking through all of the mysteries of attachment and non-attachment. Grace are good friends who stop and drop in with you into those spaces inside and TRANSFORM the moment. funny because we were fine trying and not quite making it to the BOB (brooklyn outdoor bbq put together by brandi w. and hubby) and then to vicki christina barcelona (packed theater thwarted our desire to see the movie). but then satsang between she and I ensued until 3 in the morning. and the next day, nappingn then running in central park, and Andree from Ananda Ashram came over. I taught yoga and then satsang with Adhyshanti on dvd. I mean, can a yogini be more blessed? It seems so, because all sorts of divine delights are landing at my doorstep, showering me with fountains and fountains of light.

From Caroline Myss, Ph.d.

From her book, "Entering the Castle," 'To know and see and experience the power of truth and the soul frees you from the fears that drive others to sell their souls for illusory safety nets - for money, security, jobs, or companionship. In the center of truth is the nature of mystical illumination.'