Umm, this one is difficult for me. This whole taking it slow business. But hey, I'm working on it. I realize that the heaviness of the wonderful sun and heat of Austin help me really just take things one moment at a time instead of all at once. I'm quite the multi-tasker.
But of course it's something to do with a teaching from Ramakrishna where he talks about the mother who is working at her sewing machine, nursing a baby and talking to a customer - something like this - all at once. And all in that wonderful word that reminds me of Sawyer-ji - "simultaneously." I don't have to mantra, make food, create my hitlist (hot sheet, hot sheet, hot sheet) for the day and accomplish it all THAT day. I can do it one day at a time.
Or so I like to tell myself.
But it's good. I'm enjoying myself taking it slow. I've managed to teach myself around ten kirtans to play on my harmonium. But mostly, I have been playing the Hanuman Chaleesa. I think it's because I have Neem Karoli Baba and Hanuman on my left wrist. They like it when I play the Hanuman Chaleesa. I quite enjoy it myself.
I'm going to start teaching once a week for 2.25 hours at the Love Yoga Co-op on South Lamar - Saturday afternoons at 2 pm. Why? This is the time Joan Suval has her afternoon program going on in New York State's Ananda Ashram - and we will TUNE in together. Feel the vibration.
I have also gotten quite into the Mandukhya Upanishad with Guruji teaching. "Jumping from the known to the unknown." Not "monkey" Upanishad, he says, and everyone giggles (this is on CD), because monkeys jump from known to known. Whereas frogs jump from land to sea - "known to unknown."
And asana - I realize I have not been practicing asana to the extent that an asana teacher should - thankfully, I'm not branding myself any longer as simply an asana teacher. I am a yoga transmitter. I am a yoga radio. laugh here. But I'm also serious. I am a cosmic television. I almost totally understand this teaching now of Guruji's. Yes, I know, it's only taken me a few lifetimes.
Just like Sanskrit. I'm a bit ashamed of my baby baby Sanskrit. Especially in light of the fact that I've been studying it many lifetimes. But I do love this Self no matter what. That's all that counts.
The Ganesh puja with Anita OmKari Gottfried and Jana.
The Guru Gita with Anita, Jana and Eileen.
Meditation every day with Anita. Our fire ceremonies.
Hamilton Pool.
Barton Springs.
Sadie the golden three year old goddess with whom I get to play everyday!
My wonderful new apartment.
Applying for jobs.
Dating. I do love my dad for telling everyone that he doesn't care if I ever marry. That's a good dad. He's always on the side of his children's apparent realities.
Or maybe it's because I've trained him and my mom enough - when anyone asks why I'm not married (I'm ancient by Catholic Filipino standards), I always say, "because I haven't met my husband."
Svaha. Apparently, I've been married in many other lifetimes - and it's not as important as everyone makes it out to be. It will happen if it's supposed to happen. In the meantime, I'm quite happy in this skin.
Taking it slowly, one Upanishad at a time.
Wait, are you in Austin?? Where on South Lamar?
Posted by: Sheilagh | July 06, 2009 at 03:28 PM