May you be Safe
May you be Happy
May you be Healthy
May you live at Ease with Inner Peace…
Just got back from New York… what a crazy place Manhattan can be but LOVED every minute of my stay there.
As exciting a place Manhattan can be with all the stimulants … I was not surprised when a girlfriend I had not seen for a long long time who is still trying to make it there in the performing arts urged me to try Yoga Nidra at the Integral Yoga studio she frequents… she said excitedly – you have to try it; There’s a free Friday class that’s only for 45 minutes that fills up quickly so you may have to go early… well, being on a severe time constraint, I never made it to that class with her – I did feel that there’s so much need for the practice of Yoga Nidra especially in NYC midst the skyscrapers and neon lights blocking the full view of the moon – and the sun… in concrete jungle, losing touch with our True Nature. In the crazy city that never sleeps, Yoga Nidra session sounded perfect for those with nerves going haywire – highly recommended for New Yorkers battling the daily grind – such a struggle to get through the traffic and just sheer density (unless you are alongside Central Park on 5th or Madison/Park Avenue…lovely and peaceful…)… New York (population 8 Mil)reminds me of Tokyo (population 13 Mil) but energy is quite different. Being a short term visitor, rather than Yoga Nidra, I opted for … Broadway! We had to see The Cripple of Inishmaan at Cort Theatre that night. Daniel Radcliffe’s performance is phenomenal as the entire cast – even I got some of the dry Irish humor – More on this later.
There’s so much life force – so much creative energy in New York City but it is also a place full of strife – CACOPHONY vs. FIRST RATE WORLD CLASS MUSIC… co-existing – Casually on subway stations and street corners, you hear incredibly talented musicians jamming away, then in the background, you hear the honking and the sirens… quite a juxtaposition – ahh, such beautiful music to our ears but then there’s other sounds – noise and stimulants grating on our nerves. It’s a Yin/Yang place with Yo-Yo Ma and Lang Lang:) next to jazz improv…Very stressful just walking down a street full of noise of blaring sirens and taxi drivers honking and just … a very confrontational in-your-face place. Just walk over to Broadway at Times Square at nightfall when all the neon lights begin flashing and you are in for a chaotic adventure just crossing the street. You slip into the guarded protective armor and wear a ‘Don’t Mess with Me’ mask each day as you are always on guard and ready for another rude passerby to bump you and not say “excuse me”… BUT then, there’s always a kind generous heart who will give up his/her seat on a subway for an elderly or a child (okay, for me… did I appear like I needed to sit down?) there’s so much kindness to be witnessed – then on the same subway as a man walks onto the front of the car and announces “I am a blind man and would appreciate any contributions you can give me to help me” and walks around for handouts… most give nothing – a modest girl pulls out few coins and gives them to him – most look the other way as though to say – (with an eye roll) not this again. And then a Madison Avenue type dripping with designer brand wear gets on the same subway – the beggar and the moneyed… in same space, breathing the same air – and yes, air is free.
The taxi driver who took us to Newark airport had a Ganesha mini statute on his dashboard – when I commented about it, he said he is Hindu, then goes on to explain that there are 3 great gods in Hindu religion – Brahma; Vishnu; and Shiva and Ganesha is a son of Shiva and Parvati. (Parvati is another form of Shakti, the wife of Shiva and is considered to be a complete incarnation of Goddess Durga. so I know a little:) Yes, yes, I said, I know a bit because I do yoga (did not say it’s because I listen to MC Yogi’s lyrics…) – his smile widens as he exclaims excitedly, Ganesha is powerful because he is the God of Wisdom! (yes, he’s a remover of obstacles, i.e., of … ignorance)
The taxi driver was from Nepal – ME: You mean Kathmandu? He: Yes, YES! & you are from Japan? I lived in Japan for 5 years – then he goes on to say couple words in Japanese – Japan is the best place – people nice, best cars, best, best but then they would not give me residentship – so I moved to Australia for 5 years then I came here and America gave me citizenship so I am here to stay. I was an accountant in Napal. Here, I am a taxi driver, ha, ha, ha laughs gleefully.
Me: (with a tone of sympathy…) You were an accountant in Nepal and here you are a tax driver!??? (feeling the irony…)
Him: (as to reject my sympathy based on now I see as utter misunderstanding) Here, being a taxi driver, I own my car, I have no boss. I am my own boss – I drive all day and go home at night – it’s simple life – I have no stress (??? what? Driving in Manhattan to me would be one of the most stressful jobs in the world!)
Noticing my incredulous look, he goes on to tell me that)
He: I only drive from hotels to the airports – that’s the only route I do, so there’s no stress. I only drive to JFK, La Guardia or Newark – all 3 airports all day then I go home with no stress. It’s easy. Me: Don’t you miss Nepal?
He: I go back to Nepal 2-3 months a year to check on my property. My brothers and sisters still there.
Me: I’d love to go to Nepal one day – now I’m in San Francisco area…I just noticed your Ganesha as I love yoga.
His eyes widen and shines…
He: YES, YOGA is so good for health! BIG SMILE EAR TO EAR – YOGA is indeed VERY VERY GOOD for health.
Me: Isn’t Nepal south of Tibet? As I would like to see the Himalayas one day, I hope to visit…
He: There is no Tibet anymore, it is very sad. It is terrible there is no Tibet – it is not right. There’s a place called Tibet but country no more. It’s a shame.
So went the political discourse between this wide eyed tourist and a New York cab driver who worships Ganesha. Refreshing – I have not had much luck with tax drivers in New York in my past so this was the very first taxi driver I actually enjoyed talking to and learned from. Previous taxi experience has included being thrown off when my girlfriend, a NYC resident told him that he is going the wrong way and – before GPS – trying to give him the correct directions, the taxi driver became enraged and said simply “Get off” – us: ” But we are not there yet.” him: “Get OFF!” The taxi stopped, the door opened and we were expelled onto some unknown street in some unknown tough neighborhood… That was NYC cab driver for you back then. Notorious rudeness.
Time has changed or it’s just that this particular cab driver, an accountant from Nepal with Ganesha, Lord of Wisdom on his dashboard was a different breed of cab drivers. Of course – he’s not stressed. He has no stress, he has no anger nor fear protected by the power of wisdom – That explains it.
So
Once on air, I happen to glance over to see the title on the cover of a book my neighbor who sat next to me on United was reading…
“How to Reinvent Yourself – & Feel Great Again” … He appeared to be about 50 lbs over weight so perhaps yoga would help. I kept my mouth shut as that would be an unsolicited advice of a stranger… but I know in my heart – if only he took up yoga, problem solved – he can shed the extra pounds; he need not hide behind those extra weight and instead be light and free – Burdens gone, he need not “reinvent” himself. He can be his true Self and not be in need of any more self-help books.
Titles to the books you are reading profiles you… as for me here are what I am reading:
Yoga Assists by Sharon Gannon & David Life (picked up on this trip at their very own Broadway studio!!!)
Yoga Nidra by Swami Satyandanda Saraswati
Yoga Wisdom & Practice by B.K.S. Iyengar
then…
3 other Japanese books on wellness and health mostly. Oh, one of the three on the topic of Zazen but… that IS less on spirituality and more about wellness & health from a secular, more medical perspective.
Maybe I should be reading that self-help book a guy next to me on the flight was reading? Personally I don’t think we need to “reinvent” ourselves. How is reinvention different from transformation? It is quite different unless you mean the same (?). Rather than reinventing ourselves over and over, we just need to pay attention and heed our inner voice of wisdom while learning from the wise all around us – with an open mindset, even a NYC cab driver can be your teacher. From an American perspective, this tax driver reinvented himself many times over moving like a Nomad from Nepal, Japan, Australia then to NYC – such resilience (while raising 3 kids! He laughs I am old! I am over 50!!! ha, ha, ha) but… he looks like he never “reinvented” himself. He has stayed true to self and I can tell that his heart and soul stayed in Nepal at all times… They say, for a tree to grow and thrive, that tree must have strong roots, only then, can it grow big and tall and even provide shade to the weary. This must be the case even more for a transplant. It was as though he provided this weary traveler water and light… sustenance in the shady grove, grounded to this earth yet gazing up into vastness with wonder… yes, in the urban jungle called New York City…like Genesha would with words of wisdom.
