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To be a tough cookie or NOT…

“Everything observable by the senses is subject to change and therefore in motion….there are interlocking cycles of change…. One cannot bid the winds and waves to cease, but one can learn to navigate treacherous currents by conducting ourselves in harmony with the prevailing processes of transformation…..and thus weather the storms of life.”

-I Ching (The Book of Change)

We are not always the same – at times, more dynamic and charged and wakeful, at another time, more static, steady and constant …a lull … sometimes there’s movement and sometimes there’s stillness… Living mindfully, calibrating an equilibrium, through the practice of yoga in my case. My intention is an offering to students who find me in a serendipitous ways, that space set aside, sometimes a hideaway to be left alone, other times a social place of connections. Different vibes dependent on many variables. I realize some classes are conducted with no music, no sounds… and that can be more relaxing at times. Sometimes that is what you need – that feeling of being under and in the water… submerged in “silence”… whatever the preference, they are all good. I cannot answer to everyone’s preferences and invite all to have an open generous heart … and be receptive. It might help lighten the load you carry if you loosen up. There’s no need to clutch onto things… There will always be a style and mood that suits you out there & it may not necessarily be my class and it’s all good. My intention is only to hold that space of safety and peace – a place where you just “notice” and “release”.

OM OM OM omcookieBe a chewy cookie, soft and rich in the center – sometimes a bit “nutty” … crumbling… but never a hard cookie, no. Aum, um, om, OM… yum Yum says the belly. I mean, YAM for the heart… Bija mantra for the Anahata chakra is … Yam … happy belly is a heart opener:) Noshing on a cookie for a treat today?

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Beautiful People Beautiful Places Beautiful Rituals Uncategorized

Easter… and then…

It does not seem likely in the near future nor in my lifetime to get to Nepal – the Himalayas, so all the more finding this Japanese program fascinating. Here’s a clip from this documentary that airs tomorrow night on TV Japan. Click here.

This facebook page has a preview video of a documentary that aired in Japan last year …titled “Death and Eros in Nepal”… that would be the straight English translation. Even though it’s in Japanese, I think anyone can appreciate the visuals and be intrigued.

In fact, after it aired in Japan, one of the comments on Twitter was …
(さすがNHKBS、グルメも娯楽もない。) “Shout out to NHK (similar to NPR in Japan), no gourmet foods; no leisure travel entertainment but a sobering documentary…”
(ハードボイルドですね。) “so hard-boiled.”
as the documentary is a look at Birth, Death and Creation concept in the land of the Buddha. The travel guide in this documentary is an actress who later touches on the similarities and differences between Tibetan customs and Japanese customs as far as Buddhist worship (esp. in funeral customs) is concerned. When it comes to religion, Japanese practices Shinto at birth; Christian when getting married and Buddhist at death – a joke but… it’s a bit that way… probably weird from the perspective of Westerners who are steeped in Christian ideas of birth, and then you die and go to heaven, if you were good and hell, if you were bad during your lifetime.

By the way, there was no country called “India” while there was country called “Nepal” at the time when the Buddha was born. Turns out Buddha was born in a small kingdom called Kapilavastu, where his father was the king, which was situated on both sides of today’s Indian-Nepalese border. His actual birthplace, Lumbini, is today in Nepal. So birthplace of Buddha is Nepal … while Nepal is part of Indian subcontinent so guess you can say that he was born in India. Buddhist teachings spread mostly Eastward through the Chinese continent and then even to Japan … so it is noted in the documentary how there are many similarities shared in the practice BUT shocking rituals unthinkable in today’s Japan …where there’s no clear dividing line between birth and death and the grieving for the dead is also a time of great celebration – that is something so distant in our modern life. The documentary reminds us how it used to be and how it really is: that celebration of new life is as valued as celebration for the grieving for the life parted…SA TA NA MA…It’s all a full circle into Oneness… interconnection we have sort of lost touch with as death is a taboo and scary subject best be avoided.

“Death is not the opposite of life but an innate part of it. By living our lives, we nurture death.”

― Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

I might be accused of being morbid again… so here’s sharing of an upcoming birthday party we are invited to:) It’s Flowers-Festival – a celebration !
sm_IMG_6199 Buddha’s birthday coming up! Celebrated at a local Buddhist temple… Party time:)

What’s real; what’s an illusion?

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Subscription is not working…

FYI – while it says on lower right side that you could, may, can “subscribe” to this blog… um, sorry, that’s not working as it’s beyond my technical skill at the moment… will figure out when I have the time to look into it, okay? It’s just “wagayoga” (means “our” yoga) on search and will come up anyway, so…not so hard is it? (especially if you are a canine lover:)

I thought to provide more HELPFUL posts so got ambitious but again, I am reverting back to practically journaling so … pray that I will get to that place of helping others rather than just ramble… Day in the Life of … style.

Ahhh, speaking of which. So a student mentioned that Pranayama is difficult to access because she is congested from spring allergy. Next post, will talk about that … that should actually be helpful and practical. Stay tuned:)

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Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As a deity of beginnings, he is honored at the start of rituals and ceremonies. Ganesha is also invoked as patron of letters and learning during writing sessions.

(excerpt from wikipedia)