Again, by chance, as we were going to this lovely Botanical Garden (photos to follow), then to Stanley Park for a walk by the seaside, we ran into Krishna Festival – Free vegetarian lunch was being served … yes, free (heard they had 10,000 servings that day); and “unexpectedly” it was SO delicious – more delicious than Greens or Plant restaurants in San Francisco (sorry Greens and Plant).
And so generous – with I don’t know what it was – some purple sweet rice like grains to finish off the dish with rice and well seasoned veggies and beans. There were books, displays, spiritual fashion …music and what do you know? Yes, you guessed it.
Free Yoga throughout the day! Of course. It’s Karma – by chance, across our lodging is a yoga studio, down the block is Lululemon and now … Krishna Festival. All by coincidence – What am I attracting ? No, I am not Hindu as I don’t have a religion. But like Emerson or maybe even Steven Jobs, I believe in the power of intuitions – AND the power of a person to undergo a change for the better, if there’s even a little determination and will. Then … you need a good authentic caring teacher, who is not about his/her own ego or greed but love that’s almost … unconditional. What is unconditional love? It’s not – you get an A on this test and I will love you more or if you get me this diamond ring, I love you but if you don’t, then not so much… no conditions – just love, pure and simple. Pure and simple but so … rare.
A bit of a contrast to the sleek, chic, sports-gym like yoga studio … here’s to on the grassy park, under blue sky …FRESH air!
Quite low key – students come and go – here are pretty athletic guys … teachers appear to rotate in and out too:
Here’s lovely family – mom and dad with their daughter and now another yoga instructor has slipped in… a perpetual sun salutation – 108 times for sure by the time this day is over – do what you can – no pressure. Come and go as you please – literally … no attachment. Joy for the moment and move on.
Realized that one can be spiritual but not necessarily have a declared religion after all … I was brought up Christian but lately, I’d like to say I embrace all – Wait, no, I do have one – it clicked “Ahh, haa (ahh, sooo), this is it!” when I heard it – I share this “religion”…
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
– Dalai Lama
Simple? We all know it might be simply put, but very very difficult to be kind sometimes – to be compassionate towards others, much less to Self, faced with emotions of fear, thoughts and concerns for greed, anger, etc. Being human, we suffer, so it’s a constant reminder and a practice. Ohhh, I also believe in the trees…Admittedly, I’m a tree hugging hippie – It’s the Japanese soul in me:) This is easier to put in action than to be “kind” in a true sense of the word – just breathing in Oxygen and exhaling Carbon Dioxide for them to thrive:) What a symbiotic relationship – it’s … virtually perfect.
Don’t care if passerby think I’m weird. Truth be known – I am.
So grounding in the true sense of the word…
in Stanley Park
in Nitobe Memorial Japanese Garden
So you feel like you can sit at this bench, with entire forest at your back, then feel the ocean salt water in the air and see the bright sparkly sea … and the horizon beyond. It must be spectacular sunrise and sunset here… it’s a mid-afternoon visit though.
Water is clear … translucent.
