My first conference was fascinating. I got to view Sharath, the (these are my terms) titleholder of the Ashtanga lineage, through the lens of a man who deals with keeping the purity of a practice in the real world-- the world of parties, internet gossip, and multiculturalism. A fascinating, non-textbook experience. A highlight, paraphrased: "A man with two gurus (gu ru: dispel dark) is like a man with two doctors-- take both pieces of advice/take both pills, and you surely are worse for it."

Led Primary, chanting, Sanskrit, philosophy, and two trips to the Ramakrishna ashram. Today was busy, but had a keen reminder to count my blessings: I saw a funeral procession today. It consisted of a flower adorned handmade chair, the deceased strapped in, carried and paraded to the crematorium. Tambourines and gongs, laughter and tears.

Eat a little, drink a little
Talk a little, sleep a little
Mix a little, move a little
Serve a little, rest a little
Work a little, relax a little
Study a little, worship a little
Do Asana a little, Pranayama a little
Reflect a little, meditate a little
Do Japa a little, do Kirtan a little
Write Mantra a little, have Satsang a little
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize
Be good, Do good; Be kind, Be compassionate
Enquire 'Who am I ?', Know the Self and be Free

Detachment can be a bitch.

Hear the Wild howlin',
"Time yet? Time yet?"

"Patience, patience,"
comes the Calm's reply.
"First the garden,
then the party."

With Radha,
Krishna danced.

Well, here we are at the intersection of willpower and surrender. ha!

what you see here, what you do here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here

You wanna know how to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.

I once saw the other side of the universe and it was all the same and made of love. God is love and in the details. Surrender, surrender, control, surrender. Love.

"Action expresses priorities" -- Gandhi

Like a straight line to heaven, neon prayer. Are you there?

Don't let the fear of what you can't do shame you into not trying what you can.

Does Yoga Really Foster Transformation? A Personal Account ~ #ashtanga #iyengar #yoga

This body is a fleeting expression of the divine.

I'm thankful for my teachers in all of their forms for awakening me to the insight of the happiness of pure Being. A place without the poison of conditioned existence, the poisons of prejudice and hate. I'm thankful for my teachers, who provided the antidote (like a jungle physician). That antidote: be yourself. No hate. No prejudice. Just joy. Just love. Vande Gurunam.

"Finally, students should note that their progress in Vipassana depends solely on their good qualities and personal development..."

Begin: Noble Speech

Today I took a tumble in the last pose of my practice. "The highest sadhana (spiritual practice)? Bear insult, bear injury." -- Swami Sivananda

"But I'll push myself up through the dirt
And shake my petals free
I'm resolved to being born
And so resigned to bravery "

"Live light, travel light, spread the light, be the light! Miss you already! " -- Tova Steiner

"It startles me sometimes, that glow emanating from the faces and bodies around me...how did it get there? Does it take from my own? ...no, that light is so full, so diffuse, so slippery it slides over and illuminates all. It is my responsibility and choice to stand clear of the shadows, not only to encourage the light to come out, but also to let it in." -- Kristen Krash, I love you.

"Yoga isn't about criticism, it's about transformation. Self-transformation. You
change yourself, you change the world." -- Sharathji

No material expectations, just gratitude. Burn it to the ground, and with each ash know God. Bedtime, Christmas Eve. Mysore.

Burning karma, one year at a time. Next!