Really [Not] Clowning Around (some re-purposed phun) May 15, 2024

Be brilliant! Keep your loving-kindness strong and long lasting. Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Second Eastertide, Counting the Omer, and/or working as a force of peace, freedom, and fulfillment (inside and outside).

“As we saw in sutra 2.18 , each of us has the capacity to shine and make the world around us shine. However, most of this capacity has become dormant. Shaking off this dormancy and reclaiming our inherent effulgence is tapas. It has nothing in common with the religious concept of austerity.”

— commentary on Yoga Sutra 2:43 in The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

Yoga Sutra 2.18: prakāśkriyāsthitiśīlam bhūtendriyāmakam bhogāpavargārtham dŗśyam

— “The objective world (what is seen), consisted of a combination of elements and senses, and having a nature of illumination, activity, and stability, has two purposes: fulfillment and freedom.

According to Indian Philosophies, like Yoga and Sāmkhya, we humans are capable of extraordinary things. Some siddhis (“abilities”) are so out of the ordinary they seem like Marvel Universe powers or Jedi Knight Tricks. Then, there are six described in the Sāmkhya Karika as “powers unique to being human.” Even if we just stick to those six — which can seem mundane on the surface, using those powers can create, heal, and transform everything and everyone around us.

Unfortunately, according to these same philosophies, we are disempowered by cittavŗtti (“fluctuations of the mind”) and avidyā (“ignorance”). This disempowerment can lead to really obvious signs and ailments, like those listed in the Yoga Sūtras 1.30 – 1.31, as well as in the inability to access the siddhis which are part of “true nature.” Even more tragic is the fact that (a) most people don’t realize these powers are inside of them and all around them and (b) that people are often looking for power in the wrong places.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna warned Arjuna — again and again — about thinking there is only one way to be devoted and only one way to serve. Chapter 18 even outlines the personalities, dispositions, and responsibilities of Seers, Leaders, Providers, and Servers. There is even detailed descriptions about how each role serves the larger community. But, you know who is missing — or, at least not explicitly described?

Someone with a rainbow afro or a cowboy hat, a red nose, a tie-dye shirt, overalls, and a “Nobody for President” button. In other words, a person that must be embraced with conscious “phun.”

“This may seem odd, but that is not my fault.”

— quoted from “25 – Nietzsche” in (Book 3, Modern Philosophy) of History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell (3^rd Earl Russell, OM FRS)

This is a slightly revised excerpt from a 2021 post. Some related facts, as well as class details and links, have been updated. Click here for the original post, which focused on one siddhi in particular.

“Are you wavy gravy?”

— B. B. King to a “random” person lying on the stage before his set-up (at the Texas International Pop Festival, 09/01/1969)

Born Hugh Nanton Romney on May 15, 1936, the official clown of the Grateful Dead is not related to the political Romney family. However, as an activist for peace and a hippie (not to mention a self-proclaimed “flower geezer”) he has had a hand in politics and even organized a presidential campaign.

Romney and his wife, Jahanara “Jah” Romney, co-founded Hog Farm, America’s longest running hippie commune, in the 1960’s. They first made it onto the world’s radar when volunteers from Hog Farm provided security for the 1^st Woodstock Rock Festival (August 15 – 18, 1969). The Hog Farm volunteers called themselves the “Please Force” — as in, “Please don’t do that, please do this instead.” While providing similar service at the Texas International Pop Festival (09/01/1969), Romney met B. B. King,* who gave him the name “Wavy Gravy.”

Wavy Gravy, co-founded the Phurst Church of Phun, a secret society of comics and clowns dedicated to ending the Vietnam War, because he thought activists dressed as clowns would be less likely to be arrested. In 1980, he ran a “Nobody for President” campaign that included a November 4^th rally across from the White House. The campaign “staff” of Yippies (from the Youth International Party) and anarchists mostly promoted the “none of the above” option on the ballot. However, the campaign was known for slogans like “Nobody’s Perfect;” “Nobody Keeps All Promises;” “Nobody Should Have That Much Power;” and “Who’s in Washington right now working to make the world a safer place? Nobody!” He also proclaimed that “Nobody makes apple pie better than Mom. And Nobody will love you when you’re down and out.”

“Keep your sense of humor, my friend; if you don’t have a sense of humor it just isn’t funny anymore.”

— Wavy Gravy

In 1975, Wavy Gravy and Jah founded Camp Winnarainbow, which is a “socially minded, justice focused organization” dedicated to “[doing] something good for a change.” Part of the Hog Farm community, Camp Winnarainbow offers some Adult Camps; 3-year Teen Leadership Programs (for ages 15, 16, and 17); Residential Camps (for ages 7 – 17); and scholarships (some of which used to be funded by proceeds of Ben and Jerry’s “Wavy Gravy” ice cream). While they had to cancel some programming in 2020 (for the first time in 45 years), Camp Winnarainbow was able to move some programs online and safely continue some of their outdoor programming. The programs are committed to “Big Fun” as well as equity, inclusion, and interdependence — not only in theory, but also in practice. Some of the graduates of the Teen Leadership Programs are preparing to take on leadership roles at for future camps and programming.

In 1978, Wavy Gravy and Jahanara Romney joined Dr. Larry Brilliant, Dr. Girija Brilliant, Dr. Nicole Grasset, Ram Dass, and Dr. G. Venkataswamy in co-founding the Seva Foundation. The Brilliants’ had successfully helped eradicate smallpox and were looking for a new initiative. Knowing that over a billion people live with unaddressed vision impairments; that hundreds of millions of underserved people need ongoing eye care; and that 90% of all vision impairment can be prevented or cured, the Seva Foundation grew out of the belief that restoring sight is one of the most effective ways to relieve suffering and reduce poverty. The global non-profit eye organization works with local communities around the world to train local eye-care providers and develop self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight.

“If you don’t change, you’re dead, so I try to keep changing.”

— Wavy Gravy

The Seva Foundation’s name comes from the Indian concept of “self-less service.” The organization provides critical eye care to underserved communities (especially women, children, and indigenous populations) and has provided surgeries, eyeglasses, medicine, and other eye care services to over 44 million people in over 20 countries — including Tibet, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sub-Sahara Africa, and the United States. One of their highlighted programs is Guatemala Brillando (“Brighter Guatemala”), which “is poised to establish five new hospitals and 30 vision centers bringing primary eye care to rural and other areas that are currently underserved. Seva will develop sustainable programs which create jobs for local women and men to help them provide critical services to their home communities.”

Annual benefits for Camp Winnarainbow and the Seva Foundation include some of the same musicians that appeared at the Woodstock Festivals: the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, David Crosby and Graham Nash, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Ani DiFranco, Ben Harper, Elvis Costello, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Sly and the Family Stone — and, of course, the Woodstock Festivals Master of Ceremonies, Wavy Gravy.

“We’re kind of a family — a huge, expanded family. And we can do any number of things, because each one of us is going to do a different thing. But mostly we’re just going to try and be groovy, and (uh) spread that grooviness to everybody.”

— Wavy Gravy being interviewed at the John F. Kennedy airport in August 1969 (about Hog Farm’s participation at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair)

Please join me today (Wednesday, May 15^th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “05152022 Still (Not) Clowning Around”]

“We are all the same person trying to shake hands with our self.”

— Wavy Gravy

Thank you to everyone who Kiss[ed] My Asana!
We surpassed the overall fundraiser goals & one of my personal goals!!! Whether you showed up in a (Zoom) class, used a recording, shared a post or video, liked and/or commented on a post or video, and/or made a donation — you and your efforts are appreciated! Thank you!!!

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).

Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.

Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.

*NOTE: B. B. King passed away May 14, 2015. Rest in power, king!

### “DARE TO STRUGGLE, DARE TO GRIN” ~ Wavy Gravy ###