One More On Words [& Stories] (the “missing” Wednesday 12/17 post, w/EXCERPTS) December 20, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Chanukah, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Advent, Apollo II, Books, Cambridge University, Chanukah, dictionary.com, Joshua Keating, Life, Merriam-Webster, Nativity Fast, New Year's, Oxford Languages, shabda, Sim Kern, St. Philip's Fast, William Safire, Writing, Yoga Sutra 3.17
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“Happy Chanukah!” to all who are celebrating. Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing Advent, observing the Nativity Fast / St. Philip’s Fast; and/or letting their light shine with kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, gratitude, and wisdom.

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong! May you be nourished!

This “missing” compilation post, for Wednesday, December 17^th, is an expanded and revised version of a 2024 post. You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

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.

“Composition is a discipline; it forces us to think. If you want to ‘get in touch with your feelings,’ fine—talk to yourself; we all do. But, if you want to communicate with another thinking human being, get in touch with your thoughts. Put them in order; give them a purpose; use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce. The secret way to do this is to write it down and then cut out the confusing parts.”

— William Safire

Words are powerful. They can spread or travel like a living, breathing thing. They can bring us together; they can tear us apart; and they can change the world. For that matter, they can build the world and determine how we see the world.

Words (even when they are in visual form) are they way we tell our healing stories.

Since William Safire was born December 17, 1929, in New York City, this is a day when I like to focus on words and the power of words. Mr. Safire was a journalist, author, columnist, and political speechwriter. When he was working as a public relations agent for a model homes builder (in Moscow in 1959), he set up a “Kitchen Debate” between the then United States Vice President Richard Nixon and then Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev. William Safire went on to work on Richard Nixon’s presidential campaigns and to serve as a speechwriter for both Nixon and his (original) vice president, Spiro Agnew.

In July 1969, William Safire wrote the “Safire Memo”( also known as “In Event of Moon Disaster”), which was the never-delivered speech then President Nixon would have delivered if the Apollo II astronauts had been stranded on the moon. The memo included protocol and the order of things, including: “PRIOR TO THE PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT: The President should telephone each of the widows-to-be.” In 2013, Joshua Keating included the memo in his Foreign Policy (magazine) article, “The Greatest Doomsday Speeches Never Made”.

“In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.

For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.”

— quoted from “In Event of Moon Disaster / The Safire Memo” (addressed to H. R. Haldeman, dated July 18, 1969.) by William Safire

I grew up reading William Safire’s The New York Times Magazine syndicated column “On Language”. Starting in 1979, I looked forward to the weekly opportunity to learn a new word; the etymology of an old word; how words crisscrossed cultures; and/or how old words gained new meanings. William Safire is one of the reasons I learned the power of words; how a single word can tell a whole story; how the right quote can add depth and power; and how the words — and even the letters¹ — we use to tell our stories matter (as much as, maybe more than, the story).

For instance, when I tell the story of Chanukah (which this year overlapped the anniversary of William Safire’s birth), there are certain words I use no matter how I tell the story. First, there are words and phrases that are most commonly associated with the story of Chanukah, even by people who do not celebrate it: “light”, “8 days and 8 nights”, “Chanukah/dedication”, “miracle(s)”, “faith”, “G-d”, “community”.

Then, there are words that give the story more depth: “darkness”, “wilderness”, “underdogs”, “renegades”, “mighty”, “hammer”, “shamash/helper/attendant”, “25”.

Finally, there are phrases that create a rhythm: “a band of brothers… a father and his sons”. This year, I also added the word “fanatics” (for reasons).

Take a moment to notice how almost all of the words and phrases — given the English translations in the case of the Hebrew words — pop up in the music and in all the stories I tell this time of year. Take a moment to notice how the words make you feel.

“What makes a word like zap of particular interest is that it imitates an imaginary noise—the sound of a paralyzing-ray gun. Thus we can see another way that the human mind creates new words: imitating what can be heard only in the mind’s ear. The coinage filled a need for an unheard sound and—pow!— slammed the vocabulary right in the kisser. Steadily, surely, under the watchful eye of great lexicographers and with the encouragement of columnists and writers who ache for color in verbs, the creation of Buck Rogers’s creator has blasted its way into the dictionaries. The verb will live long after superpowers agree to ban ray guns; no sound thunders or crackles like an imaginary sound turned into a new word.”

— quoted from The New York Times Magazine, February 12, 1984, article “On Language: Zapmanship” by William Safire

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE.

Tempo por vi Brili, en 2025! “Time for you to Shine, in 2025!” & FTWMI: Gravas kiel ni diras, aŭ ne diras, kio estas en niaj koroj! “How we say, or don’t say, what is in our hearts is important!” (the “missing” Monday 12/15 post)

Sweet Stories About Light (the “missing” Tuesday 12/16 post, w/extra links)

Remember, “It’s Much More Than Just a Candlelight”* (the “missing” Saturday post w/excerpts)

“Took me a while to get to the point today, but that is because I did not know what the point was when I started.”

— quoted from The New York Times Magazine, February 12, 1984, article “On Language: Zapmanship” by William Safire

Also, around this time every year, the major (English) dictionaries reveal the words that have made up our zeitgeist. Back in 2022, I was going to write a sentence featuring the words of the year, but the results were so disturbing that I just listed the words.

This year (and last year), I am continuing the listing precedent. However, you can comment below if you come up with a Spelling Bee worthy sentence that’s not disturbing for this year, last year, and/or using the words from 2022.

“slop” “rage bait” “parasocial” “67”

— 2025 Word of the Year from Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, and dictionary.com, respectively

Click on the excerpt title below for a post that references the power of words (and one of the 2022 words).

Having A Say & FTWMI: The Power of Being Seen & Heard (the “missing” Tuesday post)

“Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague….”

— quoted from Fumblerules: A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage by William Safire

Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Chanukah (Day 3 – 4) & Shabda 2025”]

MUSIC NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes some videos, the musical version of at least one which is not available on Spotify. My apologies for not posting the music before the 4:30 practice.

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

NOTE:¹Ida (née Panish) and Oliver Craus Safir (who was Jewish with Romanian ancestry), had three (2) sons: Leonard, Matthew, and William. Mr. Safire is the only one who added the “e” to his last name (so the general public would know how to pronounce it).

### USE YOUR WORDS ###

Sweet Stories About Light (the “missing” Tuesday 12/16 post, w/extra links) December 20, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Chanukah, Faith, Food, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Advent, Arthur C Clark, Books, Chanukah, chocolate, dessert, fiction, Healing Stories, Jane Austen, literature, Matthew Sanford, Nativity Fast, Sandra Razieli, Sim Kern, St. Philip's Fast
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May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong! May you be nourished!

This is the “missing” post, for Tuesday, December 16^th. At least one embedded link will direct you to a different site. You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

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.

“‘I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way.’”

— Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Bring your awareness to your favorite story or your favorite kind of stories.

Have you ever noticed that certain stories resonate with you more than others?

Sometimes we are drawn to a genre, because within that genre certain subjects are revisited again and again. Consider the novels that provide commentary on class and gender roles, sense and sensibility — like the novels of Jane Austen, who was born on December 16, 1775. Now, consider science fiction novels that explore the interaction between people and technology and, also, between people who have different cultures, rituals, and traditions — like the novels of Arthur C. Clarke, who was born on December 16, 1917. Even though the details are different, in some ways the underlying premises are the same:

How do we survive this thing called life? How do we survive together?

Or, we could ask the questions another way: How can be happy? How can we balance sense & sensibility?

Note that even if I wasn’t using Jane Austen’s definitions of “sense” (as good judgment, wisdom, or prudence) and “sensibility” (as sensitivity, sympathy, or emotionality) and/or even if we phrase these questions in a different way, our answers become the “healing stories” Matthew Sanford referenced in his first autobiography.

“Healing stories guide us through good times and bad times; they can be constructive and destructive, and are often in need of change. They come together to create our own personal mythology, the system of beliefs that guide how we interpret our experience. Quite often, they bridge the silence that we carry within us and are essential to how we live.”

— quoted from “Introduction: The Mind-Body Relationship” in Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence by Matthew Sanford

Even outside of our individual tastes in different genres and different mediums, we each tell our individual healing stories. We also have healing stories that are shared by whole communities, stories that are told to and by the whole world. Throughout the year, I share a variety of these healing stories from a plethora of individuals, communities, and cultures. This time of year, a good majority of those stories center around the idea of light overcoming darkness.

When it comes to the story of Chanukah, I often debate where/when to start the story. However, no matter where or when I start the story, I always bring up certain elements. First, there is the fact that there is more than one miracle in the story. Second, there is the fact that I see this as a story about light, faith, and perseverance. These are the elements that resonate with me on several different levels, including on a cultural level.

In recent years, and especially given recent events, there have been conversations going on around the world about stories like Chanukah. After the Monday night practice, my friend Rabbi Sandra articulated the question that’s underneath all of these conversations: What is the story we need right now?

In other words, what is the story we need in order to heal?

As best-selling author, journalist, and activist Sim Kern recently pointed out, this is not the first time people have questioned if the story of Chanukah is the story that’s needed.

“200 years after the Maccabean revolt, a bunch of rabbis were like, ‘Ewww! We don’t really act like those Maccabees anymore. And we don’t really think people should be emulating them. Maybe we should just cancel Hanukkah altogether.’

And after 200 years of arguing about this, they seem to have settled, instead, on coming up with a new story of Hanukkah. And this is the one about the oil and the lights. And it’s why we light the menorah. You know how it goes….”

— quoted from the video “Is the Hanukkah story obscene or based?” by Sim Kern

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.

Remember, “It’s Much More Than Just a Candlelight”* (the “missing” Saturday post w/excerpts)

As noted above and below, the way you tell the story matters.

“In my life I have found two things of priceless worth – learning and loving. Nothing else – not fame, not power, not achievement for its own sake – can possible have the same lasting value. For when your life is over, if you can say ‘I have learned’ and ‘I have loved,’ you will also be able to say ‘I have been happy.”

— quoted from Rama II: The Sequel to Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee

Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Chanukah (Day 2-3) 2022”]

NOTE: The YouTube playlists contains some official videos that are not available on Spotify. Additionally, there is a mostly instrumental playlist (inspired by Jane Austen and Arthur C. Clarke & Chocolate Covered Everything Day) which is also available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Chanukah (Day 2-3) 2022”]

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

### Be Mindful of Your Stories ###

Tempo por vi Brili, en 2025! “Time for you to Shine, in 2025!” & FTWMI: Gravas kiel ni diras, aŭ ne diras, kio estas en niaj koroj! “How we say, or don’t say, what is in our hearts is important!” (the “missing” Monday 12/15 post) December 20, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Chanukah, Food, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Abba, Algerina Peckover, Beresh't, Chanukah, culture, David Gaines, Dr. L. L. Zamenhof, education, Esperanto, Genesis, Genezo, Hillel the Elder, history, Hugo Nomi, language, Leonard Cohen, Londona Biblio, Manno Mantanna, Marjorie Boulton, New Year's Day, Noah Webster, Priscilla Hannah Peckover, Webster's 1828, Writing, yoga, Zamenhof Day, Zamenhof-tagon
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“Feliĉan Zamenhof-tagon!” “Feliĉan Ĥanukoan!” “Feliĉan Feriojn!” (“Happy Zamenhof Day!” “Happy Chanukah!” “Happy Holidays!”) Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone sustaining kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, gratitude, and wisdom during Advent and the Nativity / St. Philip’s Fast.

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong! May you be nourished!

This is the “missing” post-practice post for Monday, December 15^th. It includes new and re-posted content. The 2025 prompt question was, “For what or for whom are you holding space?” The 2025 BONUS question was, “What is something from your culture you would like to share with others?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

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.

“Kaj Dio diris: Estu lumo; kaj fariĝis lumo.”

— Genezo – Bereishit – Genesis (1:3), quoted from La Sankta Biblio 1926 (Esperanto Londona Biblio), translated by L. L. Zamenhof¹ [Most commonly translated into English as “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Transliteration of the Hebrew is “And God said, ‘Light will be,’ and light was.”]

The “bonus question” (above) came at the end of Monday night’s practice, because I think it’s a question that requires a little more thought than the few seconds I offer at the beginning of the practice. Of course, there are always questions I consider — and hope others consider — long after the practice. Some are even questions that, perhaps, we haven’t given much thought to before they are asked — like the questions about culture that have been popping up around me.

You may have also heard these conversations about culture over the last few weeks (or years) and you may or may not have noticed how little we think about culture if we are not studying it. Culture, however, is very much at the heart of story of Chanukah (which started at sunset on Sunday night this year) and Zamenhof Day (which is celebrated annually on December 15^th).

“Lundo estis la unua tago kaj dua nokto de Ĥanuka — kaj mi deziras al vi pacon en Esperanto.”

— “Monday was the first day and second night of Chanukah — and I’m wishing you peace in Esperanto.”

For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2021 and updated in 2024.

“La okulisto skribis post noktmezo.
Kiam la homa gefrataro pacos?
Kia mistera manko, kia lezo
duonblindigas? Kiu ĝin kuracos?
Kaj kion povas fari unuopa
malriĉa homo por homar’ miopa?”

“The ophthalmologist wrote after midnight.
When will the human brotherhood be at peace?
What a mysterious lack, what an injury
half blind? Who will cure it?
And what can be done individually
poor man for myopic humanity?”

— quoted (in Esperanto and English) from the poem “La Okulisto” (“The Ophthalmologist”) in Eroj (Items) by Marjorie Boulton

What does culture mean to you? Specifically, what does your culture mean to you? And, when I speak of “your culture,” do you think of how you identify yourself or how others identify you (even if certain things don’t apply to you)? Do you think of something specific and personal to you or something related to the dominant culture around you? Of course, it could be all of the above — because, let’s be real, most of us live bi-cultural (or multi-cultural) lives. Most of us exist in a place where cultures overlap. We move in and out of corporate and other institutional cultures — including school and religious cultures – as well as the cultures of our people and our nations or states.

But, again, what do I mean by culture?

Modern dictionaries include the following definitions (for the noun):

the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
the cultivation of bacteria, tissue cells, etc. in an artificial medium containing nutrients.
the cultivation of plants.

Noah Webster’s (intentionally American) 1828 dictionary focuses on the word as it’s related to agriculture and physical labor, with the second definition highlighting that it can be “The application of labor or other means to improve good qualities in, or growth; as the culture of the mind; the culture of virtue.”

So, culture could be work intended to improve what it means to be a good human. Got it. Except…it still doesn’t completely answer the question. It also doesn’t explain why “culture” seems to create so much conflict.

“La okulisto verkis kaj parolis,
tradukis, organizis. Kaj la skvamoj
de kelkaj okulparoj jam forfalis,
la antaŭjuĝoj, timoj kaj malamoj.”

“The ophthalmologist wrote and spoke,
translated, organized. And the scales [of]
some eyes have already fallen off,
the prejudices, fears and hatreds.”

— quoted (in Esperanto and English) from the poem “La Okulisto” (“The Ophthalmologist”) in Eroj (Items) by Marjorie Boulton

When most people think about “culture,” they think about behavior. They think about rituals, traditions, laws, expectations, and belief systems. They think about celebrations and the way people mark milestones. They think about clothes, music, and food. All the things that might seem strange to an outsider (or even an insider who has forgotten, or never learned, the underlying meanings of their customs). Focusing on that sense of strangeness can become a form avidyā (“ignorance”) that leads to suffering.

When we focus on the strangeness of something (or someone) we sometimes miss the things we have in common. When we miss our commonalities, we may all miss out on the opportunity to appreciate what makes us unique. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to share experiences. Shared experiences can become part of our culture and part of our cultural understanding. For instance, when we break bread with people — especially people we view as (culturally) different from us — we gain some awareness and appreciation of the things we have in common. As David Chang has pointed out in his Netflix series Ugly Delicious, every culture has some kind of dumpling… stir fry… casserole (even if they call it hot dish). People from different cultures may even use similar spices, just in different ways. Or, maybe we just call the spice something different.

Which brings me to one aspect of culture that I left out: language (and how we think, based on the language we use).

Many of the world’s languages share roots. However, those shared roots are not on the mind of the average person when they encounter a language that is foreign to them. If someone doesn’t speak a certain language, they may not take the time to figure out what they can understand based on what they know about their own language. They may not consider that their brain actually has the ability to glean some meaning, based on context, because it’s been cultured (i.e., cultivated). In doing so, they may miss out on the opportunity to make a friend or clear up a misunderstanding.

The following was originally part of a post from December 15, 2020. You can read the original context here.

“Tio, kio malamas vin, ne faru al via ulo. Tio estas la tuta Torao; la resto estas la klarigo. Nun iru studi.”

“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation. Now go and study.”

— quoted from the story of Hillel the Elder “[teaching] the meaning of the whole Torah while standing on one foot,” in Esperanto and in English

Because it is Zamenhof-tagon (Zamenhof Day), mi deziras al vi pacon en Esperanto. (I wish you peace in Esperanto.)

Born December 15, 1859, in a part of the Russian Empire that is now Poland, Dr. L. L. Zamenhof was a Polish-Jewish ophthalmologist and polyglot. He was born into a Lithuanian-Jewish family that spoke Russian and Yiddish, but his father taught German and French — so he learned those languages, as well as Polish, at a young age. Eventually, he would also master German; have a good understanding of Latin, Hebrew, French, and Belarusian; and basic knowledge of Greek, English, Italian, Lithuanian, and Aramaic. At some point, he also studied Volapük, a constructed language created by Johann Martin Schleyer (a German Catholic priest).

The diverse population in his hometown and his love of language exposed Dr. Zamenhof to different cultures and also to the schisms (and wars) that developed between cultures. He imagined what the world would be like without conflict, especially conflict that arose from misunderstandings that he saw were the result of miscommunication. He thought that if people could more easily understand each other they would have a better chance of avoiding and/or resolving conflict. In 1873, while he was still a schoolboy, the future eye doctor started developing Esperanto, a constructed language that he called “Lingvo internacia” (“international language”).

Dr. Zamenhof continued his work even as he studied medicine and began working as a doctor. Eventually, he self-published his work (with a little help from his then future father-in-law) under the pseudonym “Doktoro Esperanto” or Doctor Hopeful. He continued to write and translate grammar books in various languages, including Esperanto, and also to look for solutions to oppression and nationalism. He explored various religions and social movements — he even wrote about humanitarianism or humanism (“homaranismo” in Esperanto), based on the teachings of Hillel the Elder. But, he kept coming back to the concept of language as a unifier.

Promoting the language and the idea behind the language would be Dr. Zamenhof’s legacy — a legacy that lived on through his wife (Klara) and their children. Even though the Zamenhof children, as adults, were killed during the Holocaust, along with millions of others, the language lived on. There are currently at least a thousand native speakers of Esperanto, worldwide, and millions who have some working knowledge of the language.

Ni ne estas tiel naivaj, kiel pensas pri ni kelkaj personoj; ni ne kredas, ke neŭtrala fundamento faros el la homoj anĝelojn; ni scias tre bone, ke la homoj malbonaj ankaŭ poste restos malbonaj; sed ni kredas, ke komunikiĝado kaj konatiĝado sur neŭtrala fundamento forigos almenaŭ la grandan amason de tiuj bestaĵoj kaj krimoj, kiuj estas kaŭzataj ne de malbona volo, sed simple de sinnekonado kaj de devigata sinaltrudado.”

“We are not as naive as some people think of us; we do not believe that a neutral foundation will make men angels; we know very well that bad people will stay bad even later; but we believe that communication and acquaintance based on a neutral basis will remove at least the great mass of those beasts and crimes which are caused not by ill will, but simply by [misunderstandings and forced coercion.]”

— quoted from a speech by Dr. L. L. Zamenhof to the Second World Congress of Esperanto, August 27, 1906

There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.

An Esperanto-inspired playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “12152021 Feliĉan Zamenhof-tagon!”]

Esperanto music can be found in a lot of different genres, including folk music, rap, reggae, rock, rap, and orchestral music. This playlist features music by David Gaines, an American classical composer and Esperantist. He has served on the advisory board of the Esperantic Studies Foundation; is the Honorary President of the Music Esperanto League; and “won First Prize at the 1995 World Esperanto Association’s Belartaj Konkursoj (competitions in the field of Belles lettres).” His work incorporates Esperanto poetry and the quest for peace.

Eta regaleto (A little treat) on the YouTube playlist.
https://youtu.be/W8WVKE8OZeI?si=kaSsdfb9SAZeX6VX

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

NOTE: ¹Dr. L. L. Zamenhof completed his translation of the Hebrew Bible (Masoretic Text) in March 1915; however, publication was delayed because of World War I and Dr. Zamenhof ’s death in 1917. Priscilla Hannah Peckover and Algerina Peckover, two English Quaker sisters, financed the publication of the 1926 (Esperanto) Londona Biblio, which combined Dr. Zamenhof’s translation of the (Christian) Old Testament with a revised version of the (Christian) New Testament, previously translated by a British team of scholars (in 1910, published in 1912).

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

### pacon / peace ###

Think Twice & FTWMI: A Reminder About Separating the Baby from the Dirty Bathwater (w/an excerpt) December 14, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Loss, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Advent, B.K.S. Iyengar, Chanukah, David Wilton, ethics, light, Nativity Fast, New Year, niyamas, Saint Lucy, St. Philip's Fast, Thomas Murner, yamas, yoga
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing Advent, the Nativity / St. Philip’s Fast, Chanukah, and/or sustaining kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, gratitude, and wisdom.

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong! May you be nourished!

“Yoga is for all of us. To limit yoga to national or cultural boundaries is the denial of universal consciousness.”

— quoted from Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health by B. K. S. Iyengar

You may not think twice about how you sit or stand. However, how you sit and how you stand (on and off the mat) informs how you move through the world;, how you interact with people and how people interact with you; as well as how people perceive you and how you perceive a moment. Just as we can “cultivate a steady and stable; easy, comfortable, or joyful seat or pose” (YS 2.46) on the mat, we can work to do the same off the mat. Of course, to do this, we must keep in mind that none of this is just about the physical body and/or the mind.

The Yoga Philosophy is an 8-limbed practice that includes an ethical component, the elements of a physical practice, and an awareness of something spiritual, something energetic — something more than an individual person and their body. Even when we just focus on the asana and pranayama — the third and fourth limbs that make up hatha yoga, the physical practice of yoga (regardless of style or tradition), we cannot escape that there is something more, something deeper.

Practicing without the ethical components has the potential to create great harm — sometimes to ourselves and sometimes to others. This truth has, unfortunately, been demonstrated again and again by some of the greatest teachers and practitioners in the world. (See post excerpted below.) I would also argue that practicing without the awareness of the spiritual and energetic elements makes it easier to ignore the ethical components and, therefore, easier to create harm. (Again, see post excerpted below.)

Yesterday, while talking about Saint Lucy, I mentioned:

“When we practice āsanas (“seats” or poses), a significant amount of energy and awareness goes into how we sit (or stand). This deliberation and intention allows us to pay attention to our breath (which is a symbol of our spirit and life force) and also to extend and direct our breath (and therefore our spirit and life force). In a sense, we are careful about how we stand specifically so that we can be intentional about how we use our energy. Another way to think of this is that how we move and hold our body, as well as how we breathe and pay attention to our breath, allows us to very intentionally, deliberately, and mindfully start to focus on our inner light. When we focus-concentrate-meditate on our inner light, it appears to get brighter. In fact, over time, our inner light begins to shine out into the world – but, first we have to be able to see it.”

Sometimes, we do not see the light because we are focusing on the darkness. That is a very real danger here in the United States and overseas where, even as people began celebrating light, darkness encroached. Tragic and traumatic events can lead us to even darker places and, if you find yourself being drawn into the dark, seek out some help.

Help can come from many sources. Just as light can come from many sources.

“Yoga is a light which, once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.”

— quoted from Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health by B. K. S. Iyengar

For Those Who Missed It: The following reminder and excerpt were previously posted.

“Throw the baby out with the bathwater (or more accurately das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten) is a German proverb that dates to 1512. It was first recorded by Thomas Murner in his satire Narrenbbeschwörung (Appeal to Fools), in which he uses it as a chapter title. Murner uses the phrase several times in his chapter and the original manuscript even has a woodcut of a woman tossing a baby out with the wastewater.”

— quoted from Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends by David Wilton

B. K. S. Iynegar was born today in 1918, in Pune, India. Click on the excerpt title below for a related post (which includes a popular word myth).

Practice Responsibly

Please join me today (Sunday, December 14^th) at 2:30 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.

Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “04192020 Noticing Things”]

NOTE: These are double playlists. You can start with Track #1, Track #11, or Track #12

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

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.

### PRACTICE & TEACH RESPONSIBLY ###

Open the Door / #NoExcuse / Orange The World (a revised compilation) November 25, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Suffering, Super Heroes, Tragedy, Women, Yoga.
Tags: #NoExcuse, #OrangetheWorld, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, Antonia María Teresa Mirabal Reyes (known as María Teresa), Bélgica “Dedé” Adela Mirabal Reyes, Caroline Myss, girls, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, International Human Rights Day, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal Reyes (known as Minerva), Mirabal Sisters Foundation, obstetric, Patria Mercedes Mirabal Reyes, Roses Revolution Day, Rufino de la Cruz, UNESCO, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations General Assembly, WHO, Women, World Health Organization
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone developing kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women & Roses Revolution Day.

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!

This compilation post contains new, updated content mixed with content from 2020 & 2024. WARNING: There are no explicit details in this post, but there are references that may trigger trauma.

“Quedé viva para contarles la historia.” [“I stayed alive to tell the story.”]

— Dedé Mirabal, author of Vivas en su Jardín

“Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified.

This is the Shadow Pandemic growing amidst the COVID-19 crisis and we need a global collective effort to stop it. As COVID-19 cases continue to strain health services, essential services, such as domestic violence shelters and helplines, have reached capacity. More needs to be done to prioritize addressing violence against women in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.”

— quoted from the United Nations website for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (2020 #OrangetheWorld)

There’s nothing pretty about violence — and statistics about violence against women are particularly ugly. 1 in 3 women, worldwide experience physical or sexual violence. That works out to about 736 million women around the world experiencing physical and/or sexual violence. Prior to 2020, about 243 million women and girls (ages 15 – 49) reported experiencing sexual and/or physical abuse by an intimate partner within a 12-month period. That number went up during the COVID-19 pandemic and, in some countries, hotline and emergency calls regarding domestic abuse increased to 5 times the average numbers.

Globally, cases of gender-based violence have also gone up because of widespread use of the internet and social media — with 16% to 58% of women (especially for Generation Z and Millennial women) experiencing technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Gender-based violence has also escalated in recent years because of various geopolitical conflicts and wars. In fact, 70% of women in conflict, war, and humanitarian crisis, experience gender-based violence. In 2023, at least 51,100 women who experienced gender-based violence were murdered by partners and/or family members. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) considers violence against women and girls (VAWG) a human rights violation — in fact, they consider it “one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human violations in our world today.”

“For the purposes of this Declaration, the term ‘violence against women’ means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

— “Article 1” of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, issued by the United Nations General Assembly, December 20, 1993

To combat this violence (and the accompanying stigma) that can manifest physically, sexually, and psychological — and that happens to people around the world regardless of education, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, age, health, or nationality — UNESCO designated November 25^th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In 2011, extra significance was added to this date when people also started observing Roses Revolution Day, which brings awareness to the international movement against obstetric violence (i.e., abuse during childbirth). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Every woman has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to dignified, respectful health care… [but] many women experience disrespectful and abusive treatment during childbirth in facilities worldwide. Such treatment not only violates the rights of women to respectful care, but can also threaten their rights to life, health, bodily integrity, and freedom from discrimination.”

The 2020 theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!” and focused on “amplifying the call for global action to bridge funding gaps, ensure essential services for survivors of violence during the pandemic, [prevention measures,] and collection of data that can improve life-saving services for women and girls.”

The 2024 theme was “Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women” and highlights the fact that “a woman was killed every 10 minutes [in 2023].” (See statistics above.)

The 2025 theme is “Open the Door”, which is a call to action for people to “Take a stand. End Violence.” The door in this theme is literal and symbolic. It is reminder that anyone can be an ally and everyone can pay attention to the pain and suffering hidden behind closed doors. It is an invitation to open the door’s of heart and express a little empathy. We can all support survivors — Believe survivors! — and advocate for changes in how our governments (and first responders) interact with survivors. Today’s observation kicks off “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” which culminates with International Human Rights Day on December 10^th.

“We cannot allow our children to grow up in this corrupt and tyrannical regime. We have to fight against it, and I am willing to give up everything, even my life if necessary.”

— Patria Mirabal Reyes

When UNESCO started observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 1999, November 25^th wasn’t randomly selected because it was 16 days before International Human Rights Day. Today was specifically selected to honor the lives and legacy of the Mirabal sisters (Las Hermanas Mirabal), three of whom were assassinated today in 1960.

Patria Mercedes Mirabal Reyes, Bélgica “Dedé” Adela Mirabal Reyes, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal Reyes (known as Minerva), and Antonia María Teresa Mirabal Reyes (known as María Teresa) were married, Catholic-educated young mothers who had been raised in a middle-class household in the Dominican Republic. Three of the sisters (Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa) were also college educated professionals who actively and publicly opposed the dictator Rafael Trujillo (known as El Jefe), who’s fascist regime lasted 31 years.

“Perhaps what we have most near is death, but that idea does not frighten me. We shall continue to fight for that which is just.”

— María Teresa Mirabel Reyes

The sisters became known as Las Mariposas (“The Butterflies”) and they (and their husbands) were often harassed and even incarcerated because of their activism. There were many activists who spoke out against the dictator before the sisters — including organizers of the “Movement of the Fourteenth of June” and the sisters’ own uncle. But, part of the reason the sisters (and their husbands) may have been targeted was because Minerva had turned down Trujillo’s sexual advances when she was in her early 20’s.

International attention on their plight may have saved Minerva and María Teresa from being tortured during their last incarceration — and definitely led to them being released. Their high profile, however, did not secure the release of their husbands. It also did not save them. As they returned from a visit to the prison where two of their husbands were being held, Patria, Minerva, María Teresa, and their driver Rufino de la Cruz were stopped by people associated with Trujillo’s regime (including members of his secret police force). There was an attempt to make their murders look like a car accident, but evidence to the contrary was very obvious.

Dedé, the surviving sister lived to the age of 88. She was also the only one of the sisters who did not go to college and the only one who did not publicly participate in the resistance. She was a “traditional” homemaker who also took care of the family business. After her sisters were murdered, she continued to take care of their children and started the Mirabal Sisters Foundation. She also turned the last home they lived in together into a museum and wrote a book, Vivas en su Jardín, as she saw that her legacy was to preserve herstory.

“If they kill me, I’ll reach my arms out from the tomb and I’ll be stronger.”

— Minerva Mirabel Reyes

If you see roses in front of a delivery room or hospital, over the next few days, they may have been placed there by someone who suffered varying forms of physical or psychological violence — or they may have been placed there by someone whose family member died as a result of obstetric violence. If you see a building or landmark being “oranged” in the next few days, it is a reminder of the campaign against gender-based violence and a reminder of the importance of everyone coming together to promote a violence-free world. Curious about why the color for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is orange, I thought maybe it would be tied to the symbol of the butterfly; however, I could only find a UNESCO site that says “The color orange symbolizes a bright future, free of violence. It also serves as a means of demonstrating your solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence and…. As a show of solidarity, the UNESCO globe will be illuminated orange.”

Of course, the reason I was curious about the color choice is because in yoga and Áyurveda, as they come to us from India, orange is associated with the second chakra — which is the energetic center of our relationships. From the yoga perspective, our mind-bodies are a microcosm representing the macrocosm that is the world. So, from the yoga perspective, physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual healing begins on the inside and if we want to truly “orange” the world, we must find a way to physically, emotionally, and energetically honor a sacred truth.

“Sacred Truth: Honor one another. Every relationship you develop, from casual to intimate, helps you become more conscious. No union is without spiritual value.”

— from “Morning Visual Meditation” by Caroline Myss

Please join me today (Tuesday, November 25^th) at 12:00 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 in the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Mother’s Day 2020”]

NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes an extra video that is not available on Spotify. The Spotify playlist has an extra song track that does not affect the practice timings.

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

“Article 2

Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation;

(b) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;

(c) Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.

Article 3

Women are entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. These rights include, inter alia:

(a) The right to life;

(b) The right to equality;

(c) The right to liberty and security of person;

(d) The right to equal protection under the law;

(e) The right to be free from all forms of discrimination;

(f) The right to the highest standard attainable of physical and mental health;

(g) The right to just and favourable conditions of work;

(h) The right not to be subjected to torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

— quoted from the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, issued by the United Nations General Assembly, December 20, 1993

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: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.

Don’t forget to be grateful.

11/25/2025 Updated with music/playlist note.

### HONOR HUMAN RIGHTS ###

A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “On the Origins of Origins” (a post-practice Monday post) November 24, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Karma, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Bhagavad Gita, chaos theory, Charles Darwin, Christopher Isherwood, Evolution Day, research, Science, Swami Prabhavananda, Yoga Sutra 1.1, Yoga Sutras 3.14-3.16, Yoga Sutras 4.12, Yoga Sutras 4.12-4.14
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone developing kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom on Evolution Day.

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!

This is the post-practice post for Monday, November 24^th. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is something outside of your field of study or expertise that fascinates you?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

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.

“The Gita [2.16] teaches: ‘That which is non-existent can never come into being, and that which is can never cease to be.’ The forms and expressions of an object may change, but all these changes of form and expression have existed, and will continue to exist, potentially, within the object. The past and future exist with the object in an unmanifested, subtle form. Nevertheless, they are there. Nothing in the universe is lost.”

— quoted from the commentary for Yoga Sūtras 4.12 – 4.14, in How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, translated and with commentary by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

It can be interesting, informative even, to look back and see where something or someone started. Last week, for example, I was talking about the beginning of the resurgence of the physical practice of Yoga that happened in the early 20^th century because of Sri Krishnamacharya, who’s known as “Father of Modern Yoga”, or the “Father of Postural Yoga”. Sometimes, I talk about the beginning of the Yoga Philosophy or the beginning of Buddhism or Christianity or the Baháʼí Faith or Sikhism or some other religion or philosophy. Other times, I talk about the beginning of an idea. We can even look at where and how we start our practice — and/or where and how we start our day — and notice how that beginning informs everything that happens next.

Knowing the origins of things allows us to track the progress of things.

We can also look at how things have progressed and get a sense of how things began.

According to chaos theory, “small changes in initial conditions could result in vast differences in the initial outcomes”. Similarly, the Yoga Sutras (YS 3.14-3.16 and YS 4.12) indicate that everything (and everyone) contains elements of their past, present, and future — with “the cause for the different appearances of results, consequences, or effects” being the sequence of changes — and if we focus-concentrate-mediate on the three kinds of changes (“form, time, and characteristics”), we gain knowledge of the past, present, and future.

In other words: Noticing how things evolve is part of the practice.

Today is Evolution Day. It is the anniversary of the day, in 1859, when Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species (or, more completely, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life).

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.

FTWMI: On the Origins of Origins

“We will now discuss in a little more detail the struggle for existence…. I should premise that I use the term Struggle for Existence in a large and metaphorical sense, including dependence of one being on another, and including (which is more important) not only the life of the individual, but success in leaving progeny.”

— quoted from “Chapter III. Struggle for Existence.” in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin (pub. 1859)

There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.

Don’t forget to be grateful.

### ATHA includes what came before and is the beginning of what comes next ###

Still Sitting, Still Breathing — With a Side of Joy & a Side of Gratitude (the “missing” Sunday post) November 23, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Karma Yoga, Life, Love, Meditation, One Hoop, Philosophy, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Abhyasa, asana, Bhagavad Gita, Christopher Isherwood, Dharma, gratitude, hatha yoga, Jack Hawley, John Metcalfe, Karma Yoga, Lisa Bloom, meditation, Merrick Rosenberg, Mindfulness, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Patrick Lencioni, Paul Barrera, pranayama, santosha, sva-dharma, Swami Prabhavananda, vinyasa, vinyāsa, Yoga Sutra 1.20, Yoga Sutra 3.38, Yoga Sutras 1.21-1.22, Yoga Sutras 1.23-1.24
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone sitting (& speaking) with kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, wisdom, and gratitude.

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!

This is the “missing” post, for Sunday, November 23^rd. One link embedded in the text will direct you to a site outside of this blog. You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

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.

“For many of us, filling a segment of our day with a prescribed set of disciplines is practice. This type of practice is comprised of a list of techniques and injunctions, and we undertake it because we have been told it will bring us a specific result. It is a recipe for solving a problem. As a result, the value of the practice is dependent on when and to what extent it meets our expectations. If it does not meet our expectations, we dump it without hesitation.”

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 1.20, from The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

We could make it complicated. However, when we really get down to it, this practice is simple. It’s not always easy, but it is simple. Combine your ethics, morals, and awareness; find a comfortable (and steady) seat; and, then, sit and breathe (with awareness). That’s it really. That’s the practice. In the Yoga Sūtras, Patanjali indicated that a “[continuous] practice” (abhyasa) and “non-attachment” (vairagya) ultimately lead to mental and physical vitality, as well as freedom and liberation from suffering. (YS 1.2 – 1.4; 1.12 – 1.15; 1.29 – 1.40; 2.18)

Our physical practice of yoga (hatha yoga, regardless of the style or tradition) is the way we get our mind-body ready for deep-seated meditation. Of course, we make it a little more complicated; because we move between seats. In a vinyāsa, we “place [things] in a special way” in order to flow in and out of poses/seats. So, that’s another complication. Some of the poses and sequences can be challenging — intense even — and one of my earliest yoga teachers use to say that our “yoga practice should be the most intense part of our day.”

Funny thing about my teacher Paul B’s statement: He never indicated the type intensity. Was the practice meant to be the most intense physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually? Was it meant to be intensely vigorous or intensely relaxing? Was it all of the above?

Or, was there some other level of intensity that we were missing? Could the intensity come from our devotion?

“Love for practice comes from knowing its importance.”

“The more convinced we are about the key role of our practice in enabling us to live a purposeful and meaningful life, the more we love and respect it. Love and respect springing from a true understanding of our practice is shraddha [faith]. We are joyful at the prospect of doing our practice. The reasons for delaying or dispensing with it become meaningless. We no longer care whether our practice lowers our blood pressure or relaxes our nervous system—we do it for the simple joy of doing it. According to Vyasa, shraddha is the joy that accompanies a practice. It is more than faith—it is the thrill of realizing that we are fortunate to have a practice that helps restore the pristine nature of our mind, takes us inward, and gives us a vision of life’s purpose.”

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 1.20, from The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

According to Yoga Sūtras 1.20 – 1.22, there are five types of effort; nine ways to practice (the overall philosophy) based on our “…intensity of feeling, vigor, and firm conviction…”; and how long it takes us to reach our goal(s) will be based on how much time, effort, and intensity we put into the practice. Swami J, in the Himalayan tradition, compares this paradigm to the race between the tortoise and the hare and has a great breakdown of the different ways to practice (which you can find here).

You may also consider, as one of my teachers (Lisa B.) once explained, that you don’t have to believe in (or understand) every aspect of the practice for those aspects to work. However, if you believe (i.e., have firm conviction), you will be more diligent about what your actions — and you may spend more time doing the things that are beneficial.

Your diligence may also serve as a reminder to practice non-attachment and remember that the challenges in our practice — such as poses and sequences we aspire to achieve — can be a distraction or obstacle to our ultimate goal.

“‘To work without desire may seem impossible, but the way to do it is to substitute thoughts of Divinity for thoughts of desire. Do your work in this world with your heart fixed on the Divine instead of on outcomes. Do not worry about results. Be even tempered in success or failure. This mental evenness is what is meant by yoga…. Indeed, equanimity is yoga!’”

— Krishna speaking to Arjuna (2.48) in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley

The dangers of an achievement simultaneously being an impediment is reinforced in texts like the Yoga Sūtras and the Bhagavad Gita (the “Song of the Lord”), which emphasize “non-attachment” (vairagya) and “non-grasping”/“non-hording” (āparigrahā). In fact, Yoga Sūtra 3.38 explicitly states that “They are powers/achievements in the worldly state, but the are obstacles to samadhi.” Both the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita (as noted above) instruct us to offer our efforts up (with trustful surrender) as if our very efforts are a gift to the Universe.

The Gita goes even further, because it highlights the fact that we are all given gifts (e.g., temperaments, personalities, experiences, perspectives, and skills) that make us well-suited for certain jobs and responsibilities. (BG 18.41 – 18.49) If we think about everything we do in this way, we have the opportunity to appreciate giving and receiving the same gifts.

And, surely, that much gratitude multiplies the joy.

“‘I accept with joy whatever I am offered in true devotion: fruit or water, leaf or flower. The gift is love, the dedication of your heart. Devotion alone gains access to Divinity.’”

— Krishna speaking to Arjuna (9.26) in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley

Throughout the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna (as an embodiment of the Divine) breaks down different yoga paths and, in doing so, highlights the fact that everything we do can be an gift/offering. I thought about this idea as I was reading The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick Lencioni, which was recommended by my yoga buddy Carl (in a discussion that included a similar book that I love). The parallels between these modern books on management and these ancient texts made me think about how often we express (or neglect to express) gratitude for the things someone else does that we’re glad we don’t have to do.

It also made me think about how often we take those things (and people) for granted — and how, in taking people (and things) for granted, we miss an opportunity to give thanks.

“And in the Gita [9.27], we read:

Whatever your action,
Food or worship;
Whatever the gift
That you give to another;
Whatever you vow
To the work of the spirit:…
Lay these also
As offerings before Me.”

— quoted from the commentary for Yoga Sūtra 1.23 – 1.24, in How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, translated and with commentary by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09012024 Deep Listening”]

NOTE: The playlist contains John Metcalfe’s album Tree (with the remixes); however, one track has been moved. The story behind the album is beautiful. Additionally, I encourage you to deeply listen to Track #11 (which was the inspiration for the playlist and the September practice).

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

Correction (& Errata &): During the 2025 practice (& on the music post) inadvertently cited the wrong Yoga Sūtra chapter for YS 1.23-1.24. (11/23/2025)

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.

Don’t forget to be grateful.

### AUM / OM ###

EXCERPT: “This Room, This Music, This Light, This Darkness: This Dance” November 22, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Baha'i, Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Movies, One Hoop, Texas, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Art, Books, Bridget Carpenter, Dealey Plaza, John F. Kennedy, Qawl, Qudrat, shabda, Stephen King
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone dedicated to friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.

May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!

“So let us not be petty when our cause is so great. Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves when our Nation’s future is at stake. Let us stand together with renewed confidence in our cause–united in our heritage of the past and our hopes for the future – and determined that this land we love shall lead all mankind into new frontiers of peace and abundance.”

— quoted from a speech President John F. Kennedy had planned to deliver to the Texas Democratic State Committee in Austin, Texas, in the evening, on November 22, 1963

Today in 1963, U. S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas.

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.

FTWMI: This Room, This Music, This Light, This Darkness: This Dance

“We did not ask for this room or this music. We were invited in. Therefore, because the dark surrounds us, let us turn our faces to the light. Let us endure hardship to be grateful for plenty. We have been given pain to be astounded by joy. We have been given life to deny death. We did not ask for this room or this music. But because we are here, let us dance.”

— a poem by Stephen King and Bridget Carpenter, featured in the miniseries 11.22.63

Please join me for a virtual yoga practice on Zoom, today (Saturday, November 22^nd) at 12:00 PM. 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 me at myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11/22/63”]

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.

Don’t forget to be grateful.

### REMEMBER, THERE IS POWER IN YOUR SPEECH!###

FTWMI: Birds, Monkeys, Trees, & Behavior PLUS EXCERPTS: “The Sum of the Whole Is Our Behavior” November 15, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Science, Yoga.
Tags: 988, America Recycles Day, Dr. Gordon R. Stephenson, Dr. Wolfgang Köhler, Merrick Rosenberg, Tree Day (Sri Lanka)
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Reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle, and plant a tree on America Recycles Day and Plant a Tree Day (in Sri Lanka)!

For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2023 (i.e., it’s recycled). Class details, an extra excerpt, and some links have been updated/added.

“There seems to be a single starting point for psychology, exactly as for all the other sciences: the world as we find it, naïvely and uncritically. The naïveté may be lost as we proceed.”

— quoted from “Chapter I: A Discussion of Behaviorism” in Gestalt Psychology: An Introduction to New Concepts in Modern Psychology by Dr. Wolfgang Köhler

We may not have control over how a studio space is set up; however, when we make our way into the space — and/or if we have the luxury of creating our own home space — most of us put some effort into the space we are going to occupy. It may not be a lot of space, but it is ours while we are there and most people have some sense of what they need to be stable and steady, comfortable and at ease. (YS 2.46) Similarly, we don’t have any control over our genetics and the body into which we are born, but we can make an effort to be healthy and strong — or, at the very least, comfortable in our own skin (which is yet another environment). Then we get on the mat and the whole practice is about very intentionally and mindfully creating our internal (physical-mental and emotional-energetic) space… as opposed to just passively receiving the space we’ve been given.

Of course, as one of my first teachers used to say, how we do yoga is how we do life. As children, we all start off like someone entering the studio. We learn what works for us and what doesn’t (i.e., what serves us in alleviating our suffering versus what causes more suffering). However, we don’t always do the things that create steadiness, stability, ease, comfort, and maybe even joy. Sometimes, we remain a “passive recipient” instead of becoming a “co-creator” of your culture and environment?

Thanks to Merrick Rosenberg, I went down the rabbit hole almost ten years ago and came across the research of Dr. Wolfgang Köhler (a German researcher in the 1920’s and 30’s) and Dr. Gordon R. Stephenson (at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the 1960’s). Here’s an excerpt from a 2021 post about what I found:

“Dr. Wolfgang Köhler believed (a) that subjective experience matters; (b) that the human mind and behavior have to be considered as a whole (and that whole includes subjective experience); (c) that, like chimpanzees, humans are capable of problem solving through insight learning; and (d) that people could – and one can argue should – stand up for what they believe to be right and, in doing so, actively co-create the world in which the live.”

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.

The Sum of the Whole Is Our Behavior (a Monday post)

Throughout the year, there are different days when people from different countries (and/or of different cultures) focus on be active co-creators of this world in which we all live. Today, November 15^th, is one of those days. In Sri Lanka, it is Plant a Tree Day. In the United States, it is America Recycles Day (and the 2023 theme was all about innovation).

“Problems may be found which were at first completely hidden from our eyes. For their solution it may be necessary to devise concepts which seem to have little contact with direct primary experience.”

— quoted from “Chapter I: A Discussion of Behaviorism” in Gestalt Psychology: An Introduction to New Concepts in Modern Psychology by Dr. Wolfgang Köhler

Please join me for a virtual yoga practice on Zoom, today (Saturday, November 15^th) at 12:00 PM. 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 me at myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11152023 Like Birds & Monkeys & More Trees”]

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

### Be Like the Birds (who reuse everything they can get their beaks on). ###

FTWMI: A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “Caught In The Middle” (a post-practice Monday post) November 10, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Men, Movies, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: Catch-22, Double Bind, healing, Joseph Heller, Life, Lutheran Church, Lutherism, Martin Luther, mental health, Mindfulness, The Bateson Project, wellness
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to looking for friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.

Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind. CONTINUE TO BREATHE!

For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted on November 10, 2024. Date-specific items have been revised. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is on your heart and mind?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

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.

“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.”

— Martin Luther (b. 1483)

There is often a contradiction between what someone thinks they will do in a situation and what they actually do in that situation. Sometimes this is because our ideals don’t line up with our actual actions (i.e., thoughts, words, and deeds). Sometimes it is because the situation is much messier than what we imagined. That messiness can come from our own hearts and minds — and it can also come from the hearts and minds of others.

For a lot of people, things are messy right now. You might find — even if things are [quote-unquote] going your way — that your sympathetic nervous system is kicking in and that you want to fight, flee, or freeze (collapse). Take a moment to breathe and come back to (a variation of) the “formula” I mentioned [this week in 2024]:

What are you seeing/hearing?
What are you thinking?
What are you feeling?
What do you want?
What can you do?

It is in this moment, this liminal or threshold moment, that we choose how we untangle this double bind of Catch-22 situation.

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR A RELATED POST.

For Those Who Missed It: Caught In The Middle

“‘The enemy,’ retorted Yossarian with weighted precision, ‘is anybody who’s going to get you killed, no matter which side he’s on, and that includes Colonel Cathcart. And don’t you forget that, because the longer you remember it, the longer you might live.’”

— quoted from Catch-22 (Chapter 12) by Joseph Heller (pub. 1961)

There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.

NOTE: In previous years, we have used different pratyahara playlists. In 2024, we used a playlist available on YouTube and Spotify [Look for “05252022 Pratyahara II”]. Click on the excerpt title above for the previous playlist.

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

### “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” (ML) ###

« older posts

A Joyful Practice

One More On Words [& Stories] (the “missing” Wednesday 12/17 post, w/EXCERPTS) December 20, 2025

— William Safire

“In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.

For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.”

— quoted from “In Event of Moon Disaster / The Safire Memo” (addressed to H. R. Haldeman, dated July 18, 1969.) by William Safire

— quoted from The New York Times Magazine, February 12, 1984, article “On Language: Zapmanship” by William Safire

“Took me a while to get to the point today, but that is because I did not know what the point was when I started.”

— quoted from The New York Times Magazine, February 12, 1984, article “On Language: Zapmanship” by William Safire

“slop” “rage bait” “parasocial” “67”

— 2025 Word of the Year from Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, and dictionary.com, respectively

“Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague….”

— quoted from Fumblerules: A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage by William Safire

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

### USE YOUR WORDS ###

Sweet Stories About Light (the “missing” Tuesday 12/16 post, w/extra links) December 20, 2025

“‘I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way.’”

— Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

— quoted from “Introduction: The Mind-Body Relationship” in Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence by Matthew Sanford

“200 years after the Maccabean revolt, a bunch of rabbis were like, ‘Ewww! We don’t really act like those Maccabees anymore. And we don’t really think people should be emulating them. Maybe we should just cancel Hanukkah altogether.’

And after 200 years of arguing about this, they seem to have settled, instead, on coming up with a new story of Hanukkah. And this is the one about the oil and the lights. And it’s why we light the menorah. You know how it goes….”

— quoted from the video “Is the Hanukkah story obscene or based?” by Sim Kern

— quoted from Rama II: The Sequel to Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

### Be Mindful of Your Stories ###

Tempo por vi Brili, en 2025! “Time for you to Shine, in 2025!” & FTWMI: Gravas kiel ni diras, aŭ ne diras, kio estas en niaj koroj! “How we say, or don’t say, what is in our hearts is important!” (the “missing” Monday 12/15 post) December 20, 2025

“Kaj Dio diris: Estu lumo; kaj fariĝis lumo.”

“Lundo estis la unua tago kaj dua nokto de Ĥanuka — kaj mi deziras al vi pacon en Esperanto.”

— “Monday was the first day and second night of Chanukah — and I’m wishing you peace in Esperanto.”

“La okulisto skribis post noktmezo.Kiam la homa gefrataro pacos?Kia mistera manko, kia lezoduonblindigas? Kiu ĝin kuracos?Kaj kion povas fari unuopamalriĉa homo por homar’ miopa?”

“The ophthalmologist wrote after midnight.When will the human brotherhood be at peace?What a mysterious lack, what an injuryhalf blind? Who will cure it?And what can be done individuallypoor man for myopic humanity?”

— quoted (in Esperanto and English) from the poem “La Okulisto” (“The Ophthalmologist”) in Eroj (Items) by Marjorie Boulton

“La okulisto verkis kaj parolis,tradukis, organizis. Kaj la skvamojde kelkaj okulparoj jam forfalis,la antaŭjuĝoj, timoj kaj malamoj.”

“The ophthalmologist wrote and spoke,translated, organized. And the scales [of]some eyes have already fallen off,the prejudices, fears and hatreds.”

— quoted (in Esperanto and English) from the poem “La Okulisto” (“The Ophthalmologist”) in Eroj (Items) by Marjorie Boulton

“Tio, kio malamas vin, ne faru al via ulo. Tio estas la tuta Torao; la resto estas la klarigo. Nun iru studi.”

“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation. Now go and study.”

— quoted from the story of Hillel the Elder “[teaching] the meaning of the whole Torah while standing on one foot,” in Esperanto and in English

— quoted from a speech by Dr. L. L. Zamenhof to the Second World Congress of Esperanto, August 27, 1906

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

### pacon / peace ###

Think Twice & FTWMI: A Reminder About Separating the Baby from the Dirty Bathwater (w/an excerpt) December 14, 2025

“Yoga is for all of us. To limit yoga to national or cultural boundaries is the denial of universal consciousness.”

— quoted from Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health by B. K. S. Iyengar

“Yoga is a light which, once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.”

— quoted from Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health by B. K. S. Iyengar

— quoted from Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends by David Wilton

I will offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!

### PRACTICE & TEACH RESPONSIBLY ###

Open the Door / #NoExcuse / Orange The World (a revised compilation) November 25, 2025

“Quedé viva para contarles la historia.” [“I stayed alive to tell the story.”]

— Dedé Mirabal, author of Vivas en su Jardín

“Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified.

— quoted from the United Nations website for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (2020 #OrangetheWorld)

— “Article 1” of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, issued by the United Nations General Assembly, December 20, 1993

“We cannot allow our children to grow up in this corrupt and tyrannical regime. We have to fight against it, and I am willing to give up everything, even my life if necessary.”

— Patria Mirabal Reyes

“Perhaps what we have most near is death, but that idea does not frighten me. We shall continue to fight for that which is just.”

— María Teresa Mirabel Reyes

“If they kill me, I’ll reach my arms out from the tomb and I’ll be stronger.”

— Minerva Mirabel Reyes

“Sacred Truth: Honor one another. Every relationship you develop, from casual to intimate, helps you become more conscious. No union is without spiritual value.”

— from “Morning Visual Meditation” by Caroline Myss

“Article 2

Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, the following:

(b) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;

(c) Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.

Article 3

Women are entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. These rights include, inter alia:

(a) The right to life;

(b) The right to equality;

(c) The right to liberty and security of person;

(d) The right to equal protection under the law;

(e) The right to be free from all forms of discrimination;

(f) The right to the highest standard attainable of physical and mental health;

(g) The right to just and favourable conditions of work;

(h) The right not to be subjected to torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

— quoted from the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, issued by the United Nations General Assembly, December 20, 1993

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26th – December 3rd.

“La okulisto skribis post noktmezo.
Kiam la homa gefrataro pacos?
Kia mistera manko, kia lezo
duonblindigas? Kiu ĝin kuracos?
Kaj kion povas fari unuopa
malriĉa homo por homar’ miopa?”

“The ophthalmologist wrote after midnight.
When will the human brotherhood be at peace?
What a mysterious lack, what an injury
half blind? Who will cure it?
And what can be done individually
poor man for myopic humanity?”

“La okulisto verkis kaj parolis,
tradukis, organizis. Kaj la skvamoj
de kelkaj okulparoj jam forfalis,
la antaŭjuĝoj, timoj kaj malamoj.”

“The ophthalmologist wrote and spoke,
translated, organized. And the scales [of]
some eyes have already fallen off,
the prejudices, fears and hatreds.”

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.

Whatever your action,
Food or worship;
Whatever the gift
That you give to another;
Whatever you vow
To the work of the spirit:…
Lay these also
As offerings before Me.”

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.

NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26^th – December 3^rd.