Be Mindful When You Reach the Step Where You Use Your Words (the “missing” Wednesday post w/excerpts) September 25, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Movies, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Alexander Hamilton, Amendments, Banned Books Week, Bill of Rights, Constitution, Dr. Joseph Murray, Guidelines for Achieving Sign Language Rights, International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), James Madison, shabda, siddhis, William Faulkner, William Shakespeare
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone communicating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during International Week of the Deaf and during Banned Books Week.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This is the “missing” post for Wednesday, September 25th. Some embedded links direct to sites outside of this blog. This post references and contains a quote from a banned book. 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.
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.
“Article the third… Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
— quoted from the transcription of the Joint Resolution of Congress Proposing 12 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, on September 25, 1789
Today (Wednesday, September 25th) is the fourth day of Banned Books Week (September 22–28, 2024) and the third day of International Week of the Deaf (IWD). It is also the anniversary of the birth of an author whose work has been challenged: William Faulkner, born today in 1897. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day, in 1789, when the United States Bill of Rights was submitted and approved by Congress.
All of this brings us to our next steps (as well as to the second power described as “unique to being human”): Words, which are the gateway into the other powers.
Whether we speak them, sign them, or write them, words have power. They allow us to communicate our experiences and express our innermost thoughts, desires, hopes, and fears. They also allow us to advocate for change, which is why third day of IWD is dedicated to Sign Languages advocacy and encouraging “everyone to actively advocate for the rights of deaf individuals and the official recognition of national sign languages. [You can sign] up for sign language rights by promoting your national sign languages in public arenas.” This kind of advocacy is something we can do in countries like the United States, where both freedom of speech and the right to a redress of grievances are enshrined right at the beginning of the U. S. Constitution.
Based on documents like the Magna Carta (which King John of England agreed to in 1215); the English Bill of Rights (from 1689); the Virginia Declaration of Rights (drafted and ratified in 1776); and the Northwest Ordinance (enacted by the U. S. Continental Congress in 1787), the U. S. Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution and codifies the rights and personal freedoms of citizens, limitations to the federal government, and clarifies that powers not specifically granted to the federal government (by the Constitution and its amendments) belong to the state governments or the citizens. It was proposed because of serious concerns and reservations expressed by anti-federalists. The idea was opposed by federalists like Alexander Hamilton, then a delegate from New York, who wrote in the penultimate Federalist essay (“Federalist No. 84”) that, “bills of rights are in their origin, stipulations between kings and their subjects…. [and, therefore,] have no application to constitutions professedly founded upon the power of the people, and executed by their immediate representatives and servants.” James Madison, then a delegate from Virginia and another federalist and collaborator on the Federalist Papers (along with John Jay of New York), initially opposed the idea; however, he would ultimately end up spearheading the entire venture.
What is now known as the Bill of Rights is actually a little shorter than what was originally proposed. The House of Representatives actually approved 17 articles on August 24, 1789. After some editing (which combined some articles and eliminated one altogether), the Senate approved 12 articles (on September 9th). Those 12 were then approved by Congress (today in 1789) and submitted to the states for ratification. Articles 3 — 12 became the first ten articles of the United States Constitution and were ratified by the states on December 15, 1791. The original second article, addressing the timeline for changing the compensation for Senators and Representatives, became the 27th Amendment (which was ratified in 1992, 202 years, 7 months, and 10 days after it was originally approved). As of today, the original first article, addressing the number of representatives in Congress (based on population1), is the oldest of six amendments still pending ratification.2
NOTES:
1When the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights were ratified enslaved people, Indigenous and Native Americans, and women were not considered citizens and were either not counted at all or were not counted as the whole people they were.
2There is no time limit on ratifications; however, there are more states now than there were in 1789 and, therefore, ratification would require legal confirmation from more states.
As I mentioned before, the power of words is a gateway to the other siddhis described as “unique to being human” — including the power to “study, analyze, and comprehend” a situation and the power to eliminate “three-fold sorrow” with regard to that situation. We use our words to make change. We use our words to petition the government for a redress of our grievances and, also, to simply address things that have been overlooked. We can also use words to share our experiences and points of view. Of course, our words mean very little if they are not backed up by actions. Without the actions behind them, words become empty at best and straight-up lies at their worst. William Shakespeare cautioned us about this in the “Scottish play” and his words inspired his namesake, William Faulkner.
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
— Macbeth in Act V, Scene V of Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Born in New Albany, Mississippi, today in 1897, and raised in Oxford, Mississippi, William Faulkner is remembered for his stream-of-consciousness and for novels and short stories primarily set in Yoknapatawpha County, a fictionalized version of the the Mississippi county where he grew up. After a brief stint in the the Royal Canadian Air Force (and also the British Royal Force) and after dropping out of the University of Mississippi, the only Mississippi-born Nobel laureate (so far) started writing and publishing novels like Soldiers’ Pay (1925), Sartoris (1927), The Sound and the Fury (1929), As I Lay Dying (1930), Light in August (1932), and Absalom, Absalom! (1936). He also worked as a screenwriter. In addition to winning the 1949 Nobel Prize for Literature, Mr. Faulkner won the National Book Award twice (for The Collected Stories of William Faulkner in 1951, and for A Fable in 1955) and also won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice (for A Fable in 1955, and for The Reivers in 1963). Despite all of his accolades (or maybe because of them), William Faulkner is yet another great writer who wrote a book that is often banned. In fact, one of his books has been challenged since it was first published in 1930.
As I Lay Dying is the story of Addie Bundren (who is dying at the beginning of the novel), her husband, their children, and their community. It is a story about death (and also life, since they go hand-in-hand) as well as how people grapple with their fear of death (and life). Told from the perspective of 15 different characters (including Addie and Anse Bundren and their five children) the book navigates the literal, emotional, and physical journey to fulfill a loved one’s dying wish. The book also discusses some things that are depicted in the other two banned books I’ve quoted this week — and these elements of the story are some of the same reasons the title gets challenged. But, there is another reason some people don’t like As I Lay Dying: it talks about abortion, a woman’s right to choose, and other people’s opinions about a woman’s right to choose.
Oh, then there’s that pesky part where a wife and mother of five sounds less than thrilled about her life.
“That was when I learned that words are no good; that words don’t ever fit even what they are trying to say at. When [Cash] was born I knew that motherhood was invented by someone who had to have a word for it because the ones that had the children didn’t care whether there was a word for it or not. I knew that fear was invented by someone that had never had the fear; pride, who never had the pride. I knew that it had been, not that they had dirty noses, but that we had had to use one another by words like spiders dangling by their mouths from a beam, swinging and twisting and never touching, and that only through the blows of die switch could my blood and their blood flow as one stream. I knew that it had. been, not that my aloneness had to be violated over and over each day, but that it had never been violated until Cash came. Not even by Anse in the nights.
He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like the others: just a shape to fill a lack; that when the right time Came, you wouldn’t need a word for that anymore than for pride or fear. Cash did not need to say it to me nor I to him, and I would say Let Anse use it, if he wants to. So that it was Anse or love; love or Anse: it didn’t matter.”
— Addie in As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “07012020 Caesar Rodney’s Ride”]
Click on the excerpt titles below for the earlier posts related to Banned Books Week and International Week of the Deaf (IWD).
Paying Attention is the First Step (a post-practice Monday post with an excerpt)
The Second Step is Cultivating Your Power of Understanding (the “missing” Tuesday post)
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 a new 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).
### STUDY, ANALYZE, & COMPREHEND WHAT (& WHO) IS ON YOUR BALLOT ###
The Second Step is Cultivating Your Power of Understanding (the “missing” Tuesday post) September 24, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Movies, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, American Library Association, Banned Books Week, censorship, Chloe Stone, Convo Australia, Deaf West Theatre, Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children, Dr. Joseph Murray, Erin and Chloe of Deaf Youth Australia and Deaf Youth Queensland, Hilary of Deaf Hub Bendigo, International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Kelly Clarkson, Khaled Hosseini, Ntando Hlophe, Office of Intellectual Freedom, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, siddhis, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), yoga sutra 2.18, Yoga Sutras 1.17-1.18
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone communicating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during International Week of the Deaf and during Banned Books Week.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This is the “missing” post for Tuesday, September 24th. My apologies to not getting it posted earlier. Some embedded links direct to sites outside of this blog. This post references and contains a quote from a banned book. 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.
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.
“An analogy will be helpful in explaining these two aspects. Let’s sat we are setting out from New York City to drive to Los Angeles. Every evening we check into a motel for the night and perhaps do a little sightseeing before continuing our journey. Eventually we reach Los Angeles. Once there, we enjoy experiencing the city. Depending on our goal, we stay for a week or two, a month, or perhaps permanently.
Los Angeles represents samadhi as a final state. The journey from beginning to end represents samadhi as a process.”
— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 1.17 from The Secret of the Yoga Sūtra: Samadhi Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
If you travel and/or if you read, you know that traveling and reading can open up your horizons and your consciousness. You can learn about people, cultures, and so many things you would not encounter if you never left home and/or never opened up to someone else’s stories. I love both reading and traveling, but I also acknowledge that there are challenges to both and that I haven’t loved every place I’ve traveled or every book I’ve read. I have also travelled and/or shared books with people who didn’t enjoy the same things I did (and vice versa). Despite the challenges, I think we are all richer for the experiences.
Since today is the third day of Banned Books Week (September 22–28, 2024) and the second day of International Week of the Deaf (IWD), we are ready to take another step (or two) in our philosophical journey. But let’s back up a minute and consider how this is all connected. First, both of these observations, as well as the practice of the Yoga Philosophy, are ultimately about freedoms. We could even say they are also all about powers.
As I mentioned yesterday, the 2024 Banned Books Week theme is “Freed Between the Lines” and the 2024 IWD theme is “Sign Up for Sign Language Rights” — with this second day placing extra emphasis on inclusion education and the rights of Deaf children. In the Yoga Sūtras, Patanjali indicated that everything in the known world has a two-fold purpose: to be experienced and for that experience to lead to our freedom / liberation. (YS 2.18) This means that even things and people we don’t like and/or don’t understand can serve a purpose — if we pay attention. And that’s why I said that the first step is paying attention (and the willingness to pay attention).
According to Yoga Sūtras 1.17-18, there are four basic levels of conscious awareness: gross, subtle, bliss, and I-ness. All of which are the stages of growing awareness that can lead to complete absorption. One of my favorite analogies with regard to this thread breaks down what happens when you walk into a room. The gross level is noticing that music is playing; the subtle level is when you start noticing the details of the song — melody, harmony, beat, lyrics — and realize that you recognize the song; the bliss level is when you start singing (and maybe dancing) and really start to enjoy the experience. Finally, the I-ness is when you start forgetting everything that is not part of this experience.
I have mentioned that some aspect of this analogy applies even if you don’t (or can’t) hear the music, because you can still feel the vibration and maybe notice other people’s experience of the music. However, since it is International Week of the Deaf, it might be better to use the first analogy quoted above.
But, what if you don’t travel (or hate Los Angeles)? Then, we can use the physical practice as a comparison point. For example, if you observe someone (or learn about someone) practicing a yoga pose, your awareness is brought to the fact that something is happening. If you start practicing the pose yourself, you start breaking down the mechanics (which is the subtle stage). At some point, you find what works for you, you start focusing on your breath, the pose starts to feel good, and you start moving into that deep state of focus where you are no longer distracted by outside elements.
That fourth state of consciousness is connected to an object (the music, the pose, your breath, the benefits and effects on your body, etc.). However, at some point, that “single-pointed focus” can become “seedless focus,” meaning your mind no longer needs an object as an anchor. The practice also includes the ability to tap into your innate vitality and powers, including the siddhis described as “powers unique to being human.” So, if the first step is paying attention (and the willingness to pay attention), then the next step is using those powers — with each power becoming a step towards the next power.
Accessing and utilizing all of your powers comes with responsibilities. I think that one of those responsibilities is to tell your story (even if you are just telling it to yourself). Another is the responsibility to pay attention to other people’s stories — or, at the very least, not to invalidate their stories. Each of those responsibilities comes with challenges; however, if you take your time, step-by-step, you are prepared to meet those challenges.
By focusing on the rights of Deaf children, the second day of IWD highlights the importance of “quality multilingual inclusive education that provides deaf learners inclusion through national sign languages.”
As explained above, the Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children consists of ten articles. Those ten articles are not only valid with regard to Deaf Children, they are also valid (and important) with regard to children from all over the world — and especially those who are dealing with trauma, loss, and disabilities, while also navigating a new language (or two).
Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini’s first novel, The Kite Runner, features a young boy (Amir) who falls into that latter category. The book is not on the most recent “Top 10 Most Challenged Books,” which is published annually by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). However, it has been on the list in multiple years — in particular, when the book first came out and again when the movie adaptation premiered. Even though it is not on the most recent Top 10 list, it is still challenged quite a bit — and it gets challenged by people from every community mentioned in the book!
Beginning in the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, The Kite Runner tells the story of what happens to Amir, his family, his dear friend Hassan, and their communities during the fall of Afghanistan’s monarchy, the Soviet invasion, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime. It is beautifully written, but is also full of really hard, tragic, and horrific events. In fact, one could argue that the caliber of writing makes the hard, tragic, and horrific events even more so. It is not something I would recommend to everyone and anyone; however, I did benefit from reading it.
What is as interesting to me as the book itself, is the fact that people have very different opinions about the point and focus of the book. I personally find it hard to engage in a conversation with someone who objects to a book or library service without actually reading the book and/or using the service; however, I get that it is easy to fear what we don’t know. The thing is, this is one person’s fictionalized account of their life experiences. Additionally, Mr. Hosseini has said that the main focus of the book is the relationship between a parent and a child and the life lessons the parent teaches their child — something about which many people know and value.
“Theft is the one unforgivable sin, the one common denominator of all sins. When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife’s right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. There is no act more wretched then stealing.”
— Amir, remembering the lessons of his father, in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Tuesday’s NOON (mostly instrumental) playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Ramadan 2024: Planting & Transforming”]
Tuesday’s EVENING playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09242024 Understanding Language and Culture”]
MUSIC NOTES: Technically, either playlist will work for either practice.
Both playlists feature musicians from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. The music by the Muslim musicians is not halal (“permissible”) in all Islamic traditions, because of the orchestrations. Click here and scroll down to the music notes for a more in-depth explanation.
Since both YouTube versions feature some tracks (or videos) that are not available on Spotify, I have embedded the sign language videos below.
Yes, there is always a message in the music!
A 2023 International Week of the Deaf message.
Convo Australia representatives discuss the Declaration of the Rights of the Deaf Children.
If you are struggling, 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 a new 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).
### VOTING CAN BE PART OF YOUR STORY ###
Paying Attention is the First Step (a post-practice Monday post with an excerpt) September 23, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Confessions, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, American Library Association, Banned Books Week, censorship, Danna Faulds, Dorothy Miles, Dot Miles, Dr. Joseph Murray, First Amendment, International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL), International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Office of Intellectual Freedom, Ray Bradbury, sign language, sign languages, Toni Morrison, yoga
add a comment
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone communicating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during International Day of Sign Languages / International Week of the Deaf and during Banned Books Week.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This is a post-practice post related to the practice on Monday, September 23rd. Some embedded links may direct you outside of WordPress. The 2024 prompt question was, “What is on your mind? This post references and contains a quote from a banned book. 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.
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.
“There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house, there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”
— quoted from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This post begins with a cautionary tale, because I wasn’t paying enough attention. When a teacher suggested something that I hadn’t practice in a while, I paused and considered whether it was a good fit for me (which is what I always encourage people to do). Then I decided to give it a go. However, my body very quickly pointed out that some part of what I was doing was not a good idea (at least, not for me in that moment). I was paying just enough attention to realize something was off (and to back off a little), but not enough attention to realize I needed to stop (completely). So, I kept going… and ended up completely out of alignment.
Being out of alignment can cause a lot of pain and suffering. It takes time to reset. If you don’t know how to reset yourself and/or cannot do it on your own, it takes time and money. This is true when we are talking about an individual and they’re mind-body and it is also true when we are talking about a group of people, a whole country of people, or even the whole world. Each and every one of us is part of whole, just like each part of our mind-body is part of our mind-body. Sometimes we get ourselves out of whack (or never really worked in the ideal way), because we aren’t paying attention to the needs and desires of different parts of us and sometimes it happens because aren’t paying enough attention.
Of course, in order to pay attention, we have to understand how and why things are being communicated. This is a challenge when it comes to minds and bodies, because they communicate with sensation, that’s the information. When it comes to other people, part of paying attention includes recognizing that not everyone speaks the same language.
We also have to remember that not everyone has the same perspective or tells the story in the same way.
(Click here if the video above of Dr. Joseph Murray is not visible on your device.)
Today, September 23rd, is International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) and the beginning of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP). While IWDP is celebrated during the last full week of September (and therefore the dates shift a little), IDSL is held annually on the anniversary of the day, in 1951, when the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in Rome, Italy, during the first World Deaf Conference. That first conference was organized by Ente Nazionale Sordomuti (ENS), the Italian Deaf Association, and attended by representatives from 25 countries. Now, WFD is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization of deaf associations from 133 countries. It promotes the human rights of deaf people worldwide and works with the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and UN agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Each day of IWDP has a different focus. As mentioned above, the 2024 theme for International Day of Sign Languages is “Sign Up for Sign Language Rights” and highlights efforts for “better implementation of the [Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities] CRPD at the national level through the linguistic human rights of deaf people in view of the 20th anniversary of the CRPD in 2026.” According to WFD, you can “Sign up for Sign Language rights by working with your local and national associations to announce the achievement of a concrete goal for deaf communities today.” You could also learn more about sign languages (see excerpt below) and (maybe) learn one of those languages.
Click on the excerpt title below for more!
Holchaj yIjatlh. (“Speak in their language.”) [a post-practice Monday post with excerpts]
“You hold the word in hand
and offer the palm of friendship;
of frontiers where men of speech lend lip-
service to brotherhood, you pass, unhampered
by sounds that drown the meaning, or by fear
of the foreign-word-locked fetter;
oh, better
the word in hand than a thousand
spilled from the mouth upon the hearless ear.”
— quoted from the poem “To A Deaf Child” by Dorothy Miles
Clicking on the excerpt title above, will take you to a previous Monday post that features the story of Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire), a Welsh poet, polyglot, and activist in the Deaf community. Her story is fascinating on a lot of different levels and is also a reminder that, at some point, we all deal with some form of disability. Her story (and the post) also highlights the importance of knowing each others stories. Unfortunately, some stories are harder and harder to access — not because they aren’t being told, but because someone, somewhere, objects to them being told.
On any given day, someone, somewhere, is attempting to ban a book.
In addition to being International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) and the beginning of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), today was also the second day of Banned Books Week (September 22–28, 2024). According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) data based on challenges to “unique titles surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022 numbers, reaching the highest level ever documented by [the American Library Association (ALA)].” Additionally, “[the] number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023; school libraries saw an 11% increase over 2022 numbers.”
During the first eight months of 2024, the OIF tracked challenges to 1,128 unique titles — which is slightly less than the challenges to unique titles during the same period in 2023, but more than the number during the same period in 2020. Keep in mind that everyone (including people and organizations challenging books and library materials and service) had a lot on their minds during 2020 and that a title is counted in a separate bucket after the initial challenge (i.e., it is no longer “unique”). Statistics also indicate that material “representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% of those targeted in censorship attempts.”
Since the OIF tracks challenges via reports from library professionals and news stories published in the United States, the ALA warns that not all challenges are reported and, therefore, they only provide a snapshot of censorship. That snapshot (as they call it) includes an annual “Top 10 Most Challenged Books,” which lists the titles and authors, number of challenges for each book, the reasons why each book has been challenged, and a “Book Résumé” link to Unite Against Book Bands. Each book résumé page includes a brief description of the book; a link to report a challenge; and a link to a pdf with a more detailed synopsis, recommended age range(s), reviews, awards, and information about title-related censorship.
“Additionally, instances of soft censorship, where books are purchased but placed in restricted areas, not used in library displays, or otherwise hidden or kept off limits due to fear of challenges illustrate the impact of organized censorship campaigns on students’ and readers’ freedom to read. In some circumstances, books have been preemptively excluded from library collections, taken off the shelves before they are banned, or not purchased for library collections in the first place.”
— quoted from the “Book Ban Data” page on the American Library Association website
If you check out the Top 10 list, you might find some things objectionable. You might find subjects that don’t interest you and/or books that don’t want to read. To which, I would respectfully say, then don’t read them. You might also find subjects and/or books that don’t want to read your children to read — and, as a parent, you have the right to say that you don’t want to read your children to read something. However, since the 2024 Banned Books Week theme is “Freed Between the Lines” — which is described as “an observance of the freedom we find in the pages of books and the need to defend that freedom from censorship” — and as many people in the United States look at censorship as a First Amendment issue, allow me to point out three things:
- If you consider this a First Amendment issue (related any and all aspects of the First Amendment), then others are entitled to the same rights as you and vice versa.
- Parents have the right and the responsibility to do what they think is best for their children; however, to actually do what is best, parents must consider the ramifications of their decisions. In other words, just as you might consider how the presence of something affects children, consider how the absence might affect them.
- The titles and services being challenged reflect the stories of people whose experiences may be different from yours. If you are a member of a majority group and you are objecting to someone else’s story, ask yourself why.
Actually, anyone can benefit from asking themselves why they object to someone else’s story.
I have.
In fact, I have with a book on the Top 10 list.
Book #6 on the latest list, with 62 challenges, is a book I actively avoided reading up until my last year of college. By “actively avoided,” I mean that I read everything by the author that I could get my hands on — except this one particular book. Keep in mind that I had read other books (even other books by this author) that included the same topics for which this book is often challenged. But this book, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, hit a little too close to home. It didn’t hit close to home because I had experienced the horrific and tragic abuse that one person inflicted on Pecola Breedlove — thankfully, I have not personally had those experiences. No, I avoided the book, because I knew it would make me take a closer look at myself and the world in which we live.
Who is to say what would have happened if I had read the book at an earlier age and/or if I had read it outside of school? What I can say is that reading the book ultimately gave me a better understanding of the world and why people (myself included) sometimes think the things we think, say the things we say, and do the things we do.
Taking a deeper look at ourselves as a world, as a country, and/or as a person is not always easy. In fact, it can be really hard, challenging, and messy. It can require the assistance of others. However, sometimes doing the hard, challenging, and messy stuff is what we need to do in order to end the pain and suffering that comes from being out of alignment.
“And all of our beauty, which was hers first and which she gave us. All of us—all who knew her—felt so wholesome after we cleaned ourselves on her. We were so beautiful when we stood astride her ugliness. Her simplicity decorated us, her guilt sanctified us, her pain made us glow with health, her awkwardness made us think we had a sense of humor. Her inarticulateness made us believe we were eloquent. Her poverty kept us generous. Even her waking dreams we used—to silence our own nightmares…. We hones our egos on her, padded our characters with her frailty, and yawned in the fantasy of our strength.
And fantasy it was, for we were not strong, only aggressive; we were not free, merely licensed; we were not compassionate, we were polite; not good, but well behaved. We courted death in order to call ourselves brave, and hid like thieves from life. We substituted good grammar for intellect; we switched habits to simulate maturity; we rearranged lies and called it truth….”
— quoted from The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: Click here (or below) for the Dorothy Miles poem “To A Deaf Child.”
“as you. Go in and in
and turn away from
nothing that you find.”
— quoted from the poem “Go In and In” by Danna Faulds
If you are struggling, 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 a new 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).
### VOTING IS A WAY TO BE HEARD ###
Contemplating an Ongoing “Miracle” (mostly the music) September 17, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Basketball, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Music, One Hoop, Suffering, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Antietim, Civil War, Constitution, Constitution Day, nationalism, patriotism, Phil Jackson, revolution, Thurgood Marshall, yoga
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone curious about how we can have friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom (on Constitution Day in the U. S.).
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“And so we must be careful, when focusing on the events which took place in Philadelphia two centuries ago, that we not overlook the momentous events which followed, and thereby lose our proper sense of perspective. Otherwise, the odds are that for many Americans the bicentennial celebration will be little more than a blind pilgrimage to the shrine of the original document now stored in a vault in the National Archives. If we seek, instead, a sensitive understanding of the Constitution’s inherent defects, and its promising evolution through 200 years of history, the celebration of the “Miracle at Philadelphia” Bowen, Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May to September 1787 (Boston 1966), will, in my view, be a far more meaningful and humbling experience. We will see that the true miracle was not the birth of the Constitution, but its life, a life nurtured through two turbulent centuries of our own making, and a life embodying much good fortune that was not.
Thus, in this bicentennial year, we may not all participate in the festivities with flag-waving fervor. Some may more quietly commemorate the suffering, struggle, and sacrifice that has triumphed over much of what was wrong with the original document, and observe the anniversary with hopes not realized and promises not fulfilled. I plan to celebrate the bicentennial of the Constitution as a living document, including the Bill of Rights and the other amendments protecting individual freedoms and human rights.”
— quoted from the conclusion to the speech given by Supreme Court Justice (and former NAACP chief counsel) Thurgood Marshall at The Annual Seminar of the San Francisco Patent and Trademark Law Association, Maui, Hawaii May 6, 1987
Please join me today (Tuesday, September 17th) 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 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 “07012020 Caesar Rodney’s Ride”]
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 a new 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).
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.
### 
###
FTWMI: On Being Curious (the post-practice Monday post) September 16, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Meditation, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 90 seconds, 988, Curiosity, Gabrielle Roth, H. A. Rey, insight, Kelly Bartlett, Margaret Rey, meditation, yoga, Yoga Sutras 1.2 - 1.4
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone curious about how we can have friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
FTWMI: The following post-practice post related to the practice on Monday, September 16th was originally posted in 2020 (and slightly revised and excerpted in 2023). This version includes additional revisions. The 2024 prompt question was, “What piques your curiosity?” You can request an audio recording of either 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.)
Yoga Sūtra 1.2: yogaścittavŗttinirodhah
— “Yoga (‘union’) is the mastery of the fluctuations of the mind.”
Yoga Sūtra 1.3: tadā draştuh svarūpe’vasthānam
—“[When the fluctuations of the mind are mastered] the Seer abides/rests in their own true nature.”
Take a seat, get comfortable, and do that 90-second thing. Or, sit for 5, 15, 20, or 30 moments. Watch your breath and get curious. Bring awareness to your awareness, notice what you notice. There is so much, after all, to notice. We can smell things and taste things; we can feel different textures and sensations on our skin (and even on the inside of our body); we can see and hear — even with our eyes closed; and every sensation, every bit of information has the possibility of conjuring up a thought or memory that brings more sensation, more information.
It is also true that the more you sit — even for short periods of time — the more there is the possibility that your mind will stop bouncing around like wild horses, elephants, little puppies, or curious monkeys. The more stillness and quiet you can cultivate in your mind, the more there is the possibility of insight, of seeing things in a special way — and seeing what is constant.
“After the day is gone we shall go out, breathe deeply, and look up – and there the stars will be, unchanged, unchangeable.”
— quoted from The Stars: A New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey
However, there is also the possibility that the mind will keep bopping around looking for something on which it can focus and then — like a dog who’s spotted a squirrel — rushing off in another direction. In fact, the longer we practice the more we understand that our mind — just like a little puppy or a curious monkey — is designed to explore and play. Furthermore, the more we practice, the more we understand the merit of playing and exploring our mind.
“Now run along and play, but don’t get into trouble.’ George promised to be good. But it is easy for little monkeys to forget.”
— quoted from Curious George by Margaret and H. A. Rey
Hans Augusto Reyersbach, better known as H. A. Rey, was the author of The Stars: A New Way to See Them and the co-author of children’s books featuring Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat. Born today in 1898, he and his wife Margaret (born Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein, on May 16, 1906) were German Jews who originally met in their hometown of Hamburg. Margaret, who H. A. originally remembered as the kid sister who slid down banisters, ended up in Brazil specifically because she was escaping the Nazi’s rise of power in Germany. H. A. also fled to Brazil and the couple reconnected in Rio de Janeiro.
It was in Brazil that H. A. changed his last name to Rey and Margarete changed her first name to Margaret. They married in Brazil and took a honeymoon cruise to Europe before settling in Paris, France. During the cruise, their pet marmoset monkeys died. These pets may have been the beginning of the idea that became George; because, when they settled in France, they began creating the drawings and stories that would become “Curious George and Friends.”
George, however, did not start off as “George.” Like the Reys, he went through a series of name changes, starting with “Fifi” and “Zozo.” He also has different names in different translations, including (but not limited to) Jordi (in Catalan), Peter Pedal (in Danish), Coco (in German), Golgol (in Galacian), and Nicke Nyfiken (in Swedish). I am particular fond of “Peter Pedal,” because it makes me think of how Curious George, and his creators, escaped the Nazis.
It is a back story that is as much of an adventure as the Curious George stories themselves.
“It seems ridiculous to be thinking about children’s books. [But] life goes on, the editors edit, the artists draw, even during wartime.”
— H. A. Rey
In 1939, the now married Reys wrote and illustrated a book called Rafi and the 9 Monkeys. From the beginning it was an equal collaboration; however, only H. A.’s name appeared on the original publications. Rafi was a giraffe whose friends and family had been captured and placed in a zoo. She made friends with a family of nine monkeys — the most prominent of whom would become “George.” (As a side note, Rafi would become “Raffi” when the book was published in the United Kingdom and “Cecily” when it was published in the United States.)
By the time the war broke out, the Reys had been contracted to publish a book featuring the gregarious monkey and were working on other books as well. However, in June of 1940, the couple decided to put everything on hold and flee from the Nazi invasion. H. A. built two bicycles and, taking little more than the drawings and manuscript for “Fifi,” they headed south. Their four-month journey eventually landed them in New York City, where the first Curious George book was published (in 1941).
One of the things that aided their escape was the fact that they were officially Brazilian citizens. Another thing that helped them was “Fifi.” At one point in their escape, an official suspected them of being German spies (because they were Jewish people with German accents and Brazilian visas). The official let them go when he searched their belongings and found nothing more than a children’s story.
“George can do what kids can’t do. He can paint a room from the inside. He can hang from a kite in the sky. He can let the animals out of their pens on the farm. He can do all these naughty things that kids would like to do.”
— Margaret Rey
“Curious George does exactly what he’s supposed to do for his age and development (and species)! By nature and by name, he is curious. He explores his world fully and completely. This is his job as a young, continually developing little person, er, monkey. This is why my kids love the show–they relate so well to George’s genuinely curious nature and all of the honest (and funny) mistakes that ensue. But what I find most refreshing about ‘Curious George’ is The Man in the Yellow Hat.
The Man in the Yellow Hat never punishes George for his mistakes. He is more concerned with solving the problem. The man helps George put things away, fix things that broke, apologize to people who were involved in any indiscretions, and generally restore order.”
— quoted from “Why I Like Curious George” posted on the blog Parenting From Scratch by Kelly Bartlett
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
The 2020 playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “07112020 An Introduction.”]
A theme-related playlist is also available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09042021 Experiencing the Mind”]
If you are struggling, 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 a new 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).
“The object of meditation is to still the mind, and the fastest way to do that is to move your body.”
— Gabrielle Roth
### BE CURIOUS ###
A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “Can You Be Like The Bird?” September 15, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, change, Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, habits, Victor Hugo
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows and/or responding to life’s challenges with with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“Gentlemen, there are three things which belong to God and which do not belong to man: the irrevocable, the irreparable, the indissoluble. Woe to man if he introduces them into his laws! (Movement.) Sooner or later they cause society to bend under their weight, they disturb the necessary balance of laws and customs, they deprive human justice of its proportions; and then this happens, think about it, gentlemen, that the law terrifies the conscience. (Sensation.)”
— quoted from Victor Hugo’s address to the French Constituent (General) Assembly, September 15, 1848
Live long enough and you will find yourself in a situation that is simultaneously beautiful and… well, icky. You will meet someone who is not who they presented themselves to be. You will find yourself needing to break a habit that once served you; because it is no longer useful — or, in fact, because you finally realize that it never really served you.
I liken these moments to finding a beautiful lotus… only to realize you are standing in the muck from which it grew. Or, we can compare them to the poison pill that heals. Or, we can see them as being on a bough that gives us a beautiful view of the landscape… just as the bough breaks.
In these moments, we can appreciate the beauty and also acknowledge the muck. We can use the amount that heals and also be mindful of the danger. Or, we can be like the bird….
“Be like the bird, who
Pausing in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him
Yet sings
Knowing he has wings.”
— “Be like the bird” poem by Victor Hugo
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE ABOVE FOR MORE.
Please join me for a 65-minute virtual yoga practice on Zoom today (Sunday, September 15th) at 2:30 PM. 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 by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09152020 Can You Respond Like the Bird?”]
If you are struggling, 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 a new 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).
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.
### SING! ###
9/11, We Will Remember (mostly the music) September 11, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Healing Stories, Loss, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Yoga.Tags: 9/11, Laurence Binyon, Yoga Sutra 1.11, Yoga Sutra 1.6-1.11, Yoga Sutra 4.9
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May you be safe and protected. May you be healthy and strong. May you be peaceful and happy.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
— from “Ode of Remembrance” taken from “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon
Please join me today (Wednesday, September 11th) 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 “09/11”]
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 a new 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).
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.
### PEACE In, PEACE Out ###
A Quick Note & Excerpts About Living (& Knowing) September 10, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, grandmother, Mary Oliver
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone getting rooted in friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
— quoted from the poem “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver
Born today in 1935, Mary Oliver (along with her love and life partner Molly Malone Cook) definitely lived a “wild and precious life.” Recently, my yoga buddy Julie sent me what she described as “mobster/Mary Oliver parody.” The text made me smile. What made me giggle was thinking, “ Well, if we’re being honest, Mary Oliver was kinda gangsta; she was all about that life.”
CLICK ON THE FIRST (slightly ironic) EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE ABOUT MARY OLIVER.
Click on the second excerpt title below for a 2018 eulogy dedicated to one of my other favorite “wild and precious” people born today!
“You do not have to be good
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.”
— quoted from the poem “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
Please join me today (Tuesday, September 10th) 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 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 “09012024 Deep Listening”]
NOTE: Check the first excerpt for the playlist used in previous years.
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 a new 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).
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.
### LISTEN TO YOUR BREATH: SO HUM, HAM SA ###
Still Focused On the Outside? [But, What’s On the Inside?] (the “missing” Sunday post w/related links) September 8, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Donate, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, Mathematics, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Science, Suffering, Tragedy, Volunteer, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 1 Samuel, 988, Alecia Beth Moore, blogilates, David, Gwen Costello, International Literacy Day, literacy, Michelangelo, Mike Wohnoutka, Mother Teresa, P!nk, PEN America, shabda, Star Trek, UNESCO, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
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Happy International Literacy Day! Happy Star Trek Day! Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone carving out space for a mighty good heart, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This “missing” post for Sunday, September 8th. is a slightly revised (and expanded) version of a 2020 post. Some statistics and links (including the language-related Star Trek link at the very end) have been updated or added. One embedded link directs to a site outside of this blog. 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.
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.
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
— Mother Teresa, quoted from “10. Judge Not” in Spiritual Gems from Mother Teresa by Gwen Costello
I was watching an interesting video in September of 2020 (see link at end of post). Some parts were awkward and clumsy. Then, there were times when some of the participants felt bad about themselves (and, as an empathetic viewer I felt bad for them). The parts where people felt bad about themselves were some of the parts that were awkward and handled in a slightly clumsy way. However, the participants felt bad for themselves because the topic of the video is a sore spot for many people, especially women in America: weight and appearance. The video was interesting and good — in that it was meaningful — because it was yet another reminder that there is more going on with a person (and their health) than what we see on the outside.
“True beauty is knowing who you are and what you want and never apologizing for it.”
— 2006 quote attributed to P!nk (born Alecia Beth Moore, today in 1979)
Michelangelo’s David was unveiled in Florence, Italy today (September 8th) in 1504. At various times throughout history, the marble statue has represented the epitome of the male form. What captivates people, however, is not just the beauty of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. People love the story of David; the story of the underdog. When faced with towering figure of Goliath, David used his inner resources. He drew from the experience he had as a shepherd (rather than being preoccupied by the experience he didn’t have as a soldier) and he focused on what he could do (not on what he was “trying” to do).
Once he became king, he again drew on his inner strength, courage, and wisdom. Yes, King David made mistakes — he was human; but, he is remembered because of his wins, not his losses. Those wins became his legacy, which is represented by the statue, the story, and his son Solomon (who is considered the ruler with the wisest heart in the history of the world).
Similarly, the 26-year old Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was a bit of the underdog when he was selected to work on the statue of David. His contemporaries would eventually call him Il Divino (“The Divine One”), because of his ability to bring inanimate objects to life and to create terribilitá (a sense of awesomeness or emotional intensity). However, he was not the first choice — or the second choice — when the statue was first commissioned by the Overseers of the Office of Works of the Florence Cathedral (the Operai). Granted, one reason he wasn’t on the short list was that he wasn’t born when the series of Old Testament statues were first commissioned; but, that’s beside the point.
The point I’m getting to is that neither David nor Michelangelo were Plan A. They weren’t even Plan B. Yet, they both had the possibility of greatness inside of them.
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
— quote attributed to Michelangelo
Take a moment to consider Michelangelo, the sculptor, staring at a chunk of marble. To the outside observer, the marble was nothing — or, more specifically, a very expensive and “badly blocked out” hunk of marble. But, the artist saw inside… and got to work.
To someone who is not an artist, the artist’s process may seem magical and impossible. If we were to undertake such a task, without knowing what to look for and what steps to take, the process would be frustrating. The final effort might even be embarrassing. But, even though it takes effort and sometimes it’s harder for some than for others, the artist who is literate in their craft thinks nothing of the process: this is just what they know (or think) they can do.
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
— quote attributed to Michelangelo
What an artist does can be very similar to you reading this post (or even me writing this post). Yes, it takes effort and energy; however, if you have the knowledge — if you are a literate adult (who learned how to read as a child and don’t have a learning disability) — you don’t think back to the struggle of the learning process every time you read or write. You just do what you know how to do. Even though the yoga philosophy defines this exchange of words and meaning as one of the “powers unique to being human,” we don’t always think of it as being anything more than a tool. Or something that is part of our landscape… like the rocks on the ground before David picked them up. Or, like the chisel and the hunk of marble before Michelangelo went to work.
But, what about the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who are functionally illiterate? To those people who lack the basic reading and writing skills to manage daily living and employment tasks, my blog posts can be like Goliath. (I know, I know: Even when you are literate, these blog posts can sometimes be like Goliath — but then, you are David and you have what it takes to conquer!)
Quick Facts: In 2020, approximately 775 million young people and adults (aged 15+) lacked basic literacy and numeracy skills. Between 2015 and 2023, literacy rates have increased 2%; however, an estimated 754 million people are currently considered functionally illiterate.
While we can celebrate the fact that literacy rates are increasing all over the world — and that some of the biggest increases are on the continent of Africa, where literacy rose 5% between 2015 and 2022 — population is also increasing in some places (which means, unfortunately, that the number of people who lack basic literacy and numeracy skills on the continent of Africa rose from 193 million to 217 million).
“Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savour their songs. I again realized that we were not different people with separate languages; we were one people with different tongues.”
— quoted from Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela
There are huge financial costs to being illiterate (an estimated $1.19 trillion (USD) globally), but there are other extreme costs. Illiteracy limits possibilities. It decreases employment opportunities, increases chances for poor health and the inclination toward crime. There is an emotional toll, in that it can lead to depression, anger, frustration, and embarrassment. Illiteracy is often associated with poverty; however, location, age, and disability are also factors. The millions of people who are forcibly displaced face challenges of literacy and digital divides*; only 30% of young people living in crisis-affected areas are literate; children and adolescents with disabilities are 42% less likely to have foundational literacy skills; and (as of 2022) only 10% of elderly women in some sub-Saharan African countries are literate. Which brings us to the fact that there is also a gender component: 63% of the people who are illiterate are also women. (That’s down 1% from 2020; but, that’s still 475 million people!)
According to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), if all women completed primary education, there would be 66 percent fewer maternal deaths. This is one of the reasons UNESCO focuses on educating girls and women. This is also one of the reasons why, in 1965, the United Nations designated today, September 8th, as International Literacy Day.
The 2024 Theme for International Literacy Day is “Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace” and highlights the fact that the world is becoming more and more multilingual and more and more people are interacting with people who speak different languages. In fact, there are approximately 7,000 living languages (unevenly) spread out over 200 countries and “[over] half of the world’s population is bilingual, using at least two languages or dialects daily.” All of that is exciting! What is not exciting is that 40% of those who are bilingual lack access to education in a language they speak or understand.
“David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart….’”
— quoted from 1 Samuel – The Old Testament (17:32 NIV)
It can be a little daunting to look at some of these numbers related to literacy. It can also be frustrating to think about the fact that, according to UNESCO, 250 million children are out of school; 31 million forcibly displaced young people are learning in a language other than their first language; and that “57% of the 102 countries that responded to a UNESCO survey spent less than 4% of their national education budget on adult literacy and education.” Furthermore, you might feel like throwing your hands up if you live in a country (like the United States) where some people are working to ban books and restrict education. But, rather than giving up, let’s celebrate literacy… and books!
This year’s global celebration of International Literacy Day will be held September 9th – 10th, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This is a time to promote awareness of illiteracy and cultivate compassion around this human rights struggle. It’s also an opportunity to buy a book for a public school or a library in a developing country, a rural area, or an impoverished area (even here in the United States). It’s also a great opportunity to buy a book for a friend or a loved one — maybe a banned book, maybe even a book that tells you not to judge “the book” by its cover.
“As a mother of two who is deeply invested in education and in representation for all races and sexual identities, P!nk wanted to give away banned books to highlight the spike in book bans in Florida and across the country documented by PEN America.
‘Books have held a special joy for me from the time I was a child, and that’s why I am unwilling to stand by and watch while books are banned by schools,’ P!nk said. ‘It’s especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about race and racism and against LGBTQ authors and those of color. We have made so many strides toward equality in this country and no one should want to see this progress reversed. This is why I am supporting PEN America in its work and why I agree with them: no more banned books.’”
— quoted from the November 13, 2023 PEN America press release titled, “Global Pop Icon P!nk Teams Up with PEN America to Give Away 2,000 Banned Books at Florida Concerts: The Giveaway Highlights the Unprecedented Rise in Book Bans in the United States”
*NOTE: Technology makes it easier for people to access stories and (sometimes) facilitates communication between people who speak different languages. However, as referenced above, there is a digital divide. Additionally, some of that technology requires a certain level of literacy. Finally, if someone is not in the habit of reading — and/or if they find reading frustrating, they may not look for other ways to access stories.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09082020 What Is Inside”]
NOTE: Track #11 on Spotify is longer than the corresponding track on YouTube. I neglected to give people the opportunity to fast forward during the 2024 practice (but the silence is obvious).
Here’s that interesting video I mentioned above.
If you are struggling, 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 a new 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).
Final Note: Yes, I know it is (technically) Star Trek Day, since the original series aired today in 1966; however, this is not one of the days when I “officially” celebrate the series.
### BREATHE, READ (or LISTEN) TO A (BANNED) BOOK###
A Very Quick Note & EXCERPT: “You and Your Heart Are Invited” September 7, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Love, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Science, Suffering, Texas, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Health, heart, Marcus Aurelius, Mona Miller, Robert Pirsig
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone working to strengthen and cultivate a mighty good heart.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“The human heart yearns for peace and love and freedom. Peace heals, elevates, and invigorates the spirit. Peace represents the health of humanity.”
— Dr. Michael DeBakey (b. 1908), quoted from “Quotable Quotes: The Human Heart and Peace” in Azerbaijan International Magazine (6.3) Autumn 1998
Dr. Michael DeBakey, who was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, today in 1908, was an internationally renowned heart specialist. He knew a thing or two about hearts and about health. If we take his words and face value — and then take a look around — we might conclude that there are places that are obviously unhealthy. Then, there are places where the metaphorical heart that is our society has been engaging in behavior we know is not good, healthy, or wise. Finally, there are the places that look like the very young and super athletic person who collapses because no one noticed the hole or the block in their heart.
As I mentioned during last night’s practice, sometimes we need a professional (like Dr. DeBakey); however, needing the help of a professional does not mean that we don’t also take care of ourselves — which is what I invite you to do during each and every practice.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR A LITTLE MORE.
“The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.”
— quoted from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert Pirsig
Please join me today (Saturday, September 7th) at 12:00 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.
Saturday’s playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09092020 Tolstoy’s Theory”]
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 a new 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).
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.
A Joyful Practice 