Understanding [Your] Karma & Putting Cash in Your Karmic Bank Account (a revised post-practice Monday post) January 13, 2025

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Tags: Anstalten Österåker, “Pam” Hendricks, Österåker Prison, Österåkersanstalten), Beverly Mahr, Carl Perkins, Dr. Reginald “Reggie” Ray, Ecclesiastes, Folsom State Prison, Glen Sherley, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, kamma, Kamma Sutta, Karma, Karma Yoga, kriya, kriya yoga, Little Brother Montgomery, Martin Luther King Jr, Merle Haggard, prison, saṃskāra, San Quentin State Prison, Sir Isaac Newton, Soledad State Prison, Swami Jnaneshvara, Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati, Thannissaro Bhikkhu, The Tennessee Three (music), The Tennessee Two (music), vāsanā, Yoga Sutra 2.1, Yoga Sutra 2.12
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May your mind-body-spirit be well, be great, and be in harmony with your thoughts, words, and deeds.

This is a revised post for Monday, January 13^th. In an ongoing effort to not throw the baby out with the bath water*, I have mixed some new quotes with a post from 2024. Some formatting, class details, and links have also been added or updated. The 2025 prompt question was, “Is the way you live your life a reflection of something people taught you or a reflection of your life experience?” NOTE: This post contains a passing reference to suicide.

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“‘Monks, I will teach you new & old kamma, the cessation of kamma, and the path of practice leading to the cessation of kamma. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak.

‘Now what, monks, is old kamma? The eye is to be seen as old kamma, fabricated & willed, capable of being felt. The ear… The nose… The tongue… The body… The intellect is to be seen as old kamma, fabricated & willed, capable of being felt. This is called old kamma.

‘And what is new kamma? Whatever kamma one does now with the body, with speech, or with the intellect: This is called new kamma.

‘And what is the cessation of kamma? Whoever touches the release that comes from the cessation of bodily kamma, verbal kamma, & mental kamma: This is called the cessation of kamma.’”

— quoted from “Kamma Sutta: Action” (SN 35.145), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013

This present moment is the culmination of all the previous moments and the beginning of all the moments that come after it. Mindfulness-based practices — like the philosophies of Yoga and Buddhism — are an opportunity to observe cause-and-effect in action. Throughout a practice, we note how one thing can lead to another. Even in this moment, you can notice…

How an inhale leads to an exhale and an exhale leads to an inhale;
How moving with the breath allows us to notice how one pose leads to another;
How what we do in one part of our body affects another part of the body (and vice versa). For example, notice how stability in the lower body allows you to extend your upper body and how extending your upper body allows you to stretch out the lower body.

If you’ve practice with me a bit, you have probably heard the aforementioned example a lot. (And, hopefully, you’ve tested it out for yourself.) You have probably also heard me state, “What happens in the body, happens in the mind; what happens in the mind, happens in the body; and both affect the breath… So we harness the power of the breath to affect the body and the mind.” At various points throughout the year, I reference saṃskāra (“mental impressions”) and vāsanā (“dwelling places” of our habits) and encourage people to notice how what happened to our hearts (and ourselves) in the past informed this present moment and how what happens in this present moment — i.e., what we do in this present moment — informs our future moments. All of this applies to our thoughts, our words, and our deeds.

What people may not immediately realize is that all of these things are related (or can be related) to karma and kriyā, two Sanskrit words that can be translated into English as “work” or “effort”.

“Although both kriya and karma can be translated as ‘action,’ there is a vast difference between them. Both are derived from the verb root kri…, which means ‘to do.’ Kriya refers to an action in process as well as to the dynamic force propelling the action. Karma refers to completed action. Unless a fresh wave of action is exerted on karma, it remains unchanged. Karma is an unchanging field of completed action waiting to be harvested by the performer of the action, while kriya is ever-moving, ever-changing energy. Kriya yoga is yoga in action, not yoga of action, and should not be confused with karma yoga.”

— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.1 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

While karma (or kamma, in Pali) can have two different definitions in Buddhism — and while many Western practitioners of Yoga may be most familiar with some idea of “karma” — sacred texts about the Yoga Philosophy use two different words for the two different types of action/work. Karma is the effect or consequence, while kriyā is the cause. Kriyā is an ongoing process and also the steps within the process; it is active. You could also think of karma as fate and kriyā as destiny; where the former is unchangeable and the latter as the journey to your destination.

Some traditions take the latter concept a step further and specifically use kriyā in relation to internal action or work and speak of karma when referring to external work. In some ways, this dovetails with Yoga Sūtra 2.1, which defines kriyā yoga (“union in action”) as a combination of the final three niyamas (internal “observations”): discipline/austerity, self-study, and trustful surrender to a higher power (other than one’s self). In this context, kriyā yoga is a purification ritual and, as I mention throughout the year, there are several religious and philosophical observations that would fit within this rubric (including Lent, Yom Kippur and Passover, the Baháʼí 19-Day Fast, and the holy month of Ramaḍān).

Additionally, in the Kundalini Yoga tradition, “kriyā” is the term applied to sequences with specific energetic intentions.

This is where it gets (even more) convoluted, because karma can also be the intention. Classically, when we talk about karma, we talk about planting seeds and things coming into fruition. So, one way to think of it is that we plant seeds that already have within them the image of the final product and kriyā is what we do to nurture and harvest what’s been planted — and/or what we do when we need to uproot the poisonous weeds.

“The literal meaning kriya is ‘verb.’ Every verb is representative of a distinct process or function and no process of function reaches fruition without a doer.”

— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.1 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

After the Saturday practice in 2024, someone asked me if “karma” was going to be our philosophical focus for 2024. At first, I was going to answer no. Then I thought, not exactly. Yet, when I really sat with the question, the actual answer was, sort of and partially. During the Saturday practices in 2024, we focused on how our past moments lead us to these present moments (karma) and how the things we do in this present moment can lead to certain future moments (kriyā) — and we used the chakra system as a paradigm for understanding where we are, how we got here, and where we’re going (or, all the places we could go).

Just to clarify, this practice is a moving meditation with some self-study, contemplation, and reflection. While I do not put a lot of focus/emphasis on the concept of past lives and reincarnation — although those ideas do make up part of the foundation of karma/kamma in the Buddhist and Yoga philosophies — there are times when we reflect on generational trauma — and, of course, there will always be stories… and music.

“[Verse 1]
I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rolling ’round the bend
And I ain’t seen the sunshine since I don’t know when
I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin’ on
But that train keeps a-rollin’ on down to San Antone”

— quoted from the song “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash

On January 13, 1968, Johnny Cash, June Carter (who wouldn’t become a Cash until March 1, 1968), Carl Perkins, The Tennessee Three, and the Statler Brothers performed and recorded two (2) concerts at Folsom State Prison in Folsom, California. Although, the subsequent live album made these performances the most well known, they were not the first time Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison, nor the last time he performed at a prison… in California, in the United States, or in the world. In fact, he performed at least 30 prison concerts in the United States — including one at Correctional Training Facility (also known as Soledad State Prison) in 1980. He also recorded live albums in places like San Quentin State Prison (now known as San Quentin Rehabilitation Center) at Österåker Prison (known as Anstalten Österåker and Österåkersanstalten), north of Stockholm, Sweden.

We could just listen (or listen and move) to the music. But, let’s put a little “cash” in our karmic bank account and look at how the performances, as well as much of the music — not to mention the stories behind the music and how the concerts came about — are great illustrations of cause-and-effect and of karma and kriyā.

“[Verse 2]
When I was just a baby, my mama told me, ‘Son
Always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns’”

— quoted from the song “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash

While serving in the United States Air Force in Germany (~ 1951/1952), Johnny Cash saw the film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (released in U. S. May 18, 1951) and he was inspired to write a song. Keep in mind that, even though he had more than his fair share of troubles and spent some time in county (or city) jail, he never served time as a prisoner. (Unlike Merle Haggard, who would be incarcerated and in the audience during at least one prison concert.) Mr. Cash did, however, have an imagination. So, as he sat not far from Landsberg Prison (in Bavaria), inspired by the film about Folsom and the instrumental song “Crescent City Blues” by Little Brother Montgomery (1930) as well as the lyrics by Gordon Jenkins (released by Beverly Mahr in 1953), he thought about the worst thing someone could do to wind up in prison. Keep in mind that his “worst thing” was based on his previous experiences.

Then he wrote a song that (he said) he never expected to get as big as it got: “Folsom Prison Blues”. Johnny Cash went on to write songs about prison life, in general, and about San Quentin (1969) — the latter of which he also sang as “Österåker”. In between cobbling together one of his most famous hits and some of those other prison songs, Mr. Cash decided he wanted to go to prison… not to serve time, but to serve the inmates.

By playing a series of concerts, he and the other musicians were giving back, doing a little karma yoga. The songs they sang simultaneously lifted the spirits of the inmates and spoke to/of the experiences of the inmates. In some cases, the songs, the concerts, and the live albums changed the way people perceived Johnny Cash and the inmates. They also changed the way some of the inmates saw themselves. For instance, during the first July 13^th concert, the inmates at Folsom barely reacted to the music, because history had taught them that making too much noise would result in a loss of privileges. But, the musicians and their producers needed/wanted the crowd reactions for the live albums. So, perceptions and expectations changed. Consider how you would feel if you spent your days (and nights) suppressing your natural reactions because you feared punishment. Consider how you feel knowing the cheers, laughs, and applause on the live recording were re-mixed after the concerts.

The life of Glen Sherley is another example of the effect of the concerts. It is also an example of how past actions inform present actions and influence future actions. Mr. Sherley was an inmate at Folsom, who had written a song. Someone played Johnny Cash a tape of the song, thinking the morale of the inmates might be boosted if the “Man in Black” referenced the song and the songwriter. Johnny Cash and the other musicians took the idea a step further: they learned and sang the song. Glen Sherley had no idea the popular musicians were going to sing his song. Neither could he know how much his life was going to change because of that simple act; but, change it did. Even while still in prison, Glen Sherley became a popular songwriter who eventually released his own album and (for a brief period) performed under the House of Cash label.

However, despite being given a “second act” and a different way of life, Glen Sherley couldn’t handle it. He had a long history of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and other illegal tendencies. Johnny Cash dismissed him from the House of Cash out of an abundance of caution (because people feared he would follow through on some of his threats) and, in 1978, within 7 years of his release from Folsom, those fears came to fruition when Glen Sherley shot a man while he (Mr. Sherley) was high. A couple of days later, after telling his daughter couldn’t go back to jail, the fledging musician died from a suicide. He was 42 years old.

Johnny Cash understood that, given a chance, some people could break the cycle of violence and poverty. He also understood his affect on people like Glen Sherley and on people who would judge someone like Glen Sherley. Understanding cause-and-effect is part of the reason he sometimes said he shouldn’t have singled Glen Sherley out. It is also the reason Mr. Cash met Mr. Sherley when he was released, gave him a job; and (ultimately) paid for his funeral.

“Well, you wonder why I always dress in black
Why you never see bright colors on my back
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town
I wear it for the prisoner who is long paid for his crime
But is there because he’s a victim of the times”

— quoted from the song “The Man in Black” by Johnny Cash

As they do with Martin Luther King, Jr (especially around his birthday and the holiday dedicated to him), people often quote and/or coopt Johnny Cash’s legacy. Throughout his life, he told people not to put words in his mouth — a message his children continue spreading to this day — and to, instead, pay attention to what he said and what he did. If we do that, if we really listen to what he said and what he did, we find that Johnny Cash advocated for the poor and the disenfranchised. He wrote protest songs about people in prison and how they were treated (before and after they were released); the Vietnam War (and war in general); and the oppression of Native Americans. Then he backed those lyrics up with actions/deeds.

I can’t help but wonder what he would say about other musicians being investigated and incarcerated because of their lyrics and/or the political climate here in the U. S. and around the world. Neither can I blame someone with different views from mine doing the same thing. I think such thoughts are natural, human, inclinations. However, I am very careful to come back to his words, his action, his karma, and (in a way) his kriyā.

His kriyā, because the music is still alive and still actively acting on the world.

“Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died
Believin’ that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred-thousand who have died
Believin’ that we all were on their side

… Well, there’s things that never will be right, I know
And things need changin’ everywhere you go
But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right
You’ll never see me wear a suit of white

Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day
And tell the world that everything’s okay
But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
’Til things are brighter, I’m the man in black”

— quoted from the song “The Man in Black” by Johnny Cash

Given all of the above, take a moment to consider your first lesson in “karma”.

Was it called that or was “cause-and-effect” first taught to you in a different way, with different words (and in a different language)? Maybe it was taught to you in the scientific way. Remember this is just a different spin on the laws of nature and Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion. According to Yoga Sūtra 2.12: kleśamūlah karmāśayo dŗşţādŗşţjanmavedanīyah / “The reservoir of our actions is rooted in affliction/pain that is experienced in seen and unseen lives.” So, take a moment to consider that how you view all of this is based on your previous experiences and lessons (about the subject at hand and, also, about the historical and cultural context of these concepts). Now, take a moment to consider how you use this information (about yourself) when you are really grounded in it. Meaning:

What do you believe (or not believe)?
How much of what you believe (or don’t believe) is based on lessons you were taught (or not taught) and how much is based on what you’ve experienced/learned in the meanwhile?
How do your thoughts, words, and deeds reflect your beliefs?

Just like I wonder about his thoughts on current events, I wonder about Johnny Cash’s first lesson in karma. Again, he never served time in prison, but he spent time in prisons and that time was spent serving others — which I consider a form of karma yoga. He put his beliefs into action and is often quoted as saying, “ … I’m the biggest sinner of them all….” Then, in the very next breath, he would talk about his faith in Jesus. The Man in Black wrote a song called “The Man in Black” and, also, a historical novel called The Man in White (about how Saul became Paul). So, it is possible that his first lesson in “karma” was similar to mine, someone quoting or paraphrasing “the Teacher” (King Solomon) in Ecclesiastes 11. Even though he may not have called it karma yoga, Johnny Cash spent a lot of time doing things that came back to him.

What are you doing and how is coming back to you?

“Cast your bread upon the water and it shall return to you.”

— My great-grandmother Pam, quoting Ecclesiastes 11:1

“The law of Karma is a universal process, whereby causes lead to effects. This is something that all of us are already familiar with, whether or not we use the word Karma to describe it. Newton’s third law of motion, that every action leads to a reaction, is an application of the law of Karma.”

— Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati

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

The playlist used in previous practices is available on YouTube and Spotify. [“01132021 Karma Cash I”]

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).

Looking for more? You can scroll through all my posts tagged with karma or check out one of the posts highlighted below:

It’s Bach’s Day Too! March 21, 2020

*NOTE: A Reminder About Separating the Baby from the Dirty Bathwater

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FTWMI: Vivekananda & A Simple Practice January 12, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Bhakti, Books, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Swami Vivekananda, Vairagya, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 8 Limbs of Yoga Philosophy, 988, A. R. Rahman, Chicago World's Fair, Khatija Rahman, Raheema Rahman, Ramakrishna, Scott Blossom, Swami Vivekananda, U2, World's Parliament of Religions, Yoga Sutra, yoga sutra 2.18, Yoga Sutra 2.28
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May your mind-body-spirit be well, be great, and be in harmony with your thoughts, words, and deeds.

For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2022. There are some minor revisions and additions. Plus, some formatting, links, and class details have been added and/or revised.

“…and he came out of it, and began to laugh, when he realised what a hideous dream he had had — he, the king of the gods, to have become a pig, and to think that that pig-life was the only life! Not only so, but to have wanted the whole universe to come into the pig-life!”

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.18 from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

Yoga is a simple practice. It’s not easy, but it is simple. Anyone can do it, if they really want to do it (and are willing to figure out the method of practice that is best for them). The first two limbs of the 8-limb philosophy make up an ethical component (similar to commandments and precepts found in other systems). The next two limbs make up the physical practice, which are a way to test out the ethics and also prepare for the higher levels of practice. The fifth limb is the segue between the first half of the practice and the second half and the last three limbs make up the meditation aspect of the practice.

See? Simple.

Yet, as simple as the practice is, it is not one-dimensional. It’s not even two-dimensional. This practice has a lot of dimensions — and sometimes it seems the deeper we go the more layers we find.

On a very basic level, it’s a physical-mental practice. Even people who say that it’s just an exercise, have to admit that you can’t exercise your body without using your mind. By that same token, we are sensational beings, which means there is an emotional component to anything that engages our minds and bodies — especially when it deliberately engages the mind-body. The works of the ancient yogis (and even the words of the modern yogis) tell us that our energy/spirit is engaged in the practice. But, let’s say you don’t want to get into that. Let’s say you just want to keep it as basic as possible. Let’s just start with the mind-body.

Although I started this post with a quote about a pig, I want you to think about a frog. Funny thing, as we know from the Yoga Sūtras, there’s a lot of space — a lot of ether — between you sensing a frog (or even the word “frog””) and your brain/mind-intellect communicating that there’s a frog. If we were to concentrate-focus-meditate on the idea of a frog, then we also have to acknowledge that there’s the word (or the thing), the meaning of the word (and the thing), plus the essence of the word (and the thing). We also have to acknowledge — and this again comes up in the sūtras — that at this given moment we are not all thinking about and/or visualizing the same frog.

Even if we only think in terms of the physical practice of yoga, there are lots of different asanas called “frog pose”. If a group is comprised of a people who all practice with the same teacher(s), who inevitable teach(es) the same set of poses and only one of them is “Frog Pose”, the likelihood that people will start moving into the same pose when it is suggested is fairly probable. However, the probability of the group immediately thinking about the same “frog pose” diminishes as people’s experience increases. I’ve actually seen this happen in a class in real time and it can cause some confusion and frustration. Sometimes people just laugh about the confusion and let the frustration go; it’s just a random pose after all. No big deal. But, imagine if people in the group thought it was a really big deal. Imagine if people were really attached to getting it “right”.

Spoiler Alert: Most of you already got it “wrong”.

“Now comes the practical knowledge. What we have just been speaking about is much higher. It is away above our heads, but it is the ideal. It is first necessary to obtain physical and mental control. Then the realization will become steady in that ideal. The ideal being known, what remains is to practice the method of reaching it.”

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.28 from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

Born Narendranath Datta, on January 12,1863, Swami Vivekananda was one of nine children born into a relatively wealthy and prestigious Bengali Kayastha family. He was known as “Narendra” or “Naren” until sometime after he took his formal monastic vows at the age of 23 (on Christmas Eve 1886). Similar to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, there were learned elders in the future swami’s family (particularly his grandfather) and he developed an interest in Indian philosophy at an early age. His interest was encouraged by his father, Vishwantha Datta, who was a lawyer and novelist, and his mother, Bhubaneswari Devi, who was a devout housewife. He had a quick mind, a phenomenal memory, and he grew up meditating to images of Shiva, Rama, Sita, and Hanuman. However, it also seems like he was very much a little kid who did little kid things.

He received high marks in school and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1884, after studying everything from religion, philosophy, history, social science, fine arts, and literature to classical Indian music and Western logic and philosophy. I’m not sure which way his life would have gone were it not for a series of serendipitous incidences. First, he attended a lecture about William Wordsworth’s 1814 poem “The Excursion: being a portion of The Recluse, a poem”, which chronicles the life of man whose personal grief and social disillusionment causes his to choose isolation over society. In the ensuing discussion, the professor suggested that the students should visit with a mystic in order to better understand the state of a “trance”.

That mystic was Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya). The two met around 1881, and while Swami Vivekananda didn’t immediately become a formal student — in fact, he disagreed with much of what Ramakrishna was teaching — he stuck around, listening to lectures and engaging in conversation. When his father died in 1884, Swami Vivekananda become a devoted and noted disciple, formally becoming a member of a newly-formed monastic order shortly before Ramakrishna’s death in 1886. By 1888, he was living the life of a “wandering monk”, surviving and traveling courtesy of the generosity of others and sharing Ramakrishna’s teachings throughout India.

“And the Yogi shows how, by junction with nature, and identifying itself with the mind and the world, the Purusha thinks itself miserable. Then the Yogi goes on to show you that the way out is through experience. You have to get all this experience, but finish it quickly. We have placed ourselves in this net, and will have to get out. We have got ourselves caught in the trap, and we will have to work out our freedom…. [Experience] leads, step by step, to that state where all things become small, and the Purusha so great that the whole universe seems as a drop in the ocean and falls off by its own nothingness. We have to go through different experiences, but let us never forget the ideal.”

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.18 from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

As he was teaching, Swami Vivekananda was also learning. He learned about the poor and the suffering. He learned about the lived experiences of people whose fates and faiths were very different from his own. Ultimately, he was selected to share Indian philosophy with people outside of India. Beginning in the summer of 1893, he traveled to Japan, China, and Canada before reaching the United States. His primary destination in the United States was Chicago, which was hosting the World’s Fair that September.

Hundreds of formal meetings, conferences, and congresses were organized in association with the fair, including the World’s Parliament of Religions — which was the largest of the associated gatherings and the first organized interfaith gathering. In addition to delegates sharing messages from spiritual leaders like the Japanese Buddhist reformer and priest Kiyozawa Manshi (Pure Land), there were representatives from new religious movements (NRM) and some of the oldest religious movements. Representatives included the Virchand Gandhi (Jain), Anagarika Dharmapala (“Southern Buddhism”, now known as Theraveda Buddhism), Soyen Shaku (Zen Buddhism), G. Bonet Maury (a Christian, Protestant, historian), Septimus J. Hanna (Christian Science), Mohammed Alexander Russell Webb (an American covert to Islam), and Pratap Chandra Majumdar (Brahmo Samaj, an aspect of Brahmoism). William Quan Judge and Annie Besant represented the Theosophical Society; Pung Quang Yu represented several Chinese religions; and the American Presbyterian missionary Henry Harris Jessup mentioned the publicly discussed the Baháʼí Faith.

Then there was the young Swami Vivekananda, who almost didn’t make the roster because he didn’t have credentials from a bona fide organization. After contacting a Harvard professor and receiving his recommendations, the 30-year old monk was allowed to speak about Hinduism and two of the six Indian philosophies: Vedanta and Yoga. By all accounts, he was a dynamic and engaging speaker. His first speech was during the opening ceremonies on September 11, 1893, and his first words, “Sisters and brothers of America”, were reportedly met with a 2-minute standing ovation from the thousands of attendees.

Once the applause died out, he said, “It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.” He then went on to acknowledge various religious heritages and quote from a hymn (see below) that he said, “I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings”. He also quoted from the Bhagavad Gita and condemned “Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism” and the effects of those hateful expressions.

“Great is the tenacity with which man clings to the senses. Yet, however substantial he may think the external world in which he lives and moves, there comes a time in the lives of individuals and of races when, involuntarily, they ask, ‘Is this real?’ To the person who never finds a moment to question the credentials of his senses, whose every moment is occupied with some sort of sense-enjoyment — even to him death comes, and he also is compelled to ask, ‘Is this real?’ Religion begins with this question and ends with its answer. Even in the remote past, where recorded history cannot help us, in the mysterious light of mythology, back in the dim twilight of civilisation, we find the same question was asked, ‘What becomes of this? What is real?’”

— from “The Real Nature of Man” speech, delivered in London and published in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (Volume 2, Jnana-Yoga) by Swami Vivekananda

Over the course of the conference, which ended on September 27^th, Swami Vivekananda continued to speak (in public and in private sessions) about religions and philosophies prominent in India. His speeches had two common threads: universality and religious tolerance. That two-fold theme underscored the ironic fact that all the different religions had a similar goal: a deeper, richer relationship with the Divine or God (whatever that means to you at this moment — along with the fact that the different ways people pursued (and continue to pursue) their ultimate goal created strife, suffering, and wars. In other words, people’s methods were (and are) sometimes antithetical to their beliefs and therefore are obstacles along the path.

Swami Vivekananda’s lectures were well received by other religious leaders, lay attendees, and journalists. In fact, he and his words were so well received he was invited to tour the United States and then the United Kingdom. For years, he toured the U. S. and the United Kingdom, giving lectures and offering demonstrations. Just as before, Swami Vivekananda’s experiences slightly changed his focus and the way that he taught the lessons of his elders. He began to focus his efforts on establishing Vedanta centers that would continue and extend the legacy of his spiritual elders.

He founded the Vedanta Society of New York in 1894; the Ramakrishna Mission in Calcutta (1897), which included the Ramakrishna Math; two monasteries; two journals; and an English language monthly magazine. He also wrote several books, including Raja Yoga (which includes translation and commentary of Patanjali’s Yoga Sūtras intended for a Western audience), and translated some of the work that had inspired him, including the Yoga Sūtras and De Imitatione Christi (The Imitation of Christ), a Christian devotional by the medieval canon Thomas à Kempis. Swami Vivekananda inspired others to live with an awareness of their interconnectedness. He also inspired others to teach and to practice their beliefs through action (karma yoga). He is considered a patriotic saint in India and, since it was declared so in 1984, his birthday is celebrated as “National Youth Day” in India.

The 2022 theme for National Youth Day was “It’s all in the mind”, which like previous themes is based on Swami Vivekananda’s teachings. The 2024 and 2025 themes focus on the power of youth.

“Practiced regularly, [Frog or Child’s Pose] also improves your breathing and your elimination…. The quality of our elimination is directly tied to the quality of our respiration. And, so, tension in the low abdomen and back can directly impact the quality of our ability to eliminate regularly.”

— Scott Blossom, explaining detoxification benefits of Mandukāsana*

Please join me for a 65-minute for a virtual yoga practice on Zoom, today (Sunday, January 12^th) 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 “01122022 Vivekananda & A Simple Practice”]

*NOTE: The 2022 practices included several (but not all) of the “Frog Poses” that we have done over the years. And none of those were originally mentioned “frog,” which appeared in a story Swami Vivekananda shared on September 15, 1893, at the World’s Parliament of Religions, as follows:

“I will tell you a little story. You have heard the eloquent speaker who has just finished say, ‘Let us cease from abusing each other,’ and he was very sorry that there should be always so much variance.

But I think I should tell you a story which would illustrate the cause of this variance. A frog lived in a well. It had lived there for a long time. It was born there and brought up there, and yet was a little, small frog. Of course the evolutionists were not there then to tell us whether the frog lost its eyes or not, but, for our story’s sake, we must take it for granted that it had its eyes, and that it every day cleansed the water of all the worms and bacilli that lived in it with an energy that would do credit to our modern bacteriologists. In this way it went on and became a little sleek and fat. Well, one day another frog that lived in the sea came and fell into the well.

‘Where are you from?’

‘I am from the sea.’

‘The sea! How big is that? Is it as big as my well?’ and he took a leap from one side of the well to the other.

‘My friend,’ said the frog of the sea, ‘how do you compare the sea with your little well?’

Then the frog took another leap and asked, ‘Is your sea so big?’

‘What nonsense you speak, to compare the sea with your well!’

‘Well, then,’ said the frog of the well, ‘nothing can be bigger than my well; there can be nothing bigger than this; this fellow is a liar, so turn him out.’

That has been the difficulty all the while.

I am a Hindu. I am sitting in my own little well and thinking that the whole world is my little well. The Christian sits in his little well and thinks the whole world is his well. The Mohammedan sits in his little well and thinks that is the whole world. I have to thank you of America for the great attempt you are making to break down the barriers of this little world of ours, and hope that, in the future, the Lord will help you to accomplish your purpose.”

“Even when a man takes revenge on others who hate him, in spite of him not hating them initially, the pain caused by his vengeance will bring him inevitable sorrow.” (313)

“When a man inflicts pain upon others in the forenoon, it will come upon him unsought in the afternoon.” (319)

— quoted from the English translation of the portion of the Thirukkural (Sacred Couplets) used as Tamil lyrics for the song “Ahimsa” by U2 and A. R. Rahman, featuring Khatija and Raheema Rahman (translation from IntegralYoga.org)

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).

### The aforementioned hymn: “As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.” ###

EXCERPT: “A Simple, Radical, ‘Bad to the Bone’ Man” January 11, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Meditation, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, activism, Cardinal August Bea, Dr. Susannah Heschel, habits, kabbalah, Martin Luther King Jr, mitzvot, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, samskāras, Selma to Montgomery, vasanas, Vatican II
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Happy New Year! May your mind-body-spirit be well, be great, and be in harmony with your thoughts, words, and deeds.

There was no Zoom class on Saturday, January 11^th; however, people on the Saturday mailing list received a practice related to the post excerpted below. CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE FOR MORE. You can request an audio recording of previous practices via a comment below or by emailing 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.

“Our concern is not how to worship in the catacombs but how to remain human in the skyscrapers.”

— quoted from “Part V: The Meaning of this Hour – 40. Religion in Modern Society” in Between God and Man by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (b. 01/11/1907)

FTWMI: A Simple, Radical, “Bad to the Bone” Man

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).

### FEET ###

EXCERPT (2025): “Do You See What I See? & Your Presence Is Requested” January 6, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Bhakti, Books, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 988, avidya, Epiphany, Epiphanytide, Johann Sebastian Bach, magi, Rev. Ed Trevors, Reverend Ed Trevors, Three Kings Day, Twelvetide, Whitney Houston, Yoga Sutra 2.20, Yoga Sutras 2.12-2.14, Yoga Sutras 2.16-2.18, Yoga Sutras 2.3-2.9
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“Happy New Year!” to everyone. “Merry Little Christmas, Epiphany, Theophany, Three Kings Day, & Twelfth Day of Christmas (for some)!”

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

“What I really want to get to today is why the Magi came. What was it that brought them to Bethlehem? What was it that brought them to find Jesus and his family?”

— quoted from “The Epiphany Light: Another Reflection” by Reverend Ed Trevors (dated Jan 6, 2022)

Click on the excerpt title below for more about the holidays being observed, a little insight into why people may see the same things in different ways, & the video quoted above.

FTWMI: Do You See What I See? & Your Presence Is Requested

Yoga Sutra 2.20: draşțā dŗśimātrah śuddho’pi pratyayānupaśyah

— “The sheer power of seeing is the seer. It is pure, and yet it sees only what the mind [brain] shows it.”

Please join me today (Monday, January 6^th) at 5:00 PM** for a 75-minute (virtual or in-person) yoga practice. You must be registered and confirmed to attend in person. 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.

Monday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01062021 Epiphany & Theophany”]

**NOTE: This is a special time for this week only!

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.

### Do You Believe What You Are Shown? ###

EXCERPT: “The Power of a Good/Meaningful Push” January 4, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Art, Books, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Meditation, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Pema Chodron, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, Caroline Myss, David Brewster, Dr. Robert Hooke, laws of motion, master teachers, New Year, precious jewels, relationship, Sir Isaac Newton, Stacey Flowers, Twelvetide, Yoga Sutra 4.29, Yoga Sutras 1.12-16
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“Happy New Year!” to everyone. “Merry Christmastide/Twelvetide!” to anyone observing.

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

“Every body continues in its state of rest, or uniform motion in a right line, unless compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.”

— “Law 1” quoted from “Axioms, or Laws of Motion” in Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Sir Isaac Newton (b. 1643)

NOTE: Some editions use the term “straight line.”

Click on the excerpt title below for the post about Sir Isaac Newton and how his “Laws of Motion” affect us on and off the mat (in surprising ways). The post includes a video by Stacey Flowers!

FTWMI: The Power of a Good/Meaningful Push

“I most gladly embrace your proposal of a private correspondence. What’s done before many witnesses is seldom without some further concerns than that for truth; but what passes between friends in private, usually deserves the name of consultation rather than contention; and so I hope it will prove between you and me….

But in the mean time, you defer too much to my ability in searching into this subject. What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in considering the colours of thin plates. If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

— quoted from a letter marked “Cambridge, February 5, 1675-76” from Sir Isaac Newton to Dr. Robert Hooke, as published in Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton by David Brewster

Please join me today (Saturday, January 4^th) at 12:00 PM, for a 90-minute (virtual or in-person) yoga practice. You must be registered to attend in person. 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.

Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01042022 New(ton’s) Beginnings”]

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).

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

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

### “Every relationship you develop, from casual to intimate, helps you become more conscious. No union is without spiritual value.” ~ Caroline Myss ###

A Saturday Full of Light, Children, Heroes, Responsibility, & Power (a short note with excerpts) December 28, 2024

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Chanukah, Christmas, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Life, Meditation, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Super Heroes, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, Chanukah, Childermas, Christmas, Ethics of the Fathers, Feast of the Holy Innocents, Hanukkah, Innocents Day, Kwanzaa, Maccabees, New Year's, Nguzo Saba, Pirkei Avot, siddhis, Stan Lee, Twelvetide, Ujima
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“Kwanzaa, yenu iwe na heri!” – “May your Kwanzaa be happy!” to everyone who is celebrating! “Happy Chanukah!” to all who are celebrating. May you have a meaningful observation if your focus is on light and/or the Innocents. Many blessings to everyone!

“(1) Rabbi [Judah HaNassi] would say: Which is the right path for man to choose for himself? Whatever is harmonious for the one who does it, and harmonious for mankind.

Be as careful with a minor mitzvah as with a major one, for you do not know the rewards of the mitzvot. Consider the cost of a mitzvah against its rewards, and the rewards of a transgression against its cost….

(3) Be careful with the government, for they befriend a person only for their own needs. They appear to be friends when it is beneficial to them, but they do not stand by a person at the time of his distress.”

— quoted from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) (2:1 & 2:3)

There is a lot going on. Today is the third day of Chanukah and the third day of Kwanzaa — the latter of which always corresponds with the third or fourth day of the “12 Days of Christmas” (depending on when you start counting). For some it is also the Feast of the Holy Innocents, also known as Childermas or Innocents Day. Each of these observations comes with a story and each story comes with a message.

The stories and messages are all about light, children (i.e., future generations), heroes, responsibility, and power. More importantly, these stories and messages are for and about regular people. Fortunately, today is also the anniversary of the birth of a person who told stories with these same messages… and these same types of heroes.

“…aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come — great responsibility!”

— quoted from Amazing Fantasy #15 by Stan Lee (b. 1922), et al (August 1962)

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE.

FTWMI: Appreciate the Power by Using the Power, Wisely

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

Please join me today (Saturday, December 28^st) 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 is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “12282021 Power, Responsibility, & Children”]

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).

I am offering in-person classes during January 2025. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2025 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.

### BE THE LIGHT ###

All The Power of Kindness to the nth Degree (the “missing” Wednesday post) November 13, 2024

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Books, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Dharma, Donate, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, Loss, Love, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Science, Suffering, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tragedy, Volunteer, Wisdom, Yin Yoga, Yoga.
Tags: #mettaworldpeace, 988, Ahmed Merabet, anger, Charlie Hebdo, Duran Duran, Eagles of Death Metal, emotions, energy, Florence + the Machine, Frank Turner, Frustration, Jackie DeShannon, Jesse Nathaniel Hughes, Jimmy Holiday, kindness, King Straggler, loving-kindness, lovingkindness, Mark Ramos Nishita, Matthew Carden, Metta, Metta Sandiford-Artest, Metta World Peace, Paris France, Paul Grilley, Randy Myers, Sarah Powers, Save the Children, Sweet Stuff Foundation, vedanā, vibration, World Kindness Day, Yoga Sutra 2.33
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone expressing kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.

It’s World Kindness Day! Be nice to yourself and let the kindness ripple out from there!

This is the “missing” post for Wednesday, November 13^th. There is a reference to a terrorist attacks in 2015. There is also a note indicating how you can skip that part. 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.

“In Chinese medicine, the emotions are simply an expression of chi and are not considered good or bad. It is less important which emotions are present and more about whether they are able to flow without impediment, whether they are blocked or repressed. Every prolonged disturbing emotion affects the [health] of our organs and meridians, and every imbalance in our organ-meridian system is tied to a propensity for certain emotions.”

— quoted from the “Emotional Qualities” section of “6. The Kidneys and Urinary Bladder” in Insight Yoga by Sarah Powers (Forward by Paul Grilley, Photography by Matthew Carden)

Just as we did throughout this last week, take a moment to bring awareness to how you are feeling and then breathe into how you are feeling. Many people have a tendency to place a value judgement on their feelings; however, in many Eastern philosophies (like Yoga and Buddhism), everything is recognized as a manifestation of energy — including our emotions.

It can sometimes be helpful to sit with our emotions, breathe into them, and maybe even name them. We might tell ourselves (or others) the story behind them. But, part of this practice is about noticing how our emotions change. In some of the Eastern philosophies (and their accompanying sciences and practices), emotions can have a “near peer” (what is classically referred to in some Buddhist traditions as a “near enemy”) as well as an “opposite”, or two (what is classically referred to in some Buddhist traditions as a “far enemy”). This particular practice highlights the idea of emotions and their opposites — with a particular focus on lovingkindness, which is the opposite of anger/frustration.

“Studies have found that acts of kindness are linked to increased feelings of well-being. Kindness has also been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood.”

— quoted from the “Celebrating World Kindness Day 2024 with Save the Children” on the Save the Children website

November 13^th is World Kindness Day. Established in 1998, by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world, this day is an opportunity to express kindness; highlight good deeds; and focus on the goodness that can be found around the world. It is a day to look beyond trivialities that separate us and focus on the things that unite us.

Some organizations use World Kindness Day to highlight the “Significance” of kindness and how it can cultivate more harmony in the world. For example, Save the Children focuses on the connection between kindness and a child’s ability to be “physically and emotionally healthy and intellectually curious” with their World Kindness Day theme: “The Importance of Kindness in Child Development”.

“So before you go out searching
Don’t decide what you will find
Be more kind, my friends
Try to be more kind

You should know you’re not alone
And that trouble comes, and trouble goes”

— quoted from the song “Be More Kind” by Frank Turner

There are formal/official events around the world, but you can celebrate kindness (today or any day) in really simple ways. You can offer someone a hug and/or a remind that they are not alone. You can remind someone (even yourself) that “this too shall pass”. You could do something nice for yourself and/or someone you love. For instance, you could listen to someone who is having a hard time. You could just hold the door or the elevator for someone in a rush. Another way to observe is to volunteer and/or make a donation. You could also perform a random act of kindness for someone you have never met and will never meet. Remember, a little kindness can go a long way and it doesn’t have to cost you anything.

Consider that being nice can benefit you and the people around. Just think of a really challenging moment, a moment when you are angry and/or frustrated. Now, consider how the energy in the room can shift when you do doing something nice — for yourself or the person with whom you are sharing the challenging experience. For that matter, consider how your mood shifts when you do something nice for someone not connected to your anger and frustration. This is one of the ways we can cultivate the opposites.

Yoga Sūtra 2.33: vitarkabādhane pratipakṣabhāvanam

— “When these codes of self-regulation or restraint (yamas) and observances or practices of self-training (niyamas) are inhibited from being practiced due to perverse, unwholesome, troublesome, or deviant thoughts, principles in the opposite direction, or contrary thought should be cultivated.”

There are times when it can be particularly challenging to be wise and skillful. There are times, as Patanjali pointed out in the Yoga Sūtras, when we may not be practicing the philosophy (or have not practiced long enough for it’s principles to be a habit). For instance, we might be in a state of panic, because someone is committing an act of terrorism.

You may skip to the next highlighted quote.

In 2015, Paris experienced several terrorist attacks. Early in the year, two terrorists attacked the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, a weekly satirical magazine. Many people were injured. Twelve people were killed, including Ahmed Merabet, a 42-year old police officer. For weeks afterwards, there was more death and more terror — some coming in the form of retaliation against people who were perceived as being similar to the terrorists (because of their perceived religion, race, and/or ethnicity).

For weeks afterwards, there was also kindness: In a show of solidarity, people around the world proclaimed, “Je suis Charlie” and “Je suis Ahmed” (“I am Charlie” and “I am Ahmed”).

Fast forward to November 13, 2015, when three groups of terrorists coordinated attacks outside the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (a northern suburb of Paris); at a series of cafés and restaurants in Paris; and at the Bataclan theatre in Paris. The stadium was full of fans attending an international football match; the cafés and restaurants were crowded; and the theatre was hosting a sold-out concert. In fact, Eagles of Death Metal, an American rock band, had just started playing a song from their 2004 album, Peace, Love, Death Metal. Approximately 416 people were injured and 130 were killed, including 90 at the Bataclan. One of the people killed at the theatre was 36-year old Nick Alexander, who had been selling merchandise for Eagles of Death Metal. As is always the case with terrorism, some of the injuries are on the inside. At least three people later died by suicide that resulted from PTSD related to the attacks.

The kindness that followed the attacks came in a lot of different forms, including musical forms. Proceeds from Eagles of Death Metal’s cover of the Duran Duran song “Save a Prayer” were donated to charity. Josh Homme, the drummer for Eagles of Death Metal (EOD), encouraged other musicians to cover the EOD song “I Love You All the Time” — with proceeds from those covers going to victims of the attack by way of the 501(c)(3) Sweet Stuff Foundation.

“Ah dis-moi pourquoi
Ah dis-moi pourquoi
Ah dis-moi pourquoi”

— quoted from the end of the song “I Love You All the Time” by Eagles of Death Metal (written by Jesse Nathaniel Hughes / Mark Ramos Nishita)

NOTE: The final French lyrics can be translated into English as “Oh tell me why” (3x)

We all witness people come together during great tragedies. But, sometimes we forget that there is always someone watching to see how we deal with any challenging situations and emotions. The children of the world are always watching us.

Just as it is important to remember that we can come together on any given day, it is important to remember that people are watching to see if/when we do — and how we do it. World Kindness Day is as good time as any to remember that we can all set an example for the children around us. This is true even if we are not parents; even if we are not teachers.

This is true even if we are not always perfect and wise. For example, in 2011, a professional basketball player, who was born today in 1979, legally changed his name to Metta World Peace — which translates to Lovingkindness World Peace. Now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest, a surname that combines his birth surname and his wife’s surname, he said that he made the initial change “to inspire and bring youth together all around the world”.

“Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart

You see it’s getting late
Oh, please don’t hesitate
Put a little love in your heart”

— quoted from the song “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” by Jackie DeShannon, covered by Eagles of Death Metal (written by Jackie De Shannon / Jimmy Holiday / Randy Myers)

Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11132024 All The Power of Kindness to the nth Degree”]

This cover is not (yet) on the 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 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).

“Because I believe that the most
daring, outlandish, revolutionary thing
you can do in 21st century America
is to treat everybody
people you know, people you don’t know
with dignity and kindness whenever possible.”

— quoted from the song “Rebel” by King Straggler

### Definitely Be A Rebel ###

Quick Note & EXCERPT: “More Hope, More History…” November 9, 2024

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Life, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, anonymous, Berlin Wall, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, destiny, fate, Germany
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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. KEEP BREATHING!

“I’m not here for or against any government. I’ve come to play rock ‘n’ roll for you in the hope that one day all the barriers will be torn down”

— Bruce Springsteen, speaking German in East Berlin, before playing “Chimes of Freedom” with the E Street Band, during the “Rocking the Wall” concert, July 19, 1988

How much of destiny is the “Hand of God” and how much is in the hands of humans?

Here are the facts — as much as I know them — and it is up to you to see/hear them; notice what you think; bring awareness to what you feel; and consider what you want. Then, you do. The action is up to you.

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.

FTWMI: More Hope, More History…

“Fate is what you are given. Destiny is what you make of it.”

— original source unknown

Please join me today (Saturday, November 9^th) 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 is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11092024 Schicksalstag II”]

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).

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

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

### Peace In / Peace Out ###

A “Little Sax” & Sousa [For Our Journey] (the“missing” post-election post for Wednesday) November 7, 2024

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Loss, Meditation, Mirabai Starr, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Adolphe Sax, Anthony Uyl, Beau of the Fifth Column, Bhagavad Gita, Election Day, Everlyn, Exodus, Jack Hawley, Jim Miller, John Philip Sousa, Mary Carolyn Waldrep, Mirabai Starr, Paul E. Bierley, Robert Crawford, Rule 303, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Scott Avett, Shemot, The Avett Brothers, The Gospel According to Luke, Timothy Avett, Twilight Zone, yoga sutras
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone gathering friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.

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

This is the “missing” post for Wednesday, November 6^th. The related practice references a “formula” that is not outlined here, but that I will breakdown this weekend. 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’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it”

— quoted from the song “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” by The Avett Brothers (written by Robert Crawford / Scott Avett / Timothy Avett)

Fair warning, this is not my “regularly scheduled” Movember 6th theme. Well, not exactly. I mean, I am not sporting a mou’ that is a “little Sax” and a bit of Sousa. Nor am I slipping in history and statistics about Movember and men’s health. However, there is some focus on the heart and on mental health. There is also a playlist inspired by Adolphe Sax and John Philip Sousa — and there is a bit of information about them below.

Born today in 1814 (in present-day Belgium), Adolphe Sax was a musician who was particularly accident prone when he was a child. His many accidents included falling three stories and hitting his head on the stone below; drinking a bowl full of acidic water (that he thought was milk); swallowing a pin; and being burnt by a gunpowder explosion and after falling against a cast-iron frying pan. He also had several incidents when he was almost poisoned and suffocated from sleeping in a room with furniture that still had wet varnish. His neighbors called him “little Sax, the ghost” and no one expected him to live very long. Yet, he lived to the age of 79.

Adolphe Sax’s parents were instrument designers and he followed in their footsteps. First, he redesigned the bass clarinet when he was in his 20s. He went on to invent the saxophone (which he patented in 1846) — with designs ranging from sopranino to subcontrabass. He also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn, and saxtuba. Not all his designs were built and even some of the ones that were built were not successful (e.g., the clarinette-bourdon, an early version of the contrabass clarinet). His work paved the way for the creation of the flugelhorn and the modern euphonium (similar to a baritone horn). More importantly, his instruments became very popular with people composing music for concert bands, (military) marching bands, and orchestras.

One of those composers was John Philip Sousa, who was born today in 1854, in Washington, D. C. Known as the “March King” or the “American March King” (so he wouldn’t be confused with the British composer Kenneth J. Alford), John Philip Sousa was the composer of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” (the National March of the United States of America), “Semper Fidelis” (the official march of the United States Marine Corps), “The Liberty Bell”, “The Volunteers”, and “Daughters of Texas.” He also composed “The Beau Ideal” and “The Diplomat” — both which I am definitely channeling today.

“Rule 303: If you have the means at hand, you have the responsibility to act.”

“Do what you can, when you can, as much as you can, for as long as you can.”

— the t-shirt and (a paraphrased version of) common refrains on the YouTube channel “Beau of the Fifth Column”

The perfect example of something is the beau ideal. According to Paul E. Bierley, in The Works of John Philip Sousa, “The expression ‘beau ideal’ was used in the early 1890’s to describe anything that had caught the public fancy.” Nowadays, when I see the title, I think of Rule 303, which was introduced to me by a guy called “Beau” and which I think is an ideal way to get things done — especially during challenging times.

While “The Diplomat” was officially dedicated to the diplomatic skills and bearing of Secretary of State John Milton Hay, it was (unofficially) dedicated to “the unseen cook who prepared that tenderloin [in Mitchell, South Dakota].” So, I aim to be diplomatic and to provide a little food for thought.

To that end, let me first address the elephant in the room. I recognize that there are people who don’t really care about the U. S. election; people who believe their life will stay the same; and people who are…[relieved, excited, grateful?] — feeling some kind of positive way about the election results. To those people, I say (a) I am holding space for you in this practice and (b) I wish you the best and hope that the best comes with very little detriment to others.

To people who are not feeling so positive, I want to tell you about three “older” women.

“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” (10:29, NIV)

“And he [the expert in the law] said, ‘The one having shown compassion toward him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘You go and do likewise.’” (10:37, BLB)

— quoted from The Gospel According to St. Luke (New International Version and Berean Literal Bible, cited)

The first woman was my neighbor Evelyn. Before she passed last year, she always took the opportunity to speak. Sometimes it was a wave across our lawns. Other times it was a startling knock on her window when she saw me practicing yoga in my driveway. If we were in a position to talk, she would ask how I was doing; ask after my family; and then — every single time — she would say, “We have to look out for each other.”

There are a lot of times when I think of Evelyn, when I think about our random conversations, and when I think about those final words. They are words to live by. They are the epitome of what (I think) it means to be a good neighbor. To be clear, I am using the word “good” as it is used in the Hebrew Bible / Christian Old Testament and the word “neighbor” in the way it is used throughout the (written) Torah and the Christian New Testament. To paraphrase the meaning of the latter, a neighbor can be:

Someone similar to you;
Someone perceived as different from you who lives in close proximity; and/or
Someone with whom you cross paths when one or both of you are in need.

In Shemot / Exodus and, also, in The Gospel According to Luke (10:29 – 37), a good neighbor is not defined by their ethnicity, nationality, religion, and/or socioeconomic background. A good neighbor is defined by their actions. A good neighbor comes through in times of need and trauma, perhaps providing you with what you need to survive a long journey and what you need to make it to better days. (S/E 3:22)

This is how we look out for each other. This is just another version of Rule 303.

Some may feel like their neighbors are not (and have not been) looking out for them. I can’t blame you if you feel that way. But, if you do, please remember, that the world is more connected than it has ever been and that there are “good neighbors” all around you. Connect and stay connected. You may have resources and knowledge that someone else needs just as they may have resources and knowledge that you need.

“An old woman living in a nightmare, an old woman who has fought a thousand battles with death and always won. Now she’s faced with a grim decision—whether or not to open a door. And in some strange and frightening way she knows that this seemingly ordinary door leads to the Twilight Zone.”

“There was an old woman who lived in a room. And, like all of us, was frightened of the dark. But who discovered in a minute last fragment of her life that there was nothing in the dark that wasn’t there when the lights were on. Object lesson for the more frightened amongst us in, or out of, the Twilight Zone.”

— “Opening” and “Closing” narrations, quoted from “Episode 81 (3.16) — ‘Nothing in the Dark’” of The Twilight Zone (premiered January 5, 1962)

If you feel like we have entered the Twilight Zone, you are not alone — which brings me to the second woman inspiring my practice today: the woman in “Episode 81 (3.16) — ‘Nothing in the Dark’” of The Twilight Zone. We have all been that woman, frightened by a shadow or a sound or a feeling in the dark. Metaphorically speaking, many of us are currently that women. But, we must remember, that anyone who wishes us harm today, wished it yesterday; that hasn’t changed. Anyone who had our back yesterday, has it today. More importantly, the things that we wanted or needed fixed yesterday, still need to be fixed today. The work that needs to be done in the world was never going to be finished at the ballot box.

Sure, it might be harder to get certain things done. It might even [now] seem impossible. It may also seem like there are more obstacles in the way — although, it is possible that those obstacles were already there… in the dark. However, do not lose faith in yourself.

Remember, as we have been saying during the Saturday practices: You are prepared, and have what you need to succeed. The key, as always, is to focus your energy on what you can do and what you are doing. Then, let go of the rest.

Do whatever your heart and mind-body-spirit need to move forward. Take a moment to rest, grieve, howl at the moon, and/or sing. Dance. Eat well and stay hydrated. Send (or give) someone a hug and some love in the way they will appreciate it. Rest some more. And then, be like a bee or a donkey and get busy.

Finally, if you believe in God — whatever that mean to you at this moment — do not lose faith in that Higher Power. In the wee hours of the morning, I found myself listening to the words of Saint Teresa of Ávila (my final woman of the day). She was writing about the prayer of quiet, which is one of the nine grades of prayer described in her works. She was writing from a contemplative Christian mystic perspective and, yet, her words mirror those found in the Bhagavad Gita. Similar words and intention are also found in the Yoga Sūtras. I could go on; but, my point is this: Even though some of these texts come from vastly different traditions, the instructions are ultimately the same.

“It is ridiculous to think that we can enter Paradise without first entering ourselves! We must get to know ourselves, reflect on our limitations, acknowledge our gratitude for God, and solicit his mercy.”

— quoted from “Second Mansions .1.” of The Interior Castle, or The Mansions by Saint Teresa of Ávila (New Translation and Introduction by Mirabai Starr)

“All our trouble comes to us from not having our eyes fixed upon Thee. If we only looked at the way along which we are walking, we should soon arrive; but we stumble and fall a thousand times and stray from the way because, as I say, we do not set our eyes on the true Way.”

— quoted from “Chapter 16” of The Way of Perfection by Saint Teresa of Ávila (Dover Thrift Editions, General Editor: Mary Carolyn Waldrep; Editor of This Volume: Jim Miller)

“‘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 mean by yoga…. Indeed, equanimity is yoga!’”

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

Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Movember 6th 2024”]

NOTE: I added a theme (with 3 tracks) after the 4:30 practice. The practice timing is the same.

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).

“You should each do your duty; and, if this is not appreciated by your superior, you may be sure that it will be appreciated and rewarded by the Lord. We did not come here to seek rewards in this life, but only in the life to come. Let our thoughts always be fixed upon what endures, and not trouble ourselves with earthly things which do not endure even for a lifetime…. Never give way to these thoughts, which sometimes begin in a small way but may cost you a great deal of unrest. Check them by remembering that your kingdom is not of this world, and that everything comes quickly to an end, and that there is nothing in this life that goes on unchangingly.”

— quoted from “Chapter 29” of The Way of Perfection by Saint Teresa of Ávila (edited by Anthony Uyl)

“‘The ideal, Arjuna, is to be intensely active and at the same time have no selfish motives, no thoughts of personal gain or loss. duty uncontaminated by desire leads to inner peacefulness and increased effectiveness. This is the secret art of living a life of real achievement!’”

— Krishna speaking to Arjuna (2.47 excerpt) in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley

### Breathe: Peace In / Breathe: Peace Out ###

A Quick Note & Excerpts About Light, Shadows, “Houdini’s Last Month (and Allhallowtide)” October 31, 2024

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Food, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Japa, Japa-Ajapa, Life, Mala, Meditation, Mysticism, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Religion, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.
Tags: 988, All Hallows' Eve, Allhallowtide, Babul Sharma, Choti Diwali, Dhanteras, Diwali, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, fear, Halloween, Harry Houdini, Kali Puja, light, mantra, puja, Rig Veda, Rāmāyaņa, Samhain, seance, Susan B. Anthony, The Ramayana
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Happy Diwali and Kali Puja! Blessings, light, love, and peace to everyone, everywhere!

Peace, blessings, and treats for all, especially those observing or celebrating Samhain, Halloween, and/or Allhallowtide.

For Those Who Missed It: This compilation post contains previously posted (and updated) content. It is an extra “treat,” because it is Halloween. It is also a bit of an apology since I didn’t mention Diwali on Tuesday and Wednesday. NOTE: Some links will direct you to sites outside of WordPress.

“My chief task has been to conquer fear. The public sees only the thrill of the accomplished trick; they have no conception of the tortuous preliminary self-training that was necessary to conquer fear.”

— Harry Houdini

During the darkest times of the year, people all over the world celebrate light. In each culture’s stories and traditions, light overcoming darkness is a metaphor for good overcoming evil; life overcoming death, wisdom overcoming fear; love overcoming hate; hope overcoming despair, and knowledge overcoming ignorance. Once again, the celebrations kick off with Diwali, the Indian festival of lights.

This year (2024), Diwali overlaps Halloween, Allhallowtide, and Samhain.

Houdini’s Last Month (and Allhallowtide)

Click on the excerpt title above for more about Halloween, Allhallowtide, Samhain, and Harry Houdini.

The Houdini Museum’s annual Houdini Séance will be online at 12:30 PM EST. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.

“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ

tat savitur vareṇyaṃ

bhargo devasya dhīmahi

dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”

[Conscious, subconscious, unconscious mind, and every plane of existence, we meditate on the (adorable) Light, that it may inspire us, enlighten us, and remove our obstacles.]

— “Gāyatrī Mantra” from the Rig Veda (from Mandala 3.62.10)

Diwali is a five-day celebration which takes its name from Deepavali, which are rows and rows of lamps. It is a lunar calendar based holiday observed throughout India, parts of Southeast Asia, and the diaspora by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Newar Buddhists. Each day has different rituals and customs, which may vary between religious, cultural, and regional traditions. But, the common threads are the (clay) lamps and other great displays of light; pujas (“offerings”); feasts and sweets; epic tales of heroes and heroines prevailing; and a focus on relationships and also on wealth.

While some communities start earlier, most people’s Diwali celebrations begin with Dhanteras (October 29, 2024), a day that the Indian ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy designated as “National Ayurveda Day” (in 2016). Many pujans (“offering ceremonies”) are dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, fertility and abundant crops, and overall good fortunate. People also create decorations, including rangolas, which are associated with Lakshmi; clean their homes; and buy something new — usually gold, silver, clothes, and gadgets.

The second day of Diwali (which was Wednesday in 2024) is known as Choti (“little”) Diwali and, also, as Naraka Chaturdasi. Naraka is a Sanskrit word for “hell” and the day is associated with the story of Krishna defeating the asura (“demon”) Narakasura. Again, the elements of the story — as well as the rituals and traditions of the day — have symbolic significance related to the ways people live their lives and the ways their souls can be liberated from suffering (i.e., hell). Some people spend the day praying to the souls of their ancestors, sending light for their afterlife journey. In some regions (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka), Choti Diwali is the main Diwali day. People get oil massages and take ritual baths. Some people also spend part of the day visiting their temple. For people celebrating the “little” Diwali, the second day is a day to visit friends and family and share sweets and gifts.

“Fiery-eyed Durga astride a golden lion; Saraswati resplendent in white along with her swan; a glowing Lakshmi seated on a lotus in bloom; and Kali with her frightening garland of skulls. The legends that surround them are told over and over again and soon the children know them by heart. For them, as it is for me, these beautiful lotus-eyed goddesses are not just religious icons but part of one’s family. They laugh and cry, quarrel with each other over petty things, they have fragile natures despite their powerful forms. They are often jealous, angry, greedy and plot deviously against their enemies but still they need to be loved by their devotees, Then they appear, splendid, glorious and benevolent, to dazzle us with their all-pervading light.”

— quoted from the “Introduction” to The Book of Devi by Bubul Sharma

The third day (today, October 31st) is the biggest day for most: Diwali! It coincides with the darkest night of the festival and is normally marked by people getting together, feasting and celebrating. In fact, this is a time when the youngest members of the family visit their elders; businesses owners give gifts to their employees; and, instead of the fasts that are commonly associated with some Indian religious rituals, there are great feasts. Pujas are again made to Lakshmi. For some people, however, pujans are dedicated to Kali, the goddess of time and change, creation, power, war, destruction, and death. In many ways, making an offering to Kali highlights the fact that Diwali is a day of renewal, new beginnings, and starting over.

The stories in the Rāmāyaņa highlight all of the themes associated with Diwali — and the end is particularly pertinent to the third day. In the epic poem (which is part of the Mahābhārata), Rāma, his wife Sītā, and his brother Lakshmana are exiled by the brothers’ father. Their great adventure includes Sītā being kidnapped by the demon king Ravana (and rescued with help from Hanuman, the monkey king); a great battle where an entire army gets sick (and ultimately healed, thanks to Hanuman); the defeat of Ravana; and the revelation that Hanuman overcame his doubts, insecurities, and fears by focusing on the love and devotion for Lord Rama that shined (like a bright light) in his heart. Finally, after 14 years of exile, Rāma, Sītā, and Lakshmana returned home to Ayodhya — on the day that is now celebrated as Diwali. According to the legends, people lit up the city in order to guide the travelers home and also to celebrate their return. So, every year, people from all of the different religions light up their homes, businesses, and temples to commemorate this auspicious homecoming.

SIDE NOTE: As they travelled home, Sītā requested a pit stop in Kishkindha, because she wanted to enter Ayodhya with a company of women as her escorts. The request and fulfillment are conveyed in just a few lines, making up a minuscule portion of the epic poem. Normally, I would not mention this tiny passage — even though, if you think about it, it is a powerful moment when a woman who has suffered trauma and drama asks for (and receives) what she needs before facing what could be more trauma, drama, and judgement.

It also highlights the power of a group of women standing up for each other — which I highlighted in 2023, because Diwali fell on the anniversary of the birth of the birth of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (the social activist, abolitionist, and suffragist who was born on November 12, 1815, in Johnstown, New York). I’m mentioning here it again, in 2024, just in case someone needs the subliminal message.

“The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow in our souls. Every truth we see is ours to give the world, not to keep to ourselves alone, for in so doing we cheat humanity out of their rights and check our own development.”

— quoted from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s speech at the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention (and birthday celebration for Susan B. Anthony), February 18, 1890

No Zoom classes today, but the Houdini Museum’s annual Houdini Séance will be online at 12:30 PM, EST (see link highlighted earlier in this post).

If you are interested, I will be hosting a First Friday Night Special tomorrow, 7:15 — 8:20 PM, CST. Details and a link are available on the “Class Schedules” calendar. You can request an audio recording of a practice related to the stories above via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

You can find my “Diwali” and “All Hallows’ Eve” playlists on YouTube and Spotify.

NOTE: You can use the search feature on YouTube. You may need to scroll through Spotify.

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).

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

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

### Trick or Treat? / Trick of Light? / How About More Light? ###

« older posts newer posts »

A Joyful Practice

Understanding [Your] Karma & Putting Cash in Your Karmic Bank Account (a revised post-practice Monday post) January 13, 2025

“‘Monks, I will teach you new & old kamma, the cessation of kamma, and the path of practice leading to the cessation of kamma. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak.

‘Now what, monks, is old kamma? The eye is to be seen as old kamma, fabricated & willed, capable of being felt. The ear… The nose… The tongue… The body… The intellect is to be seen as old kamma, fabricated & willed, capable of being felt. This is called old kamma.

‘And what is new kamma? Whatever kamma one does now with the body, with speech, or with the intellect: This is called new kamma.

‘And what is the cessation of kamma? Whoever touches the release that comes from the cessation of bodily kamma, verbal kamma, & mental kamma: This is called the cessation of kamma.’”

— quoted from “Kamma Sutta: Action” (SN 35.145), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013

— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.1 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

“The literal meaning kriya is ‘verb.’ Every verb is representative of a distinct process or function and no process of function reaches fruition without a doer.”

— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.1 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

“[Verse 1] I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rolling ’round the bend And I ain’t seen the sunshine since I don’t know when I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin’ on But that train keeps a-rollin’ on down to San Antone”

— quoted from the song “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash

“[Verse 2] When I was just a baby, my mama told me, ‘Son Always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns’”

— quoted from the song “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash

“Well, you wonder why I always dress in black Why you never see bright colors on my back And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town I wear it for the prisoner who is long paid for his crime But is there because he’s a victim of the times”

— quoted from the song “The Man in Black” by Johnny Cash

“Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died Believin’ that the Lord was on their side I wear it for another hundred-thousand who have died Believin’ that we all were on their side

… Well, there’s things that never will be right, I know And things need changin’ everywhere you go But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right You’ll never see me wear a suit of white

Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day And tell the world that everything’s okay But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back ’Til things are brighter, I’m the man in black”

— quoted from the song “The Man in Black” by Johnny Cash

“Cast your bread upon the water and it shall return to you.”

— My great-grandmother Pam, quoting Ecclesiastes 11:1

— Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati

### GIVE ###

FTWMI: Vivekananda & A Simple Practice January 12, 2025

“…and he came out of it, and began to laugh, when he realised what a hideous dream he had had — he, the king of the gods, to have become a pig, and to think that that pig-life was the only life! Not only so, but to have wanted the whole universe to come into the pig-life!”

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.18 from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.28 from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.18 from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

— from “The Real Nature of Man” speech, delivered in London and published in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (Volume 2, Jnana-Yoga) by Swami Vivekananda

— Scott Blossom, explaining detoxification benefits of Mandukāsana*

“Even when a man takes revenge on others who hate him, in spite of him not hating them initially, the pain caused by his vengeance will bring him inevitable sorrow.” (313)

“When a man inflicts pain upon others in the forenoon, it will come upon him unsought in the afternoon.” (319)

— quoted from the English translation of the portion of the Thirukkural (Sacred Couplets) used as Tamil lyrics for the song “Ahimsa” by U2 and A. R. Rahman, featuring Khatija and Raheema Rahman (translation from IntegralYoga.org)

### The aforementioned hymn: “As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.” ###

EXCERPT: “A Simple, Radical, ‘Bad to the Bone’ Man” January 11, 2025

“Our concern is not how to worship in the catacombs but how to remain human in the skyscrapers.”

— quoted from “Part V: The Meaning of this Hour – 40. Religion in Modern Society” in Between God and Man by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (b. 01/11/1907)

### FEET ###

EXCERPT (2025): “Do You See What I See? & Your Presence Is Requested” January 6, 2025

“What I really want to get to today is why the Magi came. What was it that brought them to Bethlehem? What was it that brought them to find Jesus and his family?”

— quoted from “The Epiphany Light: Another Reflection” by Reverend Ed Trevors (dated Jan 6, 2022)

Yoga Sutra 2.20: draşțā dŗśimātrah śuddho’pi pratyayānupaśyah

— “The sheer power of seeing is the seer. It is pure, and yet it sees only what the mind [brain] shows it.”

### Do You Believe What You Are Shown? ###

EXCERPT: “The Power of a Good/Meaningful Push” January 4, 2025

“Every body continues in its state of rest, or uniform motion in a right line, unless compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.”

— “Law 1” quoted from “Axioms, or Laws of Motion” in Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Sir Isaac Newton (b. 1643)

But in the mean time, you defer too much to my ability in searching into this subject. What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in considering the colours of thin plates. If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

— quoted from a letter marked “Cambridge, February 5, 1675-76” from Sir Isaac Newton to Dr. Robert Hooke, as published in Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton by David Brewster

### “Every relationship you develop, from casual to intimate, helps you become more conscious. No union is without spiritual value.” ~ Caroline Myss ###

A Saturday Full of Light, Children, Heroes, Responsibility, & Power (a short note with excerpts) December 28, 2024

“(1) Rabbi [Judah HaNassi] would say: Which is the right path for man to choose for himself? Whatever is harmonious for the one who does it, and harmonious for mankind.

Be as careful with a minor mitzvah as with a major one, for you do not know the rewards of the mitzvot. Consider the cost of a mitzvah against its rewards, and the rewards of a transgression against its cost….

(3) Be careful with the government, for they befriend a person only for their own needs. They appear to be friends when it is beneficial to them, but they do not stand by a person at the time of his distress.”

— quoted from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) (2:1 & 2:3)

“…aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come — great responsibility!”

— quoted from Amazing Fantasy #15 by Stan Lee (b. 1922), et al (August 1962)

I am offering in-person classes during January 2025. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2025 together!

### BE THE LIGHT ###

All The Power of Kindness to the nth Degree (the “missing” Wednesday post) November 13, 2024

— quoted from the “Emotional Qualities” section of “6. The Kidneys and Urinary Bladder” in Insight Yoga by Sarah Powers (Forward by Paul Grilley, Photography by Matthew Carden)

“Studies have found that acts of kindness are linked to increased feelings of well-being. Kindness has also been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood.”

— quoted from the “Celebrating World Kindness Day 2024 with Save the Children” on the Save the Children website

“So before you go out searching Don’t decide what you will find Be more kind, my friends Try to be more kind

You should know you’re not alone And that trouble comes, and trouble goes”

— quoted from the song “Be More Kind” by Frank Turner

Yoga Sūtra 2.33: vitarkabādhane pratipakṣabhāvanam

You may skip to the next highlighted quote.

“Ah dis-moi pourquoi Ah dis-moi pourquoi Ah dis-moi pourquoi”

— quoted from the end of the song “I Love You All the Time” by Eagles of Death Metal (written by Jesse Nathaniel Hughes / Mark Ramos Nishita)

“Think of your fellow man Lend him a helping hand Put a little love in your heart

You see it’s getting late Oh, please don’t hesitate Put a little love in your heart”

— quoted from the song “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” by Jackie DeShannon, covered by Eagles of Death Metal (written by Jackie De Shannon / Jimmy Holiday / Randy Myers)

“Because I believe that the most daring, outlandish, revolutionary thing you can do in 21st century America is to treat everybody people you know, people you don’t know with dignity and kindness whenever possible.”

— quoted from the song “Rebel” by King Straggler

### Definitely Be A Rebel ###

Quick Note & EXCERPT: “More Hope, More History…” November 9, 2024

“[Verse 1]
I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rolling ’round the bend
And I ain’t seen the sunshine since I don’t know when
I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin’ on
But that train keeps a-rollin’ on down to San Antone”

“[Verse 2]
When I was just a baby, my mama told me, ‘Son
Always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns’”

“Well, you wonder why I always dress in black
Why you never see bright colors on my back
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town
I wear it for the prisoner who is long paid for his crime
But is there because he’s a victim of the times”

And I wear it for the thousands who have died
Believin’ that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred-thousand who have died
Believin’ that we all were on their side

… Well, there’s things that never will be right, I know
And things need changin’ everywhere you go
But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right
You’ll never see me wear a suit of white

Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day
And tell the world that everything’s okay
But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
’Til things are brighter, I’m the man in black”

“So before you go out searching
Don’t decide what you will find
Be more kind, my friends
Try to be more kind

You should know you’re not alone
And that trouble comes, and trouble goes”

“Ah dis-moi pourquoi
Ah dis-moi pourquoi
Ah dis-moi pourquoi”

“Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart

You see it’s getting late
Oh, please don’t hesitate
Put a little love in your heart”

“Because I believe that the most
daring, outlandish, revolutionary thing
you can do in 21st century America
is to treat everybody
people you know, people you don’t know
with dignity and kindness whenever possible.”

“There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it”