Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Karma Yoga, Life, Love, Meditation, One Hoop, Philosophy, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Abhyasa, asana, Bhagavad Gita, Christopher Isherwood, Dharma, gratitude, hatha yoga, Jack Hawley, John Metcalfe, Karma Yoga, Lisa Bloom, meditation, Merrick Rosenberg, Mindfulness, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Patrick Lencioni, Paul Barrera, pranayama, santosha, sva-dharma, Swami Prabhavananda, vinyasa, vinyāsa, Yoga Sutra 1.20, Yoga Sutra 3.38, Yoga Sutras 1.21-1.22, Yoga Sutras 1.23-1.24
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone sitting (& speaking) with kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, wisdom, and gratitude.
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
This is the “missing” post, for Sunday, November 23rd. One link embedded in the text will direct you to a site outside of this blog. You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“For many of us, filling a segment of our day with a prescribed set of disciplines is practice. This type of practice is comprised of a list of techniques and injunctions, and we undertake it because we have been told it will bring us a specific result. It is a recipe for solving a problem. As a result, the value of the practice is dependent on when and to what extent it meets our expectations. If it does not meet our expectations, we dump it without hesitation.”
— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 1.20, from The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
We could make it complicated. However, when we really get down to it, this practice is simple. It’s not always easy, but it is simple. Combine your ethics, morals, and awareness; find a comfortable (and steady) seat; and, then, sit and breathe (with awareness). That’s it really. That’s the practice. In the Yoga Sūtras, Patanjali indicated that a “[continuous] practice” (abhyasa) and “non-attachment” (vairagya) ultimately lead to mental and physical vitality, as well as freedom and liberation from suffering. (YS 1.2 – 1.4; 1.12 – 1.15; 1.29 – 1.40; 2.18)
Our physical practice of yoga (hatha yoga, regardless of the style or tradition) is the way we get our mind-body ready for deep-seated meditation. Of course, we make it a little more complicated; because we move between seats. In a vinyāsa, we “place [things] in a special way” in order to flow in and out of poses/seats. So, that’s another complication. Some of the poses and sequences can be challenging — intense even — and one of my earliest yoga teachers use to say that our “yoga practice should be the most intense part of our day.”
Funny thing about my teacher Paul B’s statement: He never indicated the type intensity. Was the practice meant to be the most intense physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually? Was it meant to be intensely vigorous or intensely relaxing? Was it all of the above?
Or, was there some other level of intensity that we were missing? Could the intensity come from our devotion?
“Love for practice comes from knowing its importance.”
“The more convinced we are about the key role of our practice in enabling us to live a purposeful and meaningful life, the more we love and respect it. Love and respect springing from a true understanding of our practice is shraddha [faith]. We are joyful at the prospect of doing our practice. The reasons for delaying or dispensing with it become meaningless. We no longer care whether our practice lowers our blood pressure or relaxes our nervous system—we do it for the simple joy of doing it. According to Vyasa, shraddha is the joy that accompanies a practice. It is more than faith—it is the thrill of realizing that we are fortunate to have a practice that helps restore the pristine nature of our mind, takes us inward, and gives us a vision of life’s purpose.”
— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 1.20, from The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
According to Yoga Sūtras 1.20 – 1.22, there are five types of effort; nine ways to practice (the overall philosophy) based on our “…intensity of feeling, vigor, and firm conviction…”; and how long it takes us to reach our goal(s) will be based on how much time, effort, and intensity we put into the practice. Swami J, in the Himalayan tradition, compares this paradigm to the race between the tortoise and the hare and has a great breakdown of the different ways to practice (which you can find here).
You may also consider, as one of my teachers (Lisa B.) once explained, that you don’t have to believe in (or understand) every aspect of the practice for those aspects to work. However, if you believe (i.e., have firm conviction), you will be more diligent about what your actions — and you may spend more time doing the things that are beneficial.
Your diligence may also serve as a reminder to practice non-attachment and remember that the challenges in our practice — such as poses and sequences we aspire to achieve — can be a distraction or obstacle to our ultimate goal.
“‘To work without desire may seem impossible, but the way to do it is to substitute thoughts of Divinity for thoughts of desire. Do your work in this world with your heart fixed on the Divine instead of on outcomes. Do not worry about results. Be even tempered in success or failure. This mental evenness is what is meant by yoga…. Indeed, equanimity is yoga!’”
— Krishna speaking to Arjuna (2.48) in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley
The dangers of an achievement simultaneously being an impediment is reinforced in texts like the Yoga Sūtras and the Bhagavad Gita (the “Song of the Lord”), which emphasize “non-attachment” (vairagya) and “non-grasping”/“non-hording” (āparigrahā). In fact, Yoga Sūtra 3.38 explicitly states that “They are powers/achievements in the worldly state, but the are obstacles to samadhi.” Both the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita (as noted above) instruct us to offer our efforts up (with trustful surrender) as if our very efforts are a gift to the Universe.
The Gita goes even further, because it highlights the fact that we are all given gifts (e.g., temperaments, personalities, experiences, perspectives, and skills) that make us well-suited for certain jobs and responsibilities. (BG 18.41 – 18.49) If we think about everything we do in this way, we have the opportunity to appreciate giving and receiving the same gifts.
And, surely, that much gratitude multiplies the joy.
“‘I accept with joy whatever I am offered in true devotion: fruit or water, leaf or flower. The gift is love, the dedication of your heart. Devotion alone gains access to Divinity.’”
— Krishna speaking to Arjuna (9.26) in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley
Throughout the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna (as an embodiment of the Divine) breaks down different yoga paths and, in doing so, highlights the fact that everything we do can be an gift/offering. I thought about this idea as I was reading The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick Lencioni, which was recommended by my yoga buddy Carl (in a discussion that included a similar book that I love). The parallels between these modern books on management and these ancient texts made me think about how often we express (or neglect to express) gratitude for the things someone else does that we’re glad we don’t have to do.
It also made me think about how often we take those things (and people) for granted — and how, in taking people (and things) for granted, we miss an opportunity to give thanks.
“And in the Gita [9.27], we read:
Whatever your action,
Food or worship;
Whatever the gift
That you give to another;
Whatever you vow
To the work of the spirit:…
Lay these also
As offerings before Me.”
— quoted from the commentary for Yoga Sūtra 1.23 – 1.24, in How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, translated and with commentary by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09012024 Deep Listening”]
NOTE: The playlist contains John Metcalfe’s album Tree (with the remixes); however, one track has been moved. The story behind the album is beautiful. Additionally, I encourage you to deeply listen to Track #11 (which was the inspiration for the playlist and the September practice).
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
Correction (& Errata &): During the 2025 practice (& on the music post) inadvertently cited the wrong Yoga Sūtra chapter for YS 1.23-1.24. (11/23/2025)
NOTE: In anticipation of the holiday(s), I have cancelled classes on November 26th – December 3rd.
Don’t forget to be grateful.
### AUM / OM ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Baseball, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Life, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Sukkot, Vairagya, Yoga.
Tags: 1956 World Series, 988, Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, Casey Stengel, Don Larsen, gratitude, New York Yankees, sports, Sukkot, yankees, Yoga Sutra 2.33, Yogi Berra
“Chag sameach!” to those celebrating Sukkot! Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone grateful for friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, wisdom, and second chances.
May everyone be healthy and strong; may everyone be peaceful and happy.
“When it was over, I was so happy, I felt like crying. I wanted to win this one for Casey. After what I did in Brooklyn, he could have forgotten about me and who would blame him? But he gave me another chance and I’m grateful.”
— Don “Gooneybird” Larsen, #18 (who got a second chance today in 1956)
Please join me today (Wednesday, October 8th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10082022 Second Chances”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
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.
### 
###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Suffering, Sukkot, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Covid, COVID-19, Deuteronomy, Devarim, Gregorian calendar, Happiness, Happiness 101, mental health, Mindfulness, self-care, Sukkot, Tal Ben-Shahar, wellness
“Chag sameach!” to those celebrating Sukkot! Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone grateful for friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
May everyone be healthy and strong; may everyone be peaceful and happy.
This post-practice post for Monday, October 6th, is a compilation post featuring previously posted content (For Those Who Missed It) and a couple of related excerpts. Please note that linked excerpts direct you to posts that will include content related to a specific year. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is something you are looking forward to?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Be joyful at your festival – you and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maid-servant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow who live within your city.
For seven days you must celebrate the Festival to YHVH*, your God, in the place which YHVH* shall choose, because the Lord, your God, will bless you in all your produce, and in all the work of your hands, and you will only be happy.”
(*NOTE: YHVH is commonly translated as “the Lord” in English.)
— quoted from Devarim – Deuteronomy (16:14 – 15)
In the Torah (and the Christian Old Testament), there are a list of commandments. Mixed into that list are certain dates the faithful are commanded to observe. We think of them, in the modern context, as “holidays” and they are filled with ritual and tradition. Sometimes the mandate is general and left to interpretation (like when it says in Deuteronomy, “‘… and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.’” Other times, however, it is very specific about who, what, when, and even where. Sukkot, the “Festival (or Feast) of the Tabernacles (or Booths)” is one of the times where the details are specific — even when they appear vague.
For seven days, 8 in the diaspora, people within the Jewish community and people who observe the commanded holidays, eat, sleep, socialize, and sometimes work in a temporary shelter. The shelter, a sukkah, consists of three walls of any material and a roof made of natural fiber. (Natural being something grown from the earth.) In 2020, when the pandemic created so many obstacles to the ways in which people typically observed and practiced their faith here, finally, was a time when there was less challenge. Yes, true, it was still best for people [around this time in 2020] to socially distance, wear masks, wash your hands, and avoid big gatherings — but, it was also best (when gathering) to be outdoors. It’s like Sukkot was tailor-made for 2020.
“1. Give yourself permission to be human.
2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning.”
— quoted from the Psychology 1504 (“Positive Psychology”) course by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
One of the significant things about Sukkot is that it is a time for people to come together regardless of their circumstances, gender, religion, or political affiliation. It is a time for all to remember challenges of the past; while also celebrating better days ahead. Another especially noteworthy thing about Sukkot is the symbolism behind the rituals. For instance, one of the points of being outside in the most basic of shelters, exposed to the elements, is to remind people of the time when their ancestors were living in simple, temporary shelters when they were exiled in the desert for 40 years. It is also a good time to remember how much we have — as well as the fact that we could be happy with less. Sukkot is a reminder that life can be full, even when it is simple and bare-boned. It is a time of appreciation and it is also about accepting the present moment.
That last part — accepting the present moment — is easy to overlook. However, the commandment specifically states that the celebration occurs in a place chosen by God. In other words, we might not be where we want to be or where we thought we would be. (Hello, 2020!) This is something I point out every year, but it was especially pointed out to me in 2016, when the creamery, where I held my 2015 Sukkot retreat was no longer available… and again, in 2017, when it was no longer as easy to schedule time in the church where I held the second retreat… and again, in 2019, when the church camp I had planned to use experienced a fire and had to cancel the bulk of their season. And, then, 2020… once again, things were not as we planned — despite the fact that CP graciously offered to help me plan that year’s retreat. On the face, it might sometimes seem that we are “destined” not to observe this time — and yet, we do, every year… just not necessarily in the place that we thought.
“3. Keep in mind that happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind, not on our status or the state of our bank account.
4. Simplify!”
— quoted from the Psychology 1504 (“Positive Psychology”) course by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
Many people refer to Sukkot as the “Season of Happiness”, because they view the instructions in the Bible as a mandate to be happy. Since the instruction is to be joyful, or rejoice, about things that have yet to happen — blessings yet to come — one has to wonder: What does it mean to be happy?
Click on the first excerpt title below for a few ways we can define “happy” and the second excerpt title for more about the ways we may experience it.
The Vital Importance of Being… (the “missing” Wednesday post w/an excerpt)
FTWMI*: What Does It Mean to You?
“5. Remember the mind-body connection.”
— quoted from the Psychology 1504 (“Positive Psychology”) course by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
Another thing we may wonder is how can we be “independently happy” and celebrate something that hasn’t happened yet? It’s a good question. And, it turns out, there are some really good answers.
Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, an expert in Positive Psychology and the author of Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment and A Clash of Values: The Struggle for Universal Freedom, used to teach a class at Harvard University called “Happiness 101”. In his class and through his research, he offered 6 very practical tips for cultivating happiness. Those tips are featured in the practices during Sukkot (and are highlighted throughout this blog post).
This practice also highlights the fact that, as I mentioned on Sunday, today is an “extra day”; so…
“6. Express gratitude, whenever possible.”
— quoted from the Psychology 1504 (“Positive Psychology”) course by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (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).
### Twin(s); Joy-filled Mondays; People who make yummy food ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Life, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, calendar, Calendars, George Michael Green, Gregorian calendar, history, Joan Borysenko, John Mellencamp, Julian calendar, Lubavitcher Rebbe, Mindfulness, Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Science, Time, yoga
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone exerting their will to cultivate friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
This “missing” compilation post for Sunday, October 5th, features “remixed” excerpts. 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.
“See the moon roll across the stars
See the seasons turn like a heart
Your father’s days are lost to you
This is your time here to do what you will do
Your life is now, your life is now, your life is now
In this undiscovered moment
Lift your head up above the crowd”
— quoted from the song “Your Life Is Now” by John Mellencamp (written by John Mellencamp, George Michael Green)
Time. It is such an arbitrary concept. I mean, we are passing the time every time we inhale; measuring time every time we exhale. However, our experience of time is often based on our perspective. For instance, how long a road trip — or a flight to the other side of the planet — is versus how long it feels can be different and how long it feels can be different if you are by a window, enjoying the view, versus if you really have to go to the bathroom when there’s no place to go. Similarly, if you are having a good time, that time feels different than if you are having a challenging time; just like time seems to move at a different pace when you are looking forward to something versus when you are dreading something — keeping in mind that the “something” in either case may never happen.
Now, you may be thinking that one’s subjective experience of time does not make the concept of time arbitrary. Well, yes and no. Yes, it is true that, as a society, we have agreed on ways we will measure time so that we all show up at the same time and/or do certain things at certain times. However, the systems established were, initially, based on one person’s (or one group of people’s) whims. In other words, arbitrary.
For example, nothing happened today in 1582 — at least not in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and places like the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These Papal-governed nations were the first to switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar and, in order to make the timing work, they skipped 10 days (October 5 — 14). One of the motivating factors for the switch was to use a system of time named for a pope (in this case, Pope Gregory XIII) rather than a Roman emperor (i.e., Julius Caesar). Another factor was that the church wanted more consistency and control over when Easter (and other religious holidays) were celebrated as Catholicism spread beyond Rome.
Where there other factors? Sure. However, the idea for a standardized date for Easter dates back to the First Council of Nicaea (in 325 AD); the need for calendar reform — to produce a more astrologically accurate calendar — dates back to the 8th century; and calendar reform — to produce a more liturgically consistent calendar — was proposed as early as 1475 AD.
Because it is in such common use as a civil calendar (and, therefore, used by people who are not Christian), we don’t typically think of the Gregorian calendar as a religious calendar. However, it is not the only religious calendar used in modern times. Some Christians (and non-Christians) still use the Julian calendar. Others use solar, lunar, lunisolar (sometimes called solilunar) and/or seasonal calendars. All these different calendars can overlap and coincide in different ways in any given year — meaning that holidays overlap and coincide in different ways every year.
“Before you were formed in the womb, your days were numbered and set in place. They are the chapters of the lessons you came here to learn, the faces of the wisdom this world has to teach you, the gateways to the treasures this lifetime alone can bestow.”
— quoted from Hayom Yom, 17 Cheshvan; Naso 5837:6 (From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory, words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman)
When it comes to this time that (quote-unquote) “didn’t exist” as some people were switching over to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the days that were skipped didn’t actually disappear. In reality, they were still there; just renamed / renumbered. This “deletion of days” would occur at different times throughout the year and over the years — even as recently as 2016. As the drift continued for countries still using the Julian calendar, sometimes as many as 14 days needed to be skipped.
We can think of these dates as liminal days, threshold days, or transitional days — especially when they pop up during the High Holidays or (as they do this year) in between holidays. However, whenever these dates pop up on our current calendar, I like to think of them as “extra days”, like a little bit of lagniappe that we’ve been given. And, of course, I ask the question, “How could I spend this extra bit of time?”
“Through the years I’ve written and taught extensively about ‘liminal time,’ that pregnant pause between what is no longer and what is not yet. Although liminal time is a known stage in all rites of passage, most people have never heard of it. Whether we’re talking about a pandemic, a war, a refugee crisis, or even a man or womanhood ritual, a graduation, or a new job far away from family and friends, the stages (though not the intensity) of a rite of passage are the same.”
— quoted from “Running the Gauntlet of the Unknown” by Joan Borysenko, PhD (posted at joanborysenko.com, April 1, 2020)
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10052021 A Matter of Time”]
“A day enters, opens its doors, tells its story, and then returns above, never to visit again. Never—for no two days of your life will share the same wisdom.”
— quoted from Hayom Yom, 17 Cheshvan; Naso 5837:6 (From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory, words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman)
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
### Appreciate the Time You’ve Been Given ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, anxiety, Dax Shepard, Depression, Health, mental health, Mishlei, Proverbs, Suicide Prevention, will, will and determination, Wisdom
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone celebrating the Apodosis of the Exaltation of the Cross and/or exerting their will to cultivate friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
“‘For a righteous man can fall seven times and rise, but the wicked shall stumble upon evil.’”
— Mishlei — Proverbs (24:16)
Click on the excerpt title below for (just a little) more.
FTWMI: We Keep On Falling
“My fears were the opposite of what the result was.”
— Dax Shepard, quoted from an Armchair Expert episode “Day 7” (recorded September 21, 2020)
Please join me today (Saturday, October 4th) 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 “09292020 Falling 7x”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (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.)
### Do You Need a Hand Up? (We All Do At Times.) ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 9-Day Challenge, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Rosh Hashanah, Science, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Dorothy Miles, Equinox, High Holidays, International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Joan Borysenko, kriya yoga, kriyā yoga, Navaratri, Rosh Hashanah, Shailaputri, Sharada Navaratri, sign languages, svādhyāya, Swami J, Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati, Swami Vivekananda, tapas, Ten Days of Atonement, Ten Days of Awe, Unetaneh Tokef, Yoga Sutra 2.1, Yoga Sutras 3.9-3.16, īśvarapraņidhāna
“L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah!” to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. “Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Sharada Navaratri!” Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during the Equinox and International Week of Deaf People.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This post-practice post for Monday, September 22nd, is a compilation post, which includes some new and previously posted content, plus a series of excerpts. Please note that linked excerpts direct you to posts that will include content related to a specific year. The 2025 prompt question was, “How do you get ready for something big, for something momentous, for something auspicious?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Those Samâdhis with which we ended our last chapter are very difficult to attain; so we must take them up slowly. The first step, the preliminary step, is called Kriya-yoga. Literally this means work, working towards Yoga.”
— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.1, from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
When you first consider the Monday prompt question, you may think that the answer depends on what you’re getting ready to do. However, I would argue that such an answer is related to the finer details of your life. If you take in the big picture, you will notice that we usually get ready for something big by taking a moment to look back and make sure we have all our ducks in a row. In other words, we reflect and we make a plan — even if that plan is just related to what we are going to wear or how we want our house to look when company comes over. In the process, we also make sure our head and heart are in the right place; that we have an attitude that is going to serve us.
In some ways, the general process we use to get ready is one way to look at the process Patanjali described as kriyā yoga (“yoga in action”): a combination of tapah (“heat, discipline, austerity” and the practices that cultivate them — physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually and religiously), svādhyāya (“self-study”), and īśvarapraņidhāna (“trustful surrender to [God]”). (YS 1.2) I reference this rubric throughout the year, because it is not only a process we can use individually, it is also a process that communities use when they are getting ready for a big, momentous, auspicious time… like a new season and/or a new year.
The new moon on Sunday was actually the precursor all of the above since Monday was the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (or Spring/Vernal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere); the beginning of Sharada Navaratri in some Hindu communities; and the beginning of the International Week of the Deaf People. Additionally, Monday at sunset marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah in Jewish communities around the world (and in communities where people observe the commanded holidays outlined in Deuteronomy).
THE EQUINOX EXCERPTS — “On Having A Good Time” (revised):
“The transition from one year to the next year happens in an infinitely short moment that is actually non-existent in time. So too, there are transitions in the moments of life and the moments of meditation. Mindfulness of transitions in daily life and during meditation time is extremely useful on the spiritual journey to enlightenment.”
— quoted from the commentary on “Yoga Sutras 3.9-3.16: Witnessing Subtle Transitions With Samyama” by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati (“Swami J”)
In theory, the angle of the Earth combines with its rotation around the sun to produce four noteworthy (and marked) dates: Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, Vernal (or Spring) Equinox, and Summer Solstice.
I say, “in theory”, because we like to think that everyone around the world has equal amounts of day and night on the equinox and that these appreciable moments in time are actually that — appreciable and notable. The truth, however, is that there is no sudden/automatic change in how much light and how much darkness we get. It’s not a dimmer switch and we can honestly notice changes much earlier than indicated by the celestial calendar. Furthermore, no one is really getting 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night on the actual equinox. We perceive daylight long after the sun has moved below the horizon and, therefore, daytime is longer at latitudes above the equator than below.
Here in Houston, we got 12 hours and 10 minutes (as did people in Cairo, Egypt; with people in Shanghai, China maybe getting 1 more minute than that). On the flip side, someone in Anchorage, Alaska got 12 hours and 17 minutes and people in Helsinki, Finland got 12 hours and 19 minutes). Meanwhile, people in Cape Town, South Africa; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; and Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau) on Te Ika-a-Māui/North Island of Aotearoa/New Zealand all got 12 hours and 9 minutes.
Even at the equator, a true 12-hour split doesn’t happen on the equinox (“equal night”): It happens on the equilux (“equal light”), which falls on Thursday, September 25th. for most mid-latitude people in the Northern Hemisphere. (Although the exact date does vary by location.)
Click on the excerpt title below for more about how you could spend your time.
On Having A Good Time
THE NAVARATRI EXCERPT — “Making Connections, Part 2 [in the New Year] Part 2” (revised):
Navaratri (which means “nine nights”, in Sanskrit) occurs four times on the Hindu calendar and is a celebration of divine feminine energy — specifically of Durga, the divine mother, in various manifestations. Some people (read, mostly men) think of these manifestations as different women. Others (read, mostly women) recognize these manifestations as the same woman at different points in her life. The latter understanding is underscored by the fact that each day is dedicated to a different manifestation of Durga/Parvati and each manifestation marks a different point in Her journey.
Navaratri always begins by celebrating Durga as Shailaputri (“Daughter of Mountain”). Shailaputri is the daughter of Himavat, the Mountain King or Guardian God of Himalayan Mountains, and is recognized as a divine manifestation of Mahadevi and a reincarnation of Sati (the wife of Shiva), who then reincarnates as Parvati. In art, she holds a trishula or trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left hand, all while riding Shiva’s bull Nandi, whose name means “happy, joy, and satisfaction”.
The fall (Sharada) Navaratri celebration, which started today (Monday), is the biggest and most celebrated of the four celebrations. Rituals and traditions vary from one region to the other and, during this festival, celebrations in some regions may include other manifestations of the Divine. For example, while some celebrations on the ninth day of Navaratri will also be Ayudha Puja (“worship of tools”) — when people celebrate peace and knowledge and give thanks for the tools of their occupation, some will give thanks for musical instruments and others will give thanks for their farming machinery. At the same time, some will make their puja (“offering”) to Saraswati — who is associated with knowledge, the arts, and culture, etc. — and others will direct their attention to Lakshmi — who is associated with prosperity, wealth, and fertility, etc. These fall celebrations also include a tenth day, Dussehra or Vijayadashami, which commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over a 10-headed demon.
Click here to discover posts that reference the other Divine manifestations celebrated during Navaratri.
THE INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DEAF EXCERPTS — “Paying Attention is the First Step” & “Holchaj yIjatlh. (‘Speak in their language.’)” (revised):
“…people meet and part.
The word becomes the action in this language of the heart.”
— quoted from the English translation of the poem “Language for the Eye” by Dorothy Miles
Today, September 22nd, the beginning of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP). While IWDP is celebrated during the last full week of September (and therefore the dates shift a little), International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is held annually on September 23rd, the anniversary of the day, in 1951, when the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in Rome, Italy, during the first World Deaf Conference. That first conference was organized by Ente Nazionale Sordomuti (ENS), the Italian Deaf Association, and attended by representatives from 25 countries. Now, WFD is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization of deaf associations from 133 countries. It promotes the human rights of deaf people worldwide and works with the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and UN agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Each day of IWDP has a different focus. The 2025 theme for the entire week is “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights” and the focus on Monday was “Deaf communities leading”. Both themes highlight the importance of including people in conversations about things (like social policy) that will affect them and emphasizes the fact that, “Deaf-led alliances, in collaboration with governments and other organisations, play a vital role in advancing sign language rights. Following the motto ‘nothing about us without us’, true progress comes from partnerships where deaf people lead and others support them as committed allies.”
Since we are heading into a New Year, you might spend your time by learning a new language.
There are, in fact, about 300 sign languages used around the world. This includes some (but not all) language families, like the French Sign Language Family, and the languages therein — like French Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Dutch Sign Language (NGT), Spanish Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), Catalan Sign Language, Ukrainian Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language (along with its twin Hungarian Sign Language and its offspring Czech Sign Language) and others. That estimate also includes some (but not all) dialects and some village languages, as well as some Deaf-community and school languages. I am not sure if that estimate includes any speech-taboo languages1; but, suffice to say, there are a lot of sign languages. And, knowing one does not mean that you can use the other; any more than knowing one romance language means you can completely understand another.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF PEOPLE & MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HIGHLIGHTED LAST YEAR!
THE NEW YEAR EXCERPT — “An Invitation to ‘Reflecting, Remembering, Repenting, & Planting’” (revised):
“Through the years I’ve written and taught extensively about ‘liminal time,’ that pregnant pause between what is no longer and what is not yet. Although liminal time is a known stage in all rites of passage, most people have never heard of it. Whether we’re talking about a pandemic, a war, a refugee crisis, or even a man or womanhood ritual, a graduation, or a new job far away from family and friends, the stages (though not the intensity) of a rite of passage are the same.”
— quoted from “Running the Gauntlet of the Unknown” by Joan Borysenko, PhD (posted at joanborysenko.com, April 1, 2020)
This is a liminal moment — a transitional or threshold moment, a doorway in between moments; like the pauses in between the inhale and the exhale. As I have mentioned before, we could say that about any moment in our lives; however, this is one of those Liminal moments that is being recognized as an auspicious time by several communities around the world. This is one of those moments full of ceremony, ritual, and tradition.
It is an opportunity to “request” (or accept) and plan for more time.
“Who will be calm and who will be tormented?
Who will become poor and who will get rich?
Who will be made humble and who will be raised up?
But teshuvah and tefillah and tzedakah [repentance and prayer and righteous acts]
deflect the evil of the decree.”
— quoted from the poem “Unetaneh Tokef” (“Let Us Speak of the Awesomeness”)
Literally “the Head of the Year”, Rosh Hashanah is known as the Jewish New Year and is also the beginning of the High Holidays — known as the “Ten Days of Atonement” and the “Ten Days of Awe” — which culminate with Yom Kippur, “The Day of Atonement”. It is one of the holiest times of the year for some and is celebrated by people who might not typically go to services. Unlike a secular new year, it is more than a celebration — it is an observation: a time for reflection, remembrance, and repentance.
It is also a time when people “request” (or accept) and plan for a new year of life and purpose.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about how people prepare for a meaningful and sweet new year (or, click here to scroll through a variety of posts about Rosh Hashanah).
FTWMI: You’re Invited To A Possibility Party!
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
Music Note: You can click on the excerpt title above for the playlists featuring the poem I mentioned during the Monday practice.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (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).
1 According to Wikipedia, speech-taboo languages “are developed by the hearing community and only used secondarily by the deaf.”
### MAY YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN & SEALED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Abhyasa, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Maya Angelou, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Science, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Amos I. Root, anxiety, Contemplation, Jane Hirshfield, Maya Angelou, meditation, mental health, Mindfulness, Orville Wright, Pearl Jam, personal-growth, Pink Floyd, Resilience, self-improvement, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Toni Morrison, Victor Hugo, Wilbur Wright
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone who is given to fly with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This “missing” post for Saturday, September 20th is a compilation post featuring content that was previously posted (in a slightly different context). Some contextual (holiday-related) information, links, and formatting have been added/updated. You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Well, some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I’ve started out for God knows where
I guess I’ll know when I get there”
— quoted from the song “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
“We could hardly wait to get up in the morning.”
— Wilbur Wright
Odds are, you can relate to the idea of life beating you down, of having your heart broken, and of feeling disappointed that some great achievement was within your grasp in one moment and then gone in the next moment. Maybe it was just a moment. Maybe it was a series of moments. Similarly, you’ve probably had a moment — hopefully, several moments in your life — when you were so excited that you couldn’t wait to get started. So, the important question isn’t whether you understand the emotions express above. The important question is: How do experience the latter every day?
Just imagine, for a moment, waking up every morning and being excited about the day ahead. Don’t discount the fact that no day is absolutely, 100% perfect and don’t ignore the fact that sometimes we all have to deal with those master teachers and precious jewels that push our buttons. Instead, keep those imperfections and obstacles in mind and envision a day full of things and people that energize you. Actually visualize yourself moving through a day when you not only learn from your mistakes and your obstacles, you’re excited about the implementing the knowledge that comes from your experiences.
What would such a day look like for you? For that matter, what would a whole year of days like that feel like to you?
“There’s no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, a state of bliss”
— quoted from the song “Learning to Fly” from Pink Floyd
Now, what would be the first step in a plan to have such a day, such a year, such a life?
It’s the step I just suggested you take: Envision it.
Personally, I think any time is a good time to “dwell in possibility”. This weekend feels like a particularly auspicious time since next week is the beginning of the High Holidays and Navaratri — which means that, all over the world, there are people making plans for a new year and new beginnings with less obstacles.
So, I invite you to consider what it would be like to wake up as excited, energized, and motivated as the Wright Brothers were back in 1904. Keeping in mind, of course, that they were “given to fly” and, also, planned for their success by learning from what didn’t work, figuring out ways to overcome obstacles, and making adjustments as needed to always (re)turn to their goal.
“And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved”
— quoted from the song “Given to Fly” by Pearl Jam
Versions of the following excerpts were posted during Rosh Hashanah (2020/5781); Sukkot (2021/5782); and the High Holidays (2023/5784).
On September 20, 1904, in a cow pasture known as “Huffman Prairie”, just outside Dayton, Ohio, Orville and Wilbur Wright completed their 49th flight. They had moved their flights from Kitty Hawk and the Kill Devil Hills of North Caroline, in part because of the windy weather and in part because cutting their (land-based) travel time gave them more opportunities to fly. For the Flyer II, they used white pine instead of spruce and added weight to strengthen the frame. They also added a more powerful engine, shifted the center of gravity forward, and adjusted the plane’s wings configuration to create more pitch stability — all of which made it easier to fly. Finally, because they had less wind than at Kitty Hawk, they devised a catapult to pull the airplane down a wooden track. The catapult dropped a 1,000-pound (544 kilograms) weight from 20 feet (6.1 meters) in order to achieve a greater speed at takeoff.
Wilbur Wright was flying the newsworthy flight, which was remarkable not only because it lasted 1 minute, 36 seconds (covering 4,080 feet), but also because it was the first time they flew in a complete circle. 360 degrees! [In other words, they returned to their original position.] Amos I. Root, a beekeeper, drove 175 miles (from Medina, Ohio) just to see the Wright Brothers fly. He published his eyewitness account of that first circle in his magazine, Gleanings in Bee Culture.
“When it turned that circle, and came near the starting-point, I was right in front of it, and I said then and I believe still, it was . . . the grandest sight of my life. Imagine a locomotive that has left its track, and is climbing right toward you – a locomotive without any wheels . . . but with white wings instead. . . Well, now, imagine that locomotive with wings that spread 20 feet each way, coming right toward you with the tremendous flap of its propellers, and you have something like what I saw.”
— quoted from an article dated a January 1, 1905, in the Gleanings in Bee Culture by Amos I. Root
Amos Root’s words painted a vivid picture of a successful moment. He put the reader right smack dab in the middle of the moment. But what of all the crashes; what about all of the missed take offs and landings? Can we picture a moment some might consider a failure? What keeps someone going in those moments — especially when they are in the process of trying doing something that has never been done? What’s the secret to that kind of tenacity and resilience?
“More and more I have come to admire resilience.
Not the simple resistance of a pillow, where foam returns over and
over to the same shape, but the sinuous
tenacity of a tree: finding the
light newly blocked on one side,
it turns in another.”
— quoted from the poem “Optimism” in Given Sugar, Given Salt by Jane Hirshfield
“Resilience” is defined as “the power or ability to return to the original form or position; to recover readily from; the ability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after; buoyancy.” It comes from a Latin phrase meaning “to spring” or “leaping back” and, as some of friends can attest, it is one of my favorite subjects. I love the beauty and the power of resiliency. I’m also a big fan of stories, especially true stories, about people who fall down and then pick themselves back up — or even of stories, especially true stories, about people who have been pushed down and somehow, almost miraculously, pick themselves back up. Those stories are inspiring because we have all been there.
We have all tried something that didn’t work out the first or second (or even the thousandth time), but we kept going. Like Thomas Edison. Or, maybe like Alfred Nobel, we’ve spent our time working on things we thought would make the world a better place… only to discover that people thought of us as the epitome of evil — and then we have to go back to the drawing board in order to leave a different legacy. We have all battled our personal obstacles and readied ourselves to put our best foot forward… only to find someone else has found their groove before us. Like Ella Fitzgerald. Or, maybe in battling our personal demons, we just fell down… and had to get back up. Then too, we have all been the underdog (like David and Michelangelo) and we have all had to figure out a way to rise from “a past rooted in pain.” Like Maya Angelou.
I could go on. But the point is we all have to find our wings.
“Be like the bird, who
Pausing in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him
Yet sings
Knowing he has wings.”
— “Be like the bird” poem by Victor Hugo
Some people believe resilience is all about attitude and perspective; others believe it is physiological (and genetic). Still others believe it is a combination of the two. Either way, there are keys to mental, emotional, energetic, and physical resilience. You could even call them secrets (although we all know them). These keys (or secrets) can be highlighted by the inspirational stories (like the ones linked above).
For example, a cursory look at the story of the Wright brothers and their quest to fly includes a little note on sleep; being in good company (which is also having a supportive community); being mindful, especially of what works and what doesn’t work; letting go of what doesn’t work; and getting good momentum. The Wright brothers’ story also pays tribute to what happens when you wake up with a little grace and a little faith.
Click on the excerpt title below & scroll down to Wilbur Orville’s quote about “[getting] up in the morning” for a reflection on what energizes you; what inspires you to get up when you fall down; and how you change your inner dialogue.
Fly (W)right (a Monday post)
“The airplane stays up because it doesn’t have the time to fall.”
— Orville Wright
I mentioned before that rest is one of the keys (or secrets) to resilience and to the success of the Wright brothers. Another key (or secret) is to have a plan and, as Orville, implied, to keep going.
So, take a moment to go deeper and make it personal. Make a plan — and invite yourself to be the best version of yourself, fully present in your own life — by turning these questions towards yourself.
- Picture yourself during a moment some might consider a failure. How do you plan to learn from that moment?
- What keeps you “up” (metaphorically speaking)? What keeps you motivated, and focused on (re)turning to your goal again and again?
- With whom do you like to collaborate (and with whom do you make a good team)?
- BONUS QUESTION #1: Who is “Root[ing]” for you? (Besides me; because “I Root” for you!)
- BONUS QUESTION #2: What would a beekeeper write about your moment of success?
“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through.”
— Orville Wright
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09182021 Joe (& Rosie’s) Goal”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (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).
“‘Too much tail. All that jewelry weighs it down. Like vanity. Can’t nobody fly with all that shit. Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.’”
— quoted from Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
### Be Like The Bird (but not like the Song of Solomon peacock) ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Science, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, anxiety, meditation, Mindfulness, Orville Wright, Wilbur Wright
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone who is given to fly with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“We could hardly wait to get up in the morning.”
— Wilbur Wright
Click on the excerpt title below for the related post.
[Given t(w)o] Fly (W)right (the ~11-minute “missing” compilation post for Saturday)
Please join me today (Saturday, September 20th) 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 “09182021 Joe (& Rosie’s) Goal”]
“The airplane stays up because it doesn’t have the time to fall.”
— Orville Wright
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (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.)
### ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Pema Chodron, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 988, change, compassion, faith, Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, habits, Happiness, Hope, lojong, niyamas, niyamās, Pema Chödrön, Poetry, svadyaya, svādhyāya, Victor Hugo, Writing
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows and/or responding to life’s challenges with with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This post-practice compilation post is related to Monday, September 15th, and features some new and reposted content, as well as an excerpt. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is on your mind, on your heart, and how are you dealing with it?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“11
When the world is
filled with evil,
Transform all mishaps
into the path of bodhi.”
“16
Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation.”
— quoted from Always Maintain A Joyful Mind: And Other Lojong Teachings on Awakening Compassion and Fearlessness by Pema Chödrön
In Tibetan Buddhism, lojong (“mind training”) techniques are used to cultivate compassion and awaken the heart. These can be challenging endeavors on our best days — let alone on days when, as one of my yoga buddies very aptly stated tonight, “There’s a lot of heavy stuff going on right now.”
I find the second aphorism (quoted above) the easier of the two to engage; because, whether we realize it or not, we bring all of that heavy stuff onto the mat or cushion and, therefore, into the practice. The challenging part is what we do with it all once we are there — which takes us back to the first aphorism (above).
We are advised to breathe into it all — everything we are feeling, everything we are thinking — and to practice a little tonglen (“giving and taking” or “sending and receiving”), if that is in our practice.
In our yoga practice, we might even practice a little svādhyāya (“self-study”), which is the fourth the niyama (internal “observation”) in the Yoga Philosophy. Sometimes, I suggest putting yourself in another (regular) person’s shoes. Classically, however, svādhyāya is practiced using sacred text and/or scripture and putting one’s self in the shoes of a sacred person — which many people around the world did today as they observed the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows is a Marian feast day in the Roman Catholic tradition. Observed annually on September 15th, it is a day when people contemplate and reflect on the suffering of Mary as the mother of Jesus and the only person (as some Christian scholars note) who “remained completely faithful to Christ, from his birth to the Cross.” This type of (Marian) contemplation dates back to the Middle Ages and was extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope Pius VII in 1814. The focus of this liturgical commemoration is on the length, as well as the depth, of Mary’s devotion and highlights the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
Perhaps, if we were to put ourselves in the shoes of a parent like Mary — facing the joys and sorrows that she faced — we would speak up as Victor Hugo did today in 1848.
For Those Who Missed It: The following was previously posted in 2024. (Although the excerpt has been revised.)
“Gentlemen, there are three things which belong to God and which do not belong to man: the irrevocable, the irreparable, the indissoluble. Woe to man if he introduces them into his laws! (Movement.) Sooner or later they cause society to bend under their weight, they disturb the necessary balance of laws and customs, they deprive human justice of its proportions; and then this happens, think about it, gentlemen, that the law terrifies the conscience. (Sensation.)”
— quoted from Victor Hugo’s address to the French Constituent (General) Assembly, September 15, 1848
Live long enough and you will find yourself in a situation that is simultaneously beautiful and… well, icky. You will meet someone who is not who they presented themselves to be. You will find yourself needing to break a habit that once served you; because it is no longer useful — or, in fact, because you finally realize that it never really served you.
I liken these moments to finding a beautiful lotus… only to realize you are standing in the muck from which it grew. Or, we can compare them to the poison pill that heals. Or, we can see them as being on a bough that gives us a beautiful view of the landscape… just as the bough breaks.
In these moments, we can appreciate the beauty and also acknowledge the muck. We can use the amount that heals and also be mindful of the danger. Or, we can be like the bird….
“Be like the bird, who
Pausing in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him
Yet sings
Knowing he has wings.”
— “Be like the bird” poem by Victor Hugo
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
Can You Be Like The Bird? (the “missing” post)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: If you are interested, you can click on the excerpt above for a related playlist.
If you are struggling, thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
### SING! ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Food, Healing Stories, Japa-Ajapa, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Science, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Dr. Ivan Pavlov, healing, meditation, Pavlovian, samskāras, Swami Jnaneshvara, vasana, yoga, yoga philosophy, Yoga Sutra 1.12
Happy Church New Year, to those who are celebrating. Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone responding with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“If a certain stimulus has lost its influence, it can recover the latter only after a long resting that has to last several hours.
The lost action, however, can also be restored with certainty at any time by special measures.”
— quoted from the Dec. 12, 1904 Nobel Lecture “Physiology of Digestion” by Dr. Ivan Pavlov, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
A “Habit Loop” — the connection between a trigger, behavior, and reward — can also be considered “the Pavlovian response”, which was named after Dr. Ivan Pavlov (b. 1849).
Click on the excerpt title below to discover why Dr. Pavlov might have been in the habit of celebrating his birthday today (rather than on September 26th).
FTWMI: How Do You Respond [in 2024]?
The post excerpted above includes a link to my video series about cultivating habits!
“abhyāsa vairāgyābhyāṁ tat nirodhaḥ” (YS 1.12)
abhyāsa Practice over a long period/without interruption
vairāgyābhyāṁ Non-attachment, without attraction or aversion
tat Those (referring to the “fluctuations of the mind” as described in previous sutras)
nirodhaḥ Ceases, controls, quiets, stills, regulates, masters
Please join me today (Sunday, September 14th) at 2:30 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09042021 Experiencing the Mind”]
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.
### How Do You Respond In 2025? ###
A Joyful Practice 