To Be Good or To Be Perfect (the “missing” Sunday post) September 28, 2025

“Chag sameach!” (“Happy Festival!”) to everyone observing 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 International Week of Deaf People.

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

This “missing” compilation post for Sunday, September 28^th, features new and previously posted content. 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).

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“Deaf communities are innovative communities! Our diverse intersectional global communities, found in every country on Earth, consisting of deaf people from different backgrounds and life experiences, are innovators! We have multiple opportunities to impact technological change. The future of our technology starts with our knowledge, drawn from our diverse communities, working together to shape the future we want. Together, we will innovate, inspire and create a world where deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere!”

— quoted from the “International Week of Deaf People 2025 — Daily Themes: A Week of Celebration, Awareness, and Action” (Sunday) section of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) website

Today (Sunday) was the seventh day of the International Week of Deaf People. As I mentioned earlier in the week, there is an overreaching theme for the year (2025: “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights”) and a daily focus. The Sunday focus was  “Set the basis for the future: together we can innovate, inspire, and impact!”

These themes inspire people and are a way to get a group of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and languages working in a coordinated way to bring about change all over the world — change that serves everyone (even those of us who are not in the Deaf community).

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF PEOPLE & MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HIGHLIGHTED LAST YEAR!

At the beginning of our physical practice of yoga, we set a “group intention” — to get on the same page, so we can work together — and then we each have an opportunity to set our own “personal intention”. I refer to the latter as, “your goal, your desire, your reason for being on the mat.” Sometimes, I encourage people to go a little deeper and identify how their goal or desire serves them: “… how it brings you peace, balance, maybe even joy.” This is all followed by a dedication and, sometimes, the awareness that what serves us individually can serve us collectively.

The additional suggestions are reminders that sometimes things can work out in a different way then we envisioned. For example, if your goal or desire is to own a classic Shelby Cobra, it could serve you because you need a way to commute to work and/or because you love vintage Mustangs. If you need reliable transportation, but you get too fixated on the make and model, you might miss an opportunity to obtain a car that serves you (and those around you). If you love classic cars and already have reliable transportation, maybe you check out other makes and models (or years) to satisfy your desire.

On the mat, every pose — as well as how each pose fits into the sequence — affects the mind-body in different ways. Additionally, every part of the mind-body could be affected in a similar way by a multitude of other poses. Standing balance is good for your vestibular system and can strengthen the standing leg, hips, and core, while also creating flexibility (and strength) in the lifted leg. If you have issues standing on one foot, using a prop (like a wall) can be more beneficial than falling out of the pose every couple of seconds. By the same token, if you really want to focus on the flexibility or “opening” (more than the balance), you might practice a supine version of the same pose or a different pose altogether.

All that being said, it’s easy to get caught up in the momentum of doing something — on or off the mat — and forget WHY we’re spending our time doing what we’re doing. That tendency to forget is why I remind people, at least once during the practice, to “remember your intention / remember your dedication.”

“And God said, ‘There will be light,’ and there was light.

And God saw the light that it was good, and God separated between the light and between the darkness.”

— quoted from Beresh’t / Genesis 1:3-4

Last Monday (September 22^nd) at sunset marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah (“the Head of the Year”), which is the beginning of the “Ten Days of Atonement” or “Ten Days of Awe” (which culminate with Yom Kippur, “The Day of Atonement”). There are several ways in which this period is different from a secular new year. First, there is the period of time, which is one of the holiest times of the year for some communities and may be celebrated by people who might not typically go to services. Second, observing these days are religious commandments and, therefore, observed by Jewish communities around the world and by communities where people observe the commanded holidays outlined in Deuteronomy. Finally, this is more than a celebration — it is an observation: a time for reflection, remembrance, and repentance.

It is also a time to consider how one could spend their time… doing something that is “good” .

“And God saw that it was good.”

— Words that appear 7 times in the Creation story found in Beresh’t / Genesis

Another way Rosh Hashanah is different from a secular new year (or the other new years found on the Hebrew calendar) is that people do not wish each other “Happy New Year”. Instead, people say¹, “Shana Tovah” (“Good Year”) or “Shana Tovah U’Metukah!” (“Good and Sweet Year”). Tov is a Hebrew word that means “good”; and, as we find in the beginning of the Torah (also the Christian Old Testament), God defined things as “good” when they had meaning and served their purpose.

So, similar to the beginning of our physical practice of yoga, people who observe the “Ten Days of Atonement” and the “Ten Days of Awe” spend some time setting intentions and digging into how those goals and desires will serve them (and others) during the year ahead.

Some of the following was previously posted in a slightly different context.

“…every person is obligated to say, ‘For my sake alone the world was created.’ That doesn’t mean the world is mine to consume everything indiscriminately (although God does want us to enjoy the pleasures of this world).

What it does mean is that we must take responsibility for any problem in the world. If you recognize a problem – whether it be a piece of litter on the street or a major social issue that needs adjusting – you shouldn’t just say ‘someone else will deal with it.’ There is nobody else. In God’s eyes, the rule is: You saw it, you fix it.”

— Aish Rabbi on Tikkun Olam

Tikkun Olam is a phrase in Hebrew which literally means “repair the world” — although, many people think of it as “heal the world”. Classically, it refers to the rule of law: what is needed in order to restore social order. In the modern context, people think of it as how each person can do something, maybe even has an obligation to do something (when they can), and could even be compared to dharma (“law”) in Indian philosophies.

There are several things that happen when people (in general) start thinking about how they can make a difference. One of those things is that they look for inspiration in others. In fact, Yoga Sūtra 1.37 states that clarity of mind can come from “contemplating on the mind [or heart] of those who are free from desire” and, in the commentary, Swami Vivekananda said, “Take some holy person, some great person whom you revere, some saint whom you know to be perfectly nonattached, and think of his heart. That heart has become non-attached, and meditate on that heart; it will calm the mind. If you cannot do that, there is the next way…”.

Other commentary suggests focusing on your own heart and mind as if you were free from desire. This is a handy suggestion, because while looking to others for inspiration can be really motivating, it can also be problematic. For example, people have a tendency of putting their inspirations on pedestals. Such myth building belies the fact that people (take Gandhi, for instance) are (and were) human; that they make mistakes; and sometimes have really horrible opinions that co-exist with their more admirable ones.

On the flip side, comparisons to others can be problematic because they can lead to a really debilitating mindset: Imposter Syndrome, the belief that someone is somehow fraudulent. This type of self-doubt can manifest in a lot of different ways. It can show up as someone dreaming, planning, and/or re-working something so much that they never get to the point of doing the thing. It can also show up as someone never getting started because they are afraid of disappointing themselves (or others) and/or not doing something as well as others. Finally, it can just show up as a general feeling of malaise that saps your energy and makes it harder to focus… let alone do your best. It can be a vicious cycle that is perpetuated by a desire to be perfect and live up to expectations.

But, if we backup a little, we may remember that the important part is not that we do what someone else can do: The important thing is to do what we are able to do and to do the best that we can. This is explicitly spelled out in The Bhagavad Gita when Krishna spoke to Arjuna about “achieving perfection” and said, “‘Your very nature dictates that you perform the duties attuned to your disposition. Those duties are your dharma, your natural calling. It is far better to do your own dharma, even if you do it imperfectly, than to try to master the work of another. Those who perform the duties called for by their obligations, even if those duties seem of little merit, are able to do them with less effort — and this releases consciousness that can be directed Godward.’” (BG 18.47)

This same lesson on perfection and purpose can be found in the lesson of the shofar, as explained by Rabbi Binyomin Weisz.

For Those Who Missed It: Portions of the following excerpt were posted in 2020 and/or 2024.

“But the truth is: ‘All sounds are kosher’ – not only for the shofar, but for the heart as well.”

— quoted from an article entitled “Perfectly Imperfect: The Secret of the Shofar” (09/12/2020) by Rabbi Binyomin Weisz

A shofar is a ram’s horn that is blown (like a trumpet) during most Rosh Hashanah services and at the end of Yom Kippur. Historically, it has also been used at other times, including as a call-to-arms before a battle. During the High Holidays, there are four types of sounds (tekiah = a long, smooth blast; shevarim = three short bursts; terua = a series of short bursts; and tekiah gedolah = a long, drawn out, smooth blast), which are produced in very specific patterns in order to remind people to turn inward and reflect, remember, repent, and hope.

As with most spiritual rituals, the horn has to be produced in a certain way and blown by a specific person. However, the mitzvah (or “commandment”) related to the High Holidays is not related to the blowing — it’s a commandment related to hearing the sound. Obviously, since it is an organic instrument, each shofar sounds slightly different. What is super fascinating to me (and others), however, is that certain imperfections do not “ruin” the instrument.

As teachers and scholars like Rabbi Binyomin Weisz point out, a hole can change the sound of the shofar and it’s still kosher. Granted, there are some ways a shofar can be broken — and even fixed — that make it no longer kosher. In fact, the very act of “fixing” a broken shofar, so that it sounds like it originally sounded, can make it unusable for its intended purpose — and, therefore, not good — which  just strengthens the lesson for me. Given that so many people struggle with “imposter syndrome” and high expectations, here are four steps you can do at any time:

1. Let go of expectations and focus on what you can do / are doing;
2. Remember Rule 303 (see the last embedded link above): Do what you can do, as much as you can, and for as long as you can;
3. Appreciate what you’re doing, because it has value/meaning; AND
4. Remember the value/meaning of you (being who you are and doing what you do).

“So I draw courage and stand face-to-face with my limitations, without shrinking or running. I allow for honest remorse. Here is my place of Now….

Of course, acceptance does not mean becoming complacent. I still need to honestly evaluate my life and reflect on how I want to act differently this coming year. It also doesn’t preclude trying my best.

But at this very moment my state of ‘now’ is my truth.”

— quoted from an article entitled “Perfectly Imperfect: The Secret of the Shofar” (09/12/2020) by Rabbi Binyomin Weisz

A version of the following (revised) note was posted earlier this year.

“I find a lot of similarity between Goddess Kalaratri, who symbolizes the spiritual power of transcendence, and Goddess Chandraghanta, who represents the power of transformation (in chapter 3). While transformation happens from taking strong, consistent action to overcome our fears, transcendence results from applying spiritual knowledge to see traumas we have experienced through the eyes of wisdom. This ensures we never see ourselves as helpless victims at the mercy of a cruel world but rather as powerful manifesters of our own destinies.”

— quoted from the “Cultivating Transcendence” section of “Chapter 7 — Transcending Trauma with Wisdom” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals to Awaken Your Inner Warrior and Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera

Today (Sunday) was also the seventh day of Navaratri, the Hindu festival of “nine nights” celebrating divine feminine energy in various manifestations. This seventh day of Navaratri is dedicated to Kalaratri, the most ferocious form of Durga/Parvati. I will admit that I sometimes have a hard time with elements of the Divine that show up as ferocious. However, I appreciate that sometimes strong, fierce energy/medicine is needed to eliminate negative energy — and this is why Kalaratri is so strong: She eliminates negativity.

Some believe that Kalaratri destroys all demons, ghosts, evil spirits just be showing up. She is associated with nighttime (which is when plants grow) and the crown chakra (which is this present moment). Her name is sometimes used interchangeably with Kali, who is the dark-skinned Goddess associated with destruction, time, and change. Because people believes she can give her devotees siddhis (“abilities”) like knowledge, power, and wealth, she is also known as Shubankari (“Auspicious”). People also believe Kalaratri can make someone fearless.

Of course, being fearless comes in handy if you want to bring about some “good” changes in the world — especially when you are committed to non-violence.

“Despite Goddess Kalaratri’s frightening appearance, I find her to be the most loving form of Goddess Durga because she removes everything that is not us: the illusions, lies, and myths we have subscribed to (without even knowing we have done so!). Because only when we are free from illusions are we truly free. This goddess brings the Gospel of John to life: ‘And you shall know the Truth, and that Truth shall set you free.’

Vedanta spiritual philosophy describes Truth, to be true, must be so at all times: past, present, and future.”

— quoted from the “Cultivating Transcendence” section of “Chapter 7 — Transcending Trauma with Wisdom” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals to Awaken Your Inner Warrior and Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera

Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “High Holidays: Good or Perfect”]

NOTE: One track is in a different place for continuity between platforms.

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”

— quoted from the poem/song “Anthem” by Leonard Cohen

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).

¹NOTE: There are several Hebrew (and Yiddish) blessings that may be used at specific times and/or to specific people just before and throughout the High Holidays. The ones described above are generic and used throughout the ten days. The one below may be used by some from “noon on Rosh Hashanah, when our fates are already written, until Yom Kippur, when our fates for the coming year are to be sealed”.

### “Gemar chatimah tovah.” (“A good final sealing.”) ###