First Friday Night Special #64 — Invitation for “More of That Sweet Ability of 3-Fold Healing” & EXCERPT: “Salt of the Earth, the 2024 remix” (the “missing” invitation) February 6, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Baha'i, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Meditation, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Science, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.Tags: 988, Baháʼí, brain, breathing, Charles E. Wheaton, cortical homunculus, Dominion, Florangela Davila, healing, Health, Inez Maxine Pitter Haynes, International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, Maya Angelou, mental health, Mulk, nervous system, pranayama, primary somatosensory cortex, prāṇāyāma, Rachel Naomi Remen, Restorative Yoga, Season for Nonviolence, siddhis, somatosensory map, Sāmkhya Karika, Tantra Yoga, wellness, World Interfaith Harmony Week
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Happy Carnival (to those who are already celebrating)! Peace, ease, and healing on International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the penultimate day of World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
May we all have a sense of dominion when it comes to our health.
This “missing” invitation for the “First Friday Night Special” on February 6th, includes a related excerpt. You can request an audio recording of this Hatha/Tantra-inspired Restorative Yoga practice (with a little movement) 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.
“Poet and activist Maya Angelou turned a traumatic childhood experience into a catalyst for creativity and achievement. Healing involves the process of seeing the potential that still exists despite all that has been lost. When we shift from suffering and anguish toward integrity, wholeness and inner peace, we are experiencing healing.”
— quoted from the “Reflection” section of the “Day 8 ~ February 6 ~ Healing” 2026 page for the “Season for Non-violence,” provided by the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace
Healing begins with people. While I often highlight healers like Inez Maxine Pitter Haynes (who was born today today in 1919), one of the siddhis (“powers”) described as “unique to being human” in the Sāmkhya Karika is the “the power to eliminate three-fold sorrow – physical, mental, and spiritual” — which means we are all healers. We can all participate (and have some dominion) in the healing process. Our mind-body systems include healing mechanisms, like our immune system, our lymphatic system, our digestive system, our parasympathetic nervous system, and our brain.
Yes, even our brain comes with healing technology!
For instance, did you know that when I say that “what happens in the body, happens in the mind and what happens in the mind happens in the body…” , I mean that literally, physiologically, and neurologically?
Every part of your body is “mapped” in your brain and each side of the brain’s primary somatosensory cortex has a representation of the opposite side of the body. This representation, known as the cortical homunculus (the “little man [or miniature human] of the brain”), is based on motor processing and sensory processing of the mind-body and is distorted, like a cartoon caricature that someone might draw of you at a fair. Just as (physically) touching a part of the body will activate a specific part of the brain’s somatosensory map, (mentally and mindfully) bringing awareness to a certain parts of the body — in a systematic way that corresponds with our “little man [or miniature human]” — can enhance our ability to relax the body. Research has also shown that certain meditation techniques can even use this brain technology to decrease pain.
Additionally, certain types of prāṇāyāma (awareness of breath, extension of breath) can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is related to our ability to “rest and digest [and be creative]”. Many people (all over the world) currently have overstimulated sympathetic nervous systems, which means we are consistently in “fight or flight or freeze/collapse” mode. This is like constantly putting the “pedal to the metal” and pressing the accelerator of a car all the way down to the floor — which is dangerous, on a lot of different levels, and not sustainable. In order to heal, we need to be able to put on the brakes, ease into stillness, and rest in order to process (i.e., digest) what we have experienced.
“Wounding and healing are not opposites. They’re part of the same thing. It is our wounds that enable us to be compassionate with the wounds of others. It is our limitations that make us kind to the limitations of other people. It is our loneliness that helps us to find other people or to even know they’re alone with an illness. I think I have served people perfectly with parts of myself I used to be ashamed of.”
— Rachel Naomi Remen (b. 2/8/1938) as quoted in At Your Service: Living the Lessons of Servant Leadership by Charles E. Wheaton
When it comes to healing, there are times that we just need the knowledge to know how things work. At other times, we also need assistance from caregivers and professional healers who are committed to the healing process — people like Maxine Pitter Haynes and Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen. Finally, there are times when we need to get together and share information — as people do annually on February 6th, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
This year’s theme, “Towards 2030: No End To FGM Without Sustained Commitment and Investment”, is a reminder and an opportunity to commit and invest in the healing process.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about Inez Maxine Pitter Haynes (b. 2/6/1919) and her sisters.
Salt of the Earth, the 2024 remix (the “missing” Tuesday post)
“‘I wasn’t soured by what happened to me,’ she was quoted in a June 1994 article in Columns, the UW alumni magazine. ‘I talk to people all the time about my experiences, and tell them they can’t be bitter. You have to pass over it, and go on…. It isn’t productive to hold on to it.’”
— quoted from The Seattle Times (March 26, 2004) obituary “Maxine Haynes, longtime educator and nurse in area” by Florangela Davila
This Hatha/Tantra-inspired Restorative Yoga practice (with some movement) is accessible and open to all. (It is also a sequence intended to prepare you for bed!)
(NOTE: There will be a little bit of quiet space in this practice.)
Friday’s playlist is also available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “12042020 Bedtime Yoga”]
NOTE: The playlist is slightly different on each platform. You can start with almost any track (and extra tracks have been added for 2026).
Prop wise, I suggest using a chair, sofa, or coffee table towards the end of this practice and this is a kitchen sink practice. You can practice without props or you can use “studio” and/or “householder” props. Example of “Studio” props: 1 – 2 blankets, 2 – 3 blocks, a bolster, a strap, and an eye pillow. Example of “Householder” props: 1 – 2 blankets or bath towels, 2 – 3 books (similar in size), 2 standard pillows (or 1 body pillow), a belt/tie/sash, and a face towel.
You may want extra layers (as your body may cool down during this practice). Having a wall, chair, sofa, or coffee table will also be handy.
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).
### Sitting, Breathing, Healing ###
The Sacred Simplicity of Life (a short note & excerpts) February 4, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Karma Yoga, Life, Love, Meditation, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Suffering, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Carnival, Margaret Bonds, meditation, Robert Fulghum, Rosa Parks, Rosa Parks Day, Season for Nonviolence, siddhis, Simplicity / Preparation, Sunn m'Cheaux, Thornton Wilder, yoga
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“Happy Carnival!” to those who are celebrating! Many blessings to everyone, and especially to anyone celebrating Rosa Parks Day*.
Peace, ease, contemplation, and simplicity throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
“There is a sacred simplicity in not doing something—and not doing it well. All the great religious leaders have done it. The Buddha sat still under a tree. Jesus sat still in a garden. Muhammad sat still in a cave. And Gandhi and King and thousands of others have brought sitting still to perfection as a powerful tool of social change. Passive resistance, meditation, prayer—one and the same.”
— quoted from It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It by Robert Fulghum
Several people — including Rosa Parks, who was born today in 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama — have been quoted as saying some variation of “The beauty of life is in the simplicity of it.” Additionally, lots of people (including Robert Fulghum) have described Rosa Parks and her life as simple. Such descriptions are not meant in a derogatory way. No, they are meant to highlight how one person, one single human being, has the ability to do something that is simultaneously simple, beautiful, and extraordinary.
That beauty and that simplicity are on full display in Our Town, which had it’s Broadway premiere at Henry Miller’s Theatre today in 1938. In the play, Thornton Wilder wrote a monologue (actually, a whole play) about something that — if not “unique to being human” — is at least an essential part of being human. Something simple, something beautiful, and something extra-ordinary.
“STAGE MANAGER….. – Now there are some things we all know but we don’t take’m out and look at’m very often. We all know that something is eternal. And it ain’t houses and it ain’t names, and it ain’t earth, and it ain’t even the stars . . . everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings. All the greatest people ever lived have been telling us that for five thousand years and yet you’d be surprised how people are always letting go of that fact. There’s something way down deep that’s eternal about every human being.”
— quoted from Act III of Our Town by Thornton Wilder
“Simplicity” is the “Season for Nonviolence” principle of the day. In previous years, “preparation” has popped up as a principle around this time in the season. Both ideas play a part in the simple, yet extraordinary true story of how Rosa Parks became a household name.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
FTWMI: “Rooted Deep in a Moment (a special [revised] Black History note)” *UPDATED*
“I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.”
— Rosa Parks
Please join me today (Wednesday, February 4th) 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 by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “02042024 Sitting, Breathing… on a Bus”]
NOTE: The before/after music is slightly different on each platform, as the YouTube playlist includes videos of some featured songs. Both playlists also include Margaret Bonds’s Montgomery Variations and a podcast episode about the women who started the Montgomery Bus Boycotts; however, the Spotify playlist does not include the short (below) from one of my favorite [haa-vahd] professors. (Neither playlist includes the extra video included in the post excerpted above.)
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.)
*NOTE: Rosa Parks Day is currently celebrated today in Missouri and Massachusetts; on the first Monday after her birthday in Michigan and California; and on the anniversary of the day she was arrested (December 1, 1955) in Ohio, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon and several cities and counties.
### “Just” Sitting & Breathing ###
A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “Vivekananda & A Simple Practice” January 12, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Swami Vivekananda, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Chicago World's Fair, hinduism, meditation, National Youth Day, Philosophy, samkhya, shabda, Shiva Mahimna Stotra, siddhis, spirituality, Swami Vivekananda, Vedanta, World's Parliament of Religions, yoga
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Many blessings to all and especially to anyone celebrating National Youth Day (India).
May your mind-body-spirit be well, be great, and be in harmony with your thoughts, words, and deeds.
This is the “missing” post-practice post for Monday, January 12th. The 2026 prompt question was, “What is something in nature (animal, vegetable, or mineral) that you find interesting/fascinating?” 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.
“Sisters and brothers of America—”
— quoted from a speech delivered on September 11, 1893, during the opening ceremonies of the World’s Parliament of Religions at the Chicago World’s Fair by Swami Vivekananda
Even though our ability to form and communicate with words (“shabda”) is one of the siddhis (“powers”) described as “unique to being human”, it is easy for people to get confused and/or to get have disagreements when communicating. Some of this discord comes from the fact that we have different experiences and, therefore, different perceptions and understandings (even of our shared experiences). Some of it is because we don’t always understand of own lack of experience and/or understanding. Neither do we always appreciate why someone else has a different experience, perception, and understanding.
In other words, some of our conflict (and subsequent) suffering, comes from the fact that we are all in our own bubbles… or boxes… or wells.
The idea that we are all in our own wells comes courtesy of Swami Vivekananda, who was born today in 1863, and whose birthday is celebrated in India as National Youth Day. The 2026 theme for National Youth Day is “Ignite the Self, Impact the World”.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
“Verse 7
त्रयी साङ्ख्यं योगः पशुपतिमतं वैष्णवमिति
प्रभिन्ने प्रस्थाने परमिदमदः पथ्यमिति च।
रुचीनां वैचित्र्यादृजुकुटिल नानापथजुषां
नृणामेको गम्यस्त्वमसि पयसामर्णव इव॥ ७॥
trayī sāṅkhyaṁ yogaḥ paśupatimataṁ vaiṣṇavamiti
prabhinne prasthāne paramidamadaḥ pathyamiti ca |
rucīnāṁ vaicitryādṛjukuṭila nānāpathajuṣāṁ
nṛṇāmeko gamyastvamasi payasāmarṇava iva || 7 ||
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. (7)”
— quoted from the hymn “Shiva Mahimna Stotra” in Devanagari Sanskrit, Roman transliteration, and English translation (English translation is by Swami Vivekandanda)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
### Breathe In / Breathe Out ###
A (revised) Note & Excerpt RE: Children, Heroes, Responsibility, & Power *UPDATED* December 28, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, 7-Day Challenge, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Life, Movies, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Super Heroes, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, Art, Childermas, Christmas, Feast Day of the Holy Family, Feast of the Holy Innocents, Innocents Day, Kwanzaa, Nativity Fast, Neil Ellis Orts, New Year's, Nguzo Saba, siddhis, St. Philip's Fast, Stan Lee, Twelvetide, Ujima
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“Kwanzaa, yenu iwe na heri!” – “May your Kwanzaa be happy!” to everyone who is celebrating! May you have a meaningful observation if you are observing the Nativity / St. Philip’s Fast and/or your focus is on the Innocents and/or Family. Many blessings to everyone!
“All six of these stories – nearly half the stories in the book – speak to me of a longing in our human condition, a desire for more life (either here or in the hereafter) or a desire to turn regrets around to something joyous….
None of the characters in this collection are more powerful than a locomotive, none are faster than a speeding bullet, but what they are able to do, I believe, reveals something of our desires, something of our humanity – the best and worst in us.”
— quoted from the introduction to able to…: a literary look at super powers by…, edited by Neil Ellis Orts
There is a lot going on. Today is the third day of Kwanzaa, 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. There are also people who spend the first Sunday after Christmas observing the Feast Day of the Holy Family. Finally, there are some Christians observing the Nativity (or St. Philip’s) Fast in preparation for Christmas. Each of these observations comes with a story and each story comes with a message.
The stories and messages associated with this day are all about 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 with 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.
“Ujima (collective work and responsibility) — To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.”
— the third of the Nguzo Saba (or “Seven Essential Pillars”) of Kwanzaa
Please join me today (Sunday, December 28th) at 2:30 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “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 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.
CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR! You can kick off New Year’s Day 2026 in two ways (and in two spaces): with the very active practice of 108 Sun Salutations at 10:00 AM or with the very “chill” practice of a Restorative Yoga+Meditation practice beginning at 5:00 PM. All times are Central Standard.
Register to practice in-person (or join us via Zoom). Details are posted on the “Class Schedules” calendar.
12/29/2025 Update: I neglected to mention the Feast Day of the Holy Family (mostly because I forgot that it is a “moveable feast”).
### FOCUS ON WHAT YOU’RE ABLE TO… ###
A Little Note & EXCERPT: “The Power and Responsibility of Cultivating a Good Heart” (a post-practice Monday post w/an extra link) November 17, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Books, Dalai Lama, heart, inspiration, Lee Strasberg, siddhis, Soul, Tenzin Gyatso
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
This is the post-practice post for Monday, November 17th. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is your strongest heart-centered quality” 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.
“So the smart brain must be balanced with a warm heart, a good heart – a sense of responsibility, of concern for the well-being of others.”
— Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama
Today in 1950, at the age of 15, the 14th Dalai Lama assumed his full political duties.
Today is also the anniversary of the birth of Israel Lee Strassberg (born November 17, 1901, in Budzanów, Austria-Hungary).
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
The Power and Responsibility of Cultivating a Good Heart (the Wednesday post)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
### FRIENDSHIP ###
A Quick Note & Excerpts RE: A 90-Year Old Continuing His Commitments July 6, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Buddhism, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Life, Love, Mantra, Meditation, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, bodhicitta, bodhisattva, Buddhism, Dalai Lama, Geshé Chekawa Yeshe Dorje, Karuna, lojong, loving-kindness, lovingkindness, meditation, Metta, Mindfulness, Philosophy, samkhya, Shantideva, siddhis, spirituality, Sāmkhya, Tenzin Gyatso, yoga philosophy
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating a heart full of peace, freedom, and wisdom (inside and outside).
“On the occasion of my 90th birthday, I understand that well-wishers and friends in many places, including Tibetan communities, are gathering for celebrations. I particularly appreciate the fact that many of you are using the occasion to engage in initiatives that highlight the importance of compassion, warm-heartedness, and altruism.
I am just a simple Buddhist monk; I don’t normally engage in birthday celebrations. However, since you are organizing events focused on my birthday I wish to share some thoughts.
While it is important to work for material development, it is vital to focus on achieving peace of mind through cultivating a good heart and by being compassionate, not just toward near and dear ones, but toward everyone. Through this, you will contribute to making the world a better place.”
— quoted from “90th Birthday Message” (dated July 5, 2025) by Dalai Lama
Born today in 1935, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is doing what he typically does: teaching and sending a message to the world.
This year, his birthday message focuses on continuing his “commitments of promoting human values, religious harmony, drawing attention to the ancient Indian wisdom which explains the workings of mind and emotions, and Tibetan culture and heritage, which has so much potential to contribute to the world through its emphasis on peace of mind and compassion.”
He is also spending this weekend sharing how his legacy will continue — and how that legacy includes a 15th Dalai Lama, as well as each and every person dedicated to cultivating a good heart.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE.
A Quick Note & Excerpts About Life and Cultivating a Good Heart
Lessons of the Teachers
A Big G’s Gift On His Birthday (with video)
The Power and Responsibility of Cultivating a Good Heart (the Wednesday post)
“I develop determination and courage in my daily life through the teachings of the Buddha and Indian masters such as Shantideva, whose following aspiration I strive to uphold.
As long as space endures,
As long as sentient being remain,
Until then, may I too remain
To dispel the miseries of the world.
Thank you for using the opportunity of my birthday to cultivate peace of mind and compassion.”
— quoted from “90th Birthday Message” (dated July 5, 2025) by Dalai Lama
Please join me for a 65-minute virtual yoga practice on Zoom today (Sunday, July 6th) 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 “07062021 HHDL Big Day”]
NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes the Dalai Lama’s 2021 birthday message. Since it was not available on Spotify, I substituted a prayer.
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.)
### A Little Metta & Karuna Go A Long Way! ###
FTWMI: How Do We Know? (an *UPDATED* note with excerpts) June 15, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Love, Men, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Suffering, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Adhyayana, Ajna, Blood, Dad's Big Day, Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys, Dr. Paul Emmerez, Dr. Richard Lower, Father's Day, klishtaklishta, klişţāklişţāh, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, siddhis, Sir Walter Scott, Uha, Vihari-Lal Mitra, Yoga Sutra 2.24, Yoga Sutras 1.5-1.7, Yoga Vasishtha
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Happy Pride! Happy Dad’s Day!! Many blessings to everyone!!!
For Those Who Missed It: Most of the following was originally posted in 2024. I have added an extra excerpt, plus a little extra context and excerpt for the Dads!
“Uha means ‘knowledge without doubt, clear understanding, intuitive knowledge.’ It is the power of revelation – the fundamental force behind all human discovery. It has its source in mahat tattva, the pure and pristine manifestation of Ishvara’s prakriti, and is therefore infinite. In our day-to-day life, it manifests in the form of discerning power. This is also the force behind our memory.”
“Adhyayana means ‘study, analyze, and comprehend.’ We have the capacity to study, analyze, and comprehend an abstract idea whether it is spoken, written, or implied. We even have the capacity to decipher our own and others’ intention and predict the causes as well as the far-reaching effects of those intentions.”
— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.24 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
According to Yoga Sūtras 1.5-7, we all have functional/not afflicted thought patterns and dysfunctional/afflcited thought patterns, the latter of which creates suffering. Those two types of thought patterns can come in the form of correct understanding, false understanding, imagination (which is sometimes translated as “verbal delusions”), deep/dreamless sleep, and memory. Obviously, we want as much functional, correct understanding as possible and that comes from direct/sense perception, inference, and revelation documented in sacred text and/or scriptures.
But….
How do you know what you know? How do you know what you know is true? We all know there are things we don’t know; however, there are also things that we don’t know we don’t know. So, how do you know that what you don’t know you don’t know doesn’t negate what you think you know is true?
Maybe you don’t.
Maybe you can’t.
Or maybe you have no interest in going down that particular philosophical rabbit hole at [insert whatever time it is for you here].
There is also the possibility that you are someone who just knows — or who thinks you know — when someone is telling the truth. Maybe you have a feeling, a sense, a sensation that is information. We all have that. Unfortunately, we can all ignore that gut feeling, that prickly feeling, that little Spidey-sense. We can also override it.
Of course, there is another type of person you could be.
You could be the type of person who thinks/feels that you can tell whether a person is trustworthy — or whether they are a good dad — just by looking at them. Not because you are using the first and third of the siddhis (“abilities”) described as “unique to being human,” but because… you know, “blood will tell” or “blood will out.”
Click on the titles to find out why some things don’t mean what we think they mean.
Thicker Than…? (a”missing” 2-for-1 post, for Monday-Tuesday)
“The first words he said when he had digested the shock, contained a magnanimous declaration, which he probably was not conscious of having uttered aloud – ‘Weel – blude’s thicker than water – she’s welcome to the cheeses and the hams just the same.’”
— quoted from “Chapter IX, Die and endow a college or a cat. Pope.” of Guy Mannering, or The Astrologer (pub. 1815) by Sir Walter Scott, Bart
Click on the title below for a post about Dad’s Big Day (that includes additional post links and video tributes)!
“15. You see a man in two ways, the one with his body and the other in his representation in a picture or statues, of these the former kind is more frail than the latter; because the embodied man is beset by troubles and diseases in his fading and mouldering, decaying and dying body, whereby the other is not. (The frame of the living man, is frailer than his dead resemblance).”
— quoted from (Book 6) “CHAPTER XXIX. Pantheism. Description of the World as Full with the Supreme Soul.” of The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki (translated from the original Sanskrit by VIHARI-LALA MITRA)
There is no (Zoom) class today, but I will be back on schedule (and on Zoom) tomorrow. If you are on my Sunday recording list, I have sent you a copy of the 2020 Dad’s Day practice and copies of the (75-minute & 90-minute) philosophical practices from June 15, 2020 & 2024. If you want to be added to my Sunday list (or any other list), please email me or comment below.
As I announced via the class email lists, I am now posting practices on my YouTube channel (so that is another practice option for you) and will post a bonus video this week.
The “Dad’s Big Day” playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify.
The playlist for June 15th is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “06142020 World Blood Donor Day”]
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.
### QUESTION WHAT YOU KNOW ###
A Quick PSA & FTWMI: The Power of Giving & Sharing June 14, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Donate, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Science, Suffering, Super Heroes, Tragedy, Twin Cities, Volunteer, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, © National center for blood transfusion (NCBT) Rwanda, Dana, Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys, Dr. Karl Landsteiner, Dr. Linus Pauling, Flag Day, Kristin Houser, No Kings Day, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, samkhya, siddhis, Sāṃkhya Karika, Sāmkhya Karika, WHO, World Blood Donor Day, World Health Organization, Yoga Sutra 2.24
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Happy Pride! Many blessing to everyone on World Blood Donor Day!!!
A Quick Public Service Announcement
My heart and condolences go out to the family, friends, and constituents being affected by the attacks in the Twin Cities.
Be safe today if you are participating in a No Kings Day! observation (or Flag Day celebration) and/or if you are in an area where protests and parades are taking place. Stay centered and calm, breathe, and practice the four (+1) R’s:
Recognize when your buttons are getting pushed (and things are escalating).
Refrain from your knee jerk reaction (which may be to push back).
Relax (even if you just pause and take a breath).
Resolve to move forward, centered and grounded.
Remember why you are doing what you are doing.
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2023. It includes updated statistics (compared to the related linked posts). Class details and theme information (as well as some formatting) have been updated. Some links at the end of the post connect outside of this blog.
“I found that [Karl] Landsteiner and I had a much different approach to science: Landsteiner would ask, ‘What do these experimental observations force us to believe about the nature of the world?’ and I would ask, ‘What is the most simple, general and intellectually satisfying picture of the world that encompasses these observations and is not incompatible with them?’”
— quoted from “Fifty Years of Progress in Structural Chemistry and Molecular Biology.” By Dr. Linus Pauling (published in Daedalus, 99, 1005. 1970)
In addition to the typical philosophical questions, this week has been full of very practical questions: “Are you keeping your foundation in mind?” “What do you have a hard time wrapping your brain around (i.e., understanding)?” In other words, “How ignorant are you?” “What ails you?” “How do you cope with what ails you?” “Does the way you cope alleviate suffering or create more suffering?” And, rooted within each of those questions is one more: “Are you willing to alleviate your suffering and/or the suffering of another?”
Honestly, that last question is really just asking if you’re willing to be a hero(ine)?
Heroes and heroines have come up again and again over the last few weeks. Sometimes the reference was inferred; other times it was quite explicit. Either way, the idea that one person could do something to help — even save — themselves and/or another person comes up over and over again. And, yes, I will admit that I have a certain bias towards the idea. I definitely appreciate the fact that many of the heroes and heroines you find in so many cultural stories (not to mention in the stories of certain superheroes) are ordinary people who do extra-ordinary things. Sure, sometimes they are given superpowers, but what is more relevant is the power(s) they cultivate.
“The last category of our innate siddhis is dana, ‘the ability to give.’ We have both the wisdom and the courage to share what lawfully belongs to us with others. We are designed to experience the joy of giving. This joy is the architect of human civilization, characterized by self-sacrifice and selflessness.”
— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.24 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
According to the Yoga Sūtras, when we eliminate suffering and the roots of suffering, we gain awareness of our true nature. We also gain access to the power and vitality of our true nature. In the Sāṃkhya Karika, that power and vitality includes six siddhis (“powers” or abilities) which are described as “powers unique to being human.” Everyone has these powers, but not everyone appreciates and cultivates them. Take for example, what happens when we harness the power of duḥkha-vighātaḥ-trayaḥ (the ability to “eliminate three-fold sorrow”, i.e., physical, mental, and spiritual sorrow) and combine it with the power of dana (“generosity”, i.e., the ability to give to another).
We all have something that legally belongs to us that we could give to another. We also have something that most of us can give away without ever missing. I’m not talking about a material possession — although some of us may have material things that we could give away and not miss. No, here, I am specifically talking about something that is the very essence of our life. Consider how powerful it is to literally give our lifeblood. We have the ability to do that thanks to Dr. Karl Landsteiner, the “Father of Transfusion Medicine”, who was born today in 1868.
Click here to read more about the significance of Dr. Karl Landsteiner’s work.
In honor of Dr. Landsteiner’s birthday, today is World Blood Donor Day. (Coincidentally, it falls just the day before the anniversary of Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys’s 1667 surgery on a 15-year old boy, using sheep’s blood.) Established in 2005, by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, World Blood Donor Day is a celebration of and an expression of gratitude for the millions of donors worldwide. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness for the universal need for safe blood and blood products.
In 2023, the host country is Algeria (through its National Blood Transfusion Service) and the theme is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.”
The 2025 theme is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”
“[The 2023 World Blood Donor Day theme] focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and underlines the role every single person can play, by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma. It also highlights the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can be always available, all over the world, so that all patients in need can receive timely treatment.”
— quoted from the World Health Organization’s 2023 World Blood Donor Day site
According to WHO, 42% of the world’s blood supply is collected in high income countries, which are home to only 16% of the world’s population. Additionally, as of 2018, only 79 countries have the majority (90%) of their blood supplied by voluntary, unpaid donors. Some of those countries also supply blood transfusions free of charge. Meanwhile, 54 countries depend on family and paid donors. When it comes to plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMP), less than half of the reporting countries (56 out of 171) produce PDMP through the fractionation (i.e., separation) of plasma collected in the reporting countries. A little over 53% of reporting countries (91 out of 171) import all PDMP. The remaining 14% either reported no usage or did not report any data.
Just as the demographics of people who donate is different, how different countries use blood varies. For example, in low income countries, more than half (54%) of blood transfusions are give to children under 5 years old. On the flip side, the majority of people receiving transfusions in high income countries (76%) are over the age of 60.
Go deeper and you will find that even in countries that can depend on voluntary donations, certain parts of those countries experience shortages which can only be alleviated by a mobilized network. In fact, one of the goals of World Blood Donor Day is to “mobilize support at national, regional, and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes.” That mobilized network can include electronic cold chain monitoring systems and drones — both of which can be found in Rwanda and in Ukraine.
“Rwanda’s policy since 1985 is that blood must be donated by unpaid volunteers and provided to patients in need free-of-charge. Donors around Rwanda are eager to help.
‘I always am happy to save a life of someone, even someone I don’t know, because in our (Rwandan) culture, we believe that to be human is to do good things to someone without being remunerated,’ said Euphrasie Uwase Maneno, a blood donor.”
— quoted from the 12 June 2019 World Health Organization report “Drones take Rwanda’s national blood service to new heights” by © National center for blood transfusion (NCBT) Rwanda
Please join me today (Saturday, June 14th) 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 on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “06142020 World Blood Donor Day”]
“[Canadian drone manufacturer Draganfly’s] medical drones, meanwhile, are equipped with temperature-controlled payload boxes that can be used to transport up to 35 pounds of blood, insulin, vaccines, and other supplies. They can fly for 40 minutes on a single charge.”
— quoted from the Freethink article “Medical drones to transport blood being rushed to Ukraine” by Kristin Houser (dated March 31, 2022)
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
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.)
### WHAT QUESTION(S) ARE YOU ASKING? ###
A Quick Note & EXCERPTS RE: Having A Say and Being Seen & Heard June 4, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Life, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.Tags: 1919, 1989, 19th Amendment, 988, Afterfeast of the Ascension, Arthur Brisbane, Caroline Myss, democracy, freedom, June 4th, PRIDE, protest, revolution, shabda, siddhis, Tess Flanders, Tiananmen Square
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone celebrating Pride and/or the Afterfeast of the Ascension.
Happy Pride!
“Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.”
— Arthur Brisbane (originally cited as Tess Flanders)
Take a moment to look around, as much as you are able, and then close your eyes.
What do you see (with your eyes closed)? By that I mean, what do you visualize? A big part of yesterday’s practice was how the mind/brain works with our eyes so that we can see. This same type of processing happens with all our sense organs. Information comes in, the mind/brain collects the information (in the form of sensation) and then communicates that information (via our mind/brain/intellect) in a way that we understand. This processing taps into certain siddhis or “abilities”, six of which are outlined in the Sāmkhya Karika as “powers unique to being human.” One of my favorite of the big six siddhis is the power of word (shabda); but, you know what they say….
So, let’s consider pictures… and all the other things that activate our senses; because, over time, we may associate certain sensations (images, sounds, scents, tastes, and/or textures) with certain words and concepts — so much so that those sensations could stand in place of the words themselves!
For example, what image comes to mind when you think of the word “freedom”?
How about, an image that comes to mind when you think of the word “democracy”?
How likely is it that someone else will imagine the same things as you? Pretty likely if you have similar experiences (i.e., if you grew up around the same time and in the same place).
Now, consider the idea of “fighting for freedom and democracy”. Do you still imagine the same thing(s)? It is possible that our visualizations for this phrase might vary and be a little different — even if we grew up in the same place, around the same time, and even if we have similar experiences. However, if we were playing a game like Big Picture Apples to Apples, where each player picks a picture card (from their hand) that they think another player will associate with a certain word, our shared experiences would probably make us pick the same cards (if we had the same hand) — or, at the very least, to recognize the pictures we each selected.
Here are two cards in my hand for today:
TANK MAN
Now, consider this second picture.
Tboyd5150 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
Having A Say & FTWMI: The Power of Being Seen & Heard (the “missing” Tuesday post)
“Your every choice, thought and feeling has biological, environmental, social, personal and global consequence. Actions motivated by personal will that trusts Divine authority, gives you the richest power.”
— quoted from “Morning Visual Meditation” (focus for Chakra 5) by Caroline Myss
Please join me today (Wednesday, June 4th) 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 “06042025 Having A Say, redux 2”]
NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes speeches that are not available on Spotify. I would add some more recent speeches…, but many of the 2024 speeches were “muted.”
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.)
NOTE: In the 2024 post excerpted above, I reference a handful of armed conflicts. According to Humanitarian Law & Policy analysis by Samit D’Cunha, Tristan Ferraro, and Thomas de Saint Maurice — all legal advisers for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “there are over 120 armed conflicts around the world, involving over 60 states and 120 non-state armed groups. The majority of these armed conflicts are of a non-international character, the number of which has tripled since the turn of the millennium.”
### • ###
Warrior Excerpts & FTWMI: How One Does Their Duty (the post-practice Monday post) April 7, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gandhi, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Karma Yoga, Lent / Great Lent, Life, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, William Wordsworth, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Bhagavad Gita, Chaitra Navaratri, Durga, Hero's Journey, Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr., Jack Hawley, Joseph Robinette Biden, KISS MY ASANA, MC Yogi, Mohandas Gandhi, Navaratri, Niraj Chag, Rama Navami, Siddhidhatri, siddhis, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, Warriors, William Wordsworth
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Peace and many blessings to all! “Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Chaitra Navaratri!” Peace and many blessings to those observing Lent & Great Lent!
This post-practice compilation for Monday, April 7th features a little new content, slightly revised excerpts, and (For Those Who Missed It) a short 2021 post. The 2025 prompt question was, “Who (or what) comes to mind when you think of a warrior?”
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.
“‘O Prince, your ignorance of your True Self Within is the cause of your present reluctance to act, just as the opposite of ignorance, Self-knowledge, would bring fearless action. So with the sword of wisdom sever the doubts in your heart. Arise, O best of men, take your stand. Be a warrior!’”
— Krishna speaking to Arjuna (4.42) in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley
What makes someone a warrior? What attributes come to mind when you think of a warrior? More importantly, how can we embody those attributes on and off the mat? Take a moment to consider those questions and then I have two (2) more questions for you….
-
Do you answers change when you consider that most “Warrior” poses in yoga are actually “Hero Friend” poses?
-
Do you answers change when you think of the warrior/hero friend as a woman?
The Fierce Mother Goddess (an excerpt):
During Navaratri, each of manifestation of Durga/Parvati manifestation is a symbolic milestone (and a reminder that women “contain multitudes”). The final day* is devoted to Siddhidhatri, whose name literally means “land/earth of achievements”. Her name can also be translated as “Giver of Perfection”, as She is believed to be endowed with all the siddhis (“abilities” or “powers”) in the Universe and, also, to be able to bestow all of them. Typically, however, She only gives nine of the multitudes — some of which are referenced in the Yoga Sūtras.
In art and literature, she is sometimes depicted as being half of Shiva (with Him being half of Her), meaning that they are the embodiment the yin/yang symbol. When they are shown together in this way, they are each known as Ardhanarishvara, Ardhanaranari, or similar names that all highlight the fact that They are partially a woman.
When we look at the hero(ine)’s journey — as told through each day’s story, we are reminded that Durga/Parvati is a warrior or, if you will, a hero friend.
*NOTE: During the big celebrations of Navaratri (in the Spring and Fall) the final day is a double celebration — which may mean more feasting in some regions and more fasting in others. For this current celebration of Chaitra Navaratri, some people are also celebrating Rama Navami — the birth of Rama.
For Those Who Missed It: How One Does Their Duty
“Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he
That every man in arms should wish to
be?”
— quoted from the poem “Character of the Happy Warrior” by William Wordsworth
It’s unlikely that you’ve heard someone referred to as “America’s Lord Nelson”. Unless, of course, the person being referenced was a member of the peerage whose name was Nelson. However, several modern politicians — including Minnesota’s own Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. (the 38th Vice President of the United States) and Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. (the 47th Vice President and 46th President of the United States) — have been called “the Happy Warrior”; because their personal constitutions fit the poem “The Character of the Happy Warrior” by William Wordsworth.
Born April 7, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England, Wordsworth was the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from April 6, 1843 — April 23, 1850. He wrote the poem about “the Happy Warrior” to eulogize (& idolize) Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB — whose views on slavery are currently under much scrutiny and debate.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
WHAT MAKES A WARRIOR HAPPY: 2019 Kiss My Asana Offering #7
“Whose high endeavors are an inward light
That makes the path before him always bright;”
— quoted from the poem “Character of the Happy Warrior” by William Wordsworth
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
The 2021 playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “04072021 Character of the Happy Warrior”]
“Dedicated
To all spiritual activists
Truth seekers and peaceful warriors
Worldwide
‘I regard myself as a soldier
Though a soldier of peace’”
— MC Yogi and Mohandas Gandhi, quoted from the Intro to the song “Be the Change (Niraj Chag’s Swaraj Mix)” by MC Yogi and Niraj Chag
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).
CORRECTION & ERRATA: During the practice and in the original post, I indicated that Rama Navami was the day after the ninth day/night of Navaratri; however, it is usually celebrated on the ninth day/night. Dussehra (which is literally the “ten[th]” and “defeat”) is after the celebration in the Fall.
A Joyful Practice 