Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Life, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Alecia Beth Moore, Carnival, Creativity, Dr. Gerald Edelman, Dr. Giulio Tononi, JET Magazine, Nelson Mandela, nervous system, P!nk, Ruth Carol Taylor, Season for Nonviolence, Theodore Dreiser, Thomas Edison
“Happy Carnival!” to those who are celebrating! Many blessings to everyone, everywhere!!
Peace, ease, contemplation, and creativity throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This is the “missing” (and backdated) post for Wednesday, February 11th (with excerpts). In addition to the new content and excerpts, it includes some re-purposed 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).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is simply to ask the right question. And sometimes the best way to ask the right question is to come up with an example that makes most explicit what the problem is about.”
— quoted from the “What Needs to Be Explained” section of “Part I. The World Knot — Chapter Two: The Special Problem of Consciousness” in A Universe of Consciousness: How Matter Becomes Imagination by Gerald M. Edelman and Giulio Tononi
On a certain level, life is a series of lessons… or puzzles… or questions seeking answers… or “problems that want to be solved”. How ever you think about it, life requires us to be creative. In fact, in discussing life, sleep, and the mind-body experience, Dr. Gerald Edelman and Dr. Giulio Tononi wrote, “If our view of memory is correct, in higher organisms every act of perception is, to some degree, an act of creation, and every act of memory is, to some degree, an act of imagination. Biological memory is thus creative and not strictly replicative. It is one of the essential bases of consciousness, to the mechanisms of which we now turn.”1
What the good doctors were saying is that, whether we realize it or not, we are all creative beings, creating all the time.
Now, if you are wondering how sleep got in there, consider that our parasympathetic nervous system — which is also connected to our ability to rest and digest — is also related to ability to create. We need to rest in order to digest (i.e., process) everything we consume — be it food and drink, ideas, media, experiences, etc. — and we need to process things in order to learn the lessons, solve the puzzles, answer the questions, and solve the problems of life. In other words, we need to rest and digest in order to engage our “creativity”, the principle of the day for the “Season for Nonviolence”.
Inventors like Thomas Alva Edison, who was born on February 11, 1847, are obviously remembered as being creative. If you think about it, creativity is also needed if you are a statesman and activist, like Nelson Mandela, and you want to change your country and the world. Also known as Madiba, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in prison; and one of the things that sustained his spirit and gave him hope — especially when he was in prison — was the creativity of others (often in the form of music). Finally, you know how handy creativity can be if you have ever experienced any kind of oppression and/or worked in the service industry. So, I am sure it was a useful tool for Ruth Carol Taylor, whose maiden flight was on this same date in 1958.
“‘I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph. No, when I have, fully decided that a result is worth getting, I go about it, and make trial after trial, until it comes.’”
— Thomas Edison, as quoted in “A Photographic Talk with Edison” by Theodore Dreiser (printed in Success Magazine, Feb. 1898)
Click on the excerpt title below for more about Thomas Alva Edison.
FTWMI: Getting the Light On
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
— Nelson Mandela
Click on the excerpt titles below for more about Nelson Mandela (including a note about Umqombothi a special beer).
Compassion and Peace (with reference to a “separated” time)
More Than 46664 (the “missing” Sunday post, with a reference to Monday’s practice)
“…[Ruth Carol Taylor] didn’t take the job because she thought being a flight attendant would be so great. She says she did it to fight discrimination.
‘It wasn’t something that I had wanted to do all my life,’ she tells JET about being a flight attendant. ‘I knew better than to think it was all that glamourous. But it irked me that people were not allowing people of color to apply… Anything like that sets my teeth to grinding.’”
— quoted from the JET Magazine article entitled, “First Black Flight Attendant Is Still Fighting Racism” (printed in the “Labor” section of the May 12, 1997 issue)
Click on the excerpt title below for more about some historic flights, including Ruth Carol Taylor’s 1958 flight.
En L’Air (a special Black History 2.5-for-1 note)
“Music is a great blessing. It has the power to elevate and liberate us. It sets people free to dream. It can unite us to sing with one voice. Such is the value of music.”
— Nelson Mandela speaking to musicians at a Freedom Day concert in London
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “02112023 Breath, Light, Freedom”]
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).
NOTE: 1 I often use an abbreviated version of this quote (courtesy of Dr. Oliver Sacks). It is originally from “Part III. Mechanisms of Consciousness: The Darwinian Perspective — Chapter Eight: Nonrepresentational Memory” in A Universe of Consciousness: How Matter Becomes Imagination by Gerald M. Edelman and Giulio Tononi.
### CREATE! ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Baha'i, Books, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Mantra, Meditation, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Babi, Baha'i, Baha’u’llah, bahai-faith, Baháʼí, Bábism, Birth of Baháʼu'lláh, Birth of the Báb, Committee at the Bahá’í World Centre, Diwali, Festival of the Twin Birthdays, Franz Liszt, Gāyatrī Mantra, Habib Taherzadeh, Kali Puja, Katha Upanishad, light, Love, Poetry, Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’, Shoghi Effendi, siblings, Swami Nikhilananda, the Báb, Thomas Edison, Yoga Sutra 1.36, Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.53
Happy Diwali and Kali Puja! Happy Festival of the Twin Birthdays! Blessings, light, love, and peace to everyone, everywhere!
May you be healthy, wealthy, and wise!
This “missing” compilation post for Wednesday, October 22nd, features some new and previously posted content, plus related excerpts. Please note that linked excerpts direct you to posts that will include content related to a specific year and, therefore, may include references to different holidays/events. 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.
“Yama said: ‘The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at and which men desire when they lead the life of continence, I will tell you briefly: it is Om.’”
— quoted from Katha Upanishad (Part I – Chapter II, Verse 15) translated by Swami Nikhilananda
Since Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, is a lunar calendar-based holiday, it falls at different times on the Gregorian calendar. In 2025, the fifth day of Diwali — which continues the focus on relationships, this time between siblings — overlaps the Festival of the Twin Birthdays (on the Baháʼí Faith calendar); the anniversary of the birth of Franz Listz (b. 1811)1; and a successful lightbulb moment (for Thomas Edison, in 1879).
Click on the excerpt title below for more about how the fifth day of Diwali shines light on siblings.
Oh, Brother! (or, Light On Siblings) *UPDATED*
“Brighten our hearts, O my Lord, with the splendor of Thy knowledge, and illumine our sight with the light of such eyes as are fixed upon the horizon of Thy grace and the Dayspring of Thy glory.”
— quoted from “– XXXI –” in Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh (Translated by Shoghi Effendi from the original Persian and Arabic)
As I mentioned earlier in the year, the Baháʼí Faith is a monotheistic faith that believes in the oneness of God and religion, as well as the oneness and nobility of humanity. The community believes that, historically, there has been a “progressive revelation of religious truth” which has been shared with the world through the voices of the prophets or Divine Messengers, known as “Manifestations of God” (which include “Braham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and, in more recent times, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh”). People within the faith are taught to honor the value of different religious and philosophical traditions as well as the value of education, especially in science (which is viewed by some faiths as being contrary to religion).
The Bahá’í calendar begins around the Vernal (Spring) Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and has 19 months with 19 days — each named for one of the 19 names/manifestations/attributes of God. For example, “Knowledge” is the English translation for ‘Ilm, the current month of this solar calendar.2 The fact that light can represent knowledge is one of the reasons I find this year’s overlap with Diwali particularly auspicious.
This last two days of Diwali (2025) overlap two of the nine Bahá’í Holy Days: the birthdays of the twin founders of the faith. Known as the Festival of the Twin Birthdays (or the Twin Holy Birthdays), the birthdays of the the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh started at sunset on Tuesday night and continue through sunset on Thursday night. The birthdays are celebrated as one continuous 48-hour “day” — even though the two prophets were born two years apart.
Born in Shiraz, Iran, on October 20, 1819,3 the Báb founded the Babi faith (or Bábism), which evolved into the Bahá’í Faith. While there are still people who follow the original messianic tradition, most people within the Babi community converted to the Bahá’í Faith. The Báb is sometimes compared to John the Baptist, in that he is seen as the herald or messenger born to announce the importance of Bahá’u’lláh.
Recognized as the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh was actually born two years earlier than his religious predecessor, in Tehran, Iran, on November 12, 1817.4 He outlined the laws, practices, and holy days of the Bahá’í Faith in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (the “Most Holy Book”) and later explained that the Twin Holy Birthdays were seen as one (by God) and that “… two great festivals have been joined into one, auguring a brilliant future.” These are work-free feast days full of joy and considered a celebration of the twin founders as well as of the unity of community.
“O peoples of the earth! Verily the resplendent Light of God hath appeared in your midst, invested with this unerring Book, that ye may be guided aright to the ways of peace and, by the leave of God, step out of the darkness into the light and onto this far-extended Path of Truth.”
— quoted from the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá’ (cf. Qur’án 5:15–18), as printed in Selections From the Writings of the Báb by the Báb (Compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice and translated by Habib Taherzadeh with the assistance of a Committee at the Bahá’í World Centre)
Click on the excerpt below for more about Thomas Edison’s 1879 “lightbulb moment”.
FTWMI: Getting the Light On
“However, the fact is that during the night season everyone perceiveth the light which he himself, according to his own capacity, giveth out, oblivious that at the break of day this light shall fade away and be reduced to utter nothingness before the dazzling splendor of the sun.
The light of the people of the world is their knowledge and utterance….”
— quoted from the Persian Bayán (VIII, 1.), as printed in Selections From the Writings of the Báb by the Báb (Compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice and translated by Habib Taherzadeh with the assistance of a Committee at the Bahá’í World Centre)
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Diwali (Day 5) for 10222025”]
NOTES:
1My only commentary about Franz Listz was that his music and biography brought a little light to Anne Frank (and her family) during the darkness that was the Holocaust.
2Since it is a moveable feast, the Festival of the Twin Birthdays can fall a month earlier or later, during Mashíyyat (“Will”) or Qudrat (“Power”). Bahá’u’lláh originally indicated that if the festival coincided with a fast, the feast would take precedent.
3The birthdays of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh occur on the first and second days of Muharram, the first month on the Islamic calendar.
4Prior to 2015, Baháʼí living in the Middle East celebrated the Twin Holy Birthdays according to the Islamic calendar (as noted above), while members of the community in other parts of the world used the Gregorian calendar dates.
Yoga Sūtra 1.36: viśokā vā jyotişmatī
— “Or [fixing the mind] on the inner state free of sorrow and infused with light, anchors the mind in stability and tranquility.”
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).
### Put Your Lights On ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Baha'i, Books, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Mantra, Meditation, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Bahá’u’lláh, Baháʼí, Birth of Baháʼu'lláh, Birth of the Báb, Diwali, Festival of the Twin Birthdays, Franz Liszt, Gāyatrī Mantra, Kali Puja, light, Love, siblings, the Báb, Thomas Edison, Yoga Sutra 1.36, Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.53
Happy Diwali and Kali Puja! Happy Festival of the Twin Birthdays! Blessings, light, love, and peace to everyone, everywhere!
May you be healthy, wealthy, and wise!
Even More Light [especially for siblings] (the “missing” compilation post w/excerpts for Wednesday)
Click on excerpt title above for more.
Please join me today (Wednesday, October 22nd) 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 “Diwali (Day 5) for 10222025”]
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 Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Mantra, Meditation, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Alfred Nobel, Atharva Veda, Birth of the Báb, Diwali, Gayatri Mantra, Gāyatrī Mantra, Kali Puja, light, Love, Thomas Edison, Yoga Sutra 1.36, Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.53
Happy Diwali and Kali Puja! Blessings, light, love, and peace to everyone, everywhere (and especially for those preparing to celebrate the Birth of the Báb !
“I go around your mind just as the sun[light] goes around heaven and earth
May you be the one loving me only, not another
may you not go away from me”
— Atharva Veda 6.8 (translated by Dr. R. L. Kashyap)
In addition to being the fourth day of Diwali, which is a day that shines light on love and devotion — especially between husbands and wives — October 21, 2025, is the anniversary of the birth of Alfred Nobel (b. 1833) and (may be) the anniversary of a successful moment in the life of Thomas Edison.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about the fourth day of Diwali.
FTWMI: Light On Love (*revised*)
“I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
— (attributed to) Thomas Edison
At some point, late on the evening of October 21st, or sometime in the wee early morning hours of October 22nd, 1879, Thomas Edison, age 32, tested what we now consider the first successful (commercially viable) electric light bulb.
Click on the excerpt title below to discover more about Thomas Edison and Dr. Alfred Nobel.
FTWMI: Getting the Light On
“If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied.”
— Dr. Alfred Nobel
Please join me today (Tuesday, October 21st) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into in the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Diwali (Day 4) 2020”]
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 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.
10/23/2025 Revised: Updated the second excerpt.
### KEEP LETTING YOUR LIGHT & YOUR LOVE SHINE! ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.
Tags: 988, asana, Carnival, Groundedness, JET Magazine, Lunar New Year, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Carol Taylor, Spring Festival, Theodore Dreiser, Thomas Edison, Year of the Snake, Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.49
Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Spring Festival (and getting ready for the Lantern Festival).
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This is the “missing” post for Tuesday, February 11th. It contains a quick note and excerpts. 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.
“When you are grounded you are completely present, your mind is still, and you are totally focused. It is from this place of being grounded that you can operate most effectively….”
— quoted from the “Reflection” section of the “Day 12 ~ February 11 ~ Groundedness” page for the “Season for Nonviolence,” provided by the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace
While Patanjali said very little about asana (“seat” or pose) in the Yoga Sūtras, his initial instruction is literally (and figuratively) the beginning of every practice: “sthirasukham āsanam — cultivate a steady (or stable), easy (comfortable or joyful) seat (or pose).” (YS 2.46) There is a little bit more in the next few sūtras, which can help us deepen the experience, but everything else comes from that very first part: sthira — which is ultimately a sense of groundedness.
Being grounded allows us to relax, to release, to get a little bit more comfortable and breathe. Being grounded allows us to notice the different parts of your breath and to play with the breath. Being grounded allows us to move the body in certain ways; to notice how it feels to move and breathe; and, also to notice what we notice. We can extend and expand, contract and release, and even find our rhythm because we are supported, grounded.
There are different ways to be grounded and “groundedness”, the “Season for Nonviolence” principle for Tuesday, February 11th, is just as important off the mat as it is on the mat. For instance, if you were getting ready for the Lantern Festival (as many people were on the 14th day of the Lunar New Year), you would want a stable place to work. Similarly, if you were someone working with electricity and inventing something that allowed people to (more safely) see the light — like Thomas Alva Edison, who was born on February 11, 1847 — you would want be grounded. If you were someone bringing your country out of darkness and oppression, like Nelson Mandela — who was freed from prison on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in prison — you would want to be grounded in your values, heritage, and culture. You would also need to be grounded in your values and purpose if changing/making history required you to soar — as Ruth Carol Taylor did on this same date in 1958.
Of course, none of the stories referenced on Tuesday (or Wednesday) were all sunshine and light. They are, however, reminders that being grounded will help us get through challenging times.
“‘I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph. No, when I have, fully decided that a result is worth getting, I go about it, and make trial after trial, until it comes.’”
— Thomas Edison, as quoted in “A Photographic Talk with Edison” by Theodore Dreiser (printed in Success Magazine, Feb. 1898)
Click on the excerpt below for more about Thomas Alva Edison.
FTWMI: Getting the Light On
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
— Nelson Mandela
Click on the excerpts below for more about Nelson Mandela (including a note about Umqombothi a special beer).
Compassion and Peace (with reference to a “separated” time)
More Than 46664 (the “missing” Sunday post, with a reference to Monday’s practice)
“…[Ruth Carol Taylor] didn’t take the job because she thought being a flight attendant would be so great. She says she did it to fight discrimination.
‘It wasn’t something that I had wanted to do all my life,’ she tells JET about being a flight attendant. ‘I knew better than to think it was all that glamourous. But it irked me that people were not allowing people of color to apply… Anything like that sets my teeth to grinding.’”
— quoted from the JET Magazine article entitled, “First Black Flight Attendant Is Still Fighting Racism” (printed in the “Labor” section of the May 12, 1997 issue)
Click on the excerpt below for more about some historic flights, including Ruth Carol Taylor’s 1958 flight.
En L’Air (a special Black History 2.5-for-1 note)
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “02112023 Breath, Light, Freedom”]
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).
###FOUNDATION IS KEY ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Healing Stories, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, Carnival, Lunar New Year, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Carol Taylor, Spring Festival, Thomas Edison, Year of the Snake
Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Spring Festival (and getting ready for the Lantern Festival).
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
“When you are grounded you are completely present, your mind is still, and you are totally focused. It is from this place of being grounded that you can operate most effectively….”
— quoted from the “Reflection” section of the “Day 12 ~ February 11 ~ Groundedness” page for the “Season for Nonviolence,” provided by the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace
Please join me today (Tuesday, February 11th) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “02112023 Breath, Light, Freedom”]
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).
### ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 7-Day Challenge, Bhakti, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Sukkot, Tragedy, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.
Tags: 988, A. H. Wilson, Alan Walker, Alfred Nobel, Anne Frank, Bhagavad Gita, Ecclesiastes, epiphany., Franz Liszt, gratitude, Jack Hawley, King Solomon, Kohelet, light, Sukkot, svadyaya, svādhyāya, Theodore Dreiser, Thomas Edison, tov
“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. May everyone follow through on a good idea!!
This is the “missing” post for Tuesday, October 22nd (with some references to October 21st). It includes some previously posted content and an excerpt. 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.
“Breath of breath, said the Teacher; [like the shadow of mist that passes], all is breath.*
What profit has man in all his toil that he toils under the sun?
A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth endures forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets, and to its place it yearns and rises there.
It goes to the south and goes to the north; the will goes around and around, and the will returns to its circuits.”
— Kohelet — Ecclesiastes (1:2 – 6)
(*NOTE: The Hebrew word “hevel” (variations of which occur in K-E 1.2, 3 times in the singular and twice in the plural, for a total of 7 times) is often translated into English as “vanity,” “futility” or “meaningless,” but is literally translated as “breath.)
Once again, we are faced with that time-honored — and time-honoring — question: “How could I spend my time?”
Since last Wednesday at sunset marked the beginning of Sukkot, some people have spent time in a a sukkah, a temporary shelter consisting of three walls of any material and a roof made of natural fiber. (Natural being something grown from the earth.) As I have mentioned before (see link above), people within the Jewish community and people who observe holidays commanded in Devarim / Deuteronomy, celebrate the “Festival (or Feast) of the Tabernacles (or Booths)” for seven days, 8 in the diaspora.
People will eat, sleep, socialize, and sometimes work in their temporary shelter — but, not necessarily every day. The first two days of Sukkot are both yom tov (“good day”), meaning they are the commanded days with obligations and restrictions similar to those observed on Shabbat (the Sabbath). For some, this means that normal every day work is forbidden. Depending on ethnicity and tradition, certain prayers, rituals, and traditions are only observed on the first two days, on the first and last two days, or throughout the week. For example, in some traditions, the time in the sukkah is the time to read Kohelet / Ecclesiastes.
“Everything has an appointed season, and there is a time for every matter under the heaven.”
— Kohelet — Ecclesiastes (3:1)
While many people — even non-religious people in various religious traditions — are familiar with the third chapter of Kohelet / Ecclesiastes, they may not realize that what comes before could be translated in a less than hopeful way. For example, if “hevel” is translated as “vanity,” “futility” or “meaningless,” the beginning not only reinforces the temporal nature of life, it makes it seem as if there is no point in doing anything. When everything we do — all the work we do — is seen as pointless, then our earlier question becomes, “Why bother doing anything?” or “What’s the point of doing anything?”
Of course, the point that the Teacher (King Solomon) reaches is the same point that Krishna explains to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita: there is good, there is evil, there is wisdom, there is ignorance/foolishness and — perhaps most importantly — that we are “supposed to live a truth-based life, a life of dharma [duty].” (BG 2.2)
Oh, and also, “Be happy. This is your opportune moment!” (BG 2.32)
“‘The ideal, Arjuna, is to be intensely active and at the same time have no selfish motives, no thoughts of personal gain or loss. duty uncontaminated by desire leads to inner peacefulness and increased effectiveness. This is the secret art of living a life of real achievement!’” (2.47 excerpt)
“‘To work without desire may seem impossible, but the way to do it is to substitute thoughts of Divinity for thoughts of desire. Do your work in this world with your heart fixed on the Divine instead of on outcomes. Do not worry about results. Be even tempered in success or failure. This mental evenness is what is mean by yoga…. Indeed, equanimity is yoga!’” (2.48)
— Krishna speaking to Arjuna in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley
Being “even tempered in success or failure” is easier said than done. While there are some people who seem to be born with an even-tempered disposition, many (maybe most) others have to work at it; practice, in order to cultivate the habit. We can learn a lot from either personality type, especially if we do a little svādhyāya (“self-study”) and put ourselves in their shoes.
For instance, how would you react if, like Alfred Nobel (born October 21, 1833), you spent much of your adult life working to make the world a better place — only to find out in a moment of grief that the world hated you (and your life’s work)?
Or, how would you spend your time if, after several months of working long hours (and after what others considered failures), you finally successfully tested the first (commercially viable) electric light bulb — as 32-year old Thomas Edison did in the late on the evening of October 21st, or sometime in the wee early morning hours of October 22nd, 1879?
Finally, how would you react if, after 35 years of success, all your hard work went up in smoke? Would you spend your time the way Thomas Edison and his team did in 1914? Would you give up or would you be gleeful, joyful, and grateful for what was to come?
“There’s only one thing to do, and that is to jump right in and rebuild.”
— A. H. Wilson, vice president and general manager of Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park
The following excerpt is from 2020/2023 post:
“Some would say that the ‘ah-ha’ moment came to Thomas Edison one night when he was ‘absent mindedly’ rolling a piece of lampblack (or black carbon) between his fingers. But such a depiction ignores all the previous experiments, his scientific knowledge, and the fact he had used lampblack in his telephone transmitter. Such a premise also discounts the additional changes that would be made before the bulb was commercially viable.”
“These are some sombre thoughts which amount to morbidity in one so young. Yet they ran like leitmotifs through the heart and brain of the youthful Liszt. The fifteen-year old boy kept a diary…. Containing quotations from St. Paul and St. Augustine, this journal also preserves Liszt’s own thoughts.
Wasting time is one of the worst faults of the world. Life is so short, every moment is so precious and yet, we live as if life will never end. [page 21]”
— quoted from “Book One: The Young Prodigy, 1811-1829 — Paris and the First World Tours ~ [Part] IX” of Franz Liszt: The Virtuoso Years, 1811-1847 (Revised Edition) by Alan Walker
Franz Liszt is on the 2024 remixed playlist (and the earlier playlists for this date), because he was born October 22, 1811, in Doborján, Kingdom of Hungary, Austrian Empire. During the Tuesday evening practice, I mentioned that he was on the playlist because it was the anniversary of his birth and that I knew some people found hope in his music (and his life story) during the Holocaust. I did not know, however, how he dealt with setbacks and/or “failures”.
Turns out, Franz Liszt lived a somewhat charmed life up until his father died unexpectedly, when Franz was 16. That is not to say that he didn’t have any bad days before that. In fact, he definitely struggled a bit over touring versus the possibility of religious life. However, after his father’s death, those struggles become all-consuming. His health suffered; he developed some bad habits (which made his health worse); he suffered his first romantic heartbreak; and even stopped playing and composing music. Eventually, however, he rallied, bounced back, and even played concerts that benefited people who had suffered great tragedies. Some credit his resilience to him cultivating a deeper spiritual/religious connection.
“‘Those who see Me in everything and everything in Me, know the staggering truth that the Self in the individual is the Self in all. As they live in constant spiritual awareness, I am never out of their sight or lost to them – nor are they every out of My sight or lost to Me.’” (6.30)
— Krishna speaking to Arjuna in The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Sukkot 6 for 10222024”]
“‘I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph. No, when I have, fully decided that a result is worth getting, I go about it, and make trial after trial, until it comes.’”
— Thomas Edison, as quoted in “A Photographic Talk with Edison” by Theodore Dreiser (printed in Success Magazine, Feb. 1898)
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).
### Sunlight/Daylight, Sustainable Electric Lights, Heart Light ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Lent / Great Lent, Life, Meditation, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: Brahmacharini, Carnival, Charl Blignaut, Che Kung, Dr. Miranda Brown, Durga, Estomihi, Gupta Navaratri, Helen Zaltzman, Léopoldine Emma Doualla-Bell Smith, Lunar New Year, Madiba, Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, Navaratri, Nelson Mandela, Parvati, Quinquagesima, Ruth Carol Taylor, Sam Hui, Season for Nonviolence, Season of Non-violence, Shrovetide, Spring Festival, The Gospel According to Luke, Thomas Edison, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Year of the Dragon, Yvonne Chaka Chaka
“Happy (Lunar) New Year!” and/or “Happy Carnival!” to those who are already celebrating! Many blessings to anyone preparing for Lent. “Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Gupta (Magha) Navaratri!” Peace and ease throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This is the “missing” post for Sunday, February 11th. It includes some previously posted information (updated for 2024) and embedded links to related posts. You can request a recording of the related practice(s) via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email me at 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. Donations are tax deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“When you are grounded you are completely present, your mind is still, and you are totally focused. It is from this place of being grounded that you can operate most effectively….”
— quoted from the “Reflection” section of the “Day 12 ~ February 11 ~ Groundedness” page for the “Season for Nonviolence,” provided by the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace
For some people, there was nothing special about today.
I mean, every day is special and every day that you can be grounded in the present is special. But, for some this day is just like any other date on the calendar.
Oh, sure, maybe you know that Thomas Alva Edison was born February 11, 1847, and that this was a special day for Nelson Mandela, who was freed from prison today in 1990, after 27 years in prison.* Maybe you remember last year’s Black History post about the history (before and after) Ruth Carol Taylor’s much heralded and publicized flight today in 1958. Or, maybe you were one of those people excited about the Super Bowl… or the halftime show… or something related.
But, all of that is history and — unless you mark some personal special occasion on February 11th — there is nothing extra special about today.
It’s just an ordinary… regular Sunday… on the Gregorian calendar.
“财神到 财神到
Caishen dao caishen dao [The god of wealth has come! The god of wealth has come!]
好心得好报
Hao xinde hao bao [Good news]
财神话 财神话
Caishenhua caishenhua [Myth of money, myth of money]
揾钱依正路
wen qian yi zhenglu [if you follow the right path]”
— quoted from the song “Cai Shen Dao” [“The God of Wealth Has Come!” by Sam Hui, lyrics in Hanzi [Chinese characters], pīnyīn [“spelled sounds”], and English
Of course, not everyone uses the Gregorian calendar. So, for some people today (Sunday) was the second day of the Lunar New Year designated as the Year of the (wood) Dragon. In parts of China and the diaspora, it was also the second day of the Spring Festival, a fifteen day celebration that culminates with the Lantern Festival. Each region that celebrates the Lunar New Year, places special significance on each day and highlights that significance with different stories, traditions, and food.
Food is a big part of the Spring Festival traditions. Certain foods are associated with certain deities and stories. Additionally, as Dr. Miranda Brown (who teaches at the University of Michigan, in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures) explained to Helen Zaltzman on episode 189 of The Allusionist, certain foods are consumed (or not consumed) during the Spring Festival because their names (in Chinese) are homophones that sound exactly like — or, very similar to — words that mean “gold,” “abundance, or surplus,” “becoming successful,” “many riches,” and “good fortune for all.” There are even noodles specifically called, “long life noodles.” Obviously people want to eat those things. Similarly, things that sound (and look) like the characters of bad fortune are to be avoided.
Some people honor the god of land on the second day, while others celebrate the birthday of all dogs. Traditionally, the second day is a day when daughters who had married and moved away from home would return to visit their birth families — which meant their families would welcome the son-in-laws. In some places, this second day of the new year is actually dedicated to the son-in-laws.
For some (particularly Cantonese people), the second day is known as “beginning of the year” and it marks the beginning of a new business year. As such, there are blessings and prayers for a prosperous new year. From 221 B. C. until 1912 A. D., it was common for beggars and the unemployed in China to spend today carrying around a picture of the God of Wealth and shouting, “Cai Shen Dao” ! [“The God of Wealth has come!” in Mandarin] In exchange for their pronouncement, they would receive “lucky money” from families and businesses.
In some parts of China, people celebrate the birthday of Che Kung on his “actual” birthday (the second), while others celebrate on the third day of the year. A military general of the Southern Song Dynasty, Che Kung is believed to have been capable of suppressing rebellions and plagues. Some even consider him “God of Protection.” Hong Kong and Guangdung Province are two of the places where people traditionally have a procession and visit a temple dedicated to Che Kung. Despite the pandemic, thousands of people visited the temple in Sha Tin in 2021; however, masks, temperature checks, and a health registration were required. In 2022, vaccinations were encouraged and people were required to use the “Leave Home Safe” app, which is a free digital contract tracing app launched by the Hong Kong government. In 2023, some media outlets reported a few less people than normal, while others reported more people than the previous year. Both scenarios could be true, but in either case, most people are hoping, praying, and wishing for a better business year.
People who travel to the temple on the second and third days of the new year give thanks, light red candles and incense sticks, and present offerings. Some will spin a golden pinwheel outside of the temple to maintain good luck from the previous year or to change their fortune in the New Year. Some will even buy a personal pinwheel. There is also a big ceremony around drawing fortune sticks, which people believe offers guidance for the coming year and can be interpreted by a fortune teller. Of course, this year (like the last three years), a lot of people are seeking guidance about how to proceed in a way that eliminates suffering (given the long term ramifications of the pandemic).
While billions of people around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, many in India and the diaspora are celebrating (Gupta) Navaratri. As I mentioned on Saturday, the 9-night celebrations of Durga, the divine mother, in various manifestations, technically occurs four times a year. However, since this time of year is one of the least celebrated Navaratri holidays, it is considered “secret” or “hidden” (i.e., not obvious). The second day/night is dedicated to Durga as Brahmacharini (“Unmarried One“), a form of Parvati who is devoted to the path of Yoga. In art, she has all the symbols of an ascetic: bare feet, a mala (rosary) and a kamandalu (water pot). People consider her a symbol of bliss and calmness and pray to her for moksha (“liberation” from suffering), peace, and prosperity.
Of course, there are billions of people who look to another manifestation of the divine for peace.
A variation of the following was previously posted in 2021 (with additional context added in 2023).
“Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.”
— The Gospel According to St. Luke (18:31, NIV)
For some Western Christians, the fact that today is a “Regular” or “Ordinary” day means it is outside specifically designated periods of liturgy. For some, today is specifically referenced as Quinquagesima, as it is 50 days before Easter (including the Sundays, which are excluded when counting the 40 Days of Lent). For others, within Western Christian traditions, today is Shrove Sunday (which, in some traditions is also Transfiguration Sunday). Still others, specifically some Catholics who use the Latin Psalters, observe today as Estomihi, which comes from the opening lines of many services on this day: “Inclina ad me aurem tuam, accelera ut eruas me. Esto mihi in Deum protectorem: et in domum refugii, ut salvum me facias.” (“Incline your ear to me. Hasten to rescue me. Be for me a protector God and a house of refuge, so as to accomplish my salvation.”)
Keep in mind that these are all “moveable feasts,” meaning their dates on the secular calendar change depending on the date of Easter each year. Also keep in mind that the Western and Eastern Churches have different calendars — and not all Orthodox communities share the same liturgical schedule. So, these last days of Shrovetide (which includes Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday) will be observed by some Eastern Christian traditions in March.**
Just as people start preparations for the Lenten season at different times, people have different ways of getting ready. Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations are opportunities for people to indulge in the things they plan to give up, as the Lenten season is a period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter. Whether fasting or feasting, there is a symbolic association with food. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, especially in Slavic countries, the last week before Lent is known as Maslenitsa (Belarusian: Масленіца, Russian: Мaсленица, Rusyn: Пущаня, Ukrainian: Маслянаas) or Butter Lady, Butter Week, Crepe week, or Cheesefare Week, making the last Sunday before Lent (which this year will be March 17th, according to some Eastern schedules) Cheesefare Sunday.
Rather than focusing on indulging, however, some Christians designate the three weeks before Lent as Shrovetide. Shrove comes from the word “shrive,” meaning “to absolve” and, for Christians who are focused on “shriving,” Shrovetide is a period of self-examination, repentance, and amendments of sins. In the Orthodox traditions, Shrove Sunday is also known as “Forgiveness Sunday,” which includes “Forgiveness Vespers.” By emphasizing forgiveness of sins and transgressions, as well as fasting, as a foundation for beginning the Great Lent, people believe that they will be better able to focus on the spiritual aspects of life with a pure heart.
“As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”
— The Gospel According to St. Luke (9:29 – 31, NIV)
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Quinquagesima 2022”]
NOTE: This playlist has been revised for 2024, but the practice timings have not changed.
“During apartheid, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela once summoned Yvonne Chaka Chaka to her Soweto home to deliver a note and a message from her husband in prison on Robben Island.
‘It was just a note to say “your music keeps us, your fathers, alive in jail”,’ the Princess of Africa told me earlier this year. I asked her if Madiba ever told her what song of hers he enjoyed most.
‘Umqombothi,’ she replied. It remains her most popular track.”
— quoted from the 12 Dec 2013 City Press article, “Who was Mandela’s favourite singer?” by Charl Blignaut
CORRECTIONS: * Umqombothi is not “butter beer,” as I referred to it during the practice. It is, however, “special beer.” Click here for an additional post about Madiba, music, and the significance of this beer.
**I think I have finally found a good calendar converter! However, during the practice, I defaulted to the idea that there is a one week difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars — which is not currently accurate and does not take into consideration that different Orthodox communities use different calendars. I apologize for the confusion.
### ARE YOU (GETTING) READY? ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Music.
Tags: Franz Liszt, Sharada Navaratri, Thomas Edison
“Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Sharada Navaratri!” May everyone have peace and happiness. May everyone be healthy and strong; may everyone be peaceful and happy. May everyone follow through on a good idea!!
This is the “missing” music for Sunday, October 22nd. My apologies for not posting before the practice. 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.
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.)
### LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Life, Loss, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Suffering, Tragedy, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: A. H. Wilson, Alfred Nobel, Atma Kripa, Epiphany, epiphany., Ian Fleming, Menlo Park, Sharada Navaratri, Theodore Dreiser, Thomas Edison, Three Magi
“Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Sharada Navaratri!” May everyone have peace and happiness. May everyone be healthy and strong; may everyone be peaceful and happy. May everyone follow through on a good idea!!
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted today in 2020. Even though I will talk about elements of this post, today’s practice is REALLY not about the lightbulb (or dynamite). Class details have been updated.
“‘I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph. No, when I have, fully decided that a result is worth getting, I go about it, and make trial after trial, until it comes.’”
— Thomas Edison, as quoted in “A Photographic Talk with Edison” by Theodore Dreiser (printed in Success Magazine, Feb. 1898)
We often think of “ah-ha” or “eureka” moments, light bulb moments, and epiphanies as being sudden and unexpected. In fact, the word “epiphany” comes to us from Greek (by way of Middle English, Latin, and in some sense Old French) from a word that means “reveal.” And, one of the definitions is “a moment of sudden revelation or insight” – reinforcing the idea that something is happening in the snap of a finger. The reality, however, is that there is a back story to ah-ha moments, epiphanies, and even the Epiphany.
Consider that The Three Magi wouldn’t follow the star from the East to honor “‘the child who has been born king of the Jews’” if there wasn’t a foundation of faith. Theoretically, without his background in science, Ian Fleming would have returned to his lab and thrown out the culture plates he had forgotten to clean when he left for his 2-week vacation in 1928. Without all his previous years of research, he wouldn’t have known what he was looking at and he wouldn’t be credited with discovering penicillin. Then there is Thomas Edison, who had a lot of “light bulb moments.”
Thomas Alva Edison, born February 11, 1847, didn’t invent electric lights (or even light bulbs). They already existed when he set up his Menlo Park, New Jersey lab in 1876, but electric lights were too bright for household use, burned too quickly, and could be dangerous when they melted. So, most people just stuck with gaslights. The problem with gaslight was that it was also dangerous and didn’t provide consistent light (because it flickered). Edison decided he could do better… he just had to invent the infrastructure to safely bring electricity into people’s homes, interior fixtures, and some kind of cost-effective and efficient bulb. The bulb, it turned out, was the rub.
“I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
— (attributed to) Thomas Edison
Edison and his team spent several months working 16 – 18 hours at a stretch and testing at least 1,600 different materials – including fishing line, coconut fibers, beard hair, and platinum wire. The platinum wire was moderately successful in that it typically had a high melting point. However, additional research showed that air absorption weakened the filament causing it to melt at lower temperatures than expected. Edison, resolved the issue with a vacuum bulb, but ultimately deemed the design (with its low electrical resistance) too expensive. So, back to the drawing board they went; breaking up their hours upon hours of work with beer and music played (by Edison) on the lab’s pipe organ.
Some would say that the “ah-ha” moment came to Thomas Edison one night when he was “absent mindedly” rolling a piece of lampblack (or black carbon) between his fingers. But such a depiction ignores all the previous experiments, his scientific knowledge, and the fact he had used lampblack in his telephone transmitter. Such a premise also discounts the additional changes that would be made before the bulb was commercially viable. Either way, at some point late on the evening of October 21st, or sometime in the wee early morning hours of October 22nd, 1879, Thomas Edison, age 32, tested what we now consider the first successful (commercially viable) electric light bulb. The carbonized cotton could burn for up to 14½ hours. Later, Edison would switch to bamboo fiber, which lasted for 1,200 hours.
During his lifetime, Thomas Edison would be granted over 1,083 patents for things like the phonograph, the carbon transmitter, the motion picture camera, and the commercial electric light bulb. He was married with children, had influential friends in high (and low) places, and successfully ran an industry that provided for his family and the families of others. Then, at an age that was considered significantly old at the time, he lost “everything. At around 5:20 PM on December 9th, 1914 an explosion ripped through the lab, destroying ten buildings, thousands of prototypes, and years of research. By the time the fire was contained, a little after midnight on December 10th, the damage was estimated at over $2 million dollars and affected over half of the plant’s property. The loss was even bigger when people realized that the insurance wouldn’t even cover a half of the damage.
While those around him were devastated, the 67-year old was in awe of the fire produced by all the different chemicals, fibers, fabrics, and elements in the labs. He was also energized about the possibility of starting over the very next day! His resilient attitude was contagious and, thanks in part to a loan from his friend Henry Ford, the plant was back in operation within three weeks. By the end of the following year, the plant had almost $10 million dollars in revenue.
“It’s all right. We’ve just got rid of a lot of rubbish.”
— Thomas Edison (to his son Charles), as quoted in a 1961 Reader’s Digest article
“There’s only one thing to do, and that is to jump right in and rebuild.”
— A. H. Wilson, vice president and general manager of Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park
Speaking of resilience and starting over: Today is the anniversary of the birth of the chemist, engineer, inventor, and philanthropist Alfred Nobel. Born today in 1833, the founder of the Nobel Prizes was flabbergasted when his brother Ludvig died (in 1888) to discover that all of his efforts to make gunpowder safer had been completely misunderstood and condemned. A French newspaper erroneously reported the wrong brother’s death and proclaimed Alfred “The merchant of death” who “became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before.” Losing (yet another) sibling, reading your own obituary, and having your “death” celebrated by people who considered your life’s work to be evil would be devastating to most. And, it probably was to Dr. Nobel. It was also, however, the catalyst that led to the Nobel Prizes, which are given to “to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”
Officially presented on the (actual) anniversary of Dr. Nobel’s death, December 10th (1896), the prizes in physical science, in chemistry, in medical science or medicine, in literature are presented at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden; while the Peace Prize, given to someone who has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses,” is awarded in Oslo, Sweden. In addition to the original five prizes established by Dr. Nobel’s will, there is a “memorial” prize in Economics, which is also presented at the Stockholm ceremony. Nobel Laureates receive a gold medal, a diploma, and a substantial monetary award.
“If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied.”
— Dr. Alfred Nobel
Please join me today (Saturday, October 21st) at 12:00 PM, for a 90-minute yoga practice on Zoom. Use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10212020 Lightbulb Moments”]
“Go get your mother and all her friends. They’ll never see a fire like this again.”
— Thomas Edison (to his son Charles), as quoted in a 1961 Reader’s Digest article
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.)
### KEEP YOUR LIGHTS ON ###
A Joyful Practice 