new year wisdom

in the tibetan tradition..

the day before the new year begins

one cleans the house..

the barn.. the desk..studio...purse..

cupboards are emptied of olde food, medicines ~

wooden spoons and cutting boards are oiled anew ~ 

papers are burned..
olde candles half burned are lit to their end..
silver polished..stacks re-stacked..
the clarity of home and hearth
are reflected
in the mirror of the mind ~

may it be just so!

so teach us to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom..

                              psalms 90:12

change is constant ~ no class 3 january

forgive the intrusion of confusion..
there is NO yoga class on
saturday, the 3rd of january 2015

regular schedule resumes
epiphany ~
tuesday,  january 6 8AM

empty

if you can empty your own boat
crossing the river of the world,
no one will oppose you,
no one will seek to harm you.
             ~ chuang tzu

holidaze schedule in a nut shell

what kind of nut, you ask?

tuesdays ~
Decembre 23 & 30  8AM

saturdays ~
Decembre 27 & January 3 2015  9AM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBRE 31ST
!!  10 AM  !!
regular asana class followed by -
Japanese bell ceremony
bring bells ~
2-hour sesshin

solstice blessings..here comes the sun!

Almond blossom, sent to teach us
That the spring days soon will reach us ~
                  Sir Edwin Arnold, Almond Blossom

2015 heart sutra sits..

2015!
40 years of guiding yoga classes ~ 2015
no realizations just yet..
- right around the corner!

heart sutra
for the new year..
~ mark your calendars ~

SUNDAY JANUARY 18
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15
4-6 pm
by donation

that's as far as we've gotten
into the new year..
be blessed!

bull’s eye

heart sutra

could’ve been the coyote’s lament -

that wistful cry of the loon..

wind carried this arrow of loneliness

mid-rib 

full center

on the mark

my heart..

the heart of any who wait by the door

shivered..and asked..

who is calling?

who is coming home?

                             

sunset decembre 17 1273

rumi died this day..
the anniversary of his death is called his urs  ~ 
wedding night w/ the beloved ~
he felt that the union w/ the presence
of the one he calls the beloved ..or the friend..
was as natural as breathing..
union w/ that companion
transpires throughout and animates the universe..

i'll say..
his tomb is in konya..turkey..
visited by thousands yearly..

above the door this is written:

i belong to the beloved,
have seen the two worlds as one,
and that one call to and know,
first, last, outer, inner,
only that breath breathing human being.

how alive is he to all of us ~
who read him ..a balm for the heart..

this..from his rubaiyat.. today ..

someone who received 
half a loaf of bread from heaven
and because of her soul's attainment
was given a little nest,
someone who neither desires anybody
nor is desired by anyone -
may she live happily,
for she owns a happy universe.
             translated by kabir helminski

holidaze yoga schedule - new year's eve bell ceremony

ROHATSU - december 8
buddha & buddies sitting the morning star awake!

'tis the season..
as the sun moves northward..
we will be generating joy to the world, eh?

remember :
heart sutra sit
sunday december 14th
4-6 pm
by donation

dunja's class schedule :
yes!
TUESDAY,
12/23  8am

no classes -
wednesday, the 24th - friday, the 26th
yes!
SATURDAY,
12/27   9am

yes!
TUESDAY
12/30  8am
YES!
wednesday
12/31 
*10 AM*
special class w/ bell ceremony
plan on a 2-hour sesshin..
(yes, i know how to spell session..)
1 & 1/2 hour asana & 1/2 hour bell ceremony
please bring a bell (there will be a few extras) and a small piece of paper with your  affirmations for the new year and /or regrets from the year past. we will ring our bells 108 times and each person will have an opportunity to place their prayer in the burning bowl. 
all will be burned at the end of the ceremony. we will set up chairs for those who have knees & hips..we will sit for a wee while in stillness..what a way to ring in 2015!

no classes -
wednesday evening (12/31) 7pm - friday, january 2 2015
yes!
SATURDAY,
1/3  9am

whew!

glad tidings and good cheer

1269 = elephant post !

palms together..

trunks uplifted and trumpeting!!!

we sent off the trunkful of donations yesterday..

on st. nick's day..

st. nick is the patron saint of orphans..

how auspicious! that we would offer $1269

to the orphaned elephants of the planet ~

one of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us

to welcome and help people (elephants) in a way we couldn't

as individuals. 

when we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility,

we can welcome many people (elephants), those in deep distress..

                     ~ jean vanier

we certainly could have sent our individual donations 

one by one..yet..as a yoga shala..we are unified..

and it is too much fun to see how vast and wealthy

we are together!

ursula le quin says in a book..

true wealth is spending..

i understand that to say..

true wealth is giving

&

rumi tells us..

generosity is a gainful trade!

thank you all for sharing your true wealth..

your giving spirit..your deep pockets of kindness..

praises!

dhammapada chapter 23 : the elephant

patiently i shall bear harsh words as the

elephant bears arrows on the battlefield.

people are often inconsiderate.

only a trained elephant goes to the battlefield;

only a trained elephant carries a king. best 

among men are those who have trained their 

mind to endure harsh words patiently.

mules are good animals when trained; even

better are well-trained sind horses and great

elephants. best among men is one with a 

well-trained mind.  no animal can take you

to nirvana; only a well-trained mind can

lead you to the untrodden land.

the elephant dhanapalaka in heat will not eat

at all when he is bound; he pines for his mate

in the elephant grove.

eating too much, sleeping too much, like an

overfed hog, those too lazy to exert effort are

born again and again.

long ago my mind used to wander as it liked

and do what it wanted. now i can rule my

mind as the mahout controls the elephant

with his hooked staff.

be vigilant; guard your mind against negative

thoughts. pull yourself out of bad ways as an

elephant raises itself out of the mud.

if you find a friend who is good, wise, and

loving, walk with him all the way and over-

come all dangers.

if you cannot find a friend who is good, wise,

and loving, walk alone, like a king who has

renounced his kingdom or an elephant roam-

ing at will in the forest. it is better to be alone

than to live with the immature. be contented,

and walk alone like an elephant roaming in the

forest. turn away from evil.

it is good to have friends when friendship is

mutual. good deeds are friends at the time of

death. but best of all is going beyond sorrow. 

it is good to be a mother, good to be a father,

good to be one who follows the dharma. but

best of all is to be an illumined sage.

it is good to live in virtue, good to have faith,

good to attain the highest wisdom, good to

be pure in heart and mind. this will bring you

lasting joy.

december heart sutra

once a month,
we gather together
to chant the heart sutra and sit silently..

sunday
december 14th
4-6 pm
by donation 

om gate gate 
para gate para samgate
bodhi svaha! 

elephant trunk!

november‘s end  -  2014

hello dear elephant sanctuary -

our yoga studio..

a wing and a prayer

had a benefit class on thanksgiving morning

for you!!

enclosed are our cheques for :

( awaiting a few more offerings -

will publish total next week..)

please save your money and send just 

one thank - you to all of us..

we are very grateful to you for 

what you do for the elephants..

and ever so grateful for the elephants themselves..

what splendid beings..

we send you our yoga schedules

so you can see how much we love elephants!

thank you for the opportunity to make 

a difference for these astonishing elephants..

here is a poem we read in class

from the book  -

god got a dog 

by cynthia rylant

god went to india

to see the elephants.

god adores elephants.

he thinks they are 

the best thing 

he ever made.

they do everything

he hoped for:

they love their children,

they don’t kill,

they mourn their dead.

this last thing is

especially important

to god.

elephants visit the graves 

of those they loved.

they spend hours there.

they fondle the dry bones.

they mourn.

god understands mourning

better than any other emotion,

better even than love.

because he has lost

everything he has 

ever made.

you make life,

you make death.

the things god makes 

always turn into

something else and 

he does find this good.

but he can’t help missing all the originals.

long live impermanence! dates revised..

change is the only constant!
and it is constantly changing..

please take note!

december heart sutra sit
sunday 
december 14
4-6 pm

the elf will be visiting the center for happiness on 12/7
and is sure to make a ruckus ~

also..
please note:
there is class on thanksgiving morning..8AM
benefit class for the elephant sanctuary
$20..cheques made to the elephant sactuary..

however!
no class on friday the 28th 
yes! class on saturday the 29th

appreciate your patience
your presence
your ever changing self ~

heart sutra notes..white bones

traveling northward

screech owls moan in the yellowing
mulberry trees.  field mice scurry,
preparing their holes for winter.
midnight, we cross an old battlefield.
the moonlight shines cold on white bones.
                        ~ tu fu

and whose white bones..i wonder?
those deep under or my own ~

heart sutra sit this sunday
november 16th
4-6

PLEASE NOTE:
december heart sutra has been moved to -
12 / 14
sunday 4-6 pm
by donation


heart palms together
in gratitude for the opportunity
to sit still together and be the stillness
- to be the white bones

thanks giving 2 also

please! feel free to send your donations
directly to the elephant sanctuary
or be part of our trunk load..
(po box 2007 anacortes, wa. 98221)
please make your cheques payable to :
the elephant sanctuary
and thank you so much!

THE ACT OF:
death-defying affection
insures the constancy of the stars
and their place at the beginning
of everything.
           ~ richard brautigan

thanks giving

"in the great forest

a little elephant was born.

his name is Babar.

his mother loves him very much.

she rocks him to sleep

with her trunk

while singing softly to him."

the story of Babar heads off into an unkind direction..

you may well remembre..

as with many elephant stories we know..

please join us for a celebratory class

on thanksgiving day & an opportunity

to offer a trunk load of $20's to the elephant sanctuary!

peace thru love and thanksgiving

thursday

november 27

8 AM 

yes! yoga class..

$ 20

all proceeds go to -

the elephant sanctuary

www.elephants.com

PLEASE NOTE:

a wing and a prayer

will be offering classes

Friday, November 28 @ 9 AM

Saturday, November 29 @ 9AM

please come home...novembre

please come home.
please come home into your own body,
your own vessel, your own earth.
please come home into each and every cell,
and fully into the space that surrounds you.
                         
a wing and a prayer
offers the heart sutra sit
novembre 16
sunday
4-6 pm
by donation

please note:
Jeri Lancaster 's Monday evening class
now begins @ 6:30 pm
please give her a call if you have any questions ~
360 299 2519

dunja's classes :
T/TH 8am
W 7pm
FRI/SAT 9 am
private sessions by appointment
360 770 7891

please come home. please come home.

find the place where your feet know where to walk

and follow your own trail home.

                   ~jane hooper

harvest gathering time...Octobre notes...

for all we know..
this may only be a dream ~
we come and we go..
like the ripples of a stream ~
               for all we know
               fred coots & sam lewis

a wing and a prayer
octobre news..

HEART SUTRA SIT
Sunday
Octobre 12th
4-6 pm
by donation

HHDL will be in Vancouver BC
on Thursday, Octobre 23
offering the Avalokiteshvara empowerment
& lojong teachings..the eight verses of mind training
the day is offered to any and all ~

Jeri Lancaster kindly & generously
will step in to teach these classes ~
Wednesday, Octobre 22 7PM
Thursday, Octobre 23 8AM
Friday, Octobre 24 9 AM
palms high and a deep bow of gratitude

Samhain.. entering of the dark half of the year...
begins Octobre 31 thru Novembre 1
this celtic holiday celebrates the mid-point
between the autumnal equinox & the wintre solstice
all hallow's eve - all saint's day - all soul's day
dia de los muertos
mighty powerful time

Sue Jones generously & kindly
will step in to teach these classes ~
Friday, Octobre 31 9AM
Saturday, Novembre 1 9AM
deep bow and palms high in gratitude

dangerous business .... going out of your door...
you step onto the road
and if you don't keep your feet,
there's no knowing where you might be swept off to ~
                        ~ bilbo baggins

how can you miss me....

if i don't go away....?
        ~olde perennial cowgirl song

i have a hunch a few of you may be trying to track me down..
please scroll to:
 a wing and a prayer @ rest! august 21

i always try to give at least 2 weeks notice to any changes
that can & will occur at the shala..
if by chance you have not been attending classes regularly,
you may want to cheque  -
peaceishealthy.blogspot.com
to see what mischief may be in the making..
please remembre to refresh the blog-
as you may be stuck on an olde post..
& always scroll down to see what you've been missing ~

i am in retreat of sorts
until
9/9/2014
classes resume tuesday @8 am
the cowboy schedule is intact ~

sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you..

there is a time for departure even 
if there is no certain place to go.
                ~ralph waldo e.

book shelf

is light on life by bks iyengar on yours?
what about light on yoga?

might do well to have them there..
and then,
hey..why not read them?

pic-nic

let your mindstream
stand cool and composed
before a million
universes...
                  ~walt whitman

in loving memory of
SALLIE LINGWOOD
merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
life is but a dream

it is done!
if i were more of a savvy bean,
i'd put up a picture here of the picnic table
in the madrona grove behind the depot/ farmer's market..
please
go on by..
have a sit..rest a wee while..

it is big and sturdy and worthy !
soon ~
we'll have a tea party..
cookies at al..

transformation is sustained change ....
                      ~b.k.s. iyengar

a wing and a prayer @ rest !

TAKE REST.....
a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop ~
                           - ovid

hey ho..
a wing and a prayer yoga shala
will be taking rest ~
no classes
tuesday, septembre 2 thru saturday, septembre 6
dunja's classes will resume on 
tuesday, septembre 9 ~ 8 AM

jeri lancaster's class is still up and running
on monday evenings @ 7 pm
360 299 2519

septembre's heart sutra sit
sunday,
septembre 14
4-6 pm
by donation

homegoing is the purpose of my practice.
                     ~ peter matthiesen

B.K.S. Iyengar

Cremation

It nearly cancels my fear of death, my dearest said,

When I think of cremation. To rot in the earth

Is a loathsome end, but to roar up in flame ~ besides, I am used to it,

I have flamed with love or fury so often in my life,

No wonder my body is tired, no wonder it is dying.

We had a great joy of my body. Scatter the ashes.

                            ~Robinson Jeffers


Mr. I , as i lovingly call this flame of a man..
a brilliant luminosity ..the michelangelo of yoga ~
                died August 20th 2014

one of the finest and fullest masters of the art of living ~ yoga ~
his practice was his life..he always kept his inner fire burning bright..

"live before you die, so that death is also a lively celebration"
                                   B.K.S. Iyengar

may our practice..our sadhana..be samadhi in action..kaivalya !
liberating every moment our spark of divinity..
honoring our radiant teacher..our spiritual friend...our path..

heart sutra sit august 17

half an hour's meditation is essential
except when you are very busy ~
than a full hour is essential.
                      ~ frances de sales

come for sitting, chanting and walking..
this sunday
august 17
4-6 pm
by donation

one by one - all is coming
             ~ shri k. pattabhi jois

august notes!

the difference between a comedy and a tragedy 
is that in a comedy the characters figure out reality
in time to do something about it...
                  b. w. goodspeed

YES! YES! we will have classes on Arts Festival week-end ~
Friday, August 1  -  9 AM
Saturday, August 2  -   9 AM

a re-arrangment..
please and thanks...
Jeri Lancaster will be teaching
the thursday AM class
on August 7th..
if you have not had an opportunity
to experience her class on Monday evenings..
here's your chance..
those of you w/ a series ~
please feel free to use it..

THERE IS NO MONDAY NIGHT CLASS FOR JERI MANANA!
                                            (JULY 28TH)

HEART SUTRA SIT
sunday, august 17
4-6 pm
by donation

HEART SUTRA SITS 
thru the end of the year..
mark your calendars..

SEPTEMBRE 14
OCTOBRE 12
NOVEMBRE 16
DECEMBRE 21 ~
this may be a full day sit - rohatsu

these are on Sundays..
4-6 pm
by donation..

as always..
i am grateful that you arrive for classes
at a wing and a prayer yoga shala..
your presence is great nourishment for me..
in o so many ways..
may it be just so for you as well..

take off your shoes and know
     ~ this is holy ground ~

where art thou?

i have nothing to say

and i am saying it ~

            john cage

where o where have i been all my life..?
with any luck..
the present moment..

please note: 
4th of July
we will not serve up
the 9 am yoga class..
parade !
there will be class on the 5th, however..

heart sutra sit
sunday
july 13 
4-6 pm
by donation

we are here 
and it is now -
further than that 
all human knowledge 
is moonshine.
      mencken

yoga practice..home sweet om!

remember the clear light, 

the pure clear white light from which everything in the universe comes, 

to which everything in the universe returns; 

the original nature of your own mind. 

the natural state of the universe unmanifest. 

let go into the clear light, trust it, merge with it. 

it is your own true nature, 

it is home.

 ~ guru rinpoche..padmasambhava ~

class schedule for a wing and a prayer

jeri lancaster teaches monday evenings @ 7 PM
                      360 299 2519

dunja teaches ~
T/TH @ 8 AM
W  @ 7 PM
F/Sat @ 9 AM
360 770 7891

heart sutra sit - june 8
sunday 4-6PM

summer heart sutra sits..

please note:
may heart sutra sit is cancelled!

the dates for the summer sits are:
june 8
july 13
august 17
always sunday
4-6 pm
by donation

please join us..

everything rests on the point of intention..
                ~ buddha shakyamuni

alert! emergency roadtrip!

nothing is secure but life, the living of it..
transition, the energizing spirit..
people wish to be settled; 
only so far as they are unsettled
is there any hope for them..
                ~ rw emerson

ah so!
my long time pal and anam cara, barbara..
drove up for a visit..
spring vacation..as it were..
turns out she ended up with some weird shoulder
that has left her in pain..the kind you can't even spell..
like.. excruciating...
unendurable..unbearable..very rough stuff..
after 3 visits to the walk-in clinic @ the hospital..
it seems..it is so -
i am driving her back to california....
she flies me back in a week ~

hence, ergo, consequently..
some classes will be taught by others..
some cancelled..

the week in question is this week..
from tuesday, april 22..earth day..
thru saturday, april 26th
these are the changes :
TUESDAY / THURSDAY classes are cancelled ~
WEDNESDAY / FRIDAY classes - Jeri will teach ~
SATURDAY class - Ricky will teach  ~
ever so grateful to these fine ones for stepping in so quickly..

thank you all for your kind consideration
regarding these sudden & unforeseen changes..
please light some candles for us ~
yours from south of the border,
dunja

the glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, 
not the kindly smile, 
nor the joy of companionship; 
it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one 
when you discover that someone else believes in you 
and is willing to trust you with a friendship.
                 ~ rw emerson

MAY DATE - heart sutra sit - cancelled -

how the mind awakens in the heart
during the chant of the mantra ~
liberated from a point of you..
or is that a point of view?

after much consideration..
heart sutra sit for may is cancelled ~

it is so sweet when we join together
and take our seat in the palm of buddha's hand..
thank you for arriving ..

the summer sunday dates will be posted soon..
see you in june!

om gate ~

the heart is an organ of astonishing
perceptivity and versatility
that when awakened and tuned
allows us to play our part
in the dynamism of creation.
          ~cynthia bourgeault

heart, heart, heart !

heart sutra sit ~
sunday, april  13
4-6 pm
by donation

please note:
jeri's monday night class
will be cancelled may 5 and 12..
come stretch again
monday, may 19
7 - 8:30 pm

dunja's class schedule
same as always..
T/TH 8:00 am
WEDS 7:00pm
FRI/SAT 9:00 am

all classes at a wing are mixed level ~
drop-ins welcome always !

keep your eyes on the road..
shiva is known to drop bags of gold
right in our path..

friendly goddesses ?

until we stop clinging 
to the concept of good and evil,
the world will continue to manifest 
as friendly goddesses & harmful demons..
          ~ pema chodron

the creations of the mind are more numerous
than specks of dust in a ray of sunlight..
           ~ milarepa

.... so my heart, leave behind your fear
and strive towards wisdom...
            ~shantideva

teach us to care and not to care...*

this early AM as chris and others were setting up
the benefit for Oso that many of you are attending
 at this very moment ~
i hand delivered a cheque for $1008.00
( from a wing and a prayer)
to chris @ heart of anacortes/how it works..
~ he was moved to tears and full of joy!

the cheque will go to cascade hospital fund
& 100% will be used for families..
 and all that that entails..

you can receive this;
"on whatever sphere of being
the mind of a man may be intent
at the time of death" -
there is one action
(and the time of death is every moment)
which shall fructify in the lives of others:
do not think of the fruit of action.
                  ~ t.s.eliot / four quartets

THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR GENEROUS
& EQUAL HEARTS -

* teach us to sit still
     ~ t.s. eliot

oso benefit

there are many guises for intelligence.
one part of you is gliding in a high windstream,
while your more ordinary notions
take little steps and peck at the ground.

conventional knowledge is death to our souls,
and it is not really ours. it is laid on.
yet we keep saying we find "rest" in these "beliefs."

we must become ignorant of what we have been taught
and be instead bewildered.

run from what is profitable and comfortable.
distrust anyone who praises you.
give your investment money, 
and the interest on the capital,
to those who are really destitute.

forget safety. live where you fear to live.
destroy your reputation. be notorious.
i have tried prudent planning long enough.
from now on, i'll be mad.
             ~ rumi

thank you for your generous donations..
with a wing and a prayer matching the offerings..
we have gifted $1008.00 to oso...amazing!
i am still not sure where the cheque will go..
it is our wish to have the families cared for..
i'll keep you posted..

in the interval..
please!
enjoy yourselves @ the benefit for oso
tomorrow, sunday the 6th of april ..
1 pm
for music and a silent auction @
the heart of anacortes / how it works..
4th and O

may we be the medicine!

a merry way.. april days

a simple person lives the way she breathes,
with no more effort or glory,
with no more affectation and without shame..
simplicity is freedom,
buoyancy, 
transparency.
as simple as the air, as free as the air..
the simple person does not take himself too seriously or too tragically.
she goes on her merry way, her heart light, her soul at peace, 
without a goal, without nostalgia, without impatience.
the world is his kingdom and suffices him.
the present is her eternity and delights her.
he has nothing to prove,
since he has no appearances to keep up
and nothing to seek, since everything is before him.
what is more simple than simplicity?
what lighter?
  ~ andre` comte-sponville

APRIL DAYS & DATES
a wing and a prayer..
on april 5th .. 
saturday's yoga class @ 9 am..
will be a benefit class for oso..
for the families..
please come..
all the money collected will go to the families..
i would like to purpose a raise for me that day..
$20 per person..
a wing and a prayer book fund
will match the money in the basket..
the more the merrier..
if $20 is not in your budget,
the regular offering will be perfect...
it is a cash/cheque class..
thank you - thank you !

please note that on sunday, april 6 
@ heart of anacortes 
there is a benefit @ 1pm..
music & silent auction

heart sutra sit this month
sunday, april 13th
4-6 pm
come chant and sit and walk
by donation

ora mae and i have a date for
wrapping up the last books..
thursday, april 17th
4-6 pm..
3rd floor foyer
if you missed the opportunity
the last time..do come..
it is fun! glue, delectable paper..
bring an apron ~
the book fund will treat to a dinner afterward
if any would like to stay for nourishment..
merrily, merrily...

there are still books available..
easter baskets to fill..
mother's day is coming up..
weddings ..o what a gift..
your pledge and donation
support a wing and a prayer..

it is not possible to live happily if one does not lead
a beautiful, righteous and wise life..
or
to lead a beautiful, righteous and wise life
if one is not happy.
                              ~epicurus

merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
life is but a dream ~
row!

anacortes yoga cash class benefit / oso saturday april 5

hey now..
saturday april 5th..
9-10:30 am
benefit for oso mudslide..
a wing and a prayer
we will have our regular class..
it will be a cash class..
all the money / cheques will be
offered to heart of anacortes
to add to their benefit on
sunday april 6th
1pm

there is a silent auction..
if you have art to donate ~
here is the number of Cassera's in la conner
360 708 4787
a wing and a prayer has offered
two (2)  8-class series certificates
please bid.. and bid high in the sky.. o my!

kindly spread the word for saturday's class..
as there is not time to print up a poster..
remember our thanksgiving offering..to YBB..?
awesome, eh?

if you are not able to come and would like to donate..
call Chris @ How It  Works 360 293 3515..
to see how to make it real -

i want to thank all of you who support a wing..
to OraMae for her book..
to all who pledged and received a book..
this is what the funds are for..
how grande!

generosity is a gainful trade..

a mountain spring ~ for oso

there is a brook in the mountains,
nobody i ask knows its name.
it shines on the earth like a piece
of the sky. it falls away
in waterfalls, with a sound
like rain. it twists between rocks
and makes deep pools. it divides
into islands. it flows through
calm reaches. it goes its way
with no one to mind it......
          ~ ch`u kuang-hsi


BENEFIT FOR OSO
SUNDAY APRIL 6TH
1 PM
HEART OF ANACORTES
bring canned food, clothing..
silent art auction

a wing and a prayer will donate
2  8 - class series
for the auction..
is yoga art?
the art of living

may we be the medicine ~

equinox 2014

the young sparrow

manifests happiness

in all its wings.

~sekiu

...every feather is a separate pleasure...

praises

oh speak, poet, what do you do?
                                             --- i praise.
but the monstrosities and the murderous days,
how do you endure them, how do you take them?
                                             --- i praise.
but the anonymous, the nameless grays,
how, poet, do you still invoke them?
                                             --- i praise.
what right have you, in all displays,
in very mask, to be genuine?
                                             --- i praise.
and that the stillness and the turbulent sprays
know you like star and storm?
                                            :--- since i praise.
~ rilke


i say yes! praise be..
to all that is ..
and all who is and was and were..

with high palms folded in the vast above..
thanks be to a wing and a prayer quote book..
creators, binders, buyers and pen..

generous fosters generous..
the donations forthcoming
brought back the floor money..
the india fund i used for re-do..
once more in the goffers..
now gone, gone, gone beyond ~

giving rise to the gift of  picnic  ..
a table to the city..
behind the farmer's market..
the madrona grove..
there will be a picnic table..
in honor of sallie lingwood ~

imagine!
right after saturday's class..
slipping over to kale and scones..
circling friends at a table under majesty..
thankfulness nourishes..
let us eat praise!
....and cake...

10 million times! heart sutra sit

this sunday..16 of March..
the day of Buddha's miracle feast
( 15 days of showing off..
which really isn't showing off
if you are the Buddha! )

our heart sutra sit
4-6 pm
imagine..the positive merit
generated by this practice
is anted up 10 million times..
o my o!

throughout my many lives and until this moment
whatever virture i have accomplished
including the merit generated by this practice
and all that i will ever attain,
this i offer to the welfare of sentient beings.

pinch-hitter for 3 classes 3-18 thru 3-20

summoned am i to the south..
escorting a lass north..back home

hence and soon
shall the classes be guided
by yet another lass..
one jeri lancaster..
the abled one ~

these dates be ye notified..
TUESDAY, MARCH 18 ~ 8AM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 ~ 7PM
THURSDAY, MARCH 20 ~ 8 AM

do enjoy the respite from one such as me
a fresh gander of pose & breath

may the rhapsody of pipes & whistle
delight ye olde heart of the matter..
as st. paddy fills each cup
up, up and overflowing ~


please do remembre :
heart sutra sit
sunday, march 16th 4-6pm
by donation

memory tin ~ march 10 2007

everywhere is walking distance

if you have the time.    

           ~stephen wright    

i had pulled out this red square tin

( house cleaning..for gutor..)

a cookie tin, i think..

a holiday box from cost-co years ago..                                                                                                   given to me by a friend w/ begging bowl in it..

and money..alms.. for the walk i was intending..

now it held the lettres, notes and newspaper clippings -

remnants of my walk-about for peace..

re-reading these bits of remembrances..love notes..

it's as if this journey

you are about to embark on

is setting so many of us free.   

  

aha!

a mendicant..indeed ~

"in my own way i admire your dreams

enclosed is a tuppence for your bowl.."

" i am not excited about your pilgrimage on foot;

our America today is not very similar to the America of Thoreau,

sad to say! i will pray for you.

enclosed is a small check to add to your bowl."    (my auntie l.)

"step by step walk ten thousand miles safely,

everyone has a chance to fill 'empty bowl'

for exchanging of good karma ..."

it has been 7 years since my walk for peace ~

march 10, 2007

first heading to california to see the dalai lama..

then plans to keep going across america..

in the tin were long lettres and missives

from yoga students...all friends..

stories and tales of our practices together..

through pregnancy and the birth of children

you have guided my poses with nudges and humor.

you have influenced so many peoples lives

including my own;

your energy radiates like ripples on the water.

i know you'll have an amazing adventure.

i am counting on the day that your shoes will wear out

and your knees will need a home to rest in..

that you'll be back and we will stretch and breathe together again..

   -h.z.

poems..

sounds like a walkabout for you.

the wonder of it all is near and far.

how blessed you are

to be a star 

so bizarre 

watch out world

the witness is free on you.

smiling at the game

wanting to know your name

no longer bound

to all the hullabaloou

all around.

"walking not talking"

a presence  aware of you.

you are like music.

we can have and not hold.

may your cup or bowl overflow

with blessings.

              - john michael simon

lyrics from songs..lyric

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,

I saw above me that endless skyway:

I saw below me that golden valley:

This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,

And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,

As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:

This land was made for you and me.

                                   ~woody g.

lettres i had written to my mama ~

easter sunday

dear mama,

i have 20 days to get to san francisco to see the dalai lama..

then dave (duck) will help me chart my route across the country..

i would like to depart on may 25th..

blood sugar is weepy but i keep walking..

meeting very amazing folks -

people are peace ~

what a blister on my heel!

salta prima di inacidire  ~ leap before you sour

feathers and red strings and mystery notes ~

aw, this world 

of dust and money 

and war.

      and yet,

here is something beautiful...

it's color begins in your hand.

it's shape is your touch.

            

a hand-made bracelet which says:

feeling light within - i walk

         ~ navaho song

pictures of the walk..

early morning at mt. erie parking lot..

remembre?

it was COLD!

mama was there in her wheel chair,

nancy, too, showed up in hers..

we all rolled and strolled and strode..

stepping forward to embrace peace..

many walked with me across deception pass bridge that day..

i rested that eve in coronet bay at irmi's home..

you cannot travel on the path before you have become the path..

as it turned out,

i did not have the faith..in humankind..

to keep walking across the u. s. of a.

actually, i did not have the faith in myself  ~

my feet took me to crescent city, though..

we must find it in ourselves before we can find it in others..

a trek w/o a destination -

you must know that even though you were disappointed

in the curtailment of your journey -

to me and to others ..

it had the appearance of a great accomplishment

requiring compassion, concentration and wisdom..

i myself cannot imagine walking across the county

much less two and a half states!

     -p. d.

there were many, many more messages..

so kind ..so loving..

flattering & appreciative -

expounding my greatness of this and that.. 

pride thought .. hummm..?

i must save these ..

when i die and these are found 

all will see the how dandy i was!!!!

of course, that thought obliterated itself

as i set about to let go of the olde ..

time to release..leave no trace..

~ the burning bowl is full of ash ~

my knees and the trees and the gravel

recall every step of that most spirited journey..

on the path to be the path..

NOTE: 

went back & re-read the walkabout blogposts..

i vividly remembre composing and singing my chudpa walking tree song

o you trees...

the big baaad dog

foaming at the mouth..

the proposal from harvey

not a good idea -

the tin foil blanket

space age science?..noooo -

the truckers - the couches -

the wet, wet rain -

      i  do remembre ~