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.