soft rain practice here

there is a soft rain outside my door..
it is dark, early, early in the AM of being
i am awake
~ because a fire was in my head   *yeats
toast and tea and clementines
such good and comfortable companions
these words of shantideva, too
having tea and toast with shantideva!
                                                 

overcome all forms of weariness
and ride the horse of bodhichitta
traveling from place of joy 
to place of joy -
what intelligent person 
would not delight 
in such a journey?
           

bodhichitta -
awakened  heart
heart of empathy
heart of compassion
heart of fearlessness
awake
for the great benefit of all beings

here -
the email note sent
to the california pack
of practitioners

namaste ..

here we are..

a pack of yoginis and yogis

practicing in community

smack dab in the middle 

of a life changing situation

for our entire planet..

the yamas and niyamas are of

utmost importance now..

ahimsa, satya, saucha..to name a few ~

bringing forth mindfulness in all our actions, 

reflecting  on our precious human birth 

and its fleeting nature..

cultivating generosity and kindness..

in body, speech and mind..

no doubt you know the preliminaries :

rest

take care not to attend practice when sick

wash hands often..and for 20 seconds..

perhaps while chanting 3 times:

om gate gate 

paragate

parasamgate 

bodhi svaha

use hand sanitizer a lot..

rub not thy face!

refrain from hugging .. such a heartache for me..

refrain from shaking hands

rather, greet one another so :

namaste - anjali mudra - gassho

or from sri lanka ~ with palms folded ~

ayubowen  (may you live a long life)

bring your own props to practice

mat, blocks, straps and blankets

(always a good idea, no matter what..)

let us take good care of ourselves and all beings

by being well-informed, free of harmful reactions,

offering generously our kindness, 

smiles and patience to one another..  

may our every thought, word, deed, breath, and dream 

be of great benefit to all beings..

may we all be healthy, loving and safe..

MAY I REQUEST THAT IF YOU CHOOSE 

NOT TO ATTEND THE PRACTICE SESSIONS, 

KINDLY LET  ME KNOW 

SO WE MAY HOLD YOU IN OUR HEARTS

WHILE WE GATHER TOGETHER TO BE THE MEDICINE..

 ॐ AUM OM  ॐ PRANAVA

the very best, 

the highest, 

the most supreme prayer ~

no wonder it is the sound of the universe..

the hummmmm of the fridge, 

the buzzzzz of the bee, 

the crasssh of the waves, 

the vibraaation of our cell phones

the resonance, 

the echo,

of all that is and is not..

palms folded with love and great gratitude

for each and every one of you ..

OM!

to a robin in lent

you were the first one back,

the first one back.

you clung to a bare black branch,

your habit to choose sundays in march,

wind whirling around you, 

sky grey as a shroud, and wet,

to sing to the flowers, not there yet.

you were not loud.

no, not at all.

but you knew what you were doing.

               ~ elizabeth spires

this..

from sand and foam - kahlil gibran

you may have heard of the blessed mountain.

it is the highest mountain in our world.

when you reach the summit

you would have only one desire;

to descend and be with those

who dwell in the deepest valley.

that is why it is called the blessed mountain.

 praise be!

(used as an expression of relief, joy, gratitude)

i am relieved, i am joy-filled and i am grateful..

the fire in my head has damped down..

my heart is tender with the melancholy of impermanence..

belly full of toast.. 

the ash light has brought the day to my door

i am ready to walk on the coals of awakening this morning..

the inestimable value of the instant is 

proved by its perishability. 

          ~ robert macfarlane