How Jesus perceived things.....

I endeavor to understand how Jesus lived.

I endeavor to understand how Jesus perceived things.

Jesus is often confident when he speaks in the Temple.

Jesus is vulnerable when he is tired and people close to him are struggling.

Jesus spent a lot of time by the sea.

Jesus was often traveling across seas by boat.

Joseph died.

Mary struggled because her son was often down by the sea.

End Daily Meditation. Novena. Week 4, Day 3.

30,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Weather Patterns in Washington, Summer and Fall

Weather patterns in Washington are such that it rains in the afternoons;

Often it does not rain in the morning but it will rain later in the day.

Weather forecasters predict showers starting around 3pm;

Sometimes it rains and sometimes it does not.

Winters here are mild in temperature but it often snows.

Our last 90F day was Sep 9.

I suspect our last 80F day will be Oct 9.

Perhaps our last 70F day will be Nov 9.

I will watch this year to log each of these markers.

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 4, Day 2.

29,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

How do we function when we do not feel well?

How do we function when we do not feel well?

Exercise gives us energy when we already have energy.

Exercise can overwhelm our immune systems if we do not have enough energy.

Yoga Nidra and Meditation allow us to regain energy, when we have little energy.

We want energy, such that we can be mobile and in tune with our surroundings.

We want energy, such that we can maintain our dietary goals and read books.

We want energy, such that we can listen to the goings on of the lives of others.

Yoga Nidra and Meditation allow for this.

Ashtanga Yoga or running or biking might take from us the energy we need.

In terms of maintaining dietary goals when we have no energy;

I struggle with this.

I eat bagels in the mornings when I would rather fast until noon.

I drink more green tea and less black tea;

I integrate more herbal teas into my routine.

Foods like donuts, I know I should never eat them.

Foods like pizza, I know I can eat them sometimes.

Foods we know we should  never eat; we also should not eat when we do not feel well.

Eat fruit instead of donuts.

Eat bananas for dessert.

Eat a bagel if you need energy.

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 4, Day 1.

28,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Meditation in the here and now is peaceful.

Meditation in the here and now is peaceful.

Stillness of the mind, allowing us to know that this too will pass.

Jesus must have meditated, I wonder what meditative techniques he preferred?

Seedless meditation is sitting without any direction.

Seedless meditation is sitting without hoping to imagine anything.

Jesus was often very tired; he must have enjoyed sitting quietly alone and closing his eyes.

Meditative practices can sometimes involve imagery.

We are asked to imagine logs floating by in a river.

We are asked to imagine the sun shining down as we nap in the clouds.

We are asked to imagine the sound of the ocean.

I now prefer to sit in silence without imagining anything.

I like to sit and to enjoy my limbs not moving.

I like to sit and to enjoy being warm and dry and not working for a few minutes.

I appreciate not being hungry or sick or upset.

When I meditate now it is, How do I interact with my senses?

I am likely not sitting in complete silence, How do I interact with the sounds?

I am likely not sitting in complete solitude, How do I interact with the people around me?

My feet are touching my shoes.

My shoes are touching the ground.

My mind interacts with my shoes that are touching the ground.

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 3, Day 5.

25,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Yamas and Niyamas, Compassion and Yoga.

Yamas are how to relate to others.

Niyamas are how to relate to your personal life.

Compassion links Buddhists to those whom they have never met.

Yoga links Hindus to those whom they have never met.

We are here. We are nowhere but here.

There are many of us here in the here and now.

What links us together?

Buddhists are linked to those whom they have never met via compassion.

Hindus are linked to those whom they have never met via yoga.

Are we able to understand compassion as it relates to yoga?

Please take the time to thank yourself for coming to your mat today.

The light in me, honors the light in you.

Compassion is understanding that everyone is suffering.

Compassion is understanding that everyone is suffering.

Yoga is sewing our bodies into the fabric of the universe.

Yoga is sewing our bodies into the fabric of the universe.

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 3, Day 4.

24,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Mindfulness in the context of mobility and longevity.

Mindfulness in the context of mobility and longevity.

We want to be able to walk when we are old.

We want to be able to stand upright when we are old.

We want to be able to eat apples when we are old.

Mindfulness in the context of currents of good will.

We want to surround ourselves with what is healthy.

We want to surround ourselves with people who have goals.

We want to have friends who can walk and eat apples with us when we are old.

When is the next full moon?

What is the price of sugar in terms of the global commodities market?

Where in the world are there major droughts?

Mindfulness in terms of tangibles, things we can keep track of, that affect people far away.

What affects those whom we have never met?

How does this affect us in terms of mobility and longevity?

Mindfulness in the context of mobility and longevity.

We want to be able to walk when we are old.

We want to be able to stand upright when we are old.

We want to be able to eat apples when we are old.

Mindfulness in the context of currents of good will.

We want to surround ourselves with what is healthy.

We want to surround ourselves with people who have goals.

We want to have friends who can walk and eat apples with us when we are old.

End Daily Meditation. Novena. Week 3, Day 3.

23,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Keeping Track of Seasonal Markers, Mobility and Longevity.

Physical activity habits that promote mobility and longevity.

Eating habits that promote mobility and longevity.

Mindfulness habits that promote mobility and longevity.

Yamas are how to relate to others.

Niyamas are how to relate to your personal life.

Mindfulness is eating while not watching TV.

Mindfulness is walking while not listening to music.

Mindfulness is also keeping track of seasonal markers.

September 9 this year was our last 90F day in Washington.

Mindfulness is also keeping track of seasonal markers.

Putting away summer clothes and bringing out fall clothes.

What do we save for next year?

What are we eager to get rid of because we never wore it?

What are we tempted to save but really should discard?

Calendars keep track of a variety of orbits per celestial objects.

Lunar calendars and solar calendars.

Eastern Orthodox churches always celebrate Christmas and Easter on a different day,

than Anglicans and Catholics.

Pivots in time that are meaningful, periods of transition into something different.

Time is that which occurs between events.

Time is that which occurs between events.

End Daily Meditation. Novena. Week 3, Day 2.

22,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Dietary habits in terms of mobility and longevity.

Dietary habits in terms of mobility and longevity.

Protein and fiber allow for energy to last all day and for food to move through.

Water, bananas, apples all day make for a healthy routine.

Cashews, water, bananas, apples make for a healthy routine.

I am at my best when I do not eat before noon, and then I eat cereal, plain yogurt, and cashews.

Muslims during Ramadan eat protein in the morning, this gives them energy all day.

Energy from protein lasts longer than energy from sugars.

When we interact with food, notice how much sugar is in what we eat.

Carrots are wonderful throughout the day, they are difficult to eat and they fill you up.

Say, "I will not eat bread until I finish these carrots."

Say, "I will not eat bread until I finish these carrots."

Drink water all day.

Drink green tea early in the morning and black tea later in the afternoon.

Drink water all day.

Drink green tea early in the morning and black tea later in the afternoon.

Never drink fluids with sugar.

Never drink fluids with sugar.

Drink milk in the afternoons.

Drink milk in the afternoons, as this has lots of protein.

Water, apples, bananas, cashews, plain yogurt, milk, and carrots.

Water, apples, bananas, cashews, plain yogurt, milk, and carrots.

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 3, Day 1.

21,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

What are the differences between Hinduism and Buddhism?

What are the differences between Hinduism and Buddhism?

What are the differences between Anglicanism and Catholicism?

Largely, Buddhism is an emptiness in terms of a deity.

Buddhists see in other beings suffering;
they endeavor to feel compassion for those who suffer.

Do Buddhists ask God to assist in this endeavor?

Buddhists empty their lives of debris, but what fills the vacuum as the debris is emptied?

Hinduism is about connecting people together, hypnotically.

Buddhists are connected to those whom they have never met,
because they feel compassion.

Hindus believe there is a substance that connects them,
to people whom they have never met.

Do Buddhists ask God to assist in this endeavor?

Buddhists empty their lives of debris, but what fills this vacuum as the debris is emptied?

Hindus speak of enlightenment at times.

Is enlightenment the goal in Hinduism?

Buddhists speak of enlightenment often.

Is enlightenment the goal in Buddhism?

Is the Dalai Lama a guru?

Is there a Hindu version of the Dalai Lama?

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 2, Day 5.

18,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Morning Prayer, from the Book of Common Prayer.

Every morning I begin with the same morning prayer, found in the Book of Common Prayer.

Heavenly Creator, today is a new day.

I do not know what it will bring, but help me be ready for whatever it may be.

If I am to stand up, let me do so bravely.

If I am sit still, let me do so quietly.

If I am to lie low, let me do so patiently.

And if I am to do nothing, let me do so gallantly.

Make these words more than words, and give me to Spirit of Jesus.

I say this in the mornings, every morning as I walk to work.

I try to think in terms of 24hour periods, the burden of the stress I can manage.

I try to picture the Red Sea parting when I need it to.

I think about the times the Red Sea did not part when I needed it to.

There is a Gospel story about Peter taking a few steps on the water and then falling in.

Did God allow Peter to fall into the water?

Was Peter angry that he fell into the water?

What will I endeavor to do?

What will I endeavor not to do?

I will endeavor to be still.

I will endeavor to rest when I have the opportunity.

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 2, Day 4.

17,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Shavasana, Corpse Pose. We will begin class.....

Perhaps the most import posture in yoga is Shavasana.

Shavasana means corpse pose, we lie on our backs at the end of class and prepare for death.

Vertebrae by vertebrae, roll your spine down and lie on your back.

Legs are mat distance apart.

Arms extended out to the side of the mat.

Palms face up.

Eyes can be either closed or slightly open.

(Shavasana lasts for about 8-10min.)

Slowly bring awareness back into your fingers and toes.

Open your eyes and return to the here and now.

Roll on to right your side, bring your legs into your chest, pause.

Plant your hands into the floor and lift yourself up back up into a seated position.

We will end class with an OM and three Shantis.

As we practice yoga, we make the sound OM.

Shanti means peace, we are inviting peace to fill the here and now.

Last weekend I attended an Iyengar yoga class, we began class in supported Shavasana.

Do we begin class standing?

Do we begin class seated?

Do we begin class in Balasana?

Do we begin class in Shavasana?

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 2, Day 3.

16,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Yoga in the Here and Now, Means Universe.

We will begin class standing at the front of our mats.

Our primary intention is the stabilization of movement and breath.

We will ground down through the four corners of our feet.

We will point up toward the sky through the crown of our head.

We will link our third eye to a spot on the horizon.

As we rise up we inhale.

As we lower down we exhale.

As we expand we inhale.

As we contract we exhale.

We are here.

We are nowhere but here.

We are in the here and now.

We are not alone in the here are now.

We are warm here.

We are at peace here.

We want everyone in all places to also be warm.

We want everyone in all places to also be at peace.

We are making the sound OM as we practice yoga.

We know that others are making the sound OM as they practice yoga.

We are not practicing yoga alone.

We are practicing yoga in the here and now.

As we practice yoga, we are sewing our bodies into the fabric of the universe.

Yoga means universe.

Yoga is the universe in the here and now.

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 2, Day 2.

15,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Standing Asanas, Yoga in the Sanskrit

We will start class standing at the front of the mat.

Yoga has several standing postures, including:

Mountain……….......Tadasana

Goddess……….........Deviasana

Warrior I……….........Virabhadrasana I

Warrior II………........Virabhadrasana II

Lateral Angle…........Utthita Parsvakonasana

Triangle…………........Trikonasana

Pyramid…………........Parsvottanasana

Notice the Sanskrit roots of these words.

Mountain, "Tada!" In Russian, it might translate at "Vot!" (Here!)

Goddess, "Deva". Triangle, "Triko".

Parsva in Sanskrit is "side".

Pyramid, "Pars vot"……side…here…."Wow…here is a big side of a pyramid..!"

Asana is a versatile word, meaning both the noun "posture";
     as well as the imperative, "take a seat".

So, Mountain pose in Sanskrit is "Tada!"…take your posture.

So, Goddess pose in Sanskrit is "Deva"…..take your posture.

Many yoga practices are asana practices, simply meaning a series of postures.

Ground down into the four corners of your feet.

Point the crown of your head to the sky.

Relax your jaw, soften your face.

Shoulders up and back.

Gaze toward the horizon.

Join your navel to your spine.

Mountain pose…….Tadasana.

What will I endeavor to do today?

What will I endeavor not to do today?

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 2, Day 1.

14,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

As we practice yoga, we make the sound OM.

So hum. So hum. We are here.

So hum. So hum. We are here.

So hum. So hum. We are nowhere but here.

Shanti Shanti Shanti.

Shanti means Peace.

We will end class with an OM and three Shantis.

Patanjali is his Yoga Sutras talks about OM.

Herman Hesse in Siddhartha also talks about OM.

OM is the sound of the Universe.

Yoga means universe.

Sounds are made by vibrations.

Vibrations travel through air and water.

It is difficult for sound to travel through space.

OM is the sound of people sleeping.

OM is the sound of thunderstorms.

OM is the sound of people riding their bikes.

OM is the sound of animals and cars and televisions.

I like to start yoga class with an OM.

Often teachers will ask students to set an intention for the class.

We return to that intention at the end of class.

An intention can be good will toward a loved one, or for those whom we have never met.

OM is the sound of those whom we have never met.

As we practice yoga, we are sewing our bodies into the fabric of the universe.

OM is the sound of the fabric of the universe.

As we practice yoga, we make the sound OM.

End Daily Meditation. Novena. Week 1. Day 6.

12,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Stomach Cramping While Running....Breathe Evenly.

So hum. We are here.

So hum. We are here.

So hum. We are nowhere but here.

Primary intention during yoga class, stabilization of movement and breath.

Balancing poses, use a block so you need no longer balance.

When we run, our stomachs cramp when we are not inhaling and exhaling evenly.

Inhale for 4 steps.

Exhale for 4 steps.

When we run, our stomachs will stop cramping when we inhale and exhale evenly.

Why are our stomachs cramping?

We feel pain when tissue is bigger or smaller than it should be.

We feel pain when water or blood is not getting to where it needs to be.

When we drink water.

When we inhale deeply.

When we exhale deeply.

We feel healthier when we drink more water and we inhale, exhale deeply.

We feel healthy when we fast a little in the mornings or in the evenings.

Food clears away and our bodies rest.

We feel healthy when we eat food that moves through us easily.

Fiber and protein move through us easily.

We feel healthy when we eat fiber and protein.

When we eat fiber and protein, our stomachs do not cramp when we run.

When we inhale and exhale evenly, our stomachs do not cramp when we run.

When we drink water, our stomachs do not cramp when we run.

End Daily Meditation. Novena, Week 1, Day 5.

11,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Spinal Cord Health, Concavity and Dharma Yoga.

So hum. We are here.

So hum. We are here.

So hum. We are nowhere but here.

Our joints are separated into groups, wrists and ankles, knees and elbows, shoulders and hips.

Perhaps also our neck and lower back.

We want concavity in both our neck and lower back.

When we have concavity in both our neck and lower back we can rise up and greet the day.

In which of these groups do we retain the most stress?

When our hips retain stress, how does that affect our internal organs?

When our neck retains stress, how does that affect our blood flow?

We can place our hand on our abdomen so as to decrease stress in our internal organs.

We can use the warmth from our hand to heal our internal organs.

We want blood and water to flow through freely.

We can notice our feet throughout the day in order to stay grounded.

We become anxious when we lose our grounding.

As we walk, allow us to notice when our left foot meets the ground.

As we walk, allow us to notice when our right root meets the ground.

Feel the anxiety leave our bodies every time our right foot meets the ground.

Feel the anxiety leave our bodies every time our left foot meets the ground.

In the context of interacting with my feet, I will consider today:

How healthy is my spinal cord per the concavity in my lower back?

How healthy is my spinal cord per the concavity in my neck?

(Yoga allows for improved concavity in both our lower back and our neck.)

(Dharma yoga is especially useful for improved concavity in both our lower back and our neck.)

End Daily Meditation. Novena Week 1, Day 4.

10,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

So Hum Mediation and its Tibetan Counterpart

So hum meditation is sitting in the silence.

I am less of a fan of Tibetan meditation than so hum meditation.

Hindu meditation is seedless meditation.

Tibetans imagine and listen and do work while they meditate.

Hindu mediation is seedless mediation.

So hum. So hum. We are here.

So hum. So hum. We are here.

So hum. So hum. We are nowhere but here.

Martin Luther was a monk before he was a dissident, he lived an extreme lifestyle of sleeping in the cold and fasting until he became severely ill.

Martin Luther then traveled to Rome and saw that the church hierarchy did not also sleep in the cold nor did they fast until becoming severely ill.

Hindu monks wear orange and I wish they did not wear orange.

I believe they wear orange as a form of stigma, it makes them look like filth.

The expectations  of monks, do we want monks to live in filth?

The expectations of the church hierarchy, do we want elders to live in filth?

Do we want anyone to live in filth?

Martin Luther after having become a dissident was for a while housed in a castle; one day he threw a cup against the wall and shouted, "We encounter the devil every day!"

Guru means "one who helps to sweep away debris".

If the Guru insists that his followers continue to wear orange….perhaps he is creating a demand for his own services. 

End Daily Mediation. Novena Week 1, Day 3. 

Washington, DC.  9,9. 2015. 

Intro, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

The Yoga Sutras of Pantajali serve as one philosophical backbone of Hinduism.

The text is not as ancient as others, it was written about 200yrs after the death of Jesus.

Patanjali was a guru; older Hindu texts do not emphasize the guru as much.

Guru means, "Person who helps to clear away debris."

I like how it references the Seen and the Unseen.

The Seen is what has already happened.

The Unseen has not yet happened.

Yoga means Universe.

Pantajali says the whole of the universe exists in the here and now.

Sutra means to sew.

As we practice yoga, we are sewing our bodies into the fabric of the universe.

Kame Sutra, means to sew carnal nature into the fabric of the universe.

So, in the context of sewing things into the universe, I will reflect today upon:

What will I endeavor to do?

What will I endeavor not to do?

End of Daily Meditation. Novena Week 1, Day 2.

8,9. 2015. Washington, DC. 

Format, Yogic Daily Meditations.

This is a sample of the daily mediations of a yogi; yogis think in terms of what they will endeavor to do and what they will endeavor not to do. I have only this morning completed a 15 day log of my answers to these questions.

What will I endeavor to do?

What will I endeavor not to do?

I will endeavor to reserve a copy of Marcus Aurelius' meditations from the library.

I need to finish the third of three Theban plays by Sophocles.

(Sophocles lived in 500BC Greece. Sun Tzu lived in 500BC China.)

I will endeavor to generate a list of ancient mathematicians.

(I will read their books.)

I will endeavor to put as much distance as possible between my fingertips and my sit bones when in Adho Mukha Svanasana.

I will endeavor to maintain eye contact when speaking, knowing that I already maintain eye contact when listening.

I will endeavor to not eat before noon.

I will endeavor to not eat what I know is not good for me.

I will endeavor to not fidget with my hands as I know there is nothing to be nervous about.

End Daily Meditation. Week 1, Day 1. Novena.

Labor Day, USA. 7,9. 2015. Washington, DC.