Sunday, December 28, 2008

Defending the Dharma

While I was googling around today, i found this great blog written by a 'joyfully earnest catholic'.
In this one post, he writes a fascinating article about how to convert Buddhists To Christianity.
It is fascinating for two reasons. The first being that the author seems to be respectful, sincere, and kind. He is not overtly or intentionally rude or condescending. It is also really interesting because of this person's misunderstanding of the subtleties of Buddhist Dharma.
In the article, he asks 4 questions that he seems to believe easily prove the superiority of Christianity. I am going to take a few minutes to answer them, as an excercise in understanding, and I will post them later. I would like to encourage you to do the same. Perhaps I'll even email them to this guy, I'm not sure yet.

a. Dear Buddhist, do you really want to spend so much time trying to be rid of desires when you could just change your desires to be holy, through Christ?
b. Dear Buddhist, HOW exactly are you going to be rid of the desire not to have desire in the real world?
c. Dear Buddhist, HOW exactly are your going to live this way in the real world? Christianity offers real peace in the midst of strife, while Buddhism seems to offer the surreal atmosphere of a Zen garden. Is this peace or or stagnation? In the midst of the world’s given disorder and the people in it, is the Buddhist “peace” really possible? Christianity instead offers real and ongoing reconciliation, a peace given and not strived for.

...A gentle clencher: Dear Buddhist, you follow a wise man who never claimed to be God, and yet offers a life system. The Christian follows a man who claimed to be God and offered a life system and eternal salvation as God. If Jesus is who He says He is, He is certainly more likely, as God, to be right.
Theology of The Body website

Monk's Advice

The great thing about great truth, is that it tracends all genres, all areas of life. What is true in yoga, is true in art, music, cooking, love, and life. So it comes as no suprise to me that the words of Thelonius Monk speak volumes in its crazy, jazzy wisdom. (crazy, man, crazy)

Friday, December 26, 2008

Peace, Love, Chant- David Newman



The first time I heard "The Prophet/Hare Krishna" from David Newman's "Love, Peace, Chant", it moved me to tears. And it still happens from time to time. I just feel the love deep in my heart, and I'm powerless. Its a truly beautiful experience, and its a truly beautiful album. It is a gift spiritually, to be able to spend time meditating with such a gem, turning a potentially aggravating rush hour drive into a chance for dive into the heart of the spirit.
I also use these chants frequently when I teach yoga class. The flow of the album works perfectly within the format of a class, and sometimes I pick and choose a few songs to mix into a playlist and that is delightful too.
In closing, I feel that David's mixture of traditional Sanskrit Devotional Chants and inspiring English lyrics really helps bridge the gap between east and west, between ancient and modern, between the head and the heart.

The Prophet


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Ukulele Art by Amy Crehore






I found a ukulele in the thrift shop in P'aia a couple of weeks ago. Well, actually, Carl found it, and told me where it was, but that is another story (like, who is Carl?)
I've really been enjoying it, been playing it more than my guitar. I really enjoy playing for my students in yoga class, and i adore the portability aspect.
I'm also kind of into this artist i discovered on 'boing boing', Amy Crehore. There is a print called 'The Creature" in the back of the yoga studio that she painted. It is a gentle fantasy set in an apparent island paradise, tucked away in a valley. Two beautiful, brown skinned women sit at the edge of a clear blue pool. Both nude except for hibiscis flowers in their hair, one holds a monkey in her lab while the other plays a ukulele! Oh, and the uke player has a tail. I imagine that she is the creaure, as the other two characters eye her curiously as she strums away on her little instrument. A remarkable depiction of magic and wonder, which also happen to be two of my favorite things.
Cool thing is, I liked her art even before I started playing uke, I don't think it even registered in my mind that it was an ukelele in the print until i started writting this post. Trippy.
Amy is having a show in Los Angeles in February/March, called "Dreamgirls and Ukes". Above are some of the sketches for her show. If you happen to be in LA, and make it to the show, send me a postcard, would you?

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Best New Logo!!!



One of our students is involved in the Non-Profit breastcancer.org.

According to their website:
"Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.Our mission is to help women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives"

So, I was very excited to see, while I was surfing around, that they had won "Best New Logo" on the design website, "Under Consideration".

I offer hearty congratulations to my student, all the folks at breastcancer.org, and honor that they are doing well, and doing good.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

I support organic farming, and local eating

I'm sure this comes as no shock to you, but I am a big fan of organic gardening, permaculture, buying local, and the slow food movement.

So, It is probably also no shock to hear that I was very disappointed to hear that President-Elect Obama is planning on appointing Tom Vilsack Secretary of Agriculture. Tom is buddies with the GMO giant Monsanto, and is really excited about genetically modified corn, cloned dairy cows and really innefficient and socially harmful biofuels. The Biotech Giants love him so much, they have named him 'BIO' Governor of the Year. Hooray!

Now, I don't sign alot of petitions, and I almost never sign online petitions, but I am moved, because I really, really, really, like clean, healthy food. I encourage you to do the same.

The Organic Consumers Association is calling on organic consumers and all concerned citizens to join our call to action and block Vilsack's confirmation as the next Secretary of Agriculture. Please help us reach our goal of 100,000 petition signatures against Vilsack' nomination. Sign today!
Your email will be sent to your Senators and the President-Elect's office.

Sign Here! (or at least educate yourself)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Red Oxx Bags


This is the bag that we lived out of while we were in Hawaii for ten days. We managed to fit all our clothes in it, and some snorkling gear (2 pairs of flippers!!), and some other smaller backpacks. It was a little heavy, but could be worn as a back pack easily enough. It has handles and straps everywhere, so it was super easy to pick up, and toss around. Since there are no wheels, it can have a soft body with no exoskelton, which means more room for stuff, and also, its easier to stuff in the overhead on the plane. I watched a poor guy with a fancy hardshell case try to muscle his bag in, and it was no use, the flight attendant, had to check it. This Red Oxx was bigger than his, and I squished it in without a problem.
When you get the bag there is printing on the box it comes in, it is almost a dare: "Put this bag in your will. It is guarenteed forever." I like when a company shows a commitment to quality like that.
Also, it seems that they have their zipper pulls (called monkey fists) made in a village called Panahachel, Guatemala, where they pay their workers a living wage, and help to improve the town's infrastructure and living conditions. Good stuff.

I've had alot of bags, but this may be my last...

Red Oxx

Monday, December 15, 2008

Whale Trance CD



I met these folks, Sam and Amber, on our whale watch with The Church of the Cetacean Nation. They were really sweet and positive beings, and it was good to share a boat with them for the day. They have created a cd of recorded whale sounds with didgeridoo and percussion. I got to hear some of it, and I really like it, it has a deep and soulful sound, and a very high vibration. I will probably be using it in some of of my bodywork sessions. Here is a song, and a link to their site.

Whale Trance Site

Whale Trance Song

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Sarah Power's New Book, 'Insight Yoga'

I haven't read it yet, because it just came out, but I am very excited to curl up with some tea and delve into Sarah's written word. I having spent many hours at Sarah's feet. I find myself consistently astonished and amazed me by Her lucidity. Her ability to describe the spectrum of human experience and the profound importance of simple spiritual practice inspire me greatly. When sitting with her, however, I am able to hear everything she says only once, she invairably goes on to another idea soon enough. It may be one of her ways of teaching impermanance. Im my stubbornness, and my desire to stay with the truths she shares a little bit longer, I have no doubt that I will cling to my copy of 'Insight Yoga', and read it again and again and again. I feel very comfortable recommending that you do the same.