In thanks for embodiment

One of the great contributions of Tantric yoga philosophy is the view that the human body is sacred and is a gift. In Georg Feuerstein's masterpiece book on Tantric yoga, Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy, he notes one Sanskrit word for body is sharīra, whose root is shri (resplendence).


As you celebrate Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect on this precious gift of embodiment—and what a gift it is with all its ups and downs and in-betweens. How good it is to be alive!

In praise of slow

A few weekends ago, I snapped this photo of my daughter setting up a sweet little Sunday morning "flower tea" as our family sat on the front porch watching the world go by. Sunday mornings are my favorite time of the week because it's a time when the world still seems to unplug just a bit. As we sat on the porch, we observed a man riding by on a bike with his dog running alongside him, an elderly couple holding hands, a few kids on scooters laughing and folks leisurely golfing (without carts) on the course across the street from our house. Everyone seemed to be slowing it down, and it was lovely to witness.

In praise of slowing it down, here are a few Web resources I've found full of good tips on slow living:

Slow Family Living: A great site for families (with or without kids) to gain tips on how to integrate the slow living movement into family life.
Alice Waters: Chef, author and the proprietor of Chez Panisse - and one of my cooking heroes. Waters is a  pioneer of a culinary philosophy that maintains that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally. Her website is gorgeous!
Slow Food: A non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.
The Slow Movement: Aims to address the issue of 'time poverty' through making connections.

Meditation in movement

"My mind is empty, my body is like the vaste expanse of sky." (Source: Unknown)

I learned this meditation from one of my teachers. Try mentally repeating it while you do asana practice, particularly when holding poses and breathing deeply. I'm not sure the source of these words, and I've searched high and low. So, if anyone knows the source, please let me know.

Endless variety

Today my daughter and I went treasure hunting at one of my favorite secondhand stores. Among our finds was a bag of vintage marbles. When we got home, we filled up a bucket of soapy water on the patio, washed up those lovely marbles and layed them out to dry in the Arizona sun.

As we waited for them to dry, we had quite a conversation. My daughter observed how some marbles were smaller than others, some had multiple colors, some were almost entirely clear with just a splash of color and some were nearly all white.

Looking at those beautiful marbles reminded me of the yogic principle of recognizing and respecting our differences. Much like marbles, we all share so much in common, yet the colors of each heart are unique. I posted this quote from the Śiva Sūtras once before, but it bears repeating as it's a good one!

“If the Highest Reality did not manifest in infinite variety, but remained cooped up within its solid, singleness, it would neither be the Highest Power nor Consciousness, but something like a jar.” Śiva Sūtras