Deep Practice

I never made it to the Dalai llama... :-)!  After all that wait in line to register, I didn't even go and see him.  I started a yoga intensive on Thursday, the first day of his teaching which continued through each day he taught.  When I signed up, I didn't realize his teaching would end so early (3pm).  My class ends at 1:30 and it's a half hour trip to McCloud Ganj.  So... I decided it wasn't worth it.  There were 5000 people and I wouldn't have been able to see him, but on a screen.  I also didn't have a radio, which you  need in order to hear the English translation.  Ah well... I don't feel like its necessary at this time anyway.  He was giving an intro to  Buddhism... Maybe if he was talking about the end part (enlightenment) I would be more interested... :-)! ... (g)

I haven't had much to write about.. I've sort of been in retreat right now.  I'm really focusing on my three main goals for traveling in India.  Yoga, meditation, and music.  I am loving my little guesthouse, and the area feels great to me.  I have been spending 3-5 hours a day practicing yoga- asana; 3 hours a day with music; and meditation is happening every moment.  

I am taking a 5 day intensive course at a reputable Iyengar school which I am completely in Love with.  Physically, the style is incredibly therapeutic.  It's the most challenging mentally and emotionally as you hold a pose for around 10 minutes.  But what I really Love, is the spiritual aspect of the practice.  The extended time in a pose not only brings amazing physical benefits, but one of the main purposes is to be in the body and have a chance to really tune in to what's happening in the body...in the mind.... In the energy/prana/chi...    To really be with yourself.  To observe.  Awareness.  TO BE IN THE PRESET MOMENT.  It's in line exactly with what I am practicing now in my own daily meditation.  It takes some time to learn what it means to be in the present moment, and how to do it.  What seems so easy, is quite possibly the most  challenging thing any of us have ever done.  We can take on some of lifes greatest challenges... Physically-like running a marathon; devoting our lives to athletic practice; climbing mountains...   We can take on great mental/intellectual  feats- starting up businesses; writing books; inventing new technology....  We can even take on the worlds most demanding emotional tasks such as raising children...  But....  We just can't seem to stop and close our eyes for 5 minutes, do nothing, and just observe what happens without fidgitting and feeling uncomfortable.  We find that when we sit and do nothing, we are faced with greatest disturbance in the universe.... The over-active mind.  If we watch our mind, we will see that it changes thoughts every few seconds and never seems to stop.  Often our thoughts become random and if someone else were witnessing our inner experience, we may be called insane.  But its the same for everyone.  So we busy ourselves as a distraction from this crazy mind which is like a wild unruly child which just needs a little discipline.  With practice, however, it becomes easier to stay present.  By recognizing that we are not the mind, and we can just observe it; it begins to lose power and starts to quiet down.   Then, when you find yourself in the present moment with a still mind, you experience the most glorious feeling in the entire universe.... Peace.  

This practice of Iyengar has a big focus in training and taming the mind to calm down and become present.  I revel in these moments of pure bliss which over time come more and more often.  Nothing feels as incredible as the sweet moments of stillness.

So this is my life right now.  I am planning to do another 5 day intensive at the iyengar center next weekend.  Other than this, I  have been enjoying a lot of time to myself.  I taught my first yoga class to 22 students for Bodhi Tree's new course, and it was great!  Totally smooth.  It was my first full length class, and I really enjoyed it.  The focus, of course, was more on the meditation of asana, than physical exercise.  

Now the weather is changing.  Its starting to rain and soon the monsoons will be here.  It's getting cooler again, and I welcome the change as it supports my inner time.  I will stay here until the end of the month, and then I will go up high into the Himalayas for a couple weeks.  Then...  Back to USA in mid-July.  Yes, cutting the trip a little short.  I am loving it here, and could no doubt stay longer, but there are signs from the Universe encouraging me to change my trajectory...  So I heed..  In the meantime... I am Here.  And I am glad to be Here.