People to Love

One of the qualities that I admire in people is the ability to look you in the eyes, and to see you as an individual. One of the reasons why I love my ritual at Stumptown Coffee Roasters is that anytime I come in, the baristas are always willing to treat me fresh from every other customer. If I have a question, they are willing to respond without any sense of urgency, even if there is line fishing out the door. They seem unaffected by the sense of urgency that seems to be pervasive throughout the city. Like Durga, they remain composed, well-mannered and present with each new customer. The human exchange model for success. Granted, they have amazing coffee, and that line is growing for good reason.

Dedication & Survival

The city of New York is fierce... terrifying as it is awe-inspiring. The pace and rhythm is pushing me to my edge, and my goal right now is purely survival. There are such tremendous expectations and responsibilities that I have placed upon myself that it seems insurmountable.

My yoga practice teaches me how to keep a high vision, to make progress in reasonable strides and to remain steadfast. On mornings like this, I have immense reverence for my practice... it is my sanctuary. It reconnects me to the source of self-nourishment and to the journey of the heart. This morning, I left my roles, responsibilities and obligations at the door... I did not bring them into the practice space because in that room, on my mat, I am creating a sanctuary.

Within that sanctuary, I reveal my heart's deepest longing without obstruction from any conditions or externalities. I am free to express myself from a deeper place, to listen openly to whatever feelings and thoughts arise, and to roam near the hub of all sacred places... where my intentions gain tremendous inertia. I asked my students to do the same... to leave their worldly affairs at the door, to clear the container, and to sanctify this space.

Afterwards, it all becomes so clear. My lifestyle choices have created an environment in which I rely upon my practice for survival, and that reliance transmutes into a dedication that is unparalleled. It is the kind of dedication that arises out of pure necessity.

Auspicious Day

I walk by a woman singing out loud as she walks across broadway, ignoring her surroundings. Her voice is beautiful and penetrating, singing open notes like a warm up for an operetta.

I reflect on Kali, the tall, dark skinned man I saw one day back in 2007 walking along with his tongue sticking out and the whites of his eyes and teeth gleaming brilliant against the tone of his skin.

NYC is an incredible place. After crossing paths with the singer, I see that there is a prayer outside a ground level mosque, men have gathered along the sidewalk outside the mosque on their carpets or cardboard, praying together. I ask someone at stumptown and they say it happens every Friday.

Within the coffeeshop, they are filming a movie, and here I sit in the midst of the preparations and prep shots.

This morning, I saw a boy at the train station who I met about 2 months ago... a ballet boy who was on an empty car with me.

I can see that today is an auspicious day, and on days like today, I feel like I get a strong hit of inspiration, and need to hang on to it... but it is not necessary, because everything about this day is auspicious. The more I pay attention, the more I witness the auspiciousness in everything. It is both a frame of mind, and a state of universal being. It is a special day, and I recognize that through my lens of awareness.

I had breakfast with my grandmother this morning, and it was the sweetest. There are few things more precious to me that her, and the simple rituals we can share in one another's company. She repeated a parable that I have heard many a times, and today, it had a unique twist, some words that were colloquially used prior to the war.

How blessed we are.