Insight from the Dalai Lama

Morning musings:

"Secular ethics embraces the principles we share as human beings: compassion, tolerance, consideration of others, the responsible use of knowledge and power. These transcend the barriers between religious believers and non-believers; they belong not to one faith, but to all faiths."  -- H.H. The Dalai Lama

These seem universal and non-controversial; why haven't we as human beings been able to agree to disagree about the details, but stick to the common ethics inherent for humans? If all humans, no matter what religion, were to agree to these standards then it would be a huge step forward for peace.

compassion
tolerance
consideration of others
the responsible use of knowledge and power

"In the Buddhist view, hatred, anger, and desire are afflictive emotions, which simply means they tend to cause us discomfort. The discomfort arises from the mental unease that follows the expression of these emotions." -- H.H. The Dalai Lama

Yeah, I have known for a while that anger and hatred cause me to feel bad, and in the end I am only hurting myself. But I never thought of desire being in this category. This is applicable to me right now, since I am burning with this desire to move into my new house. I see how this "desire" is causing all sorts of mental unease, and causing me to do thoughtless and stupid things! I will have to meditate on this some more and try to reign it in........

Agi's ideas for the house

Some general ideas:

1. name our home and name the studio room (kinda like Debra did at FLOW)

2. have a tack board where we put up info about events going on in the community

3. maybe have a weekly "house" meeting just to go over stuff and catch-up?
4. set-up an online calendar to coordinate events/schedules
5. sponsor an adoptive pet (preferably cat!) from ASPCA
6. altar with fresh flowers
7. sparkling waters intead of mainstream sodas

8. meditation retreat (like the kind they have at FLOW)

Some personal goals:

I was thinking about what you said about really focusing on making changes this year and using the support of the house/community to help you. I wanna do the same. These are some things that I wanna work on:

--ending consumption of coffee

--ending consumption of milk (becoming true-blue 100% vegan)

--learning to eat mindfully and slowly

--learning how to relax/unwind/socialize without alcohol

--getting completely off sugar

Some ideas for implementation
1. incorporating an evening of silence one day during the week (an ancient yogic practice of "mauna"); we could write notes to each other if we need to communicate, and there would be no TV or music allowed

2. hosting all-vegan dinner parties and serving juice spritzers (not alcohol!)

3. throwing Barbecue Bashes and serving grilled veggies and meat substitutes (no meat!) and juice spritzers (not alcohol!) and playing uplifting music (not hard core stuff!)

4. inviting people over for board games (as an alternative to going out clubbing or bar hopping)

5. hosting tea parties (not wild crazy parties with alcohol); maybe even calling it " ChariTea" and collecting $$ for a charity; serving some vegan appetizers/desserts

6. hosting Movie Nights, maybe calling it "Spiritual Cinema"

Kathleen's Ideas for the House

Nutrition/Cooking

1) Keeping healthy grains, beans and breads readily available at all times. For example, cooking a dhal or bean soup at least every other day. Cooking brown basmati rice or a whole grain pasta at least every other day. Keeping some nice fresh breads like that great Whole Foods pumpernickel bread. I will do most of the cooking.

2) Keeping fresh fruits and vegetables readily available at all times.

3) Having a weekly vegan dinner where we try new recipes (did you already say that)?

Taking Pride and Joy in a Lovely Home

1) Keeping the kitchen, living area, and studio in "studio order" - pick up/clean up after each day so that everything is ready for the next day.

2) Fresh flowers at least once a week (on me!)

3) Keeping nice smelling candles, room sprays, incense around.

Asana

1) Stocking the studio with what we need for comfortable practice.

2) Anatomy models for education and instruction.

2) Morning asana to start the day.

Events

1) Confidence building for yoga instructors: Focusing on voice, philosophic instruction, assists and other aspects of instruction. Provide a supportive environment and suggestions to help new instructors build confidence in their approach.

2) Anatomy review: Focusing on different parts of the human system.

3) Creative Integration Evenings: Get togethers where we brainstorm and invite ideas about integrating different yoga philosophies and styles, dance, massage, inspirational reading, any form of movement, to bring something new to instruction.

Some ideas of things to buy for the house

Pantry

Soy Coffee
So Delicious Ice Cream
Nutrisoda

Movies
Zen Noir
Into Great Silence

Books
Vegan with a Vengeance
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World
Spiritual Nutrition

Music/Speaches
Krishna Das
Julia Butterfly - On Spiritual Activism

Altar additions
Florida Water
Kali
Kali 2
Kali 3
Kali 4
Kali 5
Kali 6
Kali 7

House Warming........at least a start!

So Kathleen and I got the keys to our new home yesterday and met together at our new house. By the time I got inside, I was relieved to be in something of my own and almost viewing it as a safe haven.

You see, I had just been yelled at by my old apartment building's management because I was "moving" stuff without pre-arranging AND moving on a Sunday. What this "moving" consisted of was giving Angela a cart-load of stuff I was donating. But we got in trouble anyway, and my landlord will likely get fined because of it. Ughhh. How stupid. I hate all those silly rules of an apartment building that make life so difficult. While the lady was yelling at me, she did make some good points, though – saying that there are hundreds of people in the building who are disturbed when people move and that is why these "moves" must be in specific, scheduled times. I guess it makes sense but makes my life so much more difficult – I was hoping to move a little each day until the Big Move on Saturday (which I HAVE scheduled as my move-out day).

So what could be worse than breaking the rules, pissing everyone off, and moving on a Sunday? Well, if you can imagine it………I did it. I moved a bunch of stuff this morning. So what is worse than a Sunday move? A move at 5am on Monday! I just wasn't thinking; I swear I didn't do it on purpose! I just woke up and was too excited to do my yoga/meditation routine, so started packing up stuff for the new house. And me being the typical "Slavic" scheming individual, I creatively thought up a way to get around the "rules" by stuffing everything into my suitcases, thus hiding the fact that I was "moving". Well, as though it weren't bad enough already, I make it even worse….. For some reason (I just wasn't thinking straight at 5am!), I decided to move my kitchen stuff. So, at 5am on Monday, I started packing up all my POTS AND PANS, UTENSILS, and APPLIANCES. Oh my God, they made a lot of noise. After a while, even I became a bit worried about waking up the neighbors. By then it was too late, and I just finished.

Then I wheeled my suitcases (stuffed with kitchen ware) downstairs, past the 74-yr old desk clerk (who was glaring at me but too shy to say anything), sheepishly skirting outside to my car. I think it's safe to say, though, that my landlord will get fined – AGAIN.

But, it ends well. I drove over to my new house. Dropped off my stuff. Figured out the alarm system. Meditated on my new coach for a bit, inaugurating the room. And asked for forgiveness for my actions!!!!

Now, the question is……….do I continue packing this way? Getting my landlord fined? Or just give up, and wait until Saturday? I have this itching burning desire to move in, but I guess it can wait. Ughhhhhh, maybe this is my first lesson to learn. To become patient. Damn, I knew choosing "Kali" as our house patron was gonna be trouble! ;)

P. S.
Yes, Kali is our house patron and if you don't know anything about her, read below:

In union with Lord Siva, who is said to be her spouse, she creates and destroys worlds.

The figure of Kali conveys death, destruction, fear, and the consuming aspects of reality. The sadhaka boldly seeks to confront Kali, and thereby assimilates and transforms her into a vehicle of salvation. The Tantric approach to Kali is to display courage by confronting her on cremation grounds in the dead of night, despite her terrible appearance. The goal of the devotee is to become reconciled with the dark side of life (suffering, death and destruction) and to learn acceptance of the way things are. Kali is said to not give what is expected. To the devotee, it is perhaps her very refusal to do so that enables her devotees to reflect on dimensions of themselves and of reality that go beyond the material world.

In her most famous pose as Daksinakali, it is said that Kali, becoming drunk on the blood of her victims on the battlefield, dances with destructive frenzy. In her fury she fails to see the body of her husband Siva who lies among the corpses on the battlefield. Ultimately the cries of Shiva attract Kali's attention, calming her fury.

Kali first appears in the Rig Veda, not as that of a goddess, but as that of the black tongue of the seven flickering tongues of Agni, the Hindu god of fire. She is also described in the Devi Mahatmya (also known as the Chandi or the Durgasaptasati) from the Markandeya Purana, circa 300-600CE, where she is said to have emanated from the brow of the goddess Durga, a slayer of demons or avidya, during one of the battles between the divine and anti-divine forces. In this context, Kali is considered the 'forceful' form of the great goddess Durga.

At the dissolution of things, it is Kala [Time] Who will devour all, and by reason of this He is called Mahakala [an epithet of Lord Shiva], and since Thou devourest Mahakala Himself, it is Thou who art the Supreme Primordial Kalika. Because Thou devourest Kala, Thou art Kali, the original form of all things, and because Thou art the Origin of and devourest all things Thou art called the Adya [primordial Kali]. Resuming after Dissolution Thine own form, dark and formless, Thou alone remainest as One ineffable and inconceivable. Though having a form, yet art Thou formless; though Thyself without beginning, multiform by the power of Maya, Thou art the Beginning of all, Creatrix, Protectress, and Destructress that Thou art. ---Mahanirvana-tantra

Vegan goodies!

Baking vegan desserts is becoming really hip as more and more people are becoming more socially and health conscious. Plus, once you taste vegan sweets - you will never go back! They are yummy!

Some outstanding vegan bakeries, which were highlighted in REAL SIMPLE:
http://babycakesnyc.com/
http://www.blacksheepbakery.com/site/687531/

And Washington DC's very own, "Sticky Fingers" bakery:
http://www.stickyfingersbakery.com/index.php

A TRUE pilgrimage

Travel is one of my favorite past times.............and I adore exploring spiritual places most of all. So when I found this travel agency, I was in love. It's website explains its mission in the following way:

Spirit Travel offers small group pilgrimages to ancient holy places, sacred sites and power-filled energy centers in India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. We help you to realize your own Divinity by creating a safe, soothing and carefree "vessel of spiritual pilgrimage" to powerful places where saints, sadhus and sages have journeyed for countless millennia to achieve enlightenment.

Check it out!  Spirit Travel

Looking to downsize and donate things?

So I want to get rid of a lot of stuff and just couldn't figure out who to donate the things to. And then I found a great site that explains where things like cars, computers, office furniture and many other products can be donated in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

Check it out:
http://www.charitablechoices.org/whoaccepts.asp

Hierarchy of human consciousness - Where do you fall!?

In the book Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins, there's a hierarchy of levels of human consciousness.From low to high, the levels of consciousness are: shame, guilt, apathy, grief, fear, desire, anger, pride, courage, neutrality, willingness, acceptance, reason, love, joy, peace, enlightenment. While we can pop in and out of different levels at various times, usually there's a predominant "normal" state for us.

Shame - Just a step above death. You're probably contemplating suicide at this level. Either that or you're a serial killer. Think of this as self-directed hatred.

Guilt - A step above shame, but you still may be having thoughts of suicide. You think of yourself as a sinner, unable to forgive yourself for past transgressions.

Apathy - Feeling hopeless or victimized. The state of learned helplessness. Many homeless people are stuck here.

Grief - A state of perpetual sadness and loss. You might drop down here after losing a loved one. Depression. Still higher than apathy, since you're beginning to escape the numbness.

Fear - Seeing the world as dangerous and unsafe. Paranoia. Usually you'll need help to rise above this level, or you'll remain trapped for a long time, such as in an abusive relationship.

Desire - Not to be confused with setting and achieving goals, this is the level of addiction, craving, and lust — for money, approval, power, fame, etc. Consumerism. Materialism. This is the level of smoking and drinking and doing drugs.

Anger - the level of frustration, often from not having your desires met at the lower level. This level can spur you to action at higher levels, or it can keep you stuck in hatred. In an abusive relationship, you'll often see an anger person coupled with a fear person.

Pride - The first level where you start to feel good, but it's a false feeling. It's dependent on external circumstances (money, prestige, etc), so it's vulnerable. Pride can lead to nationalism, racism, and religious wars. Think Nazis. A state of irrational denial and defensiveness. Religious fundamentalism is also stuck at this level. You become so closely enmeshed in your beliefs that you see an attack on your beliefs as an attack on you.

Courage - The first level of true strength. I've made a previous post about this level: Courage is the Gateway . This is where you start to see life as challenging and exciting instead of overwhelming. You begin to have an inkling of interest in personal growth, although at this level you'll probably call it something else like skill-building, career advancement, education, etc. You start to see your future as an improvement upon your past, rather than a continuation of the same.

Neutrality - This level is epitomized by the phrase, "live and let live." It's flexible, relaxed, and unattached. Whatever happens, you roll with the punches. You don't have anything to prove. You feel safe and get along well with other people. A lot of self-employed people are at this level. A very comfortable place. The level of complacency and laziness. You're taking care of your needs, but you don't push yourself too hard.

Willingness - Now that you're basically safe and comfortable, you start using your energy more effectively. Just getting by isn't good enough anymore. You begin caring about doing a good job — perhaps even your best. You think about time management and productivity and getting organized, things that weren't so important to you at the level of neutrality. Think of this level as the development of willpower and self-discipline. These people are the "troopers" of society; they get things done well and don't complain much. If you're in school, then you're a really good student; you take your studies seriously and put in the time to do a good job. This is the point where your consciousness becomes more organized and disciplined.

Acceptance - Now a powerful shift happens, and you awaken to the possibilities of living proactively. At the level of willingness you've become competent, and now you want to put your abilities to good use. This is the level of setting and achieving goals. I don't like the label "acceptance" that Hawkins uses here, but it basically means that you begin accepting responsibility for your role in the world. If something isn't right about your life (your career, your health, your relationship), you define your desired outcome and change it. You start to see the big picture of your life more clearly. This level drives many people to switch careers, start a new business, or change their diets.

Reason - At this level you transcend the emotional aspects of the lower levels and begin to think clearly and rationally. Hawkins defines this as the level of medicine and science. The way I see it, when you reach this level, you become capable of using your reasoning abilities to their fullest extent. You now have the discipline and the proactivity to fully exploit your natural abilities. You've reached the point where you say, "Wow. I can do all this stuff, and I know I must put it to good use. So what's the best use of my talents?" You take a look around the world and start making meaningful contributions. At the very high end, this is the level of Einstein and Freud. It's probably obvious that most people never reach this level in their entire lives.

Love - I don't like Hawkins' label "love" here because this isn't the emotion of love. It's unconditional love, a permanent understanding of your connectedness with all that exists. Think compassion. At the level of reason, you live in service to your head. But that eventually becomes a dead end where you fall into the trap of over-intellectualizing. You see that you need a bigger context than just thinking for its own sake. At the level of love, you now place your head and all your other talents and abilities in service to your heart (not your emotions, but your greater sense of right and wrong — your conscience). I see this as the level of awakening to your true purpose. Your motives at this level are pure and uncorrupted by the desires of the ego. This is the level of lifetime service to humanity. Think Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dr. Albert Schweitzer. At this level you also begin to be guided by a force greater than yourself. It's a feeling of letting go. Your intuition becomes extremely strong. Hawkins claims this level is reached only by 1 in 250 people during their entire lifetimes.

Joy - A state of pervasive, unshakable happiness. Eckhart Tolle describes this state in The Power of Now. The level of saints and advanced spiritual teachers. Just being around people at this level makes you feel incredible. At this level life is fully guided by synchronicity and intuition. There's no more need to set goals and make detailed plans — the expansion of your consciousness allows you to operate at a much higher level. A near-death experience can temporarily bump you to this level.

Peace - Total transcendence. Hawkins claims this level is reached only by one person in 10 million.

Enlightenment - The highest level of human consciousness, where humanity blends with divinity. Extremely rare. The level of Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus. Even just thinking about people at this level can raise your consciousness.

Just in case.......please read these tips!

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with everyone you know.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM Toss it away from you.... chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

· If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

· Be aware: look around, look into your car, at passenger side floor, and in the back seat

· If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

· Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

************ * Here it is *******

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby ---- This should be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted