INTERESTING TIMES

I've been trying to be polite. I am more dedicated to my own practice than to any teacher. I've studied under many teachers, and in many schools. Some new teachers were far better than some veterans. Every teacher teaches me something. Every school has taught me something.

Sometimes the thing I learn is a negative. Part of growing up and separating from your parents is deciding "I don't want to ever do that." What I have been learning recently is that many teachers are so busy teaching that they don't take the time to breathe. That is to say, the best teachers are the ones who are truly present with us in the practice, and not simply filling airspace with instructions.

My yoga practice involves tuning in to my own inner voice, and being present with my breath and body. This was a great learning for me, because I grew up very American, unaware of my body, or worse, in denial of it.

( Exhale, inhale... )

In Sanscrit, from the Upanishad, this is the mantra:

Om Purnam-Adah Purnam-Idam Purnat-Purnam-Udacyate
Purnashya Purnam-Adaya Purnam-Eva-Avashisyate
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

And this is the meaning:
Om, that is Full, this also is Full, from Fullness comes that Fullness,
Taking Fullness from Fullness, Fullness Indeed Remains.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

Modified for readability from:
http://greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/vedas-om_purnamadah_purnamidam.php
Discovered because of a beautiful recording by Shantala on the album The Love Window

ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ