Einstein enacting the concept of leela.
I’ve been storing up ideas during the last few weeks, as I waited for Laurie and Lisa to transfer the helm to me. One of those ideas came upon me recently when I saw a special edition magazine about Albert Einstein. The articles on its cover were all scientific and piqued my interest, but what I found the most interesting in the magazine after bringing it home and perusing it, was the very first article, an essay written by Einstein himself. I was surprised at Einstein’s humble, down to earth philosophy.
Here’s a quote:
“I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves — this critical basis I call the ideal of a pigsty. The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth.”
If you’d like to read more here’s the link.
Namaste.
Katie
Filed under: philosophy
Jamie wonders…”shouldn’t it be the life of your time, instead of the time of your life? If you are having the life of your time you are enjoying the moment as it is, thusly ensuring the time of your life. See?”
“Enlightenment is not a process of learning, it is a process of unlearning.”
–Dr. Kat Domingo
We have the pleasure of hosting April Gallagher on the first Monday of every month for a class on Simple Living. April is a professional organizer and a certified Feng Shui professional and she is amazing.
Last month and this month, April taught about – hold your breath – Clutter! Yea baby, that means you! Very few of us escape the issue of clutter. Our lives in California are so affluent compared to the rest of the world, and clutter is often a by-product of that affluence. I don’t think I have one friend who has not had to deal with the problem of clutter.
If the issues around clutter were simply about keeping up with being tidy, we wouldn’t keep accumulating more clutter and feeling aversion to the disaray in our living spaces. In truth, we hold an energetic attachment to everything in our living space. And energetically clutter begets more clutter. Our external world reflects our internal world. Clutter equals resistance, and clearing that cutter creates more space and new opportunities.
April had us walk mentally through our houses, writing down the areas of clutter that affect us the most. She encouraged us to start with the smallest on the list, not the biggest. Learning to deal with clutter is like building a muscle, it takes time.
Last month during class, I had an epiphany when April said “Creating clutter is just delayed decision making.” That has been going through my mind this month every time I’m about to set down papers on top of a pile, or throw my clothes on the floor. Make the decision NOW. It has brought me into the present moment over and over every time I shift my energy into decisions as small as wear to set my plate or shoes or calendar. It has given me so much more power in my life. One small, simple thing has made such a difference – decide now!
Yesterday, April led us into the world of clutter and Feng Shui. She introduced the concepts of energetic patterns within the house, what they mean and how to work with your space to create more harmony and balance.
I can’t wait for next month, we’re learning about organization!
Filed under: philosophy
The yogic lifestyle can be a radical shift in mindset. I used to think I was practical, but as I’ve grown I look back with a bit of honesty, I realize that I was really just pessimistic. Yoga very quietly shifted my mindset and gave my thoughts a positive place to grow. After I’d been teaching for about a year, my husband came to class with me and I think he was a bit surprised. He said, “Wow. You really can’t be cynical and do yoga – can you?” I suppose you could be cynical and do yoga, in fact – if you did you’d get a lot of new material to mock! But yoga has a way of bringing out the eternal optimist in me, and helps me face reality with a bit more grace.
One of the ideas that’s changed me is the concept, that everything is happening for my benefit. That I have the opportunity to whine and complain, or to view the universe as a friendly place. To take this one step further – to see every event and every person as my teacher, my guru. That is a radical idea. It’s one thing to say, “This situation sucks, but I guess I’ll learn from it.” and it’s quite another to say, “This horrible situation in front of me is actually my most sacred teacher. That person who grates on my nerves is my ultimate guru.”
I have to admit, I like the radical way of living. It’s much more joyful.
“With unfailing kindness, your life always presents what you need to learn. Whether you stay home or work in an office or whatever, the next teacher is going to pop right up.”
*Charlotte Joko Beck
“In the garden of gentle sanity may you be bombard by coconuts of wakefulness.”
*Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Pigeon- Deeply opening of the hips and heart; challenged and supported; energized and relaxed; accepting of the sensation of the moment and aware it will change.
YogiJamie
