Obaitori

a happy life

 
~ Photo ~

The heavy rain is still coming down and the wind is howling so we are camped down at my parent's house in Sydney. The sky is dark and it is only the early afternoon. It is the wettest May for 40 years. We are tucked safely inside watching Elizabeth Gaskill's, Cranford. Here is one of my favourite parts of the film.

Miss Matilda, played by the Honorable Judy Dench, was describing an exercise that her father encouraged his children to do every once in a while. The exercise; in the morning write down the list of events you hope to happen in the day. At the end of the day write down what actually happened. Compare the lists. It is an interesting exercise in life; what we want to do and what actually happens.

If I had done this exercise today my list this evening would be suprisingly different. The weather prevented our journey home and I could not have predicted my mother saying, "Could you teach me how to use facebook?" To which I responsed, "I will teach you how to use facebook if you can teach me how to read my knitting pattern." Deal.

I'm going to try out this little activity and see just what happens. I think it is proof that remaining equanimous is the way to a happy life.

My computer has been rebuilt by my kindly and very generous sister and we will return home tomorrow to a 'normal' routine. Or will we? Inshallah!

 

stairway to heaven

The photo credit goes to my mother who took this at Victoria River, Timber Creek in the Northern Territory of Australia. The white circle you can see is the moon rising as the sun sets. On mum and dad's trip they also came into the phenomenon known as The Stairway to Heaven.

 

 

The full moon at Roebuck Bay creates the "stairway to the moon" optical effect on the mudflats that give the appearance of illuminated steps leading to heaven.

 

 

Happy Monday greetings to you. I was hoping to share our weekend with you but alas my computer is in hospital having a major operation. Until further notice have a fabulous week and take precious care.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

The moon looks upon many night flowers; the night flowers see but one moon.

~ Jean Ingelow ~

{this moment}

Inspired by Soule Mama. In her words...

 

A Friday ritual;   - a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

We are away at the ashram all weekend for Akanda Kirtan - 27 hours of the mahamantra! - see you back here on Monday. I hope you have a magical weekend. Take precious care of your heart and those hearts around you. Hari Om!

A Dear Boy

Central Coast Montessori School May 2011

When Bodhi was born the skies were blue and cool and all the leaves were off the trees. As we approach that time of year, I marvel at all the things Bodhi has learnt in his sweet three years on Mother Earth. I give thanks for every moment he is here.

 

When he was born he wanted to snuggle. It was cold and he loves body heat. He snuggles closer and then closer and then I move away and he snuggles closer. I've learnt to simply pull him tighter and the less he wriggles - the more I sleep. With the cooler weather our Leo lion has started to come back into our bed. He gets close. I can hear him snore a little and when I pull him closer I think I can hear his purr.

hand knitted cat collar

I'm joining Ginny and lots of other beautiful knitters and readers over at the Yarn Along.

I'm reading The Knitter's Gift a book given to me from the very generous Rain over at Rainblissed. I was so excited to receive this book all the way from Seattle. I sat down on the front fence - in Australia - to flick through and picked it up again that night snuggled in bed. The first story gave me tingles and the second made me cry - in a good way.  I won't try to review it but I will briefly describe it and give you a little of the introduction. Written by Bernadette Murphy the author of Zen and the Art of Knitting this book is a selection of short stories by knitters with some patterns trickled throughout.

Bernadette says, Hand-knit speaks to relationship... It's no coincidence that a family may be characterized as 'close-knit...' Knitting makes manifest the love of a mother passed on to a child, or the concern of an older relative for her young cousin. John McCann's story, "The Big Sweater" recounts how, in the Irish tradition, knitted designs were embedded in sweaters, like a coat of arms, to identify the family from which the pattern originated. The knitting also had the darker purpose of allowing easy identification of a fisherman drowned at sea.

This story reminded me of my very own father's fishing jumper knitted by his mother- I hadn't thought of it in years and there it was clear as a bell in my mind's eye, the colour and the pattern.

She goes on to say; "All knitting, ultimately speaks to that abiding truth: Mortality is a fact of life and while we are here and moving and able, we'll knit all the love and the joy, all the awe and wonder we feel into each and every sweater, hat, mitten and sock we make. We are all linked by the stories we tell, by the myths we share, by the way we knit ourselves together."

And my knitting, a winter collar for Yogi from the said book. He looks proud of his new clothing complete with a gold bell.

a balanced mind

 

With the recent weather changes and a momentarily less than average immune system affecting my sinuses I have been reflecting on various techniques to help me with unblocking my nostrils so I can sit for meditation.

Satyananda sheds some light this common problem ~

"If both nostrils are not flowing freely the position of the hands should be as follows. Place the right hand under the left armpit and the left hand under the right armpit and press. The arms should be relaxed. This is called swara yoga mudra. At the time of meditation both nostrils must flow freely, if they do not, then one part of the brain remains inactive and you cannot meditate properly. When both the nostrils flow freely, both hemispheres of the brain are equally active and meditation can be accomplished without any difficulty.

If, however, both nostrils are flowing freely when you sit for meditation, you can place your hands in the lap. This is called yoni mudra. Or you may adopt chin mudra, with the thumb and the index finger joined and the remaining three fingers separated, symbolising the separation of yourself (index finger) from the three gunas of rajas, tamas and sattva, and the joining of yourself to the supreme consciousness (thumb).

In meditation it is very important that both nostrils are free. If for example only the right nostril is flowing and the left is blocked, the mind will run terribly hither and thither like a monkey. If only the left is flowing you will start dreaming after some time or depression may set in. When both nostrils are flowing, the right and left hemispheres of the brain are harmonised and begin to function in a greater dimension. In this way meditation can be accomplished."

Sivananda comments, "If you want to control your mind, control your breath."

flowers, autumn leaves and joy

Over the weekend;

we awoke to bright blue clear autumn skies, Joy

planted new seedlings, decided where the new vegetable garden is to be built

cleaned, organised, sorted, washed windows. the car is yet to be overhauled

watched pansies grow before my eyes, discovered hundreds of tiny native orchids in the yard

attended the launch of Taylor and the Makers new self titled e.p

drank vodka and cranberry, yum

walked along a long white jetty. the children paddled their feet in the water, too cold, couldn't watch

ate south indian idlis

casted on dazla's knitting square

watched thousands of golden leaves fall as the wind blew

This morning it is grey, rainy... perfect for curling up on the lounge... reading, sewing, unpicking...

I hope you enjoyed a wonder-filled weekend. I'm joining Amanda for 'weekending' over at her serene place Habit of Being. How was your weekend?

unveiling, becoming true to yourself

Many traditions use stories to teach great spiritual truths. Here, on Sundays, some of these stories will be re-told. They can be understood by adults & children. Where possible I will suggest a children's picture book that teaches the same or similar story.

*** *** ***

An ancient parable, today narrated by Swami Sivananda Saraswati.

Once a very good-natured person was taking a bath in the Ganges when he noticed a scorpion being swept along by the water. In order to save the scorpion, the man picked it up and held it in his hand. The scorpion bit the man, but he still continued to hold it. Again it bit him. A man who was witnessing this whole game asked the good man, "Why don't you leave that scorpion to die?" Do you know what his reply was? "When a scorpion does not give up his nature, why should I give up mine?"

 

{this moment}

Inspired by Soule Mama. In her words...

 

A Friday ritual;   - a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

From the archives... 2010

the old brown cow

 

The following story is written by Swami Chintanshuddhi Saraswati, a sannyasin living at Mangrove Yoga Ashram;

 

"Today is vibrant with autumn colours here at Mangrove. And today the old brown cow, who so often visited Mangrove by crossing the creek, made her last pilgrimmage. She lay down under the camelia trees by the vegetable garden and breathed her last breath. Just before she departed a couple of us chanted Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, gave her water, and placed flowers around her head. Hari Om Tat Sat."

 

Mangrove Mountain Yoga Ashram