Haley Dawn Yoga

We have founded this system on a tower of paper… are we so surprised it has ripped beneath our feet? We can restabalize with Wisdom and Love… not Anger and Violence.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/special-comment-keith-reads-first-collective-statement-of-occupy-wall-street

“Illusion is believing the visible iron is more real than the hidden gold…”

What is the root of our desire to take away the suffering of others? Is it a gift of the human heart to look on others with compassion? And what happens when our intellectual mind veers us away from that earnest and deep seeded love? What is the cause for us to rename our feelings of compassion- ‘pity’, or ‘relief’, or ‘apathy’?

One of my first memories of true compassion is from age eight. I was raised in a relatively conservative Jewish home, and we went to synagogue nearly every Friday night to celebrate and welcome the Sabbath. As a child, I enjoyed the ceremony: Hebraic chants and words were like a secret code I was blessed to understand, the vibrations of united speech and chanting were a comfort that I was a part of something greater, and I was captivated by the beautiful stained glass windows of the Sanctuary. My favorite part, though, was the social gathering afterward where sweets were laid out—and I could rip off my itchy tights and run around with my friends.

At one special occasion, they served my favorite cupcakes… chocolate with chocolate frosting. I remember elbowing my way to the front of the line in fear they would all run out. They did. But I, contented, walked around the room talking to friends and waited for the perfect moment to devour my beautiful treasure. (I’ve always been the kind of girl to savor the moment before the delight). As I was making rounds to greet everyone I knew, I remember hearing a sharp whine and cry. A little girl had dropped her cupcake… face down on the grey dingy carpet of our social hall. My heart broke. I gave her mine. I told her to, “Enjoy it- it’s super yummy.”

Our actions seem so small. We can never really tell what will make a difference to others. But that feeling I had then… whether it was a selfish joy at my own kindness, or genuine delight in her happiness… the pleasure I felt was my peaceful Truth.

Now, in my studies of Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga, and The Fourth Way, I realize that this desire to give comes from a deeply set habit of my personality. Something “Haley” decided to Like when she was small… something that functions as a way to feel joy. Still, I truly believe that it was a habit formed by Love… and from what I know, that is the thread on which we are all strung: An endless Mala that encircles the universe.

I catch myself at times… intellectualizing Compassion out of my vocabulary… calling it ‘selfish giving’ or ‘pity’ or doubting that my action makes any difference. It is easy to let our negative habits outplay our purest intents. But if we could only remember, that no matter what it seems, the root is Love… the root is our United Mind, where another could never be separate from our Self, we could remember a world free of any kind of need, and act to honor That.

Expand your World. Expand you Heart. Expand your Life… Celebrate Compassion. www.108lives.org

Tuesday night, I lost one of my dearest friends, Erica Abbott, in a cycling accident here in our Brooklyn neighborhood. She was a profound dancer, a newly named Bodhisattva (think, Superhero), and my personal style icon- 6 inch leopard print peep toe wedges, yes ma’am ☺

Yesterday, we called our Sangha (spiritual community) together at the Three Jewels in Manhattan and sat ceremony for her throughout the day. The morning called us to meditation, as we reflected on her luminescence and her desire to serve others with every action, word, and thought. In the evening we performed a secret Buddhist ceremony of our lineage called Lama Chopa.

Erica and I met just year ago as we began our deep studies of Tibetan Buddhism, Esoteric Christianity, and all things mindful. It seems we were partnered from the start. I was lucky to see her several times a week. We served and reorganized the Three Jewels together, studied at the Sarva Yoga Academy, had numerous, dinners, bottles of wine on the floors of our apartments, walks with Banjo (her Brussels Griffon) around the neighborhood, yoga classes, L train rides… so much time I was gifted.

In her presence, conversations were never meaningless. We spoke of our shortcomings, the walls we were put in front of, how we can transform them, how we can serve better. In one of our most memorable conversations, we had slipped into discussion of time. We were learning about the traditional teachings of death and after life, and I remember her saying… “but all that doesn’t matter, That’s why I’m going to reach Enlightenment in THIS lifetime.”

In reflection, Erica was always the braver of the two of us. When I was too proud to verbalize what I was feeling- when I was striving to keep face, Erica was raw, completely candid about her experience with these deep teachings. She questioned, disagreed, but surrendered wholly to the will of her teachers, and the teachers all around her.

She forced me to teach her… forced me to understand better… and forced me to look at the shadows within myself… forced me to share. She is my angel in disguise, given to me to guide me through and accelerate my spiritual practice for myself and more importantly, for all who I am able to teach and share with.

In her passing, she has given me the clarity of our greatest lesson, the first step on the Path we studied hand in hand: Yes, this life is beautiful. There is so much to be enjoyed. We live in paradise, if only we see through what keeps us from it. Still, we never know which breath will be the last. We must all take clear action to changing our world, Now. We project our movie, our appearances, our impressions- I vow to make them the visions of a perfect world: Of safety, beauty, abundance, unconditional love, compassion, and Wisdom.

At the end of my Yoga classes, I often lead a dedication, sending this Perfect Universe (our Mandala) out into the world as a great seed of Love falling into the still lake of our United Soul-Mind, and causing ripples, to become waves. In seeing the love that surrounds Erica… the thousands of people who she has shaped and who in turn have shaped others, I am further resolved to bring myself to my Highest State of Being. In fact, I promise to. For you.

Erica, go. Realize your own Divinity. Enter fully- and come back to teach us again.

KICKSTART my favorite artist- Matt Nakoa- with his killer new project, “The Light In The Dark.” Check out some tunes at www.mattnakoa.com, watch the video on Kickstarter, Skip your third latte, and Donate  :) 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mattnakoa/matt-nakoas-debut-album-light-in-the-dark

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Autumn. Changing leaves. Changing temperature. Changing light. I think Fall is my favorite season. It acts as a steady reminder of time passing, how the world- how everything- constantly changes. It is important to remember that we are all of this planet and to stop and take in the colors before they’re gone.

I am deep in my spiritual training with Michael Hewett- Sarva Yoga Academy. www.sarvayogaacademy.com, and this season seems the perfect time to practice the first step on the path- renunciation.

It’s a big word. And it seems at first, to be the absolute most horrible thing that we could do. Separate from the things we are holding on to- our loved ones, friends, things, great apartment, great city, great soy latte… but, for me, it has redefined my sense of appreciation.

I don’t feel less joyful for the wonderful beings around me. I don’t feel less satisfaction basking in beautiful sunlight or devouring a bowl of carrot squash soup (the best at Bakeri- North 9th and Berry!)… No, but I can recognize that that great glow of sunlight can sometimes be too harsh on the eyes… and that bowl of soup won’t always hit the spot- There is nothing that provides happiness in every moment.

You need look no further than your relationships to realize how things are constantly moving- constantly changing- as quickly as the seconds- as unnoticably as our minds- as certain as the leaves making one last colorful splash before their death.

We are as fragile as the leaves. Change is just as certain as our fall. We can’t grasp to control- so what will you hold to… What will you do with your day?

Back in New york. Finally broke back into my blog account! New classes. New season. New training. New lessons. New fun. Stay tuned…

ZEN thought of this evening (dedicated to my Camp Stanley family):

Leap, and the net will appear.