I’ve been reading some yogic texts regarding pursuing spirituality. Not many people in my culture today pursue spirituality as their full-time dedication, as so many in India and other cultures have traditionally done.

But I liked the point that you could spend 30 minutes a day pursuing that spirituality. And you could apply some concepts throughout the day that will aid you during those 30 minutes of contemplation or peace.

Things to avoid are overeating, over-exertion, talkativeness, rigidity to social or religious rules, and avoiding negative people, people with low morals or low aspirations, who gossip or talk a lot without thinking, or give in to every bodily or thought impulse indiscriminately.

Things to practice are enthusiasm, perseverance, discrimination, unshakable faith, courage, study of spiritual books, purity, contentment, and living a simple life, the fewer material objects that you are attached to, the better.

These things help you to maintain your peace & happiness, and help to prepare your mind for higher states of consciousness, where you are no longer a slave to your thoughts & impulses. Where life’s ripples no longer shake you because you realize that your small, isolated pond in actuality has no boundaries and moves as part of a larger ocean.

“Man is created by thought. What a man thinks, he becomes. Man sows a thought and reaps an action, sows an action and reaps a habit, sows a habit and reaps a destiny. Man has made his destiny by his thinking. By right thinking, he can become the master of his destiny instead of a slave to it. The greatest victory you can win is over your own mind.”
~Sri Swami Satchidananda

“As a man thinks, so shall he become.”
~Plato

“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors.
Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”
~Gandhi

Be Still…
By singing devotional songs, chanting holy names, meditating on something uplifting, quieting the body using yoga

and Know…
Knowing that involves the senses and the emotions, and the spirit, feeling that connection, the type of truth-knowledge that harmonizes and resonates through every cell and fiber in your body

that I am God…
Make a connection, a feeling of not-being-separated, to something outside yourself (this could involve first making a connection TO yourself)

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted…”

Right now is my time for change. My yoga training is coming to a close, and I’ll have more time for other things. The opportunity was presented to me to open a second office, and after doing the math, I am confident that I can make it work out so that I won’t have to go back to work for “the man”! That means the next 3 weeks will mean working very, very hard to get all the ducks in a row for a grand opening in December.

I’m excited for the challenge, and I’m meeting some great local massage therapists that are excited about the opportunity as well. I hope it will grow into something amazing for all of us.

There’s a phrase used to describe certain saints or yoga gurus, called “sage of steady wisdom.”

I figure there are many good reasons I’m not insanely rich or famous. I thought about this because a commercial just came on for the CMAs (Country Music Awards) with Carrie Underwood heavily featured. It makes me think about young people that are suddenly thrust into fame, and how they instantly become role models, ready or not.

I would much rather be ready. Any fool can have an opinion, and any fool can be famous or have a following. A good point was made on Bill Maher the other night that President Bush has a 24% approval rating, so no matter how the next election turns out, a quarter of the voting population are fools!

But seriously, how much better to have spent many, many years learning from others, and considering what is true and what is not, so that every word out of your mouth is uplifting and true. A sage of steady wisdom is the goal.

I've been learning the concept of ego & responsibility vs. total surrender to 'God' (and by God I mean the sum total of all things). It is said that you either claim responsibility for all that you accomplish in life, or you give credit to God. The second option works in your favor when things go poorly–'it was God's will; the universe has other plans for me.'

It makes me think of the artists that win awards and always dedicate them to God. I usually roll my eyes because most of these guys have such big egos that you know it is insincere.

However, it's an interesting concept of laying all your actions at God's feet: Do your best and let God do the rest.

I'm wondering if the same applies to randomness vs. God's Plan. Either everything is random or it is all part of God's Plan. My experience has made me feel that you do reap what you sow, and that you do get what you need in life (just not always what you want). So even though I love the concept of chaos and randomness, it seems like things are pretty well ordered sometimes. But that may just be the engineer in me trying to solve puzzles.

Enough thoughts for tonight…

I can’t believe I forgot to blog about this, but I found out about a month ago that the couple that bought some eggs from me a while back found out they are pregnant! It took them 2 cycles to be successful. MY Mom and Dad were quite excited that they were going to be some kind of grandparents again!

It’s pretty wild to think that my DNA is growing in another woman’s stomach as we speak, and all the traits the biological mother (ME!) passes on are being passed on. Please send your thoughts and prayers this way for a safe pregnancy and healthy child…the parents are actually going to send me a picture of the baby once he/she is born. Wild times we live in.

I would do it again, but there is always a risk when you are injecting yourself with higher levels of hormones, not to mention infection risks of getting your ovaries pierced to extract the eggs. I wouldn’t want to screw up my OWN chances of delivering a child. On the other hand, who knows, these kids could likely be in better hands and homes than mine :) I don’t have any delusions that I would be a perfect parent, by any means. At least I know this one will be in good hands.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

~Mahatma Gandhi, Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 – 1948)

That's all I really needed to say. Goodnight.

On NPR today, the host of the show started to ask his guest about his research by saying, “Maybe you could give us a thumbnail synopsis.” What??? Why couldn’t he just say a “short summary”???

When people become over-educated, they make things way more complicated than they should be! Please, if you feel the need to learn more things than the average person, please don’t feel the need to show off with extraneous or flashy words. They confuse things, rather than illuminate. K.I.S.S.

Light Fixture Reflection on Plastic Table Cover