It seems that Trayvon Martin is on everyone’s mind today. Who is on my mind? Children much closer to me. And Trayvon. But mostly, the kids directly around me. * * * The 1st session of summer music/yoga camp wrapped up last week. As you may have guessed, when teaching, I tend to gravitate toward…
Category: News
Compassion for Killers, Revisited
“For as long as space endures and the world exists, may my own existence bring about the end of suffering in the world.” – Shantideva (8th Century Indian Buddhist Scholar) * * * I cannot dwell in resentment. Because if I do, I am only adding to the pain of the world. In light of…
I Didn’t Expect To Cry Today
I figured, “Eleven years…I probably won’t cry this time around.” But here I am, an hour away from teaching a noon corporate class, weeping as if it were 2003. Wait – weeping as if it were 2003? But 9/11 happened in 2001. * * * I am not going to recount every moment of my…
Ahimsa Now: 100 Days of Intention – The Final Word
Ahimsa Now. I just spent 100 days exploring violence, its patterns, its causes and the tools for avoiding it. (For background, see “The Roots of ‘Ahimsa Now: 100 Days of Intention’” at the bottom of this post.) What rings true in all of my observations and experiences – when someone is in pain, that person…
Haiku for George Zimmerman
HAIKU FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN And justice for all: May peace – and not resentment – Guide our hearts and minds. * * * In the very first pages of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – one of the ancient texts that guides yoga practice and teaching – we learn that yoga’s primary purpose is to cultivate a…
Peaceful Warrior
“Meditate. Meditate that the truth will come out. The whole truth.” – Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory at a DC Rally for Trayvon Martin * * * At the end of my last blog, I promised to report back after the “Stand Up for Trayvon Martin Justice Rally” here in DC. Since last Saturday’s rally,…
Haiku for Trayvon Martin
The story of an awakening activist. * * * On Monday morning, NPR aired the 911 calls from the Trayvon Martin story. Some say that the shouts were from Trayvon’s killer. But my ears heard the chilling howls of a terrified child, begging for help. I spent most of the rest of the day crying. …
The Urban Yoga Den 