I had an awful dream last night and woke up at 2 am crying. I slept close to 4am...These dreams come so vividly here.
The staff love that I "look like Thai people" and for the 3 years I've been coming here, I find this is wonderful compliment. They have such beautiful faces with generous smiles.
The Bartender
Question: What if we retain (Khumbaka) more than the prescribed count?
Paul: Is it because you're spacing out or expanding more because you feel like it? Think of it this way, when the Bartender pours a drink in the glass, he doesn't just keep pouring more of something because he feels like it. The glass will overflow. There is a level of precision required...
The Tamer
On hastening advancement in the Pranayama practice, Go gradually in the practice, if you had to tame a wild tiger, you wouldn't do so by stepping straight away in its cage...
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While I'm here, I am learning some very interesting Thai phrases thanks to Kosta's thai flash cards online site. I get funny random phrases like "I got my diploma from the Internet. It's cheaper" and more Magic 8 ball ones like "Don't worry, it will all work out fine"
The staff love that I "look like Thai people" and for the 3 years I've been coming here, I find this is wonderful compliment. They have such beautiful faces with generous smiles.
And since I'm here, below are some recollections of metaphors from Paul. I call this set the occupation metaphors...
The Archer
In Agni Sara, pull back the lower portion of the belly, flick and expand. Much like an archer pulling the string of the bow, flick and release the arrow and expand...let it fly. But don't kill anyone. Make it like... cupid's arrows of love...
The Chef
On mantra repition - No matter how great a chef you are, one teaspoon of sugar will not be enough if the sweetness requires twelve....
Question: What if we retain (Khumbaka) more than the prescribed count?
Paul: Is it because you're spacing out or expanding more because you feel like it? Think of it this way, when the Bartender pours a drink in the glass, he doesn't just keep pouring more of something because he feels like it. The glass will overflow. There is a level of precision required...
The Tamer
On hastening advancement in the Pranayama practice, Go gradually in the practice, if you had to tame a wild tiger, you wouldn't do so by stepping straight away in its cage...
And speaking of Pranayama, it's a gift that we have a more intense work on Pranayama. I am loving our longer Pranayama mornings. I feel so blessed thinking about how this will be part of my daily routine starting next week, in the comfort of my own home or in our shala.
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My asana practice has taken on more lightness despite my healing hamstring. Paul would like to add two more poses and so I relish all these. In the evening, we had Tratak. I forgot to take a photo but I will need to add this to my regimen for good eyesight and colorful dreams. May they be beautiful happy ones.
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