the aftermath - Haiti

the line that caught my attention in the news was that people of Haiti are picking up and that is probably the first thing one does, when we fall, we pick ourselves up.............those who hurt their bodies are the ones unable to physically move, yet they too pick themselves up, sometimes by surrendering into the situation............the surrender is part of the process, when you surrender their is no conflict created by the mind, you accept what is about to happen, or has happened and find space to get back up, move and start fending to your immediate needs and requirements,to breathe, eat, and survive.............some souls become angels and turn their attention in helping others................it is said that when faced with an emotional or physical tragedy the humans bring out the God in them............. the poverty of the soul, is replaced with tapping into the universal energy and conciousness.

donations are pouring in, the monetary help is on the way, to provide food and build shelter..................the established organizations like the Red Cross, are allowed into the country.............it is the people that help the process...........meditation by each single person may help enrich the universal energy, to reach the souls in their fight for survival and ongoing strength to live.

Freedom from the known - J. Krishnamurti

i could not have found a more better setting than Rancho Margot to read this book.  here is an excerpt:

Poverty is to be completely free of society............greed, envy, anger, hate, jealousy, anxiety.........poverty becomes a marvellously beautiful thing when the mind is free of society.  One must become poor inwardly for then there is no seeking, no asking, no desire, no-nothing!  It is only this inward poverty that can see the truth of a life in which there is no conflict at all.  Such a life is a benediction not to be found in any church or any temple.

departure from CR

i look up and see the Air Canada plane moving slowly towards the gate............in another half an hour we will be boarding this flight........i wonder if this is the time to capture the thoughts, from the past few days............

life happens, sometimes we give space for the events to unfold and they wow us, at times the mind and thoughts get in the way.

watching the movie, Avatar, brought to mind my own embodiment of hope, or the walking dream......was the past month spent at Rancho Margot my avatar..............the vast space, both internal and external allowed life to happen as i enjoyed teaching yoga, meeting people, connecting at many different levels, each moment a joy, each smile a reminder of the joy, as the past, present, future and simultaneous lifetimes all unfolded, moment by moment, poco a poco...........the last night spent there was just one more moment in this unfolding and at the same time a culmination of all the moments, there was no mind in the equation..........a smile comes to my face with this favorite line from the yoga teaching...........inhale abundance...........exhale and surrender with gratitude. 

Thoughts from January 3 - Rancho Margot - CR

2010 brings in abundance with each inhale…………….during yoga practice it is a good opportunity to remind oneself that every inhale is an abundance of love of joy and an abundance of being…………..Being an energy that is in union with the energy of the surrounding mountains, river, the bird songs, rustling wind through the trees and the rain drops falling on each leaf………….each exhale a surrendering…………..surrendering with gratitude…………dreams manifest this energy in forms and I am awakened with a sense of sensing, yet not knowing……….I cannot interpret this dream with my limited sense of knowing, .I swim in the warm pool and find the space from where to teach the morning yoga class………bringing an acceptance of what is…………no beginning, no middle and no end…….

last day of 2009 - in time and space - Rancho Margot -CR

the theme of the yoga practice on dec 31st was surrender and letting go of 2009 and all that is not required to be rolled over into 2010...........all negativity, labels, judgements, toxins of the mind, body and heart,  against oneself and others.

the day unfolded with an exciting and breathtaking horseback ride..............a ride through the rainforest, where every turn took your breath away...............7 of us on the ride, each in our own space of timelessness..........and then we were at the top of the crest, with the view of lake arenal stretching out in the far distance..............continueing our ride, as a herd of cows joined us, leading the way.............we came to a clearing, dismounted and continued the hike on foot, slipping and slidding, holding the tree limbs and reaching hands for support.........we reached a point and suddenly we were in full view of the magnificent 35 meter waterfall.............as Frederick looked at us and said: now we hike down towards the bottom of the fall and walk behind the water.............more slipping and slidding and soon we were at the bottom of the fall............great control, and precise guidance by Frederick, over the slippery rocks, away from the dangerous drop.............we gasped for breath as the cold water hit our bodies and souls...........eyes closed against the volume and impact of the water, we hugged the rocks and soon the impact of the water sound, made me realized that i was right behind the waterfall.................the water was right over the crown of the head, the sound of the water combined with the sound of OM  and the shrieks from the other riders.......
any other words to describe this experience would take away from the feeling............

lailo, my horse and i were well connected in our energy, in the downhill ride, he would actually turn his head to look toward me and when i acknowleged, yes go for it, he would trot down, slipping and slidding yet keeping control, our energy in complete harmony............the me in me, never realizing that how much i would enjoy horseriding..............maybe that is when the ego took over...........as we completed our descent, the open firelds looked so serene, the i disconnected with lailo, in a split second, as he turned, and decided to gallop, i knew that was it..............the rest was in slow motion......Frederick, heard the gallop, looked back and saw me slididng off the seat, as he started to come towards me, thinking i would be able to slide back on,  meanwhile in that split second i had sensed that a struggle was no use............so in slow motion i was flying off the saddle, on to my right side, heard the helmet hit the ground, someone behind me saw the hoof hit my head, I think the opposite, lailo in his way reached with his hoof, and broke the fall........... the glasses went flying, in a moment it was over, and soon Frederick was bending over me, i got up faster than i fell, the other riders seemed more stunned, as they had watched the whole thing happen.............i gave lailo a hug, reassuring him that all was okay, it was not his fault..........i was helped back on the horse and we walked back.......many hugs, shared with the other riders, reassuring myself and them, as i was reminded that every moment is a milagro.........
the evening gathering included...........much food, dancing, and the ritual of eating 12 grapes at midnite, making a wish for each month.  Daniel, celebrating his 5th birthday, and the blue moon, showing its splendor when the clouds moved away, with each firework we lit up and cheered....... some of us sat in a personal moment of quiet silence..............happy new year.

reflecting back on the day, surrender had taken on a new meaning...........leaving one open to receive and give, abundance of love and gratitude.