YogaEverywhere 12/2000 section 3

Body Mind Spirit by Megan Lurie McCarver

This is one of my favorite lessons that I hope is interesting to every one. I heard it from one of Jack Kornfield's teaching audio tapes. It is a Burmese tale ... .

A merchant was traveling in through the countryside when he became very sick and feverish. A villager found him and brought him to his home. He nursed the merchant for two weeks until he was well enough to travel. The merchant parted saying "You are my brother, you are my friend. How can I repay you?" The villager responded "My brother, my friend, that is not necessary". The merchant said "My brother, my friend, please come to my home on the lake for a visit. I have a boat."

Time went by until the villager decided to visit with the merchant. He rode his horse to the big city on the lake. The merchant was very glad to see his new brother and friend. The next day the merchant asked "My brother, my friend, may I borrow your horse to run some errands?" The villager responded, "Of course my brother and friend." For three consecutive days from sun rise to sun set the merchant rode the villagers horse until the third day he had to return because the horse became lame. The villager as very angry and upset. He wanted revenge. He said "My brother, my friend, may I please borrow your boat?" So for three days, the villager wildly drove the merchant's boat up and down the lake until he had to stop. The villager's hands were so sore from grasping the steering wheel and his back was so sore from speeding over the waves and his skin was so burned from the sun ....

The action of forgiveness is profound. We choose what to hold on to, what to carry on our shoulders and in our hearts. We also choose when to let go of our holdings and forgive. Remember forgiveness is an ongoing process. It starts within on a cellular level, your body and your mind. Compassion comes from the same infinite well as forgiveness, our hearts. That's how we practice compassion, "co" meaning two people, or your body and your mind having compassion for your self. You forgiving your self or another over and over, again and again.

The Family Corner by Denise Levinson Ross

Every child wonders about God. What does God look like? Where does

God live? How does God make rainbows? Parents might find these questions

difficult. I have found four children's books to help answer these questions.

Each one has beautiful illustrations and simple meaningful explanations

about God.

Where Does God Live? by Holly Bea - A young girl named Hope asks all

the adults in her live about God. Her Grandmother is able to explain

to Hope that God made everything, seen and unseen. "And when God makes

a person, a star or a wave, a part of God stays with whatever God's made,

so God lives in the sky, in the meadow and stream, God lives everywhere,

and God is not a dream." Grandmother also explains that "when yo meet

people who are loving and good, they are letting God out, just as everyone

could. This book is appropriate for any child preschool and up.

What is God? by Etan Boritzer - This book highlights all religions with

simple messages. The illustrations enable the reader to follow the examples.

This books is appropriate for children ages 8 and older

Does God Know How to Tie Shoes? by Nancy White Carlstrom - This gentle,

affirming picture book is ideal for parents to read aloud with young

children, particularly ages 4 - 8. Through the words and pictures on

these pages, children will grow in their understand of God.

God's Paintbrush by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso - Children speak about God

in ways that are different from adults. They ask many questions about

God, questions that often are startling direct. Oftentimes adults, parents,

grandparents and teachers feel uncomfortable answering them.

Through fantasy, involvement and the imagination this book invites children's

of all faiths and backgrounds to encounter God openly through moments

in their own lives and help the adults who live them to be a part of

that encounter. This book provides a gift of images which nurtures

and encourages children in making meaning of their world.

These books are available at your local library or bookstore.

Reading to your child is a unique way to share a special moment with

them. Take a moment each day to give your child quality time reading

a book together.

Denise Levinson Ross is the owner of Love 2 Read personalized children's

books. She enjoys reading with her daughters, Emily and Hilary each

day. Denise and her husband, Mark share the joy of reading with their

children each day. They have enjoyed the meaningful discussions about

God with their daughters and have found the reviewed books to be very

helpful.

Happy Reading! Denise can be reached at: love2read@onebox.com

Yoga on the Go by SuperClubs.com

Yoga Stories

Namaste yoga practitioners, students and teachers alike. We want to hear your yoga stories. Please send them to megan@yogaeverywhere.com and share them globally with each other, it's fun. For this month here's one of mine ....

I teach group yoga classes at Santa Monica Yoga and a few private students in their home. Working privately with students in their homes can be very dynamic at many levels. As teacher, I resonate a rhythm with love and compassion and very often my students join me at that level. Sometimes other rhythms are joined at a conscious or in this case, unconscious yet entertaining level.

I used to teach a lovely couple private yoga classes back to back. They were ideal students, very sensitive, intuitive and kind. One afternoon, I arrived to teach yoga and Sandy was not feeling well. Upstairs from the yoga room I began to set up and Sandy yelled from the couch downstairs that she'd be right up. Her husband, Matt was reading in the bedroom upstairs. As usual, I moved some furniture out of the way, rewound my audiocassette tapes, laid out the yoga mats and then "took my seat". After five minutes or so I realized Sandy had not arrived yet, so I quietly began to chant. I figured she needed a few more minutes to finish up what she was doing down stairs. Well, I chanted for forty-five minutes and then meditated for another fifteen minutes until our hour was up.

I quietly walked down the stairs gently calling Sandy's name only to find her awakening on the couch from a nap. Sitting midway between the stairs, I asked her what happened. Matt appeared and sat at the top of the stairs to report his experience as Sandy drifted over to sit at the bottom of the stairs. Sandy claimed she had a profound healing. She was debating whether to practice yoga and instead fell into a deep sleep. She dreamt herself sitting in a grand space. Angels where singing when a divine image appeared, reached out and touched her.

Matt said he never naps during the day and he some how fell into a deep and soothing sleep for the entire hour. Both my students were very satisfied with their "private yoga class" that day. I drove home thinking about how I love teaching yoga and giggled.

"Follow your heart and you'll never get lost." - anonymous

Sage Advice by Dr. KEV

Dedicated to Sri Aurobindo and Mother Mira, this site will give you a great

introduction to one of the great yogic luminaries of modern times.

Considered one of the founding fathers of the independence of India, his

writings inspired Ghandi to recognize and pursue nonviolent civil

disobedience as the most effective and just way to counter oppression.

Aurobindo is famous for having gone into seclusion for twenty years to

study, meditate, and write volumes on spirituality and personal

responsibility. Educated in Europe, he was a master of English, French,

Greek, Latin before returning to India to master Bengali and Sanskrit, as

well as Hindi.

Don't be surprised if it takes you a while to read a page of text from this

genuine luminary. His language although incredibly complex, concisely maps

out Reality in a way that no one who reads it can argue with. His work

stands paramount as an example of the heights of inspiration to which yoga

can take you, and the outstanding awareness of detail it enables you to

enjoy.

Dr. Kev surfs the web for links that enlighten and enrich the lives many.

We really appreciate his yoga website reviews.

This month's yoga link can be found at: