Thousands of Radiant, White Heads
Ladies and gentlemen, for your consideration I present Exhibit A: “what we chant at the beginning of yoga class every week” (as translated from the Sanskrit), or, “further evidence of my growing insanity”:
I bow to the lotus feet of the guru
who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being
who is the refuge, the jungle physician
who eliminates the delusion caused by
the poisonous herb of samsara (conditioned existence).I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads
(in his form as the divine serpent, Anala)
and who has, as far as his arms, assumed the form of a man
holding a conch shell (divine sound), a wheel (discus of light,
representing infinite time) and a sword (discrimination).
om
Yeah! Time to do some push-ups and warrior one! Wait, what did we just say?
January 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Here’s the otherworldly insanity of the monotonous repetition that haunted my youth. Dressed in black cassock and white surpluss, kneeling uncomfortably in church on white marble before school each day, a cohort and I would sing-songedly intone, in Latin and later in English-
“I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, father, because I have sinned much in thought, word, and deed,
through my fault, (mea culpa)
through my fault, (mea culpa)
through my most grievous fault. (mea maxima culpa)
Thus I beseech blessed Mary ever virgin,blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you, father, to pray to the Lord our God for me.”
For pure insanity, nothing beats Dark Ages Catholic dogma. Would that I could have instead bowed to the lotus feet of the guru who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
If you are bowing to a thousand white heads you should try proactive. It clears up both black and white heads.
January 13th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Wait, your yoga class does push-ups?
January 13th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Dude, they’re only in every sun salutation. Get on it.