Laughing Yoginis

It is a job I've had since I was 14, but I never understood it this way. But when I am on the job, I only break certain rules. I break the old outdated rules that are holding people back from transformation. Of course, I am not perfect at it, so sometimes I break a few good rules too, or miss a few that ought to get broken. But mostly I work with the low hanging fruit which is pretty safe. After all, I am not enlightened. So when you are ready for positive change, come see me. We'll break some of your outdated rules together, and maybe we'll even break some of mine.

There she perched, pink toenails and all. Delicate strappy sandals and pink toenails. Perched right atop the shovel. Did I mention she was four feet in the air, or so it seemed, on a tiny ledge of dirt about twelve inches wide and way way in the air above the sidewalk in front of my house, yes, perched on the very tip of the shovel, pink toenails and all. The shovel sways lightly and she shifts her weight to compensate, both feet still balanced on the narrow edge. I'm looking up at her and she's stating quite clearly she has no idea how to plant the flowers we have -- did I mention none of us know what they are? She claims no knowledge or expertise in the area. And as she's going on about this, she gives a little hop from time to time, just managing to get the shovel and inch deeper into the ground, swaying precariously but nonchalantly. She has just saved me from a meltdown. You see, when it comes to plants I know nothing -- especially these --since the half wilted plants ...

I see the patterns of my mind reflected in the shapes I see in the clouds. Sometimes I see death, and other times joy. What about the death of suffering? This is a most joyous occasion.

There I was in Atlanta Georgia. On vacation of a sorts, with one day completely to myself. These are my dream days in a way. A sudden change of plans never needs to be communicated or negotiated. The day just flows. Somewhere in between the aquarium and the monastery I found myself in centennial park. Built for the 1996 Olympics. Sitting next to the "rings" fountain, eating lunch and drinking water. Today was the first very warm, sunny day. The light lunch was consumed quickly, and I moved on to the outer edge of the fountain, unpacking a book and taking of my shoes, lying on my belly watching the kids in the fountain. The fountain spits forth copious amounts of water in jets, randomly. It sometimes starts slow, one jet at a time around each ring. Other times a whole ring of jets shoot water up at once. Sometimes there is a slow meandering trail, and occasionally all the jets fire at once, completing a water pattern of the Olympic rings. Kids laugh and scream with delight...