Comments on: Thomas Merton, Kanchenjunga, Mysore

By: Marie McGee

Marie McGee — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:37:25 +0000

I am reading everyone’s comments here and wondering if Thomas Merton brought many closer to the Christ, the Son of the Living God in his later ruminations.

Merton’s own meanderings and pride led himself away from the Truth. I never see discussion on that. Pride really is the sin that leads to all the other sins.

I was reading all of Merton, looking at his photos and calligraphy that I could get my hands on in the late 70s. Sorry to say, it didn’t carry me closer to God.

And yet, Merton’s earnest conversion story is always powerful. Like any journey home we are inspired to learn how fellow souls got there–how exactly God’s grace worked in that soul.

Spiritual anything is not the same as God’s Truth. I sense confusion and reaching but no peace. Looking at Merton’s writings in Monks Pond issues (btw there is an ORIGINAL for sale on the internet these days) I see brotherhood in the search but the fullness of peace is not there as in writings of Padre Pio.

May God bless all in this season of hope.

By: bob banner

bob banner — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:48:01 +0000

Hello, we are screening a new film on Thomas Merton in BOTH Santa Barbara and SLO called

SOUL SEARCHING: THE JOURNEY OF THOMAS MERTON with John McAndrew to speak and answer questions afterwards

Tuesday July 10 in San Luis Obispo
HopeDance FiLMs presents Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton, a captivating documentary illustrating Merton’s transformation from hedonistic womanizer to Trappist monk. Award-winning producer Morgan Atkinson brings out the paradoxical character of Merton, the monk, poet, peace activist, and spiritual writer who influenced the lives of so many during his short life. The film encompasses the full arc of Merton’s spiritual journey told through interviews with friends, authors, and scholars who have studied him as well as his own writings and beautiful images of his monastic life.

The film reveals the struggles of Merton‘s spiritual search and how he emerged from this crucible with an international reputation – part Augustine, part Emerson, part Gandhi. Witness this fascinating journey of one of the spiritual giants of modern times Tuesday July 10 at 7pm at the SLO public library on the corner of Osos and Palm Sts. in SLO. Suggested donation of $5.

John McAndrew received his Masters in Divinity (MDiv) and MA in Theology in 1986, focusing on Biblical justice and applied spirituality. He facilitates retreats, workshops and seminars on spirituality both here and abroad. He currently lives in Grover Beach, CA with his wife, Toni Flynn, a writer and spiritual director, and serves as a Spiritual Counselor and Hospice Musician for Hospice Partners of the Central Coast in San Luis Obispo, CA.

ALSO IN Santa Barbara:
on July 19, 7pm at the Faulkner Gallery inside the SBarbara Library (40 E. Anapamu St.). Suggested donation of $5. No one will be turned away from lack of funds.

For more information call Bob Banner 805 544-9663

Trailer and official website:

http://www.morganatkinson.com/images/merton.html

By: Teri

Teri — Tue, 15 May 2007 01:10:00 +0000

Hi Steve and Michelle,
I was one of the aerobic junkies: Powerhouse, Studio E, Athletic Club, etc. I took a yoga class, but didn’t understand any of the names of the poses in the “beginning” class. I liked it though, thought it was slow, but intuitively wanted and needed slow. I was ready for a spirtual path of some sort. I heard of Ashtanga yoga, had no idea what it was, however I knew it was rigorous. I needed an intro yoga class and Michelle’s class came up on the Internet. I called, she encouraged, I tried it. Wow! What a journey. It has been 4 years since my first class. I tried a bunch of different yoga classes, but kept coming back to Ashtanga. I liked the sequence, the organization, the daily practice and the philosophy. I could see change daily. I am not sure I would have stayed in Ashtanga with different teachers.You both have a way about you that supports, yet gives space. You brought me in when you needed to, and let me go when you needed to. I have learned so much about my physical and mental state. My body has changed time and time again. The pain and effort and challenge is similar to sailing (cruising). The enlightenment is so amazing that the 75% of hardship to get there is worth it. The focus, drive and dedication that I experience helps me with life in general.

I often wonder if I’ll ever get some of the asanas. I sometimes forget where I started and how far I have come. It is definitely a process, which is how I teach everyday. May my daily lessons in yoga remind me of how I’d like the children to approach their learning. I thank you both for the gifts you have given me. And thanks for the great story. That too is inpirational.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 13 May 2007 00:17:05 +0000

Punk rock yogini girl I think you are a Martian too.

Love Steve

By: punk rock yogini girl

punk rock yogini girl — Sat, 12 May 2007 22:36:25 +0000

I love this post. I group you in with the other martian-like beings such as Richard Freeman. It’s great to read that you are human and were seduced to the east with your human longings.
I myself was drawn to yoga like so many kids of the the 1970′s after watching Mister Rogers, the lovely Ms. Lilias Follan kindly urging my child body into yoga postures. I found it soothing and natural. Fast forward to age 13. A “cool” punk rock friend of me introduced me to a tab of fry, for five bucks I could get a little stoned. The results were a full blown LSD trip that rocked my world, and dissolved my form. I was so frightened, that I told my mother who insistently brought me to a psychologist (the day after) so I could learn about mind altering drugs, and probably to make sure I was still psychologically
intact.
Again fast forward: Age 23, my 20 year old brother dies abrubtly. Which brought me back to questioning the nature of form again. A friend takes me to a benefit, the speaker being Ram Das, (before his stroke). Here in Santa Barbara at the Victoria theater, Ram Das is there a week after his beloved colleague Timothy Leary had passed away. His subject of discussion was death, and Tim, and LSD and freedom from the mind’s grip, all of that stuff,

and of YOGA.

I was blown away and immedietly ran across to the Earthling Book store and obtained a copy of BE HERE NOW. The book talked of cleansing the body, starting with diet and asanas. I ate it up! I have never looked back. Great gift, yoga. Blessed teachers.
Human form, incredible experience.

By: Arturo Veve

Arturo Veve — Tue, 08 May 2007 03:25:56 +0000

Hi Steve
How interesting that you write about Thomas Merton in the same post in which you describe your path to Ashtanga. I studied philosophy before studying architecture, and my favorite philosophy teacher ran a Thomas Merton studies department, so I took several classes from him. I have read from time to time more of Merton’s books, most recently the one in which he talks about the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity.

I might write, as you did, on why I practice Ashtanga. It will probably be in my own folksy style that reflects that I’m an architect first, then a yogi. I admire your dedication to be able to teach. It’s not for all of us, since many of us began the practice late in life, so we didn’t have the advantage of a lithe body that could advance through the poses faster.

I’m not sure when I will write on the topic of why I practice Ashtanga. I’m at present working overtime on a project. What is the short version of how I found ashtanga? I first found yoga through a childhood friend, who practiced it. I started doing hatha in my 40s and feeling great from the stretching of the muscles. I asked teachers if they could point out where I could practice more often than 2 times a week, and they pointed to an ashtanga studio. Mysore practice ocurred because one of my teachers went to India and started teaching in that style. If it would not have been for his influence, I would not have started practicing mysore style.
Cheers,
Arturo

By: ANNIE LINN

ANNIE LINN — Sun, 06 May 2007 20:20:33 +0000

Hi Steve and Michelle:
Well, you two were my Ashtanga teachers about ten years ago and I had only been doing yoga a bit before I entered your world. After years of dance, running, jazzercise and beating up my body on stressed out jobs, my first encounter with you two was mystical and miraculous. It hurt like hell and my body was so stiff and unresponsive but it was still bliss! Trying to jump through, my feet would drag and bleed all over the mat (embarrasing), the drishti and “breath” ideas were way out of my league. I persisted and got hooked on bodily health and mental peace. I tried to read books about all the benefits of yoga, and didn’t understand them. It took years to “master” primary series, and at 57, I’m finally comfortable with most of the asanas. Sometimes my mind cooperates, sometimes not.
I recently read Iyengar’s “Light on Life” and really got what he is saying about the yogic life and the 8-limbs. Now I think about the five “afflictions” and reflect on them when observing my behavior and society. Yesterday I gently ushered an ant out of my kitchen.
Thank you teachers for your gifts.
Annie

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 04 May 2007 02:34:58 +0000

Joel:

Excellent, thank you!

Go for the honey, someone needs to save the bees!

By: joel

joel — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:32:33 +0000

Thanks for the posts, Steve. I enjoy the personal story.I’m new to ashtanga. I got into yoga because I got lower back problems from being amphibious. I go from water polo to soccer and my muscles in my back would get out-of-whack. I got a book called “Yoga for Athletes” from the library and used the poses to heal the imbalances in my back. Never had problems anymore.
Later in life I got a job where I was sitting all day. I worked was across from the Golden Tree Yoga. So I would go there a couple times a week at lunch for yogalates. At first I thought the women teaching it was a little crazy – but I enjoyed where she took me, and ended up not thinking she was so crazy.
My pursuit of yoga was purely because it felt great and helped my posture. I wasn’t searching for answers. I liked walt whitman’s view of life,” The secret to making the best persons is to live in the open air and eat and sleep with the earth.” Nature was my medicine.
One day I went searching for medicine after spending a new years at tahoe. I hiked a long hike after a big storm. I ended up at the top of a mountain dying from hypothermia, and being snatched from death by a helicopter. That experienced stripped my layers and will-power down to my wick, and solidified my belief in God and my faith in redemption.
I felt ashamed that I needed help. So I read lots of survival books and practiced building shelters and fires so I would have the knowledge to handle the difficulties in the future. I became obsessed with a survival teacher named Tom Brown Jr. I loved his nature writings and philosophies of the wilderness based on Native American traditions. Anyways,
A friend though I might be interested in ashtanga. I had never heard of it before, never knew such a thing existed. I enjoyed the simple approach of practicing, experiencing, and the changes that would result; and learning from people who have gone a long way down the path and know how to guide.
Ashtanga is not the end all for me. Like Tom Brown, I see a meditation practise as a first step. I find ashtanga an amazing vehicle to quiet the logical mind and open the spiritual mind, to enter the sacred silence and deepen my awareness. From that point I feel like I can start to feel the subtle energies of plants or animals or people around me.
From there, someday I hope to be able quiet my mind through practise, to sit next to a forest of oaks, ask my spiritual mind where the nearest chanterelles are, listen to my inner voice, and walk right to a honey hole. I have a long way to go till I get there, but I think its possible.

By: Rina

Rina — Thu, 03 May 2007 22:39:54 +0000

This is a great post! You should write a memoir! No, really! You gotta
give us more about the drunk Chinese soldiers! c’mon!!!

I remembered being attracted to Ashtanga because it was a strong
practice and I liked the structure. I also liked the fact that it was so old
and more traditional then the rock and roll hybrids popping up. I think
you recall, I saw Robyn and left my first day… After that, I think
pure drive to keep moving to the next pose kept me going for so long.
Now, I am more about being okay with where I am at the present moment.
It’s not getting me to the next pose, but I think it’s more important for
me right now. I’m approaching it more slowly and Yin-like with less
progress physically but I think more progress spiritually… also the last
two times when I’ve been on a roll and you’ve said to me “there’s no
turning back”…I run a way! What’s up with that????