I ♥ Thich Nhat Hanh. We don't want to miss our life.

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

its almost 2012!

If you're looking for a 2012 calendar for that special someone I recommend Thich Nhat Hanh's. It's really beautiful and full of lovely quotes from him and artwork by Adam Guan (you can click my pic to enlarge).

Below is a beautiful video of Thay and his calligraphy. I really hope to purchase a piece on his next tour. I didn't have the cash this time around but felt so lucky to hear him speak just the same. Namaste.

A monk asks Tozan "When the cold and heat come how should one avoid them?"

Michael Stone Dharma Talk: Let the Heat Kill You from Centre of Gravity on Vimeo.

Tozan says: "When its cold, let the cold kill you. When its hot, let the heat kill you."

Let it kill the Storyteller. In every moment you have a choice. Love or fear.

I love Michael Stone. This is one of my favourite talks of his. Its time to post it again.

“In meditation, effort must be applied in a direction opposite to what we are used to. Our ‘effort’ must be to relax ever more deeply. We must ultimately release the tension from both our muscles and our thoughts. When we relax so deeply that we are able to internalize the energy of the senses, the mind becomes focused and a tremendous flow of energy is awakened. Meditation is a continuous process, and can be said to have three stages: relaxation, interiorization, and expansion.” – John Novak, Lessons in Meditation.

I'll never get enough of Michael Stone.

Michael Stone on the Question, How Do I Enter My Life from Toronto Body Mind on Vimeo.

Thich Nhat Hanh

"If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. If we really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile? Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind."

Thich Nhat Hanh in 'Peace Is Every Step : The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life' (1992)

Thich Nhat Hanh is giving a talk here in Vancouver at the Orpheum Theatre, Sun Aug 14 at 1pm.

Maybe I'll see ya there?

In every moment you have a choice. Love or Fear. Moment after moment.

Michael Stone Dharma Talk: Let the Heat Kill You from Centre of Gravity on Vimeo.

Do you enjoy helping others? Are you helping them in the right way?

I am thrilled to be spending the weekend with a Yoga Teacher and Psychotherapist named Michael Stone. (and no, he's not my therapist haha.. And yes, I do have one)!

He's doing a book signing this evening from 730-9 and some yoga workshops tomorrow and Sunday at a couple different Semperviva Yoga studios here in town.

The book is called Yoga for a world out of balance.

Click here for details.

Not sure how I missed ever knowing of this guy (especially since I have pretty much lived my entire adult life in Toronto where he's from before moving here). Anyways, none of that matters now. Since September of last year (the same month this particular talk was recorded) I have listened to every podcast, watched every video, and heard just about every public word that this man has said, and honestly I could listen to him every single day. He's fascinating, wise, edgy and very cool. I highly recommend listening to his talks, reading his books and catching him any chance you get. I got into a workshop with him last year at The Yoga Conference on the very last day of the conference and left wishing that I had gone to more. Many more. His Sangha is called Centre of Gravity. Heres a link

Here is just one of his many talks HERE

Enjoy & Namaste

PEACE IS EVERY STEP

by Thich Nhat-Hanh

Peace is every step.
The shining red sun is my heart.
Each flower smiles with me.
How green, how fresh all that grows.
How cool the wind blows.
Peace is every step.
It turns the endless path to joy.

a little yoga humour..