Kundun, Tibetan Yoga, The Dalai Lama
October 13th, 2005
Here is an old photo taken from one of my oldest books on Buddhism, Tibetan Yoga & Secret Doctrines. This is “the late Srimat Kuladananda Brahmachary. He was one of the most beloved gurus of the Madhwacharya Order, and had many disciples, one of whom is kneeling at his side in reverent obeisance.”
. . . .
I’d been checking my local Blockbuster store for the movie Kundun. Matter of fact, I visited the store on two separate occasions to see if the movie had come in… and I asked the clerk and he said the one person hasn’t returned it yet.
…okay, last night was my sister-in-law’s birthday and we were over at her house celebrating. I found out she had been really getting into Buddhism lately and lo and behold… SHE had the DVD!!! She was the one who borrowed it! So, she lent it to me so I could see it.
Anyway, I’m surprised she’s really getting into Buddhism, which is good in my most humble opinion. I helped her hang this wooden shadowbox frame of The Buddha. And discussing my own Buddhist studies found out she had purchased an introductory book on Buddhism and the Autobiography of the Dalai Lama.
But she confesses she can’t go on the strict vegetarian diet I’m on, a diet that has a big part in my leanings toward Buddhism. So, last night she had cake and I happily watched everyone else eat cake while I got into Lotus Pose in front of the Buddha.
Later, I had a little session where I was teaching the kids some Yoga postures, and we all got into Lotus Pose for a while. Children can easily get into Lotus Pose. I can but with a little effort. But I guess it goes to show you that children are very flexible, and somehow adults lose a certain amount of flexibility when they get older… more reason to continue doing Yoga!
October 13th, 2005 at 11:15 am
Of course, upon reading this, I had to immediately get down and try the lotus.
A furious ten minutes of trying to unstick myself pretty much convinced me I can’t do it very well anymore.
October 13th, 2005 at 11:44 am
it took me months before i could even do a lotus pose. and now that i can, it’s still a bit tight but it can be done. i’d like to get to the point where i can cross my arms behind me and grab each of my big toes.
patience and time…
October 13th, 2005 at 11:30 pm
i never knew that pose was called the lotus pose. :) but i’ve always just done it since i was a kid. perhaps it was because my mother always taught me buddhist principles? i dunno, but i still do it easily. i guess i shouldn’t take it for granted anymore.
October 13th, 2005 at 11:36 pm
… although i couldn’t cross my arms behind me, and grab each of my big toes… or at least i haven’t tried that yet. o_O