Lighting a Candle in the Global Village

Facebook has let me connect with friends old and new, of course, but also with groups that are part of what made me who I am, especially the music business in the ’70’s & ’80’s, a golden age, and the Harbin Hot Springs experience beginning 1-1-01, a new age. (Segue from “Life in the Fast Lane” to Madonna’s “Ray of Light”.)

In between I became teacher of Shaolin Yoga, did a Vipassana meditation and discovered a living saint, Amma. She gave me a mantra, and my yoga practice became dedicated to the divine feminine, which was, conveniently, embodied in the Quan Yin statue at the top of Harbin’s sacred springs.
But mine is also a warrior practice; my students were mainly martial artists.
As a result, I try to preach compassion, tolerance, vision, positivity and a healthy (yet worldly) lifestyle.

There are two levels of connection that really help me in maintaining health in body, mind and attitude.

First is my marriage. For the sacred warrior to maintain his chi, his power to be strong for himself and others, he needs his Shiva energy to be matched with Shakti energy, that of the goddess, the divine feminine. My wonderful wife, Shashi, has learned my yoga (she could teach it now!); we practice together almost daily. She nurtures me in every way I could hope for.

Second, and this has been another late-life blessing, I’ve enjoyed a growing network of friends, acquaintances and connections.There’s no doubt that Facebook (and its accessibility on smartphones) has been helpful in connecting. (I’m sure that LinkedIn, Twitter, Snapshot and others are also important, but my experience is with FB.) After the Valley Fire that devastated south Lake County and destroyed Harbin Hot Springs, FB kept us refugees in touch, and still does. It’s proven to be truly valuable. Beside the Harbin groups, I’ve got a Music Industry Reunion group. We’ve also been blessed to make some lifetime friends since we moved from Harbin to nearby Cobb Mountain. There is a ring around Harbin of dear souls who truly live the ideals Harbin represents. Not bound by anything other than common goodwill, they represent an orbit of compassionate power. We had to be away from the blinding light of the heavenly hot springs to discover the synergy available beyond. I feel so blessed with such truly supportive friends who I’m able to see with frequency.

Where am I going with this? Simply, that I believe in positivity, and prefer to avoid negativity. Up to a point, this means avoiding confrontation. That point is when the sacred warrior needs to step up to be a protecter. Family, friends, the innocent… those he can.

But it seems that there’s a fear-mongering going on in the world and our country now that is encouraging people’s worst prejudices in many ways. I don’t think I need to worry too much about that which I can’t control, or at least have some choice. But I can refuse to give in to negativity unnecessarily, and to do everything I can to spread positivity.

We love to have dinner parties. I love to turn people on to music, movies and books. I don’t need to bitch (although I love Joe Walsh’s line, “I can’t complain, but sometimes I still do”). And Facebook has been an amazing way to resurrect, maintain and grow connection. I feel good just acknowledging the birthdays of those who’ve been in my life in any way. And so many have been so significant, or impressive, or both.

​So use your social media to spread the good word. And make more friends in the non-virtual world, to grow your network. Be a digital bodhisattva and a virtual peaceful warrior. Remember the Serenity Prayer, and may Shiva & Shakti empower you with chi, devotion, service, practice…and beloveds.

​(Repinted from an August '16 FB post)