December 19, 2005
STUDENT SINGER's OOOOF + KRISHNA DAS's GOOOF!
Noble Ilg,
Just wanted to say thanks for today's DL. Your writing chi was obviously flowing free and wild. Really nice.
A memory: years ago when I was studying martial arts, I was getting really good at ukemi (the art of falling or "receiving with the body"). Well, I thought I was getting pretty good at it. What was certain is that I was was getting really cocky. I was rather proud of myself. So one day I was visiting my parents, and I was helping my dad spray a wasp's nest on the side of the house. I aimed the can, sprayed, and my dad yelled, "uh oh...here they come!" as the wasps started flying toward us. Not part of the plan. Being a fierce, fearless, warrior...I turned around and ran, totally unaware that the grass was wet. Needless to say, I slipped. Everything went into slow motion. The ground slowly moved toward me.
So...did I tuck, roll, receive the earth with my body and elegantly land back on my feet like I had thousands of times in the dojo? Nope. I face-planted...with a giant "OOOOOF!"
Krishna Das tells a similar story on the documentary included with his "Greatest Hits of the Kali Yuga" CD. One day he was driving somewhere, and decided to listen to one of his CDs, which he rarely does. So he's sitting there chanting along with it, totally immersed in the moment. "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare--" when out of nowhere, someone cuts him off. Before he knows it, he's shouting "@%$ &$% &#*%$!" at the guy, as his recorded self continues chanting in the background. Can't illustrate the point any better than that!
When I saw Krishna Das recently in Seattle I was struck by how humble he is. He may be a "master of chant," but he's the first one to admit that the path is ALWAYS steep.
Or, as I recall you saying on one of your meditation CDs, "The path is easiest in the temple, harder in the market, and most difficult of all in the home."
Yup.
:)
Onward!
Student Singer