Mein erstes richtiges Essen nach 2 Tagen Durchfall:

5 Toast
4 Bananen
Italienische Margharita
Bananen-Ananas-Fruchtsaft (frisch und organic)

Hmmmmm ... lecker!

About Buddha there is a beautiful story. He was born on a certain day, the same day he became enlightened, and the same day he died. The birth, the enlightenment and death, all these three great things happened on the same day. This is very indicative -- it says birth, enlightenment and death are all the same. It has a message: They are all alike. They are not different, their quality is the same.

Birth is a kind of death. When a child is born out of the womb, if the child can verbalize what is happening he will say 'I am dying.' Because he has lived for nine months in the womb in such comfort, in such luxury, in such convenience. No worry, no problem, no work. Everything is available, you need not even ask for it. He need not even breathe on his own, the mother breathes for him. He need not eat, the mother eats for him. He simply lives. It is paradise.

Psychologists say that the search for paradise is nothing but the memory, the nostalgia, of the womb. Because you have lived in those nine months at the highest peak of comfort, luxury. And the whole search for paradise is for nothing but how to enter into that kind of warm womb again.

In India, the innermost part of the temple is called GARBHA, womb -- very meaningfully. Where the deity of the temple sits, the innermost shrine, is called GARBHA -- the womb. In ordinary life also we are searching the same comfort. When you feel a room is cozy, what do you really remember when you say that the room is cozy? Warm, alive, receptive, welcoming. You are not a stranger, you are a welcome guest. You are reminded of something of those nine months. Science goes on improving comfort, luxury, but not yet have we been able -- and I think we will never be able -- to create the womb situation again.

The child has lived in such abundance, it is just a continuous celebration. In silence, in utter silence. Now he is being thrown out. And he does not know anything about the outside world, whether there is any world or not. He is thrown out of his home. If the child can say anything he will say 'I am dying.' You call it birth, you who are outside -- but ask the child, just think of the child. The child will think, 'I am being uprooted, I am thrown out. I am being rejected.' The child clings, the child does not want to go out. The child feels it a kind of death. On one side it is death, on another side it is birth.

And so is enlightenment, again. On one side, on the side of the mind, it is death. The mind feels 'I am dying. ' The mind clings. The mind tries in every way to prevent this enlightenment happening. The mind creates a thousand and one questions, doubts, inquiries, distractions. Wants to pull you back -- 'Where are you going? You will die.'

This happens here every day. Whenever a person starts moving closer to meditation, fear arises. Great fear. His whole being is at stake, he starts trembling.

Actual trembling arises in his being. Now he is facing the abyss -- on one side it is death, on another side it will be birth. If the mind dies he will be born as consciousness. If thought dies he will be born as samadhi, as no-thought. If the mind disappears he will be born as no-mind. If this noise of the mind disappears then he will be born as silence. On one side it will be death, another side birth.

And so is death. Each death is also a birth, and each birth is also a death.
This story of Buddha's being born on a certain day at a certain time, then at the same time and the same day becoming enlightened, at the same time and the same day dying, is meaningful. It simply says that all these three things are the same. One thing is missing, I would like to add that too. If you REALLY fall in love then the whole list is complete. All these four things, then your whole life is complete.

If I am to write Buddha's story again, I will add this too, that he fell in love on the same day at the same time. Because that too is a birth and a death. The people who were writing Buddha's story were not so courageous. They have dropped the idea of love, that seems to be dangerous.

These are the four greatest things in life, the four directions of life. This is the whole sky of life.

OSHO

A Sahaj Declaration

Charlie Chaplin on his 70th birthday: As I Began to Love Myself

As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth.

Today, I know, this is “AUTHENTICITY“.

As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me.

Today I call it “RESPECT“.

As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow.

Today I call it “Maturity“.

As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment, so I could be calm.

Today I call it “SELF-CONFIDENCE“.

As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm.

Today I call it “SIMPLICITY“.

As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health -

food, people, things, situations, and everything the drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.

Today I know it is “LOVE OF ONESELF“.

As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time.

Today I discovered that is “MODESTY“.

As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING is happening.

Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it “FULFILLMENT“.

As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally.

Today I call this connection “WISDOM OF THE HEART“.

We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others.

Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born.

Today I know THAT IS “LIFE“!

You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Yoga cannot be realized by force,
because it is not really an achievement.
It is an awakening to a reality that has been existing within us
from the beginning

Acro Yoga in a Yoga Ashram in Westerwald

My path went back home!

My tattoo, a nautilus star between my shoulder blades, expresses a desire to find my way in life. Always with 5 points (one pointing upward), each has its own meaning. The upward point of the star is representative of the spirit. The other four points all represent an element; earth, air, fire, and water. All these things contributite to life and are a part of each of us.
Even though, I didn't intend to live in my birth place again, I find myself back there. For some reason, Leigh and I got drawn to that place. I believe that the last 5 years I was flying very high. For sure, I needed some grounding. Where else could I find a better grounding then close to where my roots are. After 3 years of studying, I can see that it is important to finally practice what I've learnt. It's a challenging time, you've got to function and work with "real" people. It takes a lot of time and energy and therefore teaches me how I can divide my energies equally. The yoga teacher training I am following for the next 2 years gives me a lot of light on my way. And at the same time it holds me in one place for a little while. Doing all of this with Leigh gives me a lot of strength and motivation. It is very beautiful to be able to share such deep experiences with a partner and at the same time grow with it. I feel the direction of my life path. With the knowledge of a physiotherapist, soon a yoga teacher and similar courses in the future, I want to devote my life to yoga, healing and councious thinking. The only thing I've really got to do is trusting myself and not being afraid of my ideas and visions.

The quality of life depends not upon external development or material progress, but upon the inner development of peace and happiness.

DON'T FORGET.....

Ich lebe ...

... manchmal verliert man sich in Zwängen und Normen. Man meint, man müsste einen Weg befolgen, den jeder geht. Und manchmal muss man diesen Weg auch gehen um wieder zu sich selbst finden zu können. Man muss es sich nur eingestehen und sich trauen, einen neuen Weg zu gehen, der eigentlich das wirkliche ICH in die Strahlen der Sonne stellt!

Trau dich,
veränder dich,
finde dich!

Lebe jetzt!

Rückschau
Wenn ich mein Leben noch einmal leben könnte,
im nächsten Leben würde ich versuchen mehr Fehler zu machen.
Ich würde nicht mehr perfekt sein wollen,
ich würde mich mehr entspannen.
Ich wäre ein bisschen verrückter als ich gewesen bin,
ich würde weniger Dinge so ernst nehmen.
Ich würde nicht so gesund leben.
Ich würde mehr riskieren, würde mehr reisen,
Sonnenuntergänge betrachten, mehr bergsteigen,
mehr in Flüssen schwimmen.
Ich war einer dieser klugen Menschen,
die jede Minute ihres Lebens fruchtbar verbrachten,
freilich hatte ich auch Momente der Freude,
aber wenn ich noch einmal anfangen könnte, würde ich versuchen,
nur mehr gute Augenblicke zu haben.
Falls du es noch nicht weißt, aus diesen besteht nämlich das Leben,
nur aus Augenblicken, vergiss nicht den jetzigen.
Wenn ich noch einmal leben könnte, würde ich von Frühlingsbeginn an
bis in den Spätherbst barfuss gehen.
Und ich würde mehr mit Kindern spielen,
wenn ich das Leben noch vor mir hätte.
Aber sehen Sie....ich bin 85 Jahre alt und weiß,
dass ich bald sterben werde.
Jorge Luis Borges

Acores, oh Acores! (2)

Blessed houses:

Hugging the world:

rest till the breath you breathe penetrates the pulsing soule, vaporating the imposed veils of separation. rest until the air you swim in is thick with the being of love. rest until you is we. beneath the blanket of warm gray sky.
rest.

Acores, oh Acores!

A TRIP TO NATURE

PAVEL'S AND BABS'S ADVENTURE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

Above: Pavel - a friend with the biggest smile ever. How good to share it with him

Above: The power of the water.

Deep in the atlantic ocean we found ourselves on this little island, called Terceira. The size of it does not let you assume that there is so very much beauty hidden in this little place. Beauty, filled with the most green landscapes, rough coastal lines, impressing left-overs from once smoking and burning volcanos, natural sparkling pools ... It is just simply natural beauty which feeds all your senses. And you understand once again, how much your soul gets eased by the gifts of our mother earth.

Time flies by ...

... Indeed, time flies by. I am almost finished with my last internship! Then only 4 more weeks and i am a fully graduated bachelor of health and physiotherapy. Sounds good, doesn't it ;-).


In these days, there is not much more then Work, Capoeira and sometimes Acro-Yoga. Ok, ok ... i had some beautiful days on the Acores, but more about that another time. For today ... some impressions of my life in Amsterdam!

Queensday ... let's rock around ... jogar Capoeira!

... not only play, but train hard!

Acro(batic)-Yoga! ... Just dont be afraid of heights ...

My friend Swarup with the Hang and the Acro-Yoga girls doing a nice performance for Queensday.

THE TREES WHO TALKED

We speak to you now

As ones, who like you,

Are much younger than

The Mountains

Sustained by the same Water

And the same Sun

And both blessed to be

In this place of wonder,

We have been asked to tell you

To share and celebrate

This Garden with your kind

The Bear brings you power,

The Deer, protection.

We, the Trees, standing silently

In witness, give you trust.

The Water comes and goes,

The Animals are busy,

On their own paths.

The Mountains, well,

They have other things to do,

Communing with the very forces

That created the face of this Earth

We speak to you now as ones

Whose lives come and go,

Much like yours.

You, however, are affecting

How this Garden grows.

And that is why we seek

Your attention

VERZEIHEN

Du kannst nicht weiter gehen, ohne zu verzeihen

Wenn Du verzeihst, wirst Du zu einem spirituellen Licht

Wenn Du verzeihst, wirst Du ein wesentlich besserer Heiler

Wenn Du verzeihst, fließt die Liebe viel leichter durch Dich

Wenn Du verzeihst, hilfst Du der Menschheit

Wenn Du verzeihst, gibst Du Angst Frei

Wenn Du Angst frei gibst, hörst Du auf dich an negativeErfahrungen zu klammern!

Windmills

Your Body: the construct of the windmill.

Your Mind: the wings of the windmill.

Your Soul: the wind.

It's windy in these days.

by Babs

The end of a day

It's been one of these days I woke up and felt pleased for having had such a beautifully deep sleep. I ask myself where the night might have took me so that I could wake up with such an energetic awareness of myself. Was I walking through golden corn fields catching the last rays of the sun set? Was I meeting a soulfriend exchanging innermost feelings and love? Was I an Indian hunting silently through the rain forests?



It's been one of these days I just smiled about any presence I meet along the way. Where does that smile come from? From you? The one who gave it to me last night? Or is it me being aware just for today? Being thankful, grateful, joyful? Is it me being aware? Or is it the weather, the circumstances, the way people treat me?



It's been one of these days no one could ever disturb me in that feeling of happiness. Being there makes me addictive. I don't want to leave it again. Because of you, because of me, because of everything. Because that was what i was dreaming about. That is what I need: A smile in my face which comes from the inside! From the inside of you, from the inside of me.



It's been one of these days, I would go to bed with a smile. Thankful, but at the same time excited about new adventures of the night.

Healing Arts Celebration

An idea ...

...came up to my mind while reading this poem from Steve Whitacre. Everyone is wondering where the universe ends. With this imagination we all project a vast picture in our mind which seems to expand to an unmeasurable goal of reaching. With this projection we might put a huge stress on our minds, because we always think that the source, the best, the furthest, the biggest must be what we are seeking for.
But if you look at it from another perspective, the universe could maybe even be found within the smallest measurable element of ourselves. Couldn't it be that human kind's perception is too much focusing on all big things in life rather than the small ones ... and therefore misses the innermost point???? The oneness, the simplicity, the closest, the soul. If we would realize this ... maybe the world would not seek to achieve the greatest things possible but the smallest things which are still unseen to clear the picture.
Anyways, here's the poem:

Look Within

I look within and I see the Heart of the Universe. I see every created thing, all that is, all that was, and all that is yet to beAs I look I see that every created thing has a thread of smoke or light going from it. The voice whispers, "This cord connects all to the Source. Without this cord it would not exist." I see that all these threads, coming from everything, go to the centerThe center circle of the Source, where the seven directions make one place.I see that all these threads are tied together or joined here at this spot.
The voice spoke, "This is the Center of the Universe. This is the place where all things join together, Where all that is, all that was, and all that will be, become one. The place where everything and all begin and end,This place inside everything and all that is,Binding yet freeing, holding yet letting go."And I finally understand.Understand of all creation, the seen and the unseen,Everything and All are related, Everything and All are equal, Everything and All are one.
The voice spoke one last time, "Yes, now you know the Center of the Universe." ……
And I pray to the seven directions.....hear me.
I pray to the West, which provides us rest and reflection. I thank the West for these gifts for without them we could not live.
I pray to the North, which provides us patience and purity. I thank the North for these gifts for without them we could not live.
I pray to the East, which provides us energy and emotions. I thank the East for these gifts for without them we could not live.
I pray to the South, which provides us discipline and direction. I thank the South for these gifts for without them we could not live.
I pray to the Above, which provides us with beauty and vision.I thank the Above for these gifts for without them we could not live.
I pray to the Below, which provides us with all our physical needs.I thank the Below for these gifts for without them we could not live.
I pray to the Within, which provides, holds, and guards our connection to the Source.I thank the Within for these gifts for without them we could not live.
Grandmother, you share with me your wisdom, and I thank you for this gift. Grandfather, you share with me your strength, and I thank you for this gift.

Let yourself go

Let yourself go and find the beauty within yourself surrounded by beauty all around.

A million of your own self

Find yourself in time.

Feel the here and now.

Feel every little aspect of yourself.

Every little aspect which led to what you are now.

You absorbed everything.

A million of spoken words,

A million of healing touches,

A million of warming hugs,

A million of passionate tunes of music,

A million of moments with challenges.

A million of everything which makes you who you are.

Who are you?

You are what you are finding!

If you find the tear, your heart is crying.

If you find the smile, your heart is smiling.

Find the moments which make you happy!

And then ask yourself who you are.

Here and now.

Graceful.

(by Babs)

The happiness of a family ...

The fortunes of a family

"Die Einladung"

Es interessiert mich nicht, womit Du Deinen Lebensunterhalt verdienst.

Ich möchte wissen, wonach Du innerlich schreist und ob Du zu träumen wagst, der Sehnsucht Deines Herzens zu begegnen.

Es interessiert mich nicht, wie alt Du bist.

Ich will wissen, ob Du es riskierst, wie ein Narr auszusehen, um Deiner Liebe willen, um Deiner Träume willen und für das Abenteuer des Lebendigseins.

Es interessiert mich nicht, welche Planeten im Quadrat zu Deinem Mond stehen.

Ich will wissen, ob Du den tiefsten Punkt Deines eigenen Leids berührt hast, ob Du geöffnet worden bist von all dem Verrat, oder ob Du verschlossen bist aus Angst vor weiterer Qual.

Ich will wissen, ob Du mit dem Schmerz - meinem oder Deinem - dasitzen kannst, ohne zu versuchen, ihn zu verbergen oder zu mindern oder ihn zu beseitigen.

Ich will wissen, ob Du mit der Freude - meiner oder Deiner - dasein kannst, ob Du mit Wildheit tanzen und Dich von der Ekstase erfüllen lassen kannst, von den Fingerspitzen bis zu den Zehenspitzen, ohne uns zur Vorsicht zu ermahnen, zur Vernunft oder die Grenzen des Menschseins zu bedenken.

Es interessiert mich nicht, ob die Geschichte, die Du erzählst, wahr ist.

Ich will wissen, ob Du jemanden enttäuschen kannst, um Dir selber treu zu sein. Ob Du den Vorwurf des Verrats ertragen kannst und nicht Deine eigene Seele verrätst.

Ich will wissen, ob Du vertrauensvoll sein kannst und von daher vertrauenswürdig.

Ich will wissen, ob Du Schönheit sehen kannst, auch wenn es nicht jeden Tag schön ist und ob Du Dein Leben aus Gottes Gegenwart speisen kannst.

Ich will wissen, ob Du mit dem Scheitern - meinem und Deinem - leben kannst und trotz allem am Rande des Sees stehen bleibst und zu dem Silber des Vollmondes rufst: "Ja!"

Es interessiert mich nicht, zu erfahren, wo Du lebst und wieviel Geld Du hast.

Ich will wissen, ob Du aufstehen kannst nach einer Nacht der Trauer und der Verzweiflung, erschöpft und bis auf die Knochen zerschlagen, und tust, was für Deine Kinder getan werden muss.

Es interessiert mich nicht, wer Du bist und wie Du hergekommen bist.

Ich will wissen, ob Du mit mir in der Mitte des Feuers stehen wirst und nicht zurückschreckst. Es interessiert mich nicht, wo oder was oder mit wem Du gelernt hast. Ich will wissen, was Dich von innen hält, wenn sonst alles wegfällt.

Ich will wissen, ob Du allein sein kannst und in den leeren Momenten wirklich gerne mit Dir zusammen bist.

(Oriah Mountain Dreamer)

Sebastiao Salgado

von Paul Coelho ... warum nicht auch von mir an euch?

Danksagung

Ich danke allen, die meine Träume belächelt haben.

Sie haben meine Phantasie beflügelt.

Ich danke allen, die mich in ihr Schema pressen wollten.

Sie haben mich den Wert der Freiheit gelehrt.

Ich danke allen, die mich belogen haben.

Sie haben mir die Kraft der Wahrheit gezeigt.

Ich danke allen, die nicht an mich geglaubt haben.

Sie haben mir zugemutet, Berge zu versetzen.

Ich danke allen, die mich abgeschrieben haben.

Sie haben meinen Trotz geschürt.

Ich danke allen, die mich verlassen haben.

Sie haben mir Raum gegeben für Neues.

Ich danke allen, die mich verraten und missbraucht haben.

Sie haben mich erwachsen werden lassen.

Ich danke allen, die mich verletzt haben.

Sie haben mich gelehrt, im Schmerz zu wachsen.

Ich danke allen, die meinen Frieden gestört haben.

Sie haben mich stark gemacht, dafür einzutreten.

Ich danke allen, die mich verwirrt haben.

Sie haben mir meinen Standpunkt klar gemacht.

Vor allem aber danke ich all denen,die mich lieben, so wie ich bin.

Sie geben mir die Kraft zum Leben!

Danke.

(Paulo Coelho)

Bitte lächeln ...

Carolina, my flatmate and myself.

CAPOEIRA WORKSHOP 2007 with Mestre Quincas