I'm ready for yoga! I did the most important thing. I bought this outfit that really shows my...
(Miska Käppi) I studied yoga for 20 years, and 99% was fake
OK, they say never drink before yoga class, but I think a little booze is not bad. Oops!!!
Bhoja is not bogus; it is "something done for enjoyment," according to B.K.S. Iyengar, says Miska Käppi, as many bhojis calling themselves "yogis" practice nowadays.
Yoga is not a lot of twisting, breathing, or jumping around in a modern studio; it is to "unite," to bring about "union" of the self (atman, "soul") with Brahman (the Ultimate) and/or breath (prana, "holy spirit"), the conventional divine (Brahma, the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver) usually nowadays in the form of Shiva, the Destroyer
What looks like a repeating gif is actually a remarkable stunt
Yoga postures for balance, strength, and flexibility
Messianic Bikram Choudhury as persecuted Christ figure
What is "the real thing"? One answer is The Eightfold Path: Ashtanga (Integral Yoga sometime Raja/Royal Yoga), a system of achieving "union" with the divine by the practice of eight limbs of the path: Yamas (external disciplines), Niyamas (internal disciplines), Asanas (physical postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharama (concentration), Dhyana (meditative absorptions, jhanas), and Samadhi (union, integration, coherence). The whole purpose of Yoga -- at least in ancient times between gurus and chelas (teachers and disciples) -- is MEDITATION. Asanas (lit. "seats") allow one to sit longer, more comfortably, and with stability. That is to say, practicing for the meditative absorptions is to reach of Samadhi. Who can say otherwise?
What happens at a Zen meditation? Los Angeles-based groups are growing, adhering to two basic principles. One, keep it cool, laidback, liberal, lowkey, everyday, normal but, two, make it seem exotic. How is that achieved?
One way is to chant in an Asian language, following the customs and ritual procedures of a formal (zazen) group sitting practice -- including both Soto and Rinzai traditions, which rely on koans ("public cases"). They may sound like paradoxical riddles to the Western ear, but they are in Rinzai rather than Soto Zen centers in the U.S.
Groups walk intent on practicing mindful awareness of the present moment with everything going on here and now. This present moment may not always be pleasant, but it is always tolerable when viewed from a dispassionate perspective, such as noting, "Then there's this," as one Western ajahn is fond of saying.
This point-of-view allows us to be the WATCHER rather than the usual, overly-involved "DOER," "RESISTER," or person taking it all very personally in accordance with the Three Poisons of passion, aversion, and delusion (greed, hatred/fear, ignorance).
WHAT HAPPENS?
Practitioners gather in a quiet place that is not completely quiet. They take to zafus and zabutons, cushions, for seating themselves facing the wall or the center of the space.
Then there's chanting in English, Sanskrit, or a Japanese transliteration of Sanskrit, with wooden percussion and/or singing bowl accompaniment. There's bowing and more clacking sticks. Then the group settles in for a sitting (zazen) session of shikantaza, which is often translated as "just sitting."
There's now nothing to do but observe. There's no need to stop thinking or make anything happen other than what is happening now. This is how it is. A bell rings to signal that walking meditation (kinhin) is about to begin, first very slowly then at normal speed, all the while with everyone remaining very mindful. Another bell announces a second sitting session after walking. That ends with a bell, bowing, arranging cushions in a circle, and then discussion begins.
A Dharma talk might mention the paradox of the impersonal aspiring for "self" awakening. Most groups open up a Q&A discussion. This might start a storm of comments or awkward silence, laughs or uncomfortable shifting, and possibly some insight into American Buddhism. Everyone returns the next week.
Beginner's Mind (Japanese 初心 or shoshin) is a concept from Zen Buddhism. It means it's better to have an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of expectations or preconceptions when practicing meditation and exploring Dharma. Even at an advanced level, approach Truth as a beginner would.
Beginner's Mind is especially used in the study of Zen Buddhism and Japanese martial arts [1]. It became popular outside Japan because of Shunryū Suzuki's book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.
The practice of shoshin acts as a counter to the hubris and closed-mindedness often associated with thinking of oneself as an adept or expert [2].
When we let ourselves think we know everything, we leave no room for surprises, but reality is full of surprises.
For example, in the Einstellung Effect, a person becomes so accustomed to a certain way of doing things that s/he does not consider or acknowledge new ideas or approaches [3], such as thinking outside the box. Like let's say someone asks you, "Who are YOU?"
One more TikTok, hookup, sext, hit of dopamine
"I'm me," you say. Then this exchange takes place:
"You're not who you think you are."
"I'm who other people think I am."
"No, you're not even that."
"But, but, what else is there? If I'm not who I think I am, and I'm not who others think I am, do I just not exist?"
"No, you are who you think others think you are."
"Oh, yeah, because we're social creatures, right? There's always that [performative] factor of being watched, even if we only think we're being watched."
"Something like that."
"Ah, what do you know?"
"Hey, at least I got you to think outside the box, realize it's not binary -- a this or that, thesis or antithesis. There's often a synthesis, an interaction, a third or fourth option not thought of within the confines of the assumptions surrounding the question."
"Oh, yeah, huh?"
"Monkey."
The word shoshin combines sho (Japanese 初, "beginner" or "initial") and shin (Japanese 心, "mind" or "heart") [4], which is not necessarily the brain but the intuition, knowing, heart, or the ability to discern. More
Nobody goes to the desert to get all voyeuristic, except these people in a long line to get in.
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What kind of world do we want?
First of all, what is an "Orgy Dome"? That's kind of hard to explain. It's sort of like this dome, a tent, with an orgy inside, and by orgy we mean a consensual communal experience with probably more sand and grit than anyone would ideally want to be present at a time like this. Bring wipes. Maybe Diddly brand coconut oil, too. No, no, no oil, but water-based lube. And be very MINDFUL. There are Ten Principles to follow in general and special safe practices, consenting obligations, and lots of checking in to make sure everyone is all right and enjoying it.
What happed to the Orgy Dome? The wind at the beginning blew it over, scattered, and destroyed it. The site has an Instagram. Orgy Dome 🌈💜✨ (@orgydome) • Instagram. But Billboard's Instagram states: Burning Man’s infamous Orgy Dome won’t be opening this year [2025] after hurricane-force winds tore the structure apart over the opening weekend. 🌪️ Organizers say they’re safe but unable to repair the dome in time, though they still plan to host smaller workshops on the playa. The storm also destroyed major installations like Ukraine’s 50-foot Black Cloud, marking yet another year of extreme weather challenges at the Nevada summer desert festival. More details on the Dome and other installations that were damaged by heavy winds are at the link in bio. More TMZ confirms it.
Day 3: Trapped in the mud at Burning Man 2025 – Daily Vlog
(Escaping Normal Life) Aug. 27, 2025: Day 3 at Burning Man 2025 turned into pure muddy survival. A massive rainstorm hit the playa, flooding everything and turning Black Rock City into deep, sticky clay mud. I was trapped inside my tent for hours, unable to move my bike or even walk through the sludge.
In this daily vlog, I share what it was really like being stuck in the rain and mud, how I managed to stay (somewhat) dry, and the chaos happening all around camp.
This is what Burning Man 2025 looks like when the weather shuts everything down. If you’re preparing for Burning Man or curious about the real, unfiltered experience of surviving the playa during a storm, this vlog shows the raw reality of what happens when the desert turns to mud.
Venmo: venmo.com/u/escaping_normal_life. Found this video helpful? Consider donating. I currently do not have a Patreon or a YouTube Member page because they take a percentage. Also, Super Thanks takes a percentage on YouTube. So I do have a Venmo that is 100% donated to me. These donations go straight to my channel to purchase better camera gear to make better content.
It might be more entertaining to see Babymetal at the Intuit Dome, LA
Get ready for the ultimate K-POP experience. 102.7 KIIS FM and China Airlines from Taiwan are sending one lucky winner and a guest on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Tokyo, Japan, to see BLACKPINK live in concert—all thanks to China Airlines, proudly from Taiwan since 1959.
(BLACKPINK) Killing it at Coachella 2023 with "Pretty Savage"
The grand prize includes:
Two roundtrip flights to Tokyo on China Airlines from one of the six China Airlines U.S. gateways
$1,200 in cash to use toward hotel stay
$1,000 in spending money for food, shopping, and unforgettable experiences
Two tickets to see BLACKPINK live at the Tokyo Dome on January 16th, 2026
Depart from one of these U.S. gateways:
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Ontario, CA (ONT)
San Francisco, CA (SFO)
New York, NY (JFK)
Seattle, WA (SEA)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
From city lights to stage lights, experience Asia on beat and in tour with China Airlines—from the blinking lights of Bangkok to the circus of Seoul and ending with the mayhem and madness happening in Tokyo.
It’s also possible to stop in Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Singapore along the way—where every stop is part of the journey. Book now at China-Airlines.com. History’s calling. Are you boarding?
T*ts McGee (Erin Micklow) was on the scene, reporting on and showing what is was like in a very fake influencer sort of way so that everyone could needlessly eat their hearts out. Now that she's been banned from Punk Rock Bowling and lost her business, let her hair down and been shunned by the scene, what can she do but conspicuous consumption and more TikTok videos? On the bright side she's vegan and she does yoga.
Cali Vibes (calivibesfest.com) is a two-day music festival that takes place at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. The seaside venue opens at 12:00 pm (noon) on both days. All ages are welcome, but 21+ for the Beach Club. Children 5 and under are FREE (when accompanied by a ticketed adult and excludes the Beach Club, which is strictly 21+). Show takes place rain or shine. Lineup, set times, festival hours, and venue are all subject to change [because of anicca].*
We're taking over this bitch BEACH by arranging ourselves all around, in the sand and on the green, in sereneBuddhist meditation until reggae rappers and on the stage make us get up and shake our assumptions from our heads, like the one that says "meditation" is just for caves, closets, and church basements.
There is a way of being in life -- off the mat and into the world.
The top of the mountain is a great place, but it's not the only place. One comes down and shares what was gained -- insight, loving kindness, compassion, joy-in-others'-joy, equanimity (unbiased looking on) -- for the benefit of all humanity (our fellow humans who have not yet attained) and divinity (the devas all around us).
Since sitting zazen is strenuous on the bum, we may have group yoga and yogic massage available, if people are not too distracted from putting CBD in their pipes and who knows what else.
Our goal is to get Cypress Hill to join us next to The Vibes Stage at 3:00 pm before they go on at 4:00 pm, which is when we join them so we can rap-rock out to "Ain't Going Out Like That" (from Black Sunday).
Aww, yeah, Man, this is the party to go to
Why these four meditative practices? These are called the "Divine Abidings" in Buddhism or Brahma Viharas ("Supreme Abodes"). Why at a rap, rock, reggae show at the beach? Why not? Where better to get "high" (elevated, ecstatic, enlightened) than among spiritually-minded Angelenos and friends of all races and walks of life? Will everyone come to an ashram or temple, or does the spirit house need to come to them sometimes? [Send complaints marked care of Ashley Wells in comments section.]
Now that sex is mostly illegal, maybe cybernauts will have to go inward
*No ins/outs with the exception of Beach Club pass holders and Hotel and Passes Package holders. There is no festival parking on site, except for the Beach Club [so what, are y'all gonna pay extra for the Beach Club, or what?] and limited parking in accessibility/ADA. Check website later on the Getting Here page for more details about parking near the venue, or use public transport. *Subject to change, everything is subject to change.
The seasons are changing because there comes a time when weekends start to jam up with events. This weekend is Wango Tango (LA's top of the pops festival featuring Doja Cat, Katseye, Meghan Trainor, DJ David Guetta, and others). The Altadena Future Fair is also in town at the Pasadena Convention Center alongside the Just Like Heaven Fest a few doors down Brookside at the Rose Bowl.
Just like Dharma Buddhist Meditation took over the BeachLife Fest for a mass meditation, we're on the lawn at Just Like Heaven doing some hometown healing along the foothills. There's no sense in trying to meditate to vapid pop rock and schlock. That would be like trying to achieve clarity at AC/DC's show at the Bowl.
Why attend a fest? It's not as if the Arctic Monkeys are going to show up
The Altadena Future Fair is a free community rebuild and healing event happening May 10-11, 2025, at the Pasadena Convention Center. This fair aims to unite residents, innovators, and local leaders to collaboratively envision and rebuild the community’s future.
Saturday, Sunday May 10-11, 2025, 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena (where Thich Nhat Hanh used to come every year to give a rousing dose of Zen, singing, and mostly silent notmuchtosayism, which people loved).
Speakers, workshops, trade show, locals' market, community healing, kids' room, music and entertainment (Saturday 5:00-9:00 pm), and a community vigil on Sunday at 4:00 pm
The mission is to ensure that every neighbor affected by the Eaton Fire has access to resources, knowledge, and community support — so no one rebuilds alone. It seeks to bring together displaced neighbors, builders, innovators, and local leaders to facilitate a collective recovery process. More
The Sun God shines all day then transforms itself into a jaguar to pass through the underworld. Learn more about these Maya and pre-Hispanic philosophies and belief systems, while viewing sacred sites, natural wonders, and reveling in rich Mexican traditions and vegan food. This is our Mayan Magic Tour of Mexico.
We’ll camp out on the site of the pyramids of Teotihuacan, before taking a hot air balloon ride at sunrise the next morning.
We’ll admire floating gardens, explore the pyramids at Chichen Itza, delve into Mexican-German artist Frida Kahlo’s life at her blue house museum, swim in pristine cenotes or volcanic sink holes, hike to the top of a sacred mountain with a hidden temple at the top, indulge in local vegan delicacies, while on a rooftop overlooking the luminescent skyline, and dance salsa in the Zocalo or central square of Mexico City’s vibrant plaza.
These are just some of the wonders that await participants. ellorawellness.com
ITINERARY
(Subject to change. All activities led by licensed, experienced, native tour guide)
Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City, head to Teotihuacan pyramids for group dinner, hold opening ceremony, yoga, meditation, camp on site
Day 2: Hot air balloon ride above Teotihuacan (optional), guided tour of ancient pyramids, head to hotel in Mexico City, yoga, meditation
Day 3: Visit anthropology museum, tour the Zocalo, see downtown Mexico City, aerial and/or acroyoga class (optional)
Day 4: Tour Coyoacan, view Blue House (Frida Kahlo's home), salsa dancing in center square, aerial and/or acroyoga class (optional)
Day 5: Boat ride down Xochimilco floating gardens, drive to Tepoztlan, check in to hotel, hike mountain to Aztec temple, sacred plant ritual (optional), meditation on mountaintop
Day 6: Drive or fly to Chiapas, check in to hotel, bathe in cenotes, hike
Day 7: Tour San Cristobal de las Casas, homecooked vegan meal, yoga, meditation
Day 8: Fly to Valladolid, tour the town, sound and light show (if available), check in to hotel, yoga, meditation, community circle
Day 9: Tour Chichen Itza, yoga, meditation
Day 10: Drive to Bacalar, check in to hotel, enjoy beach time, yoga, meditation
Day 11: Drive to Playa del Carmen, volunteer at nearby animal sanctuary, Black Sheep Retreat Sanctuary, community circle, yoga, meditation
Day 12: Drive to Cancun, closing ceremony, fly home.
Shared room: $2,800; Private room: $3,100
(Prices subject to change due to airline fees)
Price includes: breakfast, lunch, snacks (all the food served on this retreat is vegan), purified water, and transportation within Mexico.
All are welcome! Organized by Vanessa Marsot, the genie starring in this Los Angeles home movie with her wacky vegan Valley friends, in conjunction with Lisa Levinson (Vegan Spirituality LA Meetup). Get tickets:
Venmo: @Vanessa-Marsot
Zelle: (818) 383-5998
PayPal: vmarsot@gmail.com
To use credit card, contact vmarsot@gmail.com
Minimum 4 participants needed to allow trip to happen at level described.
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