city dharma
My recent trips to New York over the years have only been brief, whirlwind trips, but I had a plane ticket that I needed to use up and the time to do it. So I decided to hop on a red-eye from San Diego via Phoenix and actually spend some time in the city, check out a few DJ events, and try to track down an old friend. I thought that the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple would bring a much-needed change to my already crazy Southern California life. However I did not expect the city to have such a tranquilizing calming effect on me - quite the opposite of what many people typically experience here. Since I've been back in America (from living and traveling overseas where the pace of life is quite a bit different) I'm not used to sitting around and waiting, and I AM used to having everything I need or want at my request - on demand. When I need to go somewhere I hop in my car, and in Southern California people are always in such a hurry and maintain a particular way of doing things which they are comfortable with. Anytime I go out of town my frame of mind totally shifts, and because of this I typically recommend people go out of town more often.
A few years ago while in Canada, I bought a book called City Dharma, the main premise of which involves finding peace in your surroundings - regardless of the hustle and bustle of a big city, for example. I was reminded of the book as I began to experience a variety of interesting scenarios, leading to an gradual paradigm shift by the end of the day. A few years back I read a lot of Buddhist and Taoist literature, which at that time was really instrumental in working my way back to peace after some unfortunate life circumstances. Since that time I have gotten back into my study of the Bible, so this combination of religious and spiritual literature is an incredibly powerful recipe for enlightenment - as is immersion in an alternate culture or "world".
Just prior to boarding the plane to leave San Diego, I was "randomly selected" for the routine "strip search" at the security checkpoint. This is a nonsensical procedure in which you and all of your belongings are probed and rearranged by a complete stranger. Because I pack so meticulously - a place for everything and everything in its place, and because I was already incredibly late for my flight departing in 15 minutes, my patience was tested beyond imagination as I sat and watched this large butch woman wearing plastic gloves completely disembowel my luggage. At one point I told her I needed my phone, which she reluctantly gave me after confusing it with my old phone, only to discover that my Bluetooth headset (in a special small zipper pouch) was trying to communicate with it, thus I needed that out of my bottomless purse also. She appeared noticeably perturbed by me as well. I was certainly relieved when she told me my laptop was "clear" and I could put it back in its case, which was deeply embedded inside a special compartment of my smaller carry-on. I made it to the gate after I had been officially "removed" from the cleared standby list, and the plane was approximately two minutes from departure. However it was meant to be that I get on that plane.
I don't know if you have ever tried to sleep while seated in the center seat of a completely full flight. Sitting in between two teenage boys is not exactly the most comfortable scenario in general, and since all of the lights were turned off, reading John McCain's Biography was NOT an option. I sat with my laptop, resized my photos from Opening Day at the Del Mar Racetrack and organized some files, until I ultimately decided to get some sleep. I think I got about an hour total. The plane landed at 6am New York time, and contrary to my previous views of the city, I was greeted by incredibly nice people throughout the airport. I have been in JFK once before as a stopover on my way to Brazil in 2001, but did not recall the unique decor and cozy feel of the facility - though it actually reminded me of an airport in Europe. I took the AirTrain (which looked exactly like the one in Newark, the airport I usually fly into when going to New York) to the Subway. I was surprised the Subway ride took over an hour to reach Manhattan. I felt like I had been sitting forever, and I had not slept nearly enough. I was torn between sleeping and just going for the city full-steam ahead.
Once I arrived in Manhattan, nothing went according to plan. I could not get a hold of my friend who I'd hoped to stay with, and I could not find a hostel which met my standards (they are quite different overseas). I decided to head towards Central Park and possibly even sleep there for a bit, but could not find the right part of the park which was not all walking/running trails and fenced off areas, so I decided to ride the subway a bit more and get my bearings. Everything I "thought" I wanted to go and see I either couldn't find, it was closed, or it was different than what I thought it would be, for example a Jewish Historical Society which ended up being closed! I did manage to plant myself in a Starbucks, delirious and sleep-deprived, drank a Grande coffee, and was blessed with the gift of free internet access! Not only was I able to get some work done, I was able to check email to find out my friend had gone out of town for the weekend. So I researched a few other spots I wanted to check out, and proceeded to do just that. It was really fortunate during my unexpected series of events was that everyone was super nice to me, which helped take the edge off my challenged physical and mental condition.
I ended up at the Tibet House, after directions from a really nice apartment doorman and getting lost in an area called Chelsea where there was another less-than-satisfactory hostel. I did not know what to expect from the Tibet House, but upon entering and looking at the Tibetan art, I was immediately lost in their myriad of books. I spent about an hour and a half there, reading and talking to the guy who was working there. He actually recommended a hostel in Brooklyn, which I will stay at tonight as I will be attending an event in that part of town. During this time in the Tibet House, I was hit with the reality that I was undergoing an amazing transformation in my life, an out with the old and in with the new energy and revitalization beyond anything I had ever experienced. I was incredibly moved by this and the remaining events of the day that followed, as the Universe knew exactly what I needed, and God had been directing my path the entire time to get me to SLOW DOWN and JUST BE.
After the Tibet House, I took the 6 Subway to 83rd and 3rd, where a friend of mine was teaching a Yoga class. I SO needed Yoga after all of what I have been experiencing lately in my life, and after the unexpected series of events which had really been testing my patience. The class was absolutely amazing, and as it turns out, they had just "let me in" to a club with very exclusive membership which usually does not let non-members just walk in like I did! The guy teaching the yoga class also happens to be one of my favorite DJs, and he invited me to share a cab with him across town to his event that I had already planned to check out. I was also so grateful for this because Im sure it would have been challenging to find my way there on the subway at the rate I had been going! We had a great chat in the cab, and arrived at the venue, a pier/stage area on the Hudson River with an amazing view and awesome atmosphere. I felt so comfortable there, there was a cool breeze to counter the hot muggy weather of the day, and the music was phenomenal. I danced for about 4 hours to some of my favorite world groove, tribal house, and international sounds with DJs and live drumming- I can't remember the last time I had danced like that but was exactly the release I needed - so amazing!
After one long day in New York, I believe I have re-discovered my center, and I am definitely rejuvenated - ready to take on the world again! Is it time for YOU to take a trip out of town? Get outside of yourself to truly seek peace within.
A few years ago while in Canada, I bought a book called City Dharma, the main premise of which involves finding peace in your surroundings - regardless of the hustle and bustle of a big city, for example. I was reminded of the book as I began to experience a variety of interesting scenarios, leading to an gradual paradigm shift by the end of the day. A few years back I read a lot of Buddhist and Taoist literature, which at that time was really instrumental in working my way back to peace after some unfortunate life circumstances. Since that time I have gotten back into my study of the Bible, so this combination of religious and spiritual literature is an incredibly powerful recipe for enlightenment - as is immersion in an alternate culture or "world".
Just prior to boarding the plane to leave San Diego, I was "randomly selected" for the routine "strip search" at the security checkpoint. This is a nonsensical procedure in which you and all of your belongings are probed and rearranged by a complete stranger. Because I pack so meticulously - a place for everything and everything in its place, and because I was already incredibly late for my flight departing in 15 minutes, my patience was tested beyond imagination as I sat and watched this large butch woman wearing plastic gloves completely disembowel my luggage. At one point I told her I needed my phone, which she reluctantly gave me after confusing it with my old phone, only to discover that my Bluetooth headset (in a special small zipper pouch) was trying to communicate with it, thus I needed that out of my bottomless purse also. She appeared noticeably perturbed by me as well. I was certainly relieved when she told me my laptop was "clear" and I could put it back in its case, which was deeply embedded inside a special compartment of my smaller carry-on. I made it to the gate after I had been officially "removed" from the cleared standby list, and the plane was approximately two minutes from departure. However it was meant to be that I get on that plane.
I don't know if you have ever tried to sleep while seated in the center seat of a completely full flight. Sitting in between two teenage boys is not exactly the most comfortable scenario in general, and since all of the lights were turned off, reading John McCain's Biography was NOT an option. I sat with my laptop, resized my photos from Opening Day at the Del Mar Racetrack and organized some files, until I ultimately decided to get some sleep. I think I got about an hour total. The plane landed at 6am New York time, and contrary to my previous views of the city, I was greeted by incredibly nice people throughout the airport. I have been in JFK once before as a stopover on my way to Brazil in 2001, but did not recall the unique decor and cozy feel of the facility - though it actually reminded me of an airport in Europe. I took the AirTrain (which looked exactly like the one in Newark, the airport I usually fly into when going to New York) to the Subway. I was surprised the Subway ride took over an hour to reach Manhattan. I felt like I had been sitting forever, and I had not slept nearly enough. I was torn between sleeping and just going for the city full-steam ahead.
Once I arrived in Manhattan, nothing went according to plan. I could not get a hold of my friend who I'd hoped to stay with, and I could not find a hostel which met my standards (they are quite different overseas). I decided to head towards Central Park and possibly even sleep there for a bit, but could not find the right part of the park which was not all walking/running trails and fenced off areas, so I decided to ride the subway a bit more and get my bearings. Everything I "thought" I wanted to go and see I either couldn't find, it was closed, or it was different than what I thought it would be, for example a Jewish Historical Society which ended up being closed! I did manage to plant myself in a Starbucks, delirious and sleep-deprived, drank a Grande coffee, and was blessed with the gift of free internet access! Not only was I able to get some work done, I was able to check email to find out my friend had gone out of town for the weekend. So I researched a few other spots I wanted to check out, and proceeded to do just that. It was really fortunate during my unexpected series of events was that everyone was super nice to me, which helped take the edge off my challenged physical and mental condition.
I ended up at the Tibet House, after directions from a really nice apartment doorman and getting lost in an area called Chelsea where there was another less-than-satisfactory hostel. I did not know what to expect from the Tibet House, but upon entering and looking at the Tibetan art, I was immediately lost in their myriad of books. I spent about an hour and a half there, reading and talking to the guy who was working there. He actually recommended a hostel in Brooklyn, which I will stay at tonight as I will be attending an event in that part of town. During this time in the Tibet House, I was hit with the reality that I was undergoing an amazing transformation in my life, an out with the old and in with the new energy and revitalization beyond anything I had ever experienced. I was incredibly moved by this and the remaining events of the day that followed, as the Universe knew exactly what I needed, and God had been directing my path the entire time to get me to SLOW DOWN and JUST BE.
After the Tibet House, I took the 6 Subway to 83rd and 3rd, where a friend of mine was teaching a Yoga class. I SO needed Yoga after all of what I have been experiencing lately in my life, and after the unexpected series of events which had really been testing my patience. The class was absolutely amazing, and as it turns out, they had just "let me in" to a club with very exclusive membership which usually does not let non-members just walk in like I did! The guy teaching the yoga class also happens to be one of my favorite DJs, and he invited me to share a cab with him across town to his event that I had already planned to check out. I was also so grateful for this because Im sure it would have been challenging to find my way there on the subway at the rate I had been going! We had a great chat in the cab, and arrived at the venue, a pier/stage area on the Hudson River with an amazing view and awesome atmosphere. I felt so comfortable there, there was a cool breeze to counter the hot muggy weather of the day, and the music was phenomenal. I danced for about 4 hours to some of my favorite world groove, tribal house, and international sounds with DJs and live drumming- I can't remember the last time I had danced like that but was exactly the release I needed - so amazing!
After one long day in New York, I believe I have re-discovered my center, and I am definitely rejuvenated - ready to take on the world again! Is it time for YOU to take a trip out of town? Get outside of yourself to truly seek peace within.
posted by :: Lisa :: at 10:24 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home