A Lover of Questions (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} luciferian) wrote,@ 2008-04-07 01:13:00 |
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The adventure gets way the fuck more surreal then usual
Thursday started with a hike up the mountain from the chalet while it snowed very lightly. Then shifted gears as we went back to the hostel to meet the navajo medicine man Tyrone, and experience the sweat lodge. Its something I feel was very valuable, but not something I would be in a hurry to do again. I probably will do it again.
Basically the idea of a sweat lodge is to push the limit of human endurance, inducing a seriously altered state of being, then engaging in prayers. I think most people know this, what most people dont know is that it happens in 4 cycles, each cycle more intense than the last. Its a grueling purgatorial process, very liberating, and totally traumatizing at the same time.
the process was exhausting, afterward there was a feast.
Friday I woke up feeling relaxed and invigorated and amazingly healthy and clean. We all went Skiing. The realy amazing thing about skiing that I hadnt ever realized is that while you do it your up on a mountain surrounded by some of the most epic scenery you the planet has to offer. friday concluded with movies. Taos has a small coffee shop/video rental place that is without a doubt the best selection of movies I've ever scene.
Saturday morning started with breakfast, then a workout into the afternoon that covered several of the topics i found so gratifying in Richmond, but in greater detail, and more hands on training with Moy Tung. Issues I've seriously been struggling with since the second year of my training are continually opening up. Very rewarding. Later we went out to the Rio Grand valley and did some hiking around.
We returned to the chalet, made an excellent dinner and had an intense evening of discussion with Tyrone and his life-partner girlfriend who runs the public defenders office in Albequrqe. One of the only people I met who actualizes one fo my favorite passages form the Tao, number 15;
The sage of old was profound and wise;
like a man at a ford, he took great care,
alert, perceptive and aware.
Desiring nothing for himself,
and having no desire
for change for its own sake,
his actions were difficult to understand.
Being watchful, he had no fear of danger;
being responsive, he had no need of fear.
He was courteous like a visiting guest,
and as yielding as the springtime ice.
Having no desires, he was untouched by craving.
Receptive and mysterious,
his knowledge was unfathomable,
causing others to think him hesitant.
Pure in heart, like uncut jade,
he cleared the muddy water
by leaving it alone.
By remaining calm and active,
the need for renewing is reduced.
(not my favorite translation but you get the idea)
I was not previously aware: navajo is a derogatory term coined by the spanish that means savages. They reffer to themselves as the Deneh. Hanging out with the Medicine Man is almost exactly like hanging out with an old kung fu master, so we treated him like one and everything went very smoothly.
Sunday has consisted so far of more hanging out with Tyrone. Making more food, and finally a trip with Guy up the mountain at night so we could sled down the ski trails on plastic tobogans, which was good for a cheap thrill but ended up with some hitting trees, then watching more movies, tomorrow I'll head back to Denver.
Thursday started with a hike up the mountain from the chalet while it snowed very lightly. Then shifted gears as we went back to the hostel to meet the navajo medicine man Tyrone, and experience the sweat lodge. Its something I feel was very valuable, but not something I would be in a hurry to do again. I probably will do it again.
Basically the idea of a sweat lodge is to push the limit of human endurance, inducing a seriously altered state of being, then engaging in prayers. I think most people know this, what most people dont know is that it happens in 4 cycles, each cycle more intense than the last. Its a grueling purgatorial process, very liberating, and totally traumatizing at the same time.
the process was exhausting, afterward there was a feast.
Friday I woke up feeling relaxed and invigorated and amazingly healthy and clean. We all went Skiing. The realy amazing thing about skiing that I hadnt ever realized is that while you do it your up on a mountain surrounded by some of the most epic scenery you the planet has to offer. friday concluded with movies. Taos has a small coffee shop/video rental place that is without a doubt the best selection of movies I've ever scene.
Saturday morning started with breakfast, then a workout into the afternoon that covered several of the topics i found so gratifying in Richmond, but in greater detail, and more hands on training with Moy Tung. Issues I've seriously been struggling with since the second year of my training are continually opening up. Very rewarding. Later we went out to the Rio Grand valley and did some hiking around.
We returned to the chalet, made an excellent dinner and had an intense evening of discussion with Tyrone and his life-partner girlfriend who runs the public defenders office in Albequrqe. One of the only people I met who actualizes one fo my favorite passages form the Tao, number 15;
The sage of old was profound and wise;
like a man at a ford, he took great care,
alert, perceptive and aware.
Desiring nothing for himself,
and having no desire
for change for its own sake,
his actions were difficult to understand.
Being watchful, he had no fear of danger;
being responsive, he had no need of fear.
He was courteous like a visiting guest,
and as yielding as the springtime ice.
Having no desires, he was untouched by craving.
Receptive and mysterious,
his knowledge was unfathomable,
causing others to think him hesitant.
Pure in heart, like uncut jade,
he cleared the muddy water
by leaving it alone.
By remaining calm and active,
the need for renewing is reduced.
(not my favorite translation but you get the idea)
I was not previously aware: navajo is a derogatory term coined by the spanish that means savages. They reffer to themselves as the Deneh. Hanging out with the Medicine Man is almost exactly like hanging out with an old kung fu master, so we treated him like one and everything went very smoothly.
Sunday has consisted so far of more hanging out with Tyrone. Making more food, and finally a trip with Guy up the mountain at night so we could sled down the ski trails on plastic tobogans, which was good for a cheap thrill but ended up with some hitting trees, then watching more movies, tomorrow I'll head back to Denver.
