arturoyogi

Archive for September, 2008

nice images

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A spa in Switzerland by Mario Botta

FLW’s Falling Water animated clip

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Spanish graphic designer Cristobal Vila created this animated video of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. I had not seen it until Jose Israel Flores pointed it out in his blog. It is stunning, as is FLW’s achievement.

Spiritual Marketplace

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In an effort to be green, I am recycling things. You guys know when I’m joking, right? This is for (0v0), since she analyzes these things. My wise friend Albert posted this today on spiritual materialism. In my observation, it does not matter what tradition you practice to achieve spiritualism. Within Buddhism, the forms of practice vary, but the end goal is the same. Wait, there is nothing to achieve, but that is another teaching…

back in the saddle?

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Just when i’m ready to get back in the saddle with practicing in community during the week at the shala, moon day! I mean, my mat and practice clothes where packed, my clothes laid out and whammo. ha!

usual practice followed by groceries

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i practiced my usual half of Primary and half of Second Series in Berkeley today. it went very slow, since my practice was spotty this past week. my mind was making a lot of plans. i tolerated it, vipassana style, saying, “oh, planning thoughts.” i think Springy Sitarist got my arms almost to the floor in Prasaritta Padottanasana C. binding in Marichyasana D was easy. Pashasana did not give me too much talk back either- no struggle there. i struggled, however, with Kapotasana. my practice should strengthen as i practice again in Seven Petal Lotus’ room during the weekdays . after practice i shopped for groceries at nearby Andronico’s. it’s a nice grocery store that has everything you find at Whole Foods. having to carry groceries as well as a yoga mat makes me spend less because i can’t carry so much stuff home on my back. that helps the budget and the calorie restriction. that’s a pretty creative way of budgeting, doing groceries after yoga practice, yoga mat in hand.

but is it art?

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OK, so this image has a story. I was beginning my architecture studies by taking a basic design art class. I was really motivated to do well and liked the professor, himself a good artist who new how to live. I mean, he lived with his family in a beautiful house nestled in a dense forest, surrounded by his art, but I digress. The story is, I was spending an inordinate amount of time doing each project. It would not be unusual for me to spend 30 hours to create something that other students would spend an hour doing. The fellow students probably put up with me, seeing me as an overzealous student, perhaps. The teacher liked directing my energy. At one point, he asked us to create a painting that would represent New York City at night. I was tired of working long hours into the night for each project, the pace I had set for myself. I became angry and thought to myself, “You want New York City at night? Times Square perhaps? You got it. But I’m not going to spend a whole day on you!” I drew something based on a photograph and splattered paint at it angrily, perhaps thinking of the Impressionists as I particularly dubbed the yellow depicting the lights. The next morning, I submitted my work sheepishly to the professor. A few days later, he returned my work. I no longer have this “gem”. But I recall that on the back of it he wrote, “A ++ you really captured the feeling of New York at night.” Whoa. I had a good laugh. I was expecting a bad grade for my impertinence. OK, that’s enough posting on the blog for today.

meditation and impermanence

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I don’t know how long the grieving process lasts, so as i miss my father after his passing, i find comforting these words of Thich Nhat Hanh, in Opening the Heart of the Cosmos - Insights into the Lotus Sutra, from the chapter on meditation:

The new Cathedral of Light

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The new Cathedral of Light, designed by master architects SOM, opens today in Oakland. Photos by Lance Iversen for The Chronicle. Another architectural jaunt for me for another day.

Dedication of the new Academy of Sciences

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i went to the dedication of the new Academy of Sciences building, with the hope of catching a glimpse of its master architect, Renzo Piano. i did. i didn’t have a note pad but i think in his introductory remarks, Renzo said, “for the last two years this building was mine; today it is yours.” 

they are expecting 35,000 people to show up for the opening, the mayor said. it seemed that number of people were already queuing to get in, so after the dedication, i opted to return another day. if i waited in line, it seemed it would take most of the day to get in. after the dedication, i went to Yoga Studio San Francisco and signed up for membership again. who-hoo!

i like this photo of mayor Gavin Newsom because it lets the architecture soar.

also this one, because it’s framed with the faces of the crowd control officials.

The new Academy of Sciences in San Francisco

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There is too much going on this weekend in the city. The Academy of Sciences is opening to the public. Here are some pictures taken by Chris Appicella, who went to an opening event last night. Elvis Costello played. The New York Times had this to say about the new facility yesterday. The pictures include the rooftop at dusk, a view of the De Young Museum from the Academy of Sciences at dusk, and several interior views showing the ramps and aquariums.

And then, the Maltese Falcon sailboat, an engineering marvel, is supposed to sail into the bay. Too much going on. (The picture of the sailboat is from today’s Chronicle)

Oh, and yoga. I may resume practicing during the week with Seven Petal Lotus, due to the special membership offer running this month at YSSF. Ohm.