Five Piece Monkey Orchestra.  Each stamped: "Made in Occupied Japan." 

We know who's gonna take your calls at 3 AM, but in my opinion 4 AM is the real magic hour; in this town the quiet has a still sweet empty calm to it.  Plus you practically own the streets.  And that's when the Hanuman chaleesa --repetition and singing of the 108 sacred names of Hanuman -- commenced at the Vedanta Temple, just a handful of devotees singing and playing the harmonium.  Beautiful.  I stayed til the sun was up, but the program lasted all day. 

Spiritual practice or ritual in itself has very little to do with transcending the ego.  If it did, all you'd have to do is learn some chants and you'd be set, off and running.  If only it was that easy.     

But I know what you're thinking.  You think it's about cherry-picking the fun stuff.  Poking around in other people's traditions but only really skimming the surface.  GB sent me this article about the commercialization of Yoga, how it's becoming all about the fancy mat and the cute outfit and scented candles and body scrubs and oils and mood CDs and special programs to Lose Weight Fast or Better Sex Now!  As if accessorizing was the point to Yoga.  Why not, suggests the author, go spend your time and money helping someone who needs it?  Wouldn't that really make you feel better? 

But see, that's what I think Hanuman represents.  Sure, it's nice to get clear, get calm, and the chanting and singing help with that.  Get that monkey mind orchestra ito quiet down with the racket and play nice.  That's the inside job.  But then you want to go out and try and do some good.  Be of Selfless Service. 

...okay.  So this will post as yesterday, but in fact it's already Sunday.  Yesterday I had 7000 words to submit for something with a 4000 word limit.  So I trimmed and pruned and whittled and polished and honed and sharpened, and I didn't think it was possible but I did it!  The time had flown by and now it was exactly right, even better than when I started.  Cleaner, focused, powerful.  So I went to bed last night exhausted but content.  And this morning it has suddenly and inexplicably and completely become something else: some crippled, stunted and obtuse, off-the-mark, nonsensical mess...

When you have ambitions, you want to live forever.  

When you surrender all your plans and dreams, you think you could go at any moment.   

But you have to be careful you aren't just playing the flip side of Monkey Orchestra's 45.  That's not really what shifting your perspective means.

And yes, I know there's an answer.  I'm just talking process here.  You know, for some people, the closer you get to your heart's desire, the more the demons come out.  I'm just saying.

Now I have got to get going.  I'm in a hurry to do good.