The Black Party

I wrote sometime ago about Patanjali’s definition of Yoga from the Yoga Sutras as “yogash chitta vritti nirodhah” or “yoga is the control (as in soothing, cessation or suspension) of the fluctuation of the mind.” I’m again not going to explore this definition, but instead will explore Patanjali advice on how to achieve a state of yoga: “Abhyasa-vairagyabhyam tan-nirodhah” or “the mind can reach the state of Yoga through practice and detachment.”

Detachment. I suck at that. This Saturday night I got the great opportunity to practice detachment going to the Black Party, a celebration of sex and violence. Not such a great place to practice yoga in general, considering that two of the Yamas (advice for yogic behavior or Ethic Code) are Ahimsa or Non-Violence and Brahmacharya or Non-Abuse of Sexual Energy. But I was up for the challenge.

This is where attachment comes into play, I never went to the Black Party, but last year "someone" went without me, not to get to much into details but I was pissed. Being in a different state of mind this year I recognized that the reason I was eager to go to this sex and violence celebration is to correct the foul experience or memory of last year’s event (which I did not attend, how crazy can one be!)

As the party was getting closer I started imagining and creating expectations of what would happen at the party, how would be and how would people around me react. It stopped being about experiencing the event, it was just what I expected it to be. So I stopped, really. I am not completely sure how, but I just dropped all expectations and went for it.

It is important to recognize these events in our life, they are so dramatic that we cling to them as if they have to happen in some planed way. Stop, recognize why you are attached to the event or experience, if needed write down the reasons. Explore if those selfish and distractive attractions to the event are really that important to you. You don’t have to give up the experience; all I am suggesting is to experience the experience as it is, with no expectations, while being kind to the other participants.

Funny, the Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna taking place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Krishna is another name for Black and Arjuna is shiny or full of color. So this Krishna Party (I think I’m pushing it now) might be a symbol of our ability to come colorless, passionless, with no expectation, leave our armor behind, and experience the party-life as it is.

Ambiguously Gay Duo

Tony says it better.

You make the world better in one way, its becomes better in anyway

I saw Amazing Grace at the theater last night. The movie tells the story of the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce in 18th Century Great Britain.


We tend to forget how close we are to the days where slavery was part of our immediate universe; we are still paying the price for our father’s sins. This new Sharpton drama is just a reminder of how close those days are. We also deny that in parts of the world slavery is still very real, and we benefit from its fruits. Want it or not, we consume products that are manufactured in sweat-shops and under unfair trade.

But William is fighting not only for the freedom of slaves outside of him; he is also fighting for the liberation of his own soul. Recognizing that he has limited himself William strives to brake free and become free. We are slaves to boundaries that society has put on us, to concepts that were planted in our minds when we were young, but most of all to our self-made limitations. William’s lover Barbara tells him as the sign rises “After the night, there is light.” He finds courage in her words and the love she offers. We have the power to become free and we live in days where we can, not to seize that opportunity is a crime.

Also Romola Garai has a great rack!


Sarah Silverman has another way of putting it all together.

If you are going to look at the bright side, wear sunglasses

My friend Eric had the blues today. Happens.
Eric was looking for ways to feel better, taking the risk of sounding really too much, I suggested doing something nice to someone else, like me. Nha, not really.
Actually someone you don’t know or someone you don’t really like can benefit from being nice to today more then anyone that expects it.
Another way is to look at the bright side of life.