Okay, so I was going to work on a presentation for work tomorrow, but I saw this:
http://www.jiayo.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album15&id=IMG_0152
This is my old Taiji teacher.
What power!

So I must write:
There are moments when everything comes into focus and you live in the here and now. In taiji sometimes I have felt the heat between my hands, and everything feels right.

And most recently, Sunday, I felt wonderful when I was painting a fence, and I was at peace.
- posted by Hasson @ 9:33 PM

 
Last Friday, I felt I had taken a trip to Israel.
A friend took me to the Jewish house.
There were little kids, two bona-fide rabbis complete with beards and black suit, all around me, the sound of people speaking, chanting, singing in hebrew. The smell of mediterranean spices: tangy dill and tomato, creamy chick-pea humus, the sweet wine used for blessing, fresh bread with sesame. In front of me, a Mediterranean feast!

I stayed afterward and spoke with the rabbis about a lot of things.
In a mild Hebrew accent:
"Once I bought food for a man digging through the trash in front of a convenience store. Do you know what it is for such a man when you give him hot food? It's like you've given him a million dollars! I gave him hot food, and he was so happy! He did not have the words to express his happiness!."

Jewish people have 613 laws. One rabbi said, going through the whole day conscious of them, they made him aware of his environment.

This week, I shall buy the homeless man who roams near my office a hot meal.
- posted by Hasson @ 2:37 AM

 
Aikido is like dancing. Everybody has a different style, and it is best to feel rather than think.
I began Aikido about two months ago. There are throws and receives, and you must learn to receive a throw in order not to injure yourself. Yesterday, after practicing a block, pull, and throw with some beginners, I asked a senior to demonstrate for me as I moved toward him with my arm raised, moving to chop him over the head. With lightning speed, I was on the floor.

In an alternative throw, I moved toward him, felt a pain in my arm, turned to relieve it, felt a pain in another direction, and found myself lying on my side looking away from him, pinned to the ground.

While my recieving training served me well, I found that I was sloppy, because it hurt more than it should have. I like this old man. (He's not the sensei.) He pushes me a little harder - gives me a glimpse of just how good one can get with practice.
- posted by Hasson @ 11:10 PM