Miracle of Nando Parrado

A few days ago I had the good fortune to hear Nando Parrado speak under the stars in the Sand Harbor amphitheater. As soon as I heard his first words, I knew it would be an unforgettable night...."Before we begin, take a moment and look up at the stars overhead, take in the beauty of the water and the family and friends who may have accompanied you...." He then spun a tale that was almost unbelievable had he not lived to tell.

Nando was one of fifteen rugby players who survived the 1972 airplane crash in the Andes Mountains. He survived for 72 days--an avalanche, severe dehydration, hunger and cold, the death of his mother, sister and teammates--his life is an incredible story of endurance and human survival against all odds. Amazingly, before the crash, he and his team mates had never before seen snow! After a desperate ten day trek, Nando and fellow team mate Roberto Canessa found a farmer who then alerted authorities and the group was saved.

What impressed me the most was two-fold. First was the intimate way he spoke of breath--how it became sacred: when holding his dying sister through the night, as a way to monitor and be with the injured and dying, breath as the only heat source to stay alive through the night by lying face-to-face with a team mate and breathing into each other's cold body parts. Breath became the indicator that he was alive:

Breathe. Breathe again. With every breath, you are alive. After all these years, this is still the best advice I can give you: Savor your existence. Live every moment. Do not waste a breath.

He spoke deeply about the love of family and friends and how this love sustained him. He continually thought of his father and how after the loss of his mother and sister, Nando wished to see him again and be a source of comfort. He spoke of his teammates, how they worked not only for individual survival but for the whole, the pact they made that in the event of death their bodies be consumed as nourishment for the survival of their teammates, and the precious gift of life given in this way. North Stars abounded, keeping him focused during his ordeal: love, personal sacrifice for care of the whole, team work, breath....

Second, what impacted me was the last half hour of the show, when people in the audience introduced themselves. They were from all over the U.S.A. and the world, having come to hear Nando speak because their lives were changed when reading the book/seeing the movie, Alive. One adult, to whom the night was dedicated had survived being hit by a drunk driver in elementary school and was paralyzed from the waist down. After struggling to adapt to the wheelchair on ice and snow conditions, this young person no longer wanted to survive and voiced as much to a teacher, who then gave her student the book, Alive. It proved to be a pivotal moment in the choice for life. There was a person who had survived as a driver in a fatal car crash, where the spouse and child had died. The entire night and the stories of transformation were a blessing to witness. If you wish to be inspired, connect with powerful North Stars and be deeply moved, check out Nando Parrado and the resources below:

Tedtalk
Website
Nando's book Miracle in the Andes

Nando Parrado is a Freedom Series Star for the Inner Constellation Blog--a true embodiment of the truth that we are expressions of the Eternal, and the IC Truth that everything, no matter how challenging can be transformed. Bless each of you today and the holy breath that animates life.

Fall 2015 Mindfulness Retreat "Befriend"

Mindful Consumption: Do I Take the Red Pill?

I watched an interview with Michael Pollan, author of "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation," on the discussion topic of Mindful Eating. He said something that I've been pondering for days:

"We effect nature more through our eating choices than anything else we do."

Huge statement to consider. What are all the conditions that brought my dinner to table? Soil, seeds, a farmer's land, sunshine, water, grain, sacrifice of life, worker's hands, vehicles, gas, packaging, markets, cooking energy, precious time, plate, utensils....on and on and on, each a choice that represents my values and what's dear to me. Mind-blowing contemplation actually. Then, there's the process of being in communion with all the conditions that brought the offerings of the earth to my plate, simply by mindfully ingesting it into my body.

Interestingly, two days before I watched Michael's interview, I had two food experiences that drove home the above truth--we effect nature more through our eating choices than anything else we do. The first was an experience at Taco John's, a place suggested by a friend who was visiting from out of town. She was so excited because there's only one of them in her home state of Nevada and we just happened to be right down the road from the restaurant. How could I say no--I soon discovered why there's one Taco John's in the entire state!

I ordered what she ordered, figuring she knew her stuff--a crispy chicken potato burrito. Holy Lord, I stifled a gasp when the tray came out. Not only did it come with a bucket of about 20 fried tater tots (I ordered small, no super size!), but these tater tots were also stuffed inside the burrito alongside breaded chicken (thus the crispy, oh I get it....). Everything tasted as one salty fat-filmed blob. In all seriousness, Taco John's was a life changing experience. There was nothing natural on my plate other than a few strands of shredded lettuce, and as I ingested, I was struck by the complete remaking of nature.

Now....fast forward to the next day, where I visited a very different restaurant (recommended by a friend who insists on healthy eating)--Great Full Gardens. Beautiful, whole, organic, fresh food was served. I ordered a Kale salad with cabbage, mushrooms and onions sauteed in coconut oil. My body soaked it up. The following evening, I watched the full Michael Pollan's interview. I am forever amazed at sweet life and how it seems to provide me with very ripe opportunities to practice living mindfully and making choices that benefit well-being, not just for myself but for all beings--which of course includes Momma Nature. Ok, you'all, I just reserved The Omnivore's Dilemma by Pollan from the library, when it arrives, I'm swallowing the red pill....

Kids Mindfulness Practice Day Hugely Nourishing!

Today's time with the kids was so sweet and we wished to give a recap. We were blessed with Bodie and Ariel who both were amazing little Buddhas. Our morning began with sharing sources of happiness followed by a five minute sit, to give a benchmark for our time together, then we proceeded to  listen and invite the bell with each person taking a turn.

After enjoying the bell, we went outside for walking meditation where Ariel rang the bell beautifully (she's a toddler, mind you--amazing!) and Bodie thoughtfully led the way. We were visited by a neighborhood dog who inspired us to count the number of animals we saw in another mindful stroll around The Studio.

Lastly, Bodie showed us a newly acquired super cool flashlight given to him by his dad and went to work placing it on a spinning platform so when he spun it, every thing was bathed in its light. His flashlight seemed a perfect metaphor--mindfulness is often compared to light--it shines on every single thing, with gentle awareness, no discrimination. Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community added new young friends today and we are so grateful!

Nothing Too Small, Too Insignificant

I'm sitting in my backyard garden watching the moon go down over the top of my fence and contemplating an insight experienced this morning. I woke early in anticipation of taking my stand up paddle board out on the Lake. Pristine and calm morning was forecasted with winds and possible thunderstorms building early afternoon. After a busy beginning to my summer, I was looking most forward to my first morning out; however, I could not find the straps that tie down the board for transport! I searched everywhere I knew to search but to no avail. By now, the morning heat was setting in(side me!). I walked to the garden shade and took a seat. I began practicing mindful breathing to regain myself and sure enough, insight surfaced....

Interestingly, as part of my earlier morning practice, I had just read the Diamond Sutra and in it, the Buddha discussed the idea of no-self--that nothing exists outside its dependency on other things, both living and non-living. It's easy perhaps to see our dependency on living things: food, water, our beautiful earth, but what of our dependency on non-living things. I was contemplating this idea moments before the search for the paddle board straps began. Some time later, when I finally gave up, sat still and breathed, a simple mantra came into my head, "No straps, no paddle board." The same can be said of Lake Tahoe, a healthy body, my car, a parking spot, hands which constructed by board....So much inter-dependency, This "self going paddle boarding" does not exist, it's pure illusion.

So, the moon, she mirrors a more spacious truth as I take a deep sigh and she sinks below my sight line. At this moment, I remember the lesson of no-self and the value and gratitude for all beings, both living and non-living.

Retirement!!!

My mother retired just moments ago, officially at 3:30pm East Coast time.This poem honors her and the light she shines on so many people, most recently, young ones who receive the beautiful works of her hands--the fruits of which she plans to multiply, now that she's retired! A Friday poetry tribute to beautiful Momma:

Stained Glass
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

“How do you like my new dress line?”
my mom texts
with a picture of tiny dresses sewn
for children in Mexico, Africa and India.
Bright splashes of material
remind me of something I cannot place.

At mid-day I do something I haven’t done in years—
walk into a local church for a peace break.
Windows of cobalt blue, royal purple,
sunshine yellow and evergreen reflect and mingle,
stream across oaken pews.

I enter glory’s center,
bow my head
and bring to mind 
a mother’s gifts.

Foretaste of Summer Retreat

Beautiful summer day, June 13. I'm lounging in the garden, listening to the waterfall, watching birds and soaking in the gloriousness of the moment. Muse struck, perhaps carried on the gentle breeze, emitted from the Bleeding Heart delicately growing alongside the foot bridge, or maybe she reflected off the water when sweet Chickadees jumped in for a bath. Here's what she whispered....

Shine

Golden Buddha in subduing Mara mudra

©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Enlightenment--

one’s ability to bless,
seems a hope far in the future,
so we search and strive….

What if we, create awakened moments,
became Lotus,
push toward light, grow up and out,
not in spite of mud,
but because mud is our substance?

Earth as our witness,
when binding ropes break away
what is revealed beneath the cracked layers
is Golden Buddha,
shining.

Next Saturday, June 20, we will practice "Shining" in community from 8:00-11:00am during our Summer Mindfulness Retreat, a rare opportunity to come together for the sole purpose of nourishing ourselves and our loved ones. Most looking forward to sitting with you, walking with you and soaking up beauty.