Dear friends,
The last few weeks have been eventful. James and I went to Ann Arbor to see my mother and work on clearing the house two weeks ago, and was glad to see her and get more work done on the house that always seems to have more to give.
I was able to go to the Institute for a small celebration we had for Guru Purnima. The celebration was to show our appreciation of our Guru, Shri B.K.S. Iyengar along with the August issue of Fit Yoga which is dedicated to his genius and the genius of the Iyengar method.
Then home and a wonderful visit from Elizabeth Whalley. Soon after that I went back into Memorial Hospital to try to figure out what to do to help my situation. I am in the hospital now, hoping to come home on Tuesday.
I reflect on what a wonderful life I’ve had. How many dear friends I have. What a devoted family I have. How lucky I am to have been able to do something in my live that is meaningful to me and others.
You couldn’t ask for anything better than that … accept a little more.
Love,
Mary
43 comments:
I thought of you and hoped there'd be a message. All my love and admiration, Mimi
Blessings to you, Mary. As the previous commenter also said, I've been thinking of you and also hoped there'd be a message. I'm glad you could get to Ann Arbor a couple weeks ago. It's been a lovely summer in AA this year. Much love, Karen
You are in my heart, Mary, with love, gratitude and inspiration. Here is a song based on a Buddhist prayer. The circle of women that I sing with every week sang this for you last week, sending you love and healing energy.
May you be at peace
May your heart remain open
May you awaken to the light of your own true nature
May you be healed
May you be a source of healing for all beings
With love and appreciation.
Karen A.
You have been in my thoughts and heart since talking with Elizabeth about her recent visit with you in NY. Hopefully, this hospital stay will generate positive therapies and send you home stronger. Thank you for sharing your wonderful message with all your friends and fans,
Judy
Dear Mary,
I have been following your blog since you began it. I just wanted to let you know that you have been in my thoughts and prayers and will continue to be.
Bruce B.
Dear Mary,
I'm reflecting on my first class with you in 1988 on Long Island, and now I leave for India today...thanks to you!
Thanks TO you, and thank God FOR you!
Jeff Logan
Hi Mary,
Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts as we are keeping you in ours. I think about you each day and keep you close w/positive energies and thoughts.
Lots of Love,
Maureen
seeing you daily in my heart: your voice, your smile. and if it is possible to send love to you via cyber space, then here is even more!
xo anna
Hi Mary,
So good to hear words from you.
I think of you and send love and prayers each day.
Love and blessings,
Cathy
Dear Mary,
I recently saw a sign that said “Reflection is the better part of a champion” and thought of you. I substituted the word “yogi” for “champion” and later shared that quote with a class.
Thank you for teaching me to pause and reflect – not just this past year, but over the years as your student.
You are and will always be ever-present in my yoga practice, teaching and life. You are a true champion.
Namaste & love,
Ann
I was just eating dinner and jumped from my chair to the computer because I thought you had written something today. Thank you, it's so good to read.
Yes, a little more. That's what we want.
I think of you when I wake in the morning and again before I fall asleep and many many times between. Praying one continuous prayer.
Love,
Chris Buck
Dear Mary,
Like others I was very glad to see a message from you.
Post Amma, I have been thinking recently if we can come to have a deep enough understanding of the nature of the phenomenal world, we can end all sorrow. Forms change or come to an end, but underlying this there is a true continuation of being. The teachers say, " I am with you always". Then there's no need to be afraid whatever course things take....
When I was a child my father used to take me on a ride through a spook house at an amusement park (Whalen park). Various hobgoblins would pop out as the cart rounded a turn...our lives are full of these hobgoblins, death being the ultimate....but death as Amma describes it is merely "hitting the pause button on a tape recorder"...
Any way I hope you come back soon to teaching... I really miss you...but also wanted to convey on a deeper level there is nothing to fear...
Much love,
Barbara
Dearest Mary,
I think of you many times every day, and as I practice and teach, your words and inspiration inhabit my being. Everyone (and there are so many!) whose lives you touch is blessed by the connection to you. You are deeply in my heart and my love is with you. --Judi
Mary, you are in my thoughts and in my heart. Thank you for YOU.
With Much Love, Respect and Appreciation
Yvonne
hello mary,l want wish you "that... little more"
l send you good thoughts,every day in my prayer
claudia venezia
I've been thinking of you and listening to your inspiring voice in my head as I practice. Hoping your current stay will yield benefits. You are strong and beautiful and amazing. Sending love and healing thoughts,
Mary Beth
Dear Mary,
Much love and best wishes. Hope to see you in Greenwich soon :o)
Dear Mary,
The English teacher in me has to point out that in your blog you wrote "accept more," when it seemed you meant "except more." This is a common writing error, except I think it is an interesting tell. I believe you are expressing the acceptance, the coming to terms with the future that we must do to feel at peace. Yet it is not easy. It is Tuesday, and yesterday I went to class hoping you would be there. My yoga yesterday was to be in the moment of the class that was there, not to dwell on what wasn't. Still, afterwards I longed for you, hoped I would find a recent blog, and this was the "except" as well as the "accept." Love, Abbey
Dearest Mary,
You are in my thoughts and prayers always. So many times during a day I am reminded of you and inspired by you. All the lovely big and little things in life are to be cherished. I cherish you, your generosity and indefatigable spirit and luminous light.
May you get "a little more" and THEN SOME!!
XOX
Cynthia W
Dear Mary,
I was so happy to see this message from you. All my family is thinking of you and sending you good vibes from New York and Italy.
Love,
Anastasia, Philip, Arno, Niccolo', Stefania ed Elvira (my 92 year old nonna)
Dear Mary,
Just to let you know that John and I are keeping you in our hearts and, of course, our minds. You are a precious and special light in this world and you have been blessed to be able to offer that to so many people over the years. Whenever I think of you, I picture your wonderful smile shining up your lovely face.
Now it is your turn to accept the special good wishes that we all have for you.
All our love, hugs and blessings.
Suzie Mann
Dear Mary,
I hope you are out of the hospital and gaining strength. Linda and I think of you often and send our prayers and good wishes as I am sure all your Angell School pals do as well.
My prostate cancer is under control and my colon cancer surgery (12/06)was "curative".
All the best,
Mike
Mary, Always thinking of you and sending you much love. Jenny
Dear Mary,
Thank you for continuing to model the joy that comes from a meaningful life. I feel your presence in so many ways. With much love, and all blessings,
Barbara
Dearest Mary
I do appreciate you take the time to connect with all of us even when time is difficult for you.
You are alwyas present in my heart, thoughts, mind, prayers. I have been following your blog since you began it and check it often and write some but lately not much. It seems the computer and I are having some issues.
We have to work that out. Oh well..there is always something, and there is always more. More is the love you cultivate and so is growing and growing! Your are an example that inspire all of us with great courage and many virtues. I love you more by the minute! Who can't if you are just a delightful human being and an incredible teacher. You are my row model, I think I had said that to you before, but I repeat myself (I am getting older, you know :) and you are an inspiration in my yoga path even though I don't get to see you that often unfortunately.
But, your happy spirit, good sense of humor, fresh smile, warmth personality, baggage of wisdom, beautiful being inside out and outside in is always illuminative and that light is everlasting traveling miles away and reaching certainly to CA, where I am. We love you very much here too!
I think of you, pray and chant hoping the best vibration will reach reach you.
Sending you sincere love and all my admiration.
Take care.
Mary, Not sure how I found your blog, but I did. I am an Iyengar yogi, I believe we have a common connector, Nina Pileggi who happens to be my teacher. Iyengar yoga is a profound connector...
I am certain the pain you are going through is as profound, my mother went through it, but as Guruji as says "in the pain there is salvation".
I will pray for you at the Hanuman Mandir tonight near RIMYI. I wish you speedy recovery and will write about you in my blog.
Namaste
Nitin
Hi Mary,
I came across this poem and wanted to share it with you and the community. It was written in June 2008 by a local artist who is experiencing some health problems. Her name is Margaret Foxmore.
"There is no fix for my dear spine. I dream at times they could put something long and far more durable in me to stop the disease. Yet, I remember I am as fragile and beautiful as all the creatures God has created. Fooling myself no further to believe I am strong. We are all as fragile as a butterfly and as beautiful in any degree of decay and decline. Here and gone-organic Maggie! The green woman is not a witch, but me."
Love you always,
Cathy
Good Morning Mary,
I was thinking about my first
class with you and how that changed
my yoga path forever. As you
stood in front of me, I had my
first ah ha moment. That listening
to your instruction connected
me, as a student to my teacher.
Your inspiration as a teacher and
human being is always with me
and I thank you and think of you
everyday. I was reading three cups of tea and there is a quote from
mother teresa in on of the chapter
headings I wanted to share with you.
Let nothing perturb you, nothing
frighten you. All things pass.
God does not change. Patience
achieves everything.
Lots of love and hugs,
Michele W.
Dear Mary,
I send you much Love and big hug from Bali.... Olop
We, also, are reflecting on your wonderful life and the amazing person you are. We feel grateful to know you and to benefit from your wisdom, enthusiasm and love. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always. We admire you and love you.
Rooney and family
Mary Louise, I am using Rooney's computer as mine is in Greensboro. As I have said so many times before, you are such a beautiful writer. Look forward to many more entries. Please know you have our love and prayers. Love, Barbara
Dear Mary,
I loved the interview with you in the August Yoga Fit. You are, as the title states, " The Light of Yoga". Every word you use to describe Mr Iyengar's teaching aptly defines yourself as well. I will always thank my first yoga teacher (from another discipline) for telling me about your class in Greenwich. She took the train from New Haven to attend. You are the best and I check your blog daily to read the uplifting comments from your wonderful fan base. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers daily.
Mary P
Dear Mary,
I wonder how many of us check your blog almost daily and find ourselves searching for and failing to summon just the right words to write to you. The perfect words fail me, so let me instead send my love, my thanks for your beautiful teachings, my appreciation for all that you are and continue to be. What a remarkable woman you are. Hopefully you and Memorial have come up with the perfect rx for the future and I look forward to reading about it one day soon.
Until then, I join so many others in sending my love,
Sue Abiad
Blessings to you, Mary. I send you my love & prayers. You bless my life with your brightness & your wonderful teaching!!!! You are an inspiration to all.
Love,
Jill
Dear Mary--I had a class once with you in Waldwick setup by Kim Peralta. I was saddened to read of your illness in FitYoga this month. I only remember what a rewarding compassionate class you gave and wished to have been able to study with you more.
Mary, I am also a Reiki Practitioner that works with Cancer patients daily at Morristown Memorial Hospital. If you are guided to I'd be happy to send you distant Reiki or provide Reiki in person. It's been an excellent complementary therapy for our patient population.
I wish you peace, love and blessings dear Mary.
Mary,
Manouso is in town this weekend and he dedicated the morning class to you. So, if you felt a strong, earthquake-like jolt of strength and comfort today, it came by way of Los Angeles.
my love, blessings, admiration, and awe,
Jay A.
Sweet, strong and constant Mary,
The thoughts you share are important to us.
Gratitude for all you share personally and through others!!!
Reading the blog today, and hearing from James this morning, there came an overwhelming thought:
The Divine Creation however Guruji (in the form of Brahman, most likely…) or you or we think of it, holds you especially (and in particular!), and the rest of us too, in the palms of its hands. The metaphor of being so lovingly cupped by great and undefineable immensity comforted and soothed. Truthfully only briefly; we will admit that there are pangs of anguish about your health.
So many surround you with love.
We add a modest and barely adequate offering to you who has shared nothing but joy, enthusiasm, and the depth of yoga with so many.
Heartfelt appreciation,
Amita
I too,am thinking of you--delighted to see your posting. So glad that we were able to see each other at the Guru celebration. You spoke so powerfully then as you always do. Got an iphone and downloaded photos from our trips to Bali and Cambodia--wonderful pictures of you with Judy and James. What fun we had together--so many laughs along with so much wisdom lightly imparted by you. Although there are fewer pictures on my computer of other times together--you coaxing me uphill and down as I teared up in terror on the inca trail, frantic shopping trips in the Lima airport, great meals in Italy, laughing until we cried, and always wonderful teachings As you said the one thing I would wish for is much more time. But I am so grateful for all that you've taught me and continue to teach me with every posting in your blog.
All my love
Sue
Internet access is rare here in Blacons. I just found that you had posted another missive to those who are trying our best to send you healing vibes from around the world. Take care, Mary. Here's a bit cosmic hug.
Donna
I was thinking of you this morning, Mary, and for some reason, these words from Morris West's 'Shoes of the Fisherman', popped into my mind. Read them, and you – all of us, I'm sure – will see why...
"It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few of us who have the enlightenment, or the courage, to pay the price...One has to abandon altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to embrace the world like a lover, and yet demand no easy return of love. One has to accept pain as a condition of existence. One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing. One needs a will stubborn in conflict, but apt always to the total acceptance of every consequence of living and dying."
You're an inspiration for all of us who are struggling to become that full human being, Mary.
We love you dearly,
David
Dear Mary,
Yesterday we prayed for you at workshop in L.A.
I will never forget what a wonderful experience I had in your class at NY instutute.
What a beautiful magnificent teacher you are!
It is truly a blessing for me to have met you.
We are sending our energy to you from west coast.
With love, Kaori
Hi Mary, sending you just as much love as can possibly travel from this coast to you. you inspire and shine in the hearts, thoughts and actions of so many, and particularly mine. big love and smiles, garth
in a seeming lifetime of attended yoga classes and workshops, i cannot seem to remember even one specific instruction - though they were surely precise and incisive - that you gave to us that weekend some years ago in san francisco. but there was a light shining from within you. something between humor, and a deep, patient wisdom. and to this day, when someone mentions your name, no matter the context, i can feel and see this light as if i was still in that room. and though it is entirely selfish to say, i hope this light continues to shine, teach, and inspire others for a long, long time. we so need it. much strength, and many blessings to you. and thank you. billy k.
Post a Comment