Dec 2021 Blogs

2021: A Year in Review

(Dec 31, 2021) 2021 was a full year of being in Chiang Mai, spanning its full spectrum from abundance to social survival. Living in a boutique hotel closed from Covid, I had the whole place to myself with no rent or utilities payment - Mike wouldn't take whatever money I earned to give him. I hosted regular coffee sessions with friends and new acquaintances. Towards the end of the year, I was blind-sided as victim of Cancel Culture.....more »»

Pizza Nite with Simona and Lisa

(Dec 28, 2021) With Simona's friend from Bangkok visiting Chiang Mai, it was an occasion calling for another Pizza Nite....more »»

Tahini Salad Dressing

(Dec 27, 2021) Tahini is a very versatile condiment that is cheap and easy to make. You can make baba ganoush and hummus with it. As a salad dressing, it can stand on its own together with all the other staples. You can prepare it ahead of time and freeze. When an occasion shows up for its use, you're already half-way there.....more »»

Baba Ganoush Recipe

(Dec 23, 2021) Baba Ganoush is a globally popular Lebanese dip made with eggplant and tahini. The smoky flavor imparted by the grilled eggplant is great for dipping bread as an appetizer. Better if you also make hummus concurrently because it's essentially the same ingredients but hummus uses chick peas instead of eggplant.....more »»

7 Universal Laws

(Dec 20, 2021) Matias de Stefano claims that in whatever time, dimension or space you are in, the universe is governed by these 7 laws. No one can escape it and it applies to everyone - no exception. When you are in compliance to those laws, you'll realize your full potential.....more »»

Sacred Circuitry

(Dec 18, 2021) Bashar gave a special gift from his world to ours - the sacred circuitry. It's a series of 15 glyphs representing states of being, that when meditated on the proper way, can rewire our brain neurons to realize that which we desire to be.....more »»

Cave-Living in a Boutique Hotel in Chiang Mai

(Dec 14, 2021) Immersed lately in my readings about Tibet and its yogis, I feel envious of some characters who spent their lives in caves - as a residence, a place to meditate or both. Cave living is very different from what a Westerner might think of. Feeling a void that I am unlikely to get that chance, an Aha Moment just hit me.....more »»

Tummo Yoga + Wim Hof Breathing + Full-Body Muscle Contraction

(Dec 13, 2021) Lately, upon waking up, I've combined a few elements of my practice to make it more challenging than it already is. It combines the Wim Hof breathing method, Tummo vase-breathing, isometric asanas, sankalpa, and emptiness meditation. It's intense that leaves me getting 2 more hours of sleep when I go back to sleep after the practice. I'm not sure if it triggered my vertigo, but I'm posting it here for future reference.....more »»

Monk Chat

(Dec 10, 2021) Temples usually offer a 'monk chat' where lay people get to talk to monks. It gives the public an insight into monastic life and it also trains the monks to learn and practice English. Not one to ask mundane questions, I crossed the line asking relevant and compelling questions, but nonetheless, irreverent.....more »»

Making Tahini and Hummus

(Dec 8, 2021) I don't go out of my way for hummus, but I enjoy every time it's on my plate. Two friends have prepared hummus in my kitchen and I thought maybe I should give it a try. To prepare hummus, I have to prepare tahini first.....more »»

Watering the Plants Hands-Free

(Dec 2, 2021) If you need to be away for a few days and cannot find someone to water your plants, here's a simple way to keep the plants watered and happy.....more »»

Vietnamese Phin Coffee Filter

(Dec 2, 2021) Given the myriad of coffee brewers out there from French press, the ibric, espresso machine, Moka, etc., the most versatile perhaps is the modest and unassuming Vietnamese Phin....more »»

Emptiness Meditation

(Dec 1, 2021) The concept of emptiness conjures an imagery of being alone in complete, absolute and total darkness. Not exactly a very inviting place or state of being. Thankfully, that is not what emptiness means. Let us dispel the myths first....more »»

Tummo Yoga
Codified Practice

(Dec 1, 2021) When I fist heard of Tibetan yogis drying a wet towel wrapped on their bare backs as they were exposed outdoors in the dead of winter, I could hardly believe it. I didn't even know what yoga they were practicing. I learned it was Tummo Yoga. But where do I get research materials for it? It wasn't easy, but I found one. Time to roll up my sleeves and generate some heat. My litmus test? Melt the ice on my ice bath and even turn the water warm or even hot.....more »»

The Bliss of Inner Fire
Book Summary and Review

(Dec 1, 2021) Getting credible materials on Tibetan Buddhist yoga is very hard to come by, let alone being authored by a renowned lama from a long lineage dating back from Tilopa. The Bliss of Inner Fire, better known as Tummo Yoga, is the first of the Six Yogas of Naropa - a tantric yoga practice where internal heat is generated to develop bliss and wisdom in pursuit of enlightenment. This is a powerful DIY practice but quite challenging to understand and follow....more »»

The Bliss of Inner Fire:
Heart Practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa
The Whole Book in HTML

(Dec 1, 2021) Lama Yeshe talks about the enigmatic 6 Yogas of Naropa, focusing on the practice of Tummo (inner fire). Tummo unveils the nature of inner reality through the development of a refined and penetrating mind.....more »»

«« back to Nov 2021
»» forward to Jan 2022

ARCHIVE: 2024 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ALL BLOGS