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Dogboy
USA
2293 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 06 2014 : 11:28:03 PM
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 Allow me to tell you about my long lost ishta.
As a mere babe I was gifted a stuffed elephant from a great auntie. As I was unable to say 'elephant' it became known as Ellie. For the first six years of my life Ellie was my constant companion; he was my first 'show & tell' in kindergarten. As I grew, I grew away from Ellie, who became no more than a guardian of my pillow, a knick-knack on a shelf; by the time I had become a teenager, he had disappeared altogether.
Fast forward thirty-six years. Two years after the death of my father, my mother decided to downsize, sell the house and move to a retirement community. As the house was is a desirable neighborhood, my wife and I decided to sell our house and buy my childhood home. My parents had a hard time throwing anything out, and it took months to empty out the basement and all the storage areas. Lo and behold, behind a chimney stack that ran through an upstairs closet, I found my old companion Ellie.
Ellie had not aged well: he was blind and stained, and his head wobbled about on his frail neck. I gave him a bleach bath and petitioned my wife to give him some eyes. From her button stash, I chose two black textured buttons and, just for fun, a multicolored one for his third eye. I tucked Ellie into a cloth drawstring bag and stored him in my sock drawer.
Fast forward three more years, to last year when I discovered AYP and started meditation. I decided to usurp an underutilized nook on the top floor for a meditation space, set up a yoga mat and bolster, hang my chakra and Buddist prayer flags and set up an alter for all my yoga talismans. Soon after, my asana teacher told our class the story of Lord Ganesha, the devoted son of Parvati and deity created by her to be the gatekeeper at the muladharah chakra; the shield to protect the divine secret from unripe minds. I realized I had my very own Lord Ganesha, and promoted him from guarding my socks to lord over my yoga nook.
A few weeks ago, in the midst of an energetic meditation, the image of my Ellie Ganesha flashed into my mind, followed immediately by the sensation of love spilling from my chest like a lava flow. My reaction startled me so much I passed on samyama and went directly into rest, all the while feeling the hallowed presence of Ellie Ganesha over my right shoulder. After rest, I turned and gathered Ellie into my arms and nestled him like a newborn. As soon as my face pressed against his, I fell into a kundalini coma, an energy state so intense it stole my breath and sent my heart rate into overdrive. I held on to Ellie and we ride that wave together until it runs it's course; his mottled cotton flesh absorbing my tears of joy. For you see, it was not Ellie that was lost and blind all those years; it was I. 
I have instructed my wife that when my time comes, Ellie Ganesha is to accompany me into the crematory fire so we will be together for eternity.
If you wish to see Ellie Ganesha, click on my profile picture!
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Edited by - Dogboy on Nov 07 2014 05:36:09 AM |
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compassion
90 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 01:33:18 AM
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| Thank you for sharing, Dogboy. Nothing like starting the day with a shower of divine tingles down the spine! |
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orangesky
Germany
39 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 06:35:46 AM
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Beautiful story, Dogboy! And Ellie Ganesha in constant crown samadhi with this massive crown chakra, lol.... good idea, great picture......  |
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Ayiram
88 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 07:15:02 AM
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So sweet...
Big hug to you and to Ellie.
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Ecdyonurus
Switzerland
479 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 07:18:24 AM
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 09:16:43 AM
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OMG... that is the sweetest story evva!!!
I have an Ellie of my own.. his name is Paul... a doll... my BFF since I was 3... he knows more about me than anyone else... and has lived through all my tears... not just at 3.. even at 21  . As a child my grandma and I would share him.. kinda like joint custody.. she would keep him for a year and then over summer I would visit her and bring him back home. So He is very special. When I came to the US I had left him behind in India, my mom brought him back to me one year. He too was in bad shape... got him fixed up and he sits in my bedroom.. still watching over me.
quote:
I have instructed my wife that when my time comes, Ellie Ganesha is to accompany me into the crematory fire so we will be together for eternity.
I wouldn't want to interfere with your wishes... but maybe leave Ellie with someone you love... that way your presence and protection will be with that person even after you are gone. The one I will give my Paul to isn't here yet... but will be. |
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Ecdyonurus
Switzerland
479 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 09:56:30 AM
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| Had the same idea, Shanti: my Ellie (45 years old) now sleeps in my son's bed. |
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Dogboy
USA
2293 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 12:30:02 PM
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Shanti & Ecdyonurus,
quote:
I wouldn't want to interfere with your wishes... but maybe leave Ellie with someone you love... that way your presence and protection will be with that person even after you are gone.
Yes, this is perhaps a preferred option for some, but not for me. I have two daughters; my eleven year old is autistic and is attached to and hoards an odd assortment of items (broken sunglasses, pens, scraps of paper for example) and has a talent for breaking things. My typical thirteen year old is attached to her friends, her phone, her clothes, the mall...if may be years before she would accept such a gift willingly and understand the depth of my attachment to Ellie. I lost Ellie at a similar age under a similar mindset. Not to mention the state of her room! Ellie would be carried away in the riptide of clothing on the floor!
Besides I plan to live to 100 ( ); in another forty + years, we will both be looking worse for wear so the funeral pyre may be our best solution. We came in together, we should go out together, in a blaze of glory! |
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Ecdyonurus
Switzerland
479 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 1:08:16 PM
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 1:13:53 PM
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Sounds good Dogboy! I wouldn't give my Paul to my kids either
Like I said "The one I will give my Paul to isn't here yet... but will be"... I have felt her presence in my future. So maybe you will find that someone as well... especially if you are planning on living to be a 100.
Much Love to Ellie and You! Give him a hug from me.
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sunyata
USA
1513 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 7:49:02 PM
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Such a lovely post, Dogboy! Made me tear up
Sunyata |
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Radharani
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 8:53:07 PM
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| What a sweet story! and the photo is adorable. |
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2014 : 4:21:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dogboy
and, just for fun, a multicolored one for his third eye.
Yes! Now THAT is style!  |
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jonesboy
USA
594 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2014 : 8:26:07 PM
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A very cool story.
Thank you Dogboy |
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Dogboy
USA
2293 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2014 : 8:52:15 PM
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| Thank you all for sharing, my friends. The greatest gift is rediscovering love from a perspective of a child, how honest and pure and overwhelming it can be. I wasn't searching for my beloved, but it found me ripe and ready for the taking; Ellie broke down the door to my heart and set up camp. Looks like I've got a roommate! |
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Anima
484 Posts |
Posted - Nov 09 2014 : 01:05:00 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dogboy
I realized I had my very own Lord Ganesha, and promoted him from guarding my socks to lord over my yoga nook.
Maybe he promoted you
He's beautiful! |
Edited by - Anima on Nov 09 2014 02:46:24 AM |
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SeySorciere
Seychelles
1571 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2014 : 12:37:34 AM
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BlueRaincoat
United Kingdom
1734 Posts |
Posted - Nov 10 2014 : 08:27:16 AM
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| Heart-warming. Thank you for sharing Dogboy |
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Charliedog
1625 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2014 : 05:55:45 AM
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[quote]Originally posted by Dogboy
Allow me to tell you about my long lost ishta.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story Dogboy! I feel so happy to find this AYP site, exploring all those lessons and reactions. Sometimes I wish that I found this years ago but on the other hand it is good that I learned a lot all by myself. There are no expectations anymore now I know that everything happens when it is time. Love |
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Dogboy
USA
2293 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2014 : 07:16:41 AM
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Thank you all for your comments. A small detail I left out: Ellie Ganesha has a small bell sewn inside his right ear. Each time I lift him up he greets me which makes my heart sing. Every now and again I lay him on my bolster and rest my hands on him and we enter the silence together. I cannot truly express the depth of gratitude I have for ecstatic kinship I share with the Yoga's Gatekeeper.
Love and great yoga to all . |
Edited by - Dogboy on Nov 27 2014 07:18:07 AM |
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Dogboy
USA
2293 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2015 : 10:18:16 PM
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It has been more than six months from this original post; the gift of Ellie Ganesha (click my profile picture to meet him) has deepened my yoga in unexpected ways, so I thought I'd update.
It was quite apparent bonding again with Ellie has opened my heart chakra immensely. In high energetic states I seem to be able to "offload" energy merely by conjuring his image and it registers there, like a release valve. My sits are all now high energy affairs; very throat and third eye centric, and in the past couple of months, nascent crown activity. Guru Inyou has advised one sit daily because of Less/More. And now by the conclusion of a session with "I thought, what am I?", there is the sensation of the "energetic Yoni" (as AYP member Juan described in a Tanta posting) for my answer; as if I am being downloaded with code; as if I am androgynous.
And as I come out of rest, I reach for Ellie Ganesha, remove his pine cone lotus, and cup him to my chest, and bury my face in his neck. It is almost as if I can smell my childhood there; all my human baggage is forgotten and I am bared, free, and filled with love to share. What a sight that must be, a middle aged man nussling a stuffed animal! And now telling the world about it! it is a shameless reminder to be playful, to be loyal; A reminder that yoga is intertwined in everything, if only your button eyes could see; if only you are open enough, pure enough, to hear the tinkling bell in your ear.
To be able to physically interact with my ishta has been the greatest blessing of all, for when there is contact, my energetic residue seems grounded, and thus far, keeping overload at bay. I encourage all to search for your ishta, whatever image, concept, or form that resonates with you in your heart center, if for nothing else, as a self pacing tool at your disposal.
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Edited by - Dogboy on Jun 16 2015 10:19:06 PM |
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Charliedog
1625 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2015 : 09:45:39 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dogboy
if only your button eyes could see; if only you are open enough, pure enough, to hear the tinkling bell in your ear.
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