The story is told about a woman Zen master named Sono who taught one very simple method of enlightenment. She advised everyone who came to her to adopt an affirmation to be said many times a day, under all conditions. The affirmation was, "Thank you for everything.  I have no complaint whatsoever."

 

Many people from all arenas of life came to Sono for healing.  Some were in physical pain; others were emotionally distraught; others had financial troubles; some were seeking soul liberation.  No matter what their distress or what question they asked her, her response was the same: "Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever."  Some people went away disappointed; others grew angry; others tried to argue with her.  Yet some people took her suggestion to heart and began to practice it.  Tradition tells that everyone who practiced Sono's mantra found peace and healing.

For the past seven years, Murray sat in front of me at yoga class, usually on Tuesday nights. The last time I saw Murray Barnes was September 2nd. I knew he wasn't feeling great. Murray had heart disease. He had it for over 30 years. When Murray started taking yoga classes at the age of 77 he said it was yoga or cardiac rehab and he had had enough of rehab.

 

For his first yoga class ever, Murray chose a mixed levels vinyasa class, because it was at the right time (5:00 although he would have preferred 4:00) and it was close to his house. Like many first time students, he didn't know that yoga classes varied in content and intensity. Eventually he switched to a another class that he liked a lot more. And eventually that class became Murray's class. It became a gentle therapeutic class where we used chairs for standing poses and mats for everything else.

 

He looked forward to his yoga class. Murray became my unofficial assistant and greeter. He always arrived 40 minutes before class. If I wasn't there (which was often) or hadn't set up the room for yoga, Murray did. He knew the secret code to open the door. Over the years Murray got to know the students. He liked to joke around and he always remembered to ask about students who were missing. Murray's contribution to the class was tangible and intangible. Certainly he was a role model for many of us. He genuinely cared about us.

 

In early October, he sent me an email saying that he wasn't going to come back to class but maybe he would try the chair class at the Senior Center. A few weeks ago, I called Murray because I hadn't seen him. That's when I found out that Murray was very ill. He left his body the following afternoon. And so typical of Murray, his last words were "Don't leave mad."

 

I miss Murray. I miss that he's not sitting in front of me on Tuesday nights. I miss his sincerity and his wry humor. He was so surprised last year when a fellow student made him a cake and after class we all celebrated his birthday.

 

I wonder if Murray knew how he touched so many of us. Murray cared about us, wondered how we were doing, and of course he knew the secret code to open the door. When Murray started taking yoga classes with me, I started to become a better teacher. I learned a lot from Murray. He showed me the courage to start new things at any age. He showed me commitment and what being on time looks like. He even showed me his watch when he thought I needed to know!

 

St. James Church in Preston, CT was Murray's yoga home. I have asked the church if there is something that the church needs that we can donate in honor of Murray. The St. James community has always been inviting toward this class and many knew Murray personally from the yoga class. I am inviting anyone who knew Murray, and who is touched by his story, to donate to this fund. Send checks made out to "St. James Church" with "Murray" written in the memo section to Yoga Heals Us LLC, 129 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, CT 06339. A plaque will be placed at St. James in memory of Murray.

 

Murray was an inspiration and he was loved. Om shanti, shanti, shanthi. Namasté

Here's how you can help:  Knit, Sew, Assemble

 

These bags are kept in the Kibera School for Girls and are available to mothers ready to deliver, they include:

 

A small soft receiving blanket

A small wash cloth and a couple of small bars of soap

A colorful headscarf for the mother

A small bottle of skin lotion

Baby nail clippers

A small toy

2 newborn soft outfits

A baby cap

10 small pieces of fabric for the mother to use for additional clothing

A waterproof bed pad

A quilted mat

A quilted pad for the baby to sleep on

A tall kitchen garbage bag used for the delivery and for the afterbirth

A pair of latex gloves

A pair of blunt tip scissors to cut the cord

A piece of umbilical tape

A small tube of antibiotic eye ointment for the baby

A pair of underwear for the mother

Sanitary pads for the mother

Bulb syringe to aspirate baby's secretions if needed

Several nutritional bars for the mother

 

 

Place the contents in a jumbo zip-lock bag and deliver or mail to American Friends of Kenya, 150 Yantic St. #142, Norwich, CT 06360 or bring to any yoga class for collection and delivery to AFK.

 

Girls in Kenya and other developing countries often miss one week of school each month because of their menstrual cycle and lack of hygiene products.

 

If you are handy with a sewing machine and looking for a project, click here for supply list and pattern instructions.

 

Deliver completed pads to AFK at the address above or bring to your yoga class for collection and delivery to AFK.