 |
| Nick prepares for his Class U (Unconventional) Pilot's License |
Here's
seven ways to levitate using physics.
But many religious traditions suggest
there's another way to fly --
by exploiting
the mysterious connection of the human mind with Nature.
 |
| Levitating monk: artist unknown |
After decades of impedance from my monkey mind
I'm just beginning to explore meditation
with the help of a tantric Buddhist masseuse.
And with the utterly unrealistic optimism
of the enthusiastic beginner
I'm setting myself a high new research goal
for the coming year.
 |
| Mahasiddha Flying by Carmen Mensink |
I've been reading a lot about this new power
because reading is what I do
even though I know that reading by itself
is ultimately as useless
as reading about surfing.
as reading about ice skating
as reading about riding a bicycle.
Besides reading dozens of accounts
describing the lives of other men and women
who have successfully achieved this goal,
my two major sources
for guessing how to practice right action are
the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra
with commentary by Osho, and
the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
with commentary by Dean Radin.
 |
| St Joseph amulet and Yuri Gagarin ikon |
To remind me of my task
and keep me steadfast on the path
I've purchased several amulets
that picture St Joseph of Cupertino
and am downloading ikons from the Web
of a few Russian Orthodox wonder workers.
By this time next year
even if I do not attain my goal,
I know for certain
that I will have learned much
and made many new friends
in the trying.
 |
| Rehearsing for flight in Santa Cruz Mountains |
TANTRIC FLIGHT PLAN
(for Michael Murphy of Esalen)
I want to become a new kind of saint
Who rises aloft without restraint
My body as light as a solar neutrino
I'd soar like Joseph of Cupertino.
My body made holy by tantric massage
My mind immersed in the World Mirage
Well-schooled in quantum reality
And the yoga sutras of Patanjali.
Resonating with the Shepard tone
My Guardian Angel as chaperone
I'd lose myself in the Great Unknown
And fly --
As few before have ever flown.
To boldly levitate with no restriction
Propelled by Harlot Nature and a firm resolve
I'd give my brilliant colleagues
Inside the science jurisdiction
A New Millennial physics feat to solve.
Meanwhile, to quantify Nick's first escape
From evil gravity's high-security jail
A pretty colleague bought me recently
A new glass-topped digital bathroom scale.
 |
| Nick's new bathroom scale |
