A Fanciful Flight

Recently the monks of Atma Jyoti Ashram invited me to their Borrego Springs ashram for "a surprise." I couldn't get any more information from them about the surprise, other than that I would be different after experiencing it, and that I had to come soon or it would be gone.

It turns out that a fellow who sells ultralite flying machines -- which are basically like a motorcycle that flies -- was in Borrego for a few weeks, and was offering flights around the amazing terrain of that area. It was quite an elevating experience, which was also captured on video.

The driver and I both had microphones and headsets, so we could converse along the way. One of the first bits of dialogue came after we swooped way up high into the sky for the first time.

"Oooooh, I'm only a little bit scared."

"You're scared?"

"Well, I shouldn't be scared, I'm ready to go anytime."

"Yeah, me too."

"Hey, you shouldn't be ready to go -- you're driving!!!"


CLICK HERE to watch a music video of this flight in streaming realplayer.

This video was filmed and edited by Swami Tarakananda, even though he put my name in the credits as editor (I helped with the beginning).

 

Help with realplayer here

 

Visit the Atma Jyoti Ashram website for wonderful spiritual writings, photos, and videos from Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and other traditions at www.atmajyoti.org.

 

 

 

 

More Cool Videos:

 


Peace Pilgrim:
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An Hour-Long Documentary
Scripted and edited by Night Lotus Productions

Click on the TV to View the entire 1-hour documentary
in streaming realplayer!

This is a powerful documentary about an extraordinary woman, At age 44, Mildred Norman left her life circumstances and became Peace Pilgrim -- walking coast to coast for peace for nearly 30 years, living on faith and sharing her wisdom and exhuberance generously with people across the land. This 60-minute documentary is a poetic and musical exploration of her life and message, which is as relevant today as ever. Also included are interviews with Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou, John Robbins, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, and many of Peace Pilgrim's friends, admirers, and relatives, along with newsreel footage from the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's, when Peace was on her walk for peace.

In harmony with Peace Pilgrim's non-covetous ways, the Friends of Peace Pilgrim Foundation's all-volunteer crew has been publishing and offering an abundance of materials by and about Peace Pilgrim for decades, including her classic "In Her Own Words" (which you can also read online HERE) and this video documentary -- all materials are offered without charge, although of course it is donations that help keep this offering possible.

 

You can find more information or order a copy of this video from:

www.peacepilgrim.org, (530) 620-0333
Friends of Peace Pilgrim
7350 Dorado Canyon Road, Somerset, CA 95684


 

 



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and editing by Sharon Janis and Night Lotus Productions

Click on the TV to View this Video Clip

An inspiring 21-minute documentary about a government program that offers resources and one-on-one care to lift people up -- often out of dire circumstances -- and help them to create a successful life for themselves and their children. Sponsored by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency in collaboration with the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. This video has been playing in welfare offices, homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, and regularly on the San Diego County Television station. Watch the whole video in this clip.

 








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Click on the TV to View this Video Clip

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Click on the Montage to View this Video Clip

The Bauls of Bengal are a tradition of religious minstrels whose songs of joy, love, and longing for mystical union with the Divine evoke a profound spirituality. Purna Das and his son Dibyendu Das, representing the 8th and 9th generations of a traditional and well-known Baul lineage, are featured in this 23-minute long video, offering their ecstatic and colorful music, and explaining the sublime nature of Baul.


 



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Click on the TV to View this Video Clip

Now you can't say that the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers was not an inspired show! It was the number one children's program around the globe for several years in the 1990's. Sharon Janis was an editor for the show, and also created this music video for Top of the Pop's.

 

 


 

 

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Click on the TV to View this Video Clip

This is a montage of video clips that were produced and edited in the early 1990's for Disney's KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. This was Sharon's first full-time job after spending 10 years living a monastic life, and these pieces show how, with spiritual focus, even so-called tragic events can have great depth of meaning and beauty -- God's creation in action right here on earth.

More videos to view from this time:

Fire in the City (emmy nominated piece about the L.A. riots)

Let's be Thankful (emmy nominated piece for Thanksgiving)

Line in the Sand (emmy nominated piece about 1st Gulf war)

Troops Come Home (Bette Midler Wind Beneath My Wings)



 

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Click on the TV to View this Video Clip

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