ewe gross

[Guest guest]

edenlotus, I guess one should always use a silly

emoticon smileyface to avoid misunderstanding. I was

joking, even if only partly so; please don't

attack.<br><br>"Affording" has nothing at all to do with it. I have worked

in these "exotic" localles too, have had

family/friends to stay with, and have lived with less than half

of the expenses of living in North America, even

when renting on my own. And I learnt a lot about dirt

over the years.<br><br>I was just saying a little funk

won't kill ya.

[Guest guest]

You're just mad because I called you

Senorita!<br><br>It's okay, I think everyone here likes a little rumble

once in awhile. My only problem with having my nose in

strange (American) hotel carpets is the fact that they

spray all kinds of horrible toxic scotch guard chemical

cleanser evil on wall-to-wall these days and I'm paranoid

enough to caution people against deep-breathing it.

However, actual funk (I believe that is the scientific

term) probably IS good for you.<br><br>Example: I know

a woman who was so overprotective of her dog that

she wouldn't let it out of the house, only gave it

expensive vet-approved food, etc. Then one day the dog

escapes and goes off with some other neighborhood dogs

and starts eating out of garbage cans with them. The

street dogs are fine; the overprotected dog gets really

sick and dies. <br>The moral (as I see it)? As Blondie

would say, too much purity is toxic.

[Guest guest]

I would say too much purity leaves you weak, unable to fight off the typical

daily toxins.

[Guest guest]

edenlotus,<br><br>I really do believe too much

purity is toxic, and not just in the way blondeismorefun

usually implies (with foods, etc) but with lifestyle,

environment, and in thought. When you mentioned hotel carpets

this just reminded me that I have seen so many people

not enjoy themselves while travelling: complaining

about dirt, food quality, toilets, carpets : so many

things they have little control over when it's not their

own home. And I often wonder: how bad is it, really?

Usually it's not dangerous. It takes just a little

acceptance, open-mindedness, and getting used to. Your dog

story is a good illustration and applies to humans as

well. Like Mryogaman said, to pursue a false ideal of

purity can leave us weak. Our immune system takes care

of us well, but it needs exercise and practice! In

this sense too much purity can literally be

toxic.<br><br>You're right, I'd prefer a little dirt to Scotchguard,

or a few ants to bugspray (my hubby is even more

adamant about this point). Actually the chemical

situation is worse in Asia, where some substances that are

banned here, like DDT, are used not just on crops but

indoors. DDT and Scotchguard are different things, I know,

but inhaling deeply of either cannot advisable.

That's why sometimes it's better to put up with a little

funk.<br> <br>And it's all done in the name of an elusive

sterility, a perceived purity, an obsessive paranoia of

cleanliness.<br><br>P.S. I don't mind being called Senorita, it's quite

fitting for me. Even though I am married I am not ready

to be a Senora.

[Guest guest]

mryogaman said-<br>>>I would say too much

purity leaves you weak, unable to fight off the typical

daily toxins.<<<br> <br>Why so many people

jumping on the anti-purity wagon? Why bother doing yoga

if you believe that purity is toxic? Can it be so

many can't control their desires, therefore justifying

that purity is toxic?<br>Like it or not, your body

will become more pure with yoga and you will not

become weaker, but more able to fight off and deal with

toxins. A good diet can only help, not hurt

matters.<br>There's a difference between purity and OCD.

[Guest guest]

lhill11, I appreciate your comments that yoga

practice, along with a good diet, can make the practicioner

stronger and more able to deal with toxic environments.

But trying to eat an "ideal" diet can sometimes hurt

things though, I think.<br><br>A doctor has recently

coined the term "orthorexia nervosa," a takeoff on

anorexia where the person becomes obsessive with eating

and purity. He described how this is often happens

with people on raw or fruitarian diets, becoming

afraid of toxins, mucus, acid/alkaline imbalance, etc.,

but can pretty much happen with any kind of

restricted diet. People are getting hurt, not just b/c of

nutritional deficiencies, but from this obsession.

<br><br>Personally, I think there is way too much dogma with all of

these new diets. Your statement that there's a

difference between purity and OCD summed it up very well.

Food is important, but we must practice the "middle

way" in our relationship to it.<br><br>drew

[Guest guest]

drew,<br><br>you spoke my mind. The site

Beyondveg.com explains these things with intelligence and

detail.<br><br>lhill11, no one here is anti-purity. Eating well is very

important. Middle path, balance--very very

important.<br><br>Desire arises. Just as there is a difference between OCD

and pure living, so too there is a difference between

a little indulgence and acting on every arising

desire.<br><br>S&M

[Guest guest]

yeah, yeah...<br>oh yeah...<br>go guys,<br>go

girls, <br><br>just spent two weeks doing whole primary

every morning AND getting drunk doin' taverna yoga in

the evening. Wicked! <br><br>My sweat stank of greek

brandy tho'.