Chuang Tzu was somewhat of the rebel - he had little interest in human society or politics and preferred to live off the beaten path in life.
I've also included five popular articles that use stories to get across their messages. These are some of the most enjoyable articles on the website, and it's great to see them all in one place.
An In-depth look at Trikonasana
This is a popular posture in most beginner's yoga classes. Note there are two variations though - one called Trikonasana which is taught with the legs closer together, Ashtanga-style.
And then there is Utthita Trikonasana which is Extended Triangle and is taught with the legs further apart.
In the image above, Namit is showing Trikonasana, which the legs closer together (although my Ashtanga teacher would still ask him to move his feet closer together...)
For the purposes of this article, we'll focus on Utthita Trikonasana as this is the variation you're most likely to come across in yoga class.
How to set up Utthita Trikonasana:
From Tadasana (Mountain pose) step back with your right foot into a wide legged stance, facing the side of your mat.
The gap between your feet should be about the length of one of your legs.
Setting a strong foundation
Start by checking that your feet are correctly aligned. Your back is on a 45 degree angle facing forward, and your front foot is parallel to the sides of the mat.
Even though your feet are mostly facing forward, your torso is facing the side of your mat.
Now take a look at your front knee. The knee cap needs to line up with the second toe. This means your front thigh is also parallel to the sides of the mat. You're externally rotating that thigh up towards the sky.
Take a breath and inhale, lifting your arms up to shoulder height, preparing to go into the posture.
make sure you're grounding down firmly through both feet, and in particular through the outside edge of the back foot.
Exhale and release the heel to the ground again. Do this three times in total. Inhale, heel rises, exhale, heel releases.
Your back hip will be forward about 10 degrees - it's almost impossible to keep the hips completely square to the side of the mat.
Now bring awareness into your side waists. As you exhale extend strongly out of the side of the waist on both sides and extend your front hand forward, keeping your arms parallel to the ground.
Don't round in your under waist!
Bringing the arms into position
From this place of strength - with the arms and shoulders parallel to the ground and the side waists equally long - pivot your arms so they move from parallel to perpendicular.
Reach the bottom hand as far down as is comfortable for you. Don't compromise the alignment of the torso to get lower with the hand.
You must maintain the lift and length of the lower side waist.
Extend the top hand straight up, wrapping your tricep around and gluing your shoulder blade into your spine.
Gaze is fixed on your top thumb.
Adjusting the Posture
Now you're in the pose, you can work on your alignment.
Start with your foundation.
Ground evenly through both feet.
Spiral your thighs externally and lift the quadriceps up toward your pelvis. While you're spiralling your thighs externally, see if you can move your groins and top inner thighs back slightly.
Lengthen through the back of the pelvis, toward your back foot.
Lengthen out of the pelvis with both sides of the waist.
Spiral your torso up towards the sky.
Lengthen through the sides of the neck, keeping your neck in line with spine. Look straight in front of you, or look up toward your left hand.
Continue to breathe within the posture, sending your breath to the places that feel stuck.
When you're ready, use an inhale to lift the arms up and back to parallel. Change the position of your feet using a pivot on the balls or heels, and repeat on the second side.
Top 5 Spiritual Stories:
Below are 5 entertaining articles for you which all use the power of story to share something powerful about spirituality. Nothing beats the power of story!
#1: Beauty & the Art of Meditation - A Zen Short Story
http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2008/12/03/beauty-the-art-of-meditation-a-zen-short-story/
A special competition was underway at Nowind Monastery and all the monks were quite eager to do well. Master Blumise had pointed out a very special tree that lived in the woods surrounding the monastery grounds and the monks had been asked to write a story or poem about this tree. The winner would be the one who wrote the best story or poem...
http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2007/09/11/powerful-kundalini-yoga-battles-profound-zen-meditation-zazen/
Kundalini Tantra Yoga vs. Zazen Zen Meditation! Now that's a heavy weight bout if I ever saw one. Those of us familiar with the rich spiritual landscape sometimes come across really tasty debates and of the many such wonderful discussions out there, this one certainly ranks high up on the list. Kundalini Yoga vs. Zen Meditation - Prana vs. Jyana. Yes sir let the battle begin.
The story below I think will help reveal the Truth on which one stands supreme, Kundalini Tantra Yoga or Zazen Zen Meditation.
http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2007/04/23/the-true-meaning-of-laziness/
Do you think you are a lazy person? Do you think you are not a lazy person? I think a better question is, do you know what the true meaning of laziness is? I mean, until we know what the true meaning of laziness is, we can't really decide if we are or are not lazy people. So to reveal the true meaning of laziness let me tell you a story...
http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2007/06/26/true-meaning-of-zen-of-life-in-just-3-words/
The students at No Wind Monastery were flabbergasted! They could hardly believe what they had just heard. Master Blusime, the greatest Zen Master since Dogen Zenji had just revealed what they never thought they would hear.
In their traditional morning congregation Master Blumise had said, "My most beloved family, I really need your help. Yesterday evening a guest at our renowned monastery asked me a very good question. He asked me, 'What is the True Meaning of Zen?' and asked if I could summarize it for him in just 3 words. My loved ones, please help me as I don't know what to reply...
http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2009/03/13/spiritual-short-story-the-library-of-god/
The most revered building at No Wind monastery was a quiet, humble structure that stood at the outskirts of the grounds and boasted the sign, The Library of God. The monks knew this building was a special place, not only because they could feel the divine vibrations just by being near it, but also because all the special monks who Zen Master Blumise had allowed into the library, always came out enlightened.
Mastery of Meditation and Yoga 
