Tinkering (Book 1)

What happens when a beautiful Princess, a 15-inch tall Mimjellian, and a chanting, donut-eating yoga master from India get together? 

By: Tsung-Chi & Jitsu Mu
Published By: Penchant Lama, Inc.

“Tinkering” tells of Penchant’s Lama’s arrival in America and his first adventure with his new American friend Princess Mu and Stingy Guru, a chanting, donut-eating yoga master from India. Adventurous spirits of all ages will enjoy this story.

Order PDF - $1.99

Prologue

Not long ago Princess Mu practiced yoga. She lit yummy-smelling chocolate, cinnamon and bubble gum-scented candles arranged at the head of her yoga mat and glided through two-hour sessions. Mountain Pose, Forward Bend, Plank, Low Push-Up, Upward Facing Dog, Downward Facing Dog, Warrior, Downward Facing Dog, Forward Bend, Mountain Pose.

“Ohhmmnn,” she chanted. “Ohhmmnn.”

Yoga was Princess Mu’s life. “Build the foundation of your house,” she whispered. “Dreams are not what you have. They are what you create.”

With each exhale, each movement, her body swelled with insight and hope. “Don’t search outside for what you can find within.” She closed her eyes and saw her hopes and dreams painted in bright colors on the backs of her eyelids.

Not long ago Princess Mu volunteered at Bankai, the community Ashram. She taught the Saturday morning children’s yoga class. Her class was so popular her stretching students often overflowed into the hallway. When asked by envious adults why she didn’t teach their class, why she wasted her talents on the little ones, Princess Mu smiled politely: “Eight-year olds and 80-year olds are welcome in my class. You simply must be young at heart.”

When she arrived for class her students danced to greet her. They stroked her dark, flowing hair and snuggled their faces into her hand-made yoga cape. The cape was pink and hung to her ankles. Her name was printed across the top in purple letters: PRINCESS MU. Underneath was a green Ohm symbol, and underneath that in blue letters were the words: BIG DREAMS.

“You have to discover what you love within yourself,” Princess Mu reminded her students as she led them through Sun Salutations. “Then you can fly toward your big dreams.”

On the final day of each session Princess Mu brought paints and brushes and gave each child a cape. After Savasana—final resting pose—the children painted their BIG DREAMS on their capes. Princess Mu admired King-Size roller coasters, dinosaur parks and flying skateboards. Nadia, the tiniest girl in class, decorated her purple cape with giant chocolate drinking fountains. “Princess Mu!” the aspiring architect cried proudly. “One day I will build a chocolate waterfall that everyone can drink from!”

Princess Mu’s cape displayed her own BIG DREAM: a man and a woman and a little boy and a little girl, doing headstands on the top of a mountain that overlooked the ocean.

Not long ago Princess Mu practiced and taught yoga. Not long ago she had big dreams. Now she had nightmares.

copyright 2008