I am what I think. (and you can too!)

In a well-known phrase, the Buddha said, Hatred can never cease by
hatred. Hatred can only cease by love. This is an eternal law. We can
begin to transcend the cycle of aversion when we can stop seeing
ourselves personally as agents of revenge. Ultimately, all beings are
the owners of their own karma. If someone has caused harm, they will
suffer. If we have caused harm, we will suffer. As the Buddha said in
the Dhammapada:

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with an impure mind
and trouble will follow you
as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart...
Speak or act with a pure mind
and happiness will follow you
as your shadow, unshakable.

Happiness and unhappiness depend on our actions.

--Sharon Salzberg, Lovingkindness
from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

Does this work for you?

Begin the Development of Taking With Yourself

You cannot do anything with others that you have not done in the first
place with yourself. you can hurt others if you have hurt yourself,
you will be a pain in the neck to others if you are a pain in the neck
to yourself, you can be a blessing to others only if you are a
blessing to yourself.
..
Rather than starting by taking the whole misery of the world and
absorbing it into your heart, start with your own misery. Don't go
into the deep sea so fast; learn swimming in shallow water... You can
say to yourself "Yes, I am taking the misery of the whole world" - but
what do you know of the misery of the whole world? You have not
experienced even your own misery.

We go on avoiding our own misery. If you feel miserable, you put on
the radio or the TV and you become engaged. You start reading the
newspaper so that you can forget your misery, or you go to the movies,
or you go to your woman or your man...just somehow to keep yourself
away from yourself, so that you need not look at how much it hurts
within.

First, you have to begin with yourself. If you are feeling miserable,
let it become a meditation. Sit silently, close the doors. First feel
the misery with as much intensity as possible. Feel the hurt. Somebody
has insulted you: now, the best way to avoid the hurt is to go and
insult him, so that you become occupied with him. This is not
meditation.
..
If somebody has insulted you, feel thankful to him that he has given
you the opportunity to feel a deep wound...Just close the room, sit
silently, with no anger for the person but with total awareness of the
feeling that is arising in you - the hurt feeling that you have been
rejected, that you have been insulted. And then you will be surprised
that not only is this man there: all the people who have ever insulted
you will start moving in your memory... Stop all occupation, because
that too is a subtle drug. Just be silent, utterly alone. Don't even
pray, because that again is a drug, you are becoming occupied, you
start talking to God, you start praying, you escape from yourself.

Atisha is saying: just be yourself. Whatsoever the pain of it and
whatsoever the suffering of it, just let it be so. First experience it
in its total intensity. It will be difficult, it will be
heart-rending: you may start crying like a child, you may start
rolling on the ground in deep pain, your body may go through
contortions. You may suddenly become aware that the pain is not only
in the heart, it is all over the body - that it is aching all over,
that it is painful all over, that the body is nothing but pain.

If you can experience it - this is of tremendous importance - then
start absorbing it...Absorb it, drink it, accept it, welcome it, feel
grateful to it. It may take a few days for you to be able to digest
it, but the day it happens, you have stumbled upon a door which will
take you really far away. A new journey has started in your life, you
are moving into a new kind of being - because immediately, the moment
you accept the pain with no rejection anywhere, its energy and its
quality changes. It is no longer pain.

In fact one is simply surprised, one cannot believe it, it is so
incredible. One cannot believe that suffering can be transformed into
ecstasy, that pain can become joy.
..
Whenever anything is total it transforms into its opposite. This is a
great secret to be remembered...You will not believe it when it
happens the first time, that your own suffering absorbed willingly,
welcomingly, becomes a great blessing. The same energy that becomes
hate becomes love, the same energy that becomes pain becomes pleasure,
the same energy that becomes suffering becomes bliss.
..
Ride on the incoming breath and your small heart is bigger than the
whole universe, if you know what miracles it can do... Then let
blessings go riding on the outgoing breath to all the nooks and
corners of existence.

Atisha says: This is compassion. Compassion is to become a
transforming force in existence - transforming the ugly into the
beautiful, kissing the frog and transforming it into a prince,
transforming darkness into light. To become such a medium of
transformation is compassion.

From The Book of Wisdom : Discourses on Atisha`s
Seven Points of Mind Training, by Osho
Used by kind permission of Osho Foundation International

Pay ATTENTION!!!

Nonviolence belongs to a continuum from the personal to the global,
and from the global to the personal. One of the most significant
Buddhist interpretations of nonviolence concerns the application of
this ideal to daily life. Nonviolence is not some exalted regimen that
can be practiced only by a monk or a master; it also pertains to the
way one interacts with a child, vacuums a carpet, or waits in line.
Besides the more obvious forms of violence, whenever we separate
ourselves from a given situation (for example, through
inattentiveness, negative judgments, or impatience), we kill something
valuable. However subtle it may be, such violence actually leaves
victims in its wake: people, things, one's own composure, the moment
itself. According to the Buddhist reckoning, these small-scale
incidences of violence accumulate relentlessly, are multiplied on a
social level, and become a source of the large-scale violence that can
sweep down upon us so suddenly. One need not wait until war is
declared and bullets are flying to work for peace, Buddhism teaches. A
more constant and equally urgent battle must be waged each day against
the forces of one's own anger, carelessness and self-absorption.

--Kenneth Kraft, Inner Peace, World Peace
from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

Near Enemies

The near enemies are qualities that arise in the mind and masquerade
as genuine spiritual realization, when in fact they are only an
imitation, serving to separate us from true feeling rather than
connecting us to it . . .

The near enemy of loving-kindness is attachment. At first, attachment
may feel like love, but as it grows it becomes more clearly the
opposite, characterized by clinging, controlling and fear.

The near enemy of compassion is pity, and this also separates us. Pity
feels sorry for that poor person over here, as if he were somehow
different from us . . .

The near enemy of sympathetic joy (the joy in the happiness of others)
is comparison, which looks to see if we have more of, the same as, or
less than another . . .

The near enemy of equanimity is indifference. True equanimity is
balance in the midst of experience, whereas indifference is withdrawal
and not caring, based on fear.

If we do not recognize and understand the near enemies, they will
deaden our spiritual practice. The compartments they make cannot
shield us for long from the pain and unpredictability of life, but
they will surely stifle the joy and open connectedness of true
relationships.

--Jack Kornfield, in A Path with Heart
from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

The Emperor Has NO Clothes!!!

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point
out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a
half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.

- Neil Gaiman

Analysis Paralysis?

A . . . great distraction at times are so-called "running commentary" thoughts such as, "Now I am not thinking of anything," "Things are going very well now," "This is dreadful; my mind just won't stay still" and the like . . . . All such thoughts should simply be noted as "Thinking," and, as Huang Po says, just "dropped like a piece of rotten wood." "Dropped," notice, not thrown down. A piece of rotten wood is not doing anything to irritate you, but is just of no use, so there is no point in hanging on to it. . . . Nor is there any need to try to retrace the links in a chain of associated thoughts, nor to try to ascertain what it was that first started the chain. Any such impulse should itself be noted simply as "Thinking," and the mind should revert to the breathing. However badly things have just been going, one should take up again at the only place one can--where one is--and go on from there.

 

- - Bhikkhu Mangalo, The Practice of Recollection

Toddler Mind,,,

"Discipline" is a difficult word for most of us. It conjures up images of somebody standing over you with a stick, telling you that you're wrong. But self-discipline is different. It's the skill of seeing through the hollow shouting of your own impulses and piercing their secret. They have no power over you. It's all a show, a deception. Your urges scream and bluster at you; they cajole; they coax; they threaten; but they really carry no stick at all. You give in out of habit. You give in because you never really bother to look beyond the threat. It is all empty back there. There is only one way to learn this lesson, though. The words on this page won't do it. But look within and watch the stuff coming up-restlessness, anxiety, impatience, pain-just watch it come up and don't get involved. Much to your surprise, it will simply go away. It rises, it passes away. As simple as that. There is another word for self-discipline. It is patience.

 

- Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English

Don't share your grumbly mind space. OK????

Talking disparagingly about a third person is inviting the listener to share your grumbly mind space.

--Sylvia Boorstein

Where's Glurg when you need him?

Where is Glurg? Does anybody know?

We last saw Glurg sitting quietly by a river in the Mango forest. Peaceful, forlorn, whistfully mourning lost love, gleefully soaking up the mango juice, softly whimpering, thriving on the warmth of new love, and quietly meditating. Yes, Glurg was having a party of attitudes in his brain. Not exactly a roller coaster... More of a mini-putt.

The ideas and feelings start off moving in some direction, bounce off a wall, get distracted by some quirky hump in the landscape, tumble through a pipe in the darkness, and end up 270 degrees in the other direction and a level down.

And nothing changes. Glurg is there. Thoughts bouncing and bumbling on the artificial turf of the mind.

On a good day, Glurg watches the bouncing just as if it were perky colored balls on the mini-putt course. On a bad day... Glurg gets stuck in the tunnel of darkness not knowhing why he is rolling downhill and curving unexpectedly.

Stuck. That's the epitome of the darkness. Locked onto the careening balls and bouncing around wildly, forgetting to manage the trajectories of the mind. Mindlessly rolling and surprised by every bounce and bump in the turf.

People We'd Rather Avoid...

Metta (lovingkindness) is to be extended towards all beings and all manifestations, yet most of our difficulties lie with people. It is much easier to love birds, dogs, cats, and trees than it is to love people. Trees and animals don't answer back, but people do, so this is where our training commences. . . .

 

Sometimes people find they don't feel anything while practicing metta meditation. That is nothing to worry about; thoughts aimed often enough in the right direction eventually produce the feelings. All our sense contacts produce feelings. Thoughts are the sixth sense, and even if we are only thinking metta, eventually the feeling will arise. It is one means of helping us to gain this heart quality, but certainly not the only one.

 

In our daily activities all of us are confronted with other people and often with those whom we would rather avoid. These are our challenges, lessons and tests. If we consider them in that manner we won't be so irritated by these experiences. . . . When we realize that such a confrontation is exactly what we need at that moment in order to overcome resistance and negativity and substitute metta for those emotions, then we will be grateful for the opportunity.

 

- Ayya Khema, When the Iron Eagle Flies From Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book
 

What I learned today

Juggling clubs do not dent the ceiling.
or the floor.
When you juggle clubs, you should do it outside.
and not under a low awning.
Just because you can jugglie ONE club, does not mean you can juggle TWO. or more.
Toxic situations give a wonderful opportunity to develop patience, and compassion.
until you can implement Plan B. or Plan C.
Sometimes Plan B is very slow, and that gives you a chance to develop patience.
Happy endings are not all they're made out to be.
Happy middles are the best of all.
You can't really be a superhero without a cape.
and lycra.
A bicycle is 'mans best friend'. Dogs die. Bikes are forever.
If you're kind to someone, you'll feel happier inside. all day.
even if they didn't deserve it.
You can't have too many flutes.
or juggling balls.
or patience.
especially with yourself.

Garbage in, Roses out...

Looking Deeply
Garbage can smell terrible, especially rotting organic matter. But it can also become rich compost for fertilizing the garden. The fragrant rose and the stinking garbage are two sides of the same existence. Without one, the other cannot be. Everything is in transformation. The rose that wilts after six days will become a part of the garbage. After six months the garbage is transformed into a rose. When we speak of impermanence, we understand that everything is in transformation. This becomes that, and that becomes this. Looking deeply, we can contemplate one thing and see everything else in it. We are not disturbed by change when we see the interconnectedness and continuity of all things. It is not that the life of any individual is permanent, but that life itself continues.

 

-Thich Nhat Hanh, in Present Moment, Wonderful Moment
 

The First Step...

The first step... is to cut off the chain of associated concepts and words that flood the mind, holding it with recollection on the present, on what is. Thus, in a famous verse, the Buddha used to say,

Don't chase after the past,
Don't seek the future,
The past is gone
The future hasn't come
But see clearly on the spot
That object which is now
While finding and living in
A still, unmoving state of mind

- Bhikkhu Mangalo, The Practice of Recollection From Everyday Mind, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith

Validation from the Glueless

This just in, from a creative colleague of mine...

 

I've had my fingers in something creative ever since I was tall enough
to peek up over the top of a table---and for just about that long, I've
been bombarded by messages about how worthless those pursuits are to
the people around me. My family still thinks everything I do is a waste
of time.

As many of you know, I'm quite successful as a creative type.
Successful, despite being told by my nearest and dearest what a shame
it is I didn't do something more substantial with my life. My secret? I
don't listen to all that noise. I listen to my heart. If I like it, and
it makes me happy, it's a good thing. If I don't like it, I figure out
how to fix it, and it's still a good thing.

I never, ever listen to anyone else's opinion of my artwork. I don't
make it for them. I make it for me. If they don't get it, that's their
shortcoming, not mine. A simple "I'm sorry you don't understand it" is
usually all the reply that's necessary---and generally all they'll get
from me. I don't feel the need to justify my joy.

Don't look for validation from The Glueless. You are your own
validation. Make things, and be happy.

Lisa
Go Make Something - http://www.GoMakeSomething.com
Ten Two Studios - http://www.TenTwoStudios.com
 

What are you carrying?

Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection. "Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud. Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?" "I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"
 

-- Paul Reps, in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

When the flood comes....

Even if your house is flooded or burnt to the ground, whatever the danger that threatens it, let it concern only the house. If there's a flood, don't let it flood your mind. If there's a fire, don't let it burn your heart, let it be merely the house, that which is external to you, that is flooded and burned. Allow the mind to let go of its attachments. The time is ripe.
--Ajahn Chah

Special Combo: Faith AND Wisdom!

The Buddha compared faith to a blind giant who meets up with a very sharp-eyed cripple, called wisdom. The blind giant, called faith, says to the sharp-eyed cripple, "I am very strong, but I can't see; you are very weak, but you have sharp eyes. Come and ride on my shoulders. Together we will go far." The Buddha never supported blind faith, but a balance between heart and mind, between wisdom and faith. The two together will go far. The saying that blind faith can move mountains unfortunately omits the fact that, being blind, faith doesn't know which mountain needs moving. That's where wisdom is essential, which means that a thorough understanding of the teaching is crucial.
   --Ayya Khema

Glurg, Glurg. GLURG!

Glurg, Glurg, Glurg

In the long days of wandering without direction, Glurg found himself.

Yes. Glurg was there in the sticky, dripping mango juice. He was there in the loneliness of the afternoon heat. He was there in the crowded forest. He was there in the silence of the full moon and in the babbling of the brook. It was all Glurg. He was home.

"All who wander are not lost."

Positive Thoughts

Positive actions are difficult and infrequent. It is hard to have positive thoughts when our minds are influenced by emotions and confused by adverse circumstances. Negative thoughts arise by themselves, and it is rare that we do a positive action whose motivation, execution, and conclusion are perfectly pure. If our stock of hard-won positive actions is rendered powerless in an instant of anger, the loss is immeasurably more serious than that of some more abundant resource.

 

 

--The Dalai Lama
 

Compassion...

Whether people are beautiful and friendly or unattractive and disruptive, ultimately they are human beings, just like oneself. Like oneself, they want happiness and do not want suffering. Furthermore, their right to overcome suffering and be happy is equal to one's own. ...When you recognize that all beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them.

Through accustoming your mind to this sense of universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems. Nor is this wish selective; it applies equally to all.

 

- The Dalai Lama, Compassion for the Individual

It is EASY!

There is a simple way to become a buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome action, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate toward all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no designing thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Do not seek anything else.

 

--Zen Master Dogen, Moon in a Dewdrop, edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi

 

The Transfer Station

The Transfer Station

 

Today I went to the Transfer Station. Lovingly known as the 'dump' or 'swap stop'. I was there to transfer...... Leaving stuff that I am not using with the hope that someone would gleefully grab it up and put it to use. Continuing the cycle of energy that has been stuck (oh so long) in my basement.

 

Yes, moving is giving me a great time to transfer that stuck energy.  Most of my furniture went to Acton Household Goods Recycling Ministry. (www.hgrm.org) Families rebuilding after domestic violence or other crisis may have a dining room table, or living room chair, or a bookcase that came from me. It will be one nice thing in their hard world. The interesting thing is how it changes me. Giving all this stuff away to people who want and need it creates an inner well of good energy. I feel happy thinking about that table in someone's home. Maybe one small semblance of normalcy in a ragged life. I smile.

 

This is in sharp contrast to my emotional response to the many treasures I have in my storage locker. Heavy feelings emerge with the thought of all that stuff. Useful, wonderful, dormant. That's no way to live, is it?

 

At the Transfer Station, I've left boxes of crafts, sporting goods, exercise things, furniture. And it disappears. I sometimes go back with a second load and much of the first load has been picked up already. It has a home. With someone who wants it. I feel good about that.

 

One day, I took a big box of candle making supplies:  wax, wicks, molds, book, the whole nine yards.  A woman walked by and I said "It's candle making supplies." She said "OH! I was going to make candles with my daughter!". I replied "Well, there you go. It's just about everything you need to get started."  She took the box and walked away delighted. And I walked away delighted too. I recalled making candles with my daughter, and knew that this pleasure would transfer along into another life. It was like Christmas! That wonderful experience of just giving... no expectation, no keeping track, no response needed... just giving and relishing the fact that joy has been shared.

 

And, while I think of it, isn't Life just a huge Transfer Station? All the time, we're transferrinig. Exchanging cells, germs, energy, and attitudes with everyone we intersect. Usually unaware and mindless transfers:   a moan or groan, a smile.  Sometimes we're only too aware of the exchange:  shouting, swearing, gesturing, and traffic accidents. But, I'd guess most of our transfers are mindless and lost in the static of life. But they still get picked up. Each transfer has an effect. Somebody picks up the burden of your moaning. Maybe your smile lightened someone's day. And the residue stays with us... Sharing the smile creates more 'smiliness' inside. Sharing the moan... well, it's 'moaney' and tiring, and kind of heavy. Isn't it?

 

With each transfer we make a difference. We can choose what goods we share and exchange:  tables, chairs, smiles, respect, tolerance, patience. And in the process of giving that stuff away, we find that we feel better, lighter, happier. It's a very peculiar math.... Giving things away you are left with so much more.

A Shoe On The Side Of The Road

A Shoe On The Side Of The Road

When I drive, I always notice stray shoes. Shoes on the side of the road. Shoes hanging from overhead wires. Shoes hanging from trees. Stray shoes that usually rest alone in some solitary, forgotten spot.

And I wonder when I see a shoe on the side of the road... Whose shoe was that? Do they know it's there? Did they feel sad when they discovered it missing? Or did they throw it out the window in a fit or anger? Maybe the person they were with had a rage and threw it out the window. Maybe it was on top of the car, and fell off when the car went over a bump. Where is its partner? Still in the car? Maybe the partner was lost long ago and that's why this shoe was discarded... All these questions pop up. Story lines evolve. One stray shoe stimulates all this mental activity.

Sometimes I think about the shoe's life.

It's a sad story when I think someone angrily threw the shoe out the car window, and their friend had to get home with only one shoe. They probably had been drinking, or drugged, and just out of control.

It's a funny story when I imagine the shoe came to life and ran away because it was tired of being walked on all the time. There on the side of the road, a life of leisure, no more smelly feet, no more stepping in ... A metaphor for life, on days when I feel walked on, and just want to escape to a roadside oblivion.

Then there is the drama. There was a big fight. Maybe Bob slugged Harry. And Harry took Bob's shoe. And filled the shoe with stinky slime. And Bob made a nasty face. And he didn't want the shoe anymore. So Bob got in the car, and LEFT the shoe. Right there at the side of the road. He left Harry there WITH the shoe and drove away. Harry was pissed. He, luckily had his cell phone and called his friend Zim-Bob, who dame to pick him up. They drove off to Payless Shoe Store and got Harry some cheap shoes. Then they had a pizza.

And of course, there is the Shoe of Enlightened Communication. After an extensive dialog about a wide range of emotionally sensitive topics, the shoe fell off Glurg's foot, and Glurg, being as enlightened as s/he was, didn't even notice, but continued on in a spiritual quest for Enlightenment, which resulted in the loss of the second shoe (no longer needed in the elevated realm), which is most likely now resting on the side of an Interstellar Highway.

So. You think "It's just a shoe". Think again. It's a universe in that shoe! The whole of life. All the drama, comedy, pain and suffering, and ultimately... Enlightenment... All held in that one shoe sitting on the side of the road. That shoe that most people drive past every day without even noticing.

 

The First Principle

"You talked about the first principle again, but I still don't know what it is," I said to Suzuki. "I dont know," he said, "is the first principle."

 

      --Shunru Suzuki

Glurg. Continued...

Remember Glurg? The calm one by the river? OM?

Yeah. Glurg got a little bored and decided to get up and move around a bit. He gathered a rucksack full of mangos and began his mindful journey into the Forest of Confusion.

Yes, Glurg was confused. And he didn't even know it. That is how confused Glurg was. In the Forest of Confusion, it is hard to tell exactly where you are. The paths twist and climb and cross each other in three (or more) dimensions. Time and space are minimal constraints, as the paths diverge into various Realms of Consciousness, sometimes erupting in a totally OTHER consiousness. And hence, the Confusion.

With a capital C.

Glurg had vowed "No more initial caps in my life. No more Confusion. No more Guilt. No more Love. No more Relationships!!!" Glurg was full of exclamation marks!!!!

Yet here was the Forest of Confusion, loaded with initial caps and fuzzy logic. And Glurg was in it. With no clear way out.

Glurg wandered deliberately and mindfully, with NO clue where the path led. And reminisced on the wonderful freedom of it all. As he ate his mango, the juice ran down his chin and dripped on his toe, and he Laughed. With initial caps. Profound Zen Laughter.

And Glurg slurped his mango as he walked along the path through Consciousness and pondered the Meaning of Life wondering what would happen next.

Anger

Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

A Metaphor for MIND...

Recently, I was watching the buzz of activity in my mind. Thoughts racing around, chasing each other. Crashing. Oooofff. Slam.

Yeah. They're crashing around like a bunch of hockey players. Then, one of the players goes out of the rink. Into the penalty box? (or the hospital?) Vanished. Just like the thoughts in my mind... vanished... what was I thinking about?

So my mind is like a bunch of hockey players crashing around.

No. Wait a minute. My mind isn't the hockey players... My mind is the rink. Yeah. Sure. It's the rink. It contains the wild, crashing hockey players, but it is NOT them.

The rink. But the rink is in the building. My mind must be the building. It's bigger than the rink. It contains the rink, and the crashing hockey player thoughts, but it's much bigger! Yeah. It's the building.

Hold it. Hold it just one minute! The building is in the town... (my mind is the town) on the planet... in the solar system... in the universe... Yes. My mind is the town... the planet... the universe... And just like the universe, which is incomprehensibly large (with or without boundaries), the mind (consciousness) is incomprehensibly large (with or without boundaries?). And now, those crashing thoughts seem like tiny hockey players in a small rink in a huge universe of consciousness.

Like any good hockey mom, the mind watches the action, moderately pleased, sometimes a bit ruffled, knowing that, in good time, the Zamboni machine will slide through and smooth everything over.

Glurg Does Nothing

Glurg continued walking through the forest. He had no idea where he was going, and had no plans, no agenda, no action items, and no Blackberry beeping at him. He just wandered. When hungry, he ate some mangoes. Occasionally, a coconut fell out of the sky and clonked him on the head. He didn't obsess about the coconuts. He barely gave them any thought. Once he even caught the coconut, cracked it open, and enjoyed a refreshing drink.

Without a Strategic Plan, Glurg was reduced to simply making the best of every moment. He observed the little forest creatures. He studied the rocks at the base of the tree. He noticed some tiny flowers growing in the shade of the mango trees. Yes, he sat on a large stone, and he waited. Like his literary friend, Siddhartha, Glurg had learned to wait. He had few other skills, so waiting, walking, and eating occupied most of his day. And observing.

He sat long, and waited patiently, observing. And nothing more happened. He did nothing. No elaborate plot developments. He just waited in the midst of the universe, and let it wash over him. He began to hear the sound of OM coming from the stones.

Thought for Today

 Overcome the angry by non-anger;
 overcome the wicked by goodness;
 overcome the miser by generosity;
 overcome the liar by truth.

     -Dhammapada

Einstein says...

"There are moments when one feels free from one's own identification with human limitations and inadequacies. At such moments one imagines that one stands on some spot of a small planet, gazing in amazement at the cold yet profoundly moving beauty of the eternal, the unfathomable; life and death flow into one, and there is neither evolution nor destiny; only Being."

 

          - Albert Einstein

Gratitude

"When we learn to give thanks, we are learning to
concentrate not on the bad things, but on the good things."
-Amy Vanderbilt

-- I can overcome anything no matter what it is
-- I have the power to put things in the right perspective
-- I live with tremendous peace of mind
-- I accept all that happens to me with grace and calm
-- I am a clear thinker
-- People look to me for guidance and inspiration

What's so good about a bad meditation session?

What's so good about a bad meditation session?

I am now getting a concept. As a novice, practicing meditation, my mind wanders hither and yon... Sometimes I don't even notice until it's way down some path. Then I pull it back gently. Nanoseconds later, it's off again recalling a conversation. Gently I return to my breath. Before I can even finish one inhalation, zoom, it's off on some argument, or anticipating a problem. Gently, I bring attention back to the breath.

I used to think this wasn't a very successful meditation. My ability to keep focus is so tiny. Disappointing. Now, I'm beginning to see it differently. Every time I GENTLY bring myself back to my breathing... each of those experiences IS the practice. Learning to be gentle with myself when I go off course. Learning to bring myself back without criticism, judgment, condemnation. Just coming back. You're ok. It's just fine. Breathe. And doing this again and again, patiently and gently. Like you would guide a toddler who keeps wandering around in the Boston Common... Gently and with kindness.

If I can practice gently redirecting myself 100 times in one sitting, I am learning to guide myself gently. Learning to notice what I'm doing, and adjust, without judgment. And if I can do that 100 times in a sitting, maybe I can learn to do that once or twice in a day.... when I make a mistake, forget something, don't quite meet my objectives, respond harshly. Just notice. And gently redirect, without criticism. Breathe.

So, I'm discovering that the imperfect meditation really is the best training. Because what I'm practicing, and learning, is to be gentle, kind, and observant. To be that way with myself, and hopefully I can be that way with the world.

Thought for today...

But if you do not find an intelligent companion, a wise and well-behaved person going the same way as yourself, then go on your way alone, like a king abandoning a conquered kingdom, or like a great elephant in the deep forest.

                                                      - Buddha

... a bushel of brains

"A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of
brains."
      -Dutch Proverb

What's in your Wallet? ... What's in your MIND??!!

We are daily advised to think about "what's in your wallet?" Do you have the right card? With the best benefits? lowest interest? many details to think about, because in our modern society, "what's in your wallet" is really important.

So, recently, my train of thought jumped the track and began to ask "What's in your MIND?" Do we pay any attention to what we cram in there? After listening to the Wicked soundtrack on the way to work, I would be "Dancing Through Life" all day. The music infused my mind, and infused my day. Somedays, I "Couldn't be happier". The melodies saturated me, affected my mood, and my response to the various challenges that came to me.

I began to consciously choose what song would play before I arrived at school. I realized that last song would color my whole day. I made a point of hearing "Defying Gravity", "Dancing Through Life", "Thank Goodness", or "Changed for the Better". I chose the one that seemed to offer the energy I needed. And, "Who can say if I've been changed for the better... but I have been changed for good."

Now, I have (as you loyal readers know) switched over to Bliss. I deliberately "Come Into The Light" before arriving at school. It is grounding, and as the melody plays through my mind during the day, it also washes over the conflicts and tensions that come my way.

But, what's in YOUR mind? I watch our world, and see that so much of what we're immersing ourselves in (as a culture) is lust without respect, violence without compassion, anger expressed through physical and verbal aggression. There are a LOT of contemporary lyrics that are essentially a verbal assault. And, if that's the last thing a kid hears before going into school, it's no wonder the response to tension begins with F...k and proceeds with obscenities and violence.

Yes, I am convinced that we can retrain our minds in phenomenal ways. As I experiment with Buddhist practices, I find that I have learned to respond with compassion to situations that once aroused rage. Not always, but I'm just a beginner. I am also convinced that our music, and media, are constantly training our minds.

My question is "Are you training your mind for the qualities you want?" Are you creating peace and confidence and compassion through your immersion in music and media with that tone? Or, are you creating violence, anger, and aggression by saturating yourself with lyrics and images that lead you that way?

What's in YOUR mind? If it's not giving you the best results, doesn't have the best success, doesn't help you navigate through life's challenges, consider switching to a new channel, a new card with some better benefits for you.

We should all give our minds AT LEAST as much attention as we give to our wallets.

Bliss Edges out Wicked

OK, folks. Here is the big story. Bliss Edges out Wicked! Yes, for several months, the soundtrack from Wicked has provided my daily theme song. "Just for this moment..." and some days "What is this feeling?", several weeks of "Defying Gravity" and "Dancing Through Life". Then, just as "I Couldn't Be Happier", I was saturated with "Loathing. un-a-dul-ter-ated loathing" only to realize that "This weird quirk I've tried To suppress or hide Is a talent that could Help me meet the Wizard"!

Yes, I could go on and on, and at great volume with harmony about the inspiration, and energizing lyrics of Wicked. Sandy and I sing 'Defying Gravity' as a high-volume duet on route 2 west most evenings after I pick her up from school. It is scary how well we sing! Actually, we can do a memorable job with several of the songs!

And, by the way, Wicked does have a point: Elphaba got a bum rap. She was labeled! Can't wait to see the show, as the music, and the book, really twist your mind around the question of what is good? what is wicked? when does one become the other? Many stories have two sides, and Oz is among them...

So, in comes Bliss. Quietly, melodically, taking over share of mind with "Come into the Light", and "Om Shanti", and who can resist "A Hundred Thousand Angels"?

So, Bliss has taken over the auto airwaves, saturating my soul with light, warmth, and the awareness of the hundred thousand angels that do surround me constantly. Penetrating calm (but not sleepiness).

Sorry, but Bliss is not available to everyone. Seems the English have cornered the market for Bliss. Amazon.co.uk can help you out if you want to fill your car with A Hundred Thousand Angels.

Surround yourself with Bliss... Then, you won't feel Wicked... (Still, I do enjoy Defying Gravity when I'm Dancing Through Life, just for this moment).

Our emotions...

It is important to recognize the power of our emotions--and to take responsibility for them by creating a light and positive atmosphere around ourselves. This attitude of joy that we create helps alleviate states of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. Our relationships with others thus naturally improve, and little by little the whole of society becomes more positive and balanced.

                      - Tarthang Tulku

 

 

Glurg in the Coconut Storm

Glurg walked innocently through the forest, noticing the feathery light filtering through the treetops. Ah, glorious light! He continued pondering, as he always does, while noticing mindfully the nuances of forest smells and sounds.

Glurg thought back to the distant past on the Coconut Island with Princess Coconut. Suddenly, a coconut fell from the sky and clonked him on the head! "How odd!", thought Glurg, noticing that he was walking through a mango forest, and there were no coconut trees to be found. Perhaps a crazy monkey threw one down. Glurg walked on.

Again, he thought wistfully of Princess Coconut. Instantly, he was pelted by TWO coconuts. Fearing a concussion, Glurg looked for shelter. Perhaps this was a magical revenge of Princess Coconut, angry with Glurg for leaving the island. Glurg continued walking, looking for a cave or other shelter. He wondered about the Princess, and her world, and again... coconuts fell from the sky in abundance, all smacking Glurg on the head. He ran and cried out "No more coconuts! Please! No more coconuts!"

He saw a rocky overhang, and crawled under there for shelter. He sat quietly, silencing the monkey in his mind, bringing his awareness to the numerous lumps on his head. With a peaceful equanimity, Glurg resolved not to think of Princess Coconut again, for each thought created pain and discomfort for him.

The river, now in the distance, continued to sing out "OM". Glurg smiled a friendly smile.

Moments

There are moments when one feels free from one's own identification with human limitations and inadequacies. At such moments one imagines that one stands on some spot of a small planet, gazing in amazement at the cold yet profoundly moving beauty of the eternal, the unfathomable; life and death flow into one, and there is neither evolution nor destiny; only Being.

                                              - Albert Einstein

What to believe...

Believe not because some old manuscripts are produced, believe not because it is your national belief, believe not because you have been made to believe from your childhood, but reason truth out, and after you have analyzed it, then if you find it will do good to one and all, believe it, live up to it and help others live up to it.

"Buddha"

Your Inner Buddha

Back in 1957 in Bangkok, a group of monks had to relocate a huge clay Buddha from their temple to a new location. When the crane attempted to lift the giant idol, the weight of it was so tremenduous that it began to crack. The monks fearing the idol would fall and break, lowered it back to the ground.

One of the monks noticed a golden gleam coming from one of the cracks in the clay. After fetching a chisel and hammer and knocking away part of the clay, the monk discovered the clay Buddha was really solid gold!

It is believed that several hundred years earlier, the Burmese army was about to invade Thailand and the monks, (fearing their precious golden Buddha would be looted), covered it with clay in order to hide it. Unfortunately, all of the monks were killed, along with their secret of the golden Buddha until that day in 1957, where it is now found in a Buddhist temple in Bangkok.

The solid golden Buddha is ten and a half feet tall, weighs two and a half tons, and is worth over 196 million dollars!

When we think about it, we are all like the clay Buddha, covering ourselves with a shell of hardness to protect the Golden Self from looting and pillaging. Yet underneath everyone's clay shell, is a golden Buddha.

No matter what we have already been through in our lives, or may continue to go through, our practice is a process of wearing away the clay, to discover, and share, our Golden Self!

Positive Thinking

A bit of brain food for today.... to help maintain your strength!

-- I take complete responsibility for my responses to situations
-- I respond positively to all situations, no matter what
-- Whatever happens to me, I live and renew my purpose in harmony
-- I am bigger than anything that can happen to me
-- I am willing to keep learning about life and what it takes to make it work

Reflections of Glurg

Glurg sat peacefully, listening to the all-encompassing OM of the river. Glurg reminisced. Glurg thought back to a very happy time, a time of delight, and pleasure, and intimacy, and sunshine. Glurg felt warm. Glurg wondered... "Why am I reminiscing on this memory?" ... Glurg became aware that he was reflecting on his reminiscing, and what an amazing entity the 'mind' is. .. He then observed that he was analyzing the reflection about his reminiscing, and thought he would lose his mind if he went any further down this strand of consciousness.

So, he returned to his pleasant memory. "Why is it important? Am I grasping a past that is over? What is the point of this past memory in the present NOW?" Glurg paused. He went back to that time, to see what it had to teach him.

Glurg realized that, in that happy time, he had met someone special... someone who could see the light and power inside him. Poor Glurg had been rather fatigued, in a deep cloud, and had lost sight of the light. In fact, Glurg had thought the light was burned out (it happens with age). But in that magical time, Glurg met a Goddess of Light who saw the light inside him, and reflected it back to him, and somehow, enabled Glurg to see that light in himself again. By this reflection, and new self-awareness, Glurg was transformed.

Reflecting back, Glurg was not clinging onto this moment. Glurg was re-learning, and honoring both himself, and his inspiration. Glurg hoped inside that, someday, he would be able to reflect the inner light to another being who had fallen into a cloud. Glurg was aware of how tenuous our sense of 'reality' is... how it can be muddled by cloudy thinking, unsupportive environment, any number of put-downs that make us believe we are incapable of various forms of greatness, or connection, or relationship.

Glurg held warm memories of the Goddess of Light. That Goddess brought new life into so many beings, every day. Glurg thanked his lucky stars that the Goddess had noticed him, had reflected his inner power, had allowed him to wake up, had given the gift of transformation.

Glurg listened to the murmur of OM from the river, and got up from his resting spot. Glurg walked down the forest path, knowing that he too was a Light Being, and could bring light to others he would meet along his path.

Mind The Gap

"Mind the Gap" -- I have a T-shirt from London with that on it. A mug too. It gives me pause to think. About a lot of things. About the mind. About gaps. About gaps in the mind. And, of course, about minding the gap.

In London, and in Athens too, the subways have these big gaps between the platform and the train car. A good sized toddler could drop right through there, disappearing in a sad tragedy. Hence... "Mind the Gap". Apparently, it is deemed to be the parents' responsibility to keep their toddlers on the platform or on the train. And an adult is expected to keep his/her foot on one of those surfaces. Humans are expected to own the responsibility of keeping themselves out of the gap. Mind the Gap. Be aware. Notice where you are. Take responsibility for your place on the planet.

Thinking about the mind, and the constant stream of thoughts, ideas, emotions, memories that flood through. Really, they go in sequence. Mind can't deal with more than one thing at once. It may jump quickly enough that we THINK we are multi-tasking, but actually, we're sequential-tasking really really fast. And sometimes, there is just the tiniest of gaps between the processes. ThoughtIdeaEmotionThoughtThought...Idea. The GAP. In the rare instance when you can catch the gap, the empty space between Thoughts, emotions, ideas... that empty space is a precious gem. It is so hard to mind the gaps in the mind. There are so few, and we aren't trained to notice them. From an early age, we're trained to recite, relate, compare, recall, think, describe. We don't really have a course called "Stillness", though it would create more wisdom than many courses we do subject our children to.

One can mind the gap. One can train the mind to create a bigger gap, and to notice the stillness there. It is like a teleporter, and the soul can slip quickly through that mysteriously small gap into an unknown universe. Indescribable. Returning with a tale that cannot be told. You will know those who have transported through the gap. They wear a steady, radiant smile. There is a way about them that is compassionate, connected, caring, yet not attached or craving.

I think Buddha called it enlightenment. Going through the gap, beyond this world, to experience the greater connection with all life, wherein there really is no gap.

So, Mind the Gap, Mind the Stillness, Still the Mind. And, in the Gap, find the ultimate universal connection.

How to Change Your World

"The principles you live by create the world you live in;
if you change the principles you live by, you will change
your world."
        -Blaine Lee

Glurg in the Forest

Glurg was confused. This was a new kind of forest. There were no coconut trees. No coconuts. No coconut Princess. He wandered aimlessly. Then, having recently read Siddhartha, he sat down near a river. He spent a lot of time sitting there and thinking, with no plot development whatsoever. He felt a little blue, kind of hungry, and a little lonely, and thinking maybe those coconuts were pretty good after all.

Then, plunk, something fell down and hit him on the noggin! "What strange gift is this from the Forest God?" The river said "OM", and was the same everywhere, yet never the same. Glurg spent some time pondering that while tossing this gift back and forth from hand to hand.

He had never seen such a thing, and thought perhaps it was useful for some type of athletic competition. But he did not have any team-mates, nor a rival team, so he just chomped into it, and was instantly covered with lucious, juicy, pulpy mess.

The taste. It was exquisite. It was sweet, juicy, lucious, and delicious. Better than anything he had ever eaten before. He devoured it, and stepped into the river to rinse the stickiness off his hands and face. The river continued to mumble "Om".

Glurg looked up. OMG, these treats were dangling everywhere! He was in the Incredible Mango Forest! Glurg did not want to be a glutton, but he loved those mangoes and ate two more. Then, he stepped into the river, and noticed that it wasn't the same river he had stepped in earlier.

Glurg sat on a stone and thought about that for quite a while.

Mindfulness and Peace... Mindfulness IS Peace

A Teaching on Mindfulness

There is a Buddhist teaching on mindfulness from the fourth section of the Samyutta Nikaya, called the Malunkiyaputta Sutta. The sutta is a story of a hermit who traveled thousands of miles to meet the Buddha.

The Buddha has an exceptional way of teaching in a manner that was suited to each student 'like an arrow meeting its target'. His teaching for Bahiya, the hermit, was:

In reference to the seen, there will be only the seen.
In reference to the heard, only the heard.
In reference to the cognized, only the cognized.

This teaching is the teaching of how to end of suffering.

The causes of suffering are what cause loss of mindfulness.

When we are distracted by 'endearing charms' of people, sounds, aromas, flavors, material possessions, thoughts and ideas, or wanting to be someone other than who we are, 'passion grips the heart and fills us with clinging desire'. The mind is distracted by desire (for what we want) and dissatisfaction (with what we don't want) and so we suffer.

The Buddha teaches:

They who dwell mindfully, retain mindfulness, do not cling, just observe what they see without reaction and proceed mindfully will not grasp for things, and will therefore not suffer.

When we are mindful of our situation, without wanting more than what is, we find peace.

The Triple Truth

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.

 

- Buddha

Buddhist teachings on relationship...

Buddhist teachings on relationships draw on the productive tension between being fully open to experience and letting go of expectations and attitudes that keep us turning in cyclic existence. 

The Buddha

Don't give way to heedlessness
or to intimacy
with sensual delight--
for a heedful person,
absorbed in jhana,
attains an abundance of ease.

Dhammapada

Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma (#4)

The flaws of cyclic existence: Relatives at home, enemies, friends and possessions in the world are the causes of worry for the body and mind. Only virtuous actions can benefit others. Therefore, I will not be attached to these ties and I will cast them away as I would a snake in my lap.

Ngondro Practice text provided to students of Karma Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism

Milarepa

If one stays too long with friends/
They will soon tire of him;
Living in such closeness leads to dislike and hate.
It is but human to expect and demand too much
When one dwells too long in companionship.

"The Song of the Snow Ranges"

Nagarjuna

There is pleasure when a sore is scratched,
But to be without sores is more pleasurable still.
Just so, there are pleasures in worldly desires,
But to be without desires is more pleasurable still.

Nagarjuna, "Precious Garland"

Sharon Salzberg

There's a famous quotation from the time the Buddha learned of the deaths of two of his greatest disciples: "It's as if the sun and the moon have left the sky." From that quotation, I would guess that while the Buddha loved all beings everywhere, with no exclusion, he also had relationships that were special to him, and he felt their loss.

"The Open Heart," Q&A at www.beliefnet.com

Sangharakshita

Sex according to Sangarakshita is rooted in the Lower Evolution and does not, in his experience, enhance communication between individuals. And sexual relationships, encouraging as they do neurotic dependence on one's partner, need to be kept at the periphery of one's life.

"An Introduction to the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order"

Lama Surya Das

This is how we love, Buddha-style: impartial to all, free from excessive attachment or false hope and expectation; accepting, tolerant, and forgiving. Buddhist nonattachment doesn't imply complacence or indifference, or not having committed relationships or being passionately engaged with society, but rather has to do with our effort to defy change and resist the fact of impermanence and our mortality. By holding on to that which in any case is forever slipping through our fingers, we just get rope burn.

"A Buddhist Valentine," from Ask the Lama column at www.beliefnet.com

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Free passion is radiation without a radiator, a fluid, pervasive warmth that flows effortlessly. It is not destructive because it is a balanced state of being and highly intelligent. Self-consciousness inhibits this intelligent, balanced state of being. By opening, by dropping our self-conscious grasping, we see not only the surface of an object, but we see the whole way through.

Meditation in Action

Lama Thubten Yeshe

Some people live closely guarded lives, fearful of encountering someone or something that might shatter their insecure spiritual foundation. This attitude, however, is not the fault of religion but of their own limited understanding. True Dharma leads in exactly the opposite direction. It enables one to integrate all the many diverse experiences of life into a meaningful and coherent whole, thereby banishing fear and insecurity completely.

Reprinted from "Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations," edited by Josh Bartok, Wisdom Publications, 2001

It is precisely because our present life is so inseparably linked with desire that we must make use of desire's tremendous energy if we wish to transform our life into something transcendental.

Introduction to Tantra

Herding Cats

One minute...

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6572941025419743765&q=herding+cats&hl=en

 

Seem familiar?

A family is...

A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden.

 

- Buddha

Pure Entertainment

Here is an awesome parody of Star Wars. No deeper philosophical meanings whatsoever.

 

Enjoy!

Thumb Wars

I am a LITTLE upset with CHINA right now!

Why? Well, because of PERSECUTION!!

Not long ago, Lobsang told us of a video he received of a Chinese soldier shooting down Tibetan refugees, just like they were little targets on a shooting range. Bang. Bang. Bang. Then, he sat down under a tree and had lunch.

Lobsang talked for a while about compassion and truly cherishing all sentient beings. Someone asked how to cherish that Chinese soldier. He pondered, and told us to remember that the soldier acted as he did because of causes and conditions that brought him to that place. Perhaps he didn't have loving support as a child, or was tortured, or we can't know. When it's reallly hard to cherish someone that has done horrible things, he suggested thinking of the person as a baby. Suddenly that changed the whole feeling tone of the situation. I trey to remember that thought.

Then the SECOND reason I'm upset with CHINA is more PERSECUTION!

I was at the amazing Wears + Wares (www.wearsandwares.com) artisans market in Boston (which continues on Saturdays through December). On my way back, through the common, there was this group of people doing tai chi. They had presentation boards about torture and imprisonment in China of practitioners of Falun Gong.

Now, these 4 people were doing the Falun Gong exercises. A series of 5 Qi Gong exercises that are slow, peaceful, and harmless. Apparently if you do that in China, you can get arrested, imprisoned, and well, it gets really ugly... Visit www.falundafa.org for instruction on how to do the exercises, and/or political updates.

Seems like thousands of people have been disappeared for practicing this. I don't really understand why, but Amnesty International confirms the persecution. Maybe it's becasue millions of people practiced these exercises, and got together in groups to do it. (I'm thinking China doesn't really like people assembling on their own.)

Anyway, I have been practicing tai chi for 25 years now, and have thought it would be nice to practice in China sometime. Think again Sister! It's hard to grasp that my own activities would be reason for torture in another country.

So, that's why I am a little upset with China right now.

Wii got a Wii! Whee!

or... Billy and Sue's Big Adventure

We had a unique experience this weekend! The Nintendo Wii launched on Sunday, November 19. It is called the Wii (pronounced 'wee') for those of you who haven't read anything in the last 12 months, which is how long we have been waiting for this day.

Well, our mission, which I chose to accept, was to get one on launch day. After the PS3 riots and shootings on Thursday night, I was wondering if this was my most brilliant idea. But, Saturday night, at 10:30 pm, Billy and I headed out with a car full of chairs and blankets, to the BestBuy parking lot.

We were not alone. We staked out place in the line with our chairs, unpacked our blankets, took out the backpack that Sandy packed for us, and sat there. Ahead of us in line were a number of bodies in sleeping bags and blankets, several tents, numerous lawn chairs, and some people standing and leaning against the wall.

It is amazing how many positions you can get into in a fold-up chair, none of which are comfortable for more than 5 minutes! Billy sat there comfortably draped in fluffy blanket, looking like Buddha playing a DS. (Maybe the chairs are more comfortable for younger people.)

About every 10 minutes, he updated me on our progress, which was less than inspiring. The lighting in Best Buy parking lot is bright enough to read by. Unfortunately, I had napping in mind, and didn't have any of of my current reading (Wicked, No Time to Lose, Tricycle)...

When my body temperature had dropped and my nose was icy, I went into the car and turned on the engine and the heated seats and warmed up. also napped briefly. I looked over periodically. Buddha remained seated and calm and safe.

Back to the line. Well, a group of older adolescent boys and young men were playing soccer. A couple people were scooting around the parking lot on skateboards. It was a friendly crowd. A large number of people were playing their Nintendo DS (handheld) games.

I tried to view it as a trial run for a silent meditation retreat. That helped me not at all. I decided never to be homeless in New England. I wondered if the homeless were warmer than I was because they have cardboard boxes. Maybe they know something I don't know. Next time... I'm bringing a nice big comfy cardboard box. If there is a next time...

I returned to the car for another warm-up, and nap. Suddenly there was a rapping on the window. "Mom, come over, everyone is packed up!!" Holy smokes! Had I missed something? All the tents and chairs were now packed up, and the line had condensed itself a bit, but was still linear and peaceful. My knee had fallen asleep, and I seemed to be a peg-leg as I shuttled our chairs and blankets back to the car. Then stood in line. It was 6:15, with a very light (thank you very much) drizzle.

About 15 minutes later, an angel appeared (in the form of Bill) with hot cocoa and coffee. The Angel and Buddha stood calmly in line while I drove off to Dunkin Donuts to use the bathroom.

The Best Buy people came to empty the trash bins (Dunkin Donuts cups and boxes, Red Bull and other caffeine cans, cheetos and chips bags. 50 people make a lot of trash on a cold night.) They explained the process. At 8:00, they would hand out tickets entitling the holder to a Wii. Then, someone would come out and take your order for Wii accessories. At 9:00 the first 15 people would be let in. Nice and orderly please! Then, small groups would be admitted until all the Wiis were gone.

What I wanted to know was: "Why did everyone pack up their stuff? Why didn't they just pile into the tents when it began to drizzle? Why did I put my chairs into the car?"

Time passed. People became more jovial. We made a HUGE number of wii/wee jokes. OMG. I said they were handing out the tickets from oldest to youngest... that way I would be FIRST!! The color drained out of Billy's face slowly.

Then it happened. the first 15 people went IN! Someone came out with a Wii. Everyone cheered and clapped as though he had just saved Gotham City from the Penguin! We all proceeded in peacefully, in small groups, and within 20 minutes, they were all gone....

Distorted Perception of Beauty

Thank you Bodhipaksa, for this link. It's a one-minute film, worth watching. (Otherwise, would I even put it here?!?!)

 

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/bblank.asp?id=6895

 

See how our perception of beauty is manipulated by the media.

 

 

 

(To visit Bodhipaksa's blog, http://www.bodhipaksa.com/blog/ )

The Guest House -- by Rumi

The poem below is part of the course Mindfulness in Daily Life, offered by wildmind.org. This is part of the curriculum on 'mindfulness of feelings'.

 

I love Rumi. I love this poem. I love the wildmind courses. I love to share.

 

-------------------------------------------------------

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all
even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture.

Still, treat each guest honorably.
he may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice;
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

The Target

Lobsang tells this story...

 

Lobsang was traveling on a train with other Buddhist monks. One monk was busy talking, expounding his knowledge, and showing off how much he knew about everything. His air of superiority and know-it-all-ness irritated Lobsang terribly. On and on this monk went, talking to anyone who would listen. Lobsang got more and more frustrated with this annoying monk and his endless puffery.

 

Later, Lobsang was sitting with another monk, having tea. He said "Wasn't that guy so annoying... going on and on as though he knew everythiing. It didn't seem to bother you though. Wasn't it awful?"  The other monk said "No, it really didn't bother me at all.  Lobsang, he likes to stand and shoot his arrows. It seems like you enjoyed putting your target in front of him."

 

So today, as I was irritated by the air of superiority of a fellow traveler, I realized that it was I who was putting my target there to be shot at. Once I moved my target, the condescending tone really didn't phase me anymore.

Make Today Your Masterpiece

"Success is about who you are, not what you have.
Successful people work to discover their talents, to
develop those talents, and then to use those talents to
benefit others as well as themselves."
    -Tom Morris

 

-- I'm using today to learn, grow and make my life better
-- When I help other people they love me
-- I'm growing in skill and ability today
-- I let go of petty differences to focus on important
  lessons
-- My eyes are open to the lessons in life
-- I'm making today a masterpiece

Buddhist Wisdom du jour

It is important to recognize the power of our emotions--and to take responsibility for them by creating a light and positive atmosphere around ourselves. This attitude of joy that we create helps alleviate states of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. Our relationships with others thus naturally improve, and little by little the whole of society becomes more positive and balanced. - Tarthang Tulku

More affirmations...

-- Today I'm performing at my best
-- I love staying busy
-- When I see a new task, I do it, schedule it or delegate it
-- My time is valuable and I treat it that way
-- I'm uncovering my larger purpose now
-- My purpose is bigger than myself
-- I'm giving incredible meaning to my life
-- Purpose and I are one
-- My purpose puts all things in perspective

 

------------------------------------------------------------------

Replace your mental junk food with food for growth!

Glurg's Big Adventure

Once upon a time, there was a hermit named Glurg. Glurg was on an island, and life wasn't too good. It wasn't too bad either, but Glurg just wasn't too happy. There were coconuts, (lots of coconuts) but nothing else to eat, and Glurg really wanted to get off that island. Glurg wanted to fly a kite, and jump on a trampoline, and make a stir fry. Glurg was sick of coconut.

One day, an amazing miracle (the best kind of all) occurred! Glurg was walking through the coconut forest, when, what to his wondering eyes should appear? A miniature sleigh? Eight tiny reindeer? NO.... A bridge.

Glurg saw a bridge that touched the island and reached out over the sea. A bridge. Oh my goodness, Glurg was beyond happy. He jumped right on that bridge. He loved that bridge. He hugged that bridge. He had thought he would never see a bridge, and he would NEVER get off that island, and all he would ever have for the rest of his life was coconuts. A bridge. Glurg hopped, and skipped, and jumped on the bridge... singing The Rainbow Song, because that's the only song he knew.

Glurg was happier than he had been in years. He sat on the bridge, climbed on the bridge, ran back and forth across the bridge. He even did cartwheels, which he thought he couldn't do anymore! He could just stay on the bridge FOREVER... that's how happy he was.

But there was no food on the bridge.

Glurg was getting a smidgeon hungry. He thought there might be a world with something other than coconuts, but he didn't know for sure, because he had never seen anything else. And he didn't even know where that bridge went. It was feeling a little scary.

The island was familiar, after all. Coconuts are kind of tasty. You can make almond joy ice cream, or coconut ambrosia with them. Maybe that wasn't so bad. Who knows... the bridge might just lead to a SWAMP, with nothing, not even coconuts. Boy, if it did, he would sure wish he was back on the island with the coconut trees! THEN, he would be sorry.

Glurg nearly turned back, when the next amazing miracle happened! Glurg had a dream. He dreamed of enchanted broccoli forests, and friendly folk who shared their trampolines, and a circus. Glurg had a burst of courage, and RAN across the bridge, even though he couldn't see the end. He ran because he didn't want to go back to the island, but he was a little scared, and he had to cross before he lost his courage. He chose the adventure, the unknown, the opportunity.

And, Glurg kept running across the bridge, over beautiful glistening water. Sunny and full of jumping fish and diving birds. Glurg ran through the wind and enjoyed getting his hair blown all over the place. Glurg got to the end of the bridge.

He didn't want to get off the bridge.

It had been so nice. So beautiful. So happy. The shining water, the diving birds, the cartwheels. He didn't want to leave all of that.

But he did. He jumped off the bridge. He felt SO sad because he loved that bridge. But he had to get on the land. And he did. As he looked back at the bridge, he felt so sad. It had been a beautiful time on the bridge. He would miss that glistening sea and salty breeze. He walked into the forest, and began a new life.

So, dear reader, please use the comment feature to answer any and/or all of the following questions.

a) Is this an allegory, metaphor, analogy, simile, onomotopoeia, fable, tale, or the true recitation of actual historical facts as channeled through this humble author?

b) What happens to Glurg in the forest?

c) Has Glurg crossed the Rubicon?

d) Do you have any advice for Glurg?

Test this out...

Today's quote:

 

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. - Buddha

 

Try these practices. Test them. Observe your experience. If you have more happiness, then something is working. If not, adjust. -- Sue

Where is the Rubicon? and Have You Crossed It?

Today, I commented to a friend that 'we have both crossed the Rubicon'. That went over well. So, I need to discover, and explain.... Where is the Rubicon? and, Have you crossed it?

Thank you Wikipedia, for a nice, concise explanation....

The Rubicon (Rubicō, Italian: Rubicone) is an ancient Latin name for a small river in northern Italy. In Roman times it flowed into the Adriatic Sea between Ariminum (Rimini) and Caesena (Cesena). The actual modern identity of the river is uncertain; it is usually identified as the Pisciatello in its upper reaches and then the Fiumicino to the sea. "Crossing the Rubicon" is a popular idiom meaning to go past a point of no return because it was an ancient boundary between Gaul and Italy. Julius Caesar crossed the river in 49 BC deliberately as an act of war where he is supposed to have said that "the die is cast" and where he would eventually come to power.

The crossing of this small stream in northern Italy became one of ancient history's most pivotal events. From it sprang the Roman Empire and the genesis of modern European culture.

And yes. I have crossed the Rubicon. As Caesar would say "the die is cast"!

Life: Railroad Track? or Circus Tent?

Another in my continuing "Metaphors for Life" series.

I ask myself... "Is life like a railroad track? Or is it more like a circus tent?"

I drive around a lot, and I have plenty of time to engage in this type of dialog with myself. So, I observe (as all great minds do), and I see some lives on a railroad track. These people know where they're going, and it seems their path goes straight there. It may take a while, sometimes it's a slow train, (a few of my friends had the bullet train), but they keep going in a straight, sensible, reasonable track to success.

And by success, I don't just mean career. It could be career. It could be marriage and relationship. (Kudos to those who can maintain a single, dedicated, relationship over decades!) It could be inner peace, or enlightenment, or musical performance. But, for some, that track goes on and doesn't swerve suddenly.

Then, I observe some more, and notice some lives in a circus tent. Lots of acts going on at the same time. New acts every few minutes. Occasionally, you get shot out of a cannon. (There is ALWAYS a net. One must remember this in the circus tent life!) The music is kind of brassy, but uplifting. People around you laugh and feel good and eat cotton candy.

Yeah. I'm a circus girl. And that's cool. What isn't cool is when I compare my circus program with the train schedule. OMG! I never know what time I'll get into a station. I don't even know what station I'll be at next!! This comparing is a source of suffering (not sure if Buddha knew about this, or if it fits somewhere in the 'craving, aversion, delusion' trio.)

Is there anyone who doesn't enjoy a circus? They're great! And living the circus life is also great. But don't marry a conductor. They want to punch tickets, stay on track, and don't like cotton candy on the seats.

The busy mind then begins to evaluate. It LOVES to evaluate (almost more than it loves comparing). Which is better? Train track? Your train track friends are successful, secure, stable, in durable relationships. That looks pretty good. Circus tent? It's lively, surprising, and sometimes scary. Hmmm.

Neither is better. Any more than Almond Joy ice cream is any better than Chocolate Brownie Fudge Chunk. They're both great. What is NOT great is that evaluating mind... Is my life OK? Is it OK to like Almond Joy ice cream? Maybe I really should like Chocolate Brownie Fudge Chunk more, (a LOT of people do). What is it with me and coconut anyway? Must be genetic. Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate yourself into a miasma of uncertainty and even (sometimes) depression.

How about enjoying the trip. On a train? Enjoy the scenery. Smile at the conductor. In the circus? Remember there is a net! Laugh with the clowns. Be a clown!

And if the circus is ready to open in a new town, it's OK to take the train.

Today's Empowering Thought

"Objects we ardently pursue bring little happiness when
gained; most of our pleasures come from unexpected sources."
      --Herbert Spencer

 

Your moods are primarily the result of what you focus on.

 

-- Today I'm focusing on what's good
-- I transcend problems
-- I am solution oriented now
-- I'm helping other people feel good about themselves today
-- I allow myself to feel unbounded joy now

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

You may be wondering.... "What's with all these quotes and affirmations?" "Where are they coming from?" "Why is she blogging them?"

 

Well, they are brain food. Whole-grain, no trans-fats, brain food. They are encouragement and we all need it. Think about the junk food you've been feeding your brain lately. I don't want to honor those negative thoughts by writing them down, but I'm sure you've had one. And I've had quite a few.

 

The mind gets so busy interpreting things, and if it's in a mood, it can take everything as a slam. Combine this with our educational system which teaches you from a very early age to 'find what's wrong with this picture'.... At an older age 'find what's wrong with this product'... And (God Forbid) 'find what's wrong with this person/relationship/situation/job'.

 

If we spent half as much energy finding what's RIGHT, with ANYTHING, we would be in such a different place. I am convinced the world would change.

 

Let's change the world. OK? Just for today... see the light, notice what's great, appreciate what's working. Try it. If you feel better, do it again. If not, leave a comment because I want to know if this works, and I NEED DATA! (My own limited experience is pretty promising.)

 

[This stuff is coming from www.todayisyourdaytowin.com, a motivational site I stumbled upon when researching affirmations in order to avoid actually WRITING them. I signed up for the daily email. A bit verbose and not as interesting as what I write, but still, something positive in my inbox, and daily reminders that I CAN retrain my mind to create more happiness, and less suffering. so far, it's working great!]

Inquiring Minds Want To Know...

Can you put a picture into a blog entry. Well, let's just see. There is a little icon that looks like a landscape up there. I'm going to click it....

Well. It took me to a cool little "select your picture" form. I selected the picture at left, because I love it, (and who wouldn't).

Then, it let me choose where the picture would go in my entry, and how big. I picked medium size.

So there you go. It was easy.

Now. I'm not sure if I can do this from an email. I'm thinking that my email postings may be just text. (Suppress your disappointment.)

Today's breakthrough lesson. My brain is happily releasing endorphins because it learned something new. Tra La La.

Your role...

Play your part in the comedy, but don't identify yourself with your role! - Why Lazurus Laughed by Wei Wu Wei

What Color IS the lily?

"Should one look through a red glass at a while lily, he
would seem to see a red lily.  But there would be no red
lily.  So it is with humanity's problems.  They consist of
false mental pictures."
      --M.D. Garbrick

 

----------------------------

 

What glasses are you wearing right now?

Don't give up!!

Enjoy this from Josh Groban...

http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=groban_youareloved

Here's a good attitude!

I have to thank my son for this lesson in perseverence.

He has been doing some Flash animation recently, and posting his short animations on a site called Newgrounds. When you post something, people dive all over it, rating it, and if you get low numbers.... BLAM.

Well, he put up his first short animation. It got BLAMMED. So, he revised it a bit, maybe added music or some other details.... BLAMMED again. [And for those of you with thick skin, this BLAMMING happens within minutes. The short little life of that short little animation is crushed mercilessly quickly.]

He went on to make something new. Put that up and sent me the link in an IM. I actually got to see it before it got BLAMMED, which happened within five minutes. My niece got there after the BLAM. She put the animation on her web space and linked to it from her blog. I linked to it from my blog. (Take THAT you Newgrounds stupid-heads!)

I started to get mad at those Newgrounds know-it-all-geeks. I mean, can't they give a kid a chance? They are merciless! Were they ever beginners? Yeah, so I was wondering how Billy was going to take this negative feedback. (It's so easy to be mercilessly negative when you're also anonymous...)

I kept my mouth shut, and watched.

Shortly, he came out and said.... "Well, I'm not putting anything else up on Newgrounds until I get a whole lot better at Flash. I just made my own web site where I can put my stuff and people can see it if they want to."

http://www.freewebs.com/glorgans_flashes/myflashes.htm

Now. Freeze frame here for a minute. What a strong, healthy attitude. What perseverence. What a clever solution to the cruel vagaries of techno-democracy. I, for one, am often crushed by the merest whisper of a criticism. Here is my adolescent son, BLAMMED several times by folks who have no problem writing negative and rude commentatires, and he just decides to go play in a different sandbox.

Is he a genius or what? Must get it from his mom....

Let's do this...

Live your life in happiness, owning nothing. Feed on happiness like lustrous gods. Be Happiness Itself.

Walking the Labyrinth of Life

The Labyrinth is a metaphor for life.

I walked the labyrinth in Concord slowly this evening. When I began, I could see the center (the goal?) not far ahead. The path led left and curved round, and twisted back and after walking about 50 yards, I had progressed the four feet to the center!

Isn't life just like that? You're right next to some objective, and you start working on it, and then the path curves round and miles later, or days later, you seem so close again. Then, there is a sharp curve and miles later, you reach the goal.

The main thing is to enjoy the walk. Slow down. See the path, and what it brings to you. You could just clomp over the brick barrier, straight to the center, but what fun would that be? You would have missed the WHOLE labyrinth!

Is the winner the one who gets there first? Or is the winner the one who gets there calmest? Or is the winner the one who enjoys the walk?

Optical Illusions -- click to see!

Go take a look at this Flash thing that Billy made.

I think it's clever, funny, and has an intellectually stimulating surprise finish.

What do you think? Please leave comments.

http://www.mittenmitten.com/photos/billy.html

Enjoy!

If a blogger blogs and nobody reads it, does it mean anything?

There is the age old question about a tree falling in a forest with nobody there to hear it. Does it make a sound? And why does anybody care? Don't they know there are wars, famine, hungry people, and people without socks in the world?

Really.

As a blogger, I now have a parallel concern about the universe... If I blog, and nobody reads it, does it mean anything?

And, we can enjoy the equally profound... Why would anybody care?

As Shakespeare would say "To blog, or not to blog, THAT is the question!" (He never did use enough emphasis!!?!) Why do bloggers blog? Why am I blogging? I know that NOBODY is reading this stuff. Almost nobody even knows it's there, and those precious few who do, are very busy, and are reading profound philosophical treatises, or cookbooks.

So why do I bother? It's like Mt. Everest. I blog because it's there. It drains these juicy verbal snatches out of my mind, and leaves my mind cleansed, pure, refreshed like after a torrential rain on a Hawaiian beach. I blog to be creative, and anonymous, and profound, and inspiring. Because I amuse myself with words and wit, and don't have enough live audiences to amuse...

Or as Renee Decartes would say "I blog. Therefore I am."

The Taoist Farmer

This story seems particularly relevent again today...

 

The Taoist farmer lived in a small town in China. People were poor there, and didn't have any luxuries. One day, the farmer's horse ran away. Because the town was small, everybody in town knew what had happened. They all came running to the farmer, who was hoeing his field. "That is so terrible, so terrible!" they exclaimed. "Maybe", said the farmer.

The next day, his son went out to search for the horse. At the end of the day, the farmer was working in his field when his son came home with four horses! Everybody in town came running to the farmer. "That is so amazing. You are so lucky! What good fortune!" they exclaimed. "Maybe," said the farmer, continuing to work his field.

The son worked to train those wild horses. It was a hard job, and he worked steadily. One day, he was trying to ride one of the new horses, when the horse threw him, and he fell. He was badly hurt. The doctor treated him for a broken leg. Now the son could no longer help with the farm chores. All the neighbors came right over to the farmer, pouring out their consolations. "That is too bad." "Oh, you were so unlucky." "How terrible it is that your son was hurt." The farmer continued planting his seeds and responded, "Maybe".

About a month later, the king declared war on the nearby territory. All young men were obliged to serve in the army. As the neighbor lads marched off to the war, some of the parents came to the farmer. "You are so lucky. Your son has a broken leg, and can't serve in the army." The farmer continued working his field. "Maybe," was his reply.

 

It is so easy to get caught up in the trauma of the moment. It looks so grim, or so perfect. It's hard not to get caught up in the emotion of the moment's events. But, life takes its funny turns, evolving in unexpected ways. What seemed a tragedy could really be a blessing in disguise. What seems a blessing, could be the prelude to tragedy. One can never predict. The best one can do is keep working the field, accepting the events, responding as needed.

So, I continue my duties, knowing that today's tragedy may be the seeds of tomorrow's blessing. I can only continue, and accept the life that flows over me.

Expunging

The human heart is such a fragile thing. It's amazing that it drives the whole organism, when it can succumb to such silly infatuations, and be derailed by simple flirting.

 

Yes, it's easy to love yourself when you are loved by someone special. Sometimes. It's easy to reject yourself when you are rejected by just about anyone. Even the Dunkin Donuts people. I think, in our Western education, we're indoctrinated to take much more notice of the negative marks, the rejections, than of the positive marks. And we are trained in offering criticism more than in offering encouragement. (There's a new project for me Encouragement Education!)

 

Of course, it is ridiculous to have your self image fluctuate with the attentions of another person. The self is a boat on the samsaric sea of life. A strong boat that can travel safely through the storms of love and rejection (both are stormy).

 

Now, the Brain is very cool, understanding these things clearly, and so articulate as well. The flakey Heart goes ballistic whenever there is a storm:  a love storm, or a rejection storm.  How does one master the steadiness without being cold-hearted?

 

Good question. Buddha, of course, had the answer. All things are impermanent. Everybody suffers. Suffering is caused by craving, aversion, and delusion. (Bingo for Buddha on this one!) It is possible to stop suffering. (OK, I'm willing to work with you here.) The way to stop suffering is the eightfold path. (This is where it gets hard. LOTS of work and discipline to even keep track of those eight, much less PRACTICE them.)

 

Yes, I recently had major heart-storms. Love, rejection, confusion, senseless infatuation, unrealistic dreams, dashed hopes... the whole nine yards. I also caused major storms as well. It's a two-party experience. Karma - your experience is the consequence of your actions. Sometimes it comes back atcha fairly quickly.

 

So, I was brewing with loss and confusion (poor me!), and no shoulder to cry on (OMG!!!!) when I learned of another friend heading into the tunnel of breast cancer treatments. Freeze frame. I remember that. Strength. Determination. The strong boat on a samsaric sea. Compassion. Perspective. Recalling the episode of chemotherapy and radiation put this Sad Demise into perspective. It is a spec, a tiny little brook in the river of my life, maybe just a raindrop.

 

The expunging ceremony is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, November 11. The expectations, wishes, foolishness will be shredded and burned. The lessons duly noted on stone tablets. Life goes on. My boat is strong. All are welcome.