Happy Winter Solstice everyone.
December 21 to 22 is the middle of winter in my family's tradition, with winter beginning on the evening of October 31.
In some traditions this marks the beginning of winter.
The Shinto tradition in many shrines will celebrate the coaxing out of her cave of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess of the Yamato.
This is the shortest day and the longest night.
For the remaining 6 months or so, the days will continue to get longer and the nights shorter, as the relationship between the earth and the Sun continue their dance together.
I hope you enjoy the season.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Quote
"Words do not teach. Although they do inspire thought. And thoughts are carried out with feelings and actions. It is life experience that gives you your knowing" - Abraham Hicks
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Rumi
"Reason is powerless in the expression of Love. Love alone is capable of revealing the truth of Love and being a Lover. The way of our prophets is the way of Truth. If you want to live, die in Love; die in Love if you want to remain alive" - Rumi
Rumi believed passionately in the use of music, poetry, and dance as a path for reaching God. - from wikipedia post.
Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273) Today is the anniversary of his death.
Rumi believed passionately in the use of music, poetry, and dance as a path for reaching God. - from wikipedia post.
Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273) Today is the anniversary of his death.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
God & me
Above all I am a man of God.
But I believe that all paths to God are valid for each individual.
God created the world and the universal laws that it runs by.
God created us in this world and subjected us to these laws.
God created us in his image...which means he put within us a divine spark. This divine spark makes us co-creators of our world. Our world has formed and will continue to form along with the 'density' we give our prayers, thoughts, words, and deeds.
Density is the combination of our consciousness and our passion; along with the duration and frequency with which we give everything we do.
God gave us free choice. We have the choice to participate in this creation or simply be carried along by everyone else's density. We must take care of every choice we make. Every choice counts, and effects everything else in the world. The effects begin close and emanate out.
The loud and hard has immediate and strong impact, but over time will fade in strength (unless we perpetuate it with silent acknowledgments which help it continue into eternity.
The silent prayers from deep within us grow in strength over time and continue on into eternity (unless we cut them short with opposite prayers or ideas).
Whatever we give our density to will grow according to the density we give it.
Choose with care.
But I believe that all paths to God are valid for each individual.
God created the world and the universal laws that it runs by.
God created us in this world and subjected us to these laws.
God created us in his image...which means he put within us a divine spark. This divine spark makes us co-creators of our world. Our world has formed and will continue to form along with the 'density' we give our prayers, thoughts, words, and deeds.
Density is the combination of our consciousness and our passion; along with the duration and frequency with which we give everything we do.
God gave us free choice. We have the choice to participate in this creation or simply be carried along by everyone else's density. We must take care of every choice we make. Every choice counts, and effects everything else in the world. The effects begin close and emanate out.
The loud and hard has immediate and strong impact, but over time will fade in strength (unless we perpetuate it with silent acknowledgments which help it continue into eternity.
The silent prayers from deep within us grow in strength over time and continue on into eternity (unless we cut them short with opposite prayers or ideas).
Whatever we give our density to will grow according to the density we give it.
Choose with care.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Time
Every moment counts. Every breath and every heartbeat confirms our living nature. Never waste a moment of this life. Pay attention. Be aware. Watch closely. Listen carefully. Use all of our senses. Combine them, and synchronize them.
Pay attention to our surroundings, our atmosphere, our environment and the climate we create. Everything matters, but we still need to know what weighs the most.
Our present is a reflection of our past, and our future a reflection of our present. Past, Present, and Future are all interconnected.
In fact, all of life is interconnected...everyone and everything.
Does time exist?
I suppose it does.
But the past is past, and the future is not here yet, all we really have is this moment whether we use it to live in the past, or in the future or right now.
I learn from the past, and plan for the future, but live right now.
Pay attention to our surroundings, our atmosphere, our environment and the climate we create. Everything matters, but we still need to know what weighs the most.
Our present is a reflection of our past, and our future a reflection of our present. Past, Present, and Future are all interconnected.
In fact, all of life is interconnected...everyone and everything.
Does time exist?
I suppose it does.
But the past is past, and the future is not here yet, all we really have is this moment whether we use it to live in the past, or in the future or right now.
I learn from the past, and plan for the future, but live right now.
Breathing
Ah...ok...so how do we breath?
The most important is to breath naturally. Breathing 'naturally' is ...ah... naturally, natural. But again, most of us have lost our 'natural' way. So the real question is how do we regain our natural way of breathing?
Watch a baby...
Our Breathing is naturally complete, should we allow it to be so. The breath should both expand our rib cage out, and move our diaphram down. The in breath fills us completely...we are so full there is no room for anything else...naturally the air must leave...we allow it to go...slowly, slipping away. When we are completely empty a vacuum is created and naturally the air rushes in.
In this way we continue...watching the air come in and out; allowing it to move completely in and completely out. Until we are not breathing consciously but being breathed by the air around us. Breathed by the same air that joins all of us and all things together...the same air that everyone has breathed for all time and will breath in the future...thus the same air that joins all time to this present moment to this present breath.
The most important is to breath naturally. Breathing 'naturally' is ...ah... naturally, natural. But again, most of us have lost our 'natural' way. So the real question is how do we regain our natural way of breathing?
Watch a baby...
Our Breathing is naturally complete, should we allow it to be so. The breath should both expand our rib cage out, and move our diaphram down. The in breath fills us completely...we are so full there is no room for anything else...naturally the air must leave...we allow it to go...slowly, slipping away. When we are completely empty a vacuum is created and naturally the air rushes in.
In this way we continue...watching the air come in and out; allowing it to move completely in and completely out. Until we are not breathing consciously but being breathed by the air around us. Breathed by the same air that joins all of us and all things together...the same air that everyone has breathed for all time and will breath in the future...thus the same air that joins all time to this present moment to this present breath.
More on the secret 5 of Budo
We say that Budo (Martial Ways) begins and ends with Rei (Etiquette). Etiquette begins and ends with the bow (The physical bow shows respect and humbleness). The bow begins and ends from our core (tanden).
The Tanden is the center of our universe. If you measure from head to toe...left to right...front and back... there is an intersection in the center of your body. The Tanden hangs from this intersection like a tear drop. In most of us this intersection is around 3-5 finger widths below our navel and 3-4 finger widths inside us.
So the Tanden should be number one, shouldn't it? But it's not. For one, how do you find this elusive Tanden? If you rest yourself quiet still, the Tanden becomes quite clear; but most of us don't rest actually quiet and still, even though this is our natural state. (please don't confuse 'natural' with common or average). Natural is our state when fear and greed are released. So we need a method to help us return to 'natural', sitting quiet and still do this, but for many of us when we do not sit quiet and still; we need something to lead us there. Breathing and relaxing have always been used to lead us to the Tanden and our natural state of being.
The other reason the Tanden is not nunber one is that we can live without it. I'm not sure I'd want to, but many people do. What can lead us to naturalness and that we can live without? Air. We must breathe. If we don't breathe we will die.
The secret 5 of budo:
1) Kokyu - Breathe
2) Yurumeru - Relax...let it go...release
3) Tanden - Center
4) Hone - Bone
5) Hari - Stretch
The Tanden is the center of our universe. If you measure from head to toe...left to right...front and back... there is an intersection in the center of your body. The Tanden hangs from this intersection like a tear drop. In most of us this intersection is around 3-5 finger widths below our navel and 3-4 finger widths inside us.
So the Tanden should be number one, shouldn't it? But it's not. For one, how do you find this elusive Tanden? If you rest yourself quiet still, the Tanden becomes quite clear; but most of us don't rest actually quiet and still, even though this is our natural state. (please don't confuse 'natural' with common or average). Natural is our state when fear and greed are released. So we need a method to help us return to 'natural', sitting quiet and still do this, but for many of us when we do not sit quiet and still; we need something to lead us there. Breathing and relaxing have always been used to lead us to the Tanden and our natural state of being.
The other reason the Tanden is not nunber one is that we can live without it. I'm not sure I'd want to, but many people do. What can lead us to naturalness and that we can live without? Air. We must breathe. If we don't breathe we will die.
The secret 5 of budo:
1) Kokyu - Breathe
2) Yurumeru - Relax...let it go...release
3) Tanden - Center
4) Hone - Bone
5) Hari - Stretch
Esoteric vs. Exoteric
I put down my 'secret' 5 in the previous post. Obviously they're not really secret; I just shared them on the internet. But they were ideas that were previously only shared with my personal students; so they were secret except for this select group.
This idea of 'secret' or esoteric teaching has always intrigued me. We're taught generosity, and to share the teaching with anyone and everyone who sincerely asks. Then we're told that we can only share after they have shown a 'true' desire to learn. This means first they need to ask (even beg) three times, and the criteria grow from there. I guess meeting all these criteria go to prove their 'sincerity'?
In our tradition there are both exoteric and esoteric teachings. For instance we orginally teach GoDai 5 elements:
1) A - Atama - Thought or Consciousness - Head
2) Ka - Kaze - Wind - Corresponding to the Mouth and Throat
3) Hi - Hi - Fire - Corresponding to the Heart
4) Mi - Mizu - Water - Corresponding to the Stomach
5) Chi - Chi - Earth - Which is the whole lower half of the body to the center of the earth.
Each of these has a color, a shape, a deity, and more sounds, and other corresponding relationships that get a bit complicated to spell out in text as they interweave.
But in the esoteric (Mikkyo) portion we are taught RokuDai or 6 elements. It's not that one is true and the other is not, they are both true.
I think these teachings are not really exoteric and esoteric, but just that we teach according to what the other person is ready to hear...to lead them to the experience that they need. Since this can take time, and most people don't stick around long enough to hear the rest...maybe they think they know everything already, or maybe they realize their looking for something or someone else, or maybe they just move away...but by the time you get to the esoteric portion there's only a few people left listening, so it seems like a secret just for the small group. But really the Truth belongs to everyone...and everyone knows it.
This idea of 'secret' or esoteric teaching has always intrigued me. We're taught generosity, and to share the teaching with anyone and everyone who sincerely asks. Then we're told that we can only share after they have shown a 'true' desire to learn. This means first they need to ask (even beg) three times, and the criteria grow from there. I guess meeting all these criteria go to prove their 'sincerity'?
In our tradition there are both exoteric and esoteric teachings. For instance we orginally teach GoDai 5 elements:
1) A - Atama - Thought or Consciousness - Head
2) Ka - Kaze - Wind - Corresponding to the Mouth and Throat
3) Hi - Hi - Fire - Corresponding to the Heart
4) Mi - Mizu - Water - Corresponding to the Stomach
5) Chi - Chi - Earth - Which is the whole lower half of the body to the center of the earth.
Each of these has a color, a shape, a deity, and more sounds, and other corresponding relationships that get a bit complicated to spell out in text as they interweave.
But in the esoteric (Mikkyo) portion we are taught RokuDai or 6 elements. It's not that one is true and the other is not, they are both true.
I think these teachings are not really exoteric and esoteric, but just that we teach according to what the other person is ready to hear...to lead them to the experience that they need. Since this can take time, and most people don't stick around long enough to hear the rest...maybe they think they know everything already, or maybe they realize their looking for something or someone else, or maybe they just move away...but by the time you get to the esoteric portion there's only a few people left listening, so it seems like a secret just for the small group. But really the Truth belongs to everyone...and everyone knows it.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
My Budo Secret 5
The secret 5 I have always taught in all my budo classes are:
1) Kokyu - Breathe
2) Yurumeru - Relax...let it go...release
3) Tanden - Center
4) Hone - Bone
5) Hari - Stretch
My first teacher taught me these;
every teacher that I've liked since, included them in some way.
1) Kokyu - Breathe
2) Yurumeru - Relax...let it go...release
3) Tanden - Center
4) Hone - Bone
5) Hari - Stretch
My first teacher taught me these;
every teacher that I've liked since, included them in some way.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Perception
I copied this from someone's blog. sorry I didn't mark down whose it was.
A man was driving home after a long and hectic day at work. He was tired and stressed and frustrated with the heavy traffic. Finally he got off the freeway and was nearing his home. As he turned down a side street suddenly he saw a women in a fancy car swerving into his lane coming right for him. She honked her horn squealed her tires and swerved, just missing the front end of the man’s car. As she sped past she yelled at the man “Pig!” The man was furious. How could she be screaming that at him when it was obvious that she was at fault. That was the proverbial straw and the man leaned out his window, shook his fist at the women, called her every name in the book, then turned around to re-focus on the road ahead just as he... ran over the pig!
A man was driving home after a long and hectic day at work. He was tired and stressed and frustrated with the heavy traffic. Finally he got off the freeway and was nearing his home. As he turned down a side street suddenly he saw a women in a fancy car swerving into his lane coming right for him. She honked her horn squealed her tires and swerved, just missing the front end of the man’s car. As she sped past she yelled at the man “Pig!” The man was furious. How could she be screaming that at him when it was obvious that she was at fault. That was the proverbial straw and the man leaned out his window, shook his fist at the women, called her every name in the book, then turned around to re-focus on the road ahead just as he... ran over the pig!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Absolute Truth
If we are asked to clean, we might ask, 'clean inside or outside'. But when I say this, I mean clean every-side. There is no separation between inside and outside.
There is an absolute truth. But we can't just point to and say, 'There it is'.
If someone has a Truth different from ours we say theirs is wrong, and ours is right. In doing so we lose the Truth. For both Truths are true, they must be. Everything is Everything; even nothing, by definition of Everything, is included in Everything.
Reality is the Truth. Most of our view points are limited to such a degree that we think what we see is the Truth, or what we think is the Truth, or what we feel is the Truth. But the Truth is much bigger than anything we can see, think, or feel. The Truth is bigger than anything we can perceive with any of our abilities. But with all of ourselves the Truth is plainly seen. All of ourselves means both the whole individual and the whole of humanity, in fact all of the cosmos. When we are one with all, we are all and the Truth is us and we are it, everything is clear.
Reality is the Truth...and Truth is Reality.
There is an absolute truth. But we can't just point to and say, 'There it is'.
If someone has a Truth different from ours we say theirs is wrong, and ours is right. In doing so we lose the Truth. For both Truths are true, they must be. Everything is Everything; even nothing, by definition of Everything, is included in Everything.
Reality is the Truth. Most of our view points are limited to such a degree that we think what we see is the Truth, or what we think is the Truth, or what we feel is the Truth. But the Truth is much bigger than anything we can see, think, or feel. The Truth is bigger than anything we can perceive with any of our abilities. But with all of ourselves the Truth is plainly seen. All of ourselves means both the whole individual and the whole of humanity, in fact all of the cosmos. When we are one with all, we are all and the Truth is us and we are it, everything is clear.
Reality is the Truth...and Truth is Reality.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Rituals
Rituals can have a great effect in our lives. As we repeat something, it gains exponentially in power. It ingrains itself into our lives. Rituals start vortexes of energy to swirl around us and create our environment, by attracting some things and tossing away others.
What does the ritual attract? What does it toss away? These are good questions.
Our intent is important. What do we intend to do with the ritual. Or do we do the ritual habitually without realizing what we are creating. If the ritual is a good habit, this is not too bad; but if it is a bad habit attracting what we don't want and rejecting what we do, than we have a life that is not the one we wished for.
What is attracted is determined by our state of mind; what rituals we perform, and what their natural result will be; and how well we perform the ritual.
Our state of mind must first be giving. We must first offer what we want, in order to receive. And then we must be open to receive.
Everything we do has effects (More than most of us realize actually). There are effects that cannot be recognized within our human capabilities, so we must be very careful and discover as many of the effects as possible. We must make sure that the effect is the one we are looking for, and mitigate any effects that are not what we want.
The amount of Attention and Consciousness we give the ritual and all it's components and facets will determine the extent of the outcome.
The Passion and Feeling we bring to the ritual is vital.
How long we can sustain the ritual...and the number of times we repeat it...and for how long we continue to repeat it as well.
The precision with which the ritual is done and the consistancy in all of it's aspects will effect the affect, so we take care, and be aware.
careful...beware...pay attention...
Once begun, we continue till it's time to change, or it's time is done.
Everything must match the season, the time, and the place.
Who - What - When - Where - Why - & How?
Rituals for others have more power than those for ourselves, because something else helps us.
Rituals for good rather than something else has more power, because everything else helps us.
Plan thoroughly and execute carefully and rituals (or good habits, if you prefer) can be wonderful parts of our lives.
What does the ritual attract? What does it toss away? These are good questions.
Our intent is important. What do we intend to do with the ritual. Or do we do the ritual habitually without realizing what we are creating. If the ritual is a good habit, this is not too bad; but if it is a bad habit attracting what we don't want and rejecting what we do, than we have a life that is not the one we wished for.
What is attracted is determined by our state of mind; what rituals we perform, and what their natural result will be; and how well we perform the ritual.
Our state of mind must first be giving. We must first offer what we want, in order to receive. And then we must be open to receive.
Everything we do has effects (More than most of us realize actually). There are effects that cannot be recognized within our human capabilities, so we must be very careful and discover as many of the effects as possible. We must make sure that the effect is the one we are looking for, and mitigate any effects that are not what we want.
The amount of Attention and Consciousness we give the ritual and all it's components and facets will determine the extent of the outcome.
The Passion and Feeling we bring to the ritual is vital.
How long we can sustain the ritual...and the number of times we repeat it...and for how long we continue to repeat it as well.
The precision with which the ritual is done and the consistancy in all of it's aspects will effect the affect, so we take care, and be aware.
careful...beware...pay attention...
Once begun, we continue till it's time to change, or it's time is done.
Everything must match the season, the time, and the place.
Who - What - When - Where - Why - & How?
Rituals for others have more power than those for ourselves, because something else helps us.
Rituals for good rather than something else has more power, because everything else helps us.
Plan thoroughly and execute carefully and rituals (or good habits, if you prefer) can be wonderful parts of our lives.
Every Prayer is Answered
Every prayer is answered. What we need to realize is that all of our thoughts, dreams, words, and actions are prayers.
If all of these are consistent, then we begin moving towards the theme of these thoughts, dreams, words, and actions...and the article of our attention moves towards us too.
The 'density' we give them and how we mix and merge our attention to what we think, say and do will determine how fast and how strong it will materialize.
(Density is my name for the combination of Passion, Duration, and Frequency).
The volume also has an effect. It's interesting. Silent prayers live for long periods of time all on their own, but loud ones start to fade unless we use the sound to relive it in our minds thus adding more duration to it silently.
Words, Shouts, and Actions have immediate impact and fade over time. Silent prayers grow in power over time and last forever.
Silent prayers, thoughts, dreams, and emotions travel on into the future, sometimes for generations depending on their 'density'. Loud ones will strike now and fade fairly quickly to live out their destiny. Inbetween volumes will last awhile and then fade away. My favorite is the whisper, but best to combine all volumes and add as much density as possible. Whispered words and actions...soft and kind, live not only in our density but in those we share it with.
There is a time and place for everything and every volume of that thing. The insight comes in knowing who, what, when, where, why, and How. These are great questions to continually ask ourselves: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?
Choose wisely what is needed? What fits best? survival of the fittest (not the strongest) but the fittest, that which fits best....that which matches the situation best...that which is upright...that which is most appropriate.
If all of these are consistent, then we begin moving towards the theme of these thoughts, dreams, words, and actions...and the article of our attention moves towards us too.
The 'density' we give them and how we mix and merge our attention to what we think, say and do will determine how fast and how strong it will materialize.
(Density is my name for the combination of Passion, Duration, and Frequency).
The volume also has an effect. It's interesting. Silent prayers live for long periods of time all on their own, but loud ones start to fade unless we use the sound to relive it in our minds thus adding more duration to it silently.
Words, Shouts, and Actions have immediate impact and fade over time. Silent prayers grow in power over time and last forever.
Silent prayers, thoughts, dreams, and emotions travel on into the future, sometimes for generations depending on their 'density'. Loud ones will strike now and fade fairly quickly to live out their destiny. Inbetween volumes will last awhile and then fade away. My favorite is the whisper, but best to combine all volumes and add as much density as possible. Whispered words and actions...soft and kind, live not only in our density but in those we share it with.
There is a time and place for everything and every volume of that thing. The insight comes in knowing who, what, when, where, why, and How. These are great questions to continually ask ourselves: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?
Choose wisely what is needed? What fits best? survival of the fittest (not the strongest) but the fittest, that which fits best....that which matches the situation best...that which is upright...that which is most appropriate.
Digestion
I have another idea I've been chewing on. I call it 'Digestion'.
Basically who we are is created by what we ingest.
And how we digest it, do we hold on to it, does it become toxic;
and then, what do we do with it;
do we reject it or eject it?
Or do we Inject it back into our environment.
Our environment influences us.
We influence our environment.
Round and round we go.
Polish the best.
Reject the rest.
What do you think?
Basically who we are is created by what we ingest.
And how we digest it, do we hold on to it, does it become toxic;
and then, what do we do with it;
do we reject it or eject it?
Or do we Inject it back into our environment.
Our environment influences us.
We influence our environment.
Round and round we go.
Polish the best.
Reject the rest.
What do you think?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Buddhist Man of God
People ask me how I can be a Buddhist and a 'Man of God' at the same time. And it's a good question. I'm sure the Judeo Christian followers will have a hard time with this. The main thing is that I don't see the buddhas and bodhisatvas as gods, and though I thank them for their inspiration and help in my life I don't worship them as Gods. So I'm free to believe in the one and only God, and worship only God.
Buddha and the Bodhisattva were human beings, like you and me. That's why they were such an inspiration to me...that like them, we too can see the world clearly. The Buddha was a man who 'awakened' to the path that releases us from suffering. We can follow that path to release, and still worship God. I thank and respect everyone (past, present, and future) who helps us along the way to God.
The Buddhist path was not designed to lead us to God. That type of question is often ignored and answers given on how to live this life that we're in now. Yet some of us, as we sit quiet and still find God.
Sitting silent and still the Truth often arises. And this Truth is often God.
Buddha and the Bodhisattva were human beings, like you and me. That's why they were such an inspiration to me...that like them, we too can see the world clearly. The Buddha was a man who 'awakened' to the path that releases us from suffering. We can follow that path to release, and still worship God. I thank and respect everyone (past, present, and future) who helps us along the way to God.
The Buddhist path was not designed to lead us to God. That type of question is often ignored and answers given on how to live this life that we're in now. Yet some of us, as we sit quiet and still find God.
Sitting silent and still the Truth often arises. And this Truth is often God.
Density
I'm working on a notion I've called 'density'. Maybe you can help me with a better name.
The idea is something like this:
'Density' is a combination of:
1. Passion
2. Duration
3. Frequency
Sometimes I add consciousness too.
What ever we give 'density' to grows. If we give something our passion/emotion often for long periods of time it grows. The more we give it these three the more it grows.
Rather than listing all 3 every time I talk about this notion I wanted to give it a name, and 'density' popped into my head. But dense sounds a little thick, doesn't it.
We give density to our prayers, thoughts, words, and actions. To the degree we do so will determine our results. If our prayers, thoughts, words, and deeds are consistent with eachother and with each opportunity to add density to them the result is inevitable. if we give conflicting prayers, thoughts, words, or actions or don't give them density, than we'll get conflicting results.
The idea is something like this:
'Density' is a combination of:
1. Passion
2. Duration
3. Frequency
Sometimes I add consciousness too.
What ever we give 'density' to grows. If we give something our passion/emotion often for long periods of time it grows. The more we give it these three the more it grows.
Rather than listing all 3 every time I talk about this notion I wanted to give it a name, and 'density' popped into my head. But dense sounds a little thick, doesn't it.
We give density to our prayers, thoughts, words, and actions. To the degree we do so will determine our results. If our prayers, thoughts, words, and deeds are consistent with eachother and with each opportunity to add density to them the result is inevitable. if we give conflicting prayers, thoughts, words, or actions or don't give them density, than we'll get conflicting results.
I'm a bear
Although I learned a bit about druidry from my grandmother I never had a familiar or anything like that. According to the Chinese Zodiac I was born in the year of the dog, and I am rather hairy like one. I like dog's well enough, I had a few growing up, and we have one now. I like animals really, but never really felt like I had an affintiy with any particular species, other than humans.
The other day was a bit cold, but I wasn't dressed warmly, so I was asked why I wasn't cold. I answered as I usually do to this question that I have 'fur'....just like a bear I thought.
hum...bear and beal...not to far apart. I do like bears too. Did I read once that bears and dogs are related, I wonder if that's true?
I like to hum, when Amy asked why? I said 'I'm a humming bear'...get it? it's like a honey bear..but it's a humming bear...ok so I have a strange sense of humor...usually only I laugh at my jokes...now you know why.
Bears are found all over the world, though no longer in Africa, and they are most heavily concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere. They are mostly vegetarian (like me), especially fruits and berries, with some fish thrown in, or a few small animals or birds if when they catch them. They avoid confrontation but can be ferocious when provoked...they're usually slow and calm, but can be fast and strong if need be...just like me.
I'm a bear...I'm a beal bear.
Bear = A type of barely grown in Scotland (I have some Scots blood)
Bear = to be born (I was born)
Bear = to carry
Bear = To support, sustain, or endure
Bear = To bear or carry oneself - one's character (to be upright...my goal!)
Bear = To allow (one of my basic principles...to allow)
Bear = To tolerate
Bear = To influence
Bear = To give or offer...to bear witness
Bear = To bear in mind...remember
Bear = To Confirm
Bear = To take effect...to Succeed
Bear Leader = A tutor...leads or conducts students on travels (Jizo Bosatsu, my patron saint)
The other day was a bit cold, but I wasn't dressed warmly, so I was asked why I wasn't cold. I answered as I usually do to this question that I have 'fur'....just like a bear I thought.
hum...bear and beal...not to far apart. I do like bears too. Did I read once that bears and dogs are related, I wonder if that's true?
I like to hum, when Amy asked why? I said 'I'm a humming bear'...get it? it's like a honey bear..but it's a humming bear...ok so I have a strange sense of humor...usually only I laugh at my jokes...now you know why.
Bears are found all over the world, though no longer in Africa, and they are most heavily concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere. They are mostly vegetarian (like me), especially fruits and berries, with some fish thrown in, or a few small animals or birds if when they catch them. They avoid confrontation but can be ferocious when provoked...they're usually slow and calm, but can be fast and strong if need be...just like me.
I'm a bear...I'm a beal bear.
Bear = A type of barely grown in Scotland (I have some Scots blood)
Bear = to be born (I was born)
Bear = to carry
Bear = To support, sustain, or endure
Bear = To bear or carry oneself - one's character (to be upright...my goal!)
Bear = To allow (one of my basic principles...to allow)
Bear = To tolerate
Bear = To influence
Bear = To give or offer...to bear witness
Bear = To bear in mind...remember
Bear = To Confirm
Bear = To take effect...to Succeed
Bear Leader = A tutor...leads or conducts students on travels (Jizo Bosatsu, my patron saint)
Trees
Trees are our breathing buddies. They take in carbon dioxide, which we breathe out, and give back the oxygen we need.
Trees have roots in the earth, trunks in-between, with limbs and leaves reaching to the heavens.
Water, air, & sunshine, along with the earth nourish the trees & plants; and they, in turn nourish us, with their roots and/or fruits.
Thank God for trees.
Trees have roots in the earth, trunks in-between, with limbs and leaves reaching to the heavens.
Water, air, & sunshine, along with the earth nourish the trees & plants; and they, in turn nourish us, with their roots and/or fruits.
Thank God for trees.
Rabbi Samuel
Here's a quote I found in an old journal of mine.
"...truly ethical conduct must not be inspired by the hope of a reward, nor forced by the fear of punishment. Truly ethical conduct must proceed sorely from a desire to do what is right, from a love of God and a desire to fulfill his commandments".
"...truly ethical conduct must not be inspired by the hope of a reward, nor forced by the fear of punishment. Truly ethical conduct must proceed sorely from a desire to do what is right, from a love of God and a desire to fulfill his commandments".
circumstances
No matter what our circumstances, we can choose our inner attitude. Kosaka Sensei says there is no 'wrong' or 'right', but if we see 'right' and 'wrong' please choose 'right'. If we choose the right attitude, it will grow and create a right circumstance; which will create a right life.
Be right as in upright, not leaning, or crooked, or bent. Follow the upright path. Be upright in everything we think, say, and do.
Be right as in upright, not leaning, or crooked, or bent. Follow the upright path. Be upright in everything we think, say, and do.
order
The main difference between what I write here, and what I write in my other blogs is, that there is no thought to the order of any entry here. I probably won't check the grammar closely here either. I want to just let it 'stream' out of me, and see what we get. Some of it may be wrong headed, I may not even agree with all of it entirely. It's just a way to see my thoughts in front of me. This usually just produces more thoughts, but it's kind of educational and entertaining for me.
We'll see how it goes.
We'll see how it goes.
Rick's Rambling
Everyone keeps asking to read my journals, but I don't let anyone take them home. So I thought, why not just post my ramblings here. I don't know why anyone is interested in my ramblings, but they keep asking. Probably, no one can decipher my cryptic meanings. But If you want to read them feel free.
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