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.
Friday, October 30, 2009
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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