Dharma Journal

Honor Killings

2012-01-30T14:04:00.000-08:00

We've all heard about the tragic deaths of four women in Canada. We periodically hear about these "honor killings" in the news. They probably happen more often than reported. Usually the killers are thinking that they are acting as God’s agents in various sordid affairs; whether to punish a wayward family member, or a suicide bomber against the infidels, or the blowing up of an abortion clinic. I’m sure that in a court of law the perpetrators have at some time brought up the point that the sectarian state has no jurisdiction over them in the matter because they are doing God’s bidding.

But, in the Bible, God declares “Vengeance is Mine.” That means He wants to take care of it. And God has certainly had lots of practice. He’s been killing off people (the good, the bad and the ugly) since time immemorial. But we foolishly think that God is inept, that He can’t handle it or that He’s too busy with other things and that maybe He’ll forget. So we think, “I have to take care of it -why bother God? And I’ll get brownie points and it will look good on my resume when I get to heaven. I’ll have bragging rights.” This mind set only shows that one has very little faith. God is very capable of dispatching sinners and miscreants (if that's what they are) in His own way and in His own time.

Anyway, in this age, if God were to kill the sinners, I'd guess He’d have to kill us all. But God has wisely developed an alternative plan which is explained in many sacred traditions:

"Whoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." Christian

“In the age of quarrel chant the Holy Name, chant the Holy Name, chant the Holy Name. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.” Hindu

"Remember the Name of the Lord and devote yourself with complete devotion." Islam

"Whoever will call upon the Name will come me after death." Buddhism

"By hearing God's Name the mortal becomes a perfect person, religious guide, spiritual hero and a great yogi." Sikh

God appears in the form of His Holy Name which are numerous in religious traditions all over the world. The weapon of the Name is very subtle. Like an expert physician removing a cancerous tumor, the Name can destroy the miscreant mentality without killing the physical body. So yes, God wants assistants; not, however, to kill, but to spread love and mercy through the Holy Name. Like the Beatles sang: “take a sad song (the plight of us living entities) and make it better.”

So to any would-be avengers for God reading this: don’t worry your pretty little head. God is on top of it. No one is going to get away with anything.

But That Wasn't Enough

2011-12-02T19:49:00.000-08:00

They brought men and women from Africa to work their fields and be their slaves,
But that wasn’t enough

They killed the buffalo and pushed the Native Americans from their land, killing them or leaving them destitute in remote corners,
But that wasn’t enough

They imported Chinese coolies who toiled in the cold to help build their railroads,
But that wasn’t enough

They brought the tired and poor, the huddled masses, to populate the West and to provide cheap labor in their factories,
But that wasn’t enough

From all that windfall in labor and capitol, they coasted along in the post war boom in a land of plenty,
But that wasn’t enough

They rolled through the 80”s incinerating jobs, and dismantling companies and selling off the parts,
But that wasn’t enough

They shipped people’s jobs overseas so they wouldn’t have to pay an honest wage, and thus make bigger profits for themselves,
But that wasn’t enough

They bundled mortgages and sold them off as scam investments as they kicked people out of their homes,
But that wasn’t enough

And they smiled upon you, and rewarded you with a handsome pension to distract you as they ransacked your children’s future,
But that wasn’t enough

Poet John Fandel

2011-11-22T18:08:00.000-08:00

The poet John Fandel recently passed away. Below is a poem from his book Bach & a Catbird published in the late 70's.

Laws

How the wind shook the FULL STOP sign!
How the Law stood up to it, twinned!
Neither seemed one to resign-
Though it looked pretty good for the wind.
Wind was its own legislature;
FULL STOP shook FULL STOPS like a clan.

But when has the law of nature
Ever bowed to the laws of man.

But The Thing Is.....

2011-11-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

Politician says:

The government is the cause of the problems. All this government regulation. It's just too much... But the thing is that the government should have a right to regulate the unions. They'll spoil everything. Why should people have the right to come together for collective bargaining.

And we have to go into the streets and take America back.... But what are you doing in the streets? What do you want to disrupt things for?

All Americans have the right to be involved in the democratic process. Corporations are people too. They got a right to be involved, and their lobbists too...... But you don't need to be involved until its time for you to cast your vote.

America is the greatest. The cops, firemen and teachers are our heroes...... But we need to lay some of these people off.

I can't believe this administration wants the troops out of Iraq by the end of the year. The President is weak..... But what's the big deal if President Bush (back in '08) promised Iraq our troops would be out by the end of 2011.

It's great that the oil companies and banks are making huge profits..... But you want to tax the rich??? That's not a good idea. And so what if Reagan taxed the rich!!!

Citizen says: But the thing is........

Gita Jayanti - Dec 16

2010-12-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

For Hindus, Gita Jayanti commemorates the speaking of the Bhagavad Gita by Sri Krishna. The Gita was spoken to the warrior-prince Arjuna right before a great battle. Sometimes our daily lives assume the shape of a struggle or battle. Mahatma Gandhi said of the Gita:

“When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-Gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day."

The sages tell us that Bhagavad Gita is a remedy for the Kaliyuga, this age of anxiety, of stress and quarrel. In the Kaliyuga, everyone is going at such a hectic pace, trying to meet goals and deadlines and payments. People feel worn out and fatigued. We forget what's important. We lose sight of how to act properly and of our eternal, spiritual nature. We may feel that we are drying up or that we are being struck by the sharp arrows of worldly existence. Krishna's words can give us insight and guide us, just as thousands of years ago, His message calmed the mind of Arjuna who had lost his composure and was confused as to what course of action to take.

Albert Schweitzer wrote, "The Bhagavad-Gita has a profound influence on the spirit of mankind by its devotion to God, which is manifested by actions." Bhagavad Gita provides the foundations of yoga, which is not so much about postures but, as Schweitzer observed, more about actions and how we conduct ourselves and what our intentions are.

It’s important to take time for introspection, to slow down from the hectic pace that we often find ourselves in. The Hopis of the southwest have an ancient prediction that there will come a time when life's pace speeds out of control, and at that time we must make a conscious effort to slow down. That time is now. Slowing down and living with sacred intention can be achieved through meditation on the names of God. There are many names found in sacred traditions all over the world.

Arjuna was not a scholar, a sage or a renunciate. He was a family man, a warrior, a man with worldly duties and responsibilities. Sometimes, as Arjuna, we may also become confused. And as Arjuna, our minds and spirits can become refreshed by hearing the words of Sri Krishna. By introspection and meditation a tremendous change can come about by what seems to be one little activity or effort.

"I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-Gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

A House Divided - Part 2

2010-10-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

There’s been a lot of talk that the nation, as a democracy, was founded on Christian principles. This type of argument is another wedge used to divide America. Christianity was flourishing for fifteen hundred years and nobody thought about democracy. The secret ingredient which sparked the passion for freedom in the founding fathers was the Native American culture, especially the Iroquois Nation, which refrained from giving power to any one person.

The British actually tried to discredit the upstart revolutionaries by lumping them in with the Indians. On the eve of the American Revolution, one British article being circulated stated condescendingly: “The darling passion of the American is liberty, and that in its fullest extent; nor is it the original natives only to whom this passion is confined. Our colonists, sent thither, seem to have imbibed the same principles.” Here the British suggest that it is the American natives who are poluting the colonist with ideas about liberty. It was, in fact, a Christian nation – England – which tried to squelch the colonists' hopes for freedom and democracy.

Why listen to the dividers of America whether they come in the guise of politicans, religionists, or industrialists? Demand honesty, integrity and civility from so-called leaders.

"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." The words of Jesus

A House Divided - Part 1

2010-10-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

More and more people are becoming aware of the Chinese economy’s rapid growth. It has grown 10% this year as the US economy flounders. Are our politicians working for the Chinese? Either they can’t or won’t do anything about the loss of jobs to overseas manufacturers. If you want the American economy to spring back you have to do something about it yourself. And it’s not all that complicated. Just buy things made in America. That is, if you can find something at Walmart that’s made in America. Some entrepreneurial folks could start a whole line of products and you got a whole new movement. Dump the foreign made goods into the bay. Maybe something the Tea Party might even endorse.

The US economy is in trouble, but the problems didn’t just happen over night. It started when politicians started deregulation in the 80’s. When regulations were loosened the corporate raiders started to strip apart companies and sell them piecemeal. The Wall Street guys saw that companies were worth more dead than alive. In essence, the companies that weren’t growing fast enough, but which were still healthy, were just mowed down. That left us with a lot less companies which eventually grew to big to fail.

Then there was the S&L fandango, and more recently they hit upon Derivatives and other scams - selling bad deals such as bundled mortgages. And then they turned around and bet that the mortgage bundles would tank. Why is this legal? It’s a conflict of interest. It’s like if your child was behind in school, and rather than the teacher helping your child, the teacher takes out a bet that the child will fail the course. How long could a teacher get away with that?

The problems of the last thirty years are a litany of big business going overboard, not just into the realm of greed, but into fraudulent and illegal activity. It doesn’t make sense to let them continue with deregulation and somehow think that’s good for the economy.

One of the greatest fears the big drug companies have is that people will start to understand the healing properties of herbs. The drug companies spend millions to lobby Washington to prevent people from using herbs. People have to educate themselves about simple, inexpensive ways of improving and maintaining their health.

Another thing I don’t get is, why this hullabaloo about maintaining the Bush era tax cuts for the super rich. This thing about the tax cuts “help grow the economy” is an urban myth perpetuated by Wall Street. The tax cuts have been in place for eight years and they haven’t grown the economy yet.

And finally, whatever happened to cooperation and civility? The big question is: can we put aside our differences to work together for the greater good? We, as a nation, have to start looking for the common ground, for those values which bring us together, and focus on the goals we all have in common. Beware of those who conscientiously seek to divide America by demonizing the opposition.

"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." Matthew 12:25

Regulation & Socialization

2010-04-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

The Tea Party and conservatives are against government regulation and creeping socialism. It’s been creeping for the last 100 years since Upton Sinclair went to Chicago to write The Jungle, which exposed the corruption and horrendously unsanitary conditions at slaughter houses. There was a poem at the time: Mary had a little lamb/ And when she saw it sicken/ She sent it off to Packertown/ And now it's labeled chicken. The book lead to the Pure Food & Drug Act of 1906 and the start of the government’s regulation of the meat industry. We have the author, an avowed socialist, to thank for that.

One neighbor said that they didn’t want the government regulating what they did, including wearing a seat belt in a car. Someone else was concerned that the healthcare bill would lead to socialization. But the thing is, we need both regulation and social programs. The question is where to draw the line.

I’m sure the families of the 29 miners who died in the tragic accident here in West Virginia recently would have wanted safety regulations more stringently enforced. It's the worst mine disaster in the US in the last 40 years, and Gov Manchin is calling for an investigation. The govenor of Virginia just restored a $750, 000 cut in that state's budget for mine safety inspections. He said the accident in WV was 'a wakeup call.' And the people that were cheated by Madoff probably felt their money was safe because regulations were supposed to be in place and enforced. What about the people of New Orleans? Weren’t the levees supposed to be checked and up to a certain standard? So yea. There is stuff that the government regulates.

And what about social programs? Do you know, if you vacation at the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone Park you’re supporting socialization. These parks are government controlled! And what about all those other national or state parks? Or do you fix the potholes on the road in front of your house? I don’t. The government does. And we all pay taxes that support public schools that educate other people’s kids. And how many Tea Party people get Social Security payments? Nobody remembers the huge controversies in the 1930's to start that program. And who doesn't go to the library? The Public Library is also a form of socialization.

Actually socalization started to creep in two thousand years ago when a man from Nazareth fed the poor and healed the sick.

Shared Sacrifice

2010-02-26T09:01:00.000-08:00

It was interesting to watch a few hours of the Health Care Summit yesterday. I would have to say it was also a little depressing. Only so many words, words words. When somebody made a good suggestion, the President should have asked for a show of hands as to how many would support that. I'm sure some of them would have freaked out if he had, and they probably only agreed to come to the meeting after setting a few ground rules (i.e. not having a straw vote or having to publicly agree on anything). The President and a couple of senators (I think Democrats) suggested that the American public should have the same type of health care coverage that government employees have. I don’t know, but it seems that a few of our elected officials would be happier to see this administration fail rather than come to some resolution for the good of the public.

There’s a story of ancient times when a famine spread across the land. During this hardship the king not only gave away most of the foods and grains stored in the royal warehouse, but he also had all of his ministers and councilors reduce their food consumption and he himself completely fasted for forty days.

At the beginning of last year the small company my daughter works for in Wisconsin had to lay off five or six people. Then, rather than lay off any one else, and to weather the hard times, everyone was asked to take a 10% pay cut. The owner of the company stopped paying himself altogether. Now things have picked up for them and the cuts have been reinstated.

We’re really in this fix together. So where is the sense of shared sacrifice. It could start with the guys in Washington suspending their health care benefits until they come to some agreement. When it comes to the economy and job creation, they could take a 10% cut in pay until they fix that problem. And rather then get a hand out, those guys on Wall St. should all take 10% or even 20% pay cuts until their companies are solvent. Perhaps we’d start seeing some real solutions.

Tea Party

2010-02-11T15:04:00.000-08:00

I would take the Tea Party movement more seriously if they were to actually address the entirety of the problem. The problem being not only big government but big business. What’s the value of trying to de-claw government if you don’t de-claw big business as well? The founding father’s deemed that the strength of America was in the small farmers and the small businesses. They wanted a separation of Church and State because the Church was the most powerful institution at that time. They could not foresee the growth and threat of big business.

The founding fathers, well aware that people and institutions could be influenced and corrupted, formed a government with checks and balances. It would be naïve to think that the people in big business are somehow more honest and level headed than the ones running the government and that we would all be better off if they were left alone to do as they please. Remember Enron? That fiasco came to light shortly after 911. On one hand, people obviously perceived the threat from without (the government made sure of that), but unfortunately, they did not properly perceive the threat from within which could potentially devastate the economy, and which just about did, leading up to the Great Recession.

So why would a bunch of ordinary citizens who comprise the Tea Party want to defend the rights of big multi-national corporations. There’s an old saying: divide and conquer. The powers that be prefer a weakened populace divided into so called Red states and Blue states, with groups whose main agenda, sadly enough, is to call other people ill names and engage in slogan-speak. And the media swallows this stuff up. They love simplistic, graphic images. The big honchos hope that this will keep people distracted so that they can continue to play their nefarious games. The last thing they want to see is a majority of people coming together to tackle problems.

But I’d bet the American people have a lot more in common than in what divides them. For the good of this great nation, we need a movement (many movements) to generate real dialogue, take aim at real problems which effect us all, and create real solutions. Does the Tea Party care to step up to the plate?

To be continued…

Thinking Things Through

2008-10-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

A hard rain fell, pounding the asphalt, collecting here and there in puddles and running into streams, and without a bus in sight. Five men stood forlorn, lost in their thoughts, waiting and wondering. Somehow it surfaced that they were all trying to get to the polls in time to cast their votes, and so they all decided to chip in for a cab. There was Joe the Plumber, Joe Six Pack, Joe Camel, Joe the Bartender, and Joe Mamma. The cabbie also happened to be a Joe – Joe Biden. But he was a strange guy in a Stephen King sort of way. The passengers each settled into their seats and tried to relax as their cab sped through the night.

Joe Six Pack was the first one to break the silence with a chuckle. “Ain’t this something. I haven’t voted in years and years. But when I found out that Obama might get into the White House, I had to vote. He wants to raise everybody’s taxes! I haven’t worked for six months and can't get health insurance, but that made my blood boil. I said to myself, ‘Joe Six Pack, it is your civic duty to vote. Sarah Palin is counting on you.’”

Joe Mamma had a sudden realization, “If Obama gets in, it shouldn’t be called the White House any more. Them blacks are always ruining things. Them and the Jews… and the Latinos… and the Catholics… and the chinks in China whose taking away all the jobs. Obama is in cahoots with them. That guy is dangerous. He’s a socialist, commie Marxist. Probably wants to raise them taxes so he can send our hard earned wealth to China. That’ll be the day – over my dead body.”

Joe Camel budded in “And what about the gays. Can you imagine if the gays and lesbians took over. There wouldn’t be any more children to carry things on. Nobody goin to the car races, foot ball games… no kids around to see Saw XX. The seats would all be empty. Something has got to be done! I mean, what’s going to happen to traditional family values. Heck, I’m all for marriage. Been married three times myself. But you think Obama cares!”

“But the worst thing,” Joe the Bartender added, “is that Obama would pull us out of Iraq. To bring home the troops now??? It doesn’t make any sense. Especially with the job market the way it is. I still got my job because most people have their priorities straight. But has Obama ever even been in a bar? Bush knew what he was doing – creating lots of jobs and a cash flow to the right people. Spreading the wealth around to the Blackwater guys and Halliburton. And now it’s going to those fat cats on Wall Street. All these guys, when they come into my bar, they can really put it away. And then, in the natural God given course of things there’s what I call “the trickle down effect.” See, Reagan had it right. It’s just the way God arranged for things. But this Obama, I don’t know what he’s thinking! The guy’s a wimp. Somebody’s got to stand up for the freakin rights of the free world.”

Joe the Plumber was unusually silent. “McCain’s gettin my vote,” was all he could muster, and the rest of the group mumbled in agreement.

All the while, Joe Biden the cabbie had been listening intently, peering into what seemed to be an endless void, driving through the mother of all rainfalls as the windshield wipers worked frantically. He wanted to speak up in the worst way, but he bit his lip. All he knew is that he couldn’t let this bunch get to the polls any time soon. His man was Obama, and five less votes for McCain surely couldn’t hurt. He wouldn’t have to say anything, but he’d have the last laugh. The trip was just going to take a little longer than anybody expected. He decided to take the long way around, head over to the east side of town, and across the bridge at San Luis Rey. But he did not know that his cab would be on the bridge as flood waters swept it away. And paying the cab fare, which none of them had anyways, turned out to be unnecessary.

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

2008-07-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

“What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.” Bhagavad Gita 2:69

Now that the hullabaloo about the national gas tax holiday has subsided, don’t lose heart. There’s still a few things that you can do to test your mettle, have an healthy and entertaining summer, and make a real difference. You don’t need politicians to come up with cheap solutions that are really no solutions at all. Will this November’s election really solve anything? Why wait for someone to do something for us?

If enough of us are on the same page it could turn into one big ‘We” with the clout of a high priced lobbyist, pushy senator, out-of-control Supreme Court judge, or an insider presidential advisor. Fact: The bottom line for corporations is where and how We, the People spend our money. That means you can vote with your wallet every day of the week. Here’s four simple things that you can do to help yourself, the planet and the economy. From now until Labor Day try this -

1) Stop buying gas from Exxon – Mobil. This is one company. Out of all the gas companies Exxon - Mobil has the biggest profits. If their gas stations are idle, you’ll see their prices come down quickly. This will set off a price war between gas companies vying for your patronage. Another thing, just because oil companies want to renew off shore drilling doesn’t mean that our gas prices will come down. They will sell to the highest bidder no matter who or where they are. If off shore drilling is increased, will legislators insist that the oil be used for USA consumption?

NOTE: Most people mistake the dark night of material wealth created by greed as the day time of prosperity.

2) This next one is not for the faint hearted. This may almost be impossible – (Forgetabout boycotting the Olympics this August). Stop buying things made in China altogether (a side note - our government doesn’t let us buy stuff made in Cuba. Maybe it should. It would be cheaper than shipping it all the way from China. What’s the difference?). We, ourselves, are to blame for the gas increases. Why? Because we buy foreign made goods. We’re getting items from all over the world (wherever there is cheap labor) of which China is the largest importer to the USA. Because of the tremendous economic growth of China, and also India, their use of cars and demand for oil has increased multifold over the past decade. On top of that, the fact that so much of what we consume has to be shipped from half way around the world is just plain bad for the planet.

NOTE: The self controlled can use natural resources wisely and in moderation without creating an imbalance to the environment.

3) Don’t buy any produce that’s grown outside the country. The regulations for food production in other countries are lax or nonexistent. In general, buy mostly that which is grown or made in your country, or better yet in your state or area. It will be better for you, for your community and for the world So don’t be a lemming. If we don’t voluntarily learn to modify the ways and habits of our consumption, the unfolding waves of circumstances will force drastic change upon us and our children sooner or later.

NOTE: It’s already happening and one must remain undisturbed like an introspective sage.

4) Stop eating meat. Really no big deal, especially when we realize our own health and happiness is what’s at stake. And there are all sorts of unseen costs for growing and transporting beef. The decisive factor is that this simple, revolutionary act of refrain will nourish and expand our compassionate nature and help us to understand our connectedness to all life forms and to the world around us. To act compassionately, free from greed, is one of the basic principles of spirituality, as it is vital in opening the portal to our higher, eternal nature. We must practice living in the awareness that all things are connected.

NOTE: Many people remain in the darkness of night, unaware of the suffering of others.

RECAP: From now until Labor Day 1) stop buying from Exxon-Mobil (at least until their prices come down), 2) stop buying imports from China, 3) stop buying produce grown outside the country, and 4) stop buying meat. Try going for all four. If you can’t do all four totally, at least do any one or two. You’re on your way. Good luck.

And for additional bonus points try these two harrowing experiments until Labor Day:

1) Don’t use your credit card. Stick with debit card or use cash for everything.

2) For at least one day a week, stay off your computer and TV. Get out and talk to the folks in your community.

So stay well, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Be grateful. Pray. Have a healthy sense of humor. Laugh. Find your creative self. Speak up. Be flexible. Get involved!

Interact!FYI - The saying “Wake up and smell the coffee” is a saying to suggest that we begin to pay attention and try to see the true facts of a situation or event which is relevant to our lives. Recently, a study revealed that the attention of sleep deprived rats was boosted when they were exposed to the aroma of roasted coffee beans. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17objava.html?_r=1&n&oref=slogin

Prufrock Ponders Peaches

2008-04-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Prufrock had had enough. He couldn’t take it another moment. He fled the room where all women were talking about the New York Times article, “Some Ignorance Can Cure Chronic Buyer’s Remorse,” by Alina Tugend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/business/15shortcuts.html

The article explains how people, more then ever, are agonizing in making decisions: small decisions as well as big decisions. There are just too many choices, too much information to sift through. It’s infuriating. Just going to the supermarket can turn into an ordeal. The amount of choices that are available to the consumer is mind boggling. There are dozens of types of cereals, spreads, coffees, sodas, and a gazillion types of potato chips. There’s the fine print to read, the weight of the boxes and the prices to compare. The article also mentioned Timothy Wilson’s book “Strangers To Ourselves,” wherein he writes about his research and observations on the confusion of many consumers. Consumers seem to be shell shocked, walking around dazed, not really knowing what to buy, and not being satisfied with their decision after they do buy something.

Prufrock found himself standing alone in the produce aisle of the neighborhood grocery eyeing the peaches. And indeed, he too began to agonize. “Do I dare eat a peach? Where are they from? Chili, Taiwan, China? They’ve gotten awfully expensive. Are they worth it? I wonder if they’re dry inside. And they can’t be very healthy with all the pesticides they use? I could wind up with cancer or Alzheimer’s. And look at these grapes, apples and strawberries. They’re not much better.”

Plagued by indecision Prufrock fled the grocery and wandered through half deserted streets. A lot of the houses were empty because of the mortgage foreclosures. Prufrock still had his home, but who knew for how long. He recently lost heavily in the stock market. He had thought surely that Bear Stearns was solid. But he had been proven wrong. He wondered if any decision he made can ever again be right or satisfying. Prufrock desperately wanted to save face. He thought there was still time, time to prepare a face to meet the faces that he would meet. He wanted to appear composed and successful at the fag end of life. At least he could have that.

But that image shattered when he caught a glimpse of himself in a store window. His hair had grown thin. And his arms and legs had gotten so thin. He was overcome with worry and wasn’t eating properly. Surely people would talk. In his youth he thought about daring to disturb his universe. But as it turned out, that was only a passing phase, and ultimately he carefully and deliberately measured out his life with coffee spoons. His life had been filled with so many details, so much minutiae and, of course, appearances to maintain. So many decisions and indecisions, and a hundred visions and revisions. Where would it all end???

He hurried on not knowing where to. “It was for the best,” he thought. “After all, the little things are important.… But what did I really do with my life? I could have easily been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the ocean floors. I didn’t have the guts to force the moment to its crisis.… I have wept and fasted and prayed. But who am I kidding. I’m no prophet. I saw death waiting and yes, I am afraid…. But I should have squeezed the universe into a ball and rolled it toward some overwhelming question. It would have been damn well worth it…. But no, that’s not me. Instead, I settled for the novels and teacups and skirts….”

Then Prufrock heard the Sunday morning church bells. People came and went from the churches. So many churches in town: Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian; what to speak of , the Unitarians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, and even the Hare Krishnas. His mind was terrified. This was all too much for him. He decided to go for a calming walk on the beach.

“There’s too many choices, too many decisions to make. Even when it comes to religion. How can we ever sort it all out.” And his mind drifted back to his beloved peaches. “…. Now I grow old. I grow old. Perhaps I shall wear my trousers rolled. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare eat a peach?…. I have lingered here and there, lingered by the ocean, lingered with the sea-girls. I have admired their beauty….”

Then the unique beauty of all the women he had known in his life unfolded in his mind’s eye, and in that instance he caught a glimpse of the truth. “Maybe that’s the way it is with religions,” he mused, “each offering their unique perspective and voice of the Divine. And maybe someday, if I’m lucky, a voice will wake me from my dream and my false ego will drown.”

The Junction

2008-02-11T19:48:00.000-08:00

There are junctions where the ‘spiritual’ intersects with the ‘material.’ It could be a place, (a church, mosque, or temple), and it could happen in an action, sound vibration, breath, dream, intention and a day of the week (the Sabbath). Our bodies are also junctions. That connection of spirit to matter is what makes the body alive, and what makes the body a tabernacle.

In Hinduism one goes to the temple to take darshan (have audience) of the Deity. A Christian goes to a church to pray, and a Native American crawls into the sweat lodge, or medicine lodge, and, acknowledging kinship to all beings, utters “Mitakuye Oyasin – all my relations.”

A Jew might go to the Wailing Wall. There, he might leave a letter to God. And in the synagogue, the Torah is kept on the altar and adorned with a crown and wrapped in beautiful cloth, just as Hindus adorn the Deity with crown and elaborate dress.

A Moslem would view all this as idol worship, although he thinks that one of the most important events of his life is to travel to Mecca to circumambulate the Kabba and kiss with great reverence the black rock housed there, just as, in the synagogue, when the Torah is paraded through the congregation, everyone wants to kiss the cloth in great reverence.

A Catholic will take communion and a Hindu will take prasadam (sanctified foods). They, along with the Buddhists, chant on prayer beads, whispering the names of God. The dervish dances to evoke the sacred. And all traditions make pilgrimages to their holy sites. All these practices are very beautiful, and they reveal a rich tapestry of worship of the Transcendent Reality.

But there are several deadly viruses that destroy the connection – pride, greed, anger, fear. Once again fear is manifesting itself with the reemergence of fundamentalism. Fear inhibits our vision, and, unfortunately, most so-called religionists see God’s world as very shallow. They curse, denigrate, and discredit one another for their beliefs and practices. This gives religion a bad rep.

In the meantime, for those who take the time to learn how to see properly, this natural world, full of diversity with all its various colors, shapes, smells and tastes, reflects the wondrous diversity of God’s Eternal Realm. In their gradual awakening, they come to realize that it's all a junction.

The Raw Deal

2008-01-22T13:56:00.000-08:00

(or Shell Game Passes For Tough Love)

Big Politician Guy: Listen, I’m going to give it to you straight. This federal income tax system is dumb. It’s your hard earned money. You have a right to spend it the way you see fit. You know how to spend it better then the government. Forget about federal income tax and use your money to be happy..…… Actually, the government will need some money… Of course we’re not going to tax the people… Oh wait, I know… We’ll just impose a spending tax. That sounds fair. We’ll have a national sales tax on gas and clothing and food and stuff like that. . But why should you worry? You can afford a few extra cents with all those 1000’s of dollars you’re saving from not having to pay income tax.

Local Politician Guy: Since the taxes were cut the Federal government doesn’t have any money to give to supplement state programs so we’re going to have to increase your property taxes and also add a few more cents to the tax on goods. But why should you worry? You can afford a few extra cents with all those 1000’s of dollars you’re saving from not having to pay income tax.

Local Doctor or Pharmacist : The government is cutting back on Medicare and drug programs, so you’re going have to pay for your own drugs and treatment. But why should you worry? You can afford it with all those 1000’s of dollars you’re saving from not having to pay income tax.

Big Politician Guy: What! You need some help? Why turn to the government? The government is not a charity. . Don’t expect the government to bail you out… What?… Well, sure… the government created the New Deal to help people in the depression….. And that’s right, after WW II there was the GI Bill where the government helped millions of GI’s go to college and get an education. And sure the government bailed out a lot of corporations. And what if the government gave amnesty to a bunch of illegal immigrants back in the 80’s. What does all that got to do with you? Listen, times have changed. Your better than that. We believe in you. Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. Keep your eye on the ball. Put your nose to the grind stone. Study hard. Then go into heavy debt and live the American dream. Of course, you can always move to China and get a good job there.

Deconstructing Obama In Iowa

2008-01-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

This last week the media was buzzing with the results of Iowa caucuses. Ten months earlier, Rory Steele, a 29 year old former marine, had arrived in the state. He was a man on a mission, sent there to organize the Barack Obama campaign in 21 counties. He did whatever it took. No job was too big nor too small for him. Steele, a friendly guy who can talk with anyone, says, “We don’t give up on people.” On January 3rd his efforts paid off. A New York Times article from back on Nov 26th , entitled In West Iowa, Obama’s Man Thinks Locally, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/us/politics/26organizer.html
reveals how Steele helped organize and lay the foundation that culminated in Obama’s Iowa victory.

This brief article is a whole mini-course in itself. It glimpses Steele’s methodology and is chock full of important lessons that can be applied to our own lives and undertakings. The points below emerge as the article unfolds:

1) Think like a local - anticipate, understand and address people’s needs and concerns
2) Build networks based on person to person contact
3) Listen to people to get their advice and feedback
4) Be a problem solver, but don't be overwhelmed and move forward. Internally depend on divine intervention (Steele admits there are things and situations beyond his control - “I can only control what I can control, or I’d spend all day freaking out.”)
5) Focus on your work at hand
6) Delegate responsibility – empower others
7) Inspire people by your words and actions
8) Acknowledge people’s efforts and contributions
9) Study and understand the philosophy you live by
10) Don’t speak ill of people (you might need their help in the future)
11) Pay attention to community movers and leaders who can help get others involved (warning: this does not imply that those who don’t appear to be “leaders” should be ignored)
12) Take notes and be sure to follow up

Give Happiness A Chance

2007-12-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

All They Are Saying Is Give Happiness A Chance
From The New York Times editorial page:(http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/opinion/12mon4.html);
By EDUARDO PORTERPublished: November 12, 2007

The framers of the Declaration of Independence evidently believed that happiness could be achieved, putting its pursuit up there alongside the unalienable rights to life and liberty. Though governments since then have seen life and liberty as deserving of vigorous protection, for all the public policies aimed at increasing economic growth, people have been left to sort out their happiness.

This is an unfortunate omission. Despite all the wealth we have accumulated — increased life expectancy, central heating, plasma TVs and venti-white-chocolate-mocha Frappuccinos — true happiness has lagged our prosperity. As Bobby Kennedy said in a speech at the University of Kansas in March 1968, the nation’s gross national product measures everything “except that which makes life worthwhile.”

The era of laissez-faire happiness might be coming to an end. Some prominent economists and psychologists are looking into ways to measure happiness to draw it into the public policy realm. Thirty years from now, reducing unhappiness could become another target of policy, like cutting poverty.“This is another outcome that we should be concerned about,” said Alan Krueger, a professor of economics at Princeton who is working to develop a measure of happiness that could be used with other economic indicators. “Just like G.D.P.”It might be a bit of a political challenge to define happiness as a legitimate policy objective. Imagine the Republican outrage when the umpteenth tax cut didn’t do the trick. Democrats would likely slam the effort as regressive, distracting from efforts to improve the lot of the less fortunate by more conventional measures — like income.

Happiness is clearly real, related to objective measures of well-being. Happier people have lower blood pressure and get fewer colds. But using it to guide policy could be tricky. Not least because we don’t quite understand why it behaves the way it does. Men are unhappiest at almost 50, and women at just after 45. Paraplegics are not unhappier than healthy people. People who live with teenagers are the unhappiest of all.Happiness seems fairly cheap to manipulate. In one experiment, subjects were asked to answer a questionnaire about personal satisfaction after Xeroxing a sheet of paper. Those who found a dime lying on the Xerox machine reported substantially higher satisfaction with their lives.

Most disconcerting, happiness seems to have little relation to economic achievement, which we have historically understood as the driver of well-being. A notorious study in 1974 found that despite some 30 years worth of stellar economic growth, Americans were no happier than they were at the end of World War II. A more recent study found that life satisfaction in China declined between 1994 and 2007, a period in which average real incomes grew by 250 percent.Happiness, it appears, adapts. It’s true that the rich are happier, on average, than the poor. But while money boosts happiness, the effect doesn’t last. We just become envious of a new, richer set of people than before. Satisfaction soon settles back to its prior level, as we adapt to changed circumstances and set our expectations to a higher level.

Despite happiness’ apparently Sisyphean nature, there may be ways to increase satisfaction over the long term. While the extra happiness derived from a raise or a winning lottery ticket might be fleeting, studies have found that the happiness people derive from free time or social interaction is less susceptible to comparisons with other people around them. Nonmonetary rewards — like more vacations, or more time with friends or family — are likely to produce more lasting changes in satisfaction.This swings the door wide open for government intervention.

On a small scale, congestion taxes to encourage people to carpool would reduce the distress of the solo morning commute, which apparently drives people nuts.More broadly, if the object of public policy is to maximize society’s well-being, more attention should be placed on fostering social interactions and less on accumulating wealth. If growing incomes are not increasing happiness, perhaps we should tax incomes more to force us to devote less time and energy to the endeavor and focus instead on the more satisfying pursuit of leisure. One thing seems certain, lining up every policy incentive to strive for higher and higher incomes is just going to make us all miserable. Happiness is one of the things that money just can’t buy.

"One whose happiness is within, who is active within, who rejoices within and is illumined within is actually the perfect mystic. He is liberated, and ultimately he attains the Supreme." Bhagavad Gita 5:24

Staying the Course

2007-12-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

In all the world
there is nothing so sublime
as transcendental knowledge.
An enlightened soul,
guided by this knowledge,
moves through time
without being disturbed
by failure nor success,
by happiness nor distress.

London Bridge Is Falling Down, My Fair Lady

2007-11-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

Don’t we just delight in books and movies wherein destruction wreaks havoc in one form or other, be it by nuclear bombs, disease, twisters, volcanic eruptions, giant creatures or alien invaders. If you do, then you’ll love The World Without Us, authored by Alan Weisman. The book is a “what if” account of what would happen to the world if mankind would suddenly disappear.

How long would our cities and achievements last without us around to maintain them? Early on, Weisman describes the disintegration of an ordinary house - damage by water, by wind, by birds and animals. How everything rots and crumbles - the walls, the floors, the windows, the pipes, the roof. It’ll take about 500 years for it all to break down. It looks like he goes through the same thing with New York City (he thinks streets would collapse into the cavernous subway system in as quickly as 20 years).

The book, of course, is also about what we’ve done to the world. How much time would it take for the earth to replenish itself without our constant tampering? What will happen to the vast mounds of garbage we’ve dumped into the ocean, including all that plastic? The air we’ve polluted? The climate? The various species we’ve brought to near extinction? The war zones and nuclear reactors?

Weisman, however, does not touch upon accounts of ancient times which reveal cultures that understood the earth’s natural rhythms. The earth was perceived as a living entity. The wind, the fire, the rivers, the oceans were all personified. All to be honored since, as agents of the Supreme Lord, they supply our needs

Weisman, a veteran journalist, traveled around the world to interview people and check out various sites first hand. His research seems pretty thorough. The World Without Us is sprinkled with all sorts of tidbits of facts and figures. But the thing is, with or without human manipulation, this material world is constantly changing. The book’s most important theme, however, should give us pause. What are we humans struggling so hard to achieve? Why have our appetites run amok, leaving the environment in such turmoil? Is it preventable? What type of legacy will we leave for future generations?

I leave you with a story: Once there was a sage who lived by the banks of the Ganges River. The sage spent much of his time in meditation and he understood the difference between that which is ‘sat’ (eternal) and that which is ‘asat’ (temporary). Now he was destined to live until all the hairs on his body fell off. He is described as a ‘hairy’ sage. And only a single hair fell off during a life time of Brahma (which is millions upon millions of years). So this sage was going to live for an awfully long time. One day he was asked, “Why don’t you build yourself a nice home?” The sage replied, “Why should I bother? I’m only going to be here temporarily.”

Listen, do you wanna know a secret...

2007-07-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Several months back the Times ran an ad for a DVD of the book The Secret. The Secret runs the gamut, being both darling of the New Age and read by Neocons behind closed doors. It's a hot seller with the Walmart crowd. Oprah, on her show, made a big deal about it.I had an occasion to see The Secret video last year. I can only describe it as a testimonial to materialism. The height of Me-ism.

At one point on the video there’s a women standing in front of a jewelry store longingly looking at a necklace displayed in the window. The next minute she’s wearing the necklace. There’s another scene where a kid wants a bike and then you see him happily riding the bicycle. This goes on to a woman being attracted to a man and later she’s walking with him hand in hand.

The Secret views the earth as just one big Kamadhenu cow (a celestial cow that can supply everyone’s desires), as opposed to the paradigm of The Sri Isopanishad which tells us that everything in the world is controlled and owned by the Supreme Lord and that we should only accept what we really need for ourselves and not take anything unnecessarily, knowing well to whom it belongs. There is a delicate balance in nature and we should fulfill our needs and wants with the utmost care. Native American wisdom tells us that we must take into consideration the impact of our actions on the next seven generations.

But The Secret, endorsed by the "good guys," would have us believe that the earth can completely satisfy our every desire and that we can have a fairy tale life wherein all wishes are fulfilled (that may have been the case in the Satya-yuga). The ad in the paper reads that The Secret can give you "...unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth, everything you ever wanted." Yes. It's all yours!!!You have just hit the jackpot, won the lottery, beat out everyone on The Idol, been invited on Oprah, postponed death indefinitely, moved into a new mansion and made a million new close friends. (This sounds better than all the snake oil remedies the quack doctors used to sell in the wild west.)

In these times, however, is it responsible to have a mindset and live a lifestyle advocated by the Secret? This type of unrestricted consumerism is the very mentality that has put us in the precarious situation we’re in today. The Secret doesn’t mention that ultimately we cannot control what happens to us. We can only control our attitude and our intentions. And as the ancients, to live peacefully, we must learn self control, to conquer our greed and anger, to respect all life and the environment we live in, and to offer ourselves in service to the Creator of all things.

One of the appeals of a secret is that people like to be in on something that’s exclusive. The Secret is special, and they are special and their knowing the Secret gives them a special advantage over everybody else. Of course, everybody else is thinking the same thing. Basically, the secret of The Secret is the law of attraction, when you think positive thoughts you get positive results. And when you know this “secret” you can have it all. And to prove that The Secret is bona fide, the narrator in the video (DVD) summons up some of the big movers in history like Jesus, Buddha, Lao-tzu, Confucius, Socrates, Shakespeare, Newton. They all knew The Secret, and that’s what made them so famous, successful and spiritual. I wonder why they didn’t mention Gengis Khan or Rocky Balboa.

Real knowledge is not on how to acquire material things and get a beautiful body, but to understand the distinction between matter and spirit; between what is temporary and what is eternal. “This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting and it is joyfully performed.” Bhagavad Gita 9:2

The Gap

2007-07-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

(In Buddhist teachings a transitional moment from one thought or activity to another is referred to as a gap.)

I am waiting between an apostrophe and a period
Between a glance and a longing
Between a bite and a taste
Between a touch and a response
I am waiting for the elevator doors to close
For the mailman to leave
For a wish to be made
And the candles to be blown out
For the package to be opened
The wrapping to be ripped off and discarded
For the flowers in the meadow to bloom
For the day to begin
For the rains to fall
I am waiting for the silence and the thunder
And perhaps, for the luminous mind
To graciously reveal itself.

Lokonig ta teh Fnie Pirnt

2007-02-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

Fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 % fo lepoe cna. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The paonhmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig ot a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Don't Live the Problem, Live the Solution

2007-02-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

Whose Woods These Are I think I know...

2006-12-13T05:49:00.000-08:00

Rabbi Bogomilsky thought he was making a simple request – to place a eight foot menorah display among the Christmas trees which decorated the international arrival hall at the Seattle Airport. He was hoping that the airport management would be reasonable and have it up in time for Hanukkah which begins this Friday evening. He was even willing to pay for the installation. Instead of putting up the menorah, however, airport officials removed all the Christmas trees. Now the Christians are up in arms and the rabbi’s name is mud.

The Christmas tree was introduced to English high society by Prince Albert who put up an evergreen for the holidays in Windsor Castle in 1841. It had been a pre Christian German symbol, and most Christians at that time abhorred the idea of connecting the tree with Christmas. But within 10 years the fanciful custom took root in England and by the end of the 1800’s it also become an established tradition in America with Woolworths stores selling Christmas tree decorations and all.

But the question is, why did Rabbi Bogomilsky feel slighted by the tree? The evergreen (these however were plastic) and the decorative lights are really universal symbols. The Rabbi, for instance, could have seen the Christmas tree display as the Torah itself, which is referred to as the Tree of Life. The Torah is likened to the branches of a great tree spreading into the sphere of our lives, and it calls upon us to make every act an act for God. Upon seeing the tree, he could have thought, “the airport management has kindly reminded me of my connection with the Torah.”

When Buddhist see the tree, they can be reminded that the Buddha attained enlightenment sitting beneath a tree. At one point in his meditation when he was assailed by raging storms and other strange occurrences, a divine serpent arose from the roots of the Bodhi tree to protect him.

A Hindu mystic implores us to be as tolerant as a tree which patiently endures the rain and cold and heat. The Vedas also explain that one of the most pious and selfless acts is to plant a fruit tree.

Nearly a thousand years ago on this continent, the Peace Maker called for a great council by the shores of Lake Onondaga. There, he carefully uprooted a Pine tree and urged all of the warriors from the gathered tribes to throw their weapons into the hollow of the earth. Then the tree was replanted over the weapons. The tree (the Tree of the Long Leaves) became known as the Tree of Peace. Thus the Great Peace was declared and the five nations of the Iroquois was established.

Symbols of spirituality and peace from whatever tradition can surely be revered by all.

November Election

2006-11-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

The American people have spoken. They have had enough of smear campaign tactics, breaches of ethics, and allegiance to party rather than to country. The public has voted overwhelmingly for politicians to get real with the issues and stop hiding behind slogans and kowtowing to multinational corporations. But it is not a time to rest on our laurels. The pressures and temptations on elected officials from special interest groups often seems too great to resist. If we truly want results from politicians, whether Democrat or Republican, we must keep them on track with a mix of vigilance and support. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Govardhana Hill Celebration

2006-10-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

Today is Govardhana Puja, one of the most cherished holy days in Vrindavan, India. Every culture has its thanksgiving festival. This is only proper. Thousands of years ago, when the residents of Vrindaban were making preparations for their festival, child Krishna inquired from His father Nanda Maharaja about the nature of the event. Nanda Maharaja told Him that it was a traditional sacrifice to King Indra, the bringer of the rain, and this offering was very important since no one could live without rain. But Krishna countered that it was not necessary to worship Indra nor any of the demigods since their powers are actually derived from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krishna went on to question the necessity of the sacrifice because the rain even falls on the oceans and rocky cliffs although Indra is not worshiped there. Krishna explained that the villagers have a closer connection to the forests, pasturing grounds and hills of Vrindaban, and especially Govardhana Hill. Krishna directed the residents to prepare great quantities of delicious foods to distribute freely to everyone and anyone, to chant the Vedic hymns, to decorate the cows, give charity to the brahmanas, and worship Him (and honor the earth) by circumambulating Govardhana Hill (about a twelve mile hike around the hill).

When the residents, at Krishna’s request, redirected the festival to Govardhana Hill, King Indra became indignant. He couldn’t believe that the villagers would take this seemingly insignificant, "talkative child" so seriously. In his anger, Indra sent huge rain clouds to inundate the land and destroy the village of Vrindaban. But Krishna lifted up Govardhana Hill just as easily as a child picks up a mushroom. He held it up with one hand like a huge umbrella, and for seven days and seven nights the villagers and the animals lived quite comfortably underneath the hill, experiencing no hunger or thirst, until finally the rains subsided.

King Indra realized his mistake and soon enough he came to Krishna in a secluded place to offer prayers and beg His forgiveness. Indra admitted that when he was not offered proper respect by the Vrindaban residents, he became overwhelmed by pride and anger. Now, he recognized Krishna as the supreme father, the spiritual master of all living beings. and the very source of the cosmic manifestation. He thanked Krishna for arranging this situation to destroy his pride because pride is a great stumbling block to one’s spiritual life. Krishna explained that His crushing one’s false pride and taking away someone's opulence was actually His special mercy on that person.

During the festival of Govardhana Hill, Krishna declared that anyone who does not engage in Govardhana Puja would not be happy, and indeed, they would be bitten by the poisonous snakes on Govardhana Hill.

Mahabharata & Nuance

2006-08-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

I’ve been working on my rendition of the Mahabharata again for the last month. There are quite a number of Mahabharat’s available in English, starting with Ganguli’s 12 volume translation of the 100,000 verse epic. It was first published serially in 100 parts as Ganguli worked on the book from 1883 to 1896. For me, the writing of Mahabharata has been an on and off relationship for about three years. Trying to figure out where to begin, what to include, and what not to include. Sometimes it’s a problem because the story threads are so detailed and intertwining. The thing about my book is that I want to keep it short, keep the story moving, and tell it in a way that is interesting, comprehensible and of substance for an American readership unfamiliar with the story and the tradition which it espouses.

Last year I came up with a beginning I was excited about. But then I decided to put that at the very end of the book. So then I started to look for a new beginning. I knew it would be a flash back opening – an opening that would start from somewhere within the story and then flash back to the beginning. But from where? I had to find the precise moment. I couldn’t continue with the writing until I found it. For months I toyed with different openings, considering how the story would unfold. In June it happened. And the new opening led me to include sections of the story that I had not planned to include before.

Creativity, and life, is a fascinating organic process - an unfolding – a process of discovery that takes you from one stage to the next. When you can look at the events in your life like that, then it becomes interesting and exciting. Like with a good book or poem, you want to see what happens next. From early on, I saw creativity itself as a spiritual path. Art is a discipline. It’s what you do in the boundaries you set for yourself (or that you find yourself in) - be it a stage, a canvas, a composition, - words, pictures, music, movement, stone, shape, light, color. Cultured life, spiritual life, is about nuance.

What are neighbors for?

2006-08-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

I want to thank my friend and neighbor Madhava Ghosh, (who lives two miles up the road) for encouraging me to reactivate my blog.

I started off with a flurry of posts at the beginning of the year when I...

A short time later, I found myself working feverishly into the night on a new manuscript. I was off to a good start, but then...

Soon after that I was forced to focus on...

I didn't want to stress myself out so I thought I would reduce my writing schedule and go on protracted walks...

When that didn't work out I…

Finally, I spent two exhausting weeks getting ready to attend the National Storytelling Conference in Pittsburgh last month. Fortunately, it was only an hour and a half drive from my home.

Then my friend and neighbor left several messages on my voice mail. He was wondering why there had been no activity on my blog for seven months, (obviously he didn't understand how busy I was) and he encouraged me to begin again.

I didn’t call him back because I lacked the courage to tell him that I had forgotten both the name and password for my blog. I spent several days scrambling to get that info.

Ghosh, Thanks! For not giving up on me.
Check out his blog at: http://walkingthefenceline.blogspot.com/

Krishna Janma

2006-08-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

Janmastami is coming up Aug 16. Many Hindus and followers of the Vedic tradition fast the entire day and look forward to a midnight service commemorating the appearance of Sri Krishna over 5000 years ago. In the Bhagavat Purana, the story of Krishna begins "Once the world was overburdened by the unnecessary military forces of different kings who were actually demons, but were posing themselves as the royal order..." Even Bhumi, the earth goddess, was disturbed by the activities of the demoniac kings.

Krishna's parents did not have an easy time. For years they had been persecuted by wicked King Kamsa. They did not even see Krishna grow up. At Krishna's birth Vasudeva, Krishna's father, risked life and limb, when in the dead of night he carried the newborn child to a nearby village to protect Him from Kamsa's wrath. Kamsa ordered the killing of all the newborn children in the area.

And even as Krishna grew up in the house of Nanda & Yasoda, many dangerous personalities tried to infiltrate the idyllic village of Vrindavan with the plan to kill Krishna and the other children there. Nanda and Yasoda were Krishna's foster parents, and they, as any parents, worried and prayed endlessly that Krishna should be protected from any harm. The Janmastami story is a special story. Krishna's parents and foster parents are the heroes of our story. They went through so much for little Krishna. They had tremendous courage. Every parent can empathize with them, and like them, every parent who raises their child with love and care are heroes.

But to love and protect only our own children is not enough. One cannot claim to be a hero or remain in the Grace of God by using their intelligence to protect one’s own child and at the same time destroy, or even burden, another’s child. This is the greatest darkness.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People on the Path of Transcendence

2006-02-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

1) Mantra: meditation & vibration of sacred sound to effect positive growth and change
2) Sadhu Sanga: meeting together of like minded persons on the sacred path
3) Sacred Space: creating a sanctified atmosphere for your residence and meditation
4) Dharmic Actions: promoting right action and conscious spending
5) Prana: conscious breathing (and conscious eating)
6) Buddhi: understanding the nature of both the temporary and eternal realms
7) Paramatma: recognizing the Lord Within The Heart who resides in the core of all beings as their dearmost friend and benefactor

Standing Before The Inner Life

2006-02-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

There are those who hate as much as they can
because their inner life is devoid of love.

There are those who inflict much suffering upon others
because their inner life is racked with pain

There are those who seize as much wealth as they can
because their inner life is a world of poverty.

There are those who complain as much as they can
because their inner life is filled with confusion.

There are those who rush to crowded places
because their inner life is lonely and dimly lit.

There are those who cannot tolerate the differences of others
because their inner life is a barren landscape.

There are those who must convince as many as they can
because their inner life is filled with uncertainty.

There are those who are afraid of failure
because their inner life is flooded with pride.

There are those who shout as loudly as they can
because they cannot hear God’s gentle whisper.

There are those who do not see the open door
because their inner life is hidden and locked away.

Discover the eternal self
Fear not the face of adversity.

Reject anger, pride and darkness as your ally
Be illumed by the light of the inner life.

From Charlie Brown Comic Strip

2006-01-30T06:11:00.000-08:00

Snoopy is dancing up a storm.
A big smile on his face.
He’s as happy as can be.
Lucy comes along.
She says “You may be happy today,
Doesn’t mean you’ll be happy tomorrow.”
Snoopy ignores her.
He just goes on dancing.
She keeps looking at him unapprovingly,
And then says,
“Happiness isn’t everything, you know,
It will never bring you peace of mind.”

Maybe Death?

2006-01-29T12:56:00.000-08:00

There are several options.
Bicycling,
mountain climbing,
dumster diving,
wearing thermo underwear
to boost your immunity system,
joining the Republican Party.
If you were smart
you should have had them
put in a clause
in your birth certificate
exempting you from death.
But it's too late now.
Maybe death?
I don't think so.

Weather Report

2006-01-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

Snow flurries
The branches are brittle
Nothing is moving anywhere
And the tea kettle in the kitchen
Is calling for my attention.