a "simple" realization

I am responsible for my own happiness. It's not something that anyone can give me. I must generate it myself by cultivating the qualities that lead there.

Let's go on a trip!

"Come on Feel the Noize" by Ukulelezo

This song was one of my favorites of my brief heavy metal phase. I can still headbang with the best of them. Suffice it to say, but this cover just rules. I almost have the chords worked out, and then off to open mike night I go. Ukulelezo epitomizes everything adorkable. In case you were wondering, that is a good thing.

a story of Zen

A man walking across a field encounters a tiger. He fled, the tiger chasing after him. Coming to a cliff, he caught hold of a wild vine and swung himself over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above.Terrified, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger had come, waiting to eat him. Two mice, one white and one black, little by little began to gnaw away at the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine in one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!

"Hey There, Delilah" (SMegofna via YouTube)

I'm always looking for great uke covers. My voice is could be stronger, but I think I could render it like SMegofna. I'm willing to try serenading a special someone at the foot of her balcony.

Why do I meditate?

For several years now, I've adopted meditation as a part of my emotional development. Describing meditation to other, I always call it "defragging my mental hard drive", for it allows me to quiet my mind. Meditation settles my thoughts. Lately, however, I have not been as devoted to it, and that shows. When I am not meditating regularly, I am more on edge. My thought tend to jum around more, and the world seems a bit to hectic. My meditational recommitment has begun slowly again quieting my mind.

Imagine that the mind is a jar filled with water and a fine sand. When the jar is shaken, one has a difficult time separating the sand from the water although one can tell the two are different entities. Meditation stills the jar so that the sand will settle to the bottom. The water is then easily accessible.

I can only imagine how my life would have been if I hadn't adopted meditation several years ago. I thank the Universe for revealing to me this gift.

Namaste.

Daily OM

"Wish You Were Here" --Pink Floyd

I spend a long time playing my guitar this weekend.  It helped me work through some of the mental gunk that's built up recently.  Pink Floyd is one of my favorite groups, and this song really fit my mood.  I love to just grind into this sound with every fiber of my being. It really clears up my mind.

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,

blue skies from pain.

Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?

A smile from a veil?

Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? 

Hot ashes for trees?

Hot air for a cool breeze?

Cold comfort for change?

And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,

Running over the same old ground. 

What have you found? The same old fears.

Wish you were here.

Thought for the Day: Tuesday, 6 April 2010

"I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the Universe." --Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama 

Why am I here today?

I started this blog a few weeks ago to spread a bit of the dharma via my thoughts.  Now I don't claim to be a guru, but the path of the Buddha has helped me through some rough times.  It's not all sunshine and roses, and I know that it doesn't have to be (see what I did there...lol).  Still I try my best to accept each moment as it's handed to me.

The past week or so has presented a few situations I had a difficult time coming to terms with.  I held it together well for a while then...well...not so good.  I am still in the process of building my support structure, and the people I wanted to talk to made themselves unavailable.  In the past that would have bothered me tremendously, but I used them as a lesson in tolerance.  I know I don't have to let those people into my life at a level to hurt me.  I do not have to be completely transparent.  I do have the right to let their negativity pass through rather than hold onto whatever bitterness I may generate.  I am the master of my emotional destiny.  I can accept the negativity that arises inside of me and use it as a teaching tool.

Why am I creating these feelings?
What is the root of those feelings?
What do I gain from feeling this way?  What is my reward?

I am learning to ask myself these questions when I being to feel this way.  I am digging down deep inside myself and reconnecting with my feelings.

It was still a rough weekend, but much self reflection and a few hugs helped out.

The Story of the Jealous Cousin (from jatakkatha.com)

Devadatta was Buddha's first cousin, and was always jealous of him. Buddha had left his home in Kapilavatthu as a young prince. When he became enlightened, he traveled far and wide spreading his teachings. When Buddha visited his home at Kapilavatthu , the Sakyans joined him because they liked what he taught. His jealous cousin, Devadatta, also joined Buddha. He learnt many things from Buddha, and got some magical powers too. But, he always was jealous of Buddha and the way people liked him.

Devadatta was cunning. Once he visited the crown prince of Magadha janpada , Ajatsattu, and showed him his magical powers. Ajatsattu was impressed and started to help him. When Devadatta came back to Kapilavatthu , he spread the word around that he was better than Buddha. But everybody loved Buddha. Devadatta got mad at the people because they did not support him.

Devadatta went back to Magadha and told Ajatsattu to kill his own brother, Bimbisara, and grab the throne. Devadatta wanted Bimbisara killed because he supported Buddha. Devadutta also hired sixteen archers to kill Buddha. But the archers became Buddha's followers when they heard him speak, because he was so nice and pure.

The cunning Devadatta then hurled a huge rock from a mountain when Buddha was walking down the slope. But, magically, two huge rocks came in the way and stopped the hurled rock. Devadatta could not believe what he saw! Devadatta then got a rogue elephant and set it among the people. Everybody screamed and ran away. Buddha calmly kept walking towards the elephant. When the elephant was about to trample a little baby on the street, Buddha touched the elephant on its forehead, which at once cooled down the elephant. The wild animal bowed before Buddha in respect.

People came to know how cunning and mean Devadatta had been. They all ran him out of town.

Moral : Jealousy makes people blind. They have to pay the price, as Devadatta did in the end.

Why I want health care reform?

The health care debate has really hit a nerve of a long-time friend whose daughter's health has caused this debate to be taken somewhat more seriously than for most. Please take a few moments to read her thoughts.

Why I want health care reform?

Everything happens for a reason

One word: serendipity.

Happy St. Patty's Day !!

''Clothes make the man. Naked people have no influence on society.'' --Mark Twain

Thought for the Day: Tuesday, 9 March 2010

''The object of love is not getting something you want but doing something for the well-being of the one you love.'' --''The Five Love Languages''

thinks that missing the bus this morning will give him time to reflect on the coming day. Big things are ahead.

"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou

"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Sacred Friendships

My beloved and I share a very special bond. Having known each other for years, the lessons life has put in our paths has prepared us perfectly for one another. We are older (and supposedly wiser), but we carry with us a growing knowledge of spirit and where that will take us. I look forward to exploring spirit with her and myself more in the future.

Sacred Friendships

Thought for the Day: Sunday, 7 March 2010

When the storms of life inevitably come, remember the calm seas you always possess in your heart. They allow you to calm the storms from the inside out.

Welcome to Adorkable Zen !!

I just restarted a voicemail daily inspiration service and really wanted to have a place online to allow people to further reflect upon what I've said.  I'm not claiming to be some sort of guru, but after going through a real rough patch, I made a conscious decision to stay positive.  It's proven worthwhile to say the least.  

Three times a week I'll post the same inspirational message I've sent out to my voicemail list.  You are always welcome to leave comments.  Discussion is encouraged.

Namaste