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.