meditaton on Words

Found this inspiring. Hope you do as well. it’s excerpt from a reading in one of my classes:

In the moment of Love, When overwhelming compassion flows freely, Its empty nature nakedly appears. May we meditate day and night Inseparable from this unity, the supreme unerring path.

~Mahamudra Aspiration by Karmapa Rangjung Dorje

Life sucks said the Buddha

Now, monks, what is the Noble Truth of suffering? Just this: Birth is suffering, old age is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering.

~Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra~

My paper  that I am writing for First turning class is suffering. But I’m not totally buying that Life is suffering…

The second week of  Buddhist classes  consisted mostly of debates on whether Life is suffering or not. Many of  the students could agree without a doubt that life was indeed suffering. Others had some trouble with the word suffering. And there were the few crazy students who firmly believed that Life is bliss. I was a crazy one of course.

The first problem that arises from the term suffering is the Buddha never said Life is suffering. Of course  the Buddha did not teach in English. The term the sūtras ( Sanskrit)and suttas (Pali) used was duḥkha (s) or dukkha( p). Dukkha is more literally described as a bad axle hole. In other words the Buddha was using imagery of an imperfect wheel. With this more open understanding of  dukkha  we can explore what the Buddha was talking to convey.

Our First Turning teacher had us do an exercise where we gave our own meaning for dukkha and  what the experience of life was. Some of the words we came up with was dissatisfaction, discomfort, uneasy and etc. I offered that the imagery of the wheel give me the impression that life was a bumpy ride. I like thinking of life in this way because it is neither a negative or positive view.  Life is just the roller coaster and it’s up to each of us to decide how this experience will affect us.

I also suggested in another class that perhaps for some Life is suffering will ring truth. On the other hand for people like me it is more appropriate to say that when I  have wrong view of life it is suffering.

Bhikkhus, there is this noble truth of dukkha: birth is dukkha, aging is dukkha, and death is dukkha…

~dhammacakkappavattana sutta~

How we interpret the Buddha’s teaching is colored by our own perception. The Buddha after all  had a different way of expressing his teaching depending on the people he was trying to reach. He clearly knew that we all have different views, strengths and weakness. But the one thing that most humans probably share in common is that we like to avoid unpleasant things. We want to avoid suffering. Of course there are the merry few who attach to suffering and avoid pleasure. Either way, most of us are in the cycle of avoidance.

With this in mind I like to think of  the first noble truth as a wake up call.

“ Look Life is going to suck. So deal with it.”  Perhaps the Buddha was hitting us in the face with the part of life we run from the most. He was showing us that we can not escape it. The bumpy ride will continue so it’s time to get great tires.

What will you do with your Earth hour?

I’ve been slacking on my blogging but what better cause to get me to write than Today being Earth Hour!! Today, people around the world turn off their lights at 8:30 pm ( your time) and vote for the Earth .

What am I going to do with my time in the dark? You guess it! I’m going leave my technology addiction aside as well and Meditate. Probably some Yoga too. Good for the Earth and good for me because I could use a push into quiet time.

What will you do with your hour?

Mentalist vs The witch

*** Slight spoiler alert***

I wanted the witch to just say ,” I know Wiccans are strange but at least I’m not a Voodoo Mind doctor like a Mentalist. Now that would be crazy.”

I swear I wasn’t going to mock The Mentalist if they stayed away from using the term, ” Wicca.” If only the made the character some vague Magickal practitioner. But they had to throw Wicca’s name around as if it gave them credibility. Instead, they only proved that they can’t even bother going to Wikipedia for research.

I don’t want to waste too much time ranting about this. After all it is just a tv show. They are allowed to be as ridiculous, ignorant and unrealistic as they please.

But if they cared anything about accuracy and respect for people’s religions they would have not made these little mistakes…

1. A Pentacle does not represent Black magick ( I will save my bitching on the terms black and white magick for another day). Pentacle is a symbol of the earth and used mostly as Protection or to invoke powers of the earth. It also represents the four elements and spirit.

2. The confusion of Satanism and Wicca. If they want a Satanist make the character a Satanist. Why insult two groups by misrepresenting us? American Satanists ( from what I understand) are a rejection of Christianity and religion(rarely are they as crazy as tv portrays them either). Wiccans are Modern practitioners of *PRE* Christian beliefs. That Pre is important. We don’t worship Satan because Satan is a Christian symbol.

3. Killing spells and Negative Magick are not practiced by Wiccans. Our first law is harm none. I can’t understand why tv shows and movies don’t use magickal religions that do allow hexs. Why do they always pick us?

4. We are not all mentally disturbed.  Wicca attracts the wounded, the curious and all types of people.

5. We aren’t all nerds in cloaks ( actually words from the show). I maybe a nerd. But I don’t wear a cloak damnit!!

With that said, I will still watch the mentalist. Forgive them for they know not what they do.  Plus, it is just a show.

Meditation goal 2: Love & Acceptation | 12seconds.tv (beta)

more about “Meditation goal 2: Love & Acceptation…“, posted with vodpod

If I had to describe meditation in two words it would be Love and Acceptance. There are a various amount of topics, emotions, desires and so fourth one can meditate on to get to full clarity. No matter the meditation practice it’s leading to the same place.  That place is accepting the world as is and Loving all that it entails.

The Tao te Ching states:

See the world as your self.

Have faith in the way things are

Love the world as your self;

than you can care for all things.

Yet, there are plenty of things and people in my life  I can’t Love as if they were myself. At the moment there are so many elements of my Life especially my job status and living arraignment that are hard to accept. As usual I don’t have any answers but I recall a tip that my mentor shared once.

I have no clue if he got this from someone else but he suggested when things are tough say, ” This is my Life.”  It’s great advice because no matter how much you want to run away from the present… The present moment is your life.

Even do it with people. When your mother is driving you nuts and you are wishing you were adopted say ” My mother is my life.” See how this changes how you feel about and deal with different people and situations.

It is a hard fight to accept the world as it is but the benefit is you don’t waste any of your life in denial or filled with hatred. Every moment, Every challenge, Every person, every success and every failure is your life.

Clip from: My 12seconds videos page

Fighting with Father time

Don’t waste time… Live like it is your last day because it could be . This is all great advice but the flipside is you should not spend your life feeling like you are running out of time.

I am 29. If I don’t get married by the time I am thirty like I planned when I was ten years old, I am a failure.

I am 35. I will never be a broadway performer/write that novel (inset your dream) now.

I am 75. I should give up on all my plans. I can’t never finish them now.

Sure, you should embrace the shadow of time and death but with the knowledge that what is meant to be will be. I think that Americans live in denial that death can come at anytime. Yet, I also believe in miracles which can come at anytime to anyone. But the universe likes to give those miracles to the ones who work the hardest and believe in themselves.

So Please stop using time as an excuse. Take for example August Wilson who died after his last works. My Playwright teacher thought it was sad that he died when he had so much more to offer. I took it as of sign of faith. To me it was a sign that his last play was meant to be. He was not about to be taken from this life until his work is finished.

Have the faith that the universe has a plan for you and you will not be finished here until it is done.

On an less hopeful and mystical note, even if you don’t finish that lifelong goal. Living is about the adventure and the journey. If you spend your life pursuing the things that make you feel most alive than that is happiness. Doesn’t matter if you achieve them all or none, there is joy in doing your best.

Famous late Bloomers

Being a Long distant Love swan…

I was writing this for my other blog but since I believe Love is  mystical and magical I decided to crosspost it… ( hope u find it useful)

So you met on Second life, Wow, Match.com, Scary black planet or a random chat room while you were searching for teenagers ( hoping not to get caught by dateline)…
You are in love now and spending all your online time together. One day you will be living together or maybe married and happily ever after.
But in the meantime when you are miles or maybe even oceans apart how do you keep the love alive?

By taking advantage of that same great technology that brought you together. If you want to keep your Love life fun and exciting even from a distant try using simple communication tools in new ways.

Tools of Trade :

1. Cellphone: Yeah, yeah you can talk to you mate for hours on end. But there is so much more that little device can offer.

Texts: Communication is a big deal in Long distant relationships. If you far apart all you got is talking. But sometimes you don’t have endless things to say and that awkward pause on the other end can be uncomfortable for even the most talkative couples.

I like texts because you text when you got something to say or to respond. There is no pressure to keep the conversation going. Plus, it’s great for making your mate a part of your day. You can text at a work break, while eating or at other times when it would be hard to talk. If it’s done right you can make the receiver feel like they spent the day with you.

Tip: Heard that idea about leaving a posted note for your lover? Sending them short love texts work even better. If your mate shuts their phone off at night. A good trick is texting them when you know they are asleep or won’t hear it. Then they awake up with a cute surprise waiting!

Media Messages: If you want to keep your lover’s face burnt into your memory after months apart then cell cam/video and webcam are your friends. Cell media/pictures are useful for quick and anywhere/whenever shoots.

Tip: Send a picture or video clip everyday or few times a week. Go ahead be creativity and fun with them. Perhaps send a picture of the day showing your current mood. Be silly, be fun, be romantic and yes there ain’t nothing wrong with sexy shots.

2.Emails: With all the new and cool communication tools. Emails between mates are probably rare and seem kind of silly. If you talking and texting everyday why send a email? Because they are rare!! If I get an email from my mate, I am going to be curious and anxious to see what he sent.

Tip: I have always used emails as a way to say the things I might be to shy to say face to face or on the phone. Send an email when you want to say those romantic things that are hard for you. Send a email when you have something naughty but scary to say. They are also great for when you need to apologize or explain why you are upset/mad/sad or hurt to your mate. They are great tools to express the hard or embarrassing emotions.

3. Webcam/ims: For the long conversations…

Tip: Im while watching the same television show or movie ( again making it seem you both are in the same room). Be creative with your webcams…you can eat together on cam like in the movies and you can even leave it on while you fall asleep.

4.Join social networks together: Whether it is twitter, plurk, second life or etc if you add a few common friends then you create the *feeling* that you have a shared community. This comes in handy when your other friends say ” Why are you in that long distant relationship?” Your social networks friends will know both of you and will be the ones who tell you , ” You two are great together. So and so just doesn’t get it.” Plus, shared friends give you more to talk about and creates a stronger bond.

Scientists discover true love: Couple swans

Active Meditation…

I just finished a novel writing contest on the 1st. That’s mainly the reason why I hadn’t much time for blogging. I still have not recovered for the sore  wrist and fingers from having to write a novel in a month.

But I wanted to write a quick post raving about the benefits of writing and similar hobbies. Writing is really meditation in motion. When I was writing I was not able to think about other things. Even if I was stressing about a line or scene at the very least my mind was only on the page.

Sure, there were moments when I drifted off but then I would have to stop writing. I could not do both a the same time. It was a honesty check…If Iwasn’t in the moment ( or in the story) it was obvious. I had to let go of the other thoughts and return to the page.

This is also true of other hobbies I have like working in gimp ( like photoshop). When I am working on some small design detail everything else in the world disappears.

So, I suggest If you don’t already have one.. Find an interest that feels like active meditation to you.

Renewed Faith in the Land of Liberty!!

I got  to admit that I am one of those evil cynical people who have refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Who never really care about independence day.  But in my defense, I am also the kind of person who can’t stand  Bullshit hypocrisy. I guess I never thought that our country really believed that we are all created equal.  After all, I have dealt with being only one of three black students at a school and dealt with ignorant teachers.  I have gone to college where students were so uncomfortable with blacks students that Nigger was written on the sidewalk and on a classroom board. A college town where a student was beat up on his way to his girlfriend’s house because he looked gay. I have been spit on by a white boyfriend’s little brother . I’ve dealt with weird stares and unhappy parents because I have dated white men. And much more…

So,  often I have not felt too happy to be an American. Cause sometimes it’s hard to feel like America even wants you if you look like me.

But today… Though I swear I never voted for Our President elect because he is black. I voted for him because his policies fit my views. Still, today I felt like an American not an African American.

Today, I see that the majority of us know that Race is the biggest BS.  Skin color doesn’t make us different.. we are all Americans, we are All humans beings. And we know we must take care of our nation and each other.  I hope people heard  Obama when he said ” I will be your president,” to those who didn’t vote for him. I hope that  we’ll stop being black, white & brown America or red or blue and be the * United* States

Today, I understand  the meaning of being patriotic. Maybe now I can hold my hand to my heart to  say the pledge or sing our anthemn. Maybe now I can believe this is a place of freedom and liberty for all.

Pray the stress away?

For the last few days, I’ve been pretty stress out. Mainly due to my dog ( who I have had for almost eleven years) being very sick. The problem with a situation like this is  there isn’t much you can do. You feel that  you are the protector of your companion. You should be protecting him from this illness. But when my dog, Mikey first became  ill there was nothing I could do but wait to get him to the vet. And now all I can do is take care of him, hope and wait for him to get better.

Ok, that’s impossible. To just let go and let fate handle it.  Instead, I have been watching him like  hawk and freaking out about any sign of him not getting better. All that has accomplished is me sleeping and eating less and making myself sick with anxiousness.

The only thing that has helped is doing alot of praying. I have meditated, prayed and even done some healing over him. It’s really all I can do to feel productive. On one hand it makes me feel like I am doing something. On the other hand, I am putting the situation in the hands on my guides, his guides and the Gods.  Yes, I am still a bit stressed. But I just keep breathing and praying and a little bit of the worry is eased ( if only temporary. It’s a needed break)… Whether it works or not, if  we have a serious situation that we can’t ourselves fix praying or giving the problem up to the universe can give a little peace of mind.