We are Only Travelers

In Tibetan, the word for body is lu,
which means
"something you leave behind,"
like baggage.

Each time we say lu, it reminds us that
we are only travelers, taking temporary
refuge in this life and this body.

~Sogyal Rinpoche

Of Note: Wisconsin is known for many things such as dairy cows, milk and cheese. It may not be famous for paradigm-shifting neurological research like that carried out at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds in Madison, a new research lab which is studying whether or not meditation can promote compassion and kindness. The Dalai Lama wants to change that and has donated $50,000 to the cause. It all started back in 1992 when the center's founder, Dr. Richard Davidson, met the Dalai Lama in the Himalayas. His Holiness challenged the neuroscientist to use sophisticated imaging tools to investigate things like kindness and compassion. At that point, Dr. Davidson made the promise to do everything he could to "put compassion on the scientific map." Since then, he and his coworkers have hooked electrodes to the heads of meditating Buddhist monks and others. They found that compassion changes brain wave patterns. Next on the agenda is teaching 5th graders meditation skills in order to change "habits of the heart" and measure the results. This is only the beginning, I feel sure, particularly with the support, financial and otherwise, of the Dalai Lama who promotes compassion wherever he goes.

Of Note: I greeted a woman in the Walmart parking lot today with the question: "Isn't it a beautiful day?" She smiled back and said: "Only for a little while." I asked what she meant by that negative sounding remark to which she responded that rain was on the way. Looking around, I couldn't imagine that she was telling the truth. But, by the time I got out of the store a short time later, ominous clouds had rolled in and rain began to fall. Now it's pouring. So much for our sunshiny day. The lake will like the change, however, as it rises day by day. Even though our rainy, cool season continues, downtown Los Angeles clocked a record 113 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday, even if only for a few minutes at midday. This broke the all-time record of 112 degrees set in June 1990.

Love Battling Space and Time

And love will simply have no choice

but to go into battle with space and
time and furthermore to win.

~James Baldwin

Of Note: I was shocked to find out the other day that the United States has an institute devoted to peace. It is called simply United States Institute of Peace and is located in Washington DC, soon right on the mall. According to their website, the USIP is an "independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by Congress in 1984. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and democratic transformation, and increase peacemaking capacity, tools and intellectual capital worldwide." It does all this with only 142 employees. Reading further showed what appeared to be a marginalized "think tank" that is called in during international conflict when the government's hands are tied for one reason or another. Rep. David Kuchinich has suggested that a cabinet-level department be established called the Department of Peace. While that may not be possible at this point in our evolutionary history, using what we already have in the USIP and making its presence known, might be a good start.

Today's Weather Report: Rain overnight has made all the falling leaves soggy. This weather will continue at least for awhile--the lake will say "Thank you for filling me up." All the animals have come in wet and stinky. There is nothing worse than a wet dog to start the morning off right, and our two big bowsers are particularly odiferous. Last week I discovered the local salvage yard which takes recyclable junk and turns it into cash....at 2 to 4 cents a pound, we don't make much but that is not the point. Pickup truck load by pickup truck load, a 15-year old junk pile is being turned into coffee money. By the time this job is completed, only a small pile of refuse will be left for the trash men.

If We Have Lived Before

"If we have lived before," I am often asked,
"why don't we remember it?"

If we cannot remember last Monday,
how on earth do we imagine it would
be easy, or normal, to remember
what we were doing in a previous lifetime.

~Sogyal Rinpoche

Of Note: Rinpoche has a point, doesn't he? Besides, if we've been "one of each" in all those past lifetimes, would we want to remember them all? If we cannot even face our own death in this lifetime, would we want to reminiscence about all the thousands of deaths we had before? What would be the point? Only when there is reason for doing so, will we remember. But for most of us, that is a long time in the future--during another lifetime. Best to make the one we have the best there is.

Today's Weather Report: Happy Sunday with the sun shining and the leaves in a glorious array of fall colors. At 32 degrees Fahrenheit this morning, it was cold. By the looks of it though, the day will get up into the 50's. I will have to saunter down to the lake to see if it came up more after this past week of rain.

Moon on the Mountain Edge

COMING OUT OF DARKNESS
I'M LIKELY TO ENTER
THE DARKER PATH AGAIN.

SHINE FAR ALL OVER,
MOON ON THE MOUNTAIN EDGE.

~A Zen Harvest

Of Note: Education. These days in the United States that is a loaded word, especially with the release this week of the new documentary "Waiting for Superman" by the producer of "An Inconvenient Truth." It purports to show why our nation is lagging behind other developed countries in educational achievement, particularly reading, mathematics and science. Frequently for those in the developing world, education is just a dream. Often, education for girls and women is non-existent and does not even rise to a wish. However, with the push of the Millennium Development Goals, education and gender equality are now a top global priority. It is about time, don't you think? After all, research has recently shown that educating women saves children. For every extra year of education for women, the death rate for children under 5 dropped by almost 10%! In 1970 women ages 18 - 44 had only attended on average two years of school. By 2009, that number had risen to seven years. The lead author of the study, paid for by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, explained: "Investments in education pay off by providing better health for the future. Educating women tend to use health services more and often make better choices on hygiene, nutrition and parenting." Think of a world in which both halves of the population are equally educated. That is a future of which I want to be a part. Care to join me?

Today's Weather Report: It is currently 2 am and drizzling outside. The temperature was hovering at 52 or so degrees Fahrenheit the last time I looked. We had a huge dinner party tonight, and I just finished cleaning up at midnight. This is a twice a year event for 40+ of my husband's friends from the Chicago area. Amazingly, the two dogs mingled like regular guests in the crowd. For two near-puppies, that was quite a feat. The cats wanted no part of it, but one is currently nestled in my lap glad for the return to peace and quiet.

Peace is Not an Absence of War

Peace is not an absence of war.
It is a virtue, a state of mind,
a disposition of benevolence,
confidence, justice.

~Baruch Spinoza

Of Note: Spinoza was on to the something when he stated that peace was not an absence of war. This is where some peace activists go wrong with their rowdy protests. If the word LOVE was substituted for PEACE, we would be getting closest to describing it. If we are love, then we are peace. There would be no need to DO anything as the emanation of love/peace would literally change the environment, and wars would cease. Thus, be love and peace will follow. Be love and justice will prevail. Be love and cooperation will rule. That is our future.

Today's Weather Report: Blustery winds and clouds plus a light sprinkling of rain defines the morning. It must be fall. The leaves on the trees have changed to crimsons and golds overnight it seems. What a beautiful display! Two of the four cats have made peace with the dogs and now just saunter by without either of the pooches even lifting their heads. It's been almost a year--hey, better late than never. If the dogs and cats can do it, maybe the Israelis and Palestinians won't be far behind.

Beauty All the Days of Our Lives

IF WE IGNORE BEAUTY,
WE WILL SOON FIND
OURSELVES WITHOUT IT.

BUT IF WE INVEST IN BEAUTY,
IT WILL REMAIN WITH US
ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

~Frank Lloyd Wright

Of Note: Someday we will see beauty in each person we meet. Our eyes will open to the inherent beauty in each of us when we recognize the soul residing in the heart. Ageless wisdom explains that this beauty is Real and not merely symbolic. Radiant light of multi-hued, scintillating color will be seen pouring forth. Our natural reaction will be joy coupled with a deep sense of responsibility and desire to do whatever it takes to bring everyone else to this level without proselytizing. Even if we cannot imagine beauty of this magnitude, we can begin today by acting AS IF we do. Little by little the world around us will begin to respond to these "make believe" thoughts of beauty. If everyone joined in, the world would never be the same. Then "someday" will become "today" ahead of schedule.

Today's Weather Report: Wow, rain, rain and more rain. The forecast was a 100% chance of rain, really. This morning it only drizzled, but this afternoon we got the full kahuna. A friend and I happened to be in town taking care of errands and got soaked. My raincoat was wet through and through. The dogs were not impressed with the precipitation and hunkered down for the day. Bet the lake responds to this latest addition. One of these days I will announce it is actually full again. Never thought I'd see the day the lake was back up to the original shoreline.

International Day of Peace

THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES
NOT WITH OBSERVATION,
NEITHER SHALL THEY SAY,
LO HERE! OR LO THERE!
FOR BEHOLD THE KINGDOM
OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.

~Luke 17:20-21

Of Note: How many times have we heard this quote from the Bible? The kingdom of God is within us. The kingdom of God is within us. Over and over we listened to these words through the years until the meaning was drained. Just for a minute, then, let's revive the meaning by acting AS IF the words were literally true. What would that be like? How would it feel? How would the world be changed if many KNEW this to be literally true? We can give it a try today at noon when a million people or more will say a prayer for peace at exactly noon for one minute as part of A Million Minutes for Peace, the multi-faith movement mobilizing the power of prayer. If at the same time we are saying a prayer for peace, we visualize the kingdom of God and Peace within us, the power released could be off the charts. That could bode well for the global leaders scrutinizing their next moves in regard to the Millennium Development Goals especially if one or two of them join in as well.

Today's Weather Report: The clouds are coming and going this morning with sunshine streaming through every once in awhile. The promise of a beautiful day is there anyway. Interestingly, it is 53 degrees now and feels balmy. During the summer, the same temp would have felt chilly. That shows us how relative is the "feeling" of temperature.