The End

Namaste.

...so now what...

Namaste.

So here we are. In Six months we have discussed so much.

Anger, Love, Compassion, Control, Patience, Grief, Change and so much much more...

What do we do now?

We practice. We never stop because WE are the project. We are the Love and Light. We are the changes we want to see in Our World.

Be the Light in Your World.


The End...(which as we all know...it just another beginning)

Enlightenment

My favorite Zen to do list came from an obscure author.
It looked like this:

To Do:

1. Think About Life.

2. Enlightenment.

3. Feed The Cat.


or as Buddha once remarked

"Before Enlightenment...Carry water and Chop wood. After Enlightenment...Also Carry water and Chop wood."

Enlightenment is not the destination. It isn't "where we are going"...it is the Beginning and The End. The moment you realize it is a Circle, this life.

Christians talk a lot about rebirth or being reborn.

Enlightenment is also a rebirth of sorts. When you realize the oneness...and acknowledge that you are part of it. That life isn't a singular epiphany...but a series of daily epiphanies. That life isn't linear...but circular.

That each new day you are reborn.

That every moment is a gift.

That every person who has ever passed through your life was important. Either in the love they gave...the lessons they taught...or the memories they left.

That you are enough. 


That we are all Buddhas.


(...now go feed the cat...)



(((hugs)))

Carla


 

Mantra

                                                       "Lost"

This Too Shall Pass...

And it will. It does. The sun rises again and so do we.

Sometimes...just like the old saying...when you are up to your ass in alligators i is hard to remember you are there to drain the swamp.


 But it is vital to remember that this moment...no matter how painful...how chaotic...how hectic...how disorienting or maddening. This moment is just a MOMENT...and it will pass.

They ALL do.

Perhaps my most useful mantra is "Breathe"

Sometimes my mantra is "Well...this sucks." (...maybe, sometimes, that is your mantra, too...)

Mantras are important. They are a way of reminding ourselves. Centering ourselves. Some have a single one. Others, myself included, have many...sometimes a daily mantra. A way to focus on the important...the real...the necessary...the positive.

What is your mantra today?

(...it's early yet...I think mine might be coffee...)




Sending Love and Light,
Carla
 

Perspective

Most of us are sitting in air-conditioned surroundings, with a sturdy roof above us...sturdy walls around us...wall-to-wall carpeting...a refrigerator with good food and drinks...and ice at our fingertips...in the pantry is surplus food...dry goods...when we turn a faucet hot or cold water gushes forth. A flip of a switch illuminates our surrounding...brings us music...or the Internet...or heats our food instantly. We have closets of clothing...requiring only the effort it took to choose them...drawers filled to bursting...routinely clear our clutter into a box and take it to Goodwill or donate it.  There are medications to cure us. FDA and EPA to assure our food/drugs/air/water is not toxic. We can post a letter from anywhere in the United States and it arrives in California about 3 business days later. The process costs less that 50 cents. Our elderly can present a Medicare card at the doctor and 80% (sometimes more) of the bill is covered. The poorest of the poor in this country qualify and receive Medicaid/Food EBT so that they (and often their children do not go without food) We have numerous food pantries and even dry good essentials (diapers/cleaning supplies) to assist those who are truly in need.  We can order almost anything online and delivered to our door. We can set up travel arrangements, pay bills, book a hotel, or entertainment with a click of a mouse. Most of us have landlines and cell phones and we can contact one another in a blink of an eye. If we have an emergency we can dial 911 and help is on the way. Daily our scientists and research teams diligently work to find cures for disease...and ways to enhance our lives through gadgets and invention.
We have access to instant news from across the globe or down the street. We have access to almost infinite information digitally. With webcams and Skype we can see others (or places or events) we might never have seen otherwise in our lives. Many of us live in a Country where we are free to peacefully assemble...where we have the freedom of speech to criticize our leaders without being shot...where we can vote to retain or replace our Presidents/Congressmen/Representatives.    And the lists goes on and on and on...

Now...explain to me again why life is so terrible and we are all going to hell in a hand-basket?

Relief

With the first soft pattering sounds outside, I dropped the manuscript I was proofing and walked straight outside to sit on the crisp scorched grass. Let the raindrops collect in my hair...mist my face. Breathing deeply to capture all the smells.

Almost 50 days since our last drop of rain.

Although faithfully watering the flowers, herbs and baskets I planted in Spring...the rest of the surrounding area had turned first tan...then straw...and at last the colorless crispness of drought conditions.

Isn't it strange that we tend to take little events like a summer rain for granted...until we don't have one for almost 2 months. 

Oh sure...the first week of picture perfect blue sky sunless days we smile and soak up the sun. Then weeks pass. Temperatures rise. Basking is nice, if abbreviated...and we watch the skies for rainclouds. But today we sit in the delicious rainfall and the wetness revitalizes our soul...promises to bring back the grass...spare us the task of hauling water...and the smells...mud...earthworms...puddles.  The frogs dance in Hostas beside the pond.

And the sigh...is relief!

  

Moments

                    "We Do Not Remember Days...We Remember Moments"   
                                                                              Cesare Pavese



In our lifetime we can count on 35,536,100 seconds each year.  An average lifespan of 80 years gives us 2,522,880,000 seconds.

Some get more.

Some get less.

We use a full third of those seconds sleeping life away.

We spend another third working or pursuing the day to day tasks of living.
 Cleaning the house or buy the groceries and such...the day to day.

These are not the moments remembered.

There is a glorious 1/3 remaining.

The First Kiss.

A Moonlight Embrace.

The Taste of Grandpa's Homemade Ice Cream or Grandma's Cobbler

The First Sight Of The Ocean.

A Lover's Smile or Words.

The Smell of His or Her Cologne.

Walking in a new snowfall.

A Grandchild's hug. 
 
A Kiss in the Rain.

The first gaze on the face of your Newborn.

A Cold Glass of Tea after Putting up Hay.

A Walk through a meadow strewn with wildflowers and a wildflower bouquet.

And the list is endless. These are our memories...our moments...

This morning as I was leaving in the 100 degree heat...my eye caught the sight of a tiny hummingbird "playing" in the shell-arc droplets of a sprinkler. 

Another Moment frozen in time.

Life is short.

Watch for Your Moments :)