Thanksgiving USA

"The word tradition stems from the Latin word traditio, which translates to “delivery, surrender, a handing down, a giving up.” Maybe it’s time to realize that surrendering, or letting go, is very much a part of tradition." — Lauren Krauze

Thanksgiving is upon us, and it's a tradition of gathering for a feast. I start Thanksgiving on Tuesday and run through Sunday.

I can't not think about the genocide settlers visited upon the native americans, the various tribes indigenous to the land. That happened, there's genocides going on right now, it's a way humans think to somehow simplify life, and yet it makes it so complicated. We're all just confused simplifiers. What a horrible thing to have your tribe winnowed down and eliminated. I never had a tribe, but I have family and packs of categories I sometimes feel affinity for. I used to think I ran in the tribe of Buddhists, but getting to know them more, not sure it's a unified tribe. I have a local sangha, and they're of mixed quality, all very great people, but my relationships with them are mixed.

It's hard to be proud of who you are, it seems for humans, and not try to force people to be your way. Just enjoy, why proselytize? Why other people?

It's just relationships now for me, at this stage in my life. Everyone has gone away except a few dogged people who hang around. My daughter is very intense, but my sons have disappeared into adulthood. I said school, work and girlfriends and someone emphasized girlfriends. I've been alone for several years now for the first time since I was 16 and could drive. I can see now why bell hooks just focused on friendships.

We don't have rainy season retreats in North America, but for me winter time is a good time to intensify. I mean any time is a good time to intensify, but I'm trying to petal to the metal more mindfully these days, I can skid off the road quite easily. 

I'm oddly grateful to people who are gone, family and friends. I'm grateful for relationships that are dead now, even if the other person isn't dead, we shared a time together, but now not so much. There's so much clinging to relationships, pushing myself to let go if I have to. I'm afraid I'm like the settlers, it's not that healthy to be kind to me, but so many people are kind to me. 

I like my spartan batchelor existence, with minding duties for my daughter. She's really the center of my universe, she's my guru. So kind, thoughtful, soulfull, artistic, expressive, joyful, young and confused. So I'm thankful to be able to be her father. Happy Thanksgiving to you and what you're thankful for. 

She’s a little older now.

She meets her classmate Lucas on the walk to school, and they just run. The running is the play. They run till they have to catch their breath. It's delightful. 

HCR explains Thanksgiving 

I'm thankful.

I am thankful Vajramati came to New York City and taught me meditation, that he remains here to build the sangha here in NYC. I'm thankful to Dhammarati for coming across the pond for GFR retreat. I'm thankful to all the other order members who support the ordination process in the USA. I'm thankful for the order existing, so that I can seek ordination into it. I am thankful to Sangharakshita for founding the order, and all that went into that.

I am thanksful for the teachings, which have been passed on. I am thankful for the sangha which allows me to support others, and supports me in my efforts to close the distance between myself and the Buddha (still a long distance, but getting shorter).

I am thankful for my wife who has not tried to block my spiritual development. Though she dislikes me leaving the family for whatever reason, she negotiates within her level of comfort, and that allows me to go on week long retreats. At times I have not gone on retreat, done things with the sangha. But there is a balance and I am confident that we can continue to negotiate this balance. Of course my wife is more to me than the freedom and sensitivity around the issue of this spiritual path. She is much more to me than that, and for that I am also grateful.

I am thankful to my boys for their spiritual challenges, the way they have exposed areas for growth.

From William's Wonder Years

I am thankful to my family, past, present and future. I am thankful to those who have supported me, allowed me to have the strength to be at the level I am. I am thankful to the level of support I get from the family today, in so many ways. I am thankful for what I expect will be further support, and my being able to support others, in the future. I could go on about specifics, but I won't. It takes more than a village to raise a child, but one village has been my family. I am truly grateful for them, including my in-laws, the family I married into.

I am thankful to all my academic teachers. Teachers in schools are a gift. I thank them all past and present. I am thankful to the government and country which created these fine schools, and sustain them. I am thankful for the school my son's go to, and all the excellent teachers and staff there.

I am thankful to all the medical personnel who have sustained my health.

I am thankful to all my friends throughout my life. I treasure past and present friendships.

I'm thankful for all the people that support my existence. The people who built the co-op I live in, the people who grow, harvest and transport and store my food. The people who sustain the wonderful subway, built roads, all for swift transport. I'm thankful for the amazing technology that allows me to learn more and communicate.

I am grateful for my abilities, including the one to be thankful now.

A Thanksgiving Message

To be honest I haven't really followed what is going on in Burma. But watching this video, I feel the passion for the worthy cause, as Danny Fisher updates us on the situation there. He is thankful for his liberty, which is not a given in Burma. Watch this important message.