kindness

Here's an article about a reaction to being mugged.

Pema Chodron video

Bush Visits Bellevue, WA

Bush Visits Bellevue, WA
Originally uploaded by ~C4Chaos

Found this photo, summs it up for me.

videos of interest

I suppose you have to be in the FWBO or have met Lokabhandu to enjoy this video of his meetings with Bante, but I liked it.

There's also this one by Dhammaloka.

Here's another reminiscence about Bhante.

Here's one on Dhardo Rimpoche by an Indian OM named Siddharth.

And there's more I watched on the history section.

This one is cool.

essay and talk

Srimati wrote an interesting essay on motherhood.

It makes me reflect on my essay. Some said it was a bit negative. I focused on the difficulty of meditating while living a full life, with children. Some people have a very profound heart awakening by becoming a parent. For me the awakening was to how important meditation is for me, and how important meditation is for me to be the open, caring and mindful person I want to be--and yet paradoxically, it's hard to meditate with so many demands. It's a crunch of sorts.

I suppose I'm also into expressing the negative emotions of parenting. Most people have a kind of formulaic positive expression of joy. I have those feelings, but unfortunately they are not dominant in me. I experience many negative emotions as a parent.

But what has emerged is to highlight and heighten my struggles--with patience. I was thinking it the other day--I'm intolerant of my own learning pace, I want to learn more quickly.

Also I'm selfish. I'm used to a lot of free time. And I have very little free time now. That has been a hard adjustment. Accepting circumstances is another theme for me in parenting, a more pragmatic need to be pragmatic.

Anyway, I find parenting by Buddhist fascinating, and obviously a theme of this blog.

Finally, there's a new talk by Bante. I haven't listened to it yet, but I intend to.

Dalit oppression

I forget, in my horrified anxiety, about injustices in the world. Here's an article and friend sent to remind me.

ocean of dharma

I can't vouch for them yet, but I'm going to try out some dharma talks from this site in Western Australia. I found them through a blog that reportedly no longer exists???

Thurmon video

Here's a Bob Thurmon video.

media linking site

Here's an interesting media linking site. It's called Karmacino.

Beasty Boys

Reminsincing about Ajahn Cha

Some reminiscence on Ajahn Cha, by Tan Ajahn Jayasaro on YouTube. From there watch all 12 episodes, each one about 6 minutes.

A lovely new talk

I have an interest in the historical Buddha, even though in a way it's irrelevant to the higher spiritual reach. There's even the suggestion that the Buddha didn't leave his family, that might be mythical. Check the new talk out here.

point seven

Supposedly according to a new poll on religion in America, there are .7% Buddhists in America. Most were converts.

As usual Danny has a good post on it.

The actual survey is here.

solitary retreat

57 e-mails, when I returned.

I had a great retreat, learned many things. I'll try to write more later. Thank you to all the well wishers.

partial book

I haven't read Bodhipaksa's book on Vegetarianism yet, but I bet it's good, and today I discovered he gives much of it away on his blog.

warp speed

My head feels like I've just come out of warp speed when I'm on retreats. Recently my mind/head has begun to feel that increased clarity and space before retreats, as a kind of anticipation. It's really quite amazing that somehow my mind begins to ramp up to a retreat. I'm beginning to get that feeling about the upcoming solitary.

Lots of new details for this retreat. I have to cook for myself instead of the communal cooking, or Dino's wonderful cooking. I determine the program and schedule. I've focused on what books to read. As always, I'm tempted to try to "catch up" on my reading without the kids around. Thank you to Vajramati for talking through some of my preparations.

I really look forward to this experience, but I'm feeling a little guilt and sadness about leaving the family for so long. I'm glad I took another week off to be with them to make up for it.

Fear

I'm going on my first week long solitary retreat. I'm scared. I've never done this before. Hitherto, I've always been on led retreats. Also, I hate leaving my wife and children, that is hard too. I'm also excited and really hope to recharge my spiritual battery.

Another blog to consider

This is an interesting blog, called Zen Habits. I'd describe in the positive thinking self help genera, but it's got some good things to think about. This post here is a good starting point to get a flavor of it.

changes in the heart sutra

Read here to find out the minor changes.

I haven't really fully memorized it yet, I am afraid to admit in public, but this will certainly put a wrench in my efforts. Jeeze, if the translation of the Heart Sutra can't stay the same, what can we count on in life? Just kidding.

speed linking

Bodhipaksa has been blogging more. I like this one.

Danny has a good post of a video of rap, that I think is funny.

Here's another cool video found: KD Lang singing L. Cohen