Happy Birthday Ayn Rand

February 2, 1905    -   March 6, 1982

Or Current Resident

You ever get a piece of mail addressed to you or current resident?

 

I get them from the pizza joint, the muffler shop and other places of which I have no authentic connection. Having never shopped or telephoned these places I never feel one way or the other when their ambiguously addressed mail arrives.

 

If I’m interested I keep it, if I’m not I pitch it. Recently, me and or current resident, got a mailer from the local YMCA, encouraging us to join now while there’s $0 enrollment fee. In the spirit of all things New Year’s Resolutionee, my best refrigerator magnet is keeping that mailer right up on my fridge where, I can see it!  (BTW – it’s now day 4, how are you doing with all your resolutions? – Yeah, me too.)

 

But this time I got a piece of ambiguously addressed mail that made me notice my shenpa – to use a Tibetan Buddhist term for that tiny little feeling you get just before you get the big full blown feeling. Ok, no it didn’t, it just plain ole’ made me say out loud, “Oh, ain’t this a bitch?”

 

The mail was from my friends at the Chopra Center in Carlsbad California. Ok, they are not my personal friends, but I do have an authentic connection with them.

 

The connection started rather impersonally; online, by me clicking around their website, then signing up for their monthly E-Newsletter. Soon I expressed interest in some of their programs and quicker than I could say lotus flower one of their staff (Gabrielle) was contacting me by telephone to discuss the programs in detail. From time to time I’d get a friendly call from Gabrielle, letting me know about new programs or events at the Chopra Center. The calls were always pleasant with greetings of well wishes and goodbyes of namaste’.

 

They even sent me (just me, not me and “or current resident”) big beautiful colorful calendars at the end of each year at no cost. One year along with the calendar, they also included a lovely “silence please I’m meditating” sign I could hang from a doorknob. FREE. This is what I’d call an authentic connection.

 

How nice of them, I always thought. I had never been one of their big-ticket customers. I have yet to attend one of their $3000 or $4000 programs and my purchase history contains a couple of CD’s or audio books, a box of sandalwood incense and a T-Shirt. Yet, they made me feel like I was special to them – me, special, just because I am scared. Each year their gifts of kindness helped to heal my heart, from the injuries it had sustained making it to the end of 365 more days.

 

However, today the “Or Current Resident” thing has made me feel like the fine folks at the Chopra Center are now more interested in selling programs, to who ever answers the mailbox, than they are interested in summoning the scared and healing the heart – which are also the names of two of their popular pricey programs. 

 

Or Current Resident wasn’t home so I opened the mailer. It was a program catalogue offering discount rates on programs booked before 2011 ended. There was a note on the cover to: Look inside for your mind and body gift! I thought, damn that’s got to be one tiny ass calendar this year… but instead there was the offer to redeem a gift calendar and inspirational mantra CD (a $30 value, they let me know) by going online (funny, it’s where the impersonal connection became personal goes impersonal again) completing the delivery information, (Duh! Wouldn’t the delivery information be the same address where me and or current resident live?) and PAYING $5 for shipping and handling!

 

LOL! No, seriously, I am laughing out loud as I wonder how many of you gave holiday gifts, but first told the recipients how much the gift would have cost had they purchased it themselves then made them pay you for the shipping and handling before you sent it? LOL! And WTF is handling anyway? How can you ship something you don’t handle? Gimme a break. If you want me to buy something just tell me – don’t go around charging me for it (even if you’re only charging me $5) while calling it a fugging gift!

 

Deepak, I still dig you but here’s where if were actually friends you would be asking me, “Is something wrong? Did I do something?” Come to think of it, you might ask, “Is something wrong?” But I doubt you would ever ask, “Did I do something?”

 

Namaste’

 

Speaking of Fortune Cookies…

Who remembers this 10-year-old gem of a CD by Alana Davis, titled “Fortune Cookies”? What ever happened to her?

 

The first track and the last two tracks were my favorites, Track #1 – Save The Day, this song sets the tone for the CD and is an anthem for anyone’s heart. Track # 10  – “Got This Far”, makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a reggae club on an acoustic guitar and Track #11 – “Easy to Love”, sweetly sings about how every woman thinks she is – easy to love, though we rarely are.

If you have this CD in your collection dig it up. It’s worth a re-listen. If you don’t have it, order it – yes, I said order it – none of that download schmoundload business! Get the actual CD (compact disk, remember those?) so you can hold it in your hands, read the song lyrics and smile when you see all the cute pictures of Chinese chachkies they collected for the artwork. Buddhas with bellies and bells, oh my!

Learning to Stay Present

It’s day 2 – so howya’ doin’?

 

Did you exercise this morning? Have you stopped smoking? Ya keeping the hops and barley out of the 8 glasses of water you swore to drink each day? Did you max out your credit card on online post holiday sales? Finally figure out how to get even with the bastards who did you wrong?

 

There are no right or wrong answers – I’m just asking.

 

Learning to stay present is the key, which unlocks the doors to silencing all cravings.

Be they cravings for binge eating, cravings for drugs and alcohol, cravings to overspend

or the craving to kick the living sh*t outta someone who you can logically justify really deserving it.

 

It’s that icky-sticky-itchy feeling that makes us uneasy and restless and unable to relax, without getting a cigarette or getting a sandwich or getting a new pair of shoes or getting on a plane for a new experience or getting on the nerves of a patient listener by complaining about AIR – VAH – REE – THING! The food the, the drink, the shopping, the bitching are all ways we try to scratch those dastardly itches.

 

Funny thing about itches, if I may parphrase Pema Chodron, from her Getting Unstuck teaching (even literal itches, you know like when you just get a manicure and the second the top coat goes on, your back or your foot or your scalp or your ass itches like if you don’t scratch it you will die – or when you sit in stillness to meditate or quiet your mind; it feels like a fly has landed on your nose but of course there is no fly) if you can sit with them long enough – just SIT with them – acknowledge them while not labeling them good or bad – but just sit with them WITHOUT scratching, eventually they go away.

 

Now I didn’t say it was easy, if so, we’d all be doing it; to the contrary it’s one of the most difficult things you will ever atempt, but as we considered on day 1 – if you wish to, you will have an opportunity.

 

 

New Year’s unResolution

I selected a fortune cookie, from my leftover December 25^th Chinese take-out feast, and decided whatever it said would be my only “resolution” for 2012.

 

Expecting to crack my cookie and resolve to “travel to new and distant places”, “find a great jewel on the waterfront”, “meet a mysterious stranger (not Mark Twain)” or some other wistful abstract that would relieve me of the customary but temporary races to drop a dress size, pick up more money, watch less TV, publish all (3) books I’ve been writing for the last several years, meditate a gabillion hours each day (or even 1 full hour each day); I was ready for a fake fantasy approach to the proverbial New Year’s fresh start.

 

(Cue: drum roll, please)

Here’s what my fortune cookie said: If you wish to, you will have an opportunity.

 

LOL! What a jip! IF I WISH TO, I WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY…? Well, duh! Who doesn’t wish to have an opportunity? Damn, I wanted to rip open another cookie, but I thought, no, let’s see where I can take this instead.

 

Isn’t everything an opportunity? And how many opportunities seem to go poof and disappear in a puff of smoke? How many of us, how many times have gotten stuck right here, in the wishing to? Isn’t that the fuel behind the whole New Year’s resolution scam in the first place?

 

Accepting my fortune cookie’s message, I most certainly do wish to get unstuck – so I’ve decided to enlist the help of American Buddhist Nun Pema Chodron ,with her audio disk set, “Getting Unstuck: Breaking Your Habitual Patterns & Encountering Naked Reality.”

 

Since I already own the box set I guess I do have an opportunity for my “wish to”… and what if those numbers at the bottom of the fortune are really good lotto numbers? Humm…maybe it was a good fortune cookie after all.

 

 

Auld Lange Syne

My first memory of the song “Auld Lange Syne” was circa New Year’s Eve 1969-70, in front of the black and white television with my Grandmother and Guy Lombardo.

 

It was the first time I ever saw Granny cry.

She was a tough feisty broad who NEVER cried.

She told me, “That song always makes me cry.”

 

When I asked why, she explained the song was about endings and beginnings, about friendship and days gone by. Instantly I cried too, even though I was barely in Kindergarten.

 

Auld Lange Syne still makes me cry, especially now that I can appreciate the lyrics, having now had many endings, many beginnings and many, many pints!

 

So here’s to you, my old acquaintances who will no doubt be fugging up the lyrics round midnight. And in case you were wondering, Auld Lange Syne translates to “Old Long Since” or “Long Long Ago” or “Days Gone By”.

 

Auld Lang Syne

Composed by Scottish poet Robert Burns 1788

 

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne?

 

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!

And surely I’ll buy mine!

And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

 

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daises fine;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

 

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

 

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!

And give us a hand o’thine!

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!!!

 

Buddhists Celebrate Kwanzaa

Yup, they do, all the time.

The 7 principles of Kwanzaa, celebrated during the 7 days between December 26^th and January 1^st bare striking resemblances to some basic Buddhist ideals.

Check it out…

The 1^st day of Kwanzaa, celebrates the principle of UMOJA (pronounced oo-moe-jah), which translates from Swahili to the word UNITY.

Umoja or unity represents a commitment to the ideal of togetherness. It is the foundation principle of the Kwanzaa celebration.

Umoja can be compared to one of the 3 Jewels of Buddhism – The Sangha.

The other 2 of the 3 Jewels are the Buddha and the Dharma, of course. Without Umoja/Unity neither the family nor the sangha can survive. * Just for the Nichiren-ites when most Buddhists say “The 3 Jewels”, it’s what you think mean when you say “The 3 Secret Laws”…sorta, cuz what you actually mean is the Gohonzon, the Diamoku and the place where the Dia-Gohonzon is enshrined; which has absolutely nothing to do with the Buddha, his teachings (the Dharma) and the community of believers (the Sangha) – sigh…and just thinking about that drains all the Umoja right out of me which is the reason to hold fast to the 2^nd principle of Kwanzaa…

The 2^nd day of Kwanzaa, celebrates the principle of KUJICHAGULIA (pronounced coo-gee-cha-goo-lee-ah) and translates to SELF- DETERMINATION. This principle promotes the idea of taking responsibility for ourselves rather than seeking outside of ourselves, as in a “savior” or a “scroll” to rescue us. If we are to achieve our goals, be they world peace or the rent check, we must take responsibility for that achievement upon ourselves. Self-determination is the essence of freedom – freedom is the essence of enlightenment.

The 3^rd day of Kwanzaa, celebrates the principle of UJIMA (pronounced oo-gee-mah) and translates to COLLECTIVE WORK and RESPONSIBILITY.

Individuals working together to build and maintain community, is the same idea of seeking refuge within the sangha. Collective work and struggle are elements of progress.

The 4^th day of Kwanzaa, celebrates the principle of UJAMMA (pronounced oo-jah-mah), which translates to COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS. The concept of “African Communal Living” where wealth and resources were shared is the basis of this principle. We profit as we build our economic strength and become able to give back to our community. Taking refuge in the sangha is lovely, and when the sangha has candles, incense, food and toilet paper it’s even better!

The 5^th day of Kwanzaa, celebrates the principle of NIA (pronounced nee-ah), which translates to PURPOSE. Taking time to determine and identify the purpose behind all projects undertaken will eventually result in positive achievements. Said another way, “what determines the cause will determine the effect.”

The 6^th day of Kwanzaa, celebrates the principle of KUUMBA (pronounced koo-m-bah), which translates to CREATIVITY. Creativity should be encouraged. By building and developing the creative power within us we grow as individuals. Be it through poetry or koans, song or chanting, dance or mudras, sitting zazen or blogging our creative efforts make our practice more beautiful and more beneficial than we inherited.

The 7^th and final day of Kwanzaa, celebrates the principle of IMANI (pronounced e-mahn-e), which translates to FAITH. Duh!

Imani represents our belief in ourselves as individuals as a whole. It requires commitment. We must believe within our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, and our leaders and through our faith, we can gain the ability and recognize our right to control our own destiny. This sounds a lot like, The Eightfold Noble Path.

Celebrate Kwanzaa today, tomorrow and always. You will be a much better Buddhist when you do.

Q: Habari Gani? (What’s the news?)

A: Namaste’ (The light in me bows to the light in you)

*Kwanzaa was founded in 1966, by Dr. Maulana Karenga, as a way for people of African descent to reflect upon culture and values that emphasize family and community. Special thanks to DEJA’s contribution from Then and Now Reflections on Yesterday©1995 for the information in this post.

Written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,

and to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,

no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,

and on the wall pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,

a sobering thought came to my mind.

For this house was different, so dark and so dreary,

the home of a soldier, now I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone.

Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,

not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?

Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,

owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,

and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,

because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,

on a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,

“Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,

my life is my God, my country, my corps.”

The soldier rolled over and soon drifted to sleep,

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,

and we both shivered from the cold evening’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark, night,

this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,

whispered, “carry on Santa, it’s Christmas day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.

“Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.”

Old Wives Tell Us

Recently I got to over hear some young people talking. It boggled my mind.

Yes, they are the techno generation and they know all there is to know, about all things digital. They Facebook and iPhone and Wii but simple common sense things that I learned, not even really knowing how I learned them, these techno savvy nincompoops simply have no working clue about why they are important.

Here are a bakers’s dozen of good to know things some oldwives told me. By the way, a dozen is 12 and a baker’s dozen is 13.

1. Mixing ammonia and bleach will create caustic fumes always every time regardless of how small the amounts.

2. Irregardless is not a word. The word is regardless, regardless of however you mean it.

3. Never touch electrical things with wet hands.

4. Thanksgiving is observed on the 4^th Thursday every November.

(I heard someone genuinely say, “Well since Thanksgiving fell on a Thursday this year…”dumbass) Now, Easter is a little trickier and moves around from year to year based on the Spring Equinox and the full moon before it, but I can promise you this, IT WILL ALWAYS BE ON A SUNDAY!

5. And speaking of Equinoxes and such, the Winter Solstice or the 1^st day of winter has the shortest daylight of the year – the very next day, the daylight begins to lengthen minute by minute. Think about it, Spring is starting to come even before Christmas!

6. The Underground Railroad had nothing to do with TRAINS!

7. When you get a pimple on your tongue you probably need a laxative.

(Sadly, when this happens now, you probably need an HIV test)

8. Never eat oysters during a month not containing an R in the spelling (May, June, July, and August) I thought this was stupid until I ordered fried oysters one July day. I was baffled by how puny and flavorless they were and I was pissed by how my stomach griped. I later found out it has something to do with their spawning period making the months September, October, November, December, January, February, March and April best for their consumption. Of course Granny didn’t know all of that, she just knew eat the little buggers in a month without an R and your stomach will ROARRRRRRRR!

9. Send Thank You cards – not emails or text messages, but real cards in your own handwriting with a stamp in a timely manner.

10. Use the emergency brake when parking on a hill and be sure to take it off when you are done – if you don’t the car will still drive but it will drive jerky and fugg up your brakes.

11. When jumping a car battery, after you’ve attached the cables to the good battery don’t let the cables touch, it’s kinda like touching electrical things with wet hands. Don’t believe me? Do it! Ha!

12.  Dogs and children know where love is and can always be trusted. If a dog or a child doesn’t like someone pay close attention.

13.  Say your prayers each night! It doesn’t have be the now I lay me down to sleep variety, but do take a moment to appraise the day with thanks in anticipation for the day to come.

So maybe none of these are news flashes for you but they are simple things you won’t learn in school that can make your day-to-day endeavors go a little more smoothly. Especially the ammonia bleach compound thingy.

Namaste’

Happy Birthday Baby