Monday, July 31, 2006

What?

Thanks to Julie's latest post- now my head really hurts.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Friday Thoughts

Care to take a stab at explaining this quote?

"We teach best what we most need to learn."

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Uhhmm...tagged, etc.

In light of all the abstract rambling I've been posting of late, which makes very little sense, I thought something a little more light- hearted was in store.

Amy has "tagged" me (she really, really, really, really needs a job). OK, I don't usually do things like this since I'm a guy (a sensitive guy, I might add)...but here it goes.

Here's the guidelines for when I tag you at the bottom of this entry:

The first player of this game starts with "5 weird things/habits about yourself". In the end you need to choose 5 people to be tagged and list their names. The people who get tagged need to write a blog about their 5 weird things/habits, as well as state this rule clearly, then tag 5 more victims. Don't forget to leave your victim a comment that says "you're tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

"5 weird things/habits about me"

1. I like to make patterns of lines in the carpet when I vacuum, and afterwards sit in the middle of the living room and meditate like I'm sitting in a Zen rock garden (I know,really weird isn't it)!

2. Ironing and cleaning help me de-stress.

3. I hate the way my voice sounds when I'm in the studio recording.

4. I love cold, snowy weather and dream of being snowed in for the winter someday.

5. I cant spell- worth a shite...and; my gramer (suxs.)

I choose to tag:
Buford, Ethan, Julie, Celeste, and Andrew

________________________________________
And now, This:

My son has taken up the electric guitar and has recently started picking up his pace by learning tablature (he's really trying).

Here's Tommy doing his rendition of that great American classic "The Beast & The Harlot" by that awesome new band of clean- cut young men, Avenged Sevenfold.

Enjoy!

Why Two

The question was: Why go on?

Many thought provoking comments in response, some off the record. Thank you.

Of course, there really is no answer for this question, each person is entitled to their belief as to the reason for living, but I find that typically we tend to think we are here for another’s well being- that somehow life is more about those surrounding us, which is fine too.

My point was to evoke the thought and emotion that you alone are worth the candle, without anyone else in the equation.

Put yourself first by glimpsing your precious being, without purpose-and then, with your being possibly made more whole, see that each person is the same…and has purpose.

Each person is the same as you.

Can we realize (and this is a stretch for me and I would guess many others) there are millions and millions of people who have no one.

No one to love them, to tell them they are loved. No one to comfort them when they are in pain. No one holding them in their thoughts and prayers.

If each of us would "adopt" one person who has no one else- who would be left alone?

Why go on when you have only yourself… and yet, who other than yourself can you lay claim to?

Are we each…truly alone?

In the end we go on because there is a conscious choice to do so. Suicide is always an option and available at any moment. The conscious choice to go on takes on a myriad of reasons why.

The old saying of Friedrich Nietzsche goes, “He who has a why can endure any how.”

When we have our “why,” should the questions then be: "How go on?”

Monday, July 24, 2006

Why?

Why go on?

What is your “Why”?

What makes life, “worth the candle,” as Alan Watts used to say?

Your partner, mate, husband, wife?

Your children, parents, friends, career?

What about you- your being? Could you, alone, without anyone else possibly be “worth the candle”?

Can you stand with the light of your being- being why?

Are you the reason "why" the play goes on?

*NOTE: I don't know what's been going on at blogger.com recently but in my attempts to navigate the ups and downs of the site (seems to be down a lot recently) and post today's "Why?"- I inadvertently deleted the post and awesome comments on "Wishing" from last week. Bummer.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Be Your Self

Can you remember yourself?

Can you draw upon the calmness at the center of your being and recognize yourself?

The simplest way to encounter yourself is to stop doing something instead of doing something.

Stop doing. Stop moving. Stop worrying. Stop loathing.

No need to stop permanently, just allow yourself a moment- three deep breaths- to simply let whatever is-be… here is your Self.

You can always go back to doing, moving, worrying, loathing…simply breathe into your Self.

Here is a place you can return to whenever you wish- this place is inside of you, and it is Heaven.

Nothing can ever hurt your Self. Nothing can ever threaten your Self.

Be your Self.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Ethan



Drop by my friend Ethan's blog, Needle To Thread and wish him a speedy recovery from a mishap on the trail resulting in two broken legs, a broken left heel and dislocated left ankle. He's going to be out of commission for a spell- perhaps your thoughts and wishes might bring him some comfort.

His other blog, High Country Adventures has some stunning photography.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

What Would Happen?


....if I were to let go of all my fears, open my eyes, and decide to enjoy the ride all of the time?

Sunday, July 09, 2006

The Experiencer

Bear with me here- I know short and sweet works best, but some things need to be expanded upon in reaching an understanding.

My friend Julie, at Musings of a 24 Y.O. Idealist, “nudged” by a conversation at Andrew’s backstreetpetshop recently wrote pensively on the subject of ‘reading vs. experience’ which is worth a review of both blogs and all comments regarding. I believe most who commented were in agreement; the middle way of reading and digesting spiritual materials for learning and growth has merit but one must then experience as directly possible for one’s self the level of truth conveyed…to see it in action.

OK- cutting it short here, I’m already bored and I’m the one doing the writing.

Ken Wilber is coming out with his new book, “Integral Spirituality” late this year and there is a brillant feature in this month’s What Is Enlightenment Magazine well worth picking up if you’re a fan of Wilber (even if you’re not, what Wilber has constructed with his Integral Philosophy of “I, We, It and Its” and “AQAL” or ‘all quadrants, all levels’ is nothing less than mind blowing and as Andrew Cohen says in the WIE article, Ken's integral theory will probably will be taught as a standard in high school one day in the future).

For those familiar with Wilber who can grasp the ‘mostly complex’ significance of his embrace of AQAL in his construct of an integral philosophy you’ll be interested to know he has now added eight ‘zones’ or perspectives to his four quadrants (damn it! How much can we be expected to keep up with)!

My dear Soul- friend, Trevor at The Sound of Diesel Musing first introduced me to Ken Wilber a year ago and since then I have labored, loved, despised, laughed, contemplated, dismissed, and eagerly returned again and again to Ken’s works and ideas for inspiration. It also seems that his name is popping up more and more with President Clinton even singing his praises at a recent speech.

The Point of all this rambling: I think Wilber’s integral philosophy is very important and his broad- embrace of spiritual diversity inspiring…enough so that his philosophy warrants investigation of the most attentive kind- and that means reading further, exploring further ideas before experiencing. Even Ken says that any model of integral philosophy must be ‘user friendly’ and it’s true: nothing amounts to anything if you can’t understand it (and Ken’s philosophy takes some reading and re- reading- but it’s possible to grasp: more than that- if I can, anyone can!) and put it into practice.

More later…now I am REALLY, REALLY bored!

Thanks Julie, Andrew and Trev for your inspiration…and to Meredith, at Graceful Presence for the constant reminder that Clear Mind is behind all.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Here Comes The Son



Tommy is coming home today after a week at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama and a week with his aunt, uncle and cousin in upstate SC. Previous to this he was only with us a few days after being away for a week at Boy Scout camp.

We sure do miss him and realize this is a brief taste of what it will be like in 6 short years or so when he leaves for college. But for now- he's still on loan to us and we're gonna keep him.

It's nothing less than amazing the love you have for your children.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

4-5, 5-6, 6-7 = A Pain in the Neck

Received the news on the MRI scan from last week.

Ever had an MRI? It’s quite an isolating, ethereal procedure where the body is suspended inside a closed capsule- the senses are dampened by earplugs and tiny goggles- while various beeps, buzzes, chirps, and other assorted noises bathe you in a sci-fi wash of sensory animation as magnetic resonance performs it’s magic. Oh, and you must remain completely still for 15 minutes while all of this is happening. Strangely enough I rediscovered the same space, the same frame of mind I found myself in while I was being inked.

It appears my neck has "advanced spinal stenosis” (narrowing of the spinal column due to bone spur growth which compresses into the nerves) between cervical discs 4&5 and 5&6. The disc between 6&7 is completely worn and bulging, which also is compressing on the spinal column. On a scale of 1-10 my doctor rates my neck between an 8 and 9 with 10 being the worse she’s ever seen.

Now, the good news… It does ‘feel’ as if it isn’t getting any worse. I am still up and walking, working and going about my business. For this, I am thankful. Here is where the eternally optimistic, rose-colored glasses wearing me comes into full play. I know beyond a doubt that where circumstances appear less than favorable there are blessings of the most bewildering kind surrounding. At least I have options and they will play themselves out accordingly…all in divine order.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

If....

If…

I am not my perceptions,
nor my feelings,
nor my thoughts-

why should what I believe be of any importance?

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Take Off Your Clothes!


I declare today a Drop Your Drawers and Go Topless Day for anyone who really cares about the high price of buying clothes at the lowest cost.
Check your labels, friends…see where your clothes are manufactured…you’ll most likely discover if you shop at Target, Wal-Mart, even L.L. Beam for your clothes that they are manufactured in Jordan or one of several other countries utilizing sweat shops and slave labor. NPR recently reported nothing less than slave labor conditions in many Jordanian garment factories and if you want to read and hear more, click here.

If you want to discover some resources for Made in the USA clothing and other products…click here. We aren't what we wear…but what we wear has a price tag much higher than the low cost at which it seemingly comes.

So let’s all go naked... or at least buy from those who treat their workers with fairness and compassion. This buying clothes and 'things' at the lowest cost has consequences.

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