Aloha Friday ... Happy Blue Moon time to All ... two full moons this month and two times to experience the feminine energy in its fullest.   Thank you, Moon, for being in our sky with a presence that guides in understanding the concepts of receptivity, change, rebirth, balance, love ... and much more.   

 

I came across this sweet story and wanted to bring it into your awareness:

There is a well-known Zen story of a nun named Chiyono who had struggled for years to realize enlightenment. One evening she filled a bamboo pail with water and observed the moon's reflection in the pail. Then the pail broke, and Chiyono realized enlightenment. Her poem:

Suddenly the bottom fell out.
No more water.
No more moon in the water.
Emptiness in my hand!

Thank you for being here and, perhaps, 
I will see you at the river tonight
with our pails of water!

I AM ... Smiling!

 

Namaste to the whole Universe ... YES to being open and receptive to the many blessings of this new day!  I look with wonder at the cycles of our existence ... and bow to our interconnection and co-dependency with the movements of our Earth, Moon and Sun.  

With the arising of the Sun each day, it is said that we can look to it as a new beginning and a chance to make change.  Thank you!  

       Here's to the many sunrises that offer us new beginnings!

Painting by Donna Jean Goldstein

With this painting, my sister Donna has captured 

one special moment in Fall

 when the sunrise can be seen over the ocean from

 the coastline of Malibu, California.

There are many words that have been said about each day being looked upon as a new beginning.  Here's an old saying:  "Today is the first day of the rest of my life."

Here is another by Thich Nhat Hanh that calls upon us to be intentional with our thoughts of a new day and new beginning ...

Waking up this morning, I smile. 

Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. 

I vow to live fully in each moment 

and to look at all beings with 

                                      eyes of compassion.

Thank you to Nature!

Thank you to Thich Nhat Hanh!

And thank you for joining me in 

the awareness of our interbeing!

Namaste to You on this Day ... 
In a recent conversation with a sister, we talked about how our egos so easily and innocently may trap us into making judgements that only create separation within ourselves and between ourselves and others.  This is something that I have been watching ... Where is that fine line of just looking at something or being judgmental?  Where is the answer?

By Goro Fujita ...This artist has a daily practice of painting.

 

 I believe these words written by Osho are a reminder for us on this subject ... 

“I'm simply saying that there is a way to be sane. I'm saying that you can get rid of all this insanity created by the past in you. Just by being a simple witness of your thought processes.

It is simply sitting silently, witnessing the thoughts, passing before you. Just witnessing, not interfering not even judging, because the moment you judge you have lost the pure witness. The moment you say “this is good, this
is bad,” you have already jumped onto the thought process.

It takes a little time to create a gap between the witness and the mind. Once the gap is there, you are in for a great surprise, that you are not the mind, that you are the witness, A watcher.

And this process of watching is the very alchemy of real religion. Because as you become more and more deeply rooted in witnessing, thoughts start disappearing. You are, but the mind is utterly empty.

That’s the moment of enlightenment. That is the moment that you become for the first time an unconditioned, sane, really free human being.”
― Osho  

Yes, another reminder that peace starts within.
Thank you, Osho and thank YOU for 

joining me in our awakening!

 Namaste ... Happy Moonday ... 

Prayer flags by 'eilidh

 When looking at my life these days, I can see the blatant duality of my thoughts leading me to a bouncing from ego-centered behavior to buddha-nature ... back and forth ... it has been a struggle to stay in the realms of Oneness and love.  And from the people all around me, I hear they are getting their lessons, too.  If you are having some of the same challenges, this Zen story subtly leads to the way of remedy ...  

Moving Mind

Two men were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind.  "It's the wind that is really moving," stated the first one.  "No, it is the flag that is moving," contended the second.  A Zen master, who happened to be walking by, overheard the debate and interrupted them.  He brought them this teaching ...

"Neither the flag nor the wind is moving.  It is MIND that moves."

Thank you ... again I hear it ... still the mind ... I confess it is taking much effort for me right now to calm my mind and to be in that place of stillness.  I am making a vow to be more conscious of my breathe, to respond with lovingkindness, to meditate more and to let it all dissolve into the wind. 

            Will you join me in finding that place of stillness?

                  Thank you for being here in this moment.

Namaste ... to the whole Universe ... I have just posted another buddha-nature image on my Gallery page.  It is BuddhaFace 86 and its mantra begins with I AM ... like a Cracked Bell.  

The bell on this piece did decide to crack during the firing which wasn't so disturbing for I can readily go in the way of "wabi sabi" in acceptance of its imperfection.  (Thank you to this Japanese aesthetic leading to a justification of my folky, funky art.)

In coming up with the mantra, I have gone to the sacred writing of The Dhammapada, the teachings of the Buddha.

Where else to turn when wanting and needing inspiration on this pathway?  The words that I played with come from Verse 10 and talks of how to respond to adversity.  It is perfect timing for the cracked bell and this imperfect moment in my life.

Dali's Melting Clock ... The perfect imperfect???

                                      Thank you for being here!

                                      Please take a look at this new piece 
                                    on the Gallery page.

The term wabi sabi is new to me, but the concept is very familiar ... you can read on it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi                            

Namaste to You on this Day ... Early this morning while sitting on this little bit of Earth in the middle of the sea, I was thinking about the full moon that had played with my sleeping last night and then the sun was rising giving us the most beautiful colors.  The wonder came over me again ... to be witness to the magical interplay of our Earth, Moon and Sun ... With a sigh, the Truth came again ... I AM That!  YOU are That!

Photo by AlicePopkorn

Three things cannot be long hidden:  the sun, the moon,

and the Truth!  ... the Buddha

Thank you for being here and joining me in celebrating

our InterBeing!