“Happiness and suffering come from your own mind, not from outside. Your own mind is the cause of happiness; your own mind is the cause of suffering. To obtain happiness and pacify suffering, you have to work within your own mind.”
“The ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna; the wise work for the welfare of the world, without thought for themselves. By abstaining from work you will confuse the ignorant, who are engrossed in their actions. Perform all work carefully, guided by compassion.”
I passed a homeless person in Baltimore - sign in hand, yesterday. I thought I should give her something, but she was across the median. I drove a bit down MLK Blvd and came to another stop. This time a homeless man, again with sign in hand. I found myself not able to look at him directly and the feeling of giving vanished. And it vanished to the point that I could not look at him. I immediately thought of Kamala and what she would have done. I thought, she’d be more like Buddha - coming out of the palace wall and upon seeing the person, would stop to give them something. I did not. I kept driving. I’m not sure what happened between the first person and the second, but I’m a bothered by it.
I like to walk alone on country paths, rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, putting each foot down on the earth in mindfulness, knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth. In such moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality.
People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.
Freedom is that triumphant state of consciousness that is beyond the influence of desire. The mind ceases to thirst for anything it has seen or heard of; even what is promised in the scriptures.
And supreme freedom is that complete liberation from the world of change that comes of knowing the unbound Self
I’ve got Krishna Das playing on the big speakers. Hari Om. Christmas Day, waking up in an empty house is a strange thing. No outward signs of the holiday here - but that’s not to say its not recognized. Lots of things lately to stop and make me wonder. People with loving thoughts and smiles. Little kids in the back of cars, waving as they pass. Long forgotten friends commenting on my facebook ramblings. Empty parking lots - one car mine. Falling asleep at 7 waking at 9 falling asleep again. Garageband expertise. Road trips north, fedex costing too much. Rama Rama Hari Hari.”
I’m back home after a nice visit to see the family in New Jersey. A great ride up Christmas Day with the kids. Each of us tuning in and out of conversations and ipod mania. Zencasts have been my salvation these days. Tortured moments move to quiet times, realizing that I’m fighting my ego much of the time when the bad clouds roll in. Its been a real experience - everything changing on different sides of life. Back in the office - there is a bit of a motivation thing going on. Lots of work to complete before too long and then the unknown. I do believe that employment is stable, but the notion of changing winds make me nervous. I’m looking forward to coming in and seeing the old sign replaced by the new sign. Out with the old - in with the new. It will be fine, I hope. Lots of friendships are growing lately. I think I’m fully alive again on so many levels. Its been a hard couple of years - but its getting better. Its gotten better. Now, its time to do what I should have done years ago. Hunker down. Produce the best I can - try to be efficient, understand the 80 / 20 rule. Blah blah blah. Just discovered Rosie Thomas. A sweet voice, sweet indeed.”
Henry and I working on some harmony and GarageBand
Hanging at the farm
