Every April Fools Day I love to celebrate folly. 24 years ago, on April Fool’s Day, I visited my Congresswoman, Connie Morella, dressed up in a court jester costume. As Ray Cycle, a recycling action here I created, I stood on the Capitol steps at high noon and proclaimed, "You’re not dealing with a full deck when you throw out the joker out! Recycle Our Nation’s Capital."
I see the difference between a comedy and a tragedy as subtle, but significant-- we can learn from comedy rather than perpetuating a tragic fate. This is why I take refuge in our wasteful ways.
A sense of humor is essential. A process of purification is needed from our depressed, angry, anxious state of existence allowing laughter to clean. Also humor is about that nothing is what it appears. What is funny is that we are caught by our own projections, misinterpretations and desires. Such illusion, delusions and other tricks can either awaken or deceive us. When we see that we live in a house of mirrors and that both laughing and crying are the same release then we can laugh with joy in what is revealed.
Yes we are foolish beings. By appreciation this trickery then we begin to truly see. Oh the divine is so tough to find since laughter truly is primordial secret source of truth. In searching for some sense out of nonsense there is possibility to change our character is the fool!
The wild card is the highest card in the deck and is thrown out many times in the game. However, this discard is priceless, since laughter, love and merriment is it’s symbol is wildly free of the deck’s hierarchy. The fool is a shamanic force representing the non ordinary or the world of the psyche. Wisely mad this jester walks on the razor edge between sublime and the ridiculous. Fumbling on the high wire of reality and fantasy, The changer, the trickster, the transformer, this motley being is both sad, merry and may quite mad playing out a ludic role. Yes this ludicrous individual sheds light on both on bondage and our path to freedom.
From folly a kind of wisdom can be born from the fool and his/hers mischief. Out of our trials and tribulations some cleverness can arise from the perverse form of a clown. From laughter insight comes from this spontaneity with some form of sublime message. Shakespeare said that jesters do often prove prophets. He also said, “I had rather a fool make me merry than experience to make me sad.”
Observing a clown you are exposed to a full weather system of emotions. Much comes from simple human events without a sense of rawness embarrassing, tragic or uneasy moments. Even out of sorrow humor acts to balance grief.
You see, Ray Cycle's message is being "insightful and mindful". Today we can celebrate the fact that more people recycle then vote. However, we still need to manage the billions of tons of valuable resources that we waste every year. We deserve to conserve. Let’s have fun but not become foolish. To disregard and discard is folly. Demonstrating reverence for our land results in many happy returns. Let’s honor the process and not bury our problems. In recovery there is discovery—by giving back you feel more connected. I use poor humor to awaken such as "toot your frugal bugle with the gift of thrift, Recycle Our Nations’ Capital."
Recognizing that in face of laughing and crying are the same release. We can become free from the tragic only when we awake from the comic. It’s time we learn and laugh from a comedy, not a tragedy, of our errors. Just like Earth Day, everyday is April Fools Day if we can awaken to our human nature.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
In Love
I put it to you that we are at an interesting crossroads in our history. Human conflict was first more with battling nature, and then we began to tame the elements and started fighting with each other. Today we face a global form of self destruction so evident by current events. Our individual self is interconnected and interdependent on our larger ecological self--the planet Earth. If we take care of the smaller self, we also must preserve the larger self.
However, this is just my experience; so I ask you to reflect if this is true for you as well. What have you seen in your own lifetime as to how humans relate to themselves, others and the earth? While individually we are kind, aware and wise, there appears to be a form of collective dysfunction when it comes to foreseeing and forestalling future man-made disasters that have their origins in an evidently ego-centered outlook.
When reflecting about all the things that I love, how can I divorce myself from feeling the same love for myself? The simple four letter word “love“does not separate, it connects. In love suffering and anomie is lessened, and well-being is enhanced. It transforms insight into idea into action in the grace of deep compassion.
My first insight when I was four was that I was so lucky to have food while other children were starving and dying. So quite early both gratitude and guilt became emotions I had to encompass at the same time, this “buzzing”—which we all experience—is our life force and is both nervously destructive and curiously creative.
I write out of my appreciation for the many wonders and gifts I have experienced. By constantly remembering and cultivating a grateful spirit, I foster an intention of the sacred and attention to this illuminates my world even more. This is the door of light I welcome you to open!
Like many, I have struggled to find meaning in a civilization that is so focused at times on the material. It appears at times that we are a culture denying a deeper spirit. All I have to do is deeply listen to my own heart beat. This great mystery we live is so interconnected, if only we dare to explore how we all care for all things in this world. Life’s greatest challenge is to see how I can expand this love that is myself to all things. When I am aware of how I love all creation, then I add just another drop in the pool of universal compassion.
I believe we all are trying to find the eye of this hurricane we call life—that still place in the midst of a storm. To find harmony requires inquiry into what is grace. Grace is a radical gift: by realizing greater awareness of my own concerns, I can liberate a collective unconsciousness and bring greater happiness to others. My suffering is lessened when I realize this is “our” suffering—the world beating with one heart. We can provide no greater gift in our own lifetime than contributing to reduction of anxiety, whether on an individual basis or a global basis.
Our greatest challenge today is for each person on this planet to find peace within themselves. If we wish to lessen terror, improve our environment, help others, resolve whatever plagues our human condition, we must go within and examine what is true.
What we do for future generations is a treasure we pass on to them and also give to our own soul. The challenge is to develop a positive feedback loop to celebrate our natural passion to be kind, gentle and sensitive. We will not evolve our spirit if we do not venture forth and risk vulnerability.
The simple act of lessening my own anxiety influences and creates momentum to calm others. When I pay attention to my love, I find the energy to cultivate wise action. As I become gentler with myself, I add to making this a more beloved place. In love changes our world when we free ourselves to explore the compassionate space of our higher self.
However, this is just my experience; so I ask you to reflect if this is true for you as well. What have you seen in your own lifetime as to how humans relate to themselves, others and the earth? While individually we are kind, aware and wise, there appears to be a form of collective dysfunction when it comes to foreseeing and forestalling future man-made disasters that have their origins in an evidently ego-centered outlook.
When reflecting about all the things that I love, how can I divorce myself from feeling the same love for myself? The simple four letter word “love“does not separate, it connects. In love suffering and anomie is lessened, and well-being is enhanced. It transforms insight into idea into action in the grace of deep compassion.
My first insight when I was four was that I was so lucky to have food while other children were starving and dying. So quite early both gratitude and guilt became emotions I had to encompass at the same time, this “buzzing”—which we all experience—is our life force and is both nervously destructive and curiously creative.
I write out of my appreciation for the many wonders and gifts I have experienced. By constantly remembering and cultivating a grateful spirit, I foster an intention of the sacred and attention to this illuminates my world even more. This is the door of light I welcome you to open!
Like many, I have struggled to find meaning in a civilization that is so focused at times on the material. It appears at times that we are a culture denying a deeper spirit. All I have to do is deeply listen to my own heart beat. This great mystery we live is so interconnected, if only we dare to explore how we all care for all things in this world. Life’s greatest challenge is to see how I can expand this love that is myself to all things. When I am aware of how I love all creation, then I add just another drop in the pool of universal compassion.
I believe we all are trying to find the eye of this hurricane we call life—that still place in the midst of a storm. To find harmony requires inquiry into what is grace. Grace is a radical gift: by realizing greater awareness of my own concerns, I can liberate a collective unconsciousness and bring greater happiness to others. My suffering is lessened when I realize this is “our” suffering—the world beating with one heart. We can provide no greater gift in our own lifetime than contributing to reduction of anxiety, whether on an individual basis or a global basis.
Our greatest challenge today is for each person on this planet to find peace within themselves. If we wish to lessen terror, improve our environment, help others, resolve whatever plagues our human condition, we must go within and examine what is true.
What we do for future generations is a treasure we pass on to them and also give to our own soul. The challenge is to develop a positive feedback loop to celebrate our natural passion to be kind, gentle and sensitive. We will not evolve our spirit if we do not venture forth and risk vulnerability.
The simple act of lessening my own anxiety influences and creates momentum to calm others. When I pay attention to my love, I find the energy to cultivate wise action. As I become gentler with myself, I add to making this a more beloved place. In love changes our world when we free ourselves to explore the compassionate space of our higher self.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Mindful Speaking Using Insight Dialogue (ID)
Like many people, every time I speak before a group I get extremely nervous. Public speaking can be one of the most stressful activities imaginable. However, when I address an audience I practice a form of meditation. It is about cultivating tranquillity: developing a greater sense of presence when I talk transforms my speech. What better way to improve my speaking skills than to explore how to better relax and concentrate on how to best engage my audience? Careful listening to good speakers also provides me with invaluable insights as to how to improve all facets of my communication skills.
Focusing on being more wakeful as I talk is a process called Insight Dialogue . It teaches me to explore how to better show-up when I talk and to become more mindful as I do so. Mindful speech comes from becoming more conscious of the entire process when we talk with other people.
We can all develop more wholesome techniques that can improve our entire communications experience. For example, I gain better clarity when I pause and relax in the process of talking. Developing such calmness is balanced by a profound sense of attentiveness to what is being said or heard.
Insight Dialogue consists of exploring six basic steps: Pausing, Relaxing, Opening, Trusting Emergence, Listening Deeply, and Speaking Our Truth. I first pause and awaken before I speak. It is critical to take one’s time before we vocalize. I then allow myself to relax. This is essential in order to focus fully on the task at hand. Opening allows one to settle and find clarity as to what is presently happening.
When one trusts emergence, one is freer to perceive new possibilities. In order to increase one’s awareness, one must listen deeply to what is going on. And finally, this process allows me to speak my truth as one makes a profound heart/mind connection. In my opinion, eloquence comes from the embodiment of both compassion and insight when communicating.
Becoming more mindful as to how we use words, the manner in which we say them, experiencing the full process of Insight Dialogue enables us to excel at public speaking. It makes possible greater connection with others as improved speaking skills create more intimate encounters. By focusing our attention to specific areas of consciousness, such as our body or our feelings, we gain more clarity as to how we are relating to and connecting with the audience.
Being more in the present anchors me and is enhanced by paying regular attention to my body and feelings to increase my mindfulness in each moment. Another anchor is to be aware of my breathing whatever the present communication experience is.
When I relax I fully connect with my audience. Beginning with a pause, and relaxing sets my mind at ease and enables me to see things as they actually are in the “now”. Tension acts to distort and block my presentation. As I practice my speech with a sense of grace I become more alert. The calmer I become, the better I speak.
Insight Dialogue also involves inquiry into the nature of better communication. Choice of language is another form of meditation to practice the force of intellect and the associative power of words. Insight Dialogue works directly with language and is about transformation in speaking with a sense of the sacred.
Anytime I speak before a group I make it into an opportunity to meditate. I work on pausing, relaxing and opening to the possibility of deeply connecting to my audience. As I better listen to both my body and my feelings, I am better able to embody in words my own truth and attain a greater sense of wholeness.
Focusing on being more wakeful as I talk is a process called Insight Dialogue . It teaches me to explore how to better show-up when I talk and to become more mindful as I do so. Mindful speech comes from becoming more conscious of the entire process when we talk with other people.
We can all develop more wholesome techniques that can improve our entire communications experience. For example, I gain better clarity when I pause and relax in the process of talking. Developing such calmness is balanced by a profound sense of attentiveness to what is being said or heard.
Insight Dialogue consists of exploring six basic steps: Pausing, Relaxing, Opening, Trusting Emergence, Listening Deeply, and Speaking Our Truth. I first pause and awaken before I speak. It is critical to take one’s time before we vocalize. I then allow myself to relax. This is essential in order to focus fully on the task at hand. Opening allows one to settle and find clarity as to what is presently happening.
When one trusts emergence, one is freer to perceive new possibilities. In order to increase one’s awareness, one must listen deeply to what is going on. And finally, this process allows me to speak my truth as one makes a profound heart/mind connection. In my opinion, eloquence comes from the embodiment of both compassion and insight when communicating.
Becoming more mindful as to how we use words, the manner in which we say them, experiencing the full process of Insight Dialogue enables us to excel at public speaking. It makes possible greater connection with others as improved speaking skills create more intimate encounters. By focusing our attention to specific areas of consciousness, such as our body or our feelings, we gain more clarity as to how we are relating to and connecting with the audience.
Being more in the present anchors me and is enhanced by paying regular attention to my body and feelings to increase my mindfulness in each moment. Another anchor is to be aware of my breathing whatever the present communication experience is.
When I relax I fully connect with my audience. Beginning with a pause, and relaxing sets my mind at ease and enables me to see things as they actually are in the “now”. Tension acts to distort and block my presentation. As I practice my speech with a sense of grace I become more alert. The calmer I become, the better I speak.
Insight Dialogue also involves inquiry into the nature of better communication. Choice of language is another form of meditation to practice the force of intellect and the associative power of words. Insight Dialogue works directly with language and is about transformation in speaking with a sense of the sacred.
Anytime I speak before a group I make it into an opportunity to meditate. I work on pausing, relaxing and opening to the possibility of deeply connecting to my audience. As I better listen to both my body and my feelings, I am better able to embody in words my own truth and attain a greater sense of wholeness.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Star Waltz
Our attraction is a planetary dance caused by an orbit of our hearts
Apart of this starlit waltz light reflects and refracts amidst the dark heavens
We share both karma and gravity as galactic lovers rotating and revolving
This sharing of celestial space awakens an inner spark as our souls emerge
An inner mixture of stardust sculpted into blood, bone, tissue and wave lengths
Our spirits venture in space filled with joy, sadness, tears and laughter
Our interconnected energy field emits mirth, woe and everything in between
This magnetic phenomenon opens new dimensions of possibilities and realms
Matter, sensations, emotions, thoughts and consciousness all interweaving
Exploring the frontiers of this pulsation a sense of still compassion arises
A place where awareness cultivating peace, harmony into a tranquil oneness
An organic meeting that illuminates with a divine arrival of grace
Beyond our carbon small self interconnects a bright higher spirit
This bountiful universal source balances the cycles of our birth and death
Just as the night sky is filled with endless stars and black holes
Two planets lovingly spin around together attracted by each
Twirling and obeying quantum laws merging the known with the unknown
Such a quilt of energy, atoms, light and the mystery of psychic like minds
So tiny yet enormous these celestial organisms form greater milky ways
Shimmer and sparking light beholding the dark of this infinite time-place
Separate and the same affecting our cosmic journey with a twinkle of a star
Apart of this starlit waltz light reflects and refracts amidst the dark heavens
We share both karma and gravity as galactic lovers rotating and revolving
This sharing of celestial space awakens an inner spark as our souls emerge
An inner mixture of stardust sculpted into blood, bone, tissue and wave lengths
Our spirits venture in space filled with joy, sadness, tears and laughter
Our interconnected energy field emits mirth, woe and everything in between
This magnetic phenomenon opens new dimensions of possibilities and realms
Matter, sensations, emotions, thoughts and consciousness all interweaving
Exploring the frontiers of this pulsation a sense of still compassion arises
A place where awareness cultivating peace, harmony into a tranquil oneness
An organic meeting that illuminates with a divine arrival of grace
Beyond our carbon small self interconnects a bright higher spirit
This bountiful universal source balances the cycles of our birth and death
Just as the night sky is filled with endless stars and black holes
Two planets lovingly spin around together attracted by each
Twirling and obeying quantum laws merging the known with the unknown
Such a quilt of energy, atoms, light and the mystery of psychic like minds
So tiny yet enormous these celestial organisms form greater milky ways
Shimmer and sparking light beholding the dark of this infinite time-place
Separate and the same affecting our cosmic journey with a twinkle of a star
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Re: Prefix of New Possibility
For years I have worked under the name Recover Enterprise or Re. Re is a wonderful prefix transforming new life from defunct ways. I believe the secret of life is bringing a different perspective or transmuting our expressions for the better. Renew, refresh, reclaim, restore, return, recover, revitalize, rejuvenate, revive, reuse, recreate, rediscover and on and on. Such words inspire us to reexamine our process and what we wish to accomplish in our lives. Re for me means to possibility of starting anew.
For example how we address climate change has distracted us from the real issue. How we can prosper and profit from preventing pollution. Also we can see the value in minimizing our waste and the opportunities of living in a more sustainable way.
Today we live on a threshold of choice. Is as business-usual or do we have the courage to become unusual taking part in the healing of our world. Just because of our sheer numbers we face both major environmental destruction coupled massive social and economic injustices. These inequalities force us to re-examine our interconnectedness so to motivate us to exploring sustainable production and consumption for our future generations and ourselves.
Before we go forth to live more sustainable it would be wise to explore our attitudes, behavior or inner aspects of our life. I call this our software since how we are programmed has a lot to do with how we apply technology or the hardware. The prefix, re, is a sacred key to unlock things to their fullest potential or to invigorate life. Yes, in recovery we discover new opportunities when we apply the prefix re to our words.
For example how we address climate change has distracted us from the real issue. How we can prosper and profit from preventing pollution. Also we can see the value in minimizing our waste and the opportunities of living in a more sustainable way.
Today we live on a threshold of choice. Is as business-usual or do we have the courage to become unusual taking part in the healing of our world. Just because of our sheer numbers we face both major environmental destruction coupled massive social and economic injustices. These inequalities force us to re-examine our interconnectedness so to motivate us to exploring sustainable production and consumption for our future generations and ourselves.
Before we go forth to live more sustainable it would be wise to explore our attitudes, behavior or inner aspects of our life. I call this our software since how we are programmed has a lot to do with how we apply technology or the hardware. The prefix, re, is a sacred key to unlock things to their fullest potential or to invigorate life. Yes, in recovery we discover new opportunities when we apply the prefix re to our words.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Green Spirit in Bethesda
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda (meaning House of Mercy), having five porches.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, wating for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down: at a certain season into a pool; whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsover disease he had.
St John V
For over thirty years I have cultivated a green spirit and been blessed by the "happy returns" from my endeavaors. I have recycled many tons of newspapers, bottles, cans and many other types of secondary materials. I found that our watersheds were filled with used motor oil and championed programs to lessen these drainings. There have been numerous other "green" experiences where I have shown my reverence for this place on this earth. From this experience I have so benefited. So below are some guiding principles I devote myself to;
Cultivating a Bethesda Spirit I declare my interdependence. I work, play and celebrate being green and wish to further serve my community.
- To be able to respond or be responsible, let’s act as ambassadors where our words are translated into transforming deeds. MODEL
- To work cooperatively, joining people of all walks with, enthusiasm, compassion and empathy. ENGAGE
- To advance, let’s see our differences as strength and foster personal and group growth. PROPSPER
- To respect ourselves, and our neighbors by fostering relationships that are friendly, trusting and empowering. RESPECT
- To sustain, let’s celebrate with positive feedback, and to show my appreciation. SUSTAIN.
1) I PLAY a PART IN GREENING a GREATER WHOLE - When I add to “triple bottom line” I act to build community.
2) MY GAME PLAN - To ingeniously transform waste into well being, positively encourage and have fun as broad reaching as possible.
3) WHAT I KNOW? - Information is tool, both giving it and receiving it. Mindful speech and listening result in better feedback and communication. Also knowledge of my actions helps me better learn the importance of personal CHOICE and behavior change.
4) INCREASE WELL BEING - When I get more involved then I work as others to stimulate participation and a sense of cooperation Just being kind to people I come in contact with is one example.
May I foster positive green actions that conserve resources, preserve the environment, and better people’s lives. May I explore the vast green creative and artistic ways I can transform our my home and community so benefit from the "happy returns" of my actions.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, wating for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down: at a certain season into a pool; whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsover disease he had.
St John V
For over thirty years I have cultivated a green spirit and been blessed by the "happy returns" from my endeavaors. I have recycled many tons of newspapers, bottles, cans and many other types of secondary materials. I found that our watersheds were filled with used motor oil and championed programs to lessen these drainings. There have been numerous other "green" experiences where I have shown my reverence for this place on this earth. From this experience I have so benefited. So below are some guiding principles I devote myself to;
Cultivating a Bethesda Spirit I declare my interdependence. I work, play and celebrate being green and wish to further serve my community.
- To be able to respond or be responsible, let’s act as ambassadors where our words are translated into transforming deeds. MODEL
- To work cooperatively, joining people of all walks with, enthusiasm, compassion and empathy. ENGAGE
- To advance, let’s see our differences as strength and foster personal and group growth. PROPSPER
- To respect ourselves, and our neighbors by fostering relationships that are friendly, trusting and empowering. RESPECT
- To sustain, let’s celebrate with positive feedback, and to show my appreciation. SUSTAIN.
1) I PLAY a PART IN GREENING a GREATER WHOLE - When I add to “triple bottom line” I act to build community.
2) MY GAME PLAN - To ingeniously transform waste into well being, positively encourage and have fun as broad reaching as possible.
3) WHAT I KNOW? - Information is tool, both giving it and receiving it. Mindful speech and listening result in better feedback and communication. Also knowledge of my actions helps me better learn the importance of personal CHOICE and behavior change.
4) INCREASE WELL BEING - When I get more involved then I work as others to stimulate participation and a sense of cooperation Just being kind to people I come in contact with is one example.
May I foster positive green actions that conserve resources, preserve the environment, and better people’s lives. May I explore the vast green creative and artistic ways I can transform our my home and community so benefit from the "happy returns" of my actions.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Green Awakening: Touching Earth with Our Hearts
Years ago a Buddhist monk, called me "kusala". This comes from the Pali word meaning wholesome and skillful. Also "Kusala karma" or "kamma" is characterized by this moral, foundation or speech bound to result in happiness.
Four days ago I arrived at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia to reuse and e-cycle their electronic waste. Now this same monk, Bhikkhu Buddharakkhi recruited me to help him draft his speech for a presentation at a conference called, “Addressing Climate Change by Awakening to Oneness."
On Monday December 7th, World Spiritual Leaders Gather for the COP15 – The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Global Peace Initiative of Women in New York are meeting: “for deeper understanding of interconnection is to know that all that is comes from a single source. To harm one part is to harm the whole. By knowing this we will naturally create a more conscious and caring way of living on the earth.”
So below is what resulted from this collective "kusala" or skillful effort;
The Green Awakening: Touching Earth with Our Hearts- Following the Noble Eight-fold Path
The Buddha name means the awakened one; his awakening happened during his own climate crisis when he touched the earth to bear witness! Today’s climate crisis requires a “Green Awakening” so that we are ONE with all things.
The Buddha offered practical guidelines on how to respond to our present crisis in his teachings of the Noble Eightfold Path. Let’s us build a new green mind-set or house. This blueprint provides clear instruction as to how to awaken and best respond. Climate change can be addressed using this profound wisdom with simple environment-friendly Eightfold techniques.
We are all interconnected as one when we minimize waste and maximize well being.
Eightfold Path basics are below in three groups;
• FOUNDATION - 1) Virtue/Ethics Group: Skillful Speech, Action and Livelihood:
• WALLS - 2) Concentration Group: Skillful Energy, Mindfulness and Concentration
• ROOF - 3) Wisdom Group- Skillful Understanding and Thought
This mental home will protect us from the harsh weather elements caused by climate change.
FOUNDATION: Cultivating Virtue– Skillful Speech, Action and Livelihood are the ethical basis and support for developing this home.
Our foundation becomes solid with right speech, actions and livelihood translating into virtuous practices and wholesome deeds. Ethical conduct happens when we treat all things and ourselves with compassion. We cultivate virtue when we care and respect for all things are one.
Skillful Speech: We must speak the truth with heart and meaning so as to unite. Carefully listen so as to clarify the facts from fiction. Speak what is of benefit.
Skillful Action: Show reverence for all things, we must protect and preserve all forms of living beings. We must end instead end whenever we can.
Skillful Livelihood: Living in an eco-friendly way. Living simply so others can simply live- thus insuring future generations. Causing no harm with your life or creating future problems.
WALLS: CONCENTRATION GROUP- Skillful Energy, Mindfulness and Concentration: All these factors work together. - Walls hold or cherish this place and create sacred space.
Skillful Energy: Prevent, Preserve, Protect and Prosper. Prevent climate change, preserve our resources, protect ourselves and prosper from these deeds. At our Buddhist Centre, we employ numerous conservation and best management practices to show our reverence for our earth and ourselves from composting to solar heating.
Skillful Mindfulness: Remembering and observing what is happening now. It is non-judgmental, present moment awareness. So mindfulness is the new mental blueprint to securely build our sacred mental house.
Skillful Concentration: Unifying your intention so you pay attention in the moment. Focus clearly to a wholesome mind-set increasing your mental power. This mental power will cultivate wisdom and understanding to penetrate into the problem of climate change. Getting the walls squared requires concentration.
3) ROOF: WISDOM Group - Skillful Understanding and Thought: Interconnecting it all together. SEPARATION = SUFFERING
Now that we have the foundation (virtues) and walls (concentration) what are we missing? We all need protection from Climate Change or a cap for our head. The roof encloses our home. Wisdom via skillful Understanding and Thought caps this structure. It interconnects the walls and foundation together.
Skillful Understanding: The Buddha laid down the teaching on “Dependent Co-arising” - nothing is independent in the world- “everything is interconnected”. For instance if your mindless your roof will leak and damage your walls and foundation.
Skillful Thought: Friendliness, generosity, and compassion. These are roofing materials safeguarding the home.
Call for Action
To address climate change, we must skillfully think before we act. Virtuous thoughts will secure our Foundation through skillful speech, actions and livelihood. Our Walls of Concentration create skillful energy, mindfulness and focus. Our Roof brings it together through skillful understanding and thought.
Remember you awaken when you minimize waste and maximize well-being.
• Show reverence with generous ways, right action and speech securing a firm foundation cultivating virtue;
• Concentrate on harmonizing by holding or creating space creating the walls of loving kindness. Love for earth and ourselves as one with an attitude of gratitude.
• Finally, Compassion balances our Wisdom by understanding our interconnection and also generous nature.
We can respond to climate change with the tools to overcome GREED, HATRED AND DELUSION WITH NEED, LOVE AND VISION.
Take the word EARTH and take the H from the end of it and put it to the front. It spells HEART. Now let us touch our hearts together to express ONE response to our GREEN AWAKENING. TOUCH OUR EARTH WITH YOUR HEART on the Noble Eightfold Path.
Four days ago I arrived at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia to reuse and e-cycle their electronic waste. Now this same monk, Bhikkhu Buddharakkhi recruited me to help him draft his speech for a presentation at a conference called, “Addressing Climate Change by Awakening to Oneness."
On Monday December 7th, World Spiritual Leaders Gather for the COP15 – The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Global Peace Initiative of Women in New York are meeting: “for deeper understanding of interconnection is to know that all that is comes from a single source. To harm one part is to harm the whole. By knowing this we will naturally create a more conscious and caring way of living on the earth.”
So below is what resulted from this collective "kusala" or skillful effort;
The Green Awakening: Touching Earth with Our Hearts- Following the Noble Eight-fold Path
The Buddha name means the awakened one; his awakening happened during his own climate crisis when he touched the earth to bear witness! Today’s climate crisis requires a “Green Awakening” so that we are ONE with all things.
The Buddha offered practical guidelines on how to respond to our present crisis in his teachings of the Noble Eightfold Path. Let’s us build a new green mind-set or house. This blueprint provides clear instruction as to how to awaken and best respond. Climate change can be addressed using this profound wisdom with simple environment-friendly Eightfold techniques.
We are all interconnected as one when we minimize waste and maximize well being.
Eightfold Path basics are below in three groups;
• FOUNDATION - 1) Virtue/Ethics Group: Skillful Speech, Action and Livelihood:
• WALLS - 2) Concentration Group: Skillful Energy, Mindfulness and Concentration
• ROOF - 3) Wisdom Group- Skillful Understanding and Thought
This mental home will protect us from the harsh weather elements caused by climate change.
FOUNDATION: Cultivating Virtue– Skillful Speech, Action and Livelihood are the ethical basis and support for developing this home.
Our foundation becomes solid with right speech, actions and livelihood translating into virtuous practices and wholesome deeds. Ethical conduct happens when we treat all things and ourselves with compassion. We cultivate virtue when we care and respect for all things are one.
Skillful Speech: We must speak the truth with heart and meaning so as to unite. Carefully listen so as to clarify the facts from fiction. Speak what is of benefit.
Skillful Action: Show reverence for all things, we must protect and preserve all forms of living beings. We must end instead end whenever we can.
Skillful Livelihood: Living in an eco-friendly way. Living simply so others can simply live- thus insuring future generations. Causing no harm with your life or creating future problems.
WALLS: CONCENTRATION GROUP- Skillful Energy, Mindfulness and Concentration: All these factors work together. - Walls hold or cherish this place and create sacred space.
Skillful Energy: Prevent, Preserve, Protect and Prosper. Prevent climate change, preserve our resources, protect ourselves and prosper from these deeds. At our Buddhist Centre, we employ numerous conservation and best management practices to show our reverence for our earth and ourselves from composting to solar heating.
Skillful Mindfulness: Remembering and observing what is happening now. It is non-judgmental, present moment awareness. So mindfulness is the new mental blueprint to securely build our sacred mental house.
Skillful Concentration: Unifying your intention so you pay attention in the moment. Focus clearly to a wholesome mind-set increasing your mental power. This mental power will cultivate wisdom and understanding to penetrate into the problem of climate change. Getting the walls squared requires concentration.
3) ROOF: WISDOM Group - Skillful Understanding and Thought: Interconnecting it all together. SEPARATION = SUFFERING
Now that we have the foundation (virtues) and walls (concentration) what are we missing? We all need protection from Climate Change or a cap for our head. The roof encloses our home. Wisdom via skillful Understanding and Thought caps this structure. It interconnects the walls and foundation together.
Skillful Understanding: The Buddha laid down the teaching on “Dependent Co-arising” - nothing is independent in the world- “everything is interconnected”. For instance if your mindless your roof will leak and damage your walls and foundation.
Skillful Thought: Friendliness, generosity, and compassion. These are roofing materials safeguarding the home.
Call for Action
To address climate change, we must skillfully think before we act. Virtuous thoughts will secure our Foundation through skillful speech, actions and livelihood. Our Walls of Concentration create skillful energy, mindfulness and focus. Our Roof brings it together through skillful understanding and thought.
Remember you awaken when you minimize waste and maximize well-being.
• Show reverence with generous ways, right action and speech securing a firm foundation cultivating virtue;
• Concentrate on harmonizing by holding or creating space creating the walls of loving kindness. Love for earth and ourselves as one with an attitude of gratitude.
• Finally, Compassion balances our Wisdom by understanding our interconnection and also generous nature.
We can respond to climate change with the tools to overcome GREED, HATRED AND DELUSION WITH NEED, LOVE AND VISION.
Take the word EARTH and take the H from the end of it and put it to the front. It spells HEART. Now let us touch our hearts together to express ONE response to our GREEN AWAKENING. TOUCH OUR EARTH WITH YOUR HEART on the Noble Eightfold Path.
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