Good and God’s morning ……
travel is a very fine form of education …… last week I was in travel and staying with a friend and while staying in the guest room made a resolution ……
that will make that space better than when I started staying there ….. so before leaving the room ……cleaned the room and bathroom ….. thanked the room …..
Pic of the day: Still life with Cups and two Poems, by Katsushika Hokusai
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Do not think dishonestly. The Way is in training. Become acquainted with every art. Know the Ways of all professions. Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters. Develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything. Perceive those things which cannot be seen. Pay attention even to trifles.
I recall my first classes in Moral Theology some 35 or so years ago. The subject is an essential part of Western thought (particularly in the Catholic and Anglican traditions). In many ways the topic was like a journey into Law School. We learned various methods and principles on whose basis moral questions – questions of right and wrong – could be discussed and decided.
One word – Passion
What do you think of when you hear that word? What are you passionate about?
What is it that puts that fire in your belly?
For me, it’s inclusion. I have a passion to make everyone feel like they matter, to feel important, to feel like an integral part in this thing called life we are all involved in.
The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mode of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change. ~Charles L. Morgan
I stepped out on the deck to watch the sun rise as I enjoyed my coffee this morning. It just stopped raining. As the sun showed up, the water on the tips of the leaves of my cedar started sparkling.
My Favorite Season
Of all the seasons I would say
This might be the one to stay
As my all time favorite.
First time when I really knew
Seasons could be colorful too
Just exactly as in pictures
That’s the time I truly fell
In love with this, now I guess!
All those times we sure did know
As per science, the seasons four…
We currently live in the free world. We are told that we are free because we are able to own property, seek out paid employment and elect our leaders democratically. These are all important freedoms, and we are lucky to have them. But how free do these freedoms make us? Are having freedoms the same as being free?
Let us first examine our supposed freedoms.
The Meaning of Mantras
Mantras are vocal offerings, in the ancient language of Sanskrit, to the divine (like a prayer):
What are mantras?
Mantras are energy-based sounds. The Indian metaphysical tradition explains that the body is composed of the combination of five elements and the first of them is sound. Studies in sound symbolism suggest that vocal sounds have meaning whether we are aware of it or not.
Uncommon in this common world, I rely on instinct, neither vision nor word; Unlike any common man, I do what I should, not what I can; Different from any common perspective, I see through uncommon angles with no aim, no objective; Separated from the common path of virtuality, I walk on a different path, where dreams become reality. I talk of religion, I talk of spirituality, But when I question, texts become reality; I talk of politics, I talk of crime, But when I question, laws become prime; I talk of relations, I talk of humanity, But when I question, everything becomes formality; I talk of blind faith, I talk of superstition, But when I question, they become religion; I talk of nature, I talk of equality of living, But when I question, caring becomes killing; I talk of honesty, I talk of self-satisfaction, But when I question, money becomes passion; I talk of knowledge, I talk of practicality, But when I question, numbers become personality; I talk of innovation, I talk of technology, But when I question, “new” becomes a terminology; I talk of music, I talk of art, But when I question, meanings fall apart; I talk about wrong, I talk about right, But when I question, “big becomes bright”; I talk of love, I talk of emotions, But when I question, reasons become illusions; I talk of answer, I talk of reason, But when I question, silence becomes a prison.
You will never know the reason for my tears what lives inside and haunts my dreams the past, the pains and fears.
You will never know the reason for my tears I will hide them I will lie I’ve done this for many years.
Accept that you will never know accept what I will share for if you knew the me inside I somehow doubt you’d care..
Interesting things that come down at your way, yet make you unaware of its significance that they lie. In the same manner, life gets unfolded with all those monotonous and tedious work routine of waking, eating, sleeping and other household or office chores. Meanwhile performing those tasks, several memorable, pleasant, laughable, astonishing and at times, melancholic, annoying and eventually nasty things get unnoticed.
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
“The earth laughs in flowers.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Life is half delicious yogurt, half crap, and your job is to keep the plastic spoon in the yogurt.”
― Scott Adams
“I will be the gladdest thing Under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers And not pick one.”
― Edna St. Vincent Millay “Afternoon on a Hill”
“She cast her fragrance and her radiance over me.
Playing around with water and soap was so much fun…. I tried again… this time I filled a bottle with water and tried to catch a soapbubble on top… and succeeded!
bubble on bottle
Sometimes words are more powerful than the lungs that keep you breathing, Sometimes what’s left is the beginning of making it all right, sometimes you find that words touch deeper when read from your screen, Sometimes the mystery ends up part of your destiny. Sometimes the unknown is the path to follow, Sometimes your heartbeat is the compass from which to travel, Don’t wait in the water, don’t drown, Don’t succumb to the rebelling sounds.
Beautifully carved archway of a Beijing Hutong
If Shanghai is one of China’s most fast growing city, Beijing has managed to retain some of its architectural heritage. I was interested in seeing more of the old style houses during my visit to Beijing, which for the most part have unfortunately been destroyed and replaced by newer housing compounds. Wanting to immerse myself in the “Old China Lifestyle” I choose to stay in a traditional courtyard house transformed into a charming hotel in one of the side streets of the reputed Nan Luo Gu Xiang north of the Forbidden City.
“M” is for the million things she gave me, “O” means only that she’s growing old, “T” is for the tears she shed to save me, “H” is for her heart of purest gold; “E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining, “R” means right, and right she’ll always be…
One perception of God(s) is that He/She/It can answer our prayers, grant our wishes, save us from distress and bless us with success in various life challenges.
Obviously in this perception, God is a powerful benefactor, a Divine Father or Divine Mother or Divine being.
Our wishes may range from health, wealth, long life, sons and grandsons, vehicles and food to knowledge, illumination and mOkSa.
Jaipur is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded in 1727, which makes it a baby by Indian standards. The unofficial nickname of Jaipur is the “Pink City”. When the Prince of Wales visited in 1853, the entire city was painted pink, to welcome him as a gift from ruler Sawai Ram Singh. (continued after gallery)
