"Emotions reflect intentions. Therefore, awareness of emotions leads to awareness of intentions.
Every discrepancy between a conscious intention and the emotions that accompany it, points directly to a splintered aspect of the self that requires healing."
Gary Zukav
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Buddhist Thought for the Week
How to reach Enlightenment in this lifetime
Many sects and traditions will have different practices to complement the Eightfold Noble Path laid out by Shakyamuni Buddha, but all have these as their basis:
Right Views: i.e., Knowledge of the Four Noble Truths:
The world is full of suffering and stress.
The cause of this suffering and stress is desires of physical instincts.
If desire can be removed, and suffering and stress will be ended.
Desire can be removed by following the Eightfold Noble Path: Right Views, Right Thoughts, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.
Right Thoughts: Aspire to attain realization of Nirvana, i.e., perfect wisdom, the ultimate true permanent reality.
Right Speech: Abstain from all lying, falsehoods, evil, abusive and frivolous speech.
Right Conduct: Keep the Five Precepts:
Abstain from taking life,
abstain from taking that which is not given,
abstain from misconduct done in lust,
abstain from lying,
abstain from all forms of intoxication.
Right Livelihood: Abstain from all evil living and all manner of ill-gotten gain or means of livelihood.
Right Effort: Abstain from all evil states of mind; foster and maintain virtuous states of mind; compassion, pity, sympathy, calmness and tranquility
Right Mindfulness: Regard everything as being impermanent, ill and corrupt: i.e., all feelings, perceptions, inclinations, consciousness, thoughts, mental states, mental images and mental activities.
Right Concentration: Foster dispassion, detachment, and revulsion for the things of the world as being decaying and impermanent. Practice aloofness from evil states of mind, from the senses and all sensations. Practice dwelling in solitude and seclusion, meditating and reflecting with singleness of mind.
Many sects and traditions will have different practices to complement the Eightfold Noble Path laid out by Shakyamuni Buddha, but all have these as their basis:
Right Views: i.e., Knowledge of the Four Noble Truths:
The world is full of suffering and stress.
The cause of this suffering and stress is desires of physical instincts.
If desire can be removed, and suffering and stress will be ended.
Desire can be removed by following the Eightfold Noble Path: Right Views, Right Thoughts, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.
Right Thoughts: Aspire to attain realization of Nirvana, i.e., perfect wisdom, the ultimate true permanent reality.
Right Speech: Abstain from all lying, falsehoods, evil, abusive and frivolous speech.
Right Conduct: Keep the Five Precepts:
Abstain from taking life,
abstain from taking that which is not given,
abstain from misconduct done in lust,
abstain from lying,
abstain from all forms of intoxication.
Right Livelihood: Abstain from all evil living and all manner of ill-gotten gain or means of livelihood.
Right Effort: Abstain from all evil states of mind; foster and maintain virtuous states of mind; compassion, pity, sympathy, calmness and tranquility
Right Mindfulness: Regard everything as being impermanent, ill and corrupt: i.e., all feelings, perceptions, inclinations, consciousness, thoughts, mental states, mental images and mental activities.
Right Concentration: Foster dispassion, detachment, and revulsion for the things of the world as being decaying and impermanent. Practice aloofness from evil states of mind, from the senses and all sensations. Practice dwelling in solitude and seclusion, meditating and reflecting with singleness of mind.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Good Monday Morning
First and foremost, I apologize for the random nature of this post. It's been a while since I took the time to write out my thoughts but here we go!!
After a great night of sleep I woke feeling refreshed, happy and thankful for another day on Planet Earth. I did have some weird dreams (which I can't remember). Upon seeing the dogs and my husband this AM the weird feeling vanished! Because of the beautiful smile and waging tails that greeted me today it's easy feeling great about life and all that I'm dealing with.
Not sure what to write about but damn Tom Cruise is a handsome man...He's on the Today Show promoting his new film Valkyrie.
This will be my first Christmas in a long while that will be spent with a partner. Married life is an all at once tough, awesome, humbling, trying, easy and hard expricance. That reads crazy even to me so imagine how it is for Geo and I!! There isn't a thing I'd change tho. I love him and working together in our marriage is of the highest importance so we can ensure we 'll remain happily together.
School looms closer and closer. EEEEEK!
The weather here in SF has been great also. Rain is needed in dry California and when the sun does decide to show it's face there's no other place I'd rather live!!!
Time for the morning walk with the pups and I've run out of things to write. I could go on but it would be me only complaining that Bush is still in office and that he wasn't hit by the bold Iraqi reporter who hurld his shoes at him yesterday during a press confernce. Damn ...how funny and poinaint all at once.
Signing off for now!!
PeAce!!!!
After a great night of sleep I woke feeling refreshed, happy and thankful for another day on Planet Earth. I did have some weird dreams (which I can't remember). Upon seeing the dogs and my husband this AM the weird feeling vanished! Because of the beautiful smile and waging tails that greeted me today it's easy feeling great about life and all that I'm dealing with.
Not sure what to write about but damn Tom Cruise is a handsome man...He's on the Today Show promoting his new film Valkyrie.
This will be my first Christmas in a long while that will be spent with a partner. Married life is an all at once tough, awesome, humbling, trying, easy and hard expricance. That reads crazy even to me so imagine how it is for Geo and I!! There isn't a thing I'd change tho. I love him and working together in our marriage is of the highest importance so we can ensure we 'll remain happily together.
School looms closer and closer. EEEEEK!
The weather here in SF has been great also. Rain is needed in dry California and when the sun does decide to show it's face there's no other place I'd rather live!!!
Time for the morning walk with the pups and I've run out of things to write. I could go on but it would be me only complaining that Bush is still in office and that he wasn't hit by the bold Iraqi reporter who hurld his shoes at him yesterday during a press confernce. Damn ...how funny and poinaint all at once.
Signing off for now!!
PeAce!!!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
buddhist thought for the week
Be wise, disciplined and non-violent and you will find peace. Be aware both night and day, continue your practice, and you will attain Nirvana. - Buddha
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Buddhist Thought of the Week
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship;
it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Buddhist thought
The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve. - Buddha ...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Prop 8 Protest: A Call to the LGBTQ Community, Friends, & Family
I’m sure all would agree that with the election of Barack Obama, this week
has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still,
Tuesday night was one of bitter-sweet celebration, as we came together
to witness the first black man who will become our president, and
watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all
voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pendants and bloggers
alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an
explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge pro-equality
event. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious
groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to
mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what, there is
truth in every argument.
As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized
in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and
I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no
different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual
orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from
mobalizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month
of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay
Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that
we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in
such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in
1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of
amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street,
to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness
television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets
celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that
opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage,
and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices
now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in
protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in
ways this country had never seen before! And what happened?
The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced
onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people
had to once and for all accept that we are human too!
Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We
need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE
HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t
be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our
gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and
wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a
right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one
strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be
taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party,
but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation
another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we
come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE!
Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and
let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS
EQAUL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE
LAW!
On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST /
1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out
against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we
have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many
generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR
HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and
get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work
you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more
push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them
see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves
equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!
Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to
the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends,
families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a
demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the
voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!
has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still,
Tuesday night was one of bitter-sweet celebration, as we came together
to witness the first black man who will become our president, and
watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all
voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pendants and bloggers
alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an
explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge pro-equality
event. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious
groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to
mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what, there is
truth in every argument.
As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized
in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and
I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no
different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual
orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from
mobalizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month
of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay
Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that
we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in
such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in
1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of
amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street,
to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness
television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets
celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that
opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage,
and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices
now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in
protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in
ways this country had never seen before! And what happened?
The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced
onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people
had to once and for all accept that we are human too!
Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We
need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE
HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t
be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our
gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and
wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a
right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one
strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be
taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party,
but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation
another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we
come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE!
Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and
let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS
EQAUL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE
LAW!
On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST /
1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out
against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we
have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many
generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR
HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and
get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work
you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more
push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them
see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves
equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!
Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to
the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends,
families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a
demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the
voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election today & I got Married yesterday
Today America is on the cusp of a monumental change. I feel this is a moment that has been anticipated and hoped for by many people since America became a country. All shall remember the day when the first half black man became President!!
Our home requires a new Commander and Chief. Hopefully, then can our country provide a better example of who we really are; and always have been.
Senator Obama is a leader that will change our country. Wounds of many categories created by the current President's leadership have made the world worse. It's time for something new and healther for everyone!!
Local politics in the City are just as interesting as we have a number of ballot measures that effect me and mine.
In measures submitted to the voters today in San Francisco and California we vote for measures banning Gay Marriages to naming a sewage plant after George W. Bush.
Yesterday was a complex and at times difficult day... But after almost not being allowed to marry Geoffrey (because of my lost ID that was stolen during a recent car break-in) we secured our rights by getting Mark Leno's office to contact DMV on our behalf. DMV then faxed over a copy of my info so that we could obtain our marriage licence.I must say that Geoffrey managed to pull a rabit out of his butt type of magic trick. He didn't quit until he our licence was in our hands. Our ceremony was beautiful and brief. We spoke our vows in the Mayors box over looking the grand stairs inside San Francisco's City Hall. Friends and family bared witness and I am now Geoffrey' s spouse. And he is mine!
There was once a time when I thought I'd never marry. I feel blessed and honored to have Geoffrey and I hope to love him for the rest of our lives.
Prop 8 has a chance to win today and while I pray that California doesn't pass this wrong law I can't help but feel satisfied that I've found a mate!!! No one can take this away!! Yesterday was magical and amazing and at this point I'd not wish for anything else!!!
Go Barak and blessings of peace to everyone!!!
Our home requires a new Commander and Chief. Hopefully, then can our country provide a better example of who we really are; and always have been.
Senator Obama is a leader that will change our country. Wounds of many categories created by the current President's leadership have made the world worse. It's time for something new and healther for everyone!!
Local politics in the City are just as interesting as we have a number of ballot measures that effect me and mine.
In measures submitted to the voters today in San Francisco and California we vote for measures banning Gay Marriages to naming a sewage plant after George W. Bush.
Yesterday was a complex and at times difficult day... But after almost not being allowed to marry Geoffrey (because of my lost ID that was stolen during a recent car break-in) we secured our rights by getting Mark Leno's office to contact DMV on our behalf. DMV then faxed over a copy of my info so that we could obtain our marriage licence.I must say that Geoffrey managed to pull a rabit out of his butt type of magic trick. He didn't quit until he our licence was in our hands. Our ceremony was beautiful and brief. We spoke our vows in the Mayors box over looking the grand stairs inside San Francisco's City Hall. Friends and family bared witness and I am now Geoffrey' s spouse. And he is mine!
There was once a time when I thought I'd never marry. I feel blessed and honored to have Geoffrey and I hope to love him for the rest of our lives.
Prop 8 has a chance to win today and while I pray that California doesn't pass this wrong law I can't help but feel satisfied that I've found a mate!!! No one can take this away!! Yesterday was magical and amazing and at this point I'd not wish for anything else!!!
Go Barak and blessings of peace to everyone!!!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
buddhist thought
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill. - Buddha
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
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