Farewell 2012

More than usual I feel mixed emotions about saying goodbye to 2012. It's a year I had long anticipated with both dread and awe. My own "transmissions" had referred to it as far back as 1988 and of course the Mayans had pointed to it many, many years ago -- like several hundred (or possibly thousand) years ago ;) But, the Tibetans seemed to have understood it best. Since the early 1990s His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and many other lamas and monks, assured us the world would not end in 2012. HHDL relies on the famous Tibetan Nechung Oracle, as well as his own omniscience, and he remained steadfast that the "Changing Suns" (as the Mayans called the end of this calendar cycle) simply referred to another evolution in consciousness. Perhaps an end to war and strife.

I hope this is true. My dad spoke of Peace on Earth from his death bed. He told me a time would come when I would write a Peace Treatise. Even though I ended AKS (the novel) with "the Gift of Peace" it's not the Peace Treatise. I feel it coming... SOON.
For now may you find your own peace in 2013. Happy New Year!

the Peace Page

Nearly ten years ago (2003) I wrote "the Peace Page." I sent it as a holiday letter and then posted on my old web page. I was going to post it here, and had thoughts of using it and some other material as a first draft of the Peace Treatise my dad so wanted me to write. But, I have to say it's just not as great as I remember it. Here is a quickly edited, abridged version:
On Being Mad: Many of us spend a lot of energy on anger. We feel frustrated when things don't go the way we want. We get angry at others who hurt or disappoint us, or steal our joy. The truth is, no one can make us angry or steal our joy. We make ourselves mad, sick and angry. Being mad only hurts us. We get sick and dis-eased. Remember;

• How people ACT is their business. How we RE-ACT is our business.
  
• Hatred does not hurt our enemies -- it only hurts us.

On Letting Go: We often hear, "just let it go." Buddhism teaches about "letting go." But how do we do that? We can know that clinging to bitterness and other toxic emotions, like anger, only hurts us, but how can we actually let go of those emotions? Visualizations can help more than layering on more thoughts and feelings. Picture the hate, frustration, despair (insert any emotion here) as an actual object. Make it gross and disgusting. Perhaps a rotted, stinking piece of food. Why cling to that? Would you want to consume that thing? Hell NO! Then why keep bitter, rotting feelings within you? Remember, toxic emotions -- like rotted food -- only hurt you, no one else. Let go of them! Okay, that's just a couple of ideas from the Peace Page. Next I'll post my edited "take" on a friend's Facebook note about the Shift. Did it happen and what is it? Til then, take a breath, smile and toss out the rotted food. ahhhh!

Last Word...

Ha! Last word before the conversion, the shift, the 2012 Solstice. At 4:12 am (Mountain Standard Time) the shift begins. I say begins, because if you watched the Ac Tah Mayan message, he says there is an 8 minute window to experience the full affect of the alignment. He also says this does not occur at the beginning of the Solstice, but actually around 24 hours later. Why?

Ac Tah says think of this like an eclipse or full moon. With an eclipse the most dramatic moment is not when the eclipse first begins, but at the midpoint. For this particular alignment (with the Galactic Center) he says midpoint will come between 12.21 and 12.23. To me, this must mean about 24 hours later... so around 4 am Saturday morning (in my mountain time zone.) And what exactly do we expect at that time? No, not "the end", but a beginning.

I know this is a disappointment to some (like Niki, who wanted the world to end ;) or it may seem like a "cop out", but it's not. After reading many books and articles, I can see there never was a prediction of the end of the world by the Mayans. That was the hype of profiteers. It will feel like insights or realizations, Ac Tah says. He says have paper ready to write down your ideas and new concepts. It might feel like a dream or emotion that seems real for a time, then fades.

The trick is to not let it fade. To not let the moment pass and go on with our unconscious ways. It's the same with making change after the Sandy Hook shootings, or when you make New Year's resolutions. If you don't honor the change, "habit" or routine, the importance will fade away. Years of letting things pass and not caring add up to a lost life of "who cares", "oh well" or "next time."

For once, let's seize the moment and make a change. For ourselves and the world.

Silence

Some days silence is best...

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

the Buddha

Mayan Mayhem

I hardly know where or how to begin... such sychronicity! Yesterday as I was logging off Facebook, I caught a glimpse of a link, not even on my own page, but on the "scroll" or "stream" of updates. And, "Elder Brother Bear" who posted the link (I'd never heard of him before) said, "I don't normally post others information about events..." but he did and I saw it. You see how random this is. I could have forgot all about it, but last night I remembered this tid bit of info and watched the video link.

It opens with a little, old Mayan Shaman dreaming. The moment I saw him, I thought it's Don Alejandro. Then I laughed out loud. Like he's the only Mayan. The subtitles told of the Great Change of Suns with an image of an angry sun and solar flares (like "Flare Aware".) Again, the Mayan Shaman. I thought, there are many old Mayan Shamans and they probably all look like him. But soon I learned it actually IS Don Alejandro!

So, who is Don Alejandro and why such a reaction? JC, Eileen and I had readings with him, actually traveled to Chaco Canyon with him, in 1991. I have often thought about the reading and went to great lengths to find the tape and transcript of it in 2010 when I was publishing AKS. He was an inspiration for parts of the novel. He was old then, and seems ancient now, but determined to live on to help the world with this Great Shift that is about to take place on 12.21.

Don Alejandro tells us this is a time to end injustice, and heal ancestral wounds. I must warn it's a long, winding road with him on this video journey. I was engrossed because of my previous contact with him. It prompted me to locate the transcript of the reading he gave me (again.) It's fascinating so many years later. Everything he predicted has come to pass. He did not think my GodForce book, or "the next one" (AKS), would "go far", but he did see that I would live a comfortable life and never lack for material things. He also said my Mission (something very different, very unique) would come to pass. My Mission? The one I mentioned just yesterday-- writing a Peace Treatise. The timing is all so intriguing. Perhaps the world is finally ready for peace.

Here is the link to Don Alejandro's site: The Shift of the Ages. At least watch the 90 sec clip on the home page. Below is another fascinating exploration of "the Shift" from Ac Tah, a younger Mayan Shaman. He was in Albuquerque a year or so ago, and mentions Albuquerque, in this thirty minute video that explores the effect of particle accelerators, magnetics, and other aspects of the coming alignment. GOOD NEWS: Neither Mayan Shaman suggests the world will end, but that shifts will change our perceptions and possibly our way of life.

dramatic shots

When I decided to blog every day for the rest of the month, I thought about including a dramatic photo each day -- something like this. I never thought the term "dramatic shots" would have such a tragic meaning.

Even as I posted yesterday, I knew there was another shooting. They are becoming so common place; NFL guy over the weekend, Oregon mall the day before. A few hours later we knew this one was not common place. This shooting was at an elementary school, twenty young children were killed and it's one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.

Finally, it seems, we will have a national discussion about gun control, even though in this case gun registration is not the issue.

This mentally ill young man had access to registered guns in his home and used one to kill his own mother, in addition to the 26 others. So tragic. However, the idea that gun manufacturers are making weapons with special finish that resists finger prints, and actually cater to criminals is despicable. This is who we, as a nation, need to target and stop: those who make guns FOR criminals.

No matter what new laws are passed requiring stricter registration, manufacturing, or renewed bans of assault weapons and high capacity magazines, there are already 300 MILLION weapons in the U.S. alone. Criminals and psychopaths will always find a way to kill -- if not with a gun, then with a bomb or chemicals or some other horrible way. But, we must still have the conversation as well as look at why there is such a growing evil in the world.

More than ever I can see that my dad's dying words are so important: we must have PEACE on Earth. And, perhaps NOW is the time for the Peace Treatise.

12 Days of Christmas

That's not a Christmas tree... that's a big, frosty Indica bud. Now why would I post that type of green for the holidays? Because it's my dream gift? -- this beautiful "Patient’s Choice of Colorado" bud? (LOL, Polvo ;) Because Colorado's Governor signed the law this week making it legal to "light up" there? (Ho, Ho, HO...I'm dashing through the snow!)

Actually, I've decided to blog every day now through Christmas (maybe through the New Year) to 1) catch up on my yearly postings since I've been naughty about keeping the blog current this year, and 2) to maintain my morning writing habit that I so finely honed in November. (Yes, I did write the 50K and never even posted my winner badge here. Instead it's over on that nasty Fbook site.)

As for pot, why has it taken so long to make it legal? It's not a drug, it's a weed. I should be able to grow anything I want and eat or smoke it. Where are the right wing, wing nuts on this personal liberty and fabulous source of revenue? Should I have to drive 400 miles to Colorado to light up? Not if one has a medical marijuana card. That, my friends, is already legal here in the Land of Enchantment. Ahhhh...

It's 12.12.12

What does it mean, other than 10 days to the really big "shoe" of 12.21 and end of the Mayan Calendar? I published my GodForce eBook last year on 11.11.11 and swore I would release my Vision book on this date. Clearly that hasn't happened. To be honest, with my brother Jeff's situation, followed by my situation, and then the word count frenzy that was the annual November Nano nonsense, I just plain lost track of this date until a few daze ago. Geez! I am disappointed with myself. As a project manager (for goverment and now for ZiaLink Ink and CogDisCo),  generally I stay on point.  sigh...

So, all I can do now is look at some of the mystery and mysticism surrounding cosmic coincidences such as dates like this and 12.21.  This is interesting:  How to Interpret 12.12.12
Some people like to get married or have children on these auspicious dates. Others look at the numerology, astrology, or apparently the Longitude (if you're in that mood ;) Some like to gamble or buy lottery tickets on these days  (it is Wednesday, think Powerball) and others like to meditate or contemplate the cosmic significance of such synchronicity. After all, a giant astroid whizzed by Earth just as the first time zone shifted to 12.12.12.  hmmmmm.   Here's what ABC said this morning (after you endure the 30 sec ad, sorry):

  

As both scientists and Dharma teachers remind us, there are only three possible outcomes for today (or any day):  something Good will happen, something Bad will happen, or nothing special will happen.  Those who track such things, the Global Prediction poll, report: 

     54% believe something good will happen on a global scale.

          41% believe nothing globally significant will happen

            5% believe something bad will happen on a global scale. 

All we can do now is wait and watch-- today's outcome and what happens a week from Friday when the ominous Winter Solstice of 2012 arrives. As for the next possible publishing date for me? How about 11.12.13 ;) if the world keeps spinning and the oceans don't rise. el Polvo, it's up to YOU to send in the Mayan Status from Guatemala. Please do!!

It's the Coalition...

... I'll refrain from saying "Stupid" because I really do want to end all the hyper-partisan bickering now. But the media is asking over and over this morning "what happened?" And that really is the answer. "It's the coalition..."  United we stand.

No, you can't "have your country back" if that is code for "kick the black guy out of office and put the old, hawkish white men back in charge." Sorry, but America really is a melting pot, as I was taught in grade school (in Iowa, I might add. And, thank you, Iowa, for staying True Blue.) Our strength has always been our diversity. This is not Nazi Germany and we don't want genocide here (the deliberate and systematic destruction of certain ethnic, racial or religious groups.)

It's amazing to me that we applaud and actually help other countries get rid of their oppressive dictators and immoral leaders, yet apparently half of this country wants a regime that would impose the most unthinkable laws against women's rights. Worse than forcing us to wear a burka, Republicans (in Virginia) tried to pass a law requiring transvaginal probes. Not only no, but HELL NO!  That abomination, combined with ridiculous characterizations of rape, "binders of women" and ongoing "femi-nazi" put-downs, was apparently enough to send women running to the polls and kept them and others standing in line for hours so we could continue to move FORWARD. 

Yes, women are in solidarity with African Americans who still fight for equality, and Hispanics who must constantly prove they are "legal."  With Asian Americans and other minorities, and those who are sick of being labeled and embarrassed over their right to chose a partner, or religion. Nearly 80% of Romney supporters were white, heterosexual Christians. That's fine, but where is the Christian compassion and love when it comes to helping your brothers and sisters?  I didn't see much.

Being a Buddhist has shown me how cruel and intolerant Christians can be. Not all, but many would prefer to lump my philosophy with a cult, even though there is considerable evidence that Jesus learned his teachings of love and compassion from early Buddhists (think wise men from the east.) It wasn't the wrathful God of the Old Testament Jews he was preaching. I digress, but my point is about tolerance and we all need more, myself included. 

Can we put an end to all the nonsense about socialism and "Redistribution of Wealth", please! What is wrong with sharing. When Jesus discussed tithing, I don't think it was to accumulate a big war chest to build cathedrals or militia.  It was to help the poor.  How about a quote from a famous dead white guy, Francis Bacon,  "Money is like muck, not good unless it is spread."  So, those of you in the 1%, or even like me with some to spare, let's SHARE!  And, finally, my hat is off to Nate Silver's Political Calculus. Wow, was he spot on with his electoral assessment!

Oh, one more thing. I do feel your pain, repubs. I vividly recall the sadness and despair I felt in the 2000 election when "manifest destiny" was denied to our environmental savior and Millennial Man Al Gore. But, here's your chance to show Christian compassion. Reach out now, instead of trying to trip up the President. Let's truly work to create a United States of America with liberty and justice FOR ALL. 

3K in Three Days

Ha, child's play-- writing three thousand words over the next three days. BECAUSE once NanoWrimo begins you need to write 5K every three days for a month to stay on track. Okay, let's back up. Why do I need to write 3K in three days now, when Nano doesn't start until November 1st?

I decided to flex my writing muscle in advance of Nano this year.  I'm kind of out of practice and like any skill, it's a "use it or lose it" thing with writing. So back on October 10 I set a goal of writing 500 words a day.  That got me back in a daily routine. By 10.20.2012 I had five thousand fresh words in a file. yay!  What kind of words, you wonder. No, not a bunch of curse words, nonsense, random tweets, or emails stuffed into a file. ;) This is semi-coherent writing practice.

Lama Dorjee of Dallas and me @KTC

Then I took off a few days (bad for writing routine, but good for karma) to retreat with my KTC Buddhist gang for some Bardo teachings.  Lama "DD" is one of my favorites. He calls himself the Jolly Lama because he laughs a lot. He even got off a few jokes and giggles during the Bardo (Book of the Dead) teachings!

I wrote a bit those days, mostly journaling, not part of my PreNano file.  As of today the file has 7061 words. This is where I get the 3K in three days concept. I also vowed to write at least ten thousand words in October as Nano prep. 

I'm not worried. I better be able to whip out a "K a Day" if there's any hope of writing 1667 a day every day in November. Yeah, I've heard of those people who claim to write the whole 50K in a few frenzied days, but those are rare birds. My experience is once you fall behind, it's a steep climb to write 3300 or 5,000 words in a day to catch up. It's rough writing 5K every three days for a month, but I intend to do it for my Ninth Nano cycle. GADZ! Wish me luck! BTW, this is 450 words, just for reference.

Living with WHO?

 

Can relationships survive different political views?  

Did I just hear this correctly? Did Whoopi Goldberg (on "The View") call it dumb to base who you love on what they think? Really? Geez, one of the most opinionated people I can think of  (next to myself ;) and someone who also chooses to live alone for that very reason! How could I love or live with someone who didn't respect my choices about my own body, my choice of religion, life philosophy, beliefs about what I consume (both mentally and physically), how to treat other life forms (all sentient beings have a right to live) and yes, political views.  Why would you want to live with someone who constantly creates dis-ease and dissension?

This flows both ways. I realize my views might seem strange or disturbing to others, and that is exactly why I don't want to live with anyone who doesn't share my basic beliefs. For their sake and mine, who needs constant bickering and disagreement? Congress isn't bi-partisan enough to pass a budget or a bill, so how could two people with radically different views about abortion, planned parenthood, money or religion live together comfortably?  And people wonder why there is so much DIS-ease, ulcers, indigestion, high blood pressure and even cancer? Living with people who constantly disrupt and upset you is not a recipe for happiness. Remind me again, Whoopi, how many failed relationships have you had? Maybe the really dumb thing is trying to ignore the elephant in the kitchen. Donkeys and elephants just don't see eye-to-eye. Character DOES matter, when it comes to who I vote for, and certainly who or whom I would live with. As for someone who is anti-choice and thinks it's okay for the government to regulate my sexual or reproductive choices, YES that is definitely a "deal-breaker."

the bottom line

This is not really how I wanted to spend my day, but I just watched the first Presidential Debate again so I could assess what really happened. For one thing, a candidate and incumbent inherently must act differently. The challenger has nothing to lose and can say anything. The office holder, in this case the President of the United States, is obligated to speak and  act in the MOST responsible way. The POTUS can't just "cut loose" and get scrappy. He must choose every word very carefully, because again, he already IS the President. This explains why Obama seemed feisty, energized and "scrappy" himself four years ago against Hillary. Having been the First Lady, Mrs. Clinton spoke in a measured, cautious way while then-candidate Obama gave a no-holes barred performance. Performance is the best word for these debates. Ronald Reagan, an actor, gave a great performance when he delivered his so-called zingers with zest and zeal. I have a different recollection of his actual presidency, tho, than Repubs who only remember Saint Reagan. I remember a doddering, often out of touch, ceremonial President who focused on photo-ops and gave us supply-side "Reaganomics" that did not trickle down to anyone. Sorry, I'm determined to keep this post as civil as the gentlemen we saw in the debate (they were civil, and that was welcome.)

Watching again today, I can see the proclaimed Romney win is over-rated. Fact checkers will show that contrary to Mitt's "zinger" (you're entitled to your own plane and your own house, but not your own facts) it was really Mitt making up facts. For instance, when he brings up the old saw about cutting waste and abuse, the truth is no President has cut more waste than Obama--over a trillion dollars. Romney could only cite a few programs, including funding to PBS, to get specific about how he would balance the budget with cuts alone. Those few minor programs won't make a dent in the massive debt generated by wars costing billions per day. During his closing remarks, Romney made sure to appeal to the hawks saying he wouldn't "devastate the military." But, c'mon Mitt, tackling the bloated defense budget, which really is a source of waste and abuse, is the only way to truly impact the federal budget and deficit.

Yes, President Obama could have been more concise, given pithy, punchy answers and smarter quips, perhaps, to enhance the theatrics, but he was honest and fact-checking will prove that. I just documented all of Mitt's promises, and none of them bear any resemblance to what he told his wealthy friends when he wrote off 47% of Americans who he basically accused of "mooching" off the system. So, for the next debate I hope we can figure out who is the real Romney; the Centrist who sounded smooth, compassionate and reasonable last night, or the radical right-winger who promised the tea party a slashed lean and mean federal government, or the corporate raider who hides money in the Cayman Islands and owes his soul to the super pac zillionaires. As for the President, let's hope he can call out the lie about the $716 billion cuts to medicaid, and make Mitt answer for past attacks on planned parenthood, women's reproductive rights and support for corporate welfare that he so slyly slipped past on stage. Let's see the next debate before we make any hasty decisions.

Equinox in Abiquiu (Redux)

I went to Northern New Mexico last year to work on my Vision book, to try and see more clearly and camped at Abiquiu Lake. While I was there I met Cosmic Connie. This year we agreed to meet again, same time (Equinox) and same place. So, yes, I went to see Connie, but I also went to SEE. I still need to see much more clearly before I can ever think about writing the book. And, maybe I will never write it.  

Just before I left I was listening to some critic blathering on (on television) about his view of "The Master" movie. I really saw then how foolish it is to rant and pontificate. It serves no purpose. Idle chatter. WORDS, I realized, are as empty as Shunyata. What is that, you ask. Clearly seeing, or comprehending Shunyata, is a key milestone in Buddhist practice. Essentially you could say, "There is neither reality nor not-reality; only relativity." Don't worry if you don't "get that" immediately. There are monks and sadhus who have spent years in caves pondering these concepts. After all, if it was easy, it wouldn't be a problem ;) 

All phenomena are void of self-essence, but it is incorrect to say that phenomena exist or don’t exist. Form and appearance create the world of myriad things, but the myriad things have identity only in relation to each other. Beyond identity, shunyata is an absolute reality that is all things and beings, unmanifested.

After many years of pondering some of these philosophical quandaries, I SEE a glimmer of insight. And, insight = Vision. It is the Tibetan Tantric view that we don't teach or even talk about these insights, especially when we still have obscurations and afflictions.  I certainly still have both. All this rambling to say, I'm going to stop posting and pontificating about these concepts and just like a good writer SHOW not tell. 

A science by itself is neither good nor bad. What makes it good or bad is how it is applied.  

Traveling in the Twilight Zone ;)

okay, I'll try not to complain this time. There were many aspects of the trip that I enjoyed and one that was straight out of the Twilight Zone.  Of course reuniting with Jeff was the main highlight (more fam pics to follow.) Serene moments like this were also high on the list. I was surprised by the spectacular scenery along I-70 coming home. Just west of Green River is basically more of the North rim of the Canyonlands!  Very pleasant surprise. Avoiding Price and Soldier's Summit was a blessing in itself.

I had the most incredible, really unbelievable experience on the return trip through Moab. Since so few read this blog, I'm going to tell you. If you recall (from prior posts) how much I disliked the development around Moab as I drove up to Idaho, then this will blow your mind.
Approaching Moab, on Highway 191 South from Green River, I was dreading the sight of hot asphalt, construction and all the misery that goes along with "progress." Surprisingly, as I drove along waiting for the congestion, road workers and all the new buildings, I never saw them. The highway was two lanes with no sign of recent work. I drove further and soon I saw all the quaint little buildings and charming sites that I remembered from years ago.

I had strong thoughts of my friend Tom who loved to base jump from those fantastic red rock formations. He died in a freakish accident over six years ago. All those famous formations were visible, not blocked by any tall apartment or business buildings. I kept looking for the development that bothered me so much on the way up, but I didn't see any of it. I thought it must be at the other end of town. But as  I continued on, soon I was on my way out of Moab and still driving on a two lane dusty road. Then came the shock. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw pitch black asphalt, double lanes, with cones and machines and a lot of construction. Ahead, once again just my quiet two lane road. I thought to pull the van over, get out and investigate, but then I heard these words in my head:  "Don't try to figure it out, just enjoy." Somehow I know this was a message from Tom.  He used to give me the same advice about my spiritual insights and "Cosmic Transmissions" back in the 80s; "Just notice, give thanks and carry on" he would tell me.  So, Tom, strange and inexplicable as it was, I took your advice and just enjoyed. Thank you! Coming home was very nice. Perception is a fascinating thing!   

Rescue Mission (Part Deux)

Be sure and read the August 13 Part One post first, so this will make sense.
Part One was written BEFORE I got to Boise. In other words, the real trials and tribulations lessons were just beginning. About twenty miles outside of Boise I called my friend Jonathan to tell him the road was really rough and it was shaking my van so badly that all the stuff I picked up from the floor (after the near catastrophe at Bernalillo) was falling out again. The pavement was in that grooved/pre-prepped condition you've seen before the asphalt is added. I couldn't believe how badly the van was vibrating. I thought it would fall apart!  I told JC it felt like the rutted road to Chaco Canyon (one of the worst.) 

Truly "riding the rim" 

Izzi wonders "WTF?"

When I finally pulled into the Riverside RV Park in Boise, I told the office manager I needed to go to Big O Tires before I even set up. I wondered if the rough road had damaged my tires or if one or more of them were low on air.  She said I was in luck because there was one close by (less than 5 miles.)


 I navigated there with my GPS phone and just as I was making the turn into the Big O lot 
 I heard a loud explosion.

My van lurched to the right because the back right tire literally blew out at Big O in their parking lot!  STOP and really think about how incredible that was. Part of that rough ride was because my tire was "going south" at 75 mph!!  After driving one thousand miles at freeway speed, going through FOUR mountain passes with sheer drop offs, rough roads (sometimes gravel at the RV parks) and much of this in 90 to 100 degree heat, the tire blew pulling in to the Big O. What a blessing!  I wanted to prostrate on the spot.  Truly a miracle that it happened in such a perfectly safe place and seemed related to my Mercy Mission to rescue my long lost "brother." 

The next morning (August 14, at 10am) Jeff was released. I don't think I'm up for posting all the details of that, but it was extremely emotional.  Since then it's been both fabulous and challenging. This is not going to be an easy adjustment for him.  He will continue to be on parole for a long time (several years) and required to stay in the Boise district. I don't see how anyone coming out of prison can make it without help from a friend or family member. He was released with just 66 cents --  not even a buck for bus fare. He is totally indigent.  He had a box of papers, books I had sent him, and a few toiletry items. That was it. He had a distant, vacant look in his eyes when I first met him.  Amazingly, just hours later, after a shower and change into street clothes I brought him, he looked great at our reunion lunch.  


Since then I've taken him to get more clothes, groceries and supplies, signed him up for food stamps, got his one month voucher for a sleezy motel, been to Parole and Probation (twice), taken him to other required locations and today bought him a used (but very nice) Trek bicycle. He's going to have to figure out how to navigate Boise by bike and bus to get a job and continue making all his required meetings. I hope he's lucky and he can get a job before his voucher expires. Most  importantly, I hope he can stay away from his former vices and the kind of seedy influences that got him in trouble in the first place. To me, all the junkies and addicts hanging around these required meetings are a huge problem, but apparently "the state" thinks the problem is allowing him to bike with his family on the famous Boise greenbelt bike trail / River Run.  THAT is prohibited. No wonder prison recidivism rates are so high.  

Why I hate traveling (Part One)

This could also be called "Why I LOVE traveling-- My Sandpaper Teachers"  or  ONE THOUSAND MILES of Lessons:  I've certainly had some miserable experiences fabulous opportunities for putting the Dharma into real Practice driving from ABQ to Boise to rescue my "brother."  You'll hear more about the rescue mission in Part Deux.  Just 20 miles out of ABQ  (Bernalillo exit on I-25 North) a car in the far left lane decided to exit right.  He crossed all the lanes directly in front of my five ton RV van. He cut in so close I swerved and had there been a car next to me it would have been a nasty crash, very nasty as in I probably would have rolled the van. Even so, the sudden jolt sent most of my belongings crashing down out of cabinets and bags into one giant mess in the middle of my van.  Nice start, eh? Yes, but grateful that Izzi and I survived. It seemed like a bad omen.  It was!  And, just the beginning of a series of  unfortunate events, as Lemony Snicket would call them.   

There was the elderly curmudgeon at Bloomfield (NM) who was shaking his stick and telling me I couldn't park at the Carson National forest ranger station.  Maybe because this "way mark " made it a sought after stopping point?  That's my van peeking out behind the tree. Great spot, actually. I felt safe there. 

I stopped at a little park in Monticello, Utah for a late lunch. The place was empty when I parked.  But soon a hoard of skate boarders arrived.  Izzi cannot stand kids on bikes or skate boards because some little neighborhood rug rats teased her when she was a pup.  So now she barks her head off at the sight of them. She was soon drowned out, though, by the noise from the guy who just had to fire up the massive riding mower in the heat of the afternoon. Yep, people are my teachers.  Ahhhh.  We left.  

  

Cosmic Connie asked about Moab. It was always one of my favorite places.  I mean look at this naturally occurring mammoth stupa as you approach.  The rock formations are honestly out of this world, but in their quest to live near these spectacular places (like Sedona and now Moab) people have yet again ruined the very places that inspired them to move there. Now instead of the awesome natural landscape you see man-made megalithic monstrosities that made me want to cry. All the beauty blocked, triple-wide blacktop expansion and asphalt work in the 100 degree heat, traffic jams and exhaust fumes. In a word, it was awful. I didn't even stop.   

The little Shady Acres RV park in Green River was my oasis. Cool, after a brief rain storm, breezy, and the nicest shower facilities I've found on the road. A welcome respite from the road wars.  

But trouble was determined to find me the next day in the form of a "critter" that got in my engine (or vent system?) I heard the irregular scratching of little claws. Pack rat? Moab lizard?  I was totally freaked out thinking it might pop out by my feet near the gas pedal.  But then the smell of singed fur and the scratching stopped. But that was nothing compared to what transpired between Price, Utah and Soldier Summit.  I had forgotten why I used to take the long route from Green River through Salina and Nephi, rather than Price. This trip reminded me. It took three and half hours to make the 60 mile stretch of Highway 191 that involves the 7800 ft Soldier Summit pass. It might look benign in that web cam view, but not on the day I drove through. Just before reaching the actual summit, on one of the winding, narrow mountain curves, a cattle truck had collided with a semi.  This is a sight you never want to see and one that I will never forget. I'll spare you the details, but as I've told my friends, I became an instant vegetarian.  

I barely had time to catch my breath after that fiasco, and then found myself in the sprawl that is the Salt Lake City metropolis. It begins around Provo and continues all the way through the I-15 corridor into Brigham City and Logan. That was was a solid six hour white-knuckle run getting through the mountain mess then the metro mess. No lunch and only one quick gas up and K9 and human bio break. Not a fun day of traveling, IMHO. I finally collapsed in the parking lot of a country diner near Tremonton. The scenery was gorgeous, and most importantly, it was QUIET!  

  

My Twin Falls experience wasn't any better. I didn't make a camping reservation for Sunday night hoping I could find a cheap motel, take a real shower and sleep on a real bed. But, the thought of bed bugs came to mind when I actually saw the "cheap" motels. To avoid that and stay in a nice, dog-friendly place would have cost around $150 for one night. No thanks. So after wasting 90 minutes of tedious town driving, I ended up back on the freeway and found the "Bates Motel" of RV parks-- a wacky place in Wendell, Idaho. This place featured a coin-operated shower, that required a super secret system to enter. If you didn't find the hidden code on the hand-out sheet you would not get a shower. It looks much nicer in this pic than it was thanks to the fun fountain. The park smelled weird, like it might be on a EPA chemical clean-up site. (Turns out that was the forest fires nearby.) Bye bye Bates family (I was writing all this the morning of Aug 13 at their park using my WiFi and their power.)  Next update: the Boise / Riverside info.

Anti-Violence

This was posted on Fbook by a "conservative patriot" (their term.) Fascinatingly a group of "liberal patriots" (my term) used this same logic when we promoted the internet back in the 90s.

Our logic: a phone doesn't create sex crimes, a car isn't the reason a child gets kidnapped, and the internet shouldn't be blamed for the rampant sex and child pornography problems that were proliferated by it.

While it may be true that inanimate objects don't cause crime, they do in fact contribute to it. Violence breeds more violence. Seeing so much violence in movies, on TV, and reading about it is affecting us. It's why I stopped watching slasher flicks and stopped reading serial killer and other violent novels. I couldn't sleep and when I did I had nightmares. For several years I have turned off the TV at a certain point and read books with positive messages as I go to sleep. I get lots of deep REM sleep now and have insightful dreams.  I'm even working on lucid dreaming (a topic for another post.) 

People who don't see a correlation between violent media and a violent society are fooling themselves. Those of us of a certain age grew up with television shows where families shared values of kindness and consideration. The programs usually had a message-- crime doesn't pay or what goes around, comes around.  Even Twilight Zone and the Hitchcock shows had life messages that we still remember. Some will argue that the "Dark Knight" and other bloody movies have positive messages, too, but it's the intense, graphic violence that is a mind cancer. Eventually it will become obvious that dis-ease begins in the mind. ALL dis-ease has roots in negative thoughts and fear.

So while inanimate objects may not cause crime, violent negative messages do create a sick society. So, it's not that I am for more gun control as much as I am anti-violence. We should have dialed back on all this years ago. I applaud Harvey Weinstein for proposing a summit of movie makers to review on-screen violence. Yes, Amen and Namaste to that!

the God Particle?

How to understand the God Particle article

this will work, also  Beyond the GodForce

In short: that which, "orchestrates the cosmic symphony.”

(from From Leon Lederman, on The God Particle)
A TALE OF TWO PARTICLES AND THE ULTIMATE T-SHIRT 

@Writer's Relief (on Twitter) asked if you would rather write your next project with a calligraphy pen or old style typewriter? The answer takes more than 144 characters. I periodically get nostalgic for old technology and tools. Fountain pens, typewriters and sometimes early computers and gadgets seem soooo appealing. I love to look at them and end up collecting some...
but when it comes to actually using them, nah.

Just writing a few notes with this fab old portable 1935 Royal that I bought a few months ago was tiring. Fun, yes, but when you make a mistake, or change your mind, it's exhausting to fix. I own both of these portables and delicious as they are to admire, give me my computer keyboard and Word for serious writing.  Not a pen, iPad, smartphone or typewriter. I want a nice comfy keyboard, big flat WYSiWYG screen and Word. ahhhh! YOU?

Volitional Impulses

A key concept in Buddhism is Dependent Arising, also known as "Dependent Origination."  Buddha is said to have called it a natural law, emphasizing seeing the nature of things as-they-are over speculation of what might have happened in the past or what might happen in the future. In other words, rather than worry about what is God, and "First Cause" (how arising and ceasing began, or even if it had a beginning), we simply accept--  and see things-- as they are now.

Things are the way they are because they are conditioned by other things. We are conditioned by other people and phenomena. Other people and phenomena are conditioned by you, we are told.  The Buddha explained, the principle of conditionality, this way:

When this is, that is.
This arising, that arises.
When this is not, that is not.
This ceasing, that ceases.

In an elaboration of the principle, the chain of causation begins with the idea we are conditioned by "volitional impulses" (defined as the act of willing, choosing, or resolving. Previously, I thought this was volatile impulses, and would say "that too.") Anyway, HHDL is teaching on this principle this weekend, and sums it up as simply seeing things as they are, aka Seeing Clearly. The Dalai Lama tells us a key factor in the teaching is realizing

Nothing Is Permanent   

His Holiness says, "Once we appreciate that fundamental disparity between appearance and reality, we gain a certain insight into the way our emotions work, and how we react to events and objects. Underlying the strong emotional responses we have to situations, we see that there is an assumption that some kind of independently existing reality exists out there. In this way, we develop an insight into the various functions of the mind and the different levels of consciousness within us. We also grow to understand that although certain types of mental or emotional states seem so real, and although objects appear to be so vivid, in reality they are mere illusions. They do not really exist in the way we think they do."

Put another way, "you" are a phenomenon of the Causal Nexis in the way a wave is a phenomenon of ocean. A wave is not a piece of the ocean, like a brick is a piece of a wall. A wave is ocean. Although a wave is a distinct phenomenon it cannot be separated from ocean in the way a brick can be taken out of a wall. When conditions cause a wave, nothing is added to ocean. When the activity of wave ceases, nothing is taken away from ocean.

The teaching of Dependent Origination connects to many other teachings, including that of karma.  Understanding of Dependent Origination is essential to understanding Buddhism, HHDL tells us.

A real Spectacle!

This is the spectacular Sunday solar eclipse I saw here in Albuquerque! The sky wasn't that dark around it, but this is the color and appearance I achieved using my homemade eclipse viewers. HOMEMADE, you say?  Sigh, yes...
Trying to get into Balloon park (the only place left in ABQ that supposedly had eclipse glasses) we discovered, due to huge crowds, the City had let people get in line as early as 2:30.  When we tried to get in, around 5ish, the line exceeded any line I've been in, including Comdex 2000, Disney World and past Balloon Fiestas (no joke.) Plus traffic coming out of the park was much worse than going in (at 5 pm mind you.)  I actually drove right in to the museum lot and then realized why. The LINE!! The mass of humanity, the throng. A volunteer explained only about 1/4 of those people would actually get glasses, because they had already given out 1500 of the 2000 set aside. With that we left.

I was not to be denied seeing my 2012 Ocular Omen, especially being in the perfect path of annularity. Having already called hardware stores looking for welder's goggles Saturday, I knew none could be found. All goggles were gone. I pulled into Auto Zone. The clerk said he had been dealing with this all day. He suggested some high rated UV "limo black" windshield tint. I grabbed it out of his hand, paid and we were off. We improvised triple lining our shades with the stuff. These, over the top of my already UV protected Transitions eye glass lenses resulted in black out... UNTIL I glanced at the sun. WOW, I could actually see the round shape of the sun, not just a glare of light. I knew we had it. Off to the nearest park with an unobstructed view. Not a cloud in the sky. It was well worth the effort.
I'm not blind yet and I saw it, just like above. I had no way to photograph it myself. Poor people around us peeking through pin holes got the treat of a life time when we handed off our makeshift viewers. We did not stare. We just glanced and I advised all others to do the same. I will be ordering a pair of professional solar screens sometime before the 2017 total eclipse-- assuming we survive the end of the Mayan calendar this year ;)

Vesak Time!!

If this tiny turtle hatching isn't the ideal image for Spring, new beginnings and the ancient Indian tradition of Vesak (pronounced vuh'sawk for Westerners, or Vesākha, Sanskrit vaiśākha) then what is? (What Is, I'm cracking up with puns ;) But seriously (I'm Sirius... see I can't stop) this weekend is a sacred holiday for Sikhs, "hindis" and many Buddhists who have tied all the key events of Awakening (Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passage to the Bardo) to this one Full Moon in May. Tibetans won't celebrate Saga Dawa until June 4, but Vesak celebration goes back to ancient Vedic times. So, many Dharma students (myself included) celebrate both holidays. Vesak is especially important, IMHO, since it is the time when the ethereal realm is most accessible (parting of the Veil, or Shambhala becomes manifest.) Sunday night is the actual Vesaka (event), but the preceding days are a time of purification so we can "raise our vibration" to SEE and participate in this amazing event. I will leave some "bread crumbs" below for those really interested in following the Thread ;) Namaste!

I was asked to guest blog on Ted Hand's egg-sword-alchemy, er I mean "Philip K. Dick and Religion" blog. This image is one he uses on his site. I did a two part post. Part One begins on his blog. Part Two is an old piece I wrote in 2000 called my PKD Big Bang, now posted on my book blog. For the Buddhists, who might be scratching their heads, my novel focuses a lot on dead science fiction writer PKD. But, see how conveniently I keep "religion" to the forefront ;) Namaste!

Embracing the Moon (and Justin)

I haven't blogged about the fact that Justin Stone, the Originator of T'ai Chi Chih (who lived here in ABQ, NM for many years) died recently (3.28.2012) I wasn't close to him, like my teachers Rhonda and Carmen, but I had a lot of respect for his work and the fact he was astoundingly healthy and active into his 90s. That alone is a tremendous testament to the value of his short form of T'ai Chi.

One of his aides and publisher of his books and multi media (Kim at Good Karma Publishing) extended an offer for some of us to submit a piece for a memorial booklet. I'm not sure if mine will be included, but I sent in the following with the photo of my TCC journal:

I discovered T’ai Chi Chih the way I’m sure many others did, thanks to Carmen Brocklehurst’s teachings on KNME (our local PBS TV.) When I went to the TCC Center to study and practice, I met Justin, the originator of TCC, and knew we were blessed to have such an amazing resource right here in our midst. So for Justin’s 85th birthday, I wrote a piece called “Embracing the Moon.” It was part poem, part prose. Justin liked it enough to send me a postcard and comment on it. I have kept that card (shown here) along with another featuring Justin’s original art “Lover and Beloved” in my “yin/yang” T’ai Chi Chih journal since 2001.
The photo is one we called “Master and Students” that I shot in March 2008, at a TCC retreat in ABQ. At 91, Justin was still teaching and correcting our movements and when he told his stories, we all sat mesmerized.

Justin’s Heightened Awareness book (© Good Karma Publishing, 1988/1994) begins with a quote about the moon: “No matter how small the drop of water, it reflects the entire moon.” It was the first book I read of Justin’s and it inspired my piece. I would like to include a brief excerpt of my article here:

“The moon is simply the moon--an orb in the sky, but from our perspective its form is constantly changing. We watch the moon wax and wane, yin and yang, from fullness to a sliver of new moon; a graceful, cyclical, circular, ever-changing process. We embrace that motion in Tai Chi Chih!

Justin tells a story of a time while he was in the far East. Zen monks invited him to stay and sit zazen (in meditation) with them. Justin noticed the sun was setting and he had a long way to travel. He told the monks he felt he should leave while there was still daylight. An old monk, the Master, told him not to worry, to stay and sit. "After all," the master said, "the moon gives light too."

Moonlight is soft, reflective light. Like the moon, I am a reflection of All That Is. I am learning to embrace the moon. Today, after seeing you, Justin, at the Center for practice, I thought of this Haiku for your birthday:

Fall moonlight is soft,
reflective of All That Is.
We embrace the Moon.”

I have many delightful memories of Justin talking, sharing his “stories of the East”, and thankfully we have his books, tapes, CDs and DVDs to always gently remind us of our path and practice. Whenever I see the moon, Justin, I will think of you and that soft reflective light. Namaste Justin!

the Virus of Joy

I think I can link several disparate topics (of course I can, just a matter if it will make sense to anyone else ;) I've been on quite the mental roller coaster ride the past few days -- obsessing over iOn (WTF?) I have to mention it, if not analyze it a bit, for the other iOn addicts out there (or god forbid, future addicts.) Is iOn a grand hoax or truly the evolution of consciousness? I've been back and forth calling it nonsense one day, then listening again the next. I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has listened to a few of the 4200 hours of iOn radio, Info Farm excerpts, or even "multiple Bob" banter. Then there's the business (commercial biz) of RnA drops. Given my own interest/investment in healing over the past few months -- the Healing Project -- I'm very skeptical of this formula. At Healing Options we are focusing on ancient proven remedies so this potential "snake oil" is a red flag for sure. IF you've tried it or know about it, please chime in.

I've spent HOURS researching both of these topics (iOn and RnA drops) but for now I would rather hear from others. If there is interest, I'll start a dialogue. If not, then move along, or I should say resume your meditation. Far be it from me to try and distract anyone who is "head down" or firmly on the path. I'm over here like a "fart in a skillet", as my Dad used to say, wildly distracted rather than "head down" as I should be with my Vajrayana practice. Comment on that, too, if you'd like (gentle encouragement to get back on the pillow) or indulge in this crazy iOn world if you dare ;)

So, why the Virus of Joy? If we must spread thoughts or "infect" others, as we do through communication and sharing ideas, then let's at least spread happiness and joy, rather than negativity and cynicism. How-iOnic indeed, since I'm disparaging the motives of iOn and those spreading the Message. So, what's the fastest path to your joy? As iOn would say, "enjoy the ride."