Last Night as I was Sleeping (Antonio Machado)

Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt -marvelous error-
That a spring was breaking
out in my heart.

I said: Along which secret aqueducts,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
Water of a new life
That I have never drunk?


Last night, as I was sleeping
I dreamt -marvelous error-
That I had a beehive
Here inside my heart.

And the golden bees
Were making white combs
And sweet honey
From my old failures.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt;marvelous error!-
That a fiery sun was giving
Light inside my heart.

It was fiery because I felt
Warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
And brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt- marvelous error!;
That it was God I had
here inside my heart.

Is soul asleep?
Have those beehives that labor
At night stopped? And the water wheel
Of thought, is it dry
The cups empty, wheeling,
carrying only shadows?

I love Jesus who said to us:
"Heaven and earth will pass away.
When heaven and earth have passed away,
my word will remain".

What was your word, Jesus?
Love? Affection? Forgiveness?
All your words were one word;
Wake up!

Tucson Memorial Euology

Follow the link for the entire speech. Many inspiring words and reason for hope in a difficult time.

Follow the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztbJmXQDIGA&feature=related

Attachment

I have lately been thinking about the way attachment to ideas and behavior influences the way we experience life. The image of a kite with a long tail has come to me in dreams. The tail has become ensnared in thorny brambles and tugs endlessly in the breeze, never getting enough lift to soar freely into the expansive sky. Of course the tail is ensnared by various attachments, literally and figuratively.

Or sometimes I have the image of walking gingerly atop a narrow fence, balancing myself against a multitude of chains attached to my legs by old fashioned locks and pulling me to one side. I have to lean far over into the opposite direction to keep from being pulled irretrievably into the side from which originate the chains. Some of the chains are thick and some are golden, and they are all firmly attached to my legs. They sometimes feel like an extension to my legs. I hold a key in my hands.

Sometimes the Buddhist story of the man holding  for dear life on to the tail of a racing horse comes to mind. As the horse gallops through the mud, the man is splashed continually, becoming covered. As the horse races forward, the hooves kick and batter the desperate man, barely able to hold on to the tail, afraid to let go in spite of the punishing result of maintaining his grip. A voice whispers, "Just let go!" but the man does not hear it apparently.

It would not be a stretch for me to name these various chains that pull me to one side or to see the nature of the brambles holding the kite back, or of the horse racing headlong. Some of these chains would have me believe that I am not worthy of being happy. Some of the brambles would have me believe that I deserve to suffer or that I do not deserve love. Some of these snares keep my locked away in my own prejudices and reinforce my separateness from those around me. The horse would have me believe that I can fill the yearning for happiness by spending money.

In Buddhist thought, attachment is the root of suffering. Attachment keeps us imprisoned in a rigid place of thought and action and prevents us from seeing the fundamental unity of all phenomenon, the dependant arising of everything. We generally don't like the idea on non-attachment because it seems to imply some sort of lack of enthusiasm or commitment. It seems rather bland in the context of our highly charged society in which everything is imbued with subliminal (and often overt) qualities imparted by the media. We become attached to looking a certain way or having a certain life-style almost without knowing what the driver is behind these ideas. We make decisions based on what others have told us will bring us the happiness we seek. And in this society, what will bring us satisfaction they maintain, is consumption, endless buying.

I think one way to weaken these attachments is to practice "smiling" through the eyes, especially when you want to judge. I have noticed how smiling through the eyes seems to make things more fluid, less dramatic and charged. It is like an invitation to breathe, to observe rather than react to events. To take time to look beyond the surface, and to be informed by the deeper connections.

Smiling through the eyes involves making a gentle, real connection with the person or thing observed. The eyes become somewhat wider and fill with some sort of light; the gentle intentionality of wanting to see beyond the surface, of wanting to establish a connection based on equality. It is a subtle action, one that may not be readily observable. It is more about shifing the energy that flows from the heart through the eyes, which are considered by some to be the window to the soul.

I have noticed how the quality of the interactions I have changes, becoming easier and more positive. There is a great satisfaction that comes from relating with others from this space of equality, of recognizing the ways we are connected.

Let's Dance in the New Year 2011

So you don't think you can dance! Take a lesson from the all time greats! Follow the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6O9FB90kAU

And for some more chicken legs (this one is great, stay with it!) follow this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6O9FB90kAU

Hawkscry Snow

Jane and I just returned from Hawkscry. We went up to see if the roads will support traffic for the celebration on Friday. Unfortunately, we think they will still be pretty bad on Friday, especially the secondary roads and access road to the meadow, so we will have our celebration in Kenilworth instead. Here are some photos of the beautiful snow at Hawkscry, taken on Wednesday, December 29, 2010.

 

Happy new Year.

Repeal of DADT

From Day One, President Obama has said that the question wasn't if, but when, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would be repealed. Now we know the answer. This morning, the President signed repeal into law -- setting into motion an end to this discriminatory policy that weakened our military and forced some brave men and women to lie about who they are. It was a moment for the history books -- possible only because the President wasn't alone in his determination to get this done before the end of the year.

As this discriminatory law falls into the rubbish heap we move closer to the ideals this country was founded upon; a country dedicated to the idea that all men and women are created equal and deserve all the rights and responsibilities inherent in being a citizen. Sexual orientation is not chosen, and therefore part of who you are as a person. To deny that is to deny you the dignity of being a complete person, and this is outright discrimination and not worthy of this country. We must continuously be on the alert at how individual civil liberties are challenged and sometimes eroded in society and do what we can to contradict that erosion.

Today we can feel proud that as a country we move closer to being that perfect union so passionately dreamed of and fought for throughout our history.

Follow the link for the speech given on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 by President Obama.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/TellRe

Trust Yourself and Believe

Inspiring TED talk about perseverance and spirit. William Kamkwamba overcame many obstacles in his fight to better himself and his family. This short TED talk will amaze you with his indomitable spirit.

At age 14, in poverty and famine, this Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.

Follow the link:
http://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_how_i_harnessed_the_wind.html