The Path to Liberation: the Buddhist Way of Life, is one way that includes all ways. Buddha is more than the name of an historical person; it describes the highest state of being achievable. All have the capacity to become Buddhas, the Thus come One, The Awakened One. The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama, discovered that all human beings have the power for enlightenment. Like a rosebush in winter, one's dormant flowers still have the potential to bloom. Similarly, by tapping one's potential, one discovers unlimited wisdom, courage, hope, confidence, compassion, vitality, vision, and endurance. Instead of avoiding fearful problems, one learns to overcome them with joyful vigor, confident in one's ability to transcend suffering and transform poison into medicine and challenges into opportunities. Buddhism can therefore be interpreted to mean the practice of an enlightened life condition.
Buddhism allows one to understand life and how to live. Through the eternal process of inner transformation or human revolution, one fulfills purpose. The Buddha intended his philosophy to be a practical one, aimed at the happiness of all creatures. While he outlined his metaphysics, he expected all to verify these insights for themselves, to see clearly and to seek the truth within themselves. Buddha left a clear path and observations about how to live life wisely. The core of this teaching is faith, practice, and study. Thus, Buddhism is not so much a religion as a way of life by which one experiences actual proof of transformation through benefit. In Buddhism, faith is based on experience, the expectation that as one practices, benefit will manifest in one's life and in the lives of others. To develop faith, one must take action to actualize Buddhahood everyday in concrete ways. Cultivation of wisdom and compassion enables one ultimately to attain a state of enlightenment. Study of the tenets of Buddhism advise the way to practice.
Buddha nature is more than a happy feeling or existential bliss; it is an actual state of life based on the Mystic Law of the universe. Laws of nature do not require understanding or belief. Although one cannot see the law of gravity, one can attest to its power. Similarly, one's life essense has no real beginning nor end. One lives many lifetimes, repeating the cycle of birth and death. When one dies, life function may cease, but the essence of eternal identity continues in a form that cannot be seen. Death then becomes the potential for life.
Everything until this moment adds up to who one is. This is the law of cause and effect expressed in the symbolism of the lotus flower, which blooms and seeds at the same time. This is karma, causes made through thoughts, words, and actions that yield effects in simultanaeity. The moment a cause is made, an effect is registered like a seed planted in the depths of life. When the correct conditions appear, the effect will transform from potential to actual. Karma is changeable in this lifetime.
One way Buddhism explains life is through a concept known as 'the ten worlds,' ten states or life conditions experienced in all aspects of of life. Each possess all ten worlds and shift aming them at any moment, according to one's interaction with the environment. Thus there are a thousand realms in a single moment of time. The state of suffering is hell. Hunger is insatiable desire, animality is ruled by instinct, anger controlled by ego, hamanity or tranquility is a passive state of life, and heaven or rapture is intense joy stemming from fulfillment of a human desire. These six psths to the lower world are governed by externals. The next two states, learning and recognition, arise in seeking lasting truth. These two worlds plus Bodhisattva and Buddahood together are called the four noble worlds. Bodhisattvas aspire to achieve enlightenment for themselves and for others. And Buddhahood is a state of perfect freedom characterized by infinite compassion and boundless wisdom. A Buddhist sutra (teaching) describes the Buddha's life as true self, freedom from eternal karmic bonds, a life purified of illusion, and absolute happiness.
Life and environment are inseparable. There exists no inside nor outside. There is only being. Therefore, enlightenment cannot be found in circumstance. 'Buddhaland' is the act of freedom from control by circumstance. Thus, environment encomoasses the whole dimension of space. And one is a galaxy within a galaxy wihtin a galaxy... One is all.
Such is the path of this pilgrim. I honor the light in you. Echoes from my past of Gallegass and Knights Templar, early Scot-Irish love
of Earth, the elements, and things known and felt yet inexplicable, are evidenced by a long history of monks and seekers.
Vata
You are Vata. You are most likely a creative, joyful person who is drawn to a life of freedom and generosity. You're very sensitive to touch , sight and sound. You enjoy movies and music, anything creative. Your mind is always racing, sometimes to the point where you have difficulty expressing just how excited you are about something. Though you can be worrisome and anxious at times, you approach life with a lot of energy and positivity.
.:Earth Faery:. You are the Earth Faery. You love the outdoors and you're very intouch with yourself. You go outside whenever you can. You're very smart and people love your easygoing personality. Many people think you have natural beauty, too.
You are were born under the willow. This tree was sacred to the Moon and, in Celtic lore, the Universe was hatched from two crimson serpent eggs (which contained the Sun and the Earth) hidden among the boughs of the Willow. In general, Willow individuals are basically articulate, strong-willed, resourceful and possessed with excellent memories. Willow people respond quickly to situations but are prone to sudden mood changes, which can make them difficult to get to know. As a friend, the Willow individual can be a powerful ally...on the other hand, he or she can make for a formidable enemy. Willows have a type of passive tenacity and can be extraordinarily wise counselors and extremely nurturing parents who are protective of loved ones. The Willow person is often reluctant to forgive and forget, which can lead to permanent rifts with friends and family. very responsible positions but find it hard to settle upon a definitive career. If the career choice should be in the field of education, however, they are counted among the best teachers. Willow individuals seldom express a controversial opinion in public (which makes them appear very amiable) but privately, their views are usually strong one way or the other. They are possessed with an overactive imagination and tend to fret needlessly about health matters. Take this quiz!
Profile edited with:CricketSoda Myspace Profile Editor...................................................................................................................................................
With poetry and satire published in “Woodrider,” “Wordart,” “Florida Arts Gazette,” “Chimera Connections,” “Florida State Poets Association,” "Chrysalis," "BorderSenses," "Rio Grande Revew," "The Muse," and other small presses and specialty magazines... “Flicker,” my second-international contest winner, was read on National Public Radio. My children’s book, “Staying Back,” was released in 1982 and is still available on Amazon. I had the honor of being featured to read on stage for and with my mentor, Pulitzer-Prize-winning, Library of Congress and New Hampshire Poet Laureate, Richard Eberhart, Dartmouth, nature poet, who died in 2006 at age 101. I earned a MEd. and hours towards a PhD in Special Education Administration from the University of Florida and taught 33 years in the gifted and special education programs in both Florida and Texas. I was a writing consultant to the Florida Teacher Education Center, liaisons to Shands Teaching Hospital Neurology Dept, co-wrote a grant that established P.K. Yonge Lab School's first computer lab, curricula for English as a Second Language, Science Tech and Gifted programs in Florida and Texas, and taught students and teachers of all ages in private, public, and laboratory settings. Nominated five times for Who’s Who Among American Teachers, I loved it when students got in touch and updated me about their adventures! Some claimed that I made a difference. Little did they know how much I learned from them! A tenured instructor at the University of Florida Yonge Laboratory School, I moved to El Paso in 1987 with my Hungarian former-husband, a keyboardist for Bo Diddley, later... the 62nd Army Band, an Army nurse, and veteran of Desert Storm. Raised as an Air Force brat, I have lived in all four corners of the USA and the Far East, have two wonderfully artistic sons, breed, trained, and showed Irish Setters in obedience and comformation, shot Bear Archery bow and muzzle-loaders, played Harmony Patrician Recurve guitar and now recite and sing for the public, raise bonsais, enjoy nature and spiritual companions, and commune daily with The Muse. I've enjoyed recording two CD's of poetry for Tumblewords, two podcasts for Gypsy, and celebrate my friends, known and yet unknown, and my ability to travel and make new friends and share universal stories.........................................................................................................---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scroll down to GAS 62 and double click to hear the entire Robert Burns Tribute with Janice Hale-Hobby (scroll bar to the right)........................
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I am definitely stressed out and exhausted but regardless of that i love you and want you to find your happiness and place of belonging as much as I and Erica are seeking ours. We are thinking and talking alot about what we want to do , where we want to be and how we can achieve these goals. Its not easy for us and I know it isn't for you either. I know Ian is in the same boat. Everyone is searching for where they belong and what it is we need to be doing . Please stay strong and know I am here for you and love you!
Hey mom, how are you doing? I've been depressed here in WW, I have no friends here and I never leave the house unless I am going to a doctor's appointment so I feel like I am starting to go crazy!! I miss having a family cause my dad is in Tacoma, you are in Michigan and Jay in Colorado and I am alone with no support whatsoever. I feel like I am drifting away from everyone and it makes me sad...add on top of that that I don't have a girlfriend or any friends for that matter and I don't know what's the point of going on. If I wasn't such a pussy I would just kill myself but I'm too scared of pain so that won't work but sometimes I don't know what is more painful, living or dying, either way, shit sucks! It would be nice if you me and Jay could get together for the Holidays or something and leave all the bullshit behind for a few days and just have FUN as a family, a dysfunctional family but a family nonetheless. Well I Love You, Call me whenever. Bye
Hey Mom...good to hear from you. Are you feeling better since the accident? I've been kind of down of late...trying to figure out what I need to do . Been thinking about applying for a new/different job , maybe in the same field but for a different organization . Possibly thinking about the day program cause its monday through friday 8 to 4 , similar hours to what Erica works and way easier to leave work at work... Anyway i appreciate the good vibes and if you ever want to e-mail me I use Erica's e-mail at hotmail so just address it to me... I love you! J
Buy me buy me- lol- I never thought I'd stoop so low, just consider the possibilities, an artist/poet/spokesperson for literacy and I make hellacious enchiladas!!! cakes too, lol.. wonder what kinda pet I'm gonna be, I'm kin to lizzies y'know! n' you know I'm an awesome photographer!LESLIE
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Everthing is great here...been working really hard between mosaic and getting together this benefit. I got a new used car last week! A green 99 honda accord in excellent shape... Everything is manifesting well! Sending lotsa love to you and Jim... May you both heal and grow towards the light! I love you infinitly! J
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thinking of you.