Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Six Things You May Want to Know About Barack Obama
Although I'm sure Obama's Web site has his policies outlined for the public, I enjoy reading different news sources and things on my own. If you get/have a Digg account we could swap stuff easily. I began compiling this list for a friend, but thought others might benefit:
1. A Commentary in The New Yorker on his campaign.
2. Gay Rights Views
3. His Response to the Housing Crisis
4. Philosophy of Foreign Policy
5. Campaigning Internationally
6. Acknowledging the Glass Ceiling
OK, I hope that helps! And I would love to hear your thoughts.
Although I'm sure Obama's Web site has his policies outlined for the public, I enjoy reading different news sources and things on my own. If you get/have a Digg account we could swap stuff easily. I began compiling this list for a friend, but thought others might benefit:
1. A Commentary in The New Yorker on his campaign.
2. Gay Rights Views
3. His Response to the Housing Crisis
4. Philosophy of Foreign Policy
5. Campaigning Internationally
6. Acknowledging the Glass Ceiling
OK, I hope that helps! And I would love to hear your thoughts.
Labels: 2008 Election, Obama
Monday, July 14, 2008
A Reflection on the Decline of Buddhism in Japan
It is bothersome to me that neither this article nor many of the comments following it on Digg pay any tribute to what Buddhism is actually about.
"With all the pain and destruction religions have wrought, we should not mourn their demise," one commenter said. Yes, that is absolutely right. But Buddhism is about transcending the pain and destruction involved in worldly living. The Dalai Lama has written that in order to break the cycle of death and rebirth and everything in between, one must spiritually reflect and dismiss the 10 nonvirtues.
The I Ching also says that in everything beautiful there is ugliness, and the Dalai Lama expanded on this in his books by taking many examples of things that can initially bring pleasure, and showing that whether overindulging or pursuing sensory fulfillment with the wrong motivation, the pleasure is replaced, many times in the short term, by a greater pain or emptiness.
This article is most disturbing to me because I want to believe that something like Buddhism could survive, as its spiritual teachings can be incorporated into a secular life, one which can include money and work, but still help make things more meaningful. For the priests to say they are losing hope, they are denying their faith and perpetuating negative energy in this challenging moment when they need to remain positive the most.
It is bothersome to me that neither this article nor many of the comments following it on Digg pay any tribute to what Buddhism is actually about.
"With all the pain and destruction religions have wrought, we should not mourn their demise," one commenter said. Yes, that is absolutely right. But Buddhism is about transcending the pain and destruction involved in worldly living. The Dalai Lama has written that in order to break the cycle of death and rebirth and everything in between, one must spiritually reflect and dismiss the 10 nonvirtues.
The I Ching also says that in everything beautiful there is ugliness, and the Dalai Lama expanded on this in his books by taking many examples of things that can initially bring pleasure, and showing that whether overindulging or pursuing sensory fulfillment with the wrong motivation, the pleasure is replaced, many times in the short term, by a greater pain or emptiness.
This article is most disturbing to me because I want to believe that something like Buddhism could survive, as its spiritual teachings can be incorporated into a secular life, one which can include money and work, but still help make things more meaningful. For the priests to say they are losing hope, they are denying their faith and perpetuating negative energy in this challenging moment when they need to remain positive the most.
Labels: Buddhism, Dalai Lama, Spirituality
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Best Day
Man, as I sit down to write this I realize I just don't have the energy. I need to go to bed.
Suffice to say, today has been one of the best days I have had in months. And this day, as one in a pretty great week, leads me to believe this is also one of the best weeks I've had in months.
I can't help feeling this wonderful sense of "things falling into place," which may be dangerous to say if I were cynical; lately I'm feeling quite the opposite of that.
It's blowing my mind yet again -- the lines between idealism and realism, and how much dreams can become realities in such small ways as if manifesting your intent -- to feel in control of one's own destiny. Along with it comes a certain level of trust in the Universe as well, a sense of how things may lead to unexplained places, if only they will be explained in the future.
That said, for someone who lately has been feeling exceedingly driven toward the future and somewhat restless in the present, today, in this moment, this night while I lie down in hopes of falling asleep, I've got this newfound sense of serenity that whether thinking or doing, I am on a path. And the more those thoughts translate to action, the more you inevitably move forward. The momentous winds of time are going, and it's like catching a wave in the ocean and riding it to the shore. That's what these moments feel like: coming home, and anticipating the next break that inevitably always comes.
Man, as I sit down to write this I realize I just don't have the energy. I need to go to bed.
Suffice to say, today has been one of the best days I have had in months. And this day, as one in a pretty great week, leads me to believe this is also one of the best weeks I've had in months.
I can't help feeling this wonderful sense of "things falling into place," which may be dangerous to say if I were cynical; lately I'm feeling quite the opposite of that.
It's blowing my mind yet again -- the lines between idealism and realism, and how much dreams can become realities in such small ways as if manifesting your intent -- to feel in control of one's own destiny. Along with it comes a certain level of trust in the Universe as well, a sense of how things may lead to unexplained places, if only they will be explained in the future.
That said, for someone who lately has been feeling exceedingly driven toward the future and somewhat restless in the present, today, in this moment, this night while I lie down in hopes of falling asleep, I've got this newfound sense of serenity that whether thinking or doing, I am on a path. And the more those thoughts translate to action, the more you inevitably move forward. The momentous winds of time are going, and it's like catching a wave in the ocean and riding it to the shore. That's what these moments feel like: coming home, and anticipating the next break that inevitably always comes.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Your dreams are never silly;
Depend on them to guide you.
That's what my fortune cookie said last night, and although I'm not one to really base my life on such tiny words on a small slip of paper, I think it's good advice.
It couldn't have come at a better time, because I really needed to hear that.
It's always surprised me how much and with little effort -- even when younger and debatably more reckless -- I've always been able to fire up support in others.
It has been so easy for me to just reach out and grab an idea, and so many have run with me, even at times when I silently wasn't completely sure what I was doing.
It's precisely that which makes Now so hard. For the longest time I've thought as soon as I figured out what it was I wanted to do, things would get easier: the rest would follow.
I've chosen. At times, yes, I'm scared. I know it will not be easy. Sure, I could get a less fulfilling job, or just head out and try to make money.
But I want to make a difference, as cheesy as it sounds, and I could never have foreseen how much effort I would have to expend to defend that idea.
I know I don't have to choose this. I know I don't have to be some kind of martyr; it's just that, I don't see it that way. I see it as part of a path to something greater: a first-hand experience to engage my consciousness and propel me into the future.
Give me something to learn. Give me something to write about, other than some general knowledge I could soak up and expel from a book. Give me something tangible. More importantly, give me a chance.
I know I'm strong, but I want to find out how strong, because I've got a feeling I could do more. I always want to.
Give me the vernacular to express that experience; to engage others in a dialog, and to append my credibility.
Maybe I do have something to prove. So what? That's so much more than so many ever have.
Depend on them to guide you.
That's what my fortune cookie said last night, and although I'm not one to really base my life on such tiny words on a small slip of paper, I think it's good advice.
It couldn't have come at a better time, because I really needed to hear that.
It's always surprised me how much and with little effort -- even when younger and debatably more reckless -- I've always been able to fire up support in others.
It has been so easy for me to just reach out and grab an idea, and so many have run with me, even at times when I silently wasn't completely sure what I was doing.
It's precisely that which makes Now so hard. For the longest time I've thought as soon as I figured out what it was I wanted to do, things would get easier: the rest would follow.
I've chosen. At times, yes, I'm scared. I know it will not be easy. Sure, I could get a less fulfilling job, or just head out and try to make money.
But I want to make a difference, as cheesy as it sounds, and I could never have foreseen how much effort I would have to expend to defend that idea.
I know I don't have to choose this. I know I don't have to be some kind of martyr; it's just that, I don't see it that way. I see it as part of a path to something greater: a first-hand experience to engage my consciousness and propel me into the future.
Give me something to learn. Give me something to write about, other than some general knowledge I could soak up and expel from a book. Give me something tangible. More importantly, give me a chance.
I know I'm strong, but I want to find out how strong, because I've got a feeling I could do more. I always want to.
Give me the vernacular to express that experience; to engage others in a dialog, and to append my credibility.
Maybe I do have something to prove. So what? That's so much more than so many ever have.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Thank you, New Zealand.
Yep, still good:
"Something Good"
by Bic Runga
Just wanna know ya
Just wanna talk to ya
I wanna hear about your day
I'd never leave ya
Never be mean to ya
I'd always let you get your way
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good thing's gonna happen today
If I were honest I 'd tell you everything
But it keeps coming out as lies
It's not a promise
In case you're wondering
It's not some blessing in disguise
But something good will come our way
And maybe this good thing's gonna happen today
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good things gonna happen today
I know romance is not in fashion
And my heart is on the line
If you would be so kind
To help me kill some time
Then something good just might come crashing
From the stars that light the sky
If you would be so kind
To help me kill some time
Just wanna know ya
Just wanna talk to ya
I wanna hear about your day
I'd never leave ya
Never be mean to ya
I'd always let you get your way
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good thing's gonna happen today
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good things gonna happen today
Something good will come our way
Something good will come our way
Something good will come our way
Something good will come our way
La la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
Something good will come our way
Yep, still good:
"Something Good"
by Bic Runga
Just wanna know ya
Just wanna talk to ya
I wanna hear about your day
I'd never leave ya
Never be mean to ya
I'd always let you get your way
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good thing's gonna happen today
If I were honest I 'd tell you everything
But it keeps coming out as lies
It's not a promise
In case you're wondering
It's not some blessing in disguise
But something good will come our way
And maybe this good thing's gonna happen today
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good things gonna happen today
I know romance is not in fashion
And my heart is on the line
If you would be so kind
To help me kill some time
Then something good just might come crashing
From the stars that light the sky
If you would be so kind
To help me kill some time
Just wanna know ya
Just wanna talk to ya
I wanna hear about your day
I'd never leave ya
Never be mean to ya
I'd always let you get your way
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good thing's gonna happen today
Something good will come our way
And maybe this good things gonna happen today
Something good will come our way
Something good will come our way
Something good will come our way
Something good will come our way
La la la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
Something good will come our way
