Random Dharma

chronicleproject.com/a_email/FoxChronicl...entAprilOne2015.html

Fooled me!

I seem to remember that the Vidyahara was a keen celebrant of the first of April, in his day. It's nice to see his sangha carrying on the tradition.

Feeling your way towards nondual awakening - new Weber post I found helpful

I watched the film about Roger Ebert's work, life, and death last night: "Life Itself."

It was the most moving and profound experience of recent weeks. I really can't think of a better recent example of what seems to me to be the core spiritual practice-- a whole-hearted embrace of the totality of the life we are given.

Just finished reading Harry Potter with my oldest daughter. Here is a slice of random dharma from it.

"Tell me one last thing," said Harry. "Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"

Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice sounded loud and strong in Harry's ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring his figure.

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"

Chris Marti wrote: About meditation used in a business:

First, it helps you get to know your own mind, its habits, its glitches, and whatever is preventing you from getting to the next level. Secondly, contemplative practice can "help you navigate your relationship to the world," says Bellows: it gives you perspective on the ecosystem of partners, customers, suppliers, coworkers, investors, and bosses, and equips you to navigate these relationships gracefully.

www.fastcompany.com/3044344/agendas/the-...-case-for-meditation

I read this column--this guy didn't just start a modest practice and claim it was a great stress-reliever; he went to Naropa University and did intensive practice for a significant length of time. Yet he comes out of it with what could be described as a materialistic world-view. I'm not saying that everyone who is a dedicated practitioner has to withdraw from society (or even that that's a good thing to do), but it strikes me as odd that these are his only conclusions. Of course, he may go somewhere different with it at a future point.

literally random dharma: from when I just opened my web browser and the homepage set to a random wikipedia page spit out this

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Readiness_for_enha...spiritual_well-being

Haha awesome!

Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

And another thing...

No brain, no pain: it is in the mind

I don't know about that second one with no brain no pain. I had bone spurs in significant places on my body making for intense tension and for years I didn't regard it as important. I knew on a subtle level there was something wrong and I knew that I had it but I didn't consider it mentally very much at all. I did think I was miserable but I didn't necessarily think this was because of my bone condition, I just thought it was such because life sucked. And I did kind of feel that my bone condition was getting in the way but I back shelved it and didn't think about it very much for a long time despite it wreaking havoc on my ability to relax such that I didn't know what relaxation even was

Spiritual marketing techniques. It was a fun read.

www.energygrid.com/spirit/2009/10ap-spir...tml?COLLCC=209422560

I was proofreading a 20 minute sermon written by my partner for a class in Interfaith Ministry. I was touched by the following Native American prayer that she included in the sermon:

Prayer to The Four Directions
by Chief Seattle

Great Spirit of Light, come to me out of the East (red) with the power of the rising sun. Let there be light in my words, let there be light on my path that I walk. Let me remember always that you give the gift of a new day. And never let me be burdened with sorrow by not starting over again.

Great Spirit of Love, come to me with the power of the North (white). Make me courageous when the cold wind falls upon me. Give me strength and endurance for everything that is harsh, everything that hurts, everything that makes me squint. Let me move through life ready to take what comes from the north.

Great Life-Giving Spirit, I face the West (black), the direction of sundown. Let me remember everyday that the moment will come when my sun will go down. Never let me forget that I must fade into you. Give me a beautiful color, give me a great sky for setting, so that when it is my time to meet you, I can come with glory.

Great Spirit of Creation, send me the warm and soothing winds from the South (yellow). Comfort me and caress me when I am tired and cold. Unfold me like the gentle breezes that unfold the leaves on the trees. As you give to all the earth your warm, moving wind, give to me, so that I may grow close to you in warmth. Man did not create the web of life, he is but a strand in it. Whatever man does to the web, he does to himself.

Philosophy as you've always wanted it:

I feel like I need drugs to >fully< appreciate that video

Via the Washington Post: A political awakening for Buddhists? 125 U.S. Buddhist leaders to meet at the White House.

The conference information page .

Amazing serendipity of the week: Lynda Barry's profound commencement speech at UArts.

vimeo.com/127975211

Thanks Kate, she's really neat.

karengifford.org/prose/my-experience-of-enlightenment/