The word mantra in Sanskrit means “sacred utterance.” Using a mantra is settling and can provide the ability to focus on what we need to move forward. It can also block what is working against us. In short, it can give us a path to clarity.
These recipes are good for heart, organs, and brain.
Drink this in the morning
Boil for 10 minutes
Drink this in the evening
Boil for 10 minutes
I went to whitehouse.gov and submitted the following on the contact form there:
“I have voted Republican in the past. I do not approve of the immigration enforcement tactics or policy as currently managed by President Trump and his appointees, including Kristi Noem. I believe the current operations of ICE are unconstitutional and criminal. I’m writing to ask you to cease and desist all ICE operations immediately and apologize to the American people for the harm you have done to America: Harm to her own people and harm to our country’s reputation as viewed by citizens of other countries around the world.”
I had to acknowledge the following disclaimer:
These messages are being captured and archived in compliance with the Presidential Records Act or the Federal Records Act.
Not only has President Trump documented my personal opinion as an official presidential record, if there is any confusion about how I feel, he can always look here to resolve any doubt he may have. That made me feel better too.
As a reward for reaching out, I received a text containing contact information. The photo of the President can best be described as a mugshot. (That could be considered wishful thinking I suppose.) It probably came straight out of his “Mugshot Trading Card” collection that he has proudly hawked as part of his personal profiteering efforts.
Einstein once said:
Weak people seek revenge.
Strong people forgive.
Intelligent people ignore.
I recently got into a discussion on Facebook over a post. I received a message from someone that was upset by what I had said. I responded by trying to explain why their position was wrong. The conversation did not go well. I then responded and told the person I loved them anyway. The conversation ended when the person responded again, I choose to delete that response without reading it.
I guess that means I’m weak and strong and intelligent…
There is one more lesson in this story, there is no arguing with stupid people… For the record, that last sentence probably means I’m weak despite my best efforts to pretend otherwise.
Here are, in a few words, are some guidelines for living. There are many ways to live with intention. Our job is to find the ways that work best for us. Living with intention frees us to experience the things in life that are beautiful, and dismiss those things that are distractions. Keep these things in mind throughout the day.
There is a moral crisis in American. Nothing else can explain why 77 million Americans voted for Donald Trump. If you tell me it’s because his leadership is the reason why your 401K is doing well, I rest my case.
Cats are Buddhist Monks in disguise.
Here are, in a few words, are some guidelines for living. There are many ways to live with intention. Our job is to find the ways that work best for us. Living with intention frees us to experience the things in life that are beautiful, and dismiss those things that are distractions. Practice these things upon waking and when retiring at night.
When you wake in the morning, say to yourself:
Before lying down to sleep at night, say to youself:
Thank you “Daily Buddhist.”
Life is bigger than the loudest thing in the room. Constant immersion in the latest news will lead us away from peace, caring, and love.
Sports can often be viewed a metaphor for life. Sometimes you have to pass the ball back in order to move it forward. I apologize for my bad passes.
Sadly, I can’t smoke pot. I can’t inhale anything that is not clear of particulates. This makes me weak. An anomaly. I admit that. Someone relegated to the chromosomal scrap-heap of history. But perhaps, just perhaps, that gives me an advantage. Perhaps that forces me to think more reflectively. I ask you to consider my words. I don’t care who you are. If you consider, even minimally, my thoughts, I am humbled. (Of course, the less you’ve smoked when you do so the better…)
A poem by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman.
We wake with no words,
just woe & wound.
Our own country shooting us in the back
is not just brutality; it’s jarring betrayal;
not enforcement, but execution.
A message: Love your people & you will die.
Yet our greatest threat isn’t the outsiders among us,
but those among us who never look within.
Fear not those without papers,
but those without conscience.
Know that to care intensively, united,
is to carry both pain-dark horror for today
& a profound, daring hope for tomorrow.
We can feel we have nothing to give,
& still believe this world waiting,
trembling to change.
If we cannot find words, may we find the will;
if we ever lose hope,
may we never lose our humanity.
The only undying thing is mercy,
the courage to open ourselves like doors,
hug our neighbor, & save one more bright, impossible life.
This poem brings tears to my eyes.
The execution of an American citizen legally carrying and disarmed before he was shot 10 times in the back while being restrained without resisting should be enough for any American, Christian Nationalist or Goth Tattooed Barber, to say enough is enough. The President of the United States is a bigoted, narcissistic, megalomaniac. If you follow him, you need to ask yourself, is this really the teaching Jesus would have me follow? (Or, if you don’t believe in Jesus, how about any decent human being?)
These mantras were taken from Wikipedia. They are not “official” TM mantras but they are similar in spirit and practice to a mantra you would be given by an official TM instructor. The purpose is to provide a soothing sound that you can use to help you settle into a deeper state of consciousness without prompting your mind to draw images or thoughts during practice. Choose a sound the works best for you.
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple mantra-based meditation technique introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s.
Repeat your chosen mantra and let thoughts come and go as they please. (This is the opposite of Mindfulness.) Practice for 20 minutes twice a day, typically soon after waking up and again later in the day. The first practice of the day is recommended before coffee or breakfast. Sit comfortably, set a timer if you prefer. Relax and breathe before starting the mantra. Begin by letting the mantra work its way into your mind naturally. When your practice is finished, keep your eyes closed and allow yourself to slowly return to your day. If you find your mind carried off by thoughts during your practice gently remind your mind to return to the mantra. This is a natural part of training your mind to settle and meditate. No two practice sessions are alike, it’s best to approach a session without expectations.
The benefits of this meditation are achieved by regular practice. Journaling after a practice session is optional but may have additional benefits if you are the sort of person that enjoys writing. Don’t worry if you are doing it “right” or “wrong,” the key is to be consistent and do the best you can, after all, that is why it’s called “practice.”
It’s certainly okay to pick up a book simply for the pleasure involved. I find myself taking a slightly different approach. I prefer to read with purpose. A lot of people in book clubs aren’t reading with purpose. What does it mean to read with purpose? Not all books were written for all people to pick up at any time. Your brain and hence your reading experience will benefit most when you read material your mind says you need now. Pick and choose what you are craving at the moment, even if it’s not a work your neighbor tells you is a “must read.” The question then comes down to, how to read with purpose? The short answer is, read what you are curious about at the moment.
One way to do that is to read books around a topic that you are interested in. This approach will help you to link knowledge and absorb what you are reading more deeply. This could even mean bypassing good books, or even leaving some books unfinished, that’s okay. Life is short. Dedicate the time you have for reading to a higher purpose. There is no reason to read a book that does not have something that increases our knowledge or gives us some insight that we are seeking when we reach the end.
Now that I have that off my chest, I will say I occasionally attend my neighborhood book club meeting. I don’t do it for the reasons stated above simply because the group is usually not reading works I would have chosen. I do it to be a good neighbor. Interaction of this sort is another form of nourishment, it’s just not one that feeds my curiosity or enhances my knowledge of myself or some topic that is exciting to me.
I’m on the waitlist for Adventure Cycling’s 50th Anniversary North Star tour. That is the epic ride from the home base of Adventure Cycling, Missoula Montana, to Fairbanks Alaska.
That ride is a 61 day self-contained adventure over paved and gravel roads covering 2,800 miles. Not for the feint of heart. This would be the culmination of a touring career. If I don’t make the waitlist I’m planning to take on the ride solo.
Some say using Apple Maps is a sign of weakness. I’ve heard this from loved ones and also from my neurologist. I contend that using Maps is a way to make driving more fun. It allows me to focus on the road, the surface conditions, the curves, the behavior of the cars around me. It also, gives me the freedom to observe the scenery around me! I just have to say, give it a try, you just might find, like I have, it improves your driving experience, both from a safety and from an enjoyment perspective.
I don’t think there’s any real reason to drive without maps. YMMV.
This morning I meditated for twenty minutes before my little shrine here at my writing desk. I call it a shrine but I’m not really invoking any deity in this practice. I’m just trying to get in touch with myself. This is a relatively new routine, but already I’m feeling comfortable with it. I was going to take up TM, but my engagement with the local TM instructor here in Central Oregon left me uncertain if the two of us should proceed. So, as a result, I’m striking out on my own meditation journey with high hopes that I know as much about my body and its needs as someone that doesn’t know me.
Let’s get ICE off our streets and into our beverages.
I’m not making light of our situation. ICE is focused on rounding up the wrong people. Illegal immigration is not a felony. There are plenty of felons in Washington D.C. that should be arrested and brought to justice before we get obsessed with illegal immigration.
The only conspiracy in America is the conspiracy by the current administration to convince Americans that there are conspiracies in America.
George Orwell put it succinctly in the novel “1984.”
”The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.”
To see the truth takes discernment and willingness.
There are three question that we should keep foremost in our consciousness throughout the day:
Look at the world around you and seek out that which is good. Once you notice the good around you, acknowledge it. This will free you from the evil that would otherwise weigh you down.
The more desires we have the less free we are. Our goals need to be in keeping with our means and our ability. Having goals we cannot achieve binds us and ultimately inhibits our growth.
While money is important for living, having money never fixes what is wrong inside of us.
Spend a few minutes at the end of each day examining how you lived. If you don’t take stock of your day you will be prone to repeating mistakes over and over. Writing is practicing. Writing at the beginning and end of each day is good exercise for your mind and can help you grow.