Happy Solstice

As this day literally flashes by us,

like the strobe of a lighthouse briefly hitting our sails as we try to make an unmarked harbor in the middle of the night 

and the long dark night sits heavy upon our homes, chilling the air, freezing the ponds 

we can have hope for the return of the sunny warm days that may yet come, 

as they have each year, for millions of years before.

Will mariner's taking noon sights

be repeating altitudes of the sun that they just took days and weeks before?

For them it is obvious that the sun is once again climbing in the sky

Happy Winter!

As another year ends, that point in the circle of days and weeks and months is arrived at again.

As shortest days push against the longest nights, we can now look forward to the return of the light. 

The coldest days are ahead still, but we can find hope and strength in the lengthening of the days and all that they might bring.

In our world, that is especially now so wrapped up in things virtual, things imagined, things conjured, and ideologies clung to, here is something that is obvious, something observable by all, something that has formed us and the lives we have lived since before time was recorded.

Something that connects us to all other things.

Here is a day that we can all be glad for.

As with each morning when we wake, the Northern hemisphere can celebrate

the new light, the new year.

No need for myth or magic, reality is a great thing to celebrate

The observable has it's own magical quality

We may choose to give little recognition, or importance to it, but what does our opinion of it do to change it, nothing at all.  

But it is an opportunity to celebrate something that is undeniable, not just to humans but to all beings, to all of the planet that is our home.

As this year past has been so very challenging for so many of us this is especially a moment that can inspire hope for what may yet come, and what we might be able to do with the days ahead.

It might also be a chance to reflect on our humble part in the larger cycle of things and to find peace with that understanding.

With that peace we might also find compassion for all the other beings whose parts are just as worthy, but also just as modest.

Hurray for the return of the light!

Happy Winter Solstice

The road to Shambhala

I'm in about the 5th or 6th book from Chogyam Trungpa and have had a very good experience reading these writings.  It is, perhaps, good that I came upon these now, as oppose to earlier in my studies.  I think that I am much more prepared to understand these teachings and have experience of my own that they explain and, or, elaborate on.

Creativity

One of the things that has come up a bit in my readings on Buddhist thought that stands out to me is the inclusion of creativity as something good, and healthful for those pursuing a path of compassion.  Creativity, art, is something that appears to be deeply unique to our human experience.  It can, not only, help us to see from a different perspective, with a different sense of value for time, and matter, and relation to all beings, things, but it can also do the same for those who experience any art that we create.  It should not be like the paintings of the old masters that are just used and financial investments, or strictly as a means to gain money, but should be approached with thought about what it can do or say to help in the life of others as well as ones own life.
I have always gotten great joy from music, mostly music made by others, but also from my efforts to make my own, and by the challenge of learning to play music, or sing it.  I am no gifted musician, and all the music is effortful, but it is a joyful effort, like most good things, the work is relative to the reward of it.
Today, and for the past few days the rain has been pouring down.  This gives me good excuse to stay indoors and work on music.  It is also good to be outdoors enjoying music too.

while waiting for the truck to get some new tires, Chilly and I
Enjoy the shelter of a gazebo in the park.  The sound of the rain, the creek
the traffic and the guitar all make it seem as though I am playing and singing with a
large band

 Make music where and where you can, on an instrument, with your voice, or in your head.  Or, you can just listen to the soundtrack of the world, it is always playing and interesting.
My guitar is a found gift from a friend.  He found it in the trash, on the side of the street, broken in several pieces.  I put it back together and it serves me just fine.  Other peoples trash is now my treasure.

Books for the path

Just read:

The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path

By

ETHAN NICHTERN

I learned a thing or two, or three, or four.........  Well written.  I recommend it to anybody curious about this topic.

Film/Video

"The 11th Hour" film from 2007

Watch The 11th Hour Online | Hulu

Dharma Gaia

I just finished reading a book that was published in 1990, Parallax Press, called "Dharma Gaia"  by Allan Hunt Badiner.

25 years old and just as important as ever, if not more so.  A friend found it and gave it to me.  Now that is a good friend.

Pond

Edges of the pond free of ice

Take off my cap

First butterfly, first muskrat