Grounding

We stand on the earth. But we might not be “grounded” – meaning that our heads are “in the clouds”. Mastery is when we are planted here and now in this spot. Rooted in place. So that we cannot be easily pushed over for others who are not being with truth. 

Grounding is a Qi Gong practice. Do the “horse pose”. It is fundamental. Stand with your knees relaxed. Back erect, comfortably, non-forced, yet straight. Your hands softly open and turned inward toward your belly. Arms extending outward a little. (Many variations on this pose exist!) 

Everyday is different, everyday is new

Everyday is different, everyday is new. We wake up in the morning often surprised by how we feel "today". Suddenly, what seemed important yesterday is not important. Suddenly, something is harder or easier today. Always, somewhat of a surprise as we wake up to today. 

Sound tracks remixed by listeners of my SoundCloud oral teaching uploads. An amazing development in my work as a "philosopher-at-large".

Re-mix by americ

The Answer

Know thyself,
all will make sense.

Love thyself,
you will Love All.

All One

Get out of your head and into your body! 

Believe it or not (mind! watch it) our bodies have been around much longer and have gained tons of experience. 

In other words, keep remembering how wise you already are.

Looking to create
a more spontaneous
way of posting thinking
here.

Perhaps, some experiments are in order!

This Is Water - David Foster Wallace Commencement Speech

This is, perhaps, one of the greatest, most meaningful  commencement speeches ever given to any group of graduating college students by Wallace at Kenyon College on May 21, 2005.

Coming Of Age by americ
Celebrating the life that has been given.

Standing Still in Line

Standing Still In Line by americ
Meditation opportunities can happen everywhere - even while standing in line at the bank or in the deli. We give you a sense of how to go about this.

Failing and Flying ©

Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew.
It's the same when love comes to an end,
or the marriage fails and people say
they knew it was a mistake, that everybody
said it would never work. That she was
old enough to know better. But anything
worth doing is worth doing badly.
Like being there by that summer ocean
on the other side of the island while
love was fading out of her, the stars
burning so extravagantly those nights that
anyone could tell you they would never last.
Every morning she was asleep in my bed
like a visitation, the gentleness in her
like antelope standing in the dawn mist.
Each afternoon I watched her coming back
through the hot stony field after swimming,
the sea light behind her and the huge sky
on the other side of that. Listened to her
while we ate lunch. How can they say
the marriage failed? Like the people who
came back from Provence (when it was Provence)
and said it was pretty but the food was greasy.
I believe Icarus was not failing as he fell,
but just coming to the end of his triumph.


By Jack Gilbert

Waterfall

Waterfall by americ
The waterfall as a metaphor for birth, living, death, and transcendence.

Om's and Breaths

Om's And Breaths by americ
When you make a phone call, you can create an opportunity to chant together one or more "om" sounds and do several slow long deep breaths. A good way to use some of the time together on the phone. NOTE: Long recorded pause near the end for the long quiet breaths. A few words follow.

Appreciation and Transcendence

Appreciation and Transcendence by americ
An exploration of consciousness. Appreciation and transcendence together as enlightenment.

No way out

No way out
Always here
Even in dreams

Pelican Sage

Hunting for knowledge

Surprised by wisdom

Surpassed with gratitude

Eternal Life

The eternal life is

given to those who

live in the present.

Ludwig Wittenstein
(as quoted in Zen Calendar, April 10, 2011)

Spring in Winter

Your Own Beauty - as seen by Ram Dass

“Your problem is you’re afraid to acknowledge your own beauty. You’re too busy holding on to your own unworthiness. You’d rather be a schnook sitting before some great man. That fits in more with who you think you are. Well, enough already. I sit before you and I look and I see your beauty, even if you don’t.”

                                                                Ram Dass[1]

---

[1] As quoted in the The Sun, January 2114, page 24. See http://thesunmagazine.org/issues/457/beginnings_blunders_eleventh_hour_rescues. 

A budget is a moral document

Crossing over