Yesterday a rare event grabbed everyone's attention -- a total solar eclipse. While these happen roughly every 18 months or so, they tend to happen in unpopulated areas or on the open sea. What made the 2017 eclipse so special is the fact that the totality line cut a swath across the United States from … Continue reading (Personal) Crescent Shadows
Tag: self-reflection
(Personal) Spit and Vinegar into Clear Water
I think most Buddhists, if we're really honest with ourselves deep down, flirt with the daydream of what we'd look like enlightened. I know personally I would love to resemble Budai, the eternally-laughing bodhisattva known for his jovial attitude, wisdom, contentment, and the fact that you can rub his belly for good luck. In my … Continue reading (Personal) Spit and Vinegar into Clear Water
I’m…37? Yeah, 37.
Yesterday I celebrated my 37th birthday by watching Kubo and the Two Strings, playing two rounds of mini-golf, and having a dinner out with a few friends. It was tremendously fun, and I really appreciate folks coming out to help me ring in another personal new year. I have amazing friends, and to say that … Continue reading I’m…37? Yeah, 37.
(Personal) Ashes In The Mouth
We all know how difficult family can be. Our siblings know all of the buttons that will drive us insane, no matter how carefully we try to cover them up. There's something about a comment from our mom and dad -- even though they might swear it's innocuous -- that feels like a judgement passed … Continue reading (Personal) Ashes In The Mouth
(Writing) Clarion Write-A-Thon, Week 3
During week 2 of the Clarion Write-A-Thon, I set a goal for 15,000 total words written and $200 raised for the Clarion Workshop. How did I do? Well, I got up to 11,951 words and raised $175 so far; I didn't hit either goal, but that's all right. It just means that I need to … Continue reading (Writing) Clarion Write-A-Thon, Week 3
(Personal) Mission Statement
This is an amazing world, inhabited by amazing people. We don't have to go very far to see an animal or plant that does something incredible, if we stop to think about it. All around us, there are countless people each with their own rich inner worlds and intense, beautiful, heartbreaking stories. I think the … Continue reading (Personal) Mission Statement
(Personal) Eulogy For My Sister
When I was younger, I used to make plans with my sister to run away from home all the time. We always thought that the way our mother treated us was grossly unfair, and after a particularly hard day we would pack up a few days' worth of clothes, make a couple of sandwiches, and … Continue reading (Personal) Eulogy For My Sister
Zen & The Art of Getting Shit Done
It's been a hard couple of months for me, mostly because of a few unexpected emergencies. I got into an accident at the end of February that totaled my car, and it took about a month for my insurance company to make that decision and offer me a write-off settlement. I had spent a … Continue reading Zen & The Art of Getting Shit Done
(Buddhism) Right Livelihood
The fifth spoke on the wheel of the Noble Eightfold Path is also the last one in the Moral Virtues (or Sila) group -- Right Livelihood. Together with Right Speech and Right Action, these form the backbone of how our understanding of the principles of Buddhism translate into practice through the rest of our lives. … Continue reading (Buddhism) Right Livelihood
(Buddhism) Right Speech
So for a little while now I've wanted to go over the "spokes" in the wheel of the Noble Eightfold Path -- more for my own benefit than any pretense of instruction. One of the things that I'd like to get more serious about is my understanding of Buddhist ideas and how they relate to … Continue reading (Buddhism) Right Speech
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 