Reflection on Practice

It is often just a small twist of perspective that is needed to restore sweetness in life. That small twist is of course more effective if there is habitual practice to return to, and that's Dhamma.

Wonder

”If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Ah what a beautiful quote. This is the idea behind moving Qi, and meditation and mindfulness and everything and anything.  We mustn't make ourselves do things, instead we must let them happen, we must take delight in the little things, the simple pleasures of life. Then we must appreciate the movement of Qi and the harmony of all the world. When we appreciate the harmony we are amplifiers and resonators and healing spreads and soothes and causes delight. Take hope with me, there is such wonder here.

Hope for the future on TED

Here is a scientist and an animal lover who caused the murder of thousands of elephants, as sentient as any similar group of human beings in my belief, Because of that (I can only imagine the horrendous shame and agony) he is motivated to devote his life to restoring the balance.

http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_change.html

I have been wondering how to apply traditional chinese medicine to the earth's condition - and here it is. A deficiency of Yin, exhibited by loss of biomass and dryness, leading to a relative excess of Yang exhibited by heat in the most simple terms.We can do this, this is the outward manifestation of our inward change. Thinking about it, having conversations about it, using the grassroots media to talk about it will bring it into being. We move like the seas of grass that will again cover the prairies of the world.

Chinese Medicine Blues

it's an uphill climb, but the air at the top is sublime
here is a link to a great video of bluegrass grassroots creative response to obstruction to care:
http://youtu.be/eDh6rTJnmvQ
check it out!

the couple that saved the fawn in Indiana?

Does anyone else remember hearing about the cop and his wife that saved the fawn after its mother died?
They were possibly going to be fined $60K and even sentenced to prison?
I got this response from the gov of Indiana's office:

"Thank you for taking the time to contact the office of Governor Mike Pence.  He has shared your e-mail with me and asked that I respond on his behalf. I appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
 

'While the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) appreciates the public sentiment surrounding this case, the Department has requested the charges be dismissed "given the time that has elapsed, the costs associated with the prosecution, and the apparent absence of any immediate harm from this single incident.'

 

For more information on what to do if you encounter an injured or orphaned wildlife, please visit the DNR website http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5492.htm. 
 

Again, thank you for writing, and thank you for your active citizenship."

So hurraay! evil averted for the time being, it is a constant struggle, keep it up.

March

walking Hiro yesterday evening the hummingbird moths were attending the jasmine, so tiny and attentive, so alien and so native, what an amazing place this planet is...

hearing Bryan Stevenson and Amanda Palmer on TED talks reveals how varied is privilege and understanding...

                   and a quote for today: Are we using our imaginations to create problems or to solve them?

Learning Garden

Have been having a great time weeding and watering at the Learning Garden. The traditional chinese herbal section takes up about a quarter perhaps, lots and lots of herbs, there is a general garden master - Dave, and the herbal master Ingrid. What a great place.

Here is my current dream: to create TCM herb gardens around the country for learning and for use, in monasteries and community gardens and intentional communities, to travel around planting and harvesting, making tinctures and teaching and giving acu-moxa treatments in return for supportive welcome as part of the community. Hmm? sound like a relationship that a community you know of might consider?