For the light

To be open and aware. To accept the light and be the light and welcome the light at all times.

Easy practices for honoring ancestors

Lots of good, plainly described ways to honor ancestors.

”You don’t have to be an indigenous shaman or ghost whisperer to have a direct, intimate, and healthy relationship with your ancestors. We all have loving ancestors who want us to fulfill our destiny as happy and well-adjusted people, and in my experience, our ancestors are the ideal guides for family healing as they are invested in seeing their future generations thrive.”

Looking West

My life is all about sunsets. I suppose that’s what happens when your main opening faces west. 

Today was a magical day beyond recording. 

Sacred Sunset

For the past five days, since the beginning of December, I have been lighting candles at sunset. There is something sacred about the action. I don't know what. It's a silent offering. I merely light them and watch them, blowing them out when the time seems right. I plan to do this until solstice.

White candles and a red tea light. 

wide mind, open heart

Once bodhicitta has been aroused in you, whatever Dharma practices that you do will lead to the attainment of perfect enlightenment. — Patrul Rinpoche

No known path

So, I'm asked what my preferred path is and I answer, "I don't know." I have never found it.

How to make sense of life

Whatever we do we should think, “I am doing this to make others happy. This is my job; this is my purpose in life.” From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep this should be the motivation for every action we do. With a good heart, with a mind sincerely wishing to benefit others, our life will make sense. —Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Avalokiteśvara

Blessings and light. Gratitude and thankfulness for being in the world. 

Unattachment.

This is what the buddha and taoism propound. Yet it is emotions and attachment that bring us the greatest lessons. How could one live without love? Without compassion? It’s all about the right distance and being able to handle emotions without having them destroy good judgement. Or something like that.

Image from mr. Wallpaper

falling off

Out the Window (multiple adjustments)

As in, falling off of practice. Once upon a time it was said if your meditation becomes difficult, quit for a while. Give it up.

In my case this is dangerous as it is so easy for me to give up habits. Seems like I'm constantly starting and ending routines.

The Topeka environment is very different from Richmond in so many ways: psychologically, spiritually, politically, geographically, meteorologically. It's been a bigger adjustment than I anticipated. I may have worn out my welcome in the time it has taken me to adjust.

I once had a "This will be interesting" attitude. I have had enough of the interesting life. I now prefer the ordinary life. An ordinary spiritual life, that is. Plain, consistent, ordinary living from one day to the next.

Time to absorb all those interests.