Change
By Don
Crisp,
autumn
leaves,
cool
morning
breeze,
seasons
change,
so do we.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Monday, August 30, 2004
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Friday, August 27, 2004
Don't Turn Your Back...On Your Poetry
By Don
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and life's magic
slips away,
like the fragile bloom
off a flower.
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and the secret door
through which truth walks,
closes tightly,
leaving our hearts dark.
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and the spaces
between the known and unknown
reappear in life,
causing us to forsake our faith.
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and small things
cease to amaze,
and what was originally given us
disappears.
Poetry is
given to us by God,
a special language,
seeking magic,
expressing beauty,
and connecting us with what is special.
By Don
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and life's magic
slips away,
like the fragile bloom
off a flower.
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and the secret door
through which truth walks,
closes tightly,
leaving our hearts dark.
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and the spaces
between the known and unknown
reappear in life,
causing us to forsake our faith.
Turn your back
on your poetry,
and small things
cease to amaze,
and what was originally given us
disappears.
Poetry is
given to us by God,
a special language,
seeking magic,
expressing beauty,
and connecting us with what is special.
Friday Thought: Friendship
Real friendship does last a
lifetime. The proof for me is
the rediscovery of friends who
played a key role in earlier parts
of my life.
Derk Janssen: My college roommate
at the University of Arizona in the
late 1960s and early 1970s. After
being out of contact for nearly 20
years, we rediscovered each other
in the early 1990s.
Dan Shimp: My best bud from my
early childhood days in Martins Ferry
in the 1950s and early 1960s. After 42
years of being out of contact, we re-
discovered each other just this year.
Tom Kim: My Korean friend who had
seemingly disappeared 10 years ago,
popped up in my life just this week.
Maybe that is why this quote means
so much to me:
"Friendship is a single soul dwelling in
two bodies." --Aristotle
Real friendship does last a
lifetime. The proof for me is
the rediscovery of friends who
played a key role in earlier parts
of my life.
Derk Janssen: My college roommate
at the University of Arizona in the
late 1960s and early 1970s. After
being out of contact for nearly 20
years, we rediscovered each other
in the early 1990s.
Dan Shimp: My best bud from my
early childhood days in Martins Ferry
in the 1950s and early 1960s. After 42
years of being out of contact, we re-
discovered each other just this year.
Tom Kim: My Korean friend who had
seemingly disappeared 10 years ago,
popped up in my life just this week.
Maybe that is why this quote means
so much to me:
"Friendship is a single soul dwelling in
two bodies." --Aristotle
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Tuesday Thought: Loyalty and Competence
In our work worlds, everyone complains there
is no loyalty. Here is an interesting quote to bear
in mind the next time this issue arises in your worklife:
"Top executives should rate their subordinates on
loyalty and competence. Those who are more loyal
than competent should be fired because they are the
dangerous ones. They will stay forever while other more
competent, less loyal people will jump ship as problems
develop.
And the loyal, noncompetent subordinates will “protect”
their bosses from the truth. Reality will be too threatening
and ugly. When truth dies, really bad things happen."
--Shapiro, Slywotzky and Tedlow
In our work worlds, everyone complains there
is no loyalty. Here is an interesting quote to bear
in mind the next time this issue arises in your worklife:
"Top executives should rate their subordinates on
loyalty and competence. Those who are more loyal
than competent should be fired because they are the
dangerous ones. They will stay forever while other more
competent, less loyal people will jump ship as problems
develop.
And the loyal, noncompetent subordinates will “protect”
their bosses from the truth. Reality will be too threatening
and ugly. When truth dies, really bad things happen."
--Shapiro, Slywotzky and Tedlow
Monday, August 23, 2004
Monday Thought: Getting What We Need
An Answered Prayer
I asked for strength, And God gave me difficulties to make me strong;
I asked for wisdom, And God gave me problems to learn to solve;
I asked for prosperity, And God gave me brain and brawn to work;
I asked for courage, And God gave me dangers to overcome;
I asked for love, And God gave me people to help;
I asked for favours, And God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted - I received everything I needed.
My prayer has been answered!
--Source: Azriela Jaffe's "Create Your Own Luck" Newsletter.
An Answered Prayer
I asked for strength, And God gave me difficulties to make me strong;
I asked for wisdom, And God gave me problems to learn to solve;
I asked for prosperity, And God gave me brain and brawn to work;
I asked for courage, And God gave me dangers to overcome;
I asked for love, And God gave me people to help;
I asked for favours, And God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted - I received everything I needed.
My prayer has been answered!
--Source: Azriela Jaffe's "Create Your Own Luck" Newsletter.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Saturday, August 21, 2004
The Experience of Meditation
By Remez Sasson
You are sitting alone in a quiet place practicing meditation. Slowly the rush of thoughts slows down. The silence gaps between one thought to the other get longer. You are beginning to experience relaxation and inner peace. There are a few itches, some pain or tension in your body, but as your concentration deepens, you become less conscious of the body and its sensations.
Now you feel calm and happy. Worries and cares disappear. You are still conscious of your surroundings, but as if transported into a new dimension. A few thoughts may still enter your mind, but they are weak now, and you can easily disregard them. As your meditation gets deeper, less and less thoughts claim your attention, until they cease. You feel bliss and peace now.
Though you are not thinking now, and you can completely ignore your surroundings, your consciousness is alive. You experience yourself now as pure essence, not as this or that. You forget about your physical life, family, work, status or economic condition. There is no identification with anything. You feel formless. Your consciousness is now free from the body, emotions and mind.
Are you asleep now? No!
Are you daydreaming? No!
You are existing in an altered state of consciousness, which is different from the ordinary and familiar consciousness.
Where are your thoughts, emotions and body? Only your consciousness exists now.
When the clouds of thoughts and emotions disappear during deep meditation, the Consciousness shines alone. You experience the “Great Emptiness”, which is full of happiness, consciousness, existence, life and power. You experience Reality as it is.
More here.
By Remez Sasson
You are sitting alone in a quiet place practicing meditation. Slowly the rush of thoughts slows down. The silence gaps between one thought to the other get longer. You are beginning to experience relaxation and inner peace. There are a few itches, some pain or tension in your body, but as your concentration deepens, you become less conscious of the body and its sensations.
Now you feel calm and happy. Worries and cares disappear. You are still conscious of your surroundings, but as if transported into a new dimension. A few thoughts may still enter your mind, but they are weak now, and you can easily disregard them. As your meditation gets deeper, less and less thoughts claim your attention, until they cease. You feel bliss and peace now.
Though you are not thinking now, and you can completely ignore your surroundings, your consciousness is alive. You experience yourself now as pure essence, not as this or that. You forget about your physical life, family, work, status or economic condition. There is no identification with anything. You feel formless. Your consciousness is now free from the body, emotions and mind.
Are you asleep now? No!
Are you daydreaming? No!
You are existing in an altered state of consciousness, which is different from the ordinary and familiar consciousness.
Where are your thoughts, emotions and body? Only your consciousness exists now.
When the clouds of thoughts and emotions disappear during deep meditation, the Consciousness shines alone. You experience the “Great Emptiness”, which is full of happiness, consciousness, existence, life and power. You experience Reality as it is.
More here.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Wednesday Thought: Real Leadership
I need this. Once again, Peter Drucker
comes through...
"Leadership is not magnetic personality
—that can just as well be a glib tongue.
It is not "making friends and influencing
people"—that is flattery. Leadership is
lifting a person's vision to higher sights,
the raising of a person's performance to
a higher standard, the building of a
personality beyond its normal limitations.'
--Peter Drucker
I need this. Once again, Peter Drucker
comes through...
"Leadership is not magnetic personality
—that can just as well be a glib tongue.
It is not "making friends and influencing
people"—that is flattery. Leadership is
lifting a person's vision to higher sights,
the raising of a person's performance to
a higher standard, the building of a
personality beyond its normal limitations.'
--Peter Drucker
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Monday, August 16, 2004
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Sunday Thought: Finding Peace
"The best remedy for those who are
afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go
outside, somewhere where they can
be quite alone with the heavens, nature,
and God. Because only there does one
feel that all is as it should be and that
God wishes to see people happy, amidst
the simple beauty of nature."
--Anne Frank
"The best remedy for those who are
afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go
outside, somewhere where they can
be quite alone with the heavens, nature,
and God. Because only there does one
feel that all is as it should be and that
God wishes to see people happy, amidst
the simple beauty of nature."
--Anne Frank
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Saturday Thought: How We Seek
Self-discovery is an aspect of everyone's
life. We seek in different ways. I am reminded
of this little story that puts the "how" part of
our journey into perspective.
A Vinaya master called Yuan came to Tai-chu
Hui-hai and asked: 'When disciplining oneself
in the Tao, is there any special way of doing it?'
Hui-hai: 'Yes, there is.'
Yuan: 'What is that?'
Hui-hai: 'When hungry, one eats, when tired, one sleeps.'
Yuan: 'That is what other people do; is their way the same as yours?'
Hui-hai: 'Not the same.'
Yuan: 'Why not?'
Hui-hai: 'When they eat, they do not just eat, they conjure up all kinds of imagination; when they sleep, they do not just sleep, they are given up to varieties of idle thoughts. That is why their way is not my way.'
Self-discovery is an aspect of everyone's
life. We seek in different ways. I am reminded
of this little story that puts the "how" part of
our journey into perspective.
A Vinaya master called Yuan came to Tai-chu
Hui-hai and asked: 'When disciplining oneself
in the Tao, is there any special way of doing it?'
Hui-hai: 'Yes, there is.'
Yuan: 'What is that?'
Hui-hai: 'When hungry, one eats, when tired, one sleeps.'
Yuan: 'That is what other people do; is their way the same as yours?'
Hui-hai: 'Not the same.'
Yuan: 'Why not?'
Hui-hai: 'When they eat, they do not just eat, they conjure up all kinds of imagination; when they sleep, they do not just sleep, they are given up to varieties of idle thoughts. That is why their way is not my way.'
Friday, August 13, 2004
The Way Life Is
By Don
Life is joy, life is sorrow,
Live today, not tomorrow,
Plan your life, live your plan,
Expect change, and change you can,
What is fair, what is just,
Accept what is, that we must,
Boldly walk, sometimes run,
Don't forget to have some fun,
We have today and not tomorrow,
Even this day we do borrow,
Pain is human, so is love,
Look about, especially Above,
We are born, and we die,
Celebrate life, give it a try,
What is fair, what is just,
Accept what is, that we must.
By Don
Life is joy, life is sorrow,
Live today, not tomorrow,
Plan your life, live your plan,
Expect change, and change you can,
What is fair, what is just,
Accept what is, that we must,
Boldly walk, sometimes run,
Don't forget to have some fun,
We have today and not tomorrow,
Even this day we do borrow,
Pain is human, so is love,
Look about, especially Above,
We are born, and we die,
Celebrate life, give it a try,
What is fair, what is just,
Accept what is, that we must.
Friday Thought: Failure and Success
Often we must fail to succeed in life.
That is a hard one for many of us to
comprehend and accept. I look to the
great philosopher, Michael Jordan, for
insight on this issue:
"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my
career. I've lost almost 300 games.
26 times I've been trusted to take the
game-winning shot . . . and missed.
I've failed over and over and over
again in my life. And that is why I
succeed." --Michael Jordan
Often we must fail to succeed in life.
That is a hard one for many of us to
comprehend and accept. I look to the
great philosopher, Michael Jordan, for
insight on this issue:
"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my
career. I've lost almost 300 games.
26 times I've been trusted to take the
game-winning shot . . . and missed.
I've failed over and over and over
again in my life. And that is why I
succeed." --Michael Jordan
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Wednesday Thought: Serenity
Over the years, this small prayer has
helped me on many occasions. It is as
meaningful to me today as it was when
I first heard it as a young boy.
"God give me the serenity to accept
things which cannot be changed;
Give me courage to change things
which must be changed; And the
wisdom to distinguish one from
the other."
Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, Union
Theological Seminary, 1932
Over the years, this small prayer has
helped me on many occasions. It is as
meaningful to me today as it was when
I first heard it as a young boy.
"God give me the serenity to accept
things which cannot be changed;
Give me courage to change things
which must be changed; And the
wisdom to distinguish one from
the other."
Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, Union
Theological Seminary, 1932
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Tuesday Thought: Suffer Not
Most of us spend too much of our life in
suffering. We don't have to! Here is some
re-phrased White Eagle wisdom speaking to
this very issue:
"The man whose heart is filled with love, is never
daunted, is not cast down; he does not give way to
unworthy fears, either about himself, his physical body,
or the welfare of those he loves, because he has been
quickened by the divine light and power, and therefore
nothing can go wrong. Things only go wrong when the mind
of self starts to fret and rail against the circumstances of life,
and you say, "I am disappointed because the circumstances
of life will not go as I...I...I want them to go!" Then suffering
and chaos result, because the contact is cut. "
Most of us spend too much of our life in
suffering. We don't have to! Here is some
re-phrased White Eagle wisdom speaking to
this very issue:
"The man whose heart is filled with love, is never
daunted, is not cast down; he does not give way to
unworthy fears, either about himself, his physical body,
or the welfare of those he loves, because he has been
quickened by the divine light and power, and therefore
nothing can go wrong. Things only go wrong when the mind
of self starts to fret and rail against the circumstances of life,
and you say, "I am disappointed because the circumstances
of life will not go as I...I...I want them to go!" Then suffering
and chaos result, because the contact is cut. "
Monday, August 09, 2004
A Sunday Wrapped in Nature
By Don
Peace finds us
resting beneath Holden's towering oaks,
Monarchs and black-eyed susans
kiss gently in the mid-afternoon sunlight,
Even a hyper-active squirrel
pauses to catch the flower-scented breeze
that makes shadows dance around us,
Slowly what really matters
seeps into our consciousness.
By Don
Peace finds us
resting beneath Holden's towering oaks,
Monarchs and black-eyed susans
kiss gently in the mid-afternoon sunlight,
Even a hyper-active squirrel
pauses to catch the flower-scented breeze
that makes shadows dance around us,
Slowly what really matters
seeps into our consciousness.
Monday Thought: Create Yourself
This quote captures what I am feeling this morning.
It speaks to the huge opportunity each of us has to
give shape daily to our life. That is very powerful!
"To exist is to change, to change is to mature,
to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."
--Henri Bergson
This quote captures what I am feeling this morning.
It speaks to the huge opportunity each of us has to
give shape daily to our life. That is very powerful!
"To exist is to change, to change is to mature,
to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."
--Henri Bergson
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Flower Teachers
By Don
So much we learn
in life from flowers,
Brave perky daffodils,
always first,
say get an early start in life,
Frisky painted daisies,
dancing happily
in the mid-morning sunlight,
assure us loyal love and innocence,
Our wise iris friend
quietly fills us with hope,
when we most need it,
Sweet young honeysuckle
drip happiness
onto our troubled day,
The primrose along our path
reminds us we are never really alone in life,
Pay heed to our floral teachers,
Life's secrets they hold.
By Don
So much we learn
in life from flowers,
Brave perky daffodils,
always first,
say get an early start in life,
Frisky painted daisies,
dancing happily
in the mid-morning sunlight,
assure us loyal love and innocence,
Our wise iris friend
quietly fills us with hope,
when we most need it,
Sweet young honeysuckle
drip happiness
onto our troubled day,
The primrose along our path
reminds us we are never really alone in life,
Pay heed to our floral teachers,
Life's secrets they hold.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Saturday Thought: Use Your Power Within
I really like this statement. It says we should
use the power within us to move our lives
forward.
"Within each of us lies the power of our
consent to health and sickness, to riches
and poverty, to freedom and to slavery.
It is we who control these, and not another."
--Richard Bach
I really like this statement. It says we should
use the power within us to move our lives
forward.
"Within each of us lies the power of our
consent to health and sickness, to riches
and poverty, to freedom and to slavery.
It is we who control these, and not another."
--Richard Bach
Friday, August 06, 2004
Native World
By Don
Ancient echoes,
sounds of drums,
Memories buried
from long ago,
Rustling in the brush,
a spotted young deer,
Not far away,
a swooping red-tailed hawk,
Forest paths,
old, simple,
quietly marked
by men and women
who aligned
with the stars,
Native world,
seems so long ago,
Deep resounding voices,
speaking in unison
with Mother Earth.
By Don
Ancient echoes,
sounds of drums,
Memories buried
from long ago,
Rustling in the brush,
a spotted young deer,
Not far away,
a swooping red-tailed hawk,
Forest paths,
old, simple,
quietly marked
by men and women
who aligned
with the stars,
Native world,
seems so long ago,
Deep resounding voices,
speaking in unison
with Mother Earth.
Friday Thought: Put a Little Zen in Your Day
"Zen opens a man's eyes to the greatest mystery
as it is daily and hourly performed; it enlarges the
heart to embrace eternity of time and infinity of space
in its every palpitation; it makes us live in the world as
if walking in the garden of Eden." --D. T. Suzuki
"Zen opens a man's eyes to the greatest mystery
as it is daily and hourly performed; it enlarges the
heart to embrace eternity of time and infinity of space
in its every palpitation; it makes us live in the world as
if walking in the garden of Eden." --D. T. Suzuki
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Wednesday Thought: Final Acceptances
I am reminded of this jarring quote about our
existence:
"When it comes time to die, be not like those
whose hearts are filled with the fear of death,
so when their time comes they weep and pray
for a little more time to live their lives over
again in a different way. Sing your death song,
and die like a hero going home. {Shawnee}
--Tecumseh
I am reminded of this jarring quote about our
existence:
"When it comes time to die, be not like those
whose hearts are filled with the fear of death,
so when their time comes they weep and pray
for a little more time to live their lives over
again in a different way. Sing your death song,
and die like a hero going home. {Shawnee}
--Tecumseh
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Monday, August 02, 2004
Monday Thought: What Brings Us Peace
This little poem seemed to paint a nice picture
of "peace," so I thought I'd pass it along as the
thought for the day:
Peace of Mind
By Robert M. Hensel
Carry me out the ocean, where my drifting
thoughts flow free.
Guide them to a far distant land, that only
the mind can see.
There I shall paint a great portrait, of what
this world should be.
A place without senseless wars, and human
poverty.
This little poem seemed to paint a nice picture
of "peace," so I thought I'd pass it along as the
thought for the day:
Peace of Mind
By Robert M. Hensel
Carry me out the ocean, where my drifting
thoughts flow free.
Guide them to a far distant land, that only
the mind can see.
There I shall paint a great portrait, of what
this world should be.
A place without senseless wars, and human
poverty.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
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