Inspiration

Dilgo Kyentse Rimpoche.
Great Wisdom.
Inspiration.
A living example of what lies at the end of the spiritual path.
Showing us what is possible to do with our human lives.

Books Over Beer

The foolish spending decisions that keep so much of the world mired in poverty; another unfortunate side result of the triumphant, globalized reach of advertisers and large corporations, and the immediate external gratification sought out by so many as a cure to internal needs.

the pilgrim

"Just as a white summer cloud, in harmony with heaven and earth freely floats in the blue sky from horizon to horizon following the breath of the atmosphere -- in the same way the pilgrim abandons himself to the breath of the greater life that leads him beyond the farthest horizons to an aim which is already present within him, though yet hidden from his sight."

-Lama Govinda
The Way of the White Clouds

Light

"Remembering Lizzie's life as a photographer, I am reminded of how "dark" is an epithet that completely fails to describe Africa. Africa is bathed in light, and it's the mornings that you recall more than the nights with their noises and vague fears. Lizzie chased the light, rising before dawn, waiting for sunrise, capturing color and shadow, black faces with their depth and warmth, trapping the crescendo of light on film before watching heat leach out all the hues and contrasts, the world become two-dimensional, the faces turn blank, blinded by the sun. At evening, the light had such depth that one could observe the incredible detail of things, as if the continent was made of liquid glass. It peaked, then she put away her camera and settled down to watch as the orange ball of the sun melted into the horizon; all sense of space and distance vanished in seconds. In East Africa darkness falls like a black velvet curtain, almost before you can adjust you look up to see the moon and the wheel of the constellations."
-Aidan Hartley, The Zanzibar Chest

Heading South.

"The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you never even thought to ask."
-Jeff Johnson

"Fear of the unknown is the greatest fear of all."

"The hardest thing in the world is simplifying your life."

-Yvonne Chouinard

words

"May i be a guard for those who need protection,

a guide for those on the path,

a raft, a boat, a bridge, for those to cross the flood;

May i be a lamp in the darkness,

a resting place for the weary,

may I be medicine for all who are sick;

A vase of plenty,

a tree of miracles.

May I bring food to the hungry,

and sustenance and awakening,

enduring like earth and sky,

for countless eons,

until all beings are freed from sorrow,

and all are awakened.

-The Dalai Lama's Boddhistava Vows

Four Thoughts for Turning the Mind

From a beautiful teaching by Miles Neale at Tibet House, 6.8.10

The Four Thoughts for Turning the Mind

1. Contemplation on the preciousness of human life: how fortunate are we to have been born with the ability to practice, to live freely, without war, famine, extreme need; we have leisure time and opportunities to train our minds; so many others, probably 95% of the world, does not; this is precious! How can we take full advantage of this precious human life??

2. Contemplation on the inevitability of death: there is no question of our eventual demise and death; yet, how often do we contemplate this basic human fact? instead, we choose to live in the delusion that this will occur to all others, yet not us. how does this lend itself to us truly valuing our lives and relationships, in relation to our eventual demise? this also ties into the contemplation on what we take with us when we die-our accomplishments, achievements, accolades, cars, houses, stocks, bonds, and clothes will be worthless when we approach death; what we can take with us is our good heart and the knowledge that we have brought joy and happiness to others; to know that we have lived a life of morality and virtue-this is what truly matters at the end

3. Contemplation on Causality: (the law of Karma): there is no randomness in this world; everything we do, all of our actions, count; every action has a reaction-how we speak, act, think, counts; How have we been living? Have we been living passively? Have we been brave? Have we created the conditions for our own happiness?

4. Contemplation on Suffering and the Nature of Samsara: most of our society, most of our culture, live like mindless rats running in circles in a giant rat wheel; the constant ups and downs of our emotions and feelings; compulsive living-the unstable mind constantly chasing, running, avoiding pleasure and pain; how much time do we spend chasing pleasure and avoiding pain? How much time do we dedicate to getting and keeping? How much time do we spend avoiding losing? How much of our lives is dedicated to this??