2012.06.23 _ 74

Welcome back Wester!
'Here’s what to do with your life: do what you do. That is all. That is to say, whatever happens, happens. See, it’s already happening: now, now and now. Life is only a problem when the questions begin: ‘Have I made the right decisions?’ ‘Should I be doing something else right now?’ ‘What will become of me?’ There is the idea that once the questions are answered, there will be freedom from confusion. But can we really think our way out of confusion? Wasn’t it thinking that got us into this mess in the first place? Do we really have any choice in the matter?" Foster, Jeff

That sounds too easy doesn't it? I want to weigh everything up, evaluate, ponder, investigate. How would I fill my life without doing that? (as Eliza commented earlier at PAB?)

Thanks for the welcomes!

Standing meditation seems to lessen the pain in my shoulder, probably by relaxing cramped muscles. So I did an extra session very early this morning when I couldn't sleep. Standing up up for the full ten minutes that early proved a bit too much, so I sat down for the last couple of minutes. I also did standing meditation in the evening. There was a bit more focus on the shoulder than there used to be. But then, focus is always shifting.

How wonderful, Storm! Thank you for sharing that picture.

Today had an interesting 'following the openings' quality, including driving by a colorful house which turned out to be a Zen center hosting Tibetan monks working on a complex sand mandala. I'd not seen a sand mandala 'live' before today, and certainly had not observed in the way that today's happening upon allowed. edited 02:05, 24 Jun 2012

From yesterday... "baniac" is a portmanteau of "baking maniac". It comes from a time when Mrs. Storm and daughter spent a week doing nothing but art 14 hours a day. Part of that time was firing clay, and some miniature pots survive from that time, used here in front of one of our many Kuan Yin statues.

Onion bhajis tonight - not much exercise needed for that quick recipe! Later, karuna-metta meditation.

Someone sent me some "funny" animated pictures today. I guess I was expected to find them funny, as they showed misfortunes happening to people. Just like many people laugh when they see someone fall over. Perhaps these are the same people who like practical jokes, I don't know. But I didn't laugh. I never do. How can one have compassion for all and yet enjoy seeing people suffer? And if one does not have compassion for all, how can one cultivate lasting happiness? edited 02:13, 24 Jun 2012