Second Noble Truth

2.  Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering.
Not being able to be content with what we have or who we are, our mind is filled with a greed or desire and suffering automatically follows.  
Contentment is one of my six major values.  That doesn't mean that I am always content.  But I have reached an understanding that contentment is a highly desirable state and I make frequent attempts to dwell there.  "Wanting more" is an affliction of our culture which is of great positive value as well as causing suffering.  Otherwise, many desirable accomplishments would never come to fruition.  Still, in the search for enlightenment or bliss or whatever you may call it, contentment is part of reaching for  and attaining that state.

Four Noble Truths

The Buddha's first teaching - four Noble Truths - have been on my mind this morning.  They have given me much room for thought I'd like to share with you, but first let me list them for you as I found them on line:
1.  NobleTruth of Suffering
2.  Noble Truth of Cause of Suffering
3.  Noble Truth of the End of Suffering
4.  Noble Truth of the Middle Path or the Noble Eightfold Path
Very briefly - 1 - "Chasing after the delights of the world, expecting them to bring lasting pleasure, always leads to disappointment………None of these 'things' offers any real satisfaction or peace."
I believe this first truth.  Do you?  A key word for me is "lasting."  Tomorrow I'll write more about No. 2 - "cause of suffering."

Labyrinth Walking

The sun is shining.  I never thought I'd be celebrating the sun shining.  These last many days have been overcast and wet.  Not often actually raining but just wet.  We once lived in Eugene, Oregon where it was misty from September to May.  Our shoes grew green inside, our clothes were always wet, and in general it was a perfect environment for SAD and I was sad much of the time.  Not really depressed, just not happy.  So today, we smile.  At what?  Simply being alive is enough…….and to have friends visiting to share thoughts…….Today I'll begin walking the labyrinth regularly as my meditation practice.   Sometime in early February, the dam will be broken and the pond drained in order to rebuild the dam.  Then for a while at least, we won't be able to get to the labyrinth without walking a long way around the other end of the pond through blackberry bushes, tall grasses, and even perhaps barbed wire.  I doubt that I will take that trek often.   But, across the dam - YES.  Today is the day to begin.  It's not so green, more browns now, but still……It's not covered with snow either.

We are creators

I'm back to sorting and clearing collected papers.  This one I set aside to keep; I'm sending it along to share with you.  Perhaps today it is meaningless for you but another day?  Who knows?  It comes from Sara Ban Breathnach's book for page January 25 and is by Rainer Maria Rilke.
If your everyday life seems poor, don't blame it; blame yourself;
admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet 
to call forth its riches;
because for the creator
there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place.

To me, we are all creators.  That is why we are here.

Beauty is Everywhere

I can't believe I haven't written a post in so many days!  Life has gotten so busy for me that all of the routine doings have been neglected.  Some of that time was spent being sick (only slightly, mostly fatigued) and also caring for Frank who developed acute bronchitis.  Thank God it didn't go into pneumonia.  Anyway, we are both well now and beginning to resume normal activities.  Frank is on his way back to NC today to get back to "cleaning and clearing" his house.  I'll spend the next several days here catching up on my doings and also enjoying a visit from Sara and Faye this weekend.  These quarterly Pod Sister weekends are such a delight.  We have been meeting now for many years and the camaraderie is so beautiful it must be shared frequently.  Speaking of beauty!  Take a look at the beautiful sunset from the front of The Yogatorium a couple evenings ago!

Be Here Now.

So here I am in bed for a day.  Starting the New Year with Hoppin' John and collards and tomatoes didn't energize me.  So by today, it was rest time.  Feeling a bit more rested tonight.
 The blue cloth is an eye pillow, not a hat.  My plan is to spend tomorrow resting also.  After all, from what we heard at the Urgent Care center, the whole Southeast is under a red flag for flu.  Thank goodness I did get a flu shot this year.  The rest would not have been possible without the help of my angel Joanne who came out and taught the yoga class after moving benches out to mark off the soggy spots so no one got stuck.  Friends like Joanne are what make life worth living.   These days off are also giving me time to rethink my life and plan for 2015.  I really haven't yet come up with any new plans.  My life seems to be ideal just as it is.  So, I simply need to Be Here Now - as Ram Dass wrote so many years ago.  That's what my plan is for 2015 - to Be Here Now each day wherever I am physically.