Thursday, February 5, 2015

Obama Offers Namaste at Prayer Meeting with Dalai Lama

Here My mom and Gene went to India about 10 years ago. He said he saw people bowing in respect when they passed a church -- or synagogue, mosque, or Buddhist stupa. This shows respect to the higher aspects of each, even if one is not 'officially' indoctrinated in that religion.
I've found connection to all religions I've studied.
'Namaste' means, approximately, the higher aspect of me sees and acknowledges the higher aspect in you.
For Obama to offer such a cursory sign of respect is wholly appropriate.
For Chinese who are angry about freedom of religion or Tibet, that's too bad. They could use some namaste themselves, and try to find some tolerance and compassion, which is needed in this world.
For Christians, or any other people seeking to find disrespect in Obama's actions, they could use the same.
We must be inclusive, whether you believe in Tibetan Buddhism are not. It is an ancient religion that values peace.
That what we need more of: individual and more communal peace. Seeing and acknowledging the better parts of each other, whether we are different or not. Probably even more important when we are different.

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Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here