The meaning of life is not to be found in a distant world of abstraction, but in paying attention to everyday happenings and details in one's life. One's perception has to be in the field of living. In contemplating where the truth may be found, it just might be right before you.
- Yuezhou Quianfeng
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Lunch With God
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six pack of Root beer and he started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase.
He was aboout to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie.
She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was suprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy? She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase.
He was aboout to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie.
She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was suprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy? She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Holy Leisure
Holy leisure refers to a sense of balance in the life, an ability to be at peace through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, an ability to pace ourselves.
- Richard J. Foster
- Richard J. Foster
The Kitchen Temple
A kitchen is a place in which you prepare food - our earthly and spiritual sustenance. Food has been linked with the sacred since time began. It is only in recent years that we have lost our connection with the food that sustains us. Nowadays many of us barely register what we eat; we eat on the run, gulping down "fast food"; we pop "convenience food" in the microwave and unconsciously swallow it while watching television. Few of us sit down as a family to enjoy good food.
All the great religions teach that food is a blessing from the Divine and should be treated with immense respect and gratitude. No religious Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist family would dream of just tucking into a meal without saying a blessing and giving thanks. In China, food is considered to be a physical link between humans and the gods; beautifully prepared meals are given as a sacred offering on family alters. In the ayurvedic tradition of India, food is a spiritual science with precise prescriptions of how to prepare and eat food for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In African-American culture there is the tradition of "soul food." Soul food is food cooked with love, intent, intuition, and a sense of history. It is a living prayer and celebration, and has much to teach. Although the individual rituals and customs may vary, all these traditions have several things in common. First, they recognize that food is far more than mere fuel for the body; it also sustains the soul. Second, they believe in the mindful planning, preparation, and consumption of food. Third, they insist on the necessity to give thanks for the food we eat. Most of them also sanctify the ritual of eating together in groups - whether of friends or family.
Until the twentieth century, the hearth had always been the center of the home, It was the kitchen center around which the family kept warm, fed itself, and discussed the day's work. At day's end, family members gathered in the kitchen, preparing and eating their meals, praying, laughing, and planning.
an excerpt from Spirit of the Kitchen, by Jane Alexander
(2002 Watson-Guptill Publications)
All the great religions teach that food is a blessing from the Divine and should be treated with immense respect and gratitude. No religious Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist family would dream of just tucking into a meal without saying a blessing and giving thanks. In China, food is considered to be a physical link between humans and the gods; beautifully prepared meals are given as a sacred offering on family alters. In the ayurvedic tradition of India, food is a spiritual science with precise prescriptions of how to prepare and eat food for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In African-American culture there is the tradition of "soul food." Soul food is food cooked with love, intent, intuition, and a sense of history. It is a living prayer and celebration, and has much to teach. Although the individual rituals and customs may vary, all these traditions have several things in common. First, they recognize that food is far more than mere fuel for the body; it also sustains the soul. Second, they believe in the mindful planning, preparation, and consumption of food. Third, they insist on the necessity to give thanks for the food we eat. Most of them also sanctify the ritual of eating together in groups - whether of friends or family.
Until the twentieth century, the hearth had always been the center of the home, It was the kitchen center around which the family kept warm, fed itself, and discussed the day's work. At day's end, family members gathered in the kitchen, preparing and eating their meals, praying, laughing, and planning.
an excerpt from Spirit of the Kitchen, by Jane Alexander
(2002 Watson-Guptill Publications)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Do-o-Raku
Do-o is the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese word Tao, the order of nature. Raku means "enjoyment". To enjoy Tao (to live with appreciation all the time, wherever we are) is Do-o-Raku. When we are aware of nature's impartial and absolute justice, we know there is nothing to worry about. In Lin Chi's words: "At one stroke I forgot all my knowledge! There's no need for any discipline; for, move as I will, I always manifest the Tao!" When we see this, we can begin to enjoy our lives fully, by distributing infinite joy and thankfulness to everyone we meet.
Interestingly, Do-o-Raku also means "hobby". So we can say that Do-o-Raku means to live our life as a hobby - which is what it is! Anything we do is a game. It does not matter if we "fail" or "succeed". Such an understanding is Nirvana - eternal peace. In the words of Paramahansa Yogananda: "Do not take life's experiences too seriously . . . for in reality they are nothing but dream experiences. Play your part in life, but never forget that it is only a role."
To live in perpetual ecstatic delight is Do-o-Raku. Those who do so are called Do-o-Raku-Mono. If you are Do-o-Raku-Mono, you are Macrobiotic, whatever you eat.
from Macrobiotics: An Invitation To Health And Happiness, by George Ohsawa
Interestingly, Do-o-Raku also means "hobby". So we can say that Do-o-Raku means to live our life as a hobby - which is what it is! Anything we do is a game. It does not matter if we "fail" or "succeed". Such an understanding is Nirvana - eternal peace. In the words of Paramahansa Yogananda: "Do not take life's experiences too seriously . . . for in reality they are nothing but dream experiences. Play your part in life, but never forget that it is only a role."
To live in perpetual ecstatic delight is Do-o-Raku. Those who do so are called Do-o-Raku-Mono. If you are Do-o-Raku-Mono, you are Macrobiotic, whatever you eat.
from Macrobiotics: An Invitation To Health And Happiness, by George Ohsawa
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Metabolic Power of Story
an excerpt from The Slow Down Diet, by Marc David
It only takes a moment for metabolism to rearrange itself in response to our story. Recall a time when you were feeling low energy or low metabolism and an unexpected visitor or phone call instantly lifted your spirits. That person or message had a certain meaning for you, put a positive and inspiring spin on your story of the moment, which in turn spun your subatomic particles in just the right way to activate your inner feel-good pharmacy. We can invoke this same matabolic magic by rewriting our stories in any given moment and bringing the happy ending we've always hoped for into present time.
It only takes a moment for metabolism to rearrange itself in response to our story. Recall a time when you were feeling low energy or low metabolism and an unexpected visitor or phone call instantly lifted your spirits. That person or message had a certain meaning for you, put a positive and inspiring spin on your story of the moment, which in turn spun your subatomic particles in just the right way to activate your inner feel-good pharmacy. We can invoke this same matabolic magic by rewriting our stories in any given moment and bringing the happy ending we've always hoped for into present time.
Cooking Makes Cleaning Possible, Cleaning Makes Cooking Possible
an excerpt from Tassajara Cooking, by Edward Espe Brown
Being Good Friends
"All students should be like milk and water. We are all friends from our past lives." - Suzuki-roshi
Cooking makes cleaning possible, cleaning makes cooking possible. It's all the same when we are good friends with ourselves and with the world around us. To help us be good friends with ourselves and with others, with rice and cabbages, with posts and pans, we may need some rules:
Clean as you go.
Being good friends with the knives, clean and replace them in the knife rack after use.
Being good friends with the sponge, rinse and wring it out; with the towels, fold and hang them up, and wash when dirty, or before.
Being good friends with the counter, wipe it after use, and scrub sometimes; with the floor, sweep and mop. Get into the corners, and when you're done, stand the broom on end or hang it on a hook. After cleaning a greasy floor, sprinkle some salt where it's still slippery.
Being good friends with the dish sponge, don't use it on the floor. Use the dish towel for dishes, and have another for face and hands.
Being good friends with the scraps and trimmings, make some stock.
Clean the sinks! Clear the drains!
Be friends with your friends.
Being Good Friends
"All students should be like milk and water. We are all friends from our past lives." - Suzuki-roshi
Cooking makes cleaning possible, cleaning makes cooking possible. It's all the same when we are good friends with ourselves and with the world around us. To help us be good friends with ourselves and with others, with rice and cabbages, with posts and pans, we may need some rules:
Clean as you go.
Being good friends with the knives, clean and replace them in the knife rack after use.
Being good friends with the sponge, rinse and wring it out; with the towels, fold and hang them up, and wash when dirty, or before.
Being good friends with the counter, wipe it after use, and scrub sometimes; with the floor, sweep and mop. Get into the corners, and when you're done, stand the broom on end or hang it on a hook. After cleaning a greasy floor, sprinkle some salt where it's still slippery.
Being good friends with the dish sponge, don't use it on the floor. Use the dish towel for dishes, and have another for face and hands.
Being good friends with the scraps and trimmings, make some stock.
Clean the sinks! Clear the drains!
Be friends with your friends.
* * *
Blessings.
You're on your own.
Together with everything.
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