April 7, 2021

 The Paramita of Patience

Two characters make up the word 'patience':  'sword' and 'heart'.  

Pema Chodron writes:  "The meaning is to bear something painful in the heart.  The sword blade is poised ready to strike.  Backed into this corner, we cannot move.  Therefore 'patience' or 'endurance'.  When we don't know which way to turn or where to go, any movement at all can not only further muddy the water, but can also bring disaster:  the sword blade severs the heart and all is lost.  

Thus the value of patience..."

Manjusri's sword

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Special bows for today: 

• Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
• Kenny Merrill, Misha's cousin, who died from ALS on March 20, 2021
• Lally Hass, Kathleen Dickey's aunt, who died 3/7/2021  
• Jesse Schouboe, dear friend of GJ Scove, who died on 2/27/21 in a car crash
• Hank Wesselman, brother of Chris Wesselman, who died on 2/15/21
• Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
• John Hass, Kathleen Dickey's uncle who has entered hospice
• Les Kaye, who will need to undergo another round of chemotherapy
• Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is continuing  chemotherapy treatments  
• David Shaw, who is continuing the process of recovery

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Wonderful links/recommendations shared by sangha members and friends:

• From Jim:   Tricking your brain into learning--the Super Mario Effect:   https://youtu.be/9vJRopau0g0

• From Misha:  Amazing dog video:    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HFthXKHpSBr7jVDV4uYPsS3GDCLOzUK4/view?usp=sharing

• From Nancy:  Taylor Swift singing us back to nature:   https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/opinion/taylor-swift-grammys-nature-lyrics.html

• From Alisa Tu:  A beautiful iSing production with Alia Tu as one of the soloists:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z267hxrAOHM

• From Diane: love the power of her chant and the intention of the dance (hula):  https://youtu.be/Cjcqgv3AoLk

• From Misha:  The Atlantic meets the Pacific (watch all the way through--it's worth it!  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J0-nDBhu5HPMi5z7_Tq7rQX-s1zzT8W6/view?usp=sharing

• Zen Heart Sangha website: resources about COVID-19: www.zenheartsangha.org

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• To leave a comment on this blog:  Here is a quick video on how to--it's from 2017, but should work:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T4RflO5Wgg