Wednesday, February 17, 2021

February 17, 2021

To Be of Use 

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.

by Marge Piercy

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please offer bows for:
    • Hank Wesselman who died on February 15th
  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
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Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:
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Monday, February 15, 2021

February 15, 2021

In this world...

there are three things of value 

for one who gives.

What are these three things?


Before giving, the mind of the giver is happy.

While giving, 

the mind of the giver is made peaceful.

After having given, 

the mind of the giver is uplifted. 


- The Buddha's teachings (An 3.6.37)


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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is more than halfway through  chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
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Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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Tuesday, February 9, 2021

February 9, 2021

 Daily Life is the Way


A monk once asked his master, 

"No matter what lies ahead, what is the Way?"

The master quickly replied, "The Way is your daily life."

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's brother, Duane, finished his radiation this week--thank you for your bows! 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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Monday, February 8, 2021

February 7, 2021

While we practice conscious breathing, our thinking will slow down, and we can give ourselves a real rest.  Most of the time, we think too much,  and mindful breathing helps us to be calm, relaxed and peaceful.  

It helps us stop thinking so much and stop being possessed by sorrows of the past and worries about the future.  

It enables us to be in touch with life, which is wonderful in the present moment.

Excerpted from Peace is Every Step  - Thich Nhat Hanh

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's brother, Duane, finished his radiation this week--thank you for your bows! 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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Saturday, February 6, 2021

February 5, 2021

I roll over in bed

The alarm hasn’t sounded 

but I’m awake

Meditation starts now

Where else do you have to be?

What else is so important?


What is so bad about here and now

That drives you tail between your legs

Running back to your mind?


God is calling you

Come back

There’s no time to waste

Take your Noble Seat

And let’s BE together.


- by Aaron DeNardo


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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Misha's brother, Duane, who is almost done (!) receiving radiation for cancer 
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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Wednesday, February 3, 2021

February 3, 2021

The Profound Musings of a Mother

In a profound moment --- common, but no less a miracle -- my son Mitchell was born. And in that precious moment, time softened its relentless cadence and enabled the pendulum swing representing my life to remain at center. I am surprised at how frequently I now draw serenity from that moment; its recall assuring me of my course.

Not visible to me at the time, I am now able to acknowledge the situation's humorous fraction. My husband, every bit "the man's man," losing all color and crouching at my feet in a modified three-point stance, his hands open wide to catch the game winning pass; is forever etched in my memory. The recollection of myself at the point of parturitional insanity, demanding a mirror to witness the blessed event, has assumed its permanent placement on my top ten best performances list.

I remember the moment I first held my son. The feelings are still so overwhelming that I am unable to put them into words. And I believe some events are so inspiring they defy language, only to touch your soul. So it is my truth, for no day before or since holds the power that this day does for me.

Yet when I think about Mitchell's birth as the one day I would want to relive, I realize that it's not that day, but those after that have been witness to magnificent change. His birth -- and I am certain I am not single in this phenomenon -- catalyzed my launch from adulthood into maturity.

Nature is a sagacious muse. And although not forgiving, she isn't without compassion and a fertile sense of humor. She weaves into each human being a stratagem upon receipt of parental title that completes an indestructible bond -- a sharing of feelings ending in divine empathy for the child. Ingenious! For my growth now occurs in conjunction with my son's -- nature's largesse. And I realize that what began on that day as the fruition of my most selfish desire has thankfully been recast into my most selfless acts.

- Shannon Bergman

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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Misha's brother, Duane, who is almost done (!) receiving radiation for cancer 
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________


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Monday, February 1, 2021

February 1, 2021

 In honor of Black History Month



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Special bows for today: 

  • Please continue to offer bows in honor of:
    • Roshi Mel Weitsman who died on 1/7/21
    • Ian Hass, Kathleen Dickey's cousin, who died on 12/28/20
    • Tim Doherty, Chris Doherty's brother, who died on 1/8/21
    • Nora Hayes-Roth, a dear friend of Misha's, who died on 11/25/20
    • Dan Pomeroy, a friend of dharma brother, Dainuri Rott, who died on 11/20/20
  • Please continue to offer bows of well-being for: 
    • Misha's cousin, Kenny, who has been diagnosed with ALS
    • Shannon's husband, Gil, who has returned home and is slowly recovering
    • Misha's brother, Duane, who is almost done (!) receiving radiation for cancer 
    • Flip Dibner, dharma brother and friend, who is 1/2way through his chemotherapy treatments while at home 
    • David Shaw, who is continuing the process of PT after a stroke
__________________________________________________________________________

Wonderful links shared by sangha members and friends:

_____________________________________________________________________

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