A cul du sac, all on its own could be seen from the highway, had to go back. I felt such a strong draw … such a sense of abandonment from a place that had once had such a wonderful exciting and vibrant life. The architecture of the houses with the faux fronts.. loved them.
A blessing and silent prayer for all of you today
P: Precept # 11 Always be with God
Early mornings find me quietly enjoying the creativity and thoughts of my fellow bloggers. anticipating my first cuppa ice-cold coffee, when Marga Demmers’ blog opens up.. The Photographer Smiled It was a fun read, and got me thinking about where I put my singing lids. You have all heard of singing bowls, yes?
Singing bowls (also known as Tibetan Singing Bowls, rin gongs, Himalayan bowls or suzu gongs) are a type of bell, specifically classified as a standing bell. Rather than hanging inverted or attached to a handle, singing bowls sit with the bottom surface resting, and the rim vibrates to produce sound characterized by a fundamental frequency (first harmonic) and usually two audible harmonic overtones (second and third harmonic).[citation needed]
Singing bowls are used worldwide for meditation, music, relaxation, and personal well-being. Singing bowls were historically made throughout Asia, especially Nepal, China and Japan. They are closely related to decorative bells made along the Silk Road from the Near East to Western Asia. Today they are made in Nepal, India, Japan, China and Korea. – source Wikipedia
You can read more about the bowls on Wikipedia, I have a small collection, I love the sound produced in the older, (antique) bowls, they produce a harmonic overtone that resonates with me. The complex harmonic frequencies simply “speak” volumes to me. Each voice is unique. The hand-made bowls are my preference.
Modern bowls today, are manufactured. However, if you search you can still find newer ones that have been made in the traditional way. I admit to being a bit of a snob when it came to the bowls.. I went out of my way to search out and find just the “right” ones (for me and my uses)
I used them in my personal meditation and prayers, and with students and “clients” To this day, the sound of a bowl will ring out in the day or night-time atmosphere, as I allow myself to drift with the vibration and sound. The longer the bowl sings, the deeper the journey.
The bowls will sing if you run your wooden instrument along its sides, caressing it with a gently rhythm, or you can gently tap it with the leather or covered end of your mallet.. (personal preferences are many)
Rin gong at Kiyomizu-dera Kyoto
work by Michael Maggs click for more info
Those of us who enjoy and use the singing bowls, are passionate about them, and many will often give performances or demonstrations of just how melodic and mind satisfying the voices are. I play only for my own enjoyment and purposes.. however, many practice and use the bowl to play for large audiences.
Having a fondness for the bowls, you know that as I travelled and made my way around “treasure” shops, I looked for bowls that had been cast off, or simply given away, the previous owner thinking them merely decorative. while on such a hunt I happened to be in the aisle where they had on display pots, pans, lids and other household items. We had a pot that needed a cover.. so I was idly picking up different lids when I was jarred to attention, when this one lid sang to me. What… it was ugly, heavy and battered looking.. to be sure, I found myself a wooden stirring stick, and tentatively gave it a tap… WOW…. zing went the strings of my heart.
Love can happen when you least expect it to. It is just something that happens, we can go out and search all we like, but it is when we are ready, and open to the experience that we become naturally receptive to the calling, “voice” of another.
LOL all this to say… thanks to Marga, I dug out my lids ( I later found the one on the right, at home, waiting for me to see it just wasn’t a lid)
Love beckons from strange places, and when you least expect it. Isn’t Love Grand!!!!
HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE
Namaste – Oyashikiri
This was taken in New York State, a few summers ago. It was a sunny day, and I was out exploring, in fact, this was my first time to this part of the State, I had read an article on an abandoned health resort, it was so intriguing I wanted to see it for myself. I blogged about that trip the year I went. This is one of the pictures that in that file.
Timing in life, is so important, PL Precept #19 Begin Once you perceive and PL Precept # 17 Grasp What is Most Essential
Had I not been in the States on that day, enjoying the sights, and wandering down a side street I would never have been able to capture that picture. The home was bathed in sunlight and shade, the breeze was just right, lifting the flag for almost picture perfect memory. Whenever I see this picture I’m reminded of that trip, and I want to explore more of the small towns in that area.
Rev. Eisuke and I were talking yesterday of how it is so easy to “perceive” something, yet not take action… for whatever reason, we don’t follow through, guess what “something” doesn’t get done. Or we miss something that was essential in the grand scheme of things. We didn’t look at or take into consideration the full picture.
In the teachings of PL, we try to encourage and show why following the Precepts as best we can, is so important to our own quality of life and the happiness of not only ourselves but those around us.
Make someone happy today, SMILE share the LOVE include it in your day, it will radiate in your smile.
namaste – oyashikiri
my love to each and everyone of you
Blessings!
It is a Blessing to be Busy!
Oh come on now, really?
yes really, I am at my best
when I can be on the go, exploring, doing
Ah, you don’t mean work, 9- 5
Of course I do
when I am busy, I feel good, I love seeing the results of my efforts
True, nothing is “always” fun,
but doing something, accomplishing something I’ve set out to do
that is rewarding
When we live to enjoy each moment, no matter what we are doing
we discover our strengths and get to use our creativity
Cuz, like we say in PL, Life is Art (Precept #1)
“Alegrese de estar muy atareado y procure estarlo siempre.
El hecho de estar ocupado
es una evidencia de ser querido por Dios
It is a Blessing to be Busy
Enjoy being busy and continue to seek more work
Being busy is God’s way of showing you, that you are loved”.
Namaste – Oyashikiri
quote in green – PL Calendar 2016 #18
When the Lakota leader Sitting Bull was asked by a white reporter why his people loved and respected him, Sitting Bull replied by asking if it was not true that among white people a man is respected because he has many horses, many houses? When the reporter replied that was indeed true, Sitting Bull then said that his people respected him because he kept nothing for himself.” –Joseph Bruchac – Photograph: Orlando Scott GoffGood
Good morning everyone, I found this in my research today. It was posted 4 years ago on the Parabola (The Search for Meaning) site on tumblr.
How well said, and so simply .. it brings us back once more to the individuality of each of us, and how our cultures shape our thinking.
However that said, we are not back living in a time when the differences were not known, researched, studied, and documented. This is 2016 an electronic age, we can sit in our homes and watch documented reports of what is going on around us. There are thousands of published reports, books, magazines, videos and spoken story books. There is no reason for us to not know about our neighbours.
“Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men, we didn’t have any kind of prison.
Because of this, we had no delinquents.
Without a prison, there can be no delinquents.
We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves.
When someone was so poor that he couldn’t afford a horse, a tent or a blanket, he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift.
We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property.
We didn’t know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human being was not determined by his wealth.
We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians, therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another.
We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don’t know how to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental things that (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society.”
— John (Fire) Lame Deer.
This also was found on tumblr,in a post, Desert Dreamer, from Cape Town, South Africa
Just some food for thought to go along with your coffee. I find it extremely interesting and thought provoking that no matter who we are, or what our backgrounds are, we ALL strive for peace and want it in our lives.
Everyone we meet, lives with us, under the same sky, reach out with an act of kindness today. A smiles goes a long way…….
Namaste – Oyashikiri
Gifts appear /happen when we least expect them to. While working on this morning’s blog, I came across this video. It was posted by Jim Stenson, on YouTube, I can’t tell you how I landed there, I don’t remember consciously going there. I was looking at trucks..(yes I was distracted by a 2015 Chevy Colorado )..and then oops. what is this.. It is such a beautiful and moving video, I am sharing it with you this morning.
http://https://youtu.be/JA8VJh0UJtg
Jim put the music to the video, he published it in 2012, the Mother contacted him in 2013, and he has published and recorded the sequence of events in his post, along with part of the conversation he had with the Mother of the child (Herman) and the dog’s name is Himalaya. To see the original post and Jim’s notes please follow the links in the video I’ve posted.
Have a good day everyone..
Namaste – Oyashikiri
Sweet mama dog interacting with a beautiful child with Down Syndrome. (Jim Stenson)
Magic mirror on the wall
remember those words
who is the fairest of them all
it is 2016
many of us have looked many a time
into one mirror or another
always to find
that whether it is 1956, or 2006
we always see
the person that we are on that given day
The mirror does not play tricks
It simply reflects back what it sees…
but … for us …. we are not always ready for what we see
no matter how we dress the wall,
using a mirror that is long and tall
if we are short and small
that is what we will see
I myself, believe I’m a star =^_^=
I really don’t need a mirror
I believe that I am me no matter how I look or how I adorn myself
so, if its alright with you,
I will enter into this new year (year of the Monkey)
with a smile and a hardy happy hug
saying, be who you are, cuz I love you just the way you are…
Every day is a new day, and every moment is a new beginning
Thank you one and all
for being who you are..
Namaste – Oyashikiri
PL Precept # 15 All is a Mirror
note- official start of the Monkey Year is beginning of February (lunar calendar) (8th)
“Native American Code of Ethics
Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone.
Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path.
Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul.
Pray that they will find guidance. Search for yourself, by yourself.
Do not allow others to make your path for you.
It is your road, and yours alone.
Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
—*—-*—
Thursday, is the eve of a brand new year…
I know I am looking forward to enjoying all that will come my way. I send out positive energy and good wishes to each and every one of you..It is my hope that we will all benefit from the lessons and adventures we had in 2015.
May the joys in life, fill your world with great abundance and blessings.
Good health, happiness and a very happy New Year.
Namaste – Oyashikiri
El ser humano posee tanto virtudes como defectos. Relacionese con los puntos positivos de otras personas.
Aprecie o ponto positivo das perssoas
Relacione-se com o pronto positivo de cada um.
Appreciate each person’s good points
There is a good and a less positive part to all of us. As humans we do our best,
but we do, often have to try a few times before we get it right. Let’s take the time
to strive towards finding the positive in others, and situations we encounter in
and during our daily lives. In so doing, it will not only enrich our lives but perhaps
bring sunshine and wonder into someone else’s life.
We don’t always know how our actions impact on others.
Share a smile today! Reach out and share the happiness in your heart..
Love is powerful, it touches us in ways that mortal words cannot describe..
Believe you are loved..each and every one of us is blessed
we need only accept, that love is what makes us ONE.
Always and Forever.
Namaste – Oyashikiri
PL Principle # 3 I will live with a mind of appreciation towards others and things.
December arrives, and the excitement starts to build
The airwaves are full of happy songs anticipating the festive holidays
As children it didn’t matter what or where the holiday originated
not really, it was that everyone seemed so happy, and time was made
for decorating, planning and having friends and family over.
It centered around an evergreen tree, if you were lucky enough to have
one fresh from the farm or farmer’s market, the smell of the freshly cut
tree would permeate the house.
In school, we were told about what Christmas meant to our classmates
and how, the spirit of goodwill to all, was the lesson we should be learning
Mostly we were from different backgrounds, and the teacher would do
his/her best to show us how in respecting each other’s differences
we could all enjoy this wonderful holiday together. Learn from each other
and share in the giving of “loving one another” and working towards
“peace on earth”
We were encouraged to make something special for those we cared about
it was a time where we made time to find something to give our
closest friends and parents something from the “heart”
It wasn’t about the cost, but about showing how that person brought
happiness into our lives by sharing their lives with ours.
Xmas cards were so much fun to make or pick out, each with a message
that was specific to that friend or parent.
There was an innocence, a joy, it felt good to say Merry Christmas.. to one and all
Not for religious reasons, but because it was being respectful, and caring.
Like saying, “have a great day and life” Almost always it brought a smile for a response.
Yes, the world is changing, and Yes there are now many more cultures that have come together
under one umbrella. The month of December is the one time that should be Universal in maintaining
the spirit of Christmas.. (Xmas)….. we are all ONE… we all love, hurt, endure,and live one day at a time.
We want health, happiness and longevity for ourselves and our loved ones. no matter who we are….
let us celebrate this holiday, with the mantra of “goodwill to all”
allow the cheerfulness of the season, to bring glad tidings to all…..
Love makes all things possible
God is love
Namaste – Oyashikiri
PL Precept 11 Always be with God
PL Precept # 3 God appears through one’s self.
PL Precept 15 All is a mirror.
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