Good Morning Everyone! and to all our American Friends, Happy Independence Day!
We have a Japanese term we use in the PL Church, Musubi:Oneness, togetherness with others. one of my goals, my ambitions, something I strive for every day. Not just sometimes, I really believe and pray that I can attain this with every breath I take. I can’t live in tomorrow or next week, even next month. I live today, now, in this very moment. and I do my best to live each moment with Makoto,(utmost sincerity) I pray Shikiri: PL’s unique way of prayer, asking God’s blessing with a sincere promise to accomplish what I need/have to do Once a moment is lived it cannot be taken back and relived.
As a child I recall my Mother telling me that one should never say something hurtful or negative about someone else because once that word(s) was/were spoken they could not be taken back. I’ve never gotten that.
Good relationships begin by greetings and acts of respect and courtesy. Our action not only words, show how much we value others. Often actions speak louder than words. We have much to be thankful in our lives, lets share a smile today, say hello to someone you haven’t seen or heard from in awhile. Pass the feel good feeling around. It is free and it is yours to give.
This is an amazing picture in so many ways.. I don’t know the photographer, but the person who pinned it was Jef Palmer, this photograph was on Pinterest. Totally awesome.
Welcome another day! I overheard a conversation the other day, noooo I was not eavesdropping I was happily shopping but aware of my surroundings, two women were in conversation right next to me, hard not to hear. One woman was complaining of the heat (it was hot, in the 90’s) the other one listened, but as soon as the first stopped talking, went right into what a mess her life was in. This was a conversation that they both have had before because the other woman then jumped right in with her list of complaints too. Both agreeing that nothing ever changes.. I tried moving away to another rack, but they were also shopping and seemed to moved near me again, still with the same dialogue.
These women were strangers to me, and I’m sure that it was great to be able to have a friend to unload to, however, they were sad and disappointed with their current situations when the conversation began, and it seemed that it would go on being so …. I briefly closed my eyes and offered up a thank you to the heavens for the blessings in my life. I love life with all the joys and challenges it brings. That’s me, being who I am, I wish everyone was as happy as I am, in PL (Perfect Liberty) we strive to live ….. Precept #1 – Life is Art in all we do. Precept #10 – Love YOURSELF and OTHERS.
itThe PL lesson of yesterday was to set higher goals and work to improve ourselves. Today’s lesson, is to always express our true selves with honesty and integrity.
Why start the day with a meditation, thought, prayer ………………….because it helps set the tone for the day, YOUR day. Life is not always a ball of laughs, and we are not always happy with the cards we were dealt. However, reality is…… perception…… and only YOU have the ability to change that perception. No one else can do it for you.
Focus on your true feelings, and express yourself with makoto (sincerity) and honesty. Then listen to what you’ve said, and to what you are feeling.
Once you’e made up your mind, move forward without hesitation. Believe in your”SELF”.
Everybody wants happiness, no one wants pain, but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain *
Another bright sunny day, can’t wait to get outside into the fresh air and sunshine. Having errands to run yesterday, I was out for half the day driving from one place to another, car window down, the air still a bit of chill to it, but I wanted the wind in my hair and that feeling of being on the move. Not convertible time yet, but the motorcycle enthusiast are out. Just the day before everyone was moaning about the rain. Certainly for those having to deal with the challenges that come with a lot of rain and melting from the heavy snows we’ve had over the winter, it wasn’t all hearts and flowers. But to many of us, the rain meant a day without sunshine, it was wet and sometimes inconvenient. Ever noticed that when it rains, the greetings aren’t so friendly, and some are even grumpy.
Have you ever danced in the rain? Have you ever been caught in a summer shower? When I was younger, walking to work with my hair all done, my clothes all fresh and ready for a work day, caught without an umbrella didn’t make me cheerful. LOL.. I don’t think, I know I grumbled and mumbled words that would have earned me a proper scolding by my parents. Older and wiser now, I am more accepting of the rain, I know it is going to rain, and there is nothing I can do about it, I can either stay inside, or go out and enjoy the world and what the day has to offer. I no longer concern myself about my hair, and if I know it is raining I dress accordingly, if I didn’t expect the rain, so what, I’ll dry. Rain has been a part of this world long before I arrived, and it will continue to fall long after I’ve moved on.
I know that I have many of you who share these moments with me ,write, doesn’t this picture evoke some kind of response from you. Wow! The photographer (*** below) really captured a moment here. That dear reader is what life is, we live our lives in segments, it may not seem so at the time, but I can assure you, that each and everyone of you, will come up with a different story line, or thought on what the picture says to them, or the emotion it evokes. Let us all try to live life a day at a time and make the best of each moment whatever the task or challenge, don’t give up, look for the positives in the situation, Life is art ….. and someone, somewhere is living their day in a similar way ….. remember with the rain comes new growth and if you are lucky you will see your own rainbow.
Good Morning Everyone! Ahhhh what a day, what a day… kicked out of bed very early this morning by a whippet…a surprise wake up call! What can one do, standing over me with great concern on her face was the Porti (Portuguese Water Dog).. what else to do but smile.. No matter what rude awakening starts your day, S M I L E.
A nice big hug to go along with the smile is bonus! It isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but a smile that reaches the eyes can melt a heart, change a mood and just be gall darn enchanting. Not only does it make you feel better, it helps those around you have a better day themselves. Happiness is contagious. Now pucker up!
Hope I got a smile out of you today…… thank you for sharing this moment with me….. love, today and always…… Oyashikiri
Let your day be a smorgasbord of challenges that excite and provoke you in a positive way. Sometimes we allow our days to be routine, we choose to do the same thing over and over again, in the very same way. Try something different, whatever you do, put your whole heart into everything you do, even it is as simple taking the stairs instead of the elevator.=^_^=
Just as the Earth goes through a never ending cycle of rebirth and renewal, so do we. You are a spiritual being, a divine life in expression. Life is Art.
Come the end of day, know you have done your best, to live each moment of your day, the best way you could. That is all that is asked of you. Blessings….. Oyashikiri
Good Morning everyone... how are you doing on this wonderful Thursday in April, here we are April the 10th. Just the other day we were celebrating the 1st of the month, the Day of peace, and tomorrow is Ancestor’s Day the 11th. It is said, when time goes by quickly, we are enjoying life. Oui,yes, life is good. there is a lot going on and everyday brings new challenges, new beginnings. Soon, very soon, outside I will see the first buds begin to sprout on the cherry tree.
We understand that we will have to wait for the sun to work its magic and for the tree to find its own time and cycle for it to blossom and bring forth the beauty of its spring foliage. Why is it that we show such impatience in how other areas of our lives develop? How often have I heard someone say,” I understand” when I’ve tried to explain something I’m feeling. And, I can tell, from their actions, that really, my explanation was not understood at all. Vice verso, when I have said, “I understand” and I think I did, but did I really. Emotions are hard to pin down, they are often very abstract. We can’t predict, we can’t say at 6 pm this evening it will rain on Montcalm Street in Hull down through the village of Cantley ending at the bridge. We have forecasts that give us predictions, we listen, take it in, and then move on. Not so easy to do with our every day comings and goings! We try…. some succeed better than others .Often it has to be wondered if we even apply the same reasoning.(thought process)
Today I ask blessings of everyone in times of trouble. Comfort for those who are facing a loss. Calm for those passing their days without work during times of financial stress, Healing for those who are suffering pain and illness. Encouragement for those who are finding it difficult to believe in the future. Uphold those who are being tempted in any way today to turn their backs on life. In all these ways and more, I ask your Blessings, for we are ONE with Nature and the Universe, now forever and always………………… Oyashikiri
Ancestor’s Day service is at 10 a.m. (PL Church)
btw. Just in reading the above prayer, you have added and given strength to the Blessing… thank you. =^_^=
pictures >Pinterest, bottom one is by Kenji2006 and was originally on Flickr
This picture is powerful, dynamic, it is was taken along the Oregon Coastline at a place called Keyhole, it has been photographed by many visitors who have been enraptured by its vibrant energy. ( This picture was taken by Garry Liddell.) I’ve always had a interest in doors, gates and the like. A door is not just something that closes you in, but it an opportunity to go through or enter into a new discovery. I recall many years ago, while still at the hospital, we had expanded, adding another large component to our corporate structure a new Public Relations Director came on board. He was from “away” meaning he wasn’t local, When I had occasion to meet with him, I found him pleasant enough, but what struck me most was the huge poster he had in his office. It was all doors, all shapes, sizes and colours. Till that moment I hadn’t realized that others shared my “passion” for doors. Like duh!
Sometimes in life we are so engrossed in what we are doing, have to do, need to do, want to do, we forget that there is a whole world going on around us that we are not “seeing” or partaking in, because we are existing and not LIVING. Maybe a month or so later, Michael came to my office with a big round package, he had remembered my delight in seeing the doors so next time he had returned to him hometown, he got me a copy of the poster. I have it to this day, as a reminder of his kindness, and the memory of the Ah Ha! moment I had that day. I had become so focused and caught up in my “job” and “hospital politics” I had lost touch with my “inner voice”.
What sunshine is to flowers, smiles/kindness is to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure, but, scattered along life’s pathways, the good they do is inconceivable. (Addison)
Finnich Glen, near loch Lomond, Scotland
It is easy to get caught up in our day to day, however if it is important to you, you can always find some time in your day to pray/meditate. Give yourself permission to get in touch with your “inner voice” . with strong conviction and Makoto (sincere effort) you will find the door or pathway that will lead you towards your goal, and give you the “key” or drive to see your “challenge” through. May your day be blessed with positive, loving energy. Oyashikiri
There is nothing like a good ole country song to set the tone of the moment.
I grew up on the sounds of Detroit, and MoTown, I would find an American radio station at night and listen to the sounds of a music that spoke to me and had me moving and grooving. I loved to dance and feel the songs, the words, the rhythms vibrated and spoke to me of a life I had yet to really live and experience . Oh sure, as teenager I was sure I knew love, my heart would skip a beat when the groceries were being delivered by the “older” boy who came to the house to bring my Mother’s meat order. If I actually was close enough to see his blue eyes, I’d swoon, to this day I remember him coming in with the box of groceries, his blonde hair, blue eyes and smile, would I really recognize him if he walked in now and stood in front of me, no. Back then I thought Id ‘d recognize him forever, I was so sure his memory would be carved in my heart forever, every love song was about this powerful draw/feeling.
In PL, Precept #15 – All is a Mirror is a one of the Precepts that pays a visit into my days, often. Not long ago I was with a friend who has currently lived through a “heartbreak” or “Heart ache” as she talked I felt her pain, the feelings reached across and joined us, with one single tear, her memory of love lost spoke to me. I heard and felt all the country love songs I’d ever cried to, flash across my eyes in just that moment, from her one single tear. Heart ache no matter how we sugar coat it, hurts, it can render us shattered and vulnerable. Intellectually we know the moment will pass, but gall darn it, while we are living it, its a crusher.
Yes I said country music.. somewhere along the way in my “growing up” especially when I played in the bars of Nothern Ontario, it wan’t R&B they wanted to hear, it was country. That is what life on the road is like when you are a “bar band”. Doesn’t matter you are a Blues band, your agent says you are playing Wawa, Sudbury, Timmins, and Hearst, that is where you head. A gig is a gig, and a string of bookings, hey that is $ in the bank. Besides when you are young, you adapt. I don’t even know if traveling bar bands still exist in this day and age, likely not. Live entertainment is not what it used to be, “back in the good ole’ days” Now it seems everything is streamed.
Even a cracked and broken mirror can be beautiful. Mirrors are seldom perfect, and never do they really reflect all there is to see. One has to look past what is automatically seen, and if you dare, look right into the eyes that will look back at you. My friend’s “heart ache” shows the tremendous love she has in her to share, and her courage to have shared and lived a love that was so strong it shook her world. So many people hide in a comfort zone that no longer reflects passion and strong emotion. Preference is to sail calm waters. Nothing wrong with that, but we all know that calm waters are prone to wave, storms and bad weather.
And then.. like a switch goes on, the sun comes out, the winds die down and its paradise again. When we hit a rocky patch in life, know that it is just one step along the way. Tomorrow is another day. To love and be loved is a gift, a beautiful present wrapped in bow, once the wrapping comes undone, and the bow is tucked away …. what’s inside will either fill your life forever, or fade away. Some memories never go away.
Good Morning everyone, how are you today? For those who are new to my blog, welcome. Today is the 11th, of the month, in Perfect Liberty, the 11th is a day for remembering and expressing gratitude for the love and virtue of our ancestors. In China and other countries, it was a natural and everyday part of life to honour our elders. It is thanks to our ancestor’s virtue and Makoto (sincere effort) that we are here today.
The above picture, evoked a moment of tranquility from my memory banks. A summer day, visiting in the country, playing in the tall grass, and escaping from the heat by playing by a creek that ran behind the old country store a relative had in the Algonquin Park area of Ontario. For a city brat, this was so different and a totally new experience. When you are young, you simply live the moments, you aren’t analyzing or looking at your new friends with a ton of baggage in your head, you are taking life in, and responding to it with an innocence yet to be tested. You are living the moment, building your experiences in life, finding new emotions, discovering more of the world around you.
In my research this morning, I came across a picture of Betty White (actress) and a loaf of bread, interested in the connection I delved further into the post. “Did you know that Betty White is older than sliced bread?” was the the sentence that went with the picture. Of course, I know of Betty White, I’ve seen her in many sitcoms, but to be honest, I never really thought of her as a person of age, probably because in my journey through life, I have been entertained by her talents over the years, and have simply accepted her as “Betty”. We all do it in some way form or other.. we take someone or some thing for granted….
Today, lets take a moment to give thanks with Makoto to our past, and our present!……. Let us ask for guidance and protection so we can continue to live the PL Way.. (a life of Perfect Liberty) (life with God/Tao)
Good Morning Everyone… It is Wednesday another day to explore…
Years back while touring on the back of a Honda Goldwing we came across a setting much like this while exploring cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean. The past owners had obviously enjoyed sitting and watching the tides coming and going. The little cabin had once heard the sounds of laughter, maybe even tears.. Today the scene is one of long forgotten memories and charm.
We don’t just happen to be who and what we are today, we developed over time. The moss in this setting didn’t just happen, it came to be over many years, inch by inch, section by section. The scene would have been ever changing. Plant life died, and new growth developed, it is the natural cycle of life. “one door closes, another door opens” In PL (Perfect Liberty) we learn the cause of unhappiness, we learn that things and people come into our lives (this includes circumstances) regardless of what we would prefer or what would be convenient for us. True happiness is not determined by something going well or not.
PL teaches us about Mishirase (Divine warnings from the Univers/God, in the form of an illness, accident, pain,suffering, misfortune. We do not see them as unlucky, rather a challenge to rethink, regroup, we are not “seeing” or “using” our skills/talents with Makoto (sincerity) we have drifted off the path. we may be overly attached to our own thoughts and are not expressing ourselves naturally. we are born with the ability to experience pain, and to know “hurt” so that we can recognize when we need to “stop” and rethink or meditate on present circumstances. An important lesson in the I Ching/Tao> the wise man knows when to retreat. If you are a follower of the I Ching – use hexagram 53 for today’s reading. Chien (Developing) When a situation is faced, head on, with Makoto…. no matter how hard that situation is, with sincerity of purpose, with the Universe in and around you…..you will be able to find a way. There is always something to learn when we are faced with a challenge. when we deal with the challenges we are dealt in life with a positive and open minded attitude. We find happiness in positive self expression. … Oyashikiri …
TAOIST Life is Art (Perfect Liberty precept #1)
contact info.- via blogs
--- there are two energies, Yin and Yang = ONE
---to have balance we must live each moment
of our lives.. with Makoto (sincerity)
The only constant in life is change. I am grounded in the reality of Living.
This is true, in all worlds. RL or virtual. I am me and only me.
dymoonblog 