A fine WordPress.com site

Posts tagged ‘God’

vocations – relationships

“Tell me and I will forget

Show me and I will remember

Involve me and I will understand”

Confucius

94eb9a9c62ef227a18c40d557e27193e

At 24 young Dorothy Hart a successful actress in Hollywood, left her career to become a Catholic nun, Mother Prioress Dolores Hart  What a change this young lady made in her life…  Thomas Merton said “A man knows he has found his vocation when he stops thinking about how to live and begins to live.”  We are guided in life though an interplay of human responsibilities and divine directives.  Spiritual maturity  requires diligence, a clever mind and a trusting /loving heart.

c464e1442818105ebe86231e6b8dafb5A few ingredients for a good relationship are, respect, courtesy, appreciation and a dedication to the commitment, whatever that may be.  Negative thinking is something that afflicts us all at one time or another.  PL Precept # 15, All is a Mirror. No matter how often I revisit this Precept, it always presents me with a new perspective, life is an ongoing lesson, and I am the dedicated student.  Part of living in the moment is accepting the feelings that can wash over me at any  given time,  The homework is applying myself to understanding the moment, and then letting it go. A negative moment, will only be so, if we don’t apply positive action (s).

6927b482c6e29f3bb549efd5d30d5d56

Wherever life leads you

With whoever you are sharing

with another or on your own

“Always be with God”

(PL Precept #11)

Namaste     –   Oyashikiri

 

 

*Cathedral rocks,Yosemite National Park by Noreo (Flickr)

** Boulder Creek lake, autumnejohnson.tumblr.com

A turtle day

a5af37145413a2c598e3eb044df0540fTo the Chinese and other Asian cultures, the turtle is a symbol of longevity.  My Mother had a collection of turtles,  I remember he coming home from her travels abroad with another turtle for her charm bracelet or for the collection that was growing in leaps and bounds in the curio cabinet.  When the turtle comes to mind for me is when I am having what I call a “Turtle Day:”…   Usually a mental health day, a day where I know I want to retreat into my “make believe” shell and just sleep or day dream.

Today is the 21st of the month, the day that in PL (Perfect Liberty) we gather to show our appreciation , saying Thank you, for all that we have experienced in the previous days and weeks.  We pray for guidance and renew our dedication to live with full Makoto (sincerity)  following the practices and instructions as laid out in Perfect Liberty.  Just as we must eat and sleep regularly to refresh our bodies, so too must we  pray and give thanks to God on a regular basis and say Thank you for the blessings of life.

d164c5750e42e61eae978a6d14f28a96

Whatever is meant to be, will be.  The results may not be what we expected or even wanted, but we are open to what life brings our way, we will be truly blessed.  Feelings of appreciation become real when you express them and mean them.

008f52f7dc2ae27006b9dbda17d3d386

 

*turtle totem wisdom teaches us about walking our path in peace and sticking to it with determination and serenity

( *Lena Townsend)

57de586b0c7e025f76cff3e39ff68986

BLESSINGS 

Namaste -Oyashikiri

*green sea turtle swimming among coral -Lee Rentz – Flickr

** found on contentinacottage.blogspot.ca

****pictures. furkl.com

 

 

Monkey Wisdom

5fd07f4457e65d44a8ad8a32328a6205

I have Rev. Goto (NY PL church) for this expression.  He had my complete attention today while explained to the members PL Principle #9. I will not have a mind to be dishonest.  The set of 21 Principles are there for us to help us live our lives following the 21 Precepts.  Today Rev. Goto talked about Principle #9. He always like to give us an example of the lesson so that we better visualize and understand the teaching.  Like all good teachers, he doesn’t talk forever, he says what he has to say, and then cheerfully leaves us with an embedded image and lesson to ponder and assimilate.

He related a story to us that came to him through another PL Minister, Rev. Ono.  The story takes place years ago, in a different time.  An elder in a small viillage decided to organize a festival that would take place in the square at the village shrine.  For the occassion he had asked that everyone come with one item of food, and one bottle of sake (Japanese rice wine)

This was a time before bottled sake, villagers made their own sake, and kept it in traditional jars or containers made f wood or ceramics.  The idea was that each villager would bring a container of their sake, and it would be poured into one large sake barrel, for the enjoyment of the community.  This ‘sake cocktail” would be a sharing and each member participating would be honoring their fellow neighbours.

Once the mixture was prepared, the party started.  The village elder took a sip from the barrel to start the festivities, took a sip, and stood back in surprise, calling out…”oh m God, what is wrong with the sake?  It tastes like water!”    Hmmmm. how could sake turn into water?  It was clear that the sake had not changed into water, but that it had been water in the first place.  Each guest at the party who was to bring sake, had decided to bring water instead.  It was a precious commodity, and they thought no one would notice.  However,  they were not the only ones to have that thought and to act on it.  Monkey wisdom… since the majority thought to be deceitful, the few who did bring sake, had their sake diluted by all the water.

When we live with a pure and honest mind, our actions and our thoughts bring a joy and satisfaction to what we do, for us and those around us.  We should live with one mind, a mind that says “there is nothing to hide between God and myself”  Just because you think no one is looking or will know, God knows.

This story although told with humor, shows us that as humans our ego does not always motivate us in the “right” direction.    All people have a mind capable of thinking in a manner that is not always “honest” –  Let us do our best to live with a mind that will apply makoto (sincerity) to being honest in all we do and say.

ced97e78ff24cb329806fde1a5e96abc

SMILE

sorry I couldn’t resist.

Blessings to each and everyone of you.  You are so Loved!

Namaste – Oyashikiri

 

 

 

* found on iso.500px.com
** found on huffingtonpost.com

Good Morning everyone! Bom Dia!

a50c8d1d8a955158888bf03dc7e68ecb

Facing a situation head on……….. making time to study the challenge with Makoto (sincerity)…………. being in the moment …………..a path will open up.  wise words. Yesterday I found myself facing a blank wall, actually it wasn’t blank, it was a strobing  texture I had applied to a build I was doing.  I “knew” that I should know why it was happening, but try as I might, the answer was not forthcoming.  In PL (Perfect Liberty) we believe that no matter how hard a situation is, if we approach it seriously, we will eventually find a way to break through.

a64d8bbbd916c3f8c30092b62be22856

There are times we find ourselves in one place, when we expect to be in another.  The Universe has its own very special way of testing our creativity, our lot in life is to say..”OK, what are we doing today…. What are the tools and the means at hand.”  In my case yesterday, I took a break, did something else to clean my mind of the stalemate that I was experiencing.

11c3a6cca54c1c400a193144106f9cf1

When I returned to the problem I had been having, yup, it was still there…closing my eyes, I whispered Shikiri, Shikiri ( a PL prayer asking God’s blessing with a sincere promise to accomplish what we have to do…… knock, knock…. a friend came by and said, “oh simple”  she explained something to me that as she spoke, the “ping” happened in my gray matter… of course, I had known that, but it took another voice to unlock the solution ….  perfect timing, ?? she had been on her way home and just dropped in…  In PL we believe that this was the Universe responding to my silent plea.

My walls are now textured, no more strobing and I relearned a lesson….. Plus I got to spend time with a friend.  I accomplished that, by not skirting the matter, or putting it aside, but by dealing with it head on.  LOL not hiding under the bed….

424e2f91842d8555b46691b173eb7de6

Namaste   –   Oyashikiri

 

 

 

*tradgardsflow.blogspot.com

**theatomichouse.tumblr.com (abandoned water slide)

*** theswenglishhome.blogspot.com (Avoncliff,England)

**** cat,via Ely Sanchez

Feelings -Thanksgiving

What comes to  mind when you think of Thanksgiving……….

a2e8df934310944cdc7190484d7c6f6b

A meal shared with friends and family………..

f4e2b3eaedfd7c141aaa1a0acb1502d2

Is it the joy you take in gathering supplies to make colorful decorations that will please the the eye and delight the senses?  Small gifts for friends, or just to brighten your home.

c49ecb02f4c1373c61fb3483ec9130d9

 As the color titillates our awakening senses, we are open to new adventures   Where ever we are when the leaves start to change, we feel it in the air.  Our appreciation of life is aroused and we find ourselves more open to changes, in fact, our creative juices start to bubble with ideas that want expression.

9b9b0114d2427debd0a21c9909c29652

This picture evokes the desire to explore, to walk down this sun filled path, to smell the autumn leaves as they progress through their cycle of change.  You know that the photographer who took this picture, felt the sun and heard the birds and wildlife that surround her/him. They managed to capture the moment beautifully.  If you listen closely you’ll hear the rustle of the leaves as a gentle breeze makes its way through the spectrum of fall colored foliage.

Life is to be enjoyed,  Thanksgiving is a time to express and give thanks for the bounty we receive in life, In Perfect Liberty, (PL) we give thanks each month for the many blessings in our lives.  We do so on the 21 st . of each month.  

Faith grows not only through intellectual understanding but also through actively participating in life, the PL WAY.

148c61c1f5d8c686d94cbae60a095dba

PL Precept 20.

Live Maintaining Equilibrium Between Mind and matter

PL Precept 21

Live in Perfect Liberty

Namaste            –            Oyashikiri

photos -Pinterest

Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Obrigado,Grazie xxxooo

5f85893a14e8c0dbf95728b6fd889536

Thank you all for your wonderful messages of love and friendship… I was overwhelmed when I got back at the birthday greetings and kind words. The road weariness evaporated  under a blanket of amazing heartfelt gratitude.  Many of you I have only met and interacted via social media and the virtual world, I really truly love and appreciate each and every one of you.

It was a wonderful birthday journey, filled with sunshine and balmy weather.  We got to explore, visit and rest, my husband once again shone with his thoughtfulness at ensuring that everything went well and that we were safe at all times.  To my fellow vintage buffs, this was the find of all finds, 100% silk, pure vintage, with beads that appear to be all hand sewn   ..=^_^=

photo (15) - Copy

 

Friendships are God’s gift to treasure for all time

Thank you again for taking time to share this special time with me.

Namaste -Oyashikiri

Happy Rhythm

Good morning Everyone – Let’s start the day with some Happy Rhythm – this post is about music and song

 

I had to search for some time to find this one for you all, I enjoyed it the first time I heard it, I hope you enjoy it too.  Gordon Mote everyone.

 

 

 

God bless – You speak, I listen….. thank you. I so appreciate you all        – Blessings of the day.   Namaste  – Oyashikiri

 

 

Transformations

Devils tower wyoming usa

 

Once a volcanic activity, this became a sacred place for the Indian Nation.  The old legend has it that the land rose to protect a helpless girl from a bear attack.  If you visit you can see Indian offerings scattered through the park. It is a peaceful and mystical place to visit. This is Devil’s Tower a National Monument in Wyoming, USA.  Transformations can happen over centuries, decades, or without our even really being aware of the change till we have an “oh my” moment.

Cornwall UK St. Nectan's Glen Waterfalls,

St. Nectan’s Glen, Tintagel,Cornwall, UK, one of Cornwall’s most sacred sites.  The waterfall is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI, it has been described as amongst the ten most important spiritual sites in the country.  It is a place of outstanding beauty

When we take ourselves out into the natural beauty of the world, we can feel the energy shift around us.  Surrounded by spellbinding landscapes that the Universe provides us, filled with the ambient sounds of life, we are refreshed.  Transformation begins when we ourselves, open our hearts to the wonders of LOVE. (God/TAO)

Good Morning everyone! May the blessings from high above, bring sunshine and happiness into your life today.

                                                                      Namaste          –          Oyashikiri

 

pictures – Pinterest

A new day.. a new beginning

385673663c98aa9f95e30c009d3f2547

 

~quiet reflection~

still waters and gentle mist

are a blessing and a gift

the sky a tranquil blue

calls me to  you

the day is brand new

as I renew my vow to you

of dedicated devotion

amen

Namaste        ~ Oyashikiri

 

 

verse by Q

picture – media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com

Mosaics

rabbit mosaic by Doreen A Smaligirl

White Rabbit 1-b by Doreen A Smaltigirl on Flickr.

 Mosaics – how time-consuming a real work of love.  Not something I would attempt. Nor do I always feel an appreciation for the craft.  Seeing this piece on a rabbit running, looking at his time piece, reminded me of the Alice in Wonderland story and the Mad Hatter.  To achieve this delightful piece of art, the artist had to first visualize what  he/she wanted to achieve.  The many hours (days,nights, even weeks) would have been spent putting it all together.

So it is for many of the projects we begin in life that are part of our own “make over”.  There isn’t a day goes by where someone I know isn’t doing something  or preparing something for … when???  If I do this now I’ll have time to do XYZ  later.  Its called planning ahead. Me, I no longer maintain that activity in my “top drawer”   I don’t really know when this “habit” changed, somewhere along the way, unconsciously it went down to a “when I get to it” drawer.

Willie Nelson

Found on delphiglass.com – 2014 Online Art Glass Festival Mosaics – 3rd Place – Willie in Shades by Tom

This is another craft that requires attention to detail, planning and patience.  I look at this and my mind is in awe of the time and the focus that this artist had to have had to complete this piece.  My kudos to both creators of the works shown in this blog today.  My hat is off to both of you.

My creative level today leans towards scrambled eggs.  I kid you not…

scrambled eggs

Found on worthpinning.com Easter Bunny thanks to @Sylvie Chen – pinned by Jane Wang

 I was late, I was late

for a very important date

 you were not forgotten !

it was only a question of when

finally, the moment came

 happily my enthusiasm hadn’t waned

I may get behind

but YOU dear God, are always

ever present in my mind

amen

namaste – oyashikiri

Tag Cloud