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part 1 Bathing process in Japan

part 1 Bathing process in Japan

Prior to entering the bathing room, one must remove one’s shoes, there is a room outside of this one, where you leave you clothes..(wicker baskets are provided) It is all very orderly.
There are maybe 5 stand up stalls for the ladies who prefer to stand, but they too are open. Only after you have showered and removed all the soap do you enter the hot bath. Unfortunately for yours truly, I only worked it out mid stay, that getting into that warm water, drops the body temperature, so the heat of the day/night is easier to deal with. Being totally private in my “habits”when the time came to bathe and cool down, these little cleaning stations looked pretty darn inviting to me. It is actually not only practical but a comfortable way to shower.  Wonderful body wash and shampoo was provided.

PL teaching – No matter how challenging the situation if you take it on with enthusiasm you will be blessed with new knowledge.

Have a resounding day everyone!      Bom dia!         Buenos dias!
ohayo gozaimasu

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Jet lag and Cicada

Jet lag and Cicada

http://youtu.be/oqys8lKsu4s for those of you who don’t know the sound the Cicada, there are many different varieties and I don’t know which group was in the dense vegetation, but the sound was constant. males have a loud shrill droning sound supposedly only at night, but someone forgot to tell this group, they were party going day and night.

Now home with jet lag in full residence, I find myself in and out of a sleep that is filled with the sounds of Japan. After awhile (in Japan) the constant chatter became background noise, I wish I had someone nearby to ask if the insects are ever quiet.  One barely heard the birds.

Jet lag reminds me of various states of meditation. I think I’m totally over it, when suddenly the need to lie down and “turn off” is just as quick as a flick of a switch. I’ve tried staying up, refusing to listen to the “inner voice”, Believe me when I tell you,my “inner voice” will not be denied.

Then I remember the PL teaching… the only thing you have control over is how you accept things and deal with them. I go lie down, it is a wonderful experience, I drift off into a place somewhere between Japan and Home, I let go ..letting the moment transport me to where i need to be.

Good night dear reader, till we meet again tomorrow.
Blessings

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Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Greet everyone with a smile!
The basic building block of human relationships is greeting one another.
Be the first to greet others cheerfully. (PL teaching)

May your day be blessed with the making of good memories.

photo taken @ PL Holy Land

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On a quiet day

On a quiet day

Along the winding banks of a gentle waterway
I slowly made my way
taking in the ambiance and history
while listening to the cicadas sing away
soon, it would be time to leave this hideaway
part of me wants to stay
I feel so ” at home”  here
PL(Perfect Liberty) is my way
the only “Way”,  to all that I hold dear
back home now, that yesterday
is so very much a part of my today,

Now Forever and Always, I will live the PL Way! …  Q …

Welcome each new day with renewed appreciation,
step forward with a feeling of love and peace in your heart

Love filled blessings to you dear readers, may your day be as blessed as mine.

photo taken @ PL Holy Land Japan

Live each day with excitement

PL teaching – Live Each Day With Excitement  > Challenge everything with enthusiasm.  You will be rewarded with joy and encounter happy occurrences.

I am back from the most amazing time away, where each and every day was a new challenge.  The rewards were many and the happy encounters and memories made, endless.  There is no way that I can begin to tell you, or share with you all that has happened to me in the last 9 days.  As I took in the country, the people, the environment, and all that went with the days and nights away in this remarkable country called Japan, I knew that it was a new chapter in my journey of self discovery. the images and sounds, the friends made, in one word, it was all profound.  A simple egg – became not just an egg, but a “wow”, the taste was different and the colour of the yoke was as bright as the sun.  Telling you this is so mundane, you had to be there, I thought a dye had been used, but I was assured that no this was the colour of the yoke in Japan.  Certainly in every other instance I had to see a yoke it was the same intense orange.

Be assured that as the days progress and my mind recovers from the jet lag, I will be recounting the many moments/insights and learning, much is still being assimilated and processed.  I was there to learn, I was on a pilgrimage, the Director of the International Office of PL – Rev. Tokuo Itagaki, and his team of assistants and staff did an amazing job.  the Rev. Fukito Kimura who coordinated the Rensei Training was outstanding.  It was a phenomenal experience.

There were hundreds of people there trying to communicate with one another, The main languages being Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish (Castellano), we were only 5 English, 4 USA and 1 Canadian (yours truly), we came together because of our faith and dedication to PL (Perfect Liberty).  

For the Founders Day Ceremony ( Kyososai), August 1. PL followers came by the bus load. We are talking of thousands of people who came to worship/pray and celebrate.  During service, as promised I held you all close to my heart so that  the blessings could be shared with you.  Oshieoya-sama’s presence brought total silence and reverence, it was totally awesome.    The flames spell out LIFE IS ART

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Enjoy the changes in you life – Hello Everyone!

Enjoy the changes in you life - Hello Everyone!

Thursday! Yay! Remember dear readers that tomorrow I will be on my way to Japan. The time has finally arrived. I will miss you,  know that I carry you all in my heart,  you will be in my thoughts night and day. I will share news of Japan and my trip when I return.. A pilgrimage, a once in a lifetime journey for me. I’m very happy.

Things around us are constantly changing with the times. Take on the challenging and new experiences as materials for self expression. PL teaching.

Joy to the World!    Blessings all…

Flowers were a gift of friendship from very special friends  in Australia, a cherished memory

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A rose to start your day

A rose to start your day

Another day of adventure and fun.
I’ve read two really good posts this morning.

The American “Pygmalion”


The other one I retweeted and will be on my Twitter page.
@ Qyhat ( for Qyhat Harbour)  or  http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130722211438-2484700-top-12-signs-you-re-dealing-with-trolls

Today is Tuesday, YAY, two more days and I leave for Japan. How cool is that!

This wonderful close up of a rose was taken by a very talented friend “down under” Shirley Keen, thanks Shirley!

Now dear reader, smile with me,
take a deep breath in, and anticipate the wonderful day
that lies in wait for you to discover.  Enjoy!

ps thanks to everyone who took time to try to find the name of that mushroom, see http://kenneturner.com/author/kenneturner/

Blessings All!

Good Morning everyone… 7.6.13

How is your day so far?  This week I got to sit down and actually read an article that I had put aside to read when I wouldn’t be disturbed.  I wanted to read about the elderly in Okinawa Japan. It seems that the villagers in a sleepy northern part of Okinawa, appear to live longer, and healthier. There is even a song that says that 50 and 60 year olds are babies, and people in their 70 and 80’s are adults.  It is only after turning into your 90’s that you begin to bloom.  In the Ogimi village, (pop 3308) they claim to having the highest longevity record in the world.  A super elder is someone over 100  =^_^=

The longest centenarian study (36 years) has involved Dr. Makoto Suzuki  who is the principal researcher behind the Okinawa Centenarian Study.  In 1994  he was joined by Drs. Craig and Bradley Willcox (Calgary born).  Their findings have been published and thanks in part to Oprah Winfrey, it became a bit of a bestseller.

How the World’s Longest Lived People Achieve Everlasting Health – and How you can too (2001).  The study was funded by the Japan Ministry of Health.  they looked at the total health of the “seniors”  – physical, mental and spiritual.  Dr Suzuki explained that part of the good spiritual health came from the island way of thinking called nankuru naisa, meaning don’t worry, be happy.. note.. these people lived through relentless bombardments during the war and years of poverty in the aftermath.  In PL, every day is a new day,  a new beginning, the 21 Principles help us achieve an Artistic Life.

Another factor in the islander’s longevity, is waking each day with Ikigai (a reason to get out of bed)  In PL, we do our best to live each moment to the fullest, PL Precept #18 – Each Moment is a  Turning Point  ………….  PL # 14  Peace is everything  

Let’s not forget, diet and exercise. How food is cooked is as relevant as the foods themselves. Having purpose in all we do ( life ) is so important   The philosophy and concept of what I was reading smacked of how as a Taoist I try to live everyday, and as a practitioner of PL (Perfect Liberty)  I am encouraged and supported in my daily devotions to live in a manner that will promote world peace.  Grand thinking, no not really, if we, each and every one of us, practice living with love in our hearts and continue to reach out and pray for others and peace,  one by one our loving hearts will link, through Shingei (sharing our PL faith with others) the loving energy of world peace will grow.

When we look beyond ourselves, towards world Peace, our lives will be more fulfilling. We will have joy in self expression, living our lives to the fullest, will give us longevity. Happiness is such a wonderful state of BEing.    Blessings all!

July 5 for 6a_003

The article that so inspired this piece was written by Annarosa Sabbadini ( published in Doctor”s Review March 2013 )

virtual art from SL (Second Life)

Happiness is a state of mind – BE happy everyone….

Always challenge Yourself With New Things

Always Challenge Yourself With New Things – PL teaching day 17

Life is interesting because we always encounter unknown or new situations that we have never experienced before.  don’t be afraid of failure and proactively challenge each new situation.  Always Challenge Yourself with New Things

When sitting with Rev. Goto today in his office, the rain was falling against the window, giving a steady staccato with various depths of sound as it hit  an overhang and then tumbled downward against the window pane.  It surprised me, and for a second or two it captured my attention.  Then we resumed our conversation, and the musical rain disappeared, my focus was on the  subject matter of our meeting.  My upcoming trip to Japan is a personal challenge for me.  The last time I flew was  several years ago, when I flew into Missoula, Montana.  I vowed I would never travel that distance again, certainly not over mountains in a plane and iffy weather.

That was then and this is now.  I will be in  Japan, (Headquarters Tondabayashi Osaka)  for the annual Founders’ Day Ceremony on August 1.  On this day hundreds of thousands of PL believers from the local churches in Japan, and from distant parts of the world, gather  to appreciate and pray to the First and Second Founders who are still working spiritually for the rapid realization of true world peace.  The ceremony will climax with an hour-long display of the world’s greatest fireworks, “The Art of PL Fireworks”.  How mind-blowing and awesome will that be.

Also on Founder’s Day, August 1, the annual Peace Tower Ceremony is held.  The spirits of all those who have died in war, regardless of race, religion or nationality are enshrined in the altar of the Peace Tower.  In this ceremony we console their spirit and pray for the everlasting peace of mankind.

Visit our websites for more information.  Follow me on my journey, share the joy =^_^=

Jan 19 pm_001

nonsense you say

All day my mind has been chattering – Buddha, Lao Tzu, Confucius, over and over like a mantra in my head. ” Confucianism, a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by the Chinese philosopher Confucius.” (concise Oxford Dictionary) hmmm is this what I should be reading or thinking of in the wee hours when in fact I should be going to bed.  Of course I realize that other “writers” who muse or spend hours in their  “inside chambers” have to contend with such mind babble, but why does it always have to be when one is trying to sleep.  Obviously says little inner  voice, “if you were paying attention, mind wouldn’t need to keep rambling”..

Maybe a toasted tomato sandwich on multi-grain bread is the answer, a search of the kitchen counter shows me that there is no bread, only pita, not quiet the same to the taste buds.  Trust me. Pita and humus, pita and cheese,  pita and taboule but not to replace a toasted tomato sandwich, not tonight anyway.  Even the dog has given up and gone back to bed.

In taking down the dictionary, I came across a little hard cover book on Kuan Yin by Daniela Schenker  accessing the Power of the Divine Feminine , I found this book in one of my wanderings in a book store. It has lovely watercolor images of Kuan Yin accompanied by inspirational contemplations.  I am a Taoist who lives with Perfect Liberty (the teachings of) every day, and had not realized that there was a book about living with Kuan Yin (she is my spiritual guide)  Yet, this book has been here now for some time (maybe years) and I have not really looked at it much, I’ve enjoyed the pictures though.  Would I part with the book – NO – I like having it near, I find that I can pick it up at anytime, read a few lines and feel a connection.

As a student of life, especially Asian traditions, I look back at history, and want to help the practice of  “worship” regain a foothold in modern life.  So often we take for granted the wonders of this world,  Our focus seems to be on the negatives that are happening around us.  Yes it rained off and on all day, but do you see the joy in the fresh young shoots of green that are lifting their little faces to drink in the nourishment falling from the skies.   Do you recall the splashing of little feet in the puddles when you were younger, and the fun of trying to catch the rain drops?

I’ll be going to Japan soon.  My first time ever to leave the North American continent.  I will go for Rensei training.  PL’s spiritual training in the Holy Land Japan.  In 2014  the training will be in the Brazil.  Sensei will be there this year to lead the North American delegates, so I will go to Japan.  I speak neither Japanese or Portuguese so no matter, it will be a totally awesome experience.   hmmm maybe that is why my mind is chattering, I’m excited. ahhhh another light bulb moment.  sigh, now I can turn it off and perhaps get some sleep =^_^=

PL teaching for this day ( 9th)  It’s Interesting Because we all See Things Differently.    Everyone has a different point of view.  Let’s enjoy and appreciate the personalities and the differences we all have.

Thanks for spending some time with me. =^_^=

bear hugs

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