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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerabilities

A warrior takes every person as an adversary
He/she sees all their vulnerable points.
And trains to eliminate his/her own
Only the way of the sage eliminates all weaknesses.
The sage goes beyond concepts of protection,competition,honour and righteousness, and has no fear of death

The sage knows life is merely an illusion.
Life is but one dream flowing into another.  Tao –Deng Ming-Dao

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A healthy mind is clear and uncluttered, always opened to the heavens/UNIVERSE

Whatever the optimal time of the day for you, set aside time to cultivate your connection/ bond with God/Tao.

virtual photography –Home of the Blue Lotus Clan

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Live With Passion

Live With Passion

Live with Passion – Sowing the Seeds of PL Faith, is a book by Rev. Yumiko Tsuyama, I bought this book because it was there, I’ve talked about it before in a previous blog. I really did not spend much time thinking about it. It has become my “spend a quiet moment to reflect” companion. I can’t recommend it enough.
How often in your life time have you gone looking for a “self help” book, or picked up a magazine and enjoyed an article that “spoke” to you … The content just stood out, and made you think.
Rev Yumiko was dedicated to her “craft”. Each of her “lessons” are short little testimonies of events, memories of her experiences.  You know this little book has me charmed because I wrote about it just the other day.  I open the book and read the lesson she speaks of then close the book and reflect on what I’ve read.  Not everyone wants to read volumes in one go, this book is done is such a way that we can pick it up and trust/believe that it will open to the lesson you should be reading.  =^_^=  ..It is written in a way that every time you read it, you will find it will speak to you.

Copies are available at the church, if you live in the States, we have churches in the States, pickup a copy, if you have  one already, consider gifting one to a friend. I don’t usually promote books, forgive me, I’m just very enthusiastic about this book.  Have trouble find a source, contact me I’ll be happy to direct you to a church.

My lesson today was about Hosho Spirit… this has been a lesson for me .. it takes faith for me, and it will be an ongoing lesson for me, reading her  “teaching” today, spoke to me, even though I’ve heard it expressed before, in many ways, her words today, her simple story, gave me an AH! moment.

(Hosho = sincere offering of money to the church, whereby the person is blessed physically, spiritually and financially by Oshieoyasama’s  Shikiri.)  

  (Shikiri = PL’s unique way of prayer, asking God’s blessing with a sincere promise to accomplish what we have to do)

Love and Blessings, today and always – Good Morning everyone!!!!

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American Thanksgiving

American Thanksgiving

Good message for all of us. Wisdom to follow every day, all year long.
Good Morning Everyone!
Love sent to each and everyone of you.
Now, always and forever!

Lost and Found

X nov 23b_007Lost to us is the simplicity of yesterday

Lost is the innocence of your younger years

X nov 23b_001Lost is the time when we were happy to simply explore and enjoy the world around us, where everything was new, being friends meant secrets shared and fun and laughter was just being together, free to play out our dreams and fantasies.

Where are those moments now?  Do you still cherish your dreams, do you make time for that young boy/girl you once were..

X nov 23b_013Today I found a quiet place, far away where nature was at play, and the day was playing out like a long forgotten song.  I watched while a bear patiently waited for the fish to come her way, I heard the sea gulls call out as they flew across the skies.  In the distance, I spied a small cottage waiting to be discovered.

X nov 23b_009To my surprise, as I got closer, I saw two chipmunks sharing nuts on the porch.  I’d found a bit of paradise and it was all mine to enjoy.

X nov 23c_002For a time anyway – after all, happiness and beauty should be shared.  Today I found a quiet corner, a place where imagination and dreams can be relived.  Link will follow at the end of this blog.  It isn’t enough to do things just to make yourself happy =^_^=  I did meet a fellow traveler while I explored.  He too was taking in the beauty of the build.

X nov 23b_006Like two ships that pass in the night, we exchanged greetings and moved on, each respectful of the other’s space.  No matter we were in the same place, our photographs I’m sure were very different.  Just like in life, even when we stand shoulder to shoulder and look out at the world, each person will draw their own impressions.  That is what makes life so interesting.

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link to SL location  –  there are many directions you can go, and something different at the end of each path.   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lucky%20Paradise/110/73/24

virtual photographs – Xsa

 

 

 

 

 

Braised oxtails – curried Pork Hocks -mushroom vegetarian balls

Sorry no pictures – too busy eating.  Before I forget though I thought I’d best share the recipes with you of last night’s meal for the Prayer Circle evening.  The meats were served on a mixed  bed of Sushi rice and plump medium grain rice.

The Asian grocery store near here, actually slices the pork hocks into slices, just short of cutting all the way through the bone.  This was seared in 100% coconut oil, (1 teaspoon or so) enough so that the crushed garlic and ginger wouldn’t burn and to give the meat a bit of colour.  then I added some chicken stock and curry and let it simmer for a couple of hours.  The curry is the cubed curry that you buy in Asian grocery stores, and you can pick your own flavour and temperature, mild, medium or HOT.  While it is in simmer mode, I add sliced onion and diced celery.

The oxtails, were given similar treatment.  They were seared using the coconut oil, This time I make sure the oxtails are tossed and stir fried until a golden brown, then I add ginger, black bean sauce, some hoisin sauce, and a vegetable mushroom soy, toss some more, then add cooking sake to taste, prior to adding some chicken stock.and cubed king mushrooms.  This too is allowed to come to a rolling boil, then simmer for several hours,

Both of the dishes are flavourful, and provide a rich  harmonizing gravy for the rice…Often when such meals are served the gravies are their own culinary dish.  The reason why the rice is so important to the meal.

The vegetarian balls, are similar to the recipe provided a few blogs back, you can see a picture of the balls on that blog.  This time though, I had actual mushrooms in the mix of oyster and mushroom soy, previously cooked mushrooms and carrots that had been cooked in a sauce for another meal.. they were mashed with the potatoes and chick peas providing a different flavour.  I added to that minced garlic and grated fresh ginger.  Used two eggs with the mix along with about a full cup of Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)  They are a good size since I use the ice cream scoop to make them.  They hold their shape well.  Baked in an oven on a  lightly greased pizza pan depending on your oven, take between 1/2 an hour and 45 minutes. When they are a rich golden brown take them out and let them cool.    I store them using a muffin tin for each ball.

Obviously I do the above over a two day period.  This allows for the flavours to really settle into the dishes.  Then when it is time to eat, I bring the pots back into the kitchen and slowly reheat them on the stove.  The vegetarian balls can be zapped in the microwave, or eaten cold. This dear reader is the reason living in a country where we have 4 seasons, I offer up these meals when it is late fall or winter and its cold outside.  I can use the summer kitchen to keep the dishes cold in their pots over night.

Depending on the group you are serving you can provide along with the meal a plate of fresh veggies or a shredded slaw is good.  Keep  the greens simple and crunchy.

Beverage to go with the above for me is a glass of cold water, but herbal teas are offered to guests.  AFTER the meal.  While eating the object of such a prayer circle is to allow your taste buds to enjoy and experience all the different spices and tastes and textures.

Being mindful and exercising you brain and spirituality, is not just sitting in silence, it is learning how to bring the mindfulness into your every day life and activities.  Sharing mindfulness with a friend(s) and partaking of an evening where all your senses are employed.

Prayer and “active” meditations are key to having and living a balanced life where spirituality and GOD are part of every second of your day.

after the meal and prior to bedtime, I checked on Q who was showing off her svelte figure,  she can eat and it never seems to show!  A great evening of sharing, eating, mindfulness. and time for creativity.  Amazing =^_^=

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Good morning everyone!

Good morning everyone!

We all see things so differently. When I stepped outside after dinner to my delight I found snow on the deck. The first snow is always so pretty, everything looks like its been sugar coated. =^_^=

“my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” – 11 Corinthians 12:9

Appreciate the gifts you have in life,…
I could see and enjoy the first flakes of snow, and the pretty picture they made for me to enjoy. My Mother who is legally blind, can no longer appreciate seeing the snow, but when told that it has happened, she can relive the memory from her earlier days.
Remember to share your gifts – Try not to squander what can be life’s greatest treasures, don’t take for granted your God given talents.

Reach out. Step outside the box. Tell someone you care. You are beautiful,, smile and bring sunshine into your world today. It all begins with YOU.

God Bless and keep you safe…..

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Who am I

Who am I

Do you ever wonder who that person is looking back at you in the mirror. For years you have looked at that face, yet how often do you really see the face,and the eyes that are looking so intently back at you.
When we journey into the virtual world, we get to pick an avatar to represent us, it is the avatar that moves around and interacts for us with the other avatars in the virtual world.. Each avatar represents another person, who is sitting at a keyboard and looking at a screen. You can be talking to anyone, anywhere in the world connects to the Internet.
Each and everyone of us is in the game for a reason, to play, to build,design,educate, learn, the reasons are endless. So are the possibilities when it comes to what kind of an avatar you will use to represent “you”.
It is not until you are faced with the task of creating an outward appearance for yourself that you begin to realize that it is not as simple as it seems.
First we have to determine are we male or female. In the real world, we know the cards dealt to us, however in this virtual world, we can be whatever we chose to be.
We get to pick the colour of our skin, the shape of our bodies,, the colour of our eyes, and then when we do all of that, we have to dress ourselves, pick out the hair, finally we can have curly hair, and lots of it.
AND, because we get to pick our size and shape, we can then wear the shoes and outfits that we can’t wear in RL

The challenge can be so daunting, that many people give up before they even really start. I learned early on in the “game” that the choices we are asked to make, can be very helpful to us in learning to understand ourselves.

I’m only touching the surface here, we are only getting started. In this recent adventure, I have had to think long and hard about which avatar I would use. I already have established personalities and characters in SL. I realized that I did not want to use these characters because I liked who they are and the lives they have built for themselves over the years.
So, I dusted off the file on an avatar that I have till now only used when I needed a model. He/she had no defined personality and was simply an avatar. A dormant file/avatar in the game. Even the name of the avatar was non gender, Asia was especially used when I needed a male model for the ads/blogs.
Now Asia is a woman, and a Furry, (an avatar that is an animal with human characteristics) I started out thinking I would be a Neko (cat/feline) a Neko is a human with animal characteristics. But after several hours spent with the Neko I wasn’t connected to it. I felt no affinity.
Also what came into the equation is the other members you meet, who are also Neko,Furries, humans, Tinies,Dinkies, etc. Like in the RL the groups have their own culture, way of dressing, interests etc.
I have been absent from SL for some time, not playing as much as I used to, so I found that with the ever changing technology the products and items being offered, mesh, sculpts,animations etc.were different. Previous sources were no longer in business.
I thought I’d be a possat, I got the avatar put her on, but within minutes I didn’t feel right.

Nov2_001When I looked at myself as this avatar, I wondered to myself, what had I been thinking.  Where was I  “in my head” when I thought this is what I wanted to be?  this is what life is like, we do things, we purchase something because at the time, it was such a great buy or it really took our fancy, yet days later, it has lost its allure, and the search begins again.

Much like when I look in the mirror, I wonder who that is, and how she got to be where she is, what is she really thinking?  The person I have to ask is myself really, and the question again comes down to just who am I.  What am I doing here?  This could be a long meditation, a long on going chat with my inner self.  Meanwhile, life does go on, and I have another avatar in the making.  Does this mean that I have multiple personalities. Hmm stay tuned.

In PL we learn to continue and persevere to make our wishes and goals come true.  I’ve started this journey, I’m having fun working through my creative “wants” and the realities of my “self: images. I’ve been a lifetime getting to where I am today, guess I’m not about to stop the momentum now.  My friends call me a “shape shifter” (in SL)  I believe that is because, like in real life, I live the moment, and change is the only constant in life. =^_^=

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comments anyone? Have fun in life, take time to play, we are only here “now”   I am guilty of taking life far too seriously, even when playing… I’m working on it.. one step at a time.     http://www.secondlife.com                                                           photos -Q

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Live each day with Excitement

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.

PL is a non denominational church, Did you know that? To embody the PL teachings, you do not have to go up into the mountains for hours of meditation, nor fast for many days. Oshieoyasama gives us simple practical and useful ways to learn to live the PL Way.. (You can learn more by contacting one of our ministers today, or myself for contact information in the country you are in) Our website is in the right sidebar.

Life is Art, is the foundation of our faith. Your life is your very own unique work of art. If you cut corners or miss important details, you will not be able to live up to our fullest potential.

Everyone wishes to be happy and lead happy lives. Your environment and the things that happen in front of you are all materials for your self expression. In PL we are taught that with God’s blessings we will be able to freely express ourselves using these materials.

There is only one you.an individual, so unique and special, YOU are the artist. Together, let us live this day with excitement and enthusiasm.

B L E S S I N G S  for a God filled day..

Love and Light

photo-landscape SL,Second Life, >Q

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Feel Joy in Doing Things for Others

Feel Joy in Doing Things for Others

We all live helping one another in our daily lives. It isn’t enough to do things just to make yourself happy. Let’s find joy in helping others first.
Start with your surroundings and spread peace to the world around you. Let’s think of outcomes that make not only you, but others around you happy as well.
Expressing kindness to others, will enhance your personal feel good moments….
Feel the love and share.    =^_^=

May your day,afternoon, evening be blessed with sharing and caring moments.

photo by M. Murphy

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Accumulate Virtue and Pass It On

Accumulate Virtue and Pass It On

Today the 11th in PL we celebrate Ancestor’s day. Service today at 10 a.m. Through the ceremony we express our gratitude for the love and virtues of our ancestors. We ask for their protection and guidance so we can continue to live the PL WAY.

Accumulate Virtue and Pass It on to Your Future Generations. Always be thankful for the blessings you have received and pass those virtues on. Let’s pay our respects and give sincere thanks to those who came before us.

Blessings from the heart ..today and always

photo -Q’s garden 9.13

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