Success Now

In this world of matter everything is temporary, nothing stays. To try to wrestle permanence out of situations and things is not seeing reality as it is. To cling selfishly to anything is the mark of the ignorant. (This is the ignorance caused by an ego that refuses to acknowledge that everything is interconnected) Success comes when we see clearly that when we unconditionally help others we help ourselves, for we are never separate from the Source; to think otherwise is delusion; it is, again, the work of the ego. Now, to see things as they are, to see the unity of all things, requires presence of mind, which means that your thoughts are not in past or future situations (unless you are using the past for reference or planning a shopping trip) but in what you are doing right now! Remember, you can't cross the bridge until you get to the river. If you see 'Reality' as it is you'll see that success, like well-being, does not depend on outside circumstances, for we actually have all we need. If you see reality as it is your life situation could change suddenly and drastically without affecting your inner balance because you'll see that you are part of a whole that is in perfect balance and working perfectly well. Of course, you will not see this if you don't discipline your mind and develop presence because the ego will render you blind. And I am afraid that just reading or hearing about it will probably help you little. But if you do just your best and practice, you'll see it as clear as sunshine. And allow me to quote from "Mindfulness in Plain English" by H. Gunaratana: "Your practice can show you the truth. Your own experience is all that counts." Recommended reading: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Buddhism is not What you Think by Steve Hagen, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda. Journal

Death, The Advisor!

Yesterday a jet fighter plane, an F/A-18 D Hornet, crashed in a residential area of San Diego about half a mile from where I work in Town Centre Dr. It is said that both engines malfunctioned and the pilot ejected after trying without success to get to the Miramar base. Upon crashing the plane destroyed two houses, damaged three more and killed four people, leaving neighbors to fight the fire amid billowing ominous black smoke until the fire engines arrived.
Yesterday, Death came unexpectedly out of the clear blue sky. And it made me see clearly how true it is that there is no safe haven in this world. Death is lurking at every turn (even when we are "safe" at home) and it is unstoppable. What comes to be ceases to be, sometimes swiftly and suddenly. Nobody here gets out alive.
If we keep Death in mind, however, our life becomes richer and deeper, for we don't take tomorrow for granted. Death's advice is to live today, to live now! We must make our plans for the future while ready to die today.
And I quote: "Awareness of death is the very bedrock of the path. Until you have developed this awareness, all other practices are obstructed." --The Dalai Lama
PS The accident's main victim was not at the crash site. He lost his home, his wife, his two daughters and his mother-in-law. I can't imagine his pain. The price we pay for our war machine is sometimes too high. Will human beings ever realize how high a price we pay for war itself, or will we always be obtuse egomaniacs?

To Father and Son

I just got this in an email from my friend and dance partner Lynn Drittenbas (Dragon Acupuncture http://www.dragonhealingnow.com/), and I'd like to share it with you. It is about what will a father do for his son?

Excerpt: "One day the son asked his father, ‘Dad, let’s join the Ironman together?’"

"For those who didn’t know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii".

And I just found the full story of Rick and Dick Hoyt in a post by Reyn Aria. Here is the link:
Check the video here: Against All Odds