FYI

How do we define what it is to be "poor"?

$22,314.00 per year for a family of 4.
$11,139.00 per year for an individual.

In 2010 15% of Americans or 46.2 million people (that we know of) were considered poor.

1 in 6 Americans are living in poverty.

Bodhisattva Avalokita'sGreat Mantra

"Gate gate paragate parasamgate

bodhi svaha"

This is the a great mantra, the destroyer of all suffering at the heart of the Prajnaparamita.
Gate means gone. Gone from suffering to liberation of suffering. Paragate means gone all the way to the other shore. Parasamgate means everyone, the entire community of beings. Everyone gone over to the other shore. Bodhi is the light inside, awakening, liberation from fear. And svaha is joy, welcome, hurray!
Gone, gone, gone all the way over, everyone gone to the other shore, enlightenment, svaha!
from the book by Thcih Nhat Hanh The Heart of Understanding.

Storytelling Rock

Storytelling is what we humans do to explain life to bring meaning and purpose to our experiences. When I meditated upon this rock with hundreds of images I thought it must be a storytelling rock. I could picture a Wise Woman with children gathered around as she told the stories of The People over thousands of years. Healing stories, hunting stories, how to bring the rain stories, love stories, stories that comfort us and remind us of our connection to all of creation and the Creator.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place for refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need

Words of His Holiness

Wabi Sabi

Life weathers us.

"The Japanese culture recognizes and appreciates "wabi sabi". Wabi refers to rustic simplicity, freshness, quietness, and understated elegance. Sabi is the gloom of time, the natural progression of tarnish, rust and weathering. It accepts and embraces the patina that comes with age. Wabi sabi acknowledges that nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. To accept these realities is to accept contentment as the maturation of happiness." Quoted from the book To Buy or Not to Buy by April Lane Benson

The visitor

I thanked her for coming and asked her for a message or story.
She asked me a question in return.
Do you feel you are part of the Great Earth?
Or do you feel outside of nature, separate, like an observer?
I sat quietly and listened.
Be humble, she said, you are just a small and beautiful part of this Great Mystery.
She flew away.
I thanked her for coming.