Author Archives: Major Tom

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/china-asserts-control-over-dalai-lama-lineage This is interesting from several vantage points. What is the ulterior motive? If China doesn’t believe in the religion, then what is the need to control the next Dalai Lama? Could it be more than just political? Maybe – … Continue reading →

This kind of says it all. 😉

Easier said than done to train your mind to desire the silence. http://www.tricycle.com/blog/fear-silence  

http://www.tricycle.com/dharma-talk/breaking-habit-selfishness Obviously easier said than done, and maybe not something that can be done all the time in our world. But, good practice for daily mediations and life living.

Live modestly with goods and belongings Live in awareness of the environment and its fragility Practice kindness Maintain creative practice and activity in the arts Be faithful to solitude Propagate peace in the world and the surrounding communities Remain in … Continue reading →

Do we destroy or do we sustain the world? Of all the current worlds and previous worlds, I wonder where we stand? In some ways, is this God’s little game – his way to experience time?

“There is no denying that our happiness is inextricably bound up with the happiness of others. There is no denying that if society suffers, we ourselves suffer. Nor is there any denying that the more our hearts and minds are … Continue reading →

“Attend when you want to; that’s Swigness; the flow into everything and nothingness, whatever you need at the moment you need it; nothing more, nothing less, unless you require more or less of whatever you need.”

I know that there will be those that will point out that there are those in poverty that take advantage of the system; or that for whatever reason they deserve to be there.  But, unless we’ve been in their shoes, … Continue reading →

  Spiritual experience and goods can certainly reinforce a consuming mind, too, and it is no surprise to see this happening in a consumer culture. Marketers are successfully targeting spiritual consumers as a market niche and figuring out exactly what … Continue reading →

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/world/europe/pope-bluntly-faults-churchs-focus-on-gays-and-abortion.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&emc=edit_na_20130919&pagewanted=all& In times where extremes are the norm (especially in politics), it’s refreshing to see areas that were once thought to be strongholds to be tearing down those walls.

Just another way (metaphor) of explaining that it’s not selfish to take care of yourself first, but maybe the only way to be in a position to help others.  Think of the people that have helped you the most … … Continue reading →

Another one of those articles that makes me realize just how judgmental we are by nature.  Even when we are being non-judgmental, we can have underlying judgmental motives.  Here, in this article from Tricycle, compassion is thrown into the mix. … Continue reading →

Unity bonding cannot just happen with anyone anywhere anytime; rather it happens with everyone everywhere all the time.

Well, one reason at least.  His guard is always down.

“The Buddha didn’t talk about Buddhism. He was concerned, simply, with the truth, the truth of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering; —and that, I’d submit, is a good thing for anybody to learn.” – Peter Doobinin, “Tough … Continue reading →

To further elaborate on the “Translation and Time” post – is SILENCE a better way to communicate than verbally? No, I was not intending this to be a Koan.

Metaphorically, is this what reincarnation (both Buddha’s major Karma paradigm and the Hindu Sacred Cow) comes down to? Treat all living conscious life as if it were a rebirth of another.  It could be you someday.

We’ve mentioned before about Buddhism’s focus on “truth” as opposed to “metaphor.”  Not that metaphors can’t be the truth, they’re just up for interpretation. Of course, there is the whole reincarnation aspect, but I’m not ready to call that a … Continue reading →

In college, one of my best friends (Rick Ramell) and I took a class from Dr. Soo Bach Choi.  At the beginning of the first class, he asked this question. Recently, I was listening to the Power of Myth with … Continue reading →

Although referred to as a part of Buddhist protocol, we can apply this to our own metaphor. For instance, there are things around your home that you have done to make it comfortable and appealing to you.  But, let’s say, … Continue reading →