kalama sutra

"Rely not on the teacher/person, but on the teaching. Rely not on the words of the teaching, but on the spirit of the words. Rely not on theory, but on experience. Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Do not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything because it is written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."

the Buddha

Humanity Prevails. Free Burma!

Stand with the Burmese! Stand with Freedom!

This small act, no matter how minute, is what we bloggers can do in spreading the word and possibly safe 54 million people from the cruelty and ruthlessness of an oppressive government. Do your part to stop the killing. Post this banner ad and the message below on your blog and website. Thanks. Peace!

Dear friends,

The emergency petition to stop the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Burma is exploding, with nearly 500,000 signers from every nation of the world. But the situation in Burma remains desperate, with reports of hundreds of monks being massacred and tortured. Burma's rulers have also killed and expelled international journalists, cutting off global media coverage of their cruelty.

China is still the key - the country with the most power to halt the Burmese generals' reign of terror. Avaaz is delivering the message this week with a massive ad campaign in major newspapers, beginning Thursday with a full page ad in the Financial Times worldwide, and in the South China Morning Post. The strength of the ad comes from the number of petition signers listed – can we reach our goal of 1 million signatures this week? The link to sign the petition and view the ad is below, forward this email to all your friends and family!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/u.php

China continues to provide key economic and military support to Burma's dictatorship, but it has been openly critical of the crackdown. Now we need the government to match words with actions.The ad paints a powerful moment of choice for China in its relationship with the world – will it be a responsible and respected member of the global community, or will it be associated with tyranny and oppression?

People power, on the streets of Burma, and around the world, can triumph over tyranny. Our strength is in our numbers, spread the word!

With hope and determination!!!

For the best local reporting on the situation in Burma, try these links:

http://www.irrawaddy.org

http://www.mizzima.com

meaningful...timeless

A story by Kahlil Gibran

I was strolling in the gardens of an insane asylum when I met a young man who was reading a philosophy book.

His behaviour and his evident good health made him stand out from the other inmates.

I sat down beside him and asked: ‘What are you doing here?’

He looked at me, surprised. But seeing that I was not one of the doctors, he replied:

‘It’s very simple. My father, a brilliant lawyer, wanted me to be like him. My uncle, who owns a large emporium, hoped I would follow his example. My mother wanted me to be the image of her beloved father. My sister always set her husband before me as an example of the successful man. My brother tried to train me up to be a fine athlete like himself.

And the same thing happened at school, with the piano teacher and the English teacher - they were all convinced and determined that they were the best possible example to follow. None of them looked at me as one should look at a man, but as if they were looking in a mirror.

So I decided to enter this asylum. At least here I can be myself.’

inside

A human being has so many skins inside, covering the depths of the heart. We know so many things, but we don't know ourselves! Why, thirty or forty skins or hides, as thick and hard as an ox's or a bear's, cover the soul. Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there.

-Meister Eckhart

The thing is that when we go about showing how much we know about everything else, it gives a sense of authority over others. The thought of "I know more than you." makes one feel secure and in control. A deciple of security, I too suffer the same faith. The temptation is great to want to declare my opinions and intellectual capacities. The sharing of knowledge and the intention to assert power is totally different. The foremer is a fruitful discussion while the latter is an attack leading to chaos.

We see each other as not being the same. Of course, when a caucasion meets an African, they don't see themselves having a single thing in common. Because in the eyes they see hatred, the nose smells jealousy and the mouth tastes revenge. The skin reflects layers of prejudice. But if we peel away these layers of false seperation; in times of emergency, in the face of death and at times of birth, we feel a uniting force that penetrates every skin colour and ideologies. This force is uncondional love for man and nature.

If a white American girl falls in love with an African, why can't we see through her eyes of love, feel through her heart of compassion?

Wishing you a prosperous Lunar New Year! May you be well and happy.

Just as a fire is covered by smoke and a mirror is obscuredby dust, just as the embryo rests deep within the womb,wisdom is hidden by selfish desire.

-Bhagavad Gita

~~~*~~~

This verse is taken from the Bhagavad Gita, a short Sanskritwork of seven hundred verses that has fascinated andinspired mystics, physicists, psychologists, andphilosophers of many countries for three thousand years. Seton a battlefield on the morning before a fierce battle, theGita uses warfare as a metaphor for our personal strugglewith the challenges of life.

The Gita's message is simple but profound: our native stateis freedom. What we want most from life is to be free of allthe mental compulsions that keep us from living in peacewith ourselves, with others, and with the environment. Thisdesire for freedom is at the core of our personality, saysthe Gita, and our failings only hide our real nature likedust obscuring the face of a mirror.

E. E.

2007

The glory of the human being is our ability to remake ourselves. The Buddha is very rightly called the Compassionate One because he holds out hope for everybody. He doesn't say our past has been dark, therefore our chances are dim. He says whatever our past, whatever our present, the sky is bright for us because we can remake ourselves.The Buddha says, be a good wood worker. Consciousness is the wood, and you can make it take any shape you like. Just as a carpenter works the wood to build a house or a fine piece of furniture, similarly we can fashion the responses and attitudes we desire: love, wisdom, security, patience, loyalty, enthusiasm, cheerfulness.

E.E.

Happy New Year. Spread your wings and fly.