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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Everywhere
God changes appearances every second. Blessed is the man who can recognize him in all his disguises. One moment he is a glass of fresh water; the next, your son bouncing on your knees, or an enchanting woman, or perhaps a morning walk. - Nikos Kazantzakis
If you don't find God in the next person you meet, it is a waste of time looking for him further. - Mahatma Gandhi
If you don't find God in the next person you meet, it is a waste of time looking for him further. - Mahatma Gandhi
Labels: Gandhi, Kazantzakis, photography
posted by Carol at 1:56 PM
18 comments
Friday, May 30, 2008
From Decadence to Simplicity
I am solar powered. I wouldn't do too well if I lived in the San Francisco area where the sun only visits if the mood strikes. But this is a great place to come in order to see how lucky I am to have sun most of the time. And I can marvel at the flora that I'll never see in dry Colorado.
Today was a touristy city day with relatives.
Chocolate!
I came; I bought; I can now go home.
We have to take the ferry if we want to get to S.F. We pass San Quentin, Alcatraz, and Angel Island. On the S.F. side, Gandhi stands near the place where we board the ferry.
This is the plaque below Gandhi's feet. The quote, "Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth." gets me teary every time I read or hear it.
I miss my Buddha dog...
Today was a touristy city day with relatives.
Chocolate!I came; I bought; I can now go home.
We have to take the ferry if we want to get to S.F. We pass San Quentin, Alcatraz, and Angel Island. On the S.F. side, Gandhi stands near the place where we board the ferry.
This is the plaque below Gandhi's feet. The quote, "Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth." gets me teary every time I read or hear it.I miss my Buddha dog...
Labels: Gandhi, San Francisco
posted by Carol at 6:02 PM
10 comments
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
60 Years Ago Today
Mahatma Gandhi
October 2, 1869 - January 30, 1948
October 2, 1869 - January 30, 1948
Labels: Gandhi
posted by Carol at 2:05 PM
0 comments
Friday, November 16, 2007
Do you really want peace?
Or just an end to this war?
These are NOT one and the same.
If we really want a healthy, peaceful world,
we have to first live with kindness toward ourselves and all others.
"We have to live in such a way that a future will be possible for our children and our grandchildren and our own life has to be our message." Thich Nhat Hanh
"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi.
"Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me." - Matthew 25: 31-46
Labels: Gandhi, Jesus, Thich Nhat Hanh
posted by Carol at 2:03 PM
0 comments
Monday, October 15, 2007
Be the Change...
Do you think that you affect the world by being who you are and doing what you do?
I do. I think that we all add to this soup that we call the world. There are a few unsavory flavors, but my oh my, the broth is scrumptious and most of the ingredients are heavenly. Even those unsavory bits seem to bring out the best in other parts.
Thinking about Gandhi when he said "we must be the change we wish to see in the world", I contemplate what I want to see.
I would like a world where:
- people care about each other and about all living beings
- we don't call each other names or do anything intentionally to cause pain to others - physical or psychological
- we know that there is enough - and we don't need to have more than enough while others live in need
- we take care of the earth
- there is joy and singing and dancing and celebrating
- we know there is time to go slowly enough to listen to each other, to be kind, to notice what is going on within and without
So Gandhi calls me to be these qualities that I want in the world. I can't make anyone else do it (at least I've been unsuccessful so far) - and I can be a challenging study even for myself.
It's time to get dancin'!
"I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him."
- Booker T. Washington
- Booker T. Washington
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music."
- George Carlin
- George Carlin
Labels: dance, Gandhi, photography
posted by Carol at 9:59 AM
2 comments
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tiny Tim Had it Right
There is an email that is being forwarded all over that tells us we SHOULD all fly our American flags on 9-11-07. The body of it reads like this:
On Tuesday, September 11th, 2007, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this fifth anniversary of our country's worst tragedy. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.
In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds.
The email goes on to tell us to spread the word and also display our flag on the 11th. It ends with:
Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America
I think that it is really important to think about what we do and what our motivations are instead of just emotionally fulfilling an action because someone says we "should". Who is that "someone", anyway? And why are they telling me what I "should" do? (Maybe that someone is a flag manufacturer. cha-ching!) Will flying my flag really help us prevail over terrorism?
I am sure that the person who originated this had good intentions. It is very kind of them to want us to remember that scary day and to acknowledge those who have died because of it. But let's also, while we're at it, not forget the other 148,000 people who died that day (151,338 people in our world die each day) and every day. Some of those other 148,000 who died on that day also departed in horrible circumstances, and all who died left grieving friends and relatives behind. Families and friends of those other 148,000 will commemorate their loved ones' deaths with no national fanfare, even though their loss was just as important to them.
I'm not even going to go there with "our cherished freedoms" that our soldiers are fighting for and our government is taking away...
Then there's the "God Bless America" bumper-sticker quote. We really do need God - or someone - to bless us. We have lost our way. Our national debt, the decimation of our constitution, our occupation of a country, and all the deaths in our name, etc., etc. We're walking into deep doodoo and need all of the blessing we can get.
Or maybe we just need the American people to wake up and right our ship.
God Bless America
I feel sad every time I read those words, because I can't figure out why we are sooooo special that we only ask for Her to bless US. It seems very callous and inhumane to not wish for blessings from God/Jesus/Allah/Buddha/you/me for ALL of humanity.Tiny Tim had it right.
"God bless us, every one!" - Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol
"Jesus loves the little children, ALL the children of the world. Red or yellow, black or white; they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world."
(Song I was taught as a child. I still believe it today.)
"The only real, dignified, human doctrine is the greatest good of all." - Mahatma Gandhi
"Jesus loves the little children, ALL the children of the world. Red or yellow, black or white; they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world."
(Song I was taught as a child. I still believe it today.)
"The only real, dignified, human doctrine is the greatest good of all." - Mahatma Gandhi
posted by Carol at 8:34 AM
6 comments
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
3700
Well, as of this writing at 9:00 p.m. MDT, 3699 U.S. soldiers have died according to ICausalty.org. Call me a pessimist, but, unfortunately, the odds are good that the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq will reach 3700 before tomorrow is over.
And who even knows how many more Iraqis will be dead by then? The American people are never told.
Last year, I would fast for 36 hours every time the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq reached another 100 point. I haven't done that this year, because of health issues, but I am ready to start again tomorrow.
I am not willing to go to Iraq and kill. That would be against everything that I believe. But I am willing to feel uncomfortable while my brothers and sisters who live in every corner of our world suffer.
There's that great story of the mother bringing her kid to Gandhi and saying, "Please tell my son to give up sugar." Gandhi said, "Come back in a week." The mother left perplexed. A week later, she came back and Gandhi said to the kid, "Give up sugar." The mother said to Gandhi, "Couldn't you have told him that last week?" Gandhi replied, "No, because I hadn't given up sugar last week."
And who even knows how many more Iraqis will be dead by then? The American people are never told.
Last year, I would fast for 36 hours every time the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq reached another 100 point. I haven't done that this year, because of health issues, but I am ready to start again tomorrow.
I am not willing to go to Iraq and kill. That would be against everything that I believe. But I am willing to feel uncomfortable while my brothers and sisters who live in every corner of our world suffer.
There's that great story of the mother bringing her kid to Gandhi and saying, "Please tell my son to give up sugar." Gandhi said, "Come back in a week." The mother left perplexed. A week later, she came back and Gandhi said to the kid, "Give up sugar." The mother said to Gandhi, "Couldn't you have told him that last week?" Gandhi replied, "No, because I hadn't given up sugar last week."
posted by Carol at 9:02 PM
2 comments