Gratitude Journal

1. Accepting our shadow side. How much time do you waste wishing you could be X or not be Y or just a little less Z? Ha. How about seeing that you are greater than all of these. We are each greater than any of our character-traits, any of the labels we or others put on us. This realization is not one of ‘overcoming’ – but one of acceptance. We can and should wrap warm arms around our flaws just as a mother holds a hurt child. Fight your failings less; embrace them as part of who you are. Honesty. Stop presenting yourself to yourself and the world as someone you are not. Be your shadow self. Be your best self. Allow the two to meet and hold hands in the unending flow of life.

In Buddhism, one’s shadow side can be personified in the figure of mara. Even after his awakening, the Buddha himself encountered mara. And each time mara was defeated when the Buddha saw him and said, simply, “I see you, mara.” Think of how powerful this is – for us – to see that side of ourselves from which we usually hide, tuck away, avoid. In our pushing away, we are allowing ourselves to be controled. Stop. See. Move on.

2. Cutting through the B.S. Life is filled with B.S. Shiny B.S., sparkly B.S., soft B.S., strong B.S., soothing B.S. and so on. “Follow your Bliss” – someone once said. I think the Buddha said it first, but I think he said, “then move on, for the Ultimate lies on just the other side of bliss.” B.S. is in everything we do, EVERYTHING, that has nothing to do with our bliss OR our ultimate concerns. Take note. How much of each day is consumed by B.S.? Too much, I’m sure. The Buddha also said we must practice as if our head were on fire. Think about that. The pervasiveness of suffering – B.S. – is so great that we must throw ourselves into practice just as a man with a head on fire would dive into a lake.

3. OMG, 15 minutes of fame. Today I joined a conference call with Joyce Schwarz, author of The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life and fellow artists/contributors to the book. Apparently this book is going to be huge. Being a lowly “Buddhist Philosopher” I don’t often think much about what “best seller” means, let alone having one’s name and image in a best seller. But that is what is coming, Oct 28, when the book is officially released. My image (above) is in the chapter on Gratitude, along with many other excellent Vision Boards and explanations of the power of gratitude and how to create such a Vision Board.

Apparently I need to create a sound-byte for myself and my board (suggestions?). I also might join a book signing, be on the radio or in the newspaper. Crazy good stuff. Thank you Joyce.

4. The unending flow of life. It is amazing how life seems to just keep going. Through the good, through the bad, it has its own pace, a life of its own. Sometimes I get to stop, or pause at least, to catch my breath. But often I’m simply tumbling forward, trying to keep my eyes open as life passes by. But what a joy it is when I am able to see it clearly.

Ok – off to sleep or studies or some other exhaulted activity. May we all find joy in our lives – in this very moment – peace in knowing the depths of our hearts and the depths of the world around us. Smiling at strangers, the warmth of an autumn sun, the smell of nature shaking off her summer colors. Take it in. Take it all in.