Stress is not an American invention. But the level of complaining about it and the dire need for “comfort” from so many petty travails certainly is. And the pharmaceutical industry thanks you.

– From NellaLou, in a delightful review of Elizabeth Gilbert (a bit old, but worth reading)

If America were a democracy with an informed electorate, people might be better protected from the drug lords and insurance moguls.

– Dayamati at New City of Friends, writing about America’s Drug Lords

“This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.” – Jalal ad-Din Rumi

– From miss Vesper’s Blog

It’s 4am. I’m “home” in Helena at my folks’ house unable to sleep after a few fitful hours of rest. A silent snow blankets the city. Idyllic except for the drive to Butte tomorrow (today) with my father to pick up my sister.

I found these first two quotes, bouncing around Buddhisty blogs to pass the time. So much wisdom out there, just clicks away. I didn’t even realize that the themes overlapped until reading them again here together. I’ve heard a lot about Elizabeth Gilbert, and I have her book sitting somewhere to be read. I have been told that she’s a great writer. And also that she’s painfully self-absorbed and whiny.

And then perhaps we all are; at least those of us with leisure time to read and write blogs (to be honest, one and only one blog comes to mind as a clear exception and that’s Rev. Danny Fisher’s). And on a good Buddhisty note, I should say that I profess ignorance as to the self-absorption of all other beings. Oh, but that gives me an idea for the title of my own spiritual journey memoir, “Drink, Meditate, Metta” – or, better/catchier, “Medicate, Meditate, Metta.” No, not as catchy as “Eat, Pray, Love” (which will be out in theaters 2010), I’ll admit.

Dayamati tells a sad story about health insurance in his full post. Sad, and amazingly topical as Congress seems poised to pass a bill to “reform” our system, though I have a hard time understanding much about it. Reading today’s paper on it makes it look like a football game: Senator so-and-so from Nebraska scores big with his vote, XX-millions of dollars directly to his state; cosmetic surgeons successfully block kick to tax, tanning-bed-lobby punts and winds up with the tax in return; Senator from Montana sneaks in XX-millions of dollars in technical loophole to help the down-and-outs in his state; etc, etc.