Cue the Flashback Music!

In the spring of 2005 I was visiting friends of my grandfather's in Rhode Island.  Before I left I visited RISD museum.  Now I had just heard of Wesak for the first time and couldn't even pronounce it... I just knew this holiday simply as the Buddha Birthday, Death day combined which isn't necessarily wrong but also isn't accurate.  In any case on the 3rd floor of the museum I encounter this story tall Buddha.  It is a small room for a piece this size making the viewing intimate.  I sat there for a very long time drinking it in.  I was surprised that many visitors came and went quickly barely taking him in.  Though of course this happens in museums, there is so much to take in it's easy to become numb to the wonders around you.  But this Buddha energy was like nothing I had every encountered before.  I imagine that if you work at RISD after hours you go and sit in this Buddhas lap.  If it hadn't been so busy that day I would have!

More Mystery from PK

I should say that it isn't all PK's fault we can't connect, but rather both of our schedules are to blame... or perhaps sometimes it's just a matter of surrendering to the timing of things, knowing it is already in perfect order.  In any case the following text came in from her today.

"we are at the Tetons yeah!  I am sending you great energy from the main retreat of the brotherhood!  I keep thinking of the Buddha and you and the chela.  I really think you knew him."

Well there you have it!  I should mention for those of you who might not know that by retreat of the brotherhood she means an inner retreat where ascended beings who are still hanging around earth helping us out gather.  These beings are sometimes referred to as Mahatmas (a sanskrit word meaning great soul), or Ascended Masters and sometimes referred to as the White Brotherhood.  Now white is referring to the light they emanate, not the color of their skin.  There are definitely masters of color and PK is definitely not hanging out at an elitist resort!  

PK, Master of Intrigue

Today I got this email from my good friend PK.

I have a very strong intuition about you. Could you tell me again about the Buddha dream/vision.
Do you know the story of Yasodhara, his wife???

We must talk!
Love you,
PK

PK of course is almost impossible to track down so it may be some time before our curiosity is satisfied!

Buddhas Surround Nicholas Roerich's, Mother of the World

Happy Mother's Day!

How I understand the story behind this painting is that when the Buddhas ascend they go to The Mother.  They have a great love of The Mother.

Today I have to admit I am almost as blue as this painting as I am missing my own mother something fierce.  This is not a new loss by any means but I seem to working through a new round of regrets .  Mourning is like pealing an onion, as many layers as tears.  My sister tells me that behind grief is gratitude.  Today I am so so grateful for you Mom.  

Blue Sky Outside and In

I wake up hearing the Medicine Buddha mantra in my mind, and before I even meditate I can notice this blue light in my torso...  not heart center exactly it feels more like it's in the solar plexus area.  It's kind of hard to describe it's there in the corner of my mind even when I'm not creating it.  Interesting!

Where did I go? I Here I Am!

Today started out on a pretty intellectual bent.  I read through "The Basic Concepts of Tibetan Buddhism".  What is so interesting to be about Tibetan Buddhism is that it is a combination of so many things:  Buddhism, Tantrism , and local Shamanistic beliefs.  This gives it a much more ritualistic feel than Zen Buddhism for instance...  and when reading about it, I always have the feeling that Tibetan Buddhism is so many things to so many different people, including rituals, shamanic practices, a whole pantheon of Gods and Goddesses, and of course the Buddhist meditations.

By midmorning I forget that I've started reading about the history of Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism for fun and I start trying to find myself in the religion...  I feel agitated, irritated with the dogs, and hungry.  So I stop, raid the refrigerator for left overs and play with the dogs for a little while, but I still feel out of sorts.

Then on my drive to meet with a client of mine who's booked an energy work session I forget to be upset about the fact that I'm not a Tibetan Buddhist.  I am in love with the bluffs which are finally showing signs of spring, in love with the river, and I remember who I am.  Oh yeah, I'm just me, I'm just a person who happens to Love the Buddha and am inspired to do the Mantra for the Medicine Buddha and write about it the meditative and contemplative experiment for fun...  I don't need a stamp of approval or to figure out what to call myself.

News on the Mantra Front:  I have finally learned the short form in a pronunciation which at least mimics the Tibetan.