Reader and Riddle

No time to write. Please enjoy the following poetry, much better than anything I could create...

Taigu Ryoken (1759 - 1831) Japanese Poet and Zen Master

Our life in this world -
to what shall I compare it?
Its like an echo
resounding through the mountains
and off into the empty sky.

---

With no mind, flowers lure the
butterfly;
With no mind, the butterfly visits
the blossoms.
Yet when flowers bloom, the butterfly
comes;
When the butterfly comes, the
flowers bloom.

---

Like the little stream
Making its way
Through the mossy crevices

The bad news is ... your Little Me isn’t going anywhere

Little Me = Ego + Persona --> Feeds on Thought

Why does thought arise?
Energy is present. The mind tries to understand it, but doesn’t find a good answer.
Mind creates a story to explain energy’s existence.

The Little Me feels real because of the energy behind it.

Cycle of Samsara
Belief (in a thought) --> Generates emotion
Emotion --> Generates belief (in thought)

I haven't written a political post for a long time, so here goes ... Please STOP the legislative WAR ON WOMEN!

I understand this phrase is purposefully constructed to elicit an extreme reaction, just like War on Drugs, War on Christmas, and War on Grover (damn you Elmo!). But regardless of the words chosen, we need to take a deep breath and seriously appreciate the rights women have in this country.

“The beauty of life is what I experience when I don’t get in its way.”
TC

I feel the contraction within me. The division is real. The sense of separation creates a longing that is unbearable. Something is wrong here. I turn to the past for answers. I’m convinced there’s a cause from years ago that is still affecting me today.

But is this true? The past is a memory. Memory is just a thought. And science has proven again and again that these thoughts are unreliable.

I walk down the street with ten dollars in my pocket. I come upon a homeless man asking for help. Do I give him my ten dollars? One part of me instantly reaches for the money. Another part hesitates. Will the man buy food or drugs? Will this help his journey or perpetuate an unfortunate pattern?

As children, we’re taught the Golden Rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Does this mean saying “Yes” to every request?