Rebirth/ Reincarnation

In recent years, it seems, many countries in the world are developing an interest in reincarnation/ rebirth. Contemporary films, books, and popular songs frequently mention reincarnation. In the last few decades, academic researchers have begun to explore the ideas of rebirth/ reincarnation. Published reports of memories of past lives have appeared in peer-reviewed journals and books.  

I’m sure some people have thoughts about it and come to a conclusion, as to their belief or non-belief on the subject. If you are a definite non-believer, I would like to offer blessings to you and your families!   

If you are not sure, curious or definitely believe, I invite you to read any of these books for yourself. A good asset for obtaining the earlier literature is the Theosophical Society. There is a lot out there about Edgar Casey, too. For me personally, the Tibetan Buddhist books by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse and Traleg Kyabgon resonate strongly. I invite you to do your own research!

I have always wondered why things appear to seem so unfair at times. How could someone be born into a life of privilege and honor and another born into starvation and famine. Is it just random or a larger portrait?  When you do your own research, you realize how interconnected we really are. Thus the need to be kind and compassionate to everyone you meet.   

I've compiled a short list of books that I think make the complex issue of Rebirth/ Reincarnation a little easier to understand. This is by no means a complete list. Some of these books are more than one hundred years old.  

“The Hidden Side of Things” by Charles Leadbeater was written in 1913. I like reading about Edgar Cayce and his insights into the past and future. The Jane Roberts series of books about “Oversoul 7” are good for helping to explain and understand the complex issues of simultaneous rebirths and the time/ space continuum. The most popular book I listed is “Illusions” by Richard Bach. It’s a great uplifting story!  

When you die, the only thing that is transferable is all the positive deeds and actions you have accomplished and accumulated this time around. I encourage you to do your own research on all related subjects!   

Thank you for reading my thoughts. We truly are all related!  

“To fear death is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know. No one knows whether death may not be the greatest of all blessings for a man, yet men fear it as if they knew that it is the greatest of evils. And surely it is the most blameworthy ignorance to believe that one knows what one does not know.” 

Socrates  

BOOKS 

(In no particular order)  

LAMA KARMA SAMTEN 

   Living with Death & Dying -Teachings on the 6 Bardos  

CHARLES W LEADBEATER 

   The Hidden Side of Things  

The Souls Growth through Reincarnation  

Thought Forms 

The Inner Life  

MANLEY HALL  

 Reincarnation: The Cycles of Necessity  

Past Lives, Present Problems  

RUDOLF STEINER  

 Reincarnation and Immortality  

GLORIA CHADWICK  

 Discover Your Past Lives  

C JINARAJADASA  

 How We Remember Our Past Lives  

(Theosophical Society)  

TRALEG KYABGON 

 Karma -What it is and why it Matters 

KHENPO KARTHAR RINPOCHE 

 Bardo - Interval of Possibility 

VIRGINIA HANSON  

 Karma  

Richard Bach

Illusions  

GEOFFREY HODSON  

 Death – The Door to the Future  

BRIAN WEISS  

 Many Lives, Many Masters, Through Time  

into Space; Only Love Is Real;  

Messages from the Masters  

Same Soul, Many Bodies; Mirrors of Time  

FREDERICK LENZ  

 Lifetimes: True Accounts of Reincarnation  

IAN STEVENSON  

 Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation  

GEDDES MACGREGOR  

 Reincarnation in Christianity  

DZONGSAR JAMYANG KHYENTSE 

 Living is Dying 

RUTH MONTGOMERY  

 Here and Hereafter  

MARY ANN WOODWARD  

 Edgar Cayce’s Story of Karma  

RAYMOND MOODY  

 Life After Life  

ELIZABETH CLARE PROPHET  

 Reincarnation: The Missing Link in  

Christianity  

JANE ROBERTS  

 Education of Oversoul 7 ;  Further Education of Oversoul 7  

Museum of Time  

JESS STEARN  

 Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet  

Soulmates  

JOHN VAN AUKEN  

 Past Lives, Present Relationships: How  

Karma Affects Your Relationships  

Please understand that this is only a small sampling of the vast amount of literature available on the rebirth/ reincarnation subject. I invite you to do your own research. I hope this helps.  

 

BLESSING TO ALL 

Recharging Your Reservoir

During these times of fear and uncertainty, where change is constantly happening, it is important to retreat to a quiet, calm, meditative awareness within ourselves. It's the need to "recharge your battery" and refresh your energy level in order to maintain a Reservoir from which your body draws continually.

Whatever your mechanism for recharging your battery, it's important to do it on a regular basis. It could be as simple as sitting by the ocean listening to and watching the waves crash, hiking in some mountain wilderness, reading an inspirational book with a positive message or most any activity that promotes peace and compassion in your heart!

Some people enjoy listening to music, it recharges them. Sound can be a powerful motivating energy force. Another (and equally powerful) way to recharge yourself and add to your Reservoir is through chanting. With proper motivation and attitude, your prayers can become more powerful when infused with energy from your Reservoir. 
 

The following 2 excerpts are from people important in their fields: 

From Ram Dass in “Sounds and Silence” 
 
"Take a Chant, maybe something as simple as a single sound such as "OM". Try repeating it for a few minutes. You'll feel how, with just that one sound, you can tune in and so deeply. You're using the sound as a tuning device into the sound itself. As you listen your way into the sound, you realize that what you are doing is to tune the dial of your consciousness, to open a door that lets you go more deeply in inward" 

As per Don Campbell " in “The Transformational Power of Sound”

"A mantra or chant often starts out up in the head, where you are thinking about it. You think about the word, how to say it or what it means. Then the word begins to go down into the throat, into a physical experience of the sound itself. Next it starts to move down into the heart. And eventually it becomes the engine that is running you. You are not singing the sound, the sound is singing you. It is bringing you closer and closer to another plane of consciousness, offering you a way to live simultaneously on more than one plane of reality, at a time. It's allowing you to experience other parts of your identity, to recognize that there's a lot more to you than what you see or what you think"

Another important use of your Reservoir is in the creation of prayers. When prayer energy is directed at persons or objects, it carries the weight of the person making the prayer. If that is backed up with a reservoir of healing energy, all the better. 

Whatever way(s) you choose to recharge yourself, just do it!

Helping In Any Way You Can

Realize Your Good Fortune

In the course of everyday life, it’s not uncommon to hear people complain about most everything. From Covid 19, the weather, other people’s issues and shortcomings, the direction of the government, and so on. While it is good to take an interest in our neighbors and friends lives, it is also equally important to maintain a positive, peaceful atmosphere for ourselves. It’s ok to listen to other people complaints, you listen because you care for them and you want them to know that.  

There is also a line that you should draw for yourself. When does this complaining infringe on me and my “peaceful atmosphere”? I will usually let them talk for a few minutes then offer some suggestion of how they might deal with it. Often times, it’s tough. People who complain lots are usually “heavily invested” in their complaints.  The antidote, as I see it, is to realize how very fortunate we really are! 

Let’s start off with the basic fortune of being able to breath. When we stop breathing, we die. Turn off a person’s life support machine, and they die. We take breathing for granted, breathing in and out, day after day, year after year, and we forget how amazing it is. Even one single breath is based on thousands of steps and on many other factors such as the plants which make the oxygen we need. If we had to buy the air we breathe, we wouldn’t be able to afford it. We might think we do not have much, but when we consider it, to be able to breathe is a great fortune. 

“This precious human body that we have, with its freedoms and endowments, is obtained with difficulty and destroyed with ease. Thus it should be used with purpose now”. While this is one of the four Ordinary Foundations in Tibetan Buddhism, it does offer a “call to action” of sorts. We are fortunate to have been endowed with this “creative mind” and we should use and direct it for compassionate, peaceful means at every opportunity. When we do this, we are training our mind to creatively visualize positive results. With continued practice it becomes easier and easier. 

Try it for yourself – visualize a close friend or loved one who may need some help. For example, if they are suffering a life changing illness, such as cancer, strongly imagine them “bathed and cloaked” in peaceful, soothing energy clouds. If depressed, imagine that person “bathed in peaceful, joyous energy”.  Whatever the malady - depression, fear, sorrow, anger, hatred, etc. just imagine the opposite feeling. For depression imagine absolute joy, for fear imagine strength, for sorrow imagine unbounded joy & happiness, for anger imagine peaceful calm and for hatred imagine absolute, powerful love energy. You have a powerful, creative mind so you might as well use it to help others! 

Be creative in your prayers! 

REALIZE YOUR GOOD FORTUNE AND PASS IT ON! 

Celebrate Life's Smaller Accomplishments

I know I sometimes tend to focus too much on the "Big Picture” rather than appreciating the smaller accomplishments of our every-day life.  The larger picture is definitely important, don’t get me wrong, but if we properly appreciated the things we do accomplish in the course of a day, I think we would be happily surprised! Simple things like safely driving a loved one to an appointment, reassuringly talk to family or friends about the rampant fear and paranoia associated with the current Covid virus and how to deal with the stress it causes, taking the dog for a walk or creating a special meal for someone in your life.

These are not especially important acts or are they? I would like to argue that they are indeed important for at least two reasons. The first and probably most important reason is you get a chance to make a loved one’s life easier by your compassionate action. Secondly, If you also do it with loving kindness as the motivation, it makes the action even stronger on both the giver and the receiver!

These are just a few of the many things we do on a daily basis that we probably don’t fully acknowledge ourselves for. I’m sure that there are many different examples in your own life, too. They are all accomplishments, just in and of themselves. Add these things together, in the course of a day, and you may be pleasantly surprised. Go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back, you deserve it!

In my own life, I work as a compassionate caregiver. I get to see many different families who are caring for loved ones, usually at home. Most of the loved ones have had distinguished careers. Most, also, cannot physically do what they did at an earlier age. Some take it in stride with a positive attitude and some fight it. That’s why I think it’s so important to acknowledge the smaller things that you can do. Even if someone is limited in what they used to be able do, it doesn’t mean that they have to give up on appreciating what they can do. It’s our job, as caregivers of loved ones, to help them appreciate these smaller actions in every-day life.

Also, in my own life, I am the advocate/ mentor for a family of 4 brothers, the Sanchez family (I invite you to read my earlier blogs about each one of them. “Jesus Sanchez”, “Cesar Sanchez”, “Manuel Sanchez” and “Miguel Sanchez” for more details).  I take notice of small accomplishments in each of the young men’s lives. In some cases, small accomplishments are all there are. Why not make an effort to acknowledge these accomplishments and allow them to feel good about themselves?  It’s a win – win situation!

When I’m nice to myself, I also notice what I have accomplished in the course of the day. And you know what, it’s usually very satisfying. I am blessed!

Thanks for Reading this Blog

The Direction of Your Life

BE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE!

This is the “road map” you’ve chosen, thus far, in your quest forward. Realize, with absolute certainty, that you can make a positive difference” in your life, and in that of others!

It occurred to me recently that “being thankful for what I have” is very important in my life. I have been fortunate and realize that being grateful and appreciative of my successes is one of the main reasons for my good fortune and happiness. I look forward for the opportunities of being able to say “Thank You” to someone, every day of my life. A simple “Thank You” can make other people feel good but it also makes me feel good.

Look around you. No matter who you are, there is something to be thankful for. It could be a roof over your head or food in your fridge or your family and friends. Each of these are truly gift! Every-day that you are in good health, every day you get to drink clean water, every day that you get to go to work, etc. When you begin to recognize the goodness in your life and make a conscious effort to be grateful for those things, you will see that every day there is more and more to be thankful for.

If you really think there is nothing to be thankful for in your life, you’re probably not trying hard enough. At the least, you should be thankful you are fortunate enough to have access to a computer with internet, to be able to read this.

 I sometimes tend to focus too much on the” Big Picture” rather than appreciating the smaller accomplishments of every-day life.  The larger picture is definitely important, don’t get me wrong, but if we properly appreciated the things we do accomplish in the course of a day, I think we would be happily surprised. Simple things like safely driving your loved one to an appointment or taking the dog for a walk or just having created a nice meal for someone special in your life. There are probably many different examples in your own life. These are all great accomplishment just in and of themselves. Add these things up, in the course of a day, and you may be pleasantly surprised. Give yourself a pat on the back, you deserve it!

Why Meditation Matters

For me, with a fairly active schedule, being able to dedicate a certain amount of time every day to completely shut down the "clatter" from my mind, is invaluable. Enjoying the luminosity that rests there, when all the clattering ceases, is priceless!

The monkey mind, as some call it, is the constant chatter/ clatter reminding you what happened yesterday, what will happen tomorrow, what will happen in the future, etc. The continual blah, blah, blah of wasted energy. To be able to turn that off with the process of meditation is important, not only for the health of your body but the health of your mind, as well.

 Meditation can be used by anyone regardless of religion or culture, ethnicity or background. To calm your mind and be a more productive human being is the goal of most all great religions. When you are relaxed you make better decisions. When your mind is "at ease" calmness and tranquility reverberates through-out your body.

 I am occasionally asked by people new to meditation how to start. What do I do? There are many different types of meditation but sometimes for people beginning practice, it's easiest to focus on the breath. It's probably a good idea to start small, maybe 10 or 15 minutes.

 First get yourself seated, if you can get into the Lotus position do it, if not, no big deal, just sit comfortably somewhere on the ground or a chair. The important aspect is to keep the spine erect.

Once seated, check your motivation. Why am I meditating? This is basically a check on yourself just to make sure you're doing it for the right reasons, ie: to make yourself better, stronger, to be able to help others, etc., and not to impress people or other selfish reasons. It’s also important to add Awareness as a framework for your meditation. Be aware of everything that is happening.

After that, make a strong mental affirmation that you will keep your mind free and clear of any and all thoughts, good or bad. Occasionally people new to meditation inadvertently allow themselves to be “carried away” by their thoughts. With Awareness, you can recognize when the thoughts appear and detach them immediately. The goal here is to get Beyond thinking, to turn the mind off, if you will. If you are observing your breath that should be your complete, Focus. Don't fixate on it just follow it in and out.

 When you realize thoughts are coming and attaching themselves, simply detach from the thought. Make an image for yourself. When I find thoughts attaching, I imagine a Samurai with a very sharp sword cutting the thought from my attachment. Here you're not trying to push the thought out or obliterate it, you are just cutting it from your attachment and allowing it to flow with all the millions and billions of other thoughts floating around in space. After releasing the thought, simply go back to observing your breath.

 It may seem like a hard task at first  because it appears as if the thoughts will never stop. Our minds are usually programmed to listen to the clatter but if you persist, with practice, it gets easier and more rewarding. Also, some people get discouraged that their meditations aren't always as good as previous ones. We are human so we have good days and bad. The important thing is to keep on with your daily practice, as it has a cumulative effect.

 This is my simple attempt to help convince you that meditation is definitely worth the effort. There are people much more eloquent than myself who can probably explain it better. Below I have included 2 videos that I consider excellent, both are by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master. His use of English is precise. I invite you to watch these videos.

 Please consider adding meditation to your daily routine. You will be very happy you did!

The Beauty of Chants and Chanting

There are beautiful chants in all of the” world’s great religions”. From the beauty of the Sufi chants (early Islamic mystics) to the power of Tibetan Buddhist “Om Mani Peme Hung” to the devotion of the Hindu “Om Namah Shivaya” & “Hare Krishna”. The powerful Peyote prayer songs of the Native American Church, the early Christians had the hauntingly beautiful Gregorian Chants, the Kabbalah and the Jewish mystics and there are many other examples thru history.

I does not matter so much what you chant, it’s actually doing the chanting, that matters most! Choose a chant that you are attracted to and start from there. Chanting is an “experiential” thing.

Many different people try to “explain” how it works. I have enclosed two of what I consider the best verbal explanations of “how chanting works”. One is by Ram Das and the other is by author Don Campbell.

Everybody sings. Every culture in the world has some form of music, of song. But songs have different purposes in countries like India than they have in the west. In the west music is usually an emotional experience or a kind of social interaction. In India, song (kirtan) is a method of spiritual practice, an approach to the Divine.

Different purposes lead to different forms. In kirtan, for example, we often will sing the same phrase over and over and over again, sometimes for hours at a time – a form that just doesn’t exist in western music. We don’t understand the idea that you could take a single phrase and keep repeating it and repeating it, letting it carry us deeper and deeper and deeper into our being. But in kirtan you do just that.

Take a chant, maybe something as simple as a single sound such as “OM”. Try repeating it for a few minutes. You’ll feel how, with just that one sound, you can tune in so deeply. You’re using the sound as a tuning device into the sound itself. And as you listen your way into the sound, you realize that what you’re doing is to tune the dial of your consciousness, to open a door that lets you go more deeply inward.

The gateways to the soul or spirit are opened with prayer, voice, repetition and sound. The Gregorian chants of the early Catholic religion, the rhythm chants of Africa, the Peyote chants of the Native American church, the repetitive phrases at a pep rally and the mystical words unifying us to God – all are part of the transformational power of sound.

The repetition of a vocal sound modifies the breath, body and mind. Each tone vibrates the bones of the chanter, cantor, the singer and the devotee. The elongation of the vowel sound is remarkably healing to the body and the brain. The brainwaves begin to balance after just 3 or 4 minutes, and the muscle and skin temperature increases. Chanting is a simple and essential way to reduce stress and anxiety levels. The Ancients intuitively knew that the balancing of the body, speech and mind through the voice is a direct path to God consciousness.

A Mantra or chant often starts out up in the head, where you are thinking about it. You think about the word, how to say it or what it means. Then the word begins to go down into the throat, into a physical experience of the sound itself. Next it starts to move down into the heart. And eventually it becomes the engine that is running you. You are not singing the sound, the sound is singing you. It is bringing you closer and close to another plane of consciousness, offering you a way to live simultaneously on more than one plane of reality, at a time. It’s allowing you to experience other parts of your identity, to recognize that there’s a lot more to you than what you see or what you think.

Every time I get in my car it's a perfect opportunity for me to chant as I’m driving. I find I’m much more relaxed and calm. Being more calm means I make better decisions behind the wheel. I’m not so inclined to take another driver’s bad habits and inattention as a “personal affront” and I get to pray all along the way. When I do arrive, I can make much more meaningful decisions. It’s time well spent!

I feel blessed to be able to chant the many different varieties available in the public domain, some of them are posted on this site. Please enjoy.

Thanks for reading my blog and please consider chanting as part of a regular schedule, you will be rewarded!

PEACE TO YOU!

Karma - What it is and Why it Matters

I have recently come to read a great book written by the late Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche called “Karma- What it is, What it isn’t and Why it matters”.  Rinpoche was one of the early Dharma teachers to go to the West. He possessed an extensive training in traditional Buddhist philosophy combined with knowledge of western philosophy and psychology and the study of comparative religion. Able to communicate in fluent English, he was aware of the misappropriations of Buddhist terms in popular culture and was always concerned with the purity of his teachings. In this, Rinpoche’s last book, his thorough examination of karma, rebirth and related topics is of great benefit.

Like these excerpts on character: “The Buddha’s great emphasis on character can be seen in the traditional Buddhist devotion to matters of virtue. Virtue is explained in terms of the supports, or pillars, necessary for it to stand. Morality and ethics constitute the first pillar, the performance of wholesome deeds – being patient, understanding and exercising moral restraint. The second pillar is that of meditation or learning to focus our mind and develop mindfulness. The third pillar is that of generosity. The overall idea here is based on an economy of means: instead of thinking about all kinds of virtuous qualities, that we should develop this and that and make a very long list, we should instead simplify things and focus on developing the three supporting qualities of virtue.  From there everything will flourish of its own accord.”

 “It is not just the action performed that is important but also the character formation that goes with it. Of course character has to do with the accumulation of so called karmic disposition, a long standing part of Buddhist philosophy. What is not so explicitly stated though, but rather is implied in the sutras (prayers), is that in trying to develop certain character traits, an individual does in fact, as a consequence of his or her effort, becomes a different person.”

 “The notion of character is very important due to Buddhism’s insistence that we do not have a stable, fixed kind of self-identity. What we have left to think about then hinges on the character we have built for ourselves in the course of our many lives. That character constitutes the sum total of what we are as human beings; it represents our person-hood. So the kind of person we have become, the sort of individual we are, is more important than the actions we perform.”

Or these excerpts on the subject of rebirth/ reincarnation: “The Buddhist concept of rebirth needs to be clearly delineated from ideas with which it is sometimes confused, especially the reincarnation idea frequently associated with Hinduism, whereby one returns in a different body but with the same soul. Buddhist rebirth also needs to be distinguished from the ancient Greek idea of immortality and the Christian idea of resurrection, both of which refer to an immortal soul. Nevertheless, an unchanging psychic principal that survives death and continues from one life to some other sort of life is inherent in all these ideas.”

“In Buddhism, that which “reincarnates”, to use that term, is not an unchanging self but a collection of psychic materials. It is not the same soul reincarnating. It is a rebirth. It is the same individual that has come back or takes a new life, but that individual is totally different because everything about him or her has changed.”

Or these excerpts on Karma: “Subscribing to Karmic theory does not entail denying the inspiration some people have gained from their belief in God and the good works they have undertaken because of it. A person’s ethical inspirations may well come from such a source and it is sometimes looked upon very favorably from a Buddhist perspective. We can certainly ground our ethical and moral values in beliefs other than karma and lead a morally edifying life. Nevertheless, karmic theory offers an alternative perspective.”

“At a fundamental level, the correct approach to karma, to cause and effect, is not to think of it too mechanically. We should not think that when we do something, we promptly and automatically experience the consequences. Rather we need to look at the different aspects of our lives as it interweaves with the warp and weft of action. It does not evolve in isolation but in a dynamic context. Nor is it a form of fatalism or determinism or an ideological vehicle for accepting one’s lot in life. Karmic theory is actually meant to give the opposite message, to encourage us to become even more determined to improve ourselves and move forward. Motivation is critical to the whole idea.”

This is a great, well written, easy to understand book. At an individual level, this book provides helpful advice and practical suggestions emphasizing how a correct understanding of karma can open up opportunities for transformation and help us live our lives more meaningful. It is my hope that by sharing this some people will be drawn to read this fine book.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

The book “Karma – What it is, What it isn’t and Why it Matters” is published by Shambahla Press 2015.

In Appreciation of Memorial Days

For me, the beauty of the celebration is the emphasis placed upon remembering the finest qualities in people who have passed on before us. We place the spotlight on other people instead of ourselves.

Much attention is focused on the military community, and rightfully so. Without the brave service of these men and women, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we enjoy today. I salute the courage of these brave warriors and their families, who sacrafice, too! I have friends actively serving in the Navy & Marines, I always make a point of “thanking them” for their service. It feels good for them to hear it and be recognized.  Equally for me, I get to offer a heartfelt recognition that their efforts are noticed and appreciated. It’s a win-win!

I have friends who have traditions, as well. Some visit the graveyard where their loved ones rest and others have gathering of friends and family, usually involving food, to honor the person(s) memory. In all cases, the focus is on the positive qualities of the dearly departed. We are paying “special attention” to these higher ideals and what they stand for.

For me, as a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, I absolutely love the idea of a Memorial Day. It highlights attention on the positive aspects of the people we respect and admire.  I think the secret might be to take all these wonderful qualities we admire in our loved ones and incorporate them into our own daily lives.

We should have Memorial days more often than once a year!

 

May all the positive qualities of your dearly departed loved ones be absorbed in every fiber of your being!

Peace and Happiness, always

 

Stop Carrying the Past

Occasionally, you read something that is well written, simple, powerful and direct, so much so, that you just want to share it. Thus is the case here. It was written by New Zealand born, Pong Re Rinpoche, who has an excellent and precise command of the English language.

Please enjoy!

STOP CARRYING THE PAST

It’s not a big surprise if I tell you that we can't change the past - we all know there is no way to turn back time. Still, we cling so strongly to memories and experiences of the past that we hardly enjoy the present. And especially negative memories, which can have a very deep impact on how we plan our lives and think about the future.

Because of this some people develop very negative thoughts. For example, constantly thinking about revenge and wishing a person suffers for the things they did to them. Or they are so affected by the difficulties they have been through that it is almost impossible for them to find happiness in their lives, they become depressed and unable to help themselves or others.

Although you may not be able to see it, these kind of thoughts can be very harmful. They may lead to negative actions, if you succeed in carrying out the plans you made. But most of all these negative thoughts will take away your joy in life, awareness of the present moment, and the opportunities you have to become a better human being.

Actually, the best revenge you can take is not allowing other people to make your life miserable, don't give them this kind of power or satisfaction. You are the one who controls whether you are happy or unhappy, no one else. It all depends on your mental attitude.

Of course we all face challenges in our lives, but we can face our problems with strength and courage or we can let ourselves down. We can allow the past to take over our present and future, or let go of the past and decide to turn our present and future into a better one.

I can tell from my own experience, letting go of negative things that happened in the past can be a great relief. It is like a great weight we have carried for so long being lifted from us. It makes us light and energetic to continue on our journey. As Indira Gandhi said, "Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave." So, forgive yourself and others, be brave, let go of the past, and try to make every moment of your life meaningful.

Pong Re Rinpoche

RELATIONSHIP BREAKUPS

Love is blind, and sometimes stupid too. It doesn’t ask for permission and it doesn’t go through a check list to make sure that you fall for someone who is a perfect match for you. When love takes hold of us, we usually fall, and sometimes we fall very hard. You may fall for someone who lives next door or someone who is very far away, even for someone who is from a different country and speaks a different language, or someone whom your parents don’t like. It’s also possible to fall for your teacher or even a family member, for example a cousin. As I said, love is blind.

If we fall for someone, lets say Pema Choedon or X or Y, our entire happiness seems to depend on that person’s attention. Therefore it hits us very hard when things don’t turn out the way we expected - sometimes we turn into complete fools in our helpless efforts to stay together with that one special person. Believe me, I know that being rejected or dumped by someone whom we dearly love is very painful. It can make us feel angry, lonely, desperate, depressed and utterly sad. Some people suffer so much that they even consider suicide.

The breakup of a relationship marks the end of a story between two people, and often it’s not a happy ending. Suddenly all our hopes and expectations for a shared future burst like colorful soap-bubbles and disappear. It leaves us with a feeling of disappointment, failure and loss. There are so many factors involved when people meet, and it’s the same with parting. Sometimes we are able to solve the problems and fix the relationship, but often we’re not, even if we have the best intentions. In such cases we have to let go without letting ourselves down.

The bad news is that the pain of separating will most likely not stop straight away. Just like a wound needs some care and time to heal, your heart needs some time to heal also. So be patient during this healing process and don't give up. The good news is that a time will come when the pain will go away. Just like everything else in this world, the sorrow of parting from those you love is also impermanent. I can guarantee it!

So try to be thankful for the experience, for this lesson that life has taught you and for the love you shared. Forgive the other person for their mistakes and forgive yourself also. Most importantly, don’t allow the breakup to break you. Actually you don’t need anyone to make you happy, just make yourself happy! You don’t need another person to survive. You can live on your own: eat, sleep, work, smile, study, pray, meditate, help others. You don’t need a girlfriend/wife or boyfriend/husband to do all those things.

So feel good about yourself, feel free and enjoy your life, it’s short enough! Finally, move on with a heart that is brave and courageous, yet tender and compassionate. A heart that is free and capable to love even more, to yourself, a new partner, and all beings in this world.

 

PRR

Only Love can Conquer Hate

Today is inauguration day, the day a new president takes office in this country and it is with some trepidation that I look ahead. If I let my mind wander, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine what damage a Trump presidency could bring. He has already filled his cabinet with war hawks, Wall Street insiders, and corporate energy CEO’s.

We might see unthinkable ideas ranging from rounding up the Muslims, nationwide stop-and-frisk policies and the like. The social and environmental horrors likely to be committed under a President Trump are likely to incite civil disobedience or worse.

 For his supporters, the initial celebration will collide with the reality when Trump proves unable or unwilling to challenge the entrenched systems that continually degrade their lives.

When the driving force behind these new ideas is hate or fear, all manner of fascist or fanatical extremes can ensue.

That is why, as we enter a period of intensifying disorder, it is important to introduce a different paradigm. I would call it love but how does one practically bring love into the world, in the realm of politics? Let’s start with empathy. Politically, empathy is akin to solidarity, born of the understanding that we are all in this together. What are we in together? For starters, we are in this uncertainty together.

What would it take to embody love and compassion? You can see its contours in those practices that we call holistic, alternative, regenerative, and restorative. All of them source from empathy, the result of the compassionate inquiry: What is it like to be you?

It is time now to bring this question and the empathy it arouses into our political discourse as a new reality. If you are appalled at the election outcome and feel the call of hate or fear, perhaps try asking yourself, “What is it like to be a Trump supporter?” Ask it not with a patronizing condescension, but for real, looking underneath the caricature, to find the real person.

Even if the person you face is a bigot, ask, “Is this who they are, really?” Ask what confluence of circumstances, social, economic, and biographical, may have brought them there. You may still not know how to engage them, but at least you will not be on the warpath, automatically. We hate what we fear, and we fear what we do not know. So let’s stop making our opponents invisible, behind a caricature of evil. We’ve got to stop acting out hate.

Truly, only love can conquer hate.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Knowing When to offer Assistance

Every now and again something comes along that “demands your attention”. This happened to me a few days ago. I have a younger brother who has been absent from the family for over 7 years. No one knew where he was. Thanks to a very compassionate police officer from a small town in Minnesota, who took the time and effort to do some research, we found the answer.

After receiving a text, I immediately called to find out details. As it turns out, he has been in this little town for about 2 months. He was homeless, in and out of shelters, and the officer was concerned because of the upcoming cold winter months ahead. The officer arranged for us (my 3 sisters & I) to call his private phone at a certain time to talk with him. We called and had a nice conversation. My sister invited him to come live with her in Las Vegas. I told him I would buy a ticket so he could leave the next day and I sent him some money for food. It was all agreed. We also found out that 2 years earlier, somewhere near Milwaukee, he got frost bite on his two feet. Gangrene had set in and both of his feet had to be amputated. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to endure all that, without any support from any family member. Poor guy.

Yesterday, an hour before the bus was scheduled to leave, the officer called. My brother was having second thoughts about going and they thought if he talked to me, it might help. I talked with him but it was evident he didn’t want to go. He went into a paranoid rant for about 5 minutes then said “I don’t want anyone’s help, leave me alone”.  I thanked the officer for trying then called my sisters. We were all devastated! About an hour after the departure time, I got a text from the kind officer. My brother did not get on the bus and did not pick up the money I sent him. A few hours later, one of my sisters called the officer, asking if she could pay for a motel room for our brother. The officer drove to find him but he refused the offer with a final “leave me alone”.

As hard as it is, sometimes you just have to realize that there is nothing more you can do. As sad as it is, if the person doesn’t want your aid, you can’t force them to accept it. At that point, you have to realize that you’ve done all you can and be satisfied with your efforts. It doesn’t mean I will stop praying for him, in fact, he needs prayers now more than ever.

I learned another valuable lesson, too. I have been closely watching the Standing Rock activities and the heavy handed, brutal tactics used by the Morton County Sheriff’s department, the rise of young black men being shot and killed by police, etc. This latest event makes me realize that there are other compassionate police men and women out there who are not at all like that.

Cheers to you!

 

Keep Your Energy Level High

In this present climate of “in your face” politics, where people who disagree are demonized, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to “sink to that level”.  With all the name calling and divisive rhetoric out there, it may seem “normal” to respond in kind but you would be doing yourself a disservice. Instead, maybe realize your individuality and uniqueness. You have a bright mind and can choose to respond in any way you want. Make your responses meaningful!

Another good way to counteract the hatred and racism that is so rampant today is to offer hope to your friends, family and everyone. It occurs to me how beneficial and important it is to offer hope. Whether in everyday life situations or in personal, intimate conversations, hope can be a powerful, driving energy force! Why not capitalize on this energy and make good use out of it.

On a personal level, having hope and being hopeful can be a positive force in helping people to achieve their goals and aspirations. People facing crises of all varieties have a much better chance of success and being happy in the face of hope.

Not only does providing hope have an effect on the receiver, it has an equal and even stronger effect on the giver. 

For me, a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism whose main practice is “compassion towards everyone”, this divisive diatribe occupying the media now is a distraction. Sadly, I think peacefully resolution and “talking one’s issues out” may be harder in the future. Why talk and compromise when it’s so easy to call your opponent names. I pray that I’m wrong. Anyway, it definitely takes extra alertness to stay focused on what really matters.

I challenge you to keep your energy level high and not give in to the haters and their rhetoric. It’s too important.

Blessings and prayers in your efforts.

Your Compassionate Nature

Helping out, in any way you can, always makes people more aware of their compassionate nature. By helping other people, you are thinking of WE and not I. You are sharing some of yourself.

In any way you can – it doesn’t have to be a special occasion. After being with Jesus earlier this morning, I realized how important it was for him to bring “something meaningful” to his current living situation. We talked about his options and he decided that bringing some groceries would be the best way he could help. We went to the nearest Food 4 Less store. We talked about what foods he should choose. With every item, I made him explain to me “why that was a good choice”. It was a great exercise for him. When I dropped Jesus off with the groceries, you could see a change in his demeanor. I was happy that he got to share in the experience of helping out. (For context, see my previous blogs, “All Life is Sacred”, “Other People’s Lives”, “My Eventful Day”, “Recognizing and Appreciating Life’s Small Accomplishments”, “The Importance of Having Fun and Being Happy“ & “On Being Hopeful and Hope-filled”, ”Jesus Javier Sanchez”, etc.)

                                                       Jesus Javier Sanchez

I have on-going projects, in which I get to help people connect. In one, I am trying to identify Native dancers. The photos were taken beginning with the Taos pow-wow in 1988, then going thru 1999, many at larger Bay area pow-wow’s. I recently got the photos digitized so I could post them, there are about 400 photos. I have created a page called “Native Dancers” on my web site to facilitate this. If you know anyone, in any of the photos, please let them know of their existence. I would love for them all to have their photos. 

In another project, I am trying to connect some Maori with photos I took at the annual Treaty of Waitangi celebration in 2001. I had the privilege of living in New Zealand for a year and I got to spend time in some Maori communities.

I’m happy to say that there is some success in connecting Native dancers with their photos. I realized how silly it is to have all these photos gathering dust in photo albums. Thus my effort in trying to get these photos out there so people can enjoy them. 

When you reach out and offer your help, you are making a difference, not only to the person helped but even more noticeably, to your compassionate nature. And that can only be good. 

Verdell Primeaux

The joy that comes from being able to make a positive difference in someone’s life, sometimes by a simple act of compassion, is an amazing feeling. Once in a while this opportunity comes along.

With just a few kindly placed, meaningful words on a FaceBook post, I was able to make legendary Native American singer Verdell Primeaux feel better and at the same time recognize his great accomplishments in Native American Church music in his 30 plus years. This comes at an opportune time because he is faced with the obstacles of cancer and diabetes. I will show the letter and his reply in a little bit but here’s a brief recap of all his great accomplishments.

 Verdell is of Ogalla/ Yankton Sioux and Ponca heritage. By the time he was 5 he began singing and learning Lakota culture and traditions. At 13 Verdell recorded four albums with his father and at the age of 16 began composing lyrics and rhythms. With his partner Johnny Mike, Dine, they have created many award winning recordings over a 30 plus year span. I invite anyone interested to do their own research on Verdell. Listen to and chant along with the beautiful Peyote  prayer chants. Most all of their recording are still available on Canyon Records, Phoenix or thru YouTube.

 Here is the letter:

Hi Verdell Primeaux

My name is Michael Suess. I know you have had some pain and suffering lately and I’m truly sorry for that. May you be free from suffering and whatever causes suffering.

I have been listening to your beautiful prayer music for about 25 years now, thanks in part to Canyon Records in Phoenix (earlier) and YouTube (later). For me, you and Johnny Mike are the “gold standard”. I think I’ve listened to most everything you guys have released, and I like it all. You were innovative in your approach. I like Sacred Path with its electronic background, to your collaboration with Xavier Yxayoti and the beautiful flute music, your collaboration with Robbie Robertson, the “Lost & Lonely” collection and too many others to list.. If you were to ride in my car, you would hear one of my favorite CD’s “Bless the People” on endless loop.

It is very sad to see people disrespectfully recording live prayer songs or the pirating of NAC music. All of those are totally unacceptable. Unfortunately, there are unsavory people of all colors.

When I read one of the past comments that “you feel somewhat responsible” I would like to offer you another perspective. Imagine the thousands of people (if not more) that have heard your beautiful prayer music over the 30 plus years you’ve been doing this. By recording and putting your prayer music in the public domain, you have allowed many, many people who would never have the opportunity to hear it, a chance to experience it. That’s pretty powerful!

I know it’s a very complex issue so “Thank You” for listening to my take. And please keep on using your voice to help people heal.

Respectfully
Michael Suess

 

Verdell Primeaux -  Ahoka!! Well now my friend,,.gm there.. Finally!  Here is someone who understands something about what I was talking about,,,perhaps the situation may see some resolve but for now my friend…,thank you for the research,,& may the spirit of music,,continue,,unwavering,,,your comrade,,
Chief Verdell Chaske Primeaux

When you see that an effort like this returns such a disproportionately larger result, you can’t help but wonder why we don’t do it more often. I challenge you to make a positive difference in your own and other people’s lives, everyone will the better for it!

Compassionate New Year's Eve Resolution

It seems like New Year’s resolutions are quite popular this time of year. It’s a fine idea to think ahead and make goals, resolutions and promises. After all, goals are important in propelling oneself to achieve “greater heights”.  I think it is equally important to look back and see what you have accomplished, to “take stock” if you will. And evaluate toward the positive. Maybe there were times that you didn’t follow thru on what you had planned. To dwell on that would be counter-productive and a waste of one’s time. Instead focus on what you did right.

What did you do this past year that made a positive influence on another person? It may be someone related or not. If there were times, and I’m sure there were, that you made someone feel better, then put that down on your "scorecard". How many of those times can you list? If your card reads many - well then Congratulate yourself! Be thankful that you had many opportunities and resolve to add even more check marks to next year’s scorecard.

When you put the focus on how many opportunities you have to help other people, then opportunities just naturally arise. Of course, you need to be discriminating or you would be overwhelmed. Maybe let your scale lean towards how can you do the greatest good for everyone involved, including yourself.

Looking ahead to next year, when you make those resolutions, why not include one - to make everyone around you feel better just by your presence.

Happy Resolution Making.

Here’s wishing everyone

Peace and Happiness

 

Broaden your World View - Travel

Traveling to another country and immersing yourself in its culture is a great way to get an appreciation of how other people live. You transcend your own situation for a broader view. That in turn makes you more sympathetic to their national identities and uniqueness’s.

       Colosseum in Rome. This amazing structure is almost 2,000 years old

Recently I had the privilege to share a trip to Italy & Switzerland with Mannie. I have been mentoring the young man and I promised him a trip upon successful completion of his college graduation. He is the first in his family to graduate and I thought it important to make a positive example of his success. He held his end of the bargain and I got to plan a trip. Mannie had never been out of this country so it was an eye opener.

                                         Ancient Rome at its finest.

We planned an ambitious 9-day Italian adventure, starting in Milano, then onto Roma for 3 days. We toured the Vatican Museum, enjoyed the sights of ancient Rome and took a day trip to Napoli & Pompeii. You get a real sense of history touring thru ruins that are over 2,000 years old. From there we went to Pisa for a day. The “Field of Miracles” includes the Leaning Tower, the old Cathedral and an awesome Mausoleum with ancient tombs.

                                           Trevi Fountain, Rome

After Pisa, we went to visit my friends in Switzerland. We walked the beautiful city of Solothurn near Biel. Mannie had a taste of absinthe made in that region. From there we went to Thun, Neiderstoken & Gurzelen, all in the canton of Bern. My friends were amazingly generous and prepared cuisine from those regions. We got a first rate sample of that beautiful country!

                            Roschti - traditional Swiss dish from the area

Our trip continued back to Venice, Italy for 2 nights. Venezia is a water lovers paradise. We took the Grand Canal tour and walked many of the back streets. Most all dead end at one of the 45 canals in that city. Mannie took a tour of the earliest Jewish ghetto, dating back hundreds of years. We spent our last day in Milano touring the Domo. We walked up to the top of the church among all the arches and statues.

                                One of the many side canals in Venice

It was a pleasure to be able to share this learning experience with Mannie. I know it opened his eyes to the larger world out there. Need to expand a loved ones horizons? Think about sharing a travel experience to an international destination. You will not only increase their awareness of the world around them but you just might have some fun, too.

Happy Travels.

A Gift for Me

My ability to help the Sanchez brothers, with their myriad of different issues, is such a great gift. I get to make a noticeable difference in four distinctly different lives. These are young men who didn’t have many opportunities at an earlier stage in their lives, now are realizing that there are decisions and choices to be made. And they get to make them!

 In earlier, recent blogs, I have highlighted the four Sanchez brothers and the year they each spent living with me. I liked writing about each of them. It reminded me of how far they have come and how far they still need to go. At this stage, now that they are living on their own (with different degrees of success) I see my role changing slightly. While I will always be their advocate/ mentor, I (they) need to think longer term strategic goals. What can I do to help them into the future?

Keeping in mind that each brother is a “uniquely special entity” has to be the first guideline. What’s helpful for Cesar would definitely not be right for Mannie, etc. Equally important in the equation is “What is actually doable?”  I’m the first one to be the brother’s cheerleader for “the sky is the limit” & “You can do whatever you put your mind to” & other positive affirmations. Unfortunately the “facts on the ground” sometimes limit what is actually possible. As an example, take Jesus, the youngest at 20. He will very soon be released from a one year confinement. Helping him with immediate needs like “where to stay” and helping him get signed up for dental and healthcare, etc. Those are the issues most pressing for Jesus. Of course, I still emphasize positive, affirming ideals whenever I have a chance.   

                                            Jesus with Honey

Mannie at 21, is on a different trajectory. Soon he will be the first person in his family, including his parents, to graduate from a technical college. He will have earned a Certificate in Telecommunications. This will allow him to get a job most anywhere. In Mannie’s case, I can be most helpful by encouraging him, making him realize that every week spent at school is a week closer to graduation. Every Friday, I make it a point to send Mannie a text saying “Congrats on another week of school under your belt”. I added a “sweetener” when he started school. I told him upon successful completion we would take a trip, somewhere in the world where a passport is required. We will start the application process for the passport in two weeks (2/3’s completion of school).

Mannie is definitely the taller of the two of us. On Angel's Landing  hike at Zion National Park

While none of us can predict the future. With a spiritual grounding, a positive outlook and practical “hands on” effort, I know without a doubt that I am making a difference. I feel Blessed to have this gift!

        At Karma Choeling Buddhist Monastery near Auckland, New Zealand

Miguel Arturo Sanchez

This is the final installment in a four-part series about the Sanchez brothers. Today it is my pleasure to write about Miguel Arturo Sanchez, AKA Miggs  (for context see previous blogs). Miguel is the second born in the Sanchez brother’s clan. He has been living under my roof for the past 13 months (as of today’s writing) and is about to embark on a journey of his own.

Miguel at the Bellagio hotel, Las Vegas

Miguel has chosen to relocate to the Tuscon area. It will be quite a change for Miguel as he has always lived within the San Diego surrounding communities, thus far in his life.

Olympic Peninsula, Washington

While Miguel was living here, he has been employed as a server/ host at a local hotel resort community. I remember the first time he went there for the job interview. He had never been a waiter before but he was determined to apply for the job. He gave a good impression and was offered the job. That was 10 months ago and the rest is history. Miguel is a quick learner when he wants to be.

Daytime waiter outfit

For Miguel’s first flight he wanted to visit Seattle, Washington and surrounding areas. We flew there this past summer. We were fortunate to also visit Olympia, the capital, and the Olympic Peninsula. It was a wonderful trip and it was especially nice to share this with him.

Olympia, Washington state capital

Bubble gum wall near Pike Place in Seattle

Miguel’s time here with me was productive. He wrote a blog for this site shortly after he moved in. He posted his first blog on March 10, 2014, and submitted one about every 2 -3 weeks, until January 2015. At the height of his blog posts, he had a following of people interested in reading his stories and observations.

Largest spruce tree near Quinault Lake, Olympic Peninsula

 He got frustrated with the written part of the driver’s test and “put it down” for about 6 months.  Then he studied seriously and passed both his written and his driver’s license test. It was a proud and instructive moment when he passed. We celebrated his accomplishment.

I know that Miguel can be successful at anything he puts his mind to.

As in much of life, follow thru is the key.

         Miguel dancing with Ellen. Read Ellen's blog on this site, also.

My wish for you Miguel Arturo Sanchez is that you may realize this secret and follow thru with everything you start. 

Spread your wings and take flight, my friend

I know That you will do well !