BUDDHA

   Many say that Buddhism is an atheistic religion; but there are many who disagree with that assumption. Buddha taught what he called the middle way, meaning we should not be to attached or obsessed with anything. There were many mystical happenings around the Buddha, yet he never preached about a God in heavens, judgement or any of the other concepts that other religions teach. In fact, he sometimes said there was a God, and other times he said there was not. I believe that this was his way to get us to consider both sides of the coin and ponder the possibilities. Perhaps it was just his way of helping us walk in that middle way. In the end however, he left the decision as to what to believe or what not to believe up to the individual. And that is what is most beautiful about Buddhism; it lets you make your own choices, find your own truth and forces no rules, theology or dogma upon anyone.

"RELIGION"

   Any religion that promotes a God of favoritism, war, murder or genocide is obviously the work of finite men. If someone tells you that God is love, yet frowns upon his fellow man, damns society and condemns another to hell is espousing nothing more than ignorance and his own dislike of anyone that differs from himself. We must come to understand, that religion is the concept of God decorated by the ideas of man.

ODE TO THE FRIZZBANE

    Back in July of of this year, our family cat, Frizzy or Frizzbane passed away. She was quite a unique cat and I actually learned a few spiritual lessons from her as I observed her going about her little life. After her passing, I made a video memorial for her and uploaded it to Youtube. I was going to post it earlier in the blog, but never got around to it until now. So for those of you who care to take a look... I give you, "Ode To The Frizzbane."

THE KEY

    There is a spiritual realm that is all around us; it is no doubt a dimension that we cannot see with the naked eye. Many people call out to this dimension when they are in need of help and bombard it with pleadings and prayers; and thank goodness that realm does respond to us at times.

   But now consider this: What if many of the answers you seek were within you? What if that is the reason that some prayers go unanswered? What if the universe is waiting for us to go inward and find the answers within ourselves? Spiritual people often have the tendency to look for all their help and answers in the exterior... but what if we are looking in the wrong direction? What if you were more than you thought you were? What if there was a key within your own mind and soul that could open many doors and change your life in ways unimaginable?

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

    To think that the material universe around you is all there is a mistake in perception. There is a spiritual universe, dimensions unseen, and when you come to understand their reality... your entire life will begin to change.

BEING GOOD TO YOURSELF

Other people will not always treat you the way you would like to be treated. Friends will let us down from time to time, and sometimes when we need someone to support us the most no one is around. Personal relationships are a wonderful thing, but the most important relationship you have in your life is with yourself. Never feel bad about being your own best friend and treating yourself with kindness, love and respect. No one knows more about what you need than you do... Be good to yourself, nurture yourself and take care of your precious soul.

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."

-Buddha-

THE SAD RESULTS OF MODERN LIVING

    How many hours a day do we spend with our faces buried in some electronic device? If we're not staring at a TV screen, were texting. If we're not texting, we're playing a game on our tablet or chatting with friends on Facebook. There once was a time when people admired the beauty of the natural world around them, and the best of times were spent having face to face conversations with our friends and family. Going out to dinner, a movie or a even a drive or a picnic were things we all looked forward to and money couldn't buy the memories that were made. But now, we are letting ourselves get swept away in the current of the modern day. People have been replaced by e-objects. Conversations are words on a screen and everyone is too tired to go out and live their lives. We claim we are all so busy and there's so much to do; but what would life be like if we spent some of those texting and tablet hours doing something else? Are we truly that busy in our lives, or are we just filling our days with dead air and lighted screens? Either way, we are losing an important part of our humanity; and that is the ability to be social creatures and the appreciation of the little things in life. An illuminated screen will never take the place of a multicolored sunset. And words on a screen will never replace the emotions and laughter of another person being present with us. How are you spending your days?