I had gotten off the train to the strains of Miles Davis.

As I wandered through the station, Miles gave way to Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto from The Four Seasons. I Love that whole piece, but especially Winter. So, I am walking through the swirling flakes of the Music.

As I climb the stairs to another level to reach another platform, I begin to hear some music over the strings coming through my earphones. It becomes louder as I walk.

I turn a corner to see a tall, blonde woman playing a violin. She has an open case with CDs, business cards and a couple of dollars & loose change.

I pull out one of my earbuds.

Karen, (as I learned from her business card [and a 20 year orchestra violinist who also gives lessons—as I learned from a poster on her music stand]) is playing….

Vivaldi. The Winter Concerto from The Four Seasons.

I smiled, pulled out my other earbud then put my iPod in my pocket.

I stop and stand to listen to her play the rich tones, sometimes closing my eyes. I fill in some of the other instruments from my memory & imaginiation. She was very good.

The low ceilinged, tiled walls and concrete floored station proved to be an acoustical wonder.

She finishes. I applaud, joined by the dozen others who had stopped to listen to the sweet tones of Karen & Vivaldi.

I pick up her card, then leave her some change.

We catch each others’ gaze then share a smile. “Thank You”, I say .

From then on, I have given up plugging into my iPod. I have learned that the Music of Life trumps what I have collected. The Sound of Existence outweighs my preferences of tunes or retreat.

I now notice the hundreds of people (what one commentator calls “sheeple”) walking through the stations or sitting on the trains with earphones & Dr. Dre Beats™ headphones. At least every other person. And the other person has their nose in their smartphone….

If I had not unplugged, I wouldn’t have noticed Karen & Vivaldi nor the strange synchronicity/coincidence (?) with what was playing on my iPod.

If I had not chosen to unplug, I wouldn’t have been aware of the wacky Jazzman who blew his tenor sax on the train last night—mixing Coltrane, Davis and noise with his banter.

And if I had not given up my iPodophilia, I would not have stopped to have a conversation with Henry, the Black Vet with his jokes and rap. And his brown eyes ringed in blue…

And I would not notice the many conversations in different languages which pass by me on each trip through the City. Russian and Spanish tonight. Polish last night.

To borrow from Timothy Leary (Turn on, Tune in, Drop Out)…. Drop out, Turn off, Tune In.

The World is made of Music….

Happy New Moon and Happy Lunar New Year, all you Water Dragons. NOW is the Time to make some Resolutions….

I am just returnéd from a Laya Yoga Seminar. Nikolay, a Russian Yogi & Daimista, is my Friend & Brother. He has found this group in Russia who are working to transform Planet Earth—through Meditation, Yoga and a clear Spiritual focus in order to transform one’s personal Consciousness, then by extension, the Consciousness of Others & The Planet.

We were instructed in Russian (Leo & I, the only non-Russians, were treated to two tag-team translators throughout the evening).

The last item on the Program was a Puja to the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi. Puja is modeled on the idea of giving a gift or offering to a deity or important person then receiving their blessing. Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of Wealth, Prosperity (both material and spiritual), Light, Wisdom, Fortune, Fertility, Generosity and Courage; and the embodiment of Beauty, Grace and Charm.

After some chanting, we entered into a Meditation. We were directed by the female monk to first, imagine Lakshmi in front of you in all her radiance. Then, imagine her inside of each of  you. Then say silently to yourself: “I am Lakshmi”.

It was a powerful Meditation. My Mind & Heart were transformed from my busy day —To a place more present, more kind.

After the Seminar, under the Full Moon, I walked out to head home. In part, I guess, as Lakshmi. Passing the partiers on the street. Past some event at Madison Square Garden with the trailers & trucks outside. A guy on a Harley with a skull face mask.

Into the Subway. As I walked through the turnstile, the A Train was just arriving. A stroke of “luck”. And, the entrance to which I had walked placed me at the tail of the train; where I needed to be to get off at my stop. Another stroke of “luck”.

The doors closed. It was crowded. I was leaning against the doors. I closed my eyes for a bit. A chant came into my head.

It was a Buddhist Chant, The Song Of The Jewel Mirror Awareness. It speaks of an Awareness/ Understanding/Experience  of the Absolute (Universal) that is like a jewel mirror, reflecting into the World. There is a line therein:

You are not it

It is actually You

Suddenly, I was aware that “It” is me. And You. And Everyone. Always present.

Lakshmi. God. Buddha. Allah. Jesus. The Absolute. Brahman. Great Spirit. Nature. Art. Music. Beauty. Truth. Wisdom. Compassion. Love. What ever your “It” may be.

I saw all the folks on the train. It is them.

All of you reading this, It is You.

We have all had this moment, a glimpse of It. Our sense of our small self drops away. For a moment, the illusory line between Self & Other, Inside & Outside, Subject/Object, Lover & Belovéd, Human & Divine, melts. We flow. We breathe. We are….

To have this understanding is what the Laya Yoga folks are all about. If we have that awareness, then our Worldview is dramatically & radically plus irreversibly altered. And,the World around us is transformed as a result. All Traditions point to this State of Consciousness. This State of Grace….

To have this awareness can alter one’s perspective, Life & interactions.

So, go forth with this awareness. Make Art. Make money. Make a difference. Be Love.

Be with and for the It within you.

Happy Full Moon, Y’All

She was sitting in the middle, aisle seat. I always survey the bus when I get on; looking at the amazing faces.

I got the sense that she recognized me as well. Again, there was that fire in her eyes.

I looked in those eyes for a bit. Smiled & nodded my head.

She held my gaze for a while, then turned her head slowly to look out the window.

I exited the bus a few stops later. I did not look back to see her. I did try to catch a glimpse through the window as I walked away from the bustop. I could not see her through the reflection on the window.

Though I have moved from the Harlem neighborhood where we “met”, I take the buses on 125th from time to time. I look for her. Perhaps, sometime, we will get a chance for words again.

She haunts me a bit, that fiery woman. I want to sit to talk with her. Not so much to show her I am a good person, more to just allow her to vent or tell her stories in order to release some of that anger. To allow her to free herself from its grip. To show her that her Life is a work of Beauty.

After last month’s New Moon Resolution, 13 pingback/spam attempts on my blog posts and an e-mail request for help from Heidi & Lisa, I find my way back to The Whole9 orbit. I am never that far away; I just use the excuse of my crazy, busy Life to avoid putting posts on my blog. Mea culpa.

Having not yet contributed to the process, I was glad to travel by subway, commuter train & taxi to an Industrial Park in Cranbury, NJ, where I had the opportunity to photograph the loading of a 40′ shipping container with 19 pallets of canes and crutches (plus pads & tips), destined for Sierra Leone as part of Operation Rise. Wheelchairs & 3 pallets of items which did not fit into this shipping container will be sent at a later date.

I spent the better part of a day photographing the stuff, it’s repacking then loading by the folks at Invacare, a company which makes then distributes adaptive medical devices. They were part of the collection of businesses & individuals who came together to make Operation Rise possible. Items are being shipped to the UNICEF programs in 7 sites in Sierra Leone.

I was struck by the immensity of the project; the amount of stuff plus the labours of innumerable people (most notably Lisa & Heidi) to bring this idea to fruition.

I am honored & humbled to be a part of this project as well as a part of The Whole9.

Until soon….

n.b.: Just to be clear: my choice of this title is a self-deprecating, chiding comment on my own shilly-shallying in maintaining an active blogging presence, NOT contributing to The Peace Project or Operation Rise or The Whole9. So there….

I noticed her standing waiting for the bus. Big woven yellow-green coat; the color of spring grass. Lion’s mane of hair. Pretty young Black woman….

As is my custom, I allow others on the bus first. The bus was crowded. I was carrying a bag of laundry; I was catsitting for two Friends a few blocks away, so I was off to launder.

The bus that arrived is the one that shuttles back & forth to LaGuardia Airport along 125th Street, the main drag through Harlem. There are racks & shelves over the wheel wells for peoples’ luggage.

I boarded the bus then placed my bag on the shelf over the front wheel.

“You could say excuse me!” she said.

I was taken aback. I wasn’t aware of anything that I had done.

“YOU PEO—ple!” she said loudly in a tone of disgust.

I looked her in the eyes. “I am sorry, I did not realize that I had gotten so close to you with my bag”.

“And your well-de…served su…per…i…or…i…ty”.

A flash of anger arose with in me. I thought of all the things I could say about her well-deserved anger. And space issues on a crowded bus in New York City. But I said nothing, just looking at the fire in her eyes.

The crowded bus lurched forward as the driver braked suddenly. Our elbows touched. She pushed me away from her. “Don’t stand so fucking close to me!”

Anger morphed into sadness as I realized that something, perhaps many somethings had happened to this pretty young Black woman to create in her such anger.

I focused on my breath. I breathed in her anger & breathed out Compassion. I tried my best to be non-defensive.

A couple stops later, she exited the bus. ”Have a nice weekend”, I offered.

“FUCK YOU!”

My stop was yet a few more streets away. At the next stop, a man who had been sitting next to the shelf on which I put my bag (and whom I thought I might have touched with my bag, inciting this encounter) got up to exit. He looked me in the eyes then shook his head. I have no idea what he meant by that.

At the the next street, as I prepared to exit, an older Black woman, who had been standing next to the young Black woman where she caught our whole encounter, caught my eye. She smiled then shook her head. She reached out to touch my arm as she passed by to exit the bus.

I like to think of myself as at home wherever I find myself. I like to think of myself as not being the Whitest guy in the room. In the 2 months I have been in this new neighborhood, I have initiated contact with Reggie, a middle-aged Black man in a wheelchair who hangs between the subway stop & my place; I have given him two pairs of gloves and I speak with him every time I see him. In spite of all these ideas I have about myself,  I realize that I may always be a Stranger in A Strange Land. Representing something, perhaps many somethings to folks who, through no fault of their own, only view Life on the surface. To some, I may always represent “You people”.

My heart goes out to them, my Brothers & Sisters. The struggle. The anger. The resentment. The separation. The alienation. The pain. The fear. The whatever that keeps them in that place.

I breathe in that whatever. And breathe out Compassion, Peace & Loving Kindness for them.

I have written here before about New Year’s Resolutions/Intentions. How, in Nahuatl (Aztec) Belief, the first 12 Days of a New Year correspond with the 12 months of the New Year. One can ensure the changes by implementing them in the first 12 days of this New Year. I thought of reprinting that piece, since I like the story/intention behind it.

But then, I thought about this. And I came to see things a bit differently.

Ideas & paradigms & beliefs are all OK, but they can cloud what one must truly do in one’s Life in order to live more in accord with one’s True Spirit (and, by extension, the Divine Spirit — whatever the feeling or name). It is too easy to settle on some system, then use those beliefs to be the default setting. Orthodoxy is easy & it is lifeless. I believe thus & such, so I don’t need to question anything. It all fits in this little box, which is wrapped up purty with a bow. I am content… I am happy… I am a Spiritual automaton… going through the motions.

Every day is a New Year. Each moment is a whole New Year. One is confronted with experiences, which, appear similar (waking up in the same house with the same people, drinking the same coffee, driving the same car to the same job), yet everything is new & different. Different you, different people, different day. And, different opportunities to discover who you truly are as well as what you are truly meant to be doing in this Life.

The historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (who was, after all, an awake human, with no talk of being Divine or a Prophet), said:

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

So, everyday, we can make a Resolution. New Year’s Resolutions can be trite & conventional; they are for amateurs. Therefore, they are rarely kept.  To be willing to put oneself on the line each day, challenging one’s position by continually inquiring, that is one way to be fully alive.

So, here is to living each Day/Moment), being fully present to the unfolding; no past — no future. Only living in accord with one’s own Spirit. Following your Heart. Living your Divine Spark: Your Love, Your Art.

Neil Gaiman’s New Year’s Eve Benediction:
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”

(I began this blog earlier, then stored it in my drafts folder. It is from the first week in October; October 9th would have been John Lennon’s 70th Birthday)

I was walking through Washington Square Park in NYC’s West Greenwich Village. I became aware of piano music.

This Summer, New York City was having a public art program of placing pianos in parks & busy areas like Times Square. People were encouraged to play the pianos.

A lanky guy in distressed jeans, black t-shirt, fingerless gloves & a straw porkpie hat was playing Imagine by John Lennon. The chords rose up in the air in the Park.

And, today is the 30th Anniversary of the Death of John Lennon.

For me and some Friends in High School at the time, this was the day the Music died. A unique voice for Peace & Revolution from the old mores was silenced forever.

Walking through the Park, listening to the piano Music, I tried to Imagine what could have transpired in the last 30 years. How would things have been different if John Lennon had continued to write & protest & speak out?

Unfortunately, we shall never know.

We can however, pick up the mantle to do what we can for Peace & Justice in the World. And Imagine/Dream what a different World could be like.

Imagine…Create
Dream…Become

Imagine by John Lennon

Imagine there’s no Heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World

The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.

Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms—waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.

Now our minds are one.

The Fish

We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one.

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty, and other useful things. Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds—from the smallest to the largest—we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightening and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the nighttime sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.

Now our minds are one.

The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

Closing Words

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

And now our minds are one.

This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was
developed, published in 1993, and provided here, courtesy of:
Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project
All rights reserved.
Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World
English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk)
Mohawk version: Rokwaho (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)

- Mark Twain

I am waiting on a bus, on the day after Father’s Day (which happened to be the Solstice).

Sitting on the bench is a guy with a cap that reads USS Bon Homme Richard (CV/CVA-31), which is the name of an aircraft carrier on which my Father served during the Korean War.

I approach the guy, then engage him in conversation about the ship.

He was an electronics technician who worked on the flight deck. He would fix instruments on the ship and in the planes.

I asked him if that is what he wanted to do or had done before enlisting.

“No”, he said, “I wanted to be a photographer. Thought that would be a good job in the Service, then I could open up a studio afterwards. The Recruiter said that it would be easier for me to get in if I did something else”.

Peter & his wife ran a business in California, then here in New York. He is retired, has kids & Grandkids.

I asked him if he ever became a photographer.

“No”, he said, “I have cataracts and don’t see so good. My wife is the one who takes photos when the Family gets together”.

Here’s to Peter and dreams unrealized.

And to my Father. Wishing I had known him better. That we had both been able to break through the walls of anger & alcohol to have a connexion….Wishing  I had the same types of conversation with him that I had with a total stranger on a bus bench, waiting for the ride to work….

You can’t always get what you want…
But if you try sometimes,
You just might find
You get what you need — The Rolling Stones

I have been busy. Not tasky oriented shite. And, not “gettin’ busy”, unfortunately.

No, I have been involved with a new Spiritual focus.

(Insert longish story here. Which I will be glad to tell off-line to those what are interested)

But suffice to say, that through a somewhat unusual & circuitous series of events (over a period of many years), I find myself in a new Spiritual Community, outside the confines of my 20+ years of Zen Practice, though the two dovetail nicely together.

And, given Life & Work & Money and Stuff, I find myself able to participate with regularity, even traveling Upstate here to another Church for a Ceremony in The Woods (as opposed to the rented spaces here in NYC).

And, though I come from a different Tradition, the group has invited me in and accepted me.

And the Practice has allowed me to encounter and address age-old difficulties for me. Dealing with Family “demons” of my & others’ creation. And by shining Light upon them, they have disappeared.

I have been in a Meditation Practice for 23 years. I have been in Therapy. I have studied with a Shamana in Oaxaca. I have had many Spiritual experiences. I have read a lot of Books. I have been in Relationship; Romantic, Professional, Therapeutic & Friend. None of these vehicles have had the profound impact on me as I am now encountering; though those all become the richer.

And, that unfolding has a Life of its own. I have surrendered to “Its” Wisdom. “It” takes me where I need to go. And, on every level of which I am aware, it is healing.

So, this unfolding is Perfect. And, not necessarily what I “want” since my understanding of what is best for me is limited.

And since I try this time
I just might find
I get what I need