A Traditional Polish Easter 

When I was a boy every Saturday before Easter Sunday my mother would bring a beautifully prepared basket of food to our Immaculate Conception Church to be blessed. The basket would have a sampling of the foods for the Easter Sunday meal.This continues to be the Lenten Polish Catholic tradition.

We used the same graceful wicker basket every year. Lined with a spotless white cloth napkin there would be a delicious assortment of Kielbasa sausage, baked Ham, decorated hard boiled Eggs, Chrzan (a mixture of grated Hosrseradish and Beets) — de rigueur for the meats and eggs — a butter lamb, bread, maybe a chocolate bunny, sometimes a cake in the shape of a lamb.

Easter is the most joyous holiday in the Christian calendar. Especially when Springtime was showing itself at it's best, Easter Sunday was indeed a blessed day. You could feel it in the sunshine, and smell it in the air. In your heart.

Happy Easter.

The Four Noble Truths

"(1) The Truth of Suffering. The First Noble Truth is known as dug ngal [sdug bsngal] in Tibetan. To confidently walk the path, we must have a clear understanding of the suffering of impermanence that pervades all existence. It is often said that for an ordinary person, this subtle impermanence is as imperceptible as a hair on the palm of one’s hand. For an enlightened being, however, it is felt as sharply as a hair on one’s eyeball. Though we can all admit to experiencing pain and sadness at least occasionally, it takes deeper investigation of reality for most of us to perceive the more subtle modes of suffering that shadow even the happiest occasion. This suffering can take the form of awareness that the happy occasion must come to an end, or it can take the form of the persistent intrusion of minor irritations. Generally speaking, whatever we do is in need of constant adjustment. For instance, we are either too hot or too cold; we are either hungry or stuffed. No matter where we are or what we are doing, at some level our bodies or minds are uneasy or uncomfortable.

Buddhist doctrine classifies suffering into three root sections and eight branches. The three root sections are (1) the suffering of suffering itself, (2) the suffering of change, and (3) all-pervasive suffering. The eight branches are (1) birth, (2) sickness, (3) old age, (4) death, (5) unfulfilled desire, (6) unexpected misfortune, (7) separation from loved ones, and (8) physical discomfort.

(2) The Cause of Suffering. The Second Noble Truth is known as kunjung [kun byung] in Tibetan, meaning “source of everything.” This basically indicates that the source of all suffering is the interplay between ignorance and karma. Suffering is the result of karmic causes that we accumulate by engaging in various activities rooted in ignorance.

(3) The Truth of Cessation. The Third Noble Truth is known as gogpa [’gog pa] in Tibetan. This indicates the cessation that bring freedom from both suffering and the causes of suffering. “Cessation” is sometimes referred to as the “state of extinguishment,” “ultimate joy, peace, and relaxation,” and “nirvāna.”

(4) The Cause of Cessation. The Fourth Noble Truth is known as lam [lam] in Tibetan. This is the Eightfold Path2 that brings about nirvāna.

Such are the Four Noble Truths, which definitely exist on the relative level. Since conventional reality forms a huge part of our experience, it is necessary for us to fully understand these precious truths. We can highlight them using the metaphor of sickness. To begin, we can say the First Noble Truth diagnoses a disease. As we all know, if we want to cure a disease, we must discover its cause. This is outlined in the Second Noble Truth. Once we know the cause of a disease, our doctor can prescribe effective treatment. Here, the Buddha is the doctor prescribing the path of Dharma, the Fourth Noble Truth. This is like the medicine that will bring us to a state of complete health, or cessation, described in the Third Noble Truth.

That is the relative level. On the absolute level, the Four Noble Truths have no more inherent existence than anything else we have discussed so far—they are all based on great emptiness. Having thus pronounced the emptiness of both the ground and path, Avalokiteshvara arrives at the fruition or goal of practice: transcendent wisdom. This, too, is empty of inherent existence."

Venerable Khenpo Rinpoche ...

Ceaseless Echoes of the Great Silence: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra Prajnaparamita (pgs 50-52)

EXCEPTIONALISM

There's a Problem

No doubt you've heard the term used in this context: "American Exceptionalism". That there refers to the special character of the USA as a uniquely free and democratic nation. Thus, we [obviously!] feel free to assume a leadership role in world affairs. An obligation of our manifest destiny. Though, others may differ. Violently so, it now seems.

  

Never mind that this credo has been the cover for some pretty, pretty, pretty bad behavior. Blame all around. Read Professor Chomsky.

  

Exceptionalism, I define this way: We're better than you. It's an Us-vs-Them construction. The philosophers will say that as soon as you name something, you invite separation and therefore some form of violence. Conflict. I know that I could be argued down on the literal meaning of the word. But, there is a huge coded connotation in the direction of, "We know better".

  

True exceptionalists take it a step further and feel permitted to take ... steps. Maybe even obliged to. In the hands of idiots you get, well, the story of civilization. If you don't think you're an idiot yet, then you are in denial of a part of yourself and that part of yourself is coming to bite you on the ass. Chum! Heard of Karma? Nobody exempt.

  

To clarify on the foregoing: “A man who is unconscious of himself acts in a blind, instinctive way and is in addition fooled by all the illusions that arise when he sees everything that he is not conscious of in himself coming to meet him from outside as projections upon his neighbour.” (Carl Gustav Jung "The Philosophical Tree" (1945). In CW 13: Alchemical Studies. P.335)

  

Everyone in some sense considers themselves to be exceptional. Why, my children certainly are. Interestingly, though, they don't consider me so. Karma! Even I — can you believe it?! —have been given to consider my particular set of job skills as exceptional. I once described my skill to a prospective client as, "Not bad". She didn't think that was good enough.

So many world religions consider themselves to be exceptional. So much so, that all manner of idiocy has been — and continues to be — perpetrated on those outside the fold. Zealous missionary converters. Those Bible clutchers knocking at your door. Those adherents to certain faiths who look upon the unanointed as fodder for exploitation. The radical elements of whatever stripe who will subjugate and murder to achieve God's will on Earth.

We divvy the world up into its many separate components. Mainly for the sake of making things work. It gets problematic when the components begin to believe that separation is real and then take the next step and see themselves as "Exceptional".

Now we have a candidate for high governmental office who boasts himself to be exceptional, and promises on the stack of Bibles which he loves so much that he will take us beyond exceptional, all the way to supremacy.

Über alles in der Welt! 

My Minions!

Behold!

And, Now ... Go Forth!

Inner Spinach

TO WHOM THE SHOE FITS ...

Whatever, if any, settled notion(s) you may have about me — or, about yourself — know this is what I have set out to undo. 

My aim is to be a good example. No need for you to agree or understand. You're invited to follow. 

We all live in some framework. Some adjust the framework as new information enters. Others, assiduously attempt to maintain the status quo. Unaware perhaps that the seeming intrusions of different or new inputs may be actually useful. Blessings in disguise.
Few, are self aware to seeing that in fact there is a framework. Nothing wrong with frameworks. Just to know they are provisional, at best. Relative. Made up. False, really, to the core.

______________

— Carl Gustav Jung "The Philosophical Tree

“A man who is unconscious of himself acts in a blind, instinctive way and is in addition fooled by all the illusions that arise when he sees everything that he is not conscious of in himself coming to meet him from outside as projections upon his neighbour.”

________________

I once met one of my heroes, R. D. Laing. This stays with me: In a conversation on how to rid the world of its problems, I said I was going to purify my heart. He said ... that is most anyone can do.

_________________

From Mooji ... Rishikesh March 11, 2016:

There's nothing wrong with anything in the world. There's nothing wrong with having a job, a family. Nothing wrong in themselves. But, if they have become symbols of freedom for you, then you will be disappointed. If they can be enjoyed inside your Freedom, great! Enjoy, but don't say, "This is who I am." There are Powers in the Universe that have a joy that you are here amongst the mass of human beings. There are Great Powers in the Universe that support your Presence Here and your search, if your search is genuine and for deliverance and Truth. All over the world satsang is taking place in various forms. I have to say this to you and those who can hear this, that you will feel resistence, but it is necessary in order to awaken in you the aspiration for Freedom. You have to fight for yourself but I will fight with you, for you, but only if you are willing to fight for yourself, also. If you have even a hint of what awaits you, it is worth it. It is greater than anything in the world and I am not against the world. I enjoy my life also and bless life, but this is for Freedom. There's no real freedom on the planet if it doesn't begin inside your Heart.Otherwise, it will only be theatre, only some play. So, resistence will come but you say, "I am able to hear you." Sometimes a space opens up and you can really hear things deeply so that in your hearing a great space opens up inside, a great peace, a great love that no matter if you tried by human effort, you could not reach this love. And yet, in your recognition of your True Place, it is releasing this Love. Abundant Love and Peace. So, don't apologise for being here. Don't apologise for your existence because it is written for you that your awakening will somehow spread Light in this world. Not everybody has to become a guru. Your very awakening, your recognition is a great healing for so many, beginning with yourself. So, don't be surprised that sometimes you get a mind attack. But, you have every power in you to transcend that. That's the greatness of the game. Whatever mind can bring, greater still is the One who dwells in your Heart. Don't be afraid.

-----------------------------------

THE MUNI OF THE SHAKYA.

"Things are not what they seem;

Nor are they otherwise."

LANKAVATARA SUTRA

Duh ... Media

I'm surprised the media has still not reaped the enmity of the populace as have seemingly the politicians in government and their corporate backers.

This is about the media vis-a-vis the current 2016 election.

For more than a few election cycles now the media, television in particular, has been covering elections like sporting events. Who's winning, and how are they going to win/keep from losing. Now we have a candidate who is canny enough about the zeitgeist to have sussed this out and/or he is enough of a product of that groupthink that his campaign speaks inordinately and unapologetically about how well he's doing. (That would be Mr. Trump, if you haven't guessed.)

Once I saw a great satire of the New York Times slogan. Theirs is, "All the News That's Fit to Print." The snide interpretation, "All the News That Fits."

My criticism is mainly for the broadcast media, television in particular. It seems relative to the take on the NY Times, there we have these news shows with time to fill and audiences to attract. In other words, just how much news is manufactured to fill the time allotted. 

Also, just who is the media beholden to in terms of the choice of items to cover, emphasis, and slant?

Just today I read on the Google News feed the headline that Bernie Sanders, ".. is not going away quietly." Who the heck decided to frame it that he's going away at all. This seems to be part of subtext notion that Hillary Clinton is the foregone Democratic choice. If that is so, who's perpetuating that? The Clinton campaign, I would imagine. And her supporters. 

And, yesterday, a very well known commentator, remarking in a "balanced" way that Sanders' snappy rejoinder to Clinton interrupting him during the last debate was 1) very mild compared to the scenes on the Republican side, and 2) Sanders is probably not being as harsh as he might since he wants to save some face when he supports her in the general election. Very sly — maybe unconscious — messaging framing Hillary as having a lock on the nomination. The news media  is co-opted.

For my money Ms. Clinton is the Pringles of Potato Chips. Reconstituted to meet the expectations of participants in focus groups. Her assertions to trust the wisdom of the American electorate are pure pandering. From my seat, what wisdom is there among the Trump supporters. They may be a lot of things, many good — and Donald  would say, "There's probably some good ones." — but wise just doesn't fit.

As for Mr. Sanders, I believe his main obstacle among Democrats is to overcome or quell the notion that he can't win. Who cooked up that idea. In fact, he can win. All's it's going to take is voter turnout. If you stay home because you think he can't win, then you've bought the media version of the world.

Here's a report on the several stories negative to Bernie Sanders appearing in the Washington Post. 

This Just In ... More Trump

Actually, more than we want.

We've recently been assured by Mr. Donald Trump that his hands are just fine, and there is no problem in that other department. But, we should hold him to the same standard he holds for others.

Pretty ... Pretty ... Pretty ... Pretty ... Good!

Sit quietly for a while, and listen to this ...

A Donald Trump Presidency

Cheesy ... Great!

By now it's pretty well hashed out how Mr. Trump's success in his bid for the Republican Party's nomination for the 2016 Presidential election is, to date — albeit, surprising, even amazing — a result of public distrust and disaffection with the political process in general, together with the encroachment of special interests dominating public discourse and policy. 

People are fearful. People are pissed. People feel powerless. And, Mr. Trump is the past master at capitalizing on the lowest subconscious motivators in the prevailing zeitgeist. He's not pissed. He gets even. He's not fearful. He's confident. He's powerful. Just what we need. Yes?

Here's a scenario which we could likely see should he be elected as Commander in Chief. 

A word regarding Democracy in general. Keep in mind, Mr. Trump is a businessman. And, a successful one. At least by his own estimation. Lets' not debate that, though. He certainly can be described as an individual who's will is hardened to getting what he wants, as he seems to project a rare kind of unquestionable certainty of purpose and motivation. 

If you've ever worked for a living, you know that Democracy ends as soon as you enter the work place. The boss rules. Yes, there are legal recourses to abuses. But, in general, your job is pretty much at the pleasure of the boss. You do what you're told. Mr. Trump is a boss. Just wondering how he will adjust to working in a collaborative model, having to sort through differing points of view and opposition to his agenda from many directions.

Maybe, though, he will attempt to adjust the system itself to his style. Remember, the ethos is "to win". And, from my take of it, he seems to be willing to win at any cost. "Scorched Earth" is a useful metaphor as a form of verbal usage, but an actual scorched earth is a whole other thing. 

So here's The Donald in the Oval Office. He wants to do great things for the country. Of course, he's right. He meets opposition within his own administration. Simple. Fire the bastard(s). Dumb! Done! Next? (That, by the way, was a favorite phrase of a one Mr. Robert "Bob" Crandall, former President and Chairman of American Airlines. A legend. Also, a tough SOB.)

Opposition in Congress? No problem. Remember, no matter what the electoral vote, if Trump wins he'll spin it as a mandate. And, the key point will be that business concerning the dissatisfaction with the inaction of the legislature and its beholdingness to special interests. 

In other words, the leverage will be that if you oppose the President, you will be seen as playing politics as usual and at the behest of the lobbyists. It seems people are pretty much fed up with the business of politics as usual. Insert here, public outcry. That may be enough of a stick to bring lawmakers into line. If not, then come the mid-term elections, the folks who voted Mr. Trump into office will vote in some new faces who will see eye-to-eye with the Great Man.

Further — as we got a hint of it during the Bush fils administration — anyone who opposes him could run the risk of being seen as unpatriotic. 

That's one possibility. If so, then we can all sit back and munch our Cheetos and let our Fearless Leader move us over the horizon to our destined greatness. Confident that he's the man for the job ... for no reason more than that he says so. Admittedly, most confidently. 

It's the art of the deal, folks. Who's sold?

There's More ...

Distribution of World Languages

View full screen.

To Whom It May Concern:

You may find yourself at some point in a position of seeing what needs to be done that no one else can see. Or, care about.

Don't be sidetracked by those who lack imagination or inspiration. Or those who may criticize you for doing what they don't understand, agree with, or approve of.

Proceed. Quietly and unseen if that's how it turns out to be. And, at the same time, taking care to respect those others who may disagree and even go so far as to shun you for the path you're following.

Statistics from March 1 Super Tuesday primaries 2016 versus 2008.

INELECTION 2016

Statistics from March 1 Super Tuesday primaries 2016 versus 2008:

More stats:

Super Tuesday March 1, 2016 Voter Statistics (Source: NPR) ...

Republican: +81% 2016 versus 2012

Democrat: -31% 2016 versus 2008 (No Democratic primary 2012)

8.5 million Republicans voted in the 11 GOP Super Tuesday states that reported results. In those same 11 states in 2012, turnout totaled only around 4.7 million.

Among Democrats in the 11 states reporting results for Super Tuesday, turnout totaled only around 5.9 million, 2.6 million fewer people than came out in those states in 2008.

Based on those numbers, and after reading the excellent analysis in Chris Hedges' article linked at the end of this post, I have a few observations based on the current situation in the 2016 Presidential election process. This temperature reading taken just after the March 1, 2016 Super Tuesday results.

First. Voter turnout will be a key factor in presidential election. This seems to be Mr. Donald Trump's ... trump card. Clearly there are a whole lot more people voting in the early primaries than in the previous two election cycles on the Republican side. The low turnout so far among Democrats should give Mr. Sanders concern since his campaign is predicated on a "revolutionary" voter turnout. 

Second. There is a third party in the making among the electorate. The so called Tea Party was the first glimmerings. But that group seemed to be from among the Republican ranks and about being way far right of the Republican center. The new, yet unnamed, third party appears to be a broader base. It may even cut across both party lines, including particularly those whose fear and loathing has brought them to the polls in record numbers for the first time. If there is in fact a de facto third party brewing, it appears to belong to Donald Trump. Or, to whomever now or in the future reflects his kind of authoritarian posture. By his own boast, he is responsible for bringing a lot of new people to the Republican party. 

Here's my thinking. Traditional Democrats, they vote Democratic. Traditional Republicans, vote Republican. But, then, there's Donald Trump. He may be a nominal Republican, and many of his supporters may also come from somewhere in the former traditional GOP base; but the strong increase in Republican turnout may come from the broad swath of the disaffected, disgusted, and disenfranchised who coalesce around the likes of The Donald. Many of whom heretofore have not factored in the electoral equation. Probably there are some Democrats in there also. I don't believe they owe any allegiance to the traditional two big parties, particularly since those parties have proven themselves to be beholden to special, corporate interests. Exactly what all those Trump voters are fed up with. And, interestingly, what Mr. Trump is campaigning against. The politics of special interests and business as usual.

Trump is the only Republican candidate who — believably — can lay claim to not be touched by any corporate lobby pressure. Bernie Sanders, the same on the Democratic side. Except in Mr. Sanders' case his pitch is more intellectual and heartfelt. Mr. Trump's is from the gut. And, if I'm measuring the temperament of the zeitgeist correctly, that's where the fervor exists. Anger, frustration. Feeling marginalized, tricked, and exploited.

Mr. Sanders can't be too cheered by the low Democrat primary turnout. Particularly since his pitch seems to be predicated on a voter revolution; i.e., voter turnout, and in large numbers. That may happen, but he'll have to persuade a lot of people to tear themselves away from the TV to see that happen. Plus, he has the obstacle that Clinton — and the media — are fostering by framing it like Hillary Clinton has it in the bag and is now the presumed Democrat candidate. Bolstered by the notion that Bernie is not electable. I get it that Hillary would want to say that. But, the media? Also, there's that bugaboo about Sanders being a Socialist. Those same people who are mobilized to support Donald Trump are probably not at all attracted to the term "Socialist". Even though Bernie Sanders has made it clear on that subject. But, as they say, you can't convince anyone whose mind is already made up. 

That's my amateur pundit analysis. Read the article from the noted Chris Hedges and see where I'm getting my take on things. It's must reading. For sure.

There's More ...

"Beyond being almost alarmingly prescient, this theory [The Rise of American Authorianism] speaks to an oft-stated concern about Trump: that what's scariest is not the candidate, but rather the extent and fervor of his support." Read another excellent, informative article.

MY

HEART

DOESN'T

WANT

TO

LOOK 

BACK 

WAITING

FOR

YOU

TO

LOVE

ME