The book is The Royal Seal of Mahamudra: Volume One: A Guidebook for the Realization of Coemergence: 1 by Khamtrul Rinpoche III (Author), Gerardo Abboud (Translator)

 Here's an excerpt on Self-Liberation:

...Similarly, regarding whatever is in the field of the tactile sense organ,

such things as fabrics that are soft or rough to the touch, this tactile

sensation itself is your own mind. Avoid slipping into grasping or rejecting.

Whether soft or rough, do not try to find the mind anywhere apart

from the softness or roughness itself, but rest at ease right there without

distraction. If a pleasant or an unpleasant feeling arises, recognize it

and rest mindfully.

Likewise all thoughts arising in the field of the mental sense organ—

right or wrong, good or bad, subtle or coarse—are also your own mind.

Avoid liking the right ones and spurning the wrong ones. No matter

what thought arises—good, bad, or neutral; subtle, tangible, or gross—

recognize its identity through awareness and sustain it naturally. If any

fixation arises, such as thinking of this and that in regard to thoughts

of right and wrong, that itself is a fixating thought. So identify that

grasping thought and rest on it at ease. In short, even when it is not the

case of good or bad thoughts but is one of stillness and movement, avoid

making choices. Do not taint with blocking or pursuing. If the mind is

still, relax on the identity of that stillness. When it is dispersed, let loose

in the identity of that dispersion. When still or when anything arises,

relax on that. Keep to the very identity of what occurs, and sustain its

continuity without clinging elsewhere to good or bad.

In fact, no matter what perception of good or bad arises in the six

sense fields—forms in the field of the eyes, sounds in the field of the

ears, smells in the field of the nose, tastes in the field of the tongue,

tactile sensations in the field of the body, or thoughts in the field of

the mind—don’t judge as good or bad, and don’t indulge in likes and

dislikes. Whatever appears, whatever arises, first identify it, then relax

and rest in that state, and finally let it be released by itself.

For us, who have been in beginningless samsara all our lives due to

very strong habits formed long ago, there is no way for thoughts of

passion and aggression not to arise; these thoughts will no doubt occur!

Determined not to slip into delusion, you must identify these thoughts

and let go directly on them. Rest in the state of knowing the nature of

the very thoughts of attachment and aversion.

Lord Gotsangpa said:

"In general, the apparent myriad of phenomena is one’s own

mind. Since phenomena and emptiness have never been

abiding as two separate entities, there is no need to restrain

cognizance within."

Also:

"When there is an appearance of a form in the field of the eyes,

that appearance of form itself is one’s mind; the apparent

form and emptiness are not two. By resting gently right on

the form without grasping, subject and object become naturally

liberated. The same applies to sounds, smells, tastes,

textures, as well as mental occurrences: by resting on the

occurrence itself, it becomes self-liberated. That is to say,

instead of meditating on cognizance, by meditating without

grasping right on the outer objects of the six sense perceptions,

the six senses arise as meditation and enhancement

will ensue."

Siddha Orgyenpa said:

"Static or mobile things of the outer world that may be seen,

including any possible inanimate object—such as earth,

stones, mountains, rocks, houses, and estates—or the diversity

of beings, both high and low, in the three spheres of

existence—such as gods and asuras, and those in the three

miserable realms—no matter what is perceived, none of these

things has even a single hair of existence as an outer entity.

They are the natural luminosity arising from the radiance of

one’s own mind.

At the time of practicing this, proceed as follows. When

inanimate things such as earth, stones, mountains, or rocks

appear, don’t go into the fixation of perceiver-and-perceived

in relation to the inanimate object. No matter how it appears,

relax loosely right on it. Avoid tainting it with hopes for good

experiences and fear of bad ones. No matter what appears,

apply the central practice on that itself. Uninterrupted by any

other thought, in that state rest loosely and at ease. Resting

in this way, you do not need to block appearances, try to

accomplish emptiness, or search elsewhere for an antidote. A

vivid union of the inanimate object and awareness is what is

called “using phenomena as the path,” “merging phenomena

and mind into one,” and “seeing the essence of indivisibility.”

By doing so you are capturing the key point of practice.

If you don’t know how to relax right on phenomena in this

way, but instead indulge by means of thought activity in a lot

of corrections intended to improve the situation, phenomena

will not arise as meditation.

Also when seeing any of the six kinds of beings—high or

low, good or evil, happy or sad—whoever it is, practice as in

the case of an inanimate object. Recognize whoever appears,

and in a state of nonmeditation, barely undistracted, rest

loose right on it. By this, phenomena and mind are indivisible.

Do not regard present appearances in terms of fault or

virtue. Avoid fabricating or modifying. Do not taint with the

intention to reject or accomplish. Take them as the practice

exactly as they are."

The method of resting should not be limited just to what we have

seen. Using the six sense perceptions as the path should be carried

out all the time as the main practice. Otherwise, although you may

somehow maintain composure during formal meditation, later when

encountering outer desirable objects of form, sound, smell, taste, or

touch, you will respond with a total lack of determination, enjoy the

sense pleasures in an ordinary way, and slip into delusion. If you turn

the wheel of passion and aggression or hope and fear, the training we

discussed will not show up when needed. You would then be neglecting

the great objective, so the crucial point and main purpose would be

absent. Rather, during the main practice of meditative composure, and

especially at all times, you should learn to use all perceptions as they

are in their own nature.

To use the six sense perceptions as the path has many purposes. The

initial effect is that you will cease to slip under the influence of the six

senses thus giving them free rein, and phenomena will no longer negatively

affect your meditation; later, phenomena will arise as ornaments;

and finally, there will be no duality between phenomena and mind, and

you will have arrived at the expanse of the great pervasiveness of the

dharmakaya.

～A bit of advice based on purest intentions for Tashi Chotso~～

H.H. Yangthang left a letter to his niece's daughter before he passed into nirvana. This letter was found in his personal bag after his parinirvana. We believe that this letter is also the last teaching he bestowed to all of us. We are very grateful to Sangye Khandro, who translated this letter into English for all of us.

Although you are still young, this is the time when your mind is fresh and clear. Now is the time to carefully consider your present human life and what will follow this. The wise ones of the past have said,” If you plan ahead, it is smart. If you regret later it is dumb.” So, that means you must carefully consider finding the correct direction to take that will benefit this life and the future. Once you have found this then it is extremely important to pursue that path whole heartedly. Once inadvertently entering the wrong direction it is difficult to turn around and reenter the right way even if you want to. You won’t be able to instantly turn around so from the onset it is best to get this right.

In short there are two paths to take, the worldly and the spiritual path. If you take the worldly path both this and the future life will be involved with suffering. This direction is very challenging because it involves the path of negativity and non-virtue. The spiritual path is the direction that illuminates fully endowed happiness and wellbeing both temporarily and ultimately. Even though that is the case, these days there are very few who chose to enter this illuminating path. Among the seven point three billion inhabitants of this planet, there are only several hundred thousand who are following the path of dharma. Everyone else is pursuing the worldly path. By only establishing non-virtue, then due to the power of negativity they must powerlessly pursue a misguided direction that leads to suffering. Having attained this precious human life just this once, they are distracted by meaningless activities on the path of cyclic existence and without even noticing their life is wasted. One day when death arrives they must leave behind this world, their loving parents, relatives, abundance and even their cherished body and enter their future life with eyes full of tears. Having spent their life only accumulating non-virtue they can only take rebirth in the three lower realms. Revolving within the three lower realms repeatedly, after some hundreds and thousands of human years they may take rebirth just once in a higher place. Experiencing continuous suffering for such a long time, by circling throughout the six realms, there will be no chance to achieve freedom from this.

This kind of worldly direction is a vast heap of suffering. Since it endures for so long it is actually a very frightening path. Due to the power of negative karma all humans will powerlessly proceed down this undesirable direction. That is why you, young girl, must make prayers that you can avoid this direction! If due to your karma you end up having to go there, please keep this advice strongly in your heart: Don’t react with frustration and try to make decisions by yourself; listen to the advice of your parents and elders who have good intentions; respect the advice of those with knowledge and learn to trust the Triple Gem and divinations concerning your future. Always look within yourself with careful consideration and walk with firm steps in the positive direction without mindlessly engaging in chaotic activities.

If you wish to choose the path of the sublime dharma, that would be the best! That is the correct illuminating path and it is the unmistaken way to go! First it is important to single pointedly trust in the Triple Gem and firmly cherish the advice of parents and elders, and listen and guard the teachings given to you from compassionate masters, monks and excellent practitioners. Keep your own mind stable and focused and without wavering enter this luminous path. First purely accomplish your own purpose and then work to benefit others.

If you, young girl can enter this path of the Buddha then in order to practice dharma you must study and learn the Tibetan language. This is very important. You must be diligent in studying Tibetan. Although it may be challenging, it will allow you to accomplish a greater purpose. Right now your focus is on worldly subjects in ordinary school. Through this knowledge you will only learn that which benefits the practical aspects of survival for this life alone. For example, you will learn how to get food, wealth, name, fame reputation and status. All those philosophers who are learned in western subjects such as science are able to identify that which is invisible to ordinary people. Nevertheless, although they see and extract that which is precious among the external four elements, have made medical discoveries that cure diseases, are able to benefit and protect their own direction and deliver that which is harmful to others, are expert in discovering substances that bring both benefit and harm into this world; their capacity to be omniscient is still extremely limited. If we compare that to the omniscience of the Buddha, then from a spiritual perspective the capacity of the buddha is equal to space. There is not even a hair’s worth of anything that cannot and is not known. That is called being fully and completely omniscient. If you come to understand the dharma that is taught by such an omniscient Buddha then your own mind will become like the sky and will never be rigid. Your entire being will be open and free. Since the teachings of the Buddha are full of such temporary and ultimate benefit to yourself and all others if you can learn even a little bit of this dharma that will bring tremendous achievement. Please hold this advice deep within your heart.

More ...

Now that you've gained the support of a human life, so hard to find,

Aroused a mind of renunciation, so difficult to develop,

Met an authentic master, so rarely encountered,

And taken up the sacred Dharma, so scarcely discovered,

Reflect, over and again, on the difficulty of finding

Such a physical support providing all the right conditions for practice.

If you fail to make use of the full human potential you now possess,

Which is impermanent like a candle in the wind,

Don't think that you can rely on it for a long time to come.

At death and in the bardos, lacking the confidence of liberation,

How frightening will be the next life’s sufferings!

When we must wander endlessly in samsara,

How distressing it is to contemplate its nature!

Whatever you can do to gain real confidence in this life,

I, for one, will be most grateful!

This is what I hope for you.

THE PARADIGM IS FALLING

By David D. Wronski

As you’ve probably heard, we’re having a paradigm shift. As if that wasn’t enough what with talk of a polar shift and the news reading like the world’s going you-know-where in a hand basket.  In any event, I am hopeful. Exceedingly so, in fact.

I have a new paradigm for you.  [That reminds me of Moses.  He goes up the mountain and the Lord appears and says, “Moses, I have commandments for you.”  Moses asks, “And how much are they?”  “They’re free.”  So Moses says, “so, give me ten”.]  Really, I have a paradigm for you.  How much, you ask?  How’s about 20 cents?  (Get It? Paradigm, par-a-digm…pair of dimes.)   Any New Ager worth his/her salt has probably dropped the term at least twice before lunchtime on any given day.  Usually connected to the word “shift”.  Even at Starbucks you'll likely hear statements like, “He’s so old paradigm”.  “Don’t let the paradigm shift leave you without two dimes to rub together.”  “Buddy, can you spare a para….?” 

So now that I’m through with the chuckles, just what is this new paradigm, anyway?  As far as paradigms go, however, it seems we get only one at a time.  And it’s not a commandment, like with Moses; it’s the lens you see the world through.  According to one definition a paradigm is a model or pattern that an individual or group uses in trying to understand something…a general agreement of belief of how the world works.

Near as I can tell the current, modern paradigm all of us were born into historically can be summed up as “US AND THEM”, the splitting of observer from the observed.  Or, as we read in the news,” them evil-doers over there.”  This split way of thinking, observer and observed, comes from Rene Descartes, 1596-1650.  He’s the guy who also came up with “I think, therefore I am.”  (And you know how whack that is.) So with all the thinking in the modern paradigm world, we’ve come up with a lot of stuff. Were it not for the paradigm shift, we’d continue our one sided scientific/technological spree and load up the world with so much stuff that it might just stop spinning under all the weight.  Paradigm shift or shiftless, you choose.

The trouble with the old way of seeing the world is that recently we’ve come to realize that you cain’t ever take the observer out of what is being observed.  As my young daughters used to say, “When you’re pointing a finger at someone else, three more are pointing back at you.”  Or, as they used to say in their most sassy way, “Whatever you say goes back to you!”  So if you want to do something about what you see around you, take a look at what’s in you that is like what’s around you.  Now don’t confuse the messenger with the message, but Mr. Michael Jackson said it best, “Take a look at the man in the mirror.”  Chilton Pierce, an expert on child development said, [I paraphrase] “If you want your children to be the way you want them to be, you be the way you want them to be.”  And wasn’t it the Dalai Lama who said that there is no world peace without inner peace.  And since I’m on a quoting roll, the words scrawled on the bathroom wall in my army barracks so long ago:  “Fighting for peace, is like f…ing for virginity.”    

If you see that the so-called modern paradigm isn’t all it’s cracked up to be or that there’s got to be a better way, then you may be ready for a paradigm shift.  So the new thinking would be stated as this: “WE”.  What I’m talking about here is “WE” as in “all God’s chillun”.  And there’s more.  It’s all of us as an integral part of the community, the ecology, the world, the universe; not separate from it or each other.  This ain’t some pixie dust, sentimentalism.  Who said, “Nobody ever had a problem out of an experience of unity”?  Read the Tao of Physics and other books by Fritjof Capra for a full discussion of this immensely interesting topic.

And, you may wonder, how does this relate to my favorite topic, my life career interest, Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method — Structural Integration?  My work has to do with integrating (not separating) the individual human being’s energy field into the energy field of the earth. Deep ecology; can you dig it?  For a glimpse at the upper reaches of what is possible here, imagine a line anchored to the center of the earth and extending out to cosmic infinity.  Now center yourself on that line.  Or in more practical terms:  10 happy toes in front of two dancing feet. 

Can you feel the paradigm shifting?  Steady Freddie!  There's a train a-comin', get on board.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

That Soup of the Seven Swords 

THE LEGEND

There's this thing about legends. At very least they tell a good story. Sometimes, whether true or not, there are lessons to be learned. We call them legends because nobody really knows for sure. We have legends which explicate the turn of history.

So, how come you ask there's that only one sword. It's there in the telling. Read on.

This one comes down from the time when the Eastern world was a patchwork of hard won immense tracts of land. Not even feudal. Just a top dog lording it over everyone else. Everything — the folks too — belonged to him. The rulers in each land conducted themselves with benevolent, but absolute authority. They were both loved, and feared. Hated, by some of their rivals in the other territories. Those seven lands weren't divvied up from the beginning. Countless wars and intrigues tell the complicated history of how things came to be.

Their days were mainly spent presiding directly over all matters of state. All matters. Obviously, the large issues; but nothing too small. The audience with the ruler went on from dawn to dusk, and on most days. They didn't divide their time like we do in weeks, months, and years. More in tune with the seasons. The light of day for business, night for enjoyments and rest. This was a latitude where there were distinct seasons. Hot to cold, and the in between periods; our spring and fall.

That time. It's a story in itself. But, now ... that pot of soup.

The clay pot was fashioned by hand, during the festivities, and in full view of the revelers.

Yes, festivities. Wherein the legend was born.

The story goes that the rulers of the seven dynasties were once invited to a once in a millennium festival. Who did the inviting and whose turf would it be at isn't at all clear as the story is handed down the centuries. 

Every millennium you may ask! Well, with so many centuries already under their belt, those ancient ones marked periods of time in a way we can't now even imagine. Oh, it was a big deal. Know it. Just that we don't have a reference for such historical spans. Or, such goings on.

Why the festivities, you may also ask? The same as was so — and is — for folks everywhere. You want to get to know your neighbors, see what they're up to, maybe make friends ... alliances, in this more geopolitical case. You want to show your stuff, of course. Make deals, trade stuff.

And, show they did.

Every rulership was represented. You didn't snub this gathering. Splendid and sumptuous treats of every sensory delight and description. Only the best. The very best. The whole beglory.

The condition of the invitation was simple. Seemingly. Each guest would bring a battle sword of such a quality as to represent the pinnacle skill of their finest artisans. 

Keep in mind, this was a time when things were done to traditional codes. Heck, if you apprenticed to a sword maker, you would spend years just cutting the wood blocks for the fire. It wasn't just a matter of getting the size and shape just so. It was more in the cultivation of the spiritual essence attributed to fully accepting and surrendering to the task at hand. Whether or not you would get to advance to the next stop — tending the fire — you had to truly, authentically, and deeply surrender that expectation. Then, maybe you might advance. Think about it. Not an easy trick. To not want what you want. Because, after all, is it really just all about fashioning a piece of metal? More so, about the fashioning of the soul.

It is said that even now with all our technical prowess, the quality of the crafting of swords such as those would not be even nearly possible. A lost art.

Even though the invitations specified that minimal requirement, you wouldn't want to go to a once in a millennium affair anything other than dressed your best.  And, they did indeed pull all the stops out. And, each in their own way. You see, not only were there seven territories, they were longstanding and large enough to have developed their own unique cultures. All of them together unified in the sense of that simplest existential fact that they all stood barefoot on the same planet Earth. We don't even know if they had a sense of "planet". And, if so, whether they had a notion about whether it was round, or flat. Or, maybe something else we haven't even imagined. Or, maybe it never occurred to them at all. We'll never know.

Besides the full retinue of their courts and gifts of the finest of things, each potentate brought animals and foodstuffs for the feast. Only the best. And, a large contingent of youths. The cream of their young. All virgins. At some point in the proceedings after the gifts were exchanged there would be dancing, with wild abandon, when those unspoiled innocents would be free to have their way with one another. Then, of course, it was everyone into the pool. 

It made Caligula look like a prudish prom chaperone at a tight laced girls country boarding school. You can fill in the details using your own imagination. The full spectacle will be captured at length in the movie version.  Suffice to say that, sunrise come, just a heap of slimy, sticky, stinky bodies. It was an all day clean up job, for a staff of hundreds. Slaves. Well, you wouldn't expect anyone else to deal with such and so! Slaves. No wonder you don't see any statuary from this historical period. Must've been some historical "cleansing" along the way.

There were nights upon days of feasting. Pretty much the same kind of orgiastic goings on as in the foregoing description. I could go into page upon page of detail. But, remember, this is about the soup. Go see the movie. Teaser: No particular evening's festivities even closely approximated the others. Clean slate every time. OMG!!!

Moving on.

You can't have soup unless you got a pot. That is a bit of wisdom that may be as old as the tale of that soup itself. 

The pot. Yes. Call it black.

The pot was large. Not so large to serve all the hundreds. No, silly. This pot was earmarked for the potentates themselves. Only. It was large. Hand fashioned in the coiled rope method. Worked up during the time of the festivities. It needed to be soft clay, for reasons which will become apparent soon, and shortly.

Once the pot was fashioned into its shape, all decorated and colored, each of the swords was brought forward and presented in no particular order in front of said pot. "Said" pot. Hah! As if. This was some pot! Big. So big you could bathe in it. 

Remember the clay was still soft. 

With great pomp and flair each sword would be thrust into the upper side wall of the pot. Entering obliquely on the outside, penetrating to the inner space, then exiting obliquely out the other side. The placement was set to keep each of the three pairs of the swords in parallel, but in a circular fashion to form a six sided hexagram when viewed from above.

So, what about the seventh sword? It would be used to stir the pot. And, maybe other things.

That last point is significant. The order of insertion and the relative placement of the swords piercing the uppermost portion of the pot was completely random. Did we mention that upon arrival each ruler relinquished his precious sword, and no one involved with the pot and the swords inserted into it knew who's would go where. Those fortunate ones who would eat the finished soup each would know which was theirs, for sure. That pot finished, resplendent and ready to serve, with their six swords locked into the hardened clay. The seventh perched on the lip, for to do the stirring. If you have ever served a large pot of soup you would know that you have to stir the entire contents to ensure serving a good proportion of the ingredients. In hash house lingo it's called a "heavy" bowl; i.e., lots of the chunky bits.

It's a wild and crazy bit of irony that the one chosen to insert said swords into the soft clay of the newly fashioned pot was the lowliest of the low from among the slaves. The nebbish. The nerd. The putz. The schlemiel. Get it? Kapishe Italiane?

We referred to them as fortunate! Them being the rulers of those seven lands. Well. You see, there was something else about that pot and those swords. We'll get to that momentarily.

The pot, all festooned with those exquisite instruments of death and dismemberment needed to be cured first to hard stone to make it fit to cook with. For this a huge fire was started under the pot and it burned slowly for days, curing the clay hard with its heat and blackening the outside like a piece of fine Pueblo pottery. And, like that Native American pottery, the pot was meticulously burnished with rare and precious stones first made smooth in running streams, then polished to high perfection from rubbing other fine pots over years upon years. You can guess that the one(s) designated to fashion the pot were also high craft artisans. No less distinguished than their sword crafter counterparts. 

You may want to know at this juncture ... Is it soup yet?

Yes. And, as you would expect, most delicious. Every one of the seven exalted ones ate to his [Sorry, it was a boys club in those days.] heart's content. After such a soup, nothing else could compare. There's a term handed down from that time ... "The Broth of Your Own Desire." It means that eating this concoction was so deeply soul satisfying you would just as well think you had died and gone to heaven. 

This is already too tediously long for most readers, so I won't go into the hours — days! — of preparation and the book length list of ingredients that went into this heady brew. Just to say that almost anything edible in the known world was in there; the secret was in the proportions. Closely held topmost secret of secret recipes, you better believe it. And, just like the other crafters mentioned previously, the cooks were at the zenith in their own profession as well.

Net, net. It was a nice bowl of soup.

Once the pot was finished to the last drop, the festivities moved along to the next level at an uptick pace.

Remember that the lords had no idea going in where their individual swords were placed in that pot until they entered the room for their slurpy repast. And, also remember that six of the seven swords were inextricably bonded to said pot.

Which leaves that seventh one. 

It is said that those who lord it over, they too must face being lorded over. So, it was. By sheer luck of the draw the guest whose sword was set aside for to the stirring of the soup pot had some hand. A hand on a sword, if you haven't figured that out by now.

Here is where the legend fades into a great many different versions. 

Some say that the owner of the seventh sword forthwith slayed all his rivals, thus becoming the so-called Big Cheese. (There was a Cheese(s!) course during the feastings, and it was something in itself.) 

What persists is a land unified to this present modern day. Yes, with provinces, but central rulership. 

We don't know if any of the others actually made it out alive or not. Just to say that the hand who holds the sword stirs the pot to his own tune. 

Besides the inclination that the high festive event of legend, and that soup and pot, were placed at an historically pivotal moment in world geo-cultural history and resulted in the unification of an entire multi-racial culture, we can only imagine what other watershed events it might have kindled. 

We do in our own time have something called the "Broth of Your Own Desire" and it's one tasty dish. And by dish, I use the term in its several possible meanings.

Also, it comes to mind, that old chestnut, "Hunger is the best sauce." It probably doesn't fit. 

So sue me.

Shop Montclair

Merchants and service providers in their element in Montclair, New Jersey

Nancy Sutherland at Jack's StoreSummer 2017

Nancy's shop has been open in Montclair for 67 years when it was started by her father Jack in 1950. A newsstand, sundry shop, and UPS drop spot. And more. It's also a hub of local news and gossip. If it's happening in Montclair, Nancy will know. It's a kind of an old around-the-old-cracker-barrel meeting place. 

When we visited recently, Nancy's sister Lynn was also there. Lynn has been a crossing guard at the Montclair Lacordaire Academy now for 18 years.  

I shared with her my "lackadaisical" story. How at a car wash fundraiser at the school I noticed one girl was rather noticeably doing her chore washing my car wheel with very little interest or attention. I mentioned to a supervising teacher there that the young lady might benefit from a lesson in team work and doing a good job. Her reaction was a combination of non-comprehension and mind your own business. That's how I always refer to the school as "lackadaisical" when we pass by. 

A young women had come into the store and overheard my story. She said that she was one of those girls once. An alumna of Lacordaire Academy she admitted that the school did had a spirit problem; and, that is expected to improve now that there is a new Principal in charge.

Nancy was also so pleased we featured her and her store in this blog piece, we got a Powerball ticket, on the house.

Everyone is encouraged to visit Nancy's store when in downtown Montclair. It's on Fullerton Avenue just north of Bloomfield Avenue and south of Clairmont Avenue. 

Take a look around while you're there. It's a time capsule of the history of that fixture of our town. 

Patriotic Window Display July 20, 2017

RIP Yogi Berra Montclair Neighbor October 2015

Kos Motors — Walter and Remy

As In New Jersey

Photos From Times in the Garden State

 The "Librarian" — artist Elizabeth Smith Jacobs in Montclair

In the Garden of Master Gardener Jose German-Gomez, Montclair

At their annual Hydrangea Bouquet Free Share, Montclair

Witching over the garden, Montclair

Miss Lily summer 2017 Montclair

Cheers for Montclair High

Enterprising local folks of Montclair

Homage to Yogi Berra October 2015, Montclair

Keeping things on track in Montclair

At the Montclair Unity Church

Montclair patriot

Bagel Delivery Clifton

 Stylin' at the Paterson Farmers Market

Colorful Passaic

 It really is the "Summit"

 Jerk in Orange

 At the Glen Ridge Post Office

 Shopping Mid-Eastern in Paterson

House near the Paterson Farmers Market

Mr. Dick Lee at Lee Turkey Farm 2007 East Windsor, New Jersey

Good Morning Montclair

On Route 46 Parsippany, NJ

Rachel!!!

You know how Seinfeld had that way about saying "Newman!!!". I have something like that with Rachel Maddow.

Lately I've been tuning in to her "news" show to enjoy the panoply of facial expressions and body gestures, coloratura talking, and intellectual gymnastics. Not to mention opinion asserted unequivocally and with high confidence as fact.

Last evening, speaking to the leavings and firings around the Trump White House, she stated, "Obviously, (paraphrasing the following slightly since I don't have the transcript) we are seeing the disintegration of the Trump administration." "Obviously"!!!

Maybe that is what we're seeing. But, at this point it's a conjecture. Nothing obvious other than the actual facts as they happen.

My issue centers on how that sort of "typical" Rachel rhetoric may pass for truth among her own base audience.

Totalitarianism can come from both sides of the political spectrum. When you are certain and enough people are similarly certain, and you have the clout or wherewithal to compel others to follow, that's what it's called.

And now, Colbert nails the entertaining Ms. Maddow.

For when you find yourself on one side of an issue ... any issue.

You do know that as correct as you or I think we may be, there's another side — maybe even completely the opposite — who thinks their position is the correct one. And, as full of it as we may think they are, our rationalizations notwithstanding, the other side see us similarly.

Just how can two people — groups, families, countries, ideologies — can look at the same thing and see completely the opposite? Well folks, don't wait to figure that one out. It's been that way ever since we left the Garden.

It's called "Duality". It's the structure of "Maya". The antidote really is to question the reality of the show in the first place. And, when you do start to inquire ... as Mirabai Starr writes in her introduction to The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Ávila, "Be brave and walk through the country of your own wild heart".

The current times are showing the intolerance of the so-called liberal mind. [And, don't shoot at me. I mostly weigh in on the progressive side of a lot of issues.] 

Much of the commentary tends to be talk among folks of the same ilk. Have your ilk! Maybe the solution is in finding a way for one ilk to talk constructively with the other ilk. Because, otherwise, we will do battle from hardened and entrenched positions.

The Farmer's Hat

Model and Inspiration: Mr. Jim Matarazzo of Matarazzo Farms in the Garden State New Jersey

Farmers wear hats. That should come as no surprise. But, make that, real hats. That would mean, with a brim. Useful. What for to shade from the sun. 

His is made of woven straw. Nothing fancy. Just another tool. Shaped fancily, however, with years of use. Putting it on, taking it off. Giving it a little shaping caress every time. Spanking the dust from it. Keeping the rain off. Rough handling. This hat was for work. It shows it's history. Kind of like the lines in the gentleman's face. 

Farming is hard work. It's hot. You sweat. His hat bears witness to that. Almost becomes a part of you over time, and with the many outings into the fields. So much so that he would feel undressed without it. It's his signature look. Hey, farmers like to show up looking good too. No? It's not all work. But, it is ... mostly. And, a kind of servitude. It's not just the horse that's harnessed to the plow. A farmer is a servant to the elements, to the timing of the seasons. To the arc of the Sun. Farm work doesn't wait.

Gets to thinking how certain items of clothing convey one's place and function in the world. 

For example: Uniforms ... Footwear ... Styling ... Quality of materials and construction. Purses. ("First I look at the purse.") What you drive. That's a kind of article of clothing, don't you think. 

And, of course ... Hats. 

Men don't wear hats the way they used to. In the early last century you wouldn't be seen without a fedora walking down any city street. And, if you happened to be wearing a cowboy hat in the middle of a big city, you'd stand out. Maybe even get more than your share of stares.

So, a cowboy hat is a western thing. You should be out West while wearing said item. A hard hat, you don't wear to the fancy dress gala. Unless you're Kanye West. There are hats for the armed forces. Police. Fire fighters. Make your own list. You know he's a Shriner if he's sporting one of those tasseled fezzes. All bedazzled and all. Especially if he's riding in a mini-sized scale car in a parade; and flashing an outsized grin. 

Some hats, though, seem to wear themselves. 

And that farmer's hat ... it surely did. That's for sure.

Tip your hat to the farmer. 

PS ...

Our dear friend and favorite farmer passed away today July 17, 2019. Jim Matarazzo was a most generous man to all who knew him. So many bouquets of flowers he would insist my Michele should take when we shopped at Matarazzo Farms stand at the Montclair Farmers Market. He always complained when the rain ruined his plans for one or another of the farmers markets he would attend. [Funny, huh? Farmers pray for rain. And, they cuss it too.] 

It rained all night when Jim died. Maybe his highway to heaven. And, another of his generous blessings.

That's Real Magic

As a boy I was fascinated with magic. Now, here's a trick for mature magicians.

(Some will say "immature". But, you gotta admit it's a charmer.)

Buttertopping

Definition: To use language which conjures an image(s) in listeners' minds which may not be what is so in actuality technically. Also, from the marketing practice of including only just enough of something to justify making a claim. Or, turning hypotheticals or conjectures into probabilities; then, into facts.

Underlying this term is a deep cynicism, and contempt for the intelligence of people and an unconscious nihilism. In short, you and I are just some dumb assholes who will slop up whatever is put in front of us. Unconscious to our inner fears and fantasies, to be manipulated by clever hucksters and seekers of power and position.

In other words, what's really going on, what you or I may think is going on, and what we're told what's going on ... they don't always match. 

" ... fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which the world has never seen before." This does not [necessarily] mean nuclear war. Or, that "wall". It sounds like bricks and mortar, doesn't it? But, even the President has said subsequent to his original announcement that it might be something that "works like" a wall. The utterances of the current President of the United States of America are littered with buttertopping. Make that any Politician. Also, any of the Pundits. Or, that guy who wants to get into your pants. Figuratively, or literally.

Recently we tasted Chocolate-Hazelnut Ice Cream. It was made with Nutella, a Chocolate spread which contains Hazelnuts. There may be Hazelnuts in there somewhere technically, but that flavor didn't come out in the tasting.

Or, when I was an Ad Biggie, we advertised a "Butter Top" Bread. Even showed it being poured on the loaf in the preparation of the bread. Only a quarter ounce of Butter, however. Just enough to make the claim.

Originally: "There's a high degree of confidence that the Russians did it." Now: "The Russians did it." Here's a hot button example, "Born that way". Absolutely no science on that. 

Then the whole business of "Organic" and "Natural". 

Or, take "Farm Raised" for example. I could have a decrepit warehouse, dirty and squalid, breeding some animal or other for food. I call it "David's Farm". Naturally, it's "Farm Raised". And, of course it's "Natural". The critter is natural by definition. Right? 

That is an extreme example to make the point. But, check into it. That whole list of various terms in the marketing of eggs. "Free Range." "Farm Raised." "Cage Free." Or, "Grass Fed" or "Pasture Raised". Conjures up an image of green fields with Cattle lazily grazing, don't it? Don't be so sure.

Or, did you know that a crop can be labelled "Organic" and fertilized with non-organic fertilizers. Look up "Bio Solids" aka "Sewage Sludge". 

In short, words illuminate ... or obfuscate. Pay attention.

PS I only buy "Gluten Free" bottled Water.