I love eloquent questions which according to Vico and later Gadamer are foundational in the building of community. They tap into the wisdom of the elder generation and support the younger generation. Here are some great ones to start the day.
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Just a thought for adults beginning the week. Creativity is something you can bring forth. My comment to Mike’s excellent post was add a quiet space and disconnect. This has worked wonders for me.
My two year old daughter is proud of her pumpkin. The trip to the pumpkin patch included lots of searching, sifting, and sorting. Then it happened. She selected her pumpkin from hundreds of others.
Now instead of talking about pumpkins, let’s talk about ideas. How proud are you of the ideas you select? How do you sift and sort before sharing them with the world?
The secret is to unlock your creativity by using a brainstorming process on a regular basis.
Pumpkins Are Like Ideas
You’ll find a few prize pumpkins and a few rotten ones in every patch. But your first impression may not be the right one. The same holds true for ideas.
Whether you are creating a presentation, delivering a sales pitch, or solving a complex problem, you need a process that reliably identifies your best thinking. Below are five steps to move you in…
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Gentle Rain
I wind down the week and head into Sabbath. It is odd to say and write those words, because I have celebrated Sabbath since my arrival at Bainsbridge. When I come to a courage retreat, I enter into a covenant, at least with myself, that I slow down, talk less, and listen more deeply to others and myself. The great thing is this is the norm here. Time is purposely and purposefully set aside to share in small groups, listen and be fully present for each other, reflect in our corners, and find our way back to the joyful circle of kindred spirits. It is unlike any other conference, workshop, or training I take. The focus is on opening up creative space and that requires different being present. It is a space of vulnerability and solidarity, of coming together to find ourselves coming home.
I meditated this morning and sat inside the main hall. It was raining which I understand is often the case in Seattle at this time of the year.
We sat inside the drum;
A small group
I heard rain overhead
Its song reverent
A gentle tap on the roof
Occasional increases in tempo
More rhythm in that fresh moment.
Perhaps, as gusts of wind shake trees–
Fresh dreams
Break us free from reverie
Together, we embark
Explorers
Perhaps, even pirates.
From golden hearts
Gentle invitations sent
And received.
Whatever, each chooses;
Wherever, each walks;
Remember–
We do it together
Joyously, in community
We carry a little of each other on this journey.
Last year, after the sudden and tragic passing of a young woman we met several years ago, I recounted a Buddhist understanding passed on by Senryu Suzuki and Thich Nhat Hanh. Each person we greet on life’s journey leaves an indelible imprint on us. We only need to stand or sit quietly and listen and like a wind and gentle rain voices are heard again and again in the silence of that moment.
I wish all homes and schools were like this.
For the past couple of days and the next couple of days, I am in a space where I am thinking about these thoughts. In my email this morning, is a daily mediation from Father Richard Rohr which often challenges me the same way this post does. Be good is more than saying the words for me.
Whenever you see something unfair and not right happen around you, how do you feel?
Whenever you read newspaper, there are a lot of violent cases, tragedy, bribery, war, natural disaster and other negative news? How do you feel?
Are you angry?
Are you frustrated?
Are you seeking for justice?
Are you helpless?
Are you sad?
Nothing you can change if you keep your anger, frustration whenever you read negative news in newspaper.
Perhaps, we can change our negative emotion to positive energy.
To be compassion, The best way is to pray for any victims, “May all beings be Happy and Well.”, ” May all beings relieve from suffering.”
As a Buddhist, I strongly believe in “Karmic Relationship”, whatever we are experience now is due to the our “PAST” Karma. The best example to understand about karma, If you sow a watermelon seed, you are going to get a watermelon…
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Russel has an incredible sense of humour and Zoey the cat approves it. There are days this is how I feel as I look at my computer screen.
I am sitting in SeaTac getting ready for the next step in the journey to the retreat. I had a few minutes to check out blogs I follow. I am not sure what it is called, but it could be courage, wisdom, discernment, or some combination of those and ones unnamed.
It was a long day, but, when I checked blogs, I found this. It is a great metaphor for life and the relationships of worth in them.
A beautiful poem to begin the day.
Here is a message I am learning to work with. I tend to worry about the 10% who I should not concern myself with as much.
Back in 1966 when I was being bullied in sixth grade, my wise old grandmother introduced me to the 80/10/10 rule, a subset of the 80/20 rule. She said,
“Ten percent of people will hate you simply because that’s the kind of people they are.
Ten percent of people will love you simply because that’s the kind of people they are.
The other eighty percent will love or hate you based on your words and actions.
Make ninety percent of the people you meet a part of your life and ignore the other ten percent.”
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ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 