Its been a rough patch the last while for me.. but I'm dealing with relatively well. Thank goodness for meditation and the Buddha's teachings, otherwise I would be more of a loon than I am now. LOL. I figure that all experiences are the perfect teacher... and the perfect sit. I'm still working on the idea that I am the perfect student... as each of us are.... all the time. So the rough spells are lessons in the illusion of "I want the world to be the way that I want it to be rather than the way it really is". Lessons in the idea of "this is this and that is that"... of making distinctions of good and bad where they may really never have existed in the first place.

On a better note I've reflected lately on how much meditation can make one grow.... often in ways that we might never expect. Shinzen Young (correct spelling?) in his youth never could grasp math and now has become quite a master of it.... because of meditation and the discipline it gives the mind. I find myself having changed my life's course, dramatically, twice now and mastered completely differant jobs each time. At 40 becoming a Nurse and working in paliative care and at 51 becoming a machinist. 4 years later I have taught myself how to run and program a CNC so well that I am now.... in that short period of time... a senior machinist in the shop that I now work at. (Bragging a little... well yeah a bit. LOL But it proves to me exactly what Shinzen spoke of and it startles me a little and makes me laugh a little with the wonder of it all.)

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
-Buddha

This morning I'm enjoying the videos Rick has kindly posted for us (see Crazy Wisdom and Dhamma thread)

Hi Sande

Thank you for your update-
it looks like it has been a
fruitful year!

Jenny

re:Sign in each time you visit 'The Buddhist Path'...
So much is happening that I thought I would cram it all into one post per year rather than fill the thread with multiple updates! Over the past year, I have/am:
1. Continued taking ACI downloadable classes in Buddhism and am currently one class from finishing the fifth course (karma).
2. Arranging to purchase tickets to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings on Nagarjuna in Sydney in December.
3. Reading anything and everything I can get my hands on @ the library - and buying a selected few books.
4. Studying Shantideva's Bodhisattva in detail.
5. Working on decreasing subtle kilesas and increasing compassion and joyfulness.

Thanks for introducing yourself Lin.

Your service dog is in my prayers.

Many warm greetings,
I am a 53 published writer/poet, living in Seattle w/my 5 yr. old M cat, Milo.
I'm applying for a service dog because I'm disabled by M.S. It's killed me numerous times, and often took more than one jolt from the paddles, but I am obviously meant to be here. I did see, "the light" - once.
At the present, I'm putting together a book of my poems to submit for publication. I say quite humbly that I see no reason to self-publish and pay all that money that I don't have. Besides, have you seen some of the writing that does get published? Again, I say with all humility, I am publishable. It took me 52 years to get to that place of confidence. I was given a gift that needs to be shared, and so I shall.
Meditation by watching my breath is a daily practice, but I am getting interested in Dzogchen, Shambhala, and Loving Kindness. I'll take the path that takes me.
Please keep a service dog for me in your meditation, or at least, keep your fingers crossed! 8-)
It's been a pleasure to meet you all, I wish everyone much metta.
Yours in Kindness,
Lin

 Tashi Delek!

Hi all,
We just got back from a week at the seaside. Just some good swimming -I love swimming- beautiful weather, fresh sea breeze, a little sightseeing, night bike rides and good cooking - mainly veggies for me.
I look forward to getting back into the talk.
Ciao,
Rodger

Many thanks for your friendship. I pray that you have a wonderful week.
Also, I pray that this week brings Freedom to Tibet and Tibetans: freedom from ignorance, repression and apathy. May Love and Light graciously fill all dark corners and all dark hearts throughout the world.
-Jenny/Thubten Chökyi (australia)

 IMPORTANT! Go NOW to
 http://candle4tibet@ning.com/ 
1. register to pledge that you will light a candle 7th August;
2. join the candle4tibet network to help out in any other ways.

It's a huge responsibility raising children. Every single word,every single action has strong imprints on them. TV.has a strong influence on them,and especially friends have a very strong influence on them. In the past several months,I've been trying to "let go" and ease up on things. Jeron's thread about impermanence had a very strong influence and helped,and they seem to be smiling more! It's summer vacation,so we've be bicycleing in the parks & around the neighborhood more often,or just basketballing or jogging.  Changing the subject, I've been having a backache for several months. I'm not sure if it were caused by over lifting hand-weights,or possibly just age.....but I started practicing The medicine Buddha a bit.And it helped. The ache has subsided. I highly recommend Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche's Medicine Buddha Teachings-book.

     GOOD MORNING, HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

This morning I recalled that saying,

     'Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
     After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water'

...along with memories of a particular stage of my life. I'd had the two most incredible years—uncertain if I would die or survive, experiencing life with passionate intensity -the thrill of self-discovery - peace of mind through meditation- and glimpses of the most amazing bliss ever!

To follow was back down to earth with a thud reality. I had two children to bring up alone. I had a job that paid poorly, was boring and physically painful. I put the "Chop wood..." quote on the wall in my work area so I could remember to be focused on what I was doing, to try to keep cheerful.

Good Morning... How is everyone today? Hope each of you have a great week to look forward to

Monday? It's just a label, and life is just an illusion, so......
Why not make today a great day!

Tashi Delek - Greetings!
Sign in each time you visit 'The Buddhist Path'. 

Tell us about your aspirations, motivations, joyfulness and enthusiasm.

But don't forget to unload your woes - a problem shared is a problem halved!