"Nothing that I can do....

....will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice I can help the greatest of all causes - goodwill among men and peace on earth." ~ Albert Einstein

I've been meaning to blog, lately, but couldn't think of what I really had to say.

Well, yesterday evening I received a message on Facebook that provided me with a topic. I'm sorry to say what precipitated this private conversation was an unfortunate exchange of words on a semi-public forum...

The social network is a wild and crazy place, with some wild and crazy people who apparently are willing to say most anything, no matter how hurtful, unwise and yes, I will say it--no matter how dangerous.

By way of explanation: There is at least one person out there who is what we in America, and perhaps other places, might call a "loose cannon." She shoots her mouth off from time to time and says rather wild-eyed, rash words that are best ignored. This time, for whatever reason, she went too far. She didn't just share her own philosophy or point of view with brashness or bravado (like some of us do from time to time, me included). She fired off some really outrageous hate speech of the worst kind, was inappropriate and evil. In a word: Racist. At one of her own...a fellow American living in a small, peaceful town, mother of the most beautiful children ever, wife of a wonderful man who just happens to have been born to wonderful people who are not white, Anglo-Saxon, protestants born in the U.S. of A....

In short, I am outraged.

As they say, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole barrel.

Shawn

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May you all have a....

Ever wonder why these guys don't stick around when they drop by....??

Looking For Each Other....

I have been looking for you, World Honored One, since I was a little child.With my first breath, I heard your call,and began to look for you, Blessed One. I've walked so many perilous paths,confronted so many dangers,endured despair, fear, hopes, and memories. I've trekked to the farthest regions, immense and wild, sailed the vast oceans, traversed the highest summits, lost among the clouds. I've lain dead, utterly alone,on the sands of ancient deserts. I've held in my heart so many tears of stone. Blessed One, I've dreamed of drinking dewdrops that sparkle with the light of far-off galaxies. I've left footprints on celestial mountains and screamed from the depths of Avici Hell, exhausted, crazed with despair because I was so hungry, so thirsty. For millions of lifetimes, I've longed to see you, but didn't know where to look. Yet, I've always felt your presence with a mysterious certainty. I know that for thousands of lifetimes, you and I have been one, and the distance between us is only a flash of thought. Just yesterday while walking alone, I saw the old path strewn with Autumn leaves,and the brilliant moon, hanging over the gate, suddenly appeared like the image of an old friend. And all the stars confirmed that you were there! All night, the rain of compassion continued to fall, while lightning flashed through my window and a great storm arose, as if Earth and Sky were in battle. Finally in me the rain stopped, the clouds parted. The moon returned, shining peacefully, calming Earth and Sky. Looking into the mirror of the moon, suddenly I saw myself, and I saw you smiling, Blessed One. How strange! The moon of freedom has returned to me, everything I thought I had lost. From that moment on, and in each moment that followed, I saw that nothing had gone. There is nothing that should be restored. Every flower, every stone, and every leaf recognize me. Wherever I turn, I see you smiling the smile of no-birth and no-death. The smile I received while looking at the mirror of the moon. I see you sitting there, solid as Mount Meru, calm as my own breath, sitting as though no raging fire storm ever occurred, sitting in complete peace and freedom. At last I have found you, Blessed One, and I have found myself. There I sit. The deep blue sky,the snow-capped mountains painted against the horizon,and the shining red sun sing with joy. You, Blessed One, are my first love. The love that is always present, always pure, and freshly new. And I shall never need a love that will be called “last.” You are the source of well-being flowing through numberless troubled lives, the water from your spiritual stream always pure, as it was in the beginning. You are the source of peace, solidity, and inner freedom. You are the Buddha, the Tathagata. With my one-pointed mind I vow to nourish your solidity and freedom in myself so I can offer solidity and freedom to countless others, now and forever.

by: Thich Nhat Hanh

photo courtesy of David Buonomo, moon over New Hampshire

Just sayin'....