A very early saturday morning.
After a hectic and most intensive week.
The sun shines already brightly on the very green leaves of the tree in front of the wide open window.
Not only is the Queen of Dreams away to one of her engagements, no serious appointments are scheduled for today besides a lunch with a long time friend.
The day therefore is faced as one with nothing to do.
Available basically to relax and to recuperate from the many experiences of the last seven days.
But to do nothing is something that is not known how to do.
How to do nothing?
Like stay in bed and sleep and doze?
Or sit in a chair and watch from the window an occasional bird pass by?
That will be extremely boring.
And consequently irritating.
Resulting possibly in serious existential questions.
Because, what sense does it make to doze for hours in bed on a beautiful day like this?
How enriching is it to sit like a Madam Tussaud's wax figure in a chair breathing only?
The mental constitution, whether it is good or bad, whether it is wise or stupid, is to always undertake something.
To always want to make the best and most productive and most exciting and most creative of every moment life is allowed to live.
The thought is always: "I rest when death has come".
Until then, it is full speed ahead and build the castle to reach the sky.
Therefore this morning many activities were already performed.
And the mind is frantically working to come up with more actions to take.
One may say though: "This is not very zen, my friend".
The guru like lecturer may say:
If you cannot be peaceful,
if you cannot be totally relaxed,
and watch inactively the moments pass by,
instead of surfing them all the time,
you are not zen,
you are a racing car reaching the end without knowing where you have been.
Damned, now there is confusion.
.
Showing posts with label ZEN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ZEN. Show all posts
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
A Sunday tour
Today is Sunday and therefore the tour brings the visitors to a special place inside the Fuso Szulc.
The area on the table that is considered to be the altar.
Here certain relics are exposed to influence positively the life of the inhabitants.
First of all we find a statue of Bhudda.
Siddhartha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from India who founded Bhuddism.
He lived about 400 years before Christ and after becoming enlightened, at the age of 35, he obtained insight into the nature and cause of human suffering.
His teachings include the steps necessary to eliminate the ignorance causing this suffering and can be found in his Four Noble Truths:
1. There is suffering.
2. There is a cause of suffering.
3. There is the cessation of suffering.
4. There is the eigthfold path leading to the cessation of suffering.
On the altar are also different stones.
First we find on the altar a small pyramid of mountain crystal.
Mountain crystal is a colorless and clear quartz.
It is a stone of force that harmonizes and brings enlightenment.
The stone in the shape of a heart is of pink quartz.
Pink quartz is a stone of love and forgiveness.
The round purple mineral on the altar is an amethyst stone.
That heals, purifies and creates inner peace.
Finally, we see a beautiful necklace on the altar.
Made of the stone called jade.
That gives peace, harmony and wisdom.
When it is full moon all these stones are put outside and placed in the bright light.
A very old tradition.
In this way the stones are charged with energy to radiate this later from the altar.
There is also an image on the altar.
A woman caring for a child.
This is a copy of a painting by Pablo Picasso
titled "Motherhood".
Last, we see a small statue on the altar that consists of two parts connected to each other.
When closed, the outside shows two hands.
Opened, we see two statues carved in the wood that represent two Hindu gods.
One is Shiva, the destroyer of negativity.
The other Ganesha, the God of wisdom.
In the evening, when the sun is about to set, candles are lighted and put on the altar.
While nearby, from the wall an image of Osho is looking what is going on.
And shares love and harmony.
.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The City of Death
In a railway station.
Many people moving to catch a train or to go home.
Noise, nervousness, transit turmoil.
In the large hall the Queen of Dreams is standing talking to the pioneering photographer.
As always, she is dressed in an attractive way making many men and women turn their heads.
And then it is time to say goodbye and find the platform from where the train will leave.
But suddenly it is realized that the name of the city to travel to is unknown.
Or not remembered.
A kind of panic breaks out.
Which train to take when it is not known where to go?
Quickly in the briefcase the travel documents are looked for.
Because on the train ticket the destination will be printed.
Meanwhile the time of departure is coming real close and one has to run and hurry to catch the train.
But again, which train?
While looking for the train ticket one platform after the other is rapidly visited to check if there is the correct train.
But which train is correct?
In the briefcase a travel document is found but it simply allows to travel on trains without indicating any destination.
A station master is spotted and approached.
He is asked which train to catch but what can he reply?
If the traveller doesn't know his destination?
The situation ends by realizing that any train could be boarded when one doesn't know his or her destination.
Because in life it is not about destination.
It is about getting there.
The only city that exists at the end of the line is called Death.
.
Many people moving to catch a train or to go home.
Noise, nervousness, transit turmoil.
In the large hall the Queen of Dreams is standing talking to the pioneering photographer.
As always, she is dressed in an attractive way making many men and women turn their heads.
And then it is time to say goodbye and find the platform from where the train will leave.
But suddenly it is realized that the name of the city to travel to is unknown.
Or not remembered.
A kind of panic breaks out.
Which train to take when it is not known where to go?
Quickly in the briefcase the travel documents are looked for.
Because on the train ticket the destination will be printed.
Meanwhile the time of departure is coming real close and one has to run and hurry to catch the train.
But again, which train?
While looking for the train ticket one platform after the other is rapidly visited to check if there is the correct train.
But which train is correct?
In the briefcase a travel document is found but it simply allows to travel on trains without indicating any destination.
A station master is spotted and approached.
He is asked which train to catch but what can he reply?
If the traveller doesn't know his destination?
The situation ends by realizing that any train could be boarded when one doesn't know his or her destination.
Because in life it is not about destination.
It is about getting there.
The only city that exists at the end of the line is called Death.
.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Caught between two oranges
Oranges are magical things.
They contain orange juice and keep this for us fresh and vital for weeks at a time.
Another magical thing happened last night.
At about 7 pm the sun went down.
Round and red like an orange.
But that was not the full treatment of magic.
In the east, at the very same time, the full moon came up.
Round and red like an orange also.
The world, as it appeared here at El Triple in Baja California, Mexico was caught between two reddish round objects in the sky.
One in the west, one in the east.
Us in between oranges.
Giving an instant inspiration to meditate about transcendency.
How we are caught as human beings in dualism.
Male and female.
Good and bad.
Black and white.
Moon and sun.
While we know that the amoeba is male nor female.
Nor are our cells male or female.
They reproduce a-sexually.
And God too.
In spite of what religions tell us and showed us in images: God is not a man nor a woman.
God is above gender.
And free of dualism.
In fact, the concept of God, the concept of eternity, the concept of origin, all these things are beyond our capability of thinking.
They are things that do not fit into our mind .
We are caught between two oranges.
.
They contain orange juice and keep this for us fresh and vital for weeks at a time.
Another magical thing happened last night.
At about 7 pm the sun went down.
Round and red like an orange.
But that was not the full treatment of magic.
In the east, at the very same time, the full moon came up.
Round and red like an orange also.
The world, as it appeared here at El Triple in Baja California, Mexico was caught between two reddish round objects in the sky.
One in the west, one in the east.
Us in between oranges.
Giving an instant inspiration to meditate about transcendency.
How we are caught as human beings in dualism.
Male and female.
Good and bad.
Black and white.
Moon and sun.
While we know that the amoeba is male nor female.
Nor are our cells male or female.
They reproduce a-sexually.
And God too.
In spite of what religions tell us and showed us in images: God is not a man nor a woman.
God is above gender.
And free of dualism.
In fact, the concept of God, the concept of eternity, the concept of origin, all these things are beyond our capability of thinking.
They are things that do not fit into our mind .
We are caught between two oranges.
.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
To completeness
The days at El Triple now.
A place where is the Pacific Ocean, the beach, the desert and the sky.
And the only thing else is the person being there.
By being there the location becomes one big mirror.
And the image that is seen is of an extreme clarity.
Nothing can hide anymore the true self.
This time it is not a solitary presence at El Triple.
It is together with the Queen of Dreams.
Who is deeply loved.
And it has become clear that the mirror of El Triple is able to reflect not only the two individuals but the two together as well.
A mirror is a neutral thing.
It will show whatever that needs to be reflected.
The things that are beautiful.
The things that are dark and fearful.
The good thing of being with a mirror is that at least things can be seen.
And that El Triple has a harmony that allows a person to truly realize what is seen in the mirror.
To accept peacefully the confrontation without getting upset or insulted or annoyed or defensive.
And use what is seen to become more complete.
.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Where does a bird spend the night?
When we see a bird, do we know where this bird has been spending the night ?
This is a question specially designed not to have an adequate answer.
Therefore, do not reply by saying: the bird was sleeping in the tree.
It is not an adequate and precise enough answer.
It is an answer to get the question out of the way.
We do not know if that bird actually was sleeping in a tree.
And if it did, we don't know which tree.
And if we know which tree, we don't know what branch.
Because we never see at night birds sleeping in the tree.
In any case, we see many more birds than we see nests in the trees.
So why come up with a question that has no adequate answer?
Because the purpose of the question is not to find an answer.
The purpose of the question is to meditate.
There are moments in the day when we have to wait or are by ourselves.
Time to reflect and think.
The perfect moment to ask yourself: where is a bird spending the night?
Stops you from worrying about paying taxes.
Or to think about the conflict you have with your neighbor.
Or the fear you feel for the visit to the oncologist tomorrow.
The thinking spins around the question and considers different answers without finding an absolute one.
In this way the mind is manipulated and put in a dead end street.
It is being made impotent and powerless.
It loses its ability to dominate and control our feelings and actions.
Ha, ha: we laugh at the thinking because we can be the master of it with asking a very simple question: where is the bird we see spending the night!
In this area where thinking is in a closed circle unable to move anywhere else, relief and even exaltation can be found.
Because one becomes finally free of the constant worrying and the frantic fantasizing in a negative way.
This method is not recently invented.
It is very old and practiced by Zen masters.
Question:
With who do Zen masters sleep at night?
.
This is a question specially designed not to have an adequate answer.
Therefore, do not reply by saying: the bird was sleeping in the tree.
It is not an adequate and precise enough answer.
It is an answer to get the question out of the way.
We do not know if that bird actually was sleeping in a tree.
And if it did, we don't know which tree.
And if we know which tree, we don't know what branch.
Because we never see at night birds sleeping in the tree.
In any case, we see many more birds than we see nests in the trees.
So why come up with a question that has no adequate answer?
Because the purpose of the question is not to find an answer.
The purpose of the question is to meditate.
There are moments in the day when we have to wait or are by ourselves.
Time to reflect and think.
The perfect moment to ask yourself: where is a bird spending the night?
Stops you from worrying about paying taxes.
Or to think about the conflict you have with your neighbor.
Or the fear you feel for the visit to the oncologist tomorrow.
The thinking spins around the question and considers different answers without finding an absolute one.
In this way the mind is manipulated and put in a dead end street.
It is being made impotent and powerless.
It loses its ability to dominate and control our feelings and actions.
Ha, ha: we laugh at the thinking because we can be the master of it with asking a very simple question: where is the bird we see spending the night!
In this area where thinking is in a closed circle unable to move anywhere else, relief and even exaltation can be found.
Because one becomes finally free of the constant worrying and the frantic fantasizing in a negative way.
This method is not recently invented.
It is very old and practiced by Zen masters.
Question:
With who do Zen masters sleep at night?
.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Reliving the fall
Return to the spot where the fatal fall occurred.
To create more understanding to know what really happened and how.
It was the pedestrian pavement that at the particular spot was uneven.
In La Paz the city doesn't make the pavements in front of the houses.
The people themselves do this.
And in the way they like.
Some make them high.
Some make them low.
And some don't make one at all.
This means that a pedestrian must always, continuously look down where to put the feet.
Sometimes they need to be lifted up to reach a higher level.
Sometimes a lowering of the footl`evel must be anticipated.
It is remembered from last Friday that when walking a switch was in the hand that needed to be replaced in the electronic shop.
It was looked at to study what exactly was wrong with it.
Right at the spot where a higher level of pavement started.
This is how the left foot was not raised high enough and got blocked by the higher level of pavement.
This resulted in falling down although obviously it was tried to avoid this`.
By quickly putting the right foot forwards.``
Several steps were made but nevertheless the body went flat to the ground.
That an effort was made to avoid falling can be concluded from the fact that the beginning of the higher level of pavement where the foot got blocked is quite a distance from where the left hand came down and was pierced.
The object that pierced the hand is a tap.
From which the handle was taken off from stopping people to take water without permission.
A tap without a handle has therefore a vertical pin sticking upwards.
It was on this pin that unfortunately the hand landed.
Now life is in fear.
Because over the last week events have been happening that were unwanted.
Or were difficult.
Or that were having strong impacts.
Or that were very dangerous.
Or that were damaging.
A stream of events.
And the question that is constantly asked is if the series of dramatic events has ended or that more will come.
That the downward spiral surrounding the permanent pilgrim changes for an uplifting stream.
How can that be accomplished?
Must one simply wait it out, take more beating until it is over?
Must one do something drastic like leaving Mexico and go to Europe?
Or must one go to a church and do confession?
Some things are known about this matter.
Most important is not to be carried away by the bombarding events.
To remain centered.
Oneself.
Going into the event, as there is no other way, to next peacefully and harmoniously leave the event behind.
To be able to do this meditation is absolutely required.
To create time where undisturbed total inner silence can be achieved.
In total inner silence no explosions are heard.
.
.
To create more understanding to know what really happened and how.
It was the pedestrian pavement that at the particular spot was uneven.
In La Paz the city doesn't make the pavements in front of the houses.
The people themselves do this.
And in the way they like.
Some make them high.
Some make them low.
And some don't make one at all.
This means that a pedestrian must always, continuously look down where to put the feet.
Sometimes they need to be lifted up to reach a higher level.
Sometimes a lowering of the footl`evel must be anticipated.
It is remembered from last Friday that when walking a switch was in the hand that needed to be replaced in the electronic shop.
It was looked at to study what exactly was wrong with it.
Right at the spot where a higher level of pavement started.
This is how the left foot was not raised high enough and got blocked by the higher level of pavement.
This resulted in falling down although obviously it was tried to avoid this`.
By quickly putting the right foot forwards.``
Several steps were made but nevertheless the body went flat to the ground.
That an effort was made to avoid falling can be concluded from the fact that the beginning of the higher level of pavement where the foot got blocked is quite a distance from where the left hand came down and was pierced.
The object that pierced the hand is a tap.
From which the handle was taken off from stopping people to take water without permission.
A tap without a handle has therefore a vertical pin sticking upwards.
It was on this pin that unfortunately the hand landed.
Now life is in fear.
Because over the last week events have been happening that were unwanted.
Or were difficult.
Or that were having strong impacts.
Or that were very dangerous.
Or that were damaging.
A stream of events.
And the question that is constantly asked is if the series of dramatic events has ended or that more will come.
That the downward spiral surrounding the permanent pilgrim changes for an uplifting stream.
How can that be accomplished?
Must one simply wait it out, take more beating until it is over?
Must one do something drastic like leaving Mexico and go to Europe?
Or must one go to a church and do confession?
Some things are known about this matter.
Most important is not to be carried away by the bombarding events.
To remain centered.
Oneself.
Going into the event, as there is no other way, to next peacefully and harmoniously leave the event behind.
To be able to do this meditation is absolutely required.
To create time where undisturbed total inner silence can be achieved.
In total inner silence no explosions are heard.
.
.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Allow ants
There is this friend who lives in a birthday cake.
With three dogs.
On the east coast of southern Baja California where many retired Americans and Canadians have secluded themselves in beautiful houses.
Houses that come with ATV's carrying their fat asses around.
Because they have forgotten they have legs that can be used for walking.
Some dogs have the habit to run after machines moving.
Must be instincts driving them to defend their territory or something.
For the passing ATV driver, who has nothing to do anyway, there are several options in case a dog comes running after the unnecessary and polluting vehicle.
One is to increase the speed and outrun the dog.
Who will give up and feel happy to have chased the monster away.
Another way is to simply stop and kindly approach the dog.
Maybe even give it a little cookie and some pats on the head.
Dog happy also and peace continues at the east coast of Baja California between the humans and the canines.
But this week an idiot of the highest classification on an ATV approached the situation in a different way.
When the barking, chasing but basically good willing dog came close to him driving his decadent doughnut, he got out his can with pepper spray.
Waited for the perfect moment and sprayed right in the eyes and the head of the dog a full load of the vicious and aggressive stuff.
How about that?
The dog panicked and ran home.
Her owner, the one in the birthday cake, didn't know what had happened except that she saw the dog was in tremendous pain and suffering.
She tried to clean the eyes and the nose, ignorant of the stuff sprayed on the dog.
Next thing that happened was that she herself got the residues of the pepper spray on her hands and knees suffering strong pain and irritation.
Yes, fervent and loyal blog readers, there are assholes on ATV's driving around with pepper spray hurting dogs in a sadistic way .
Another event this week was that there were visitors in the Fuso Szulc.
Ants.
Real big ones.
What to do?
Ants can bite and cause pain and irritation.
But only when they are cornered.
It was admired that these big ants manage to live in a desert.
Because that is where the Fuso Szulc is located these days.
And it was admired that these animals were so smart to find out that inside the Fuso Szulc was delicious food for them.
From far away they had been smelling it or sensing it and they managed to find their way inside.
Now recently, on the BBC radio, a program interviewed a scientist who had been studying ants.
Animals that are tremendously sophisticated.
For example, they have a way to communicate with each other by sound.
Yes, ants make sounds that make sense.
To inform the others that there is food.
Or danger.
The scientist had managed to record these sounds the ants make.
So, knowing how very much advanced ants are, how on earth could someone be hostile towards them when they come to visit?
Hence, it was decided that the ants were welcome.
Could feed themselves as they pleased.
The next revelation was that it is OK to have ants around.
They are in fact very helpful.
They join in keeping the place clean.
However, to not let things get out of hand, the interior of the Fuso Szulc was kept tidy more than ever.
No more food crumbles on the table and the floor.
Garbage removed frequently.
And guess what?
After two days the ants were gone.
This feels good.
The ants came.
Had their party.
And moved on.
With not one killed.
By simply being a little tolerant and respectful.
Pepper spray...
Aggressiveness is never a good solution.
To hear ants, go to:
http://home.olemiss.edu/~hickling/
.
With three dogs.
On the east coast of southern Baja California where many retired Americans and Canadians have secluded themselves in beautiful houses.
Houses that come with ATV's carrying their fat asses around.
Because they have forgotten they have legs that can be used for walking.
Some dogs have the habit to run after machines moving.
Must be instincts driving them to defend their territory or something.
For the passing ATV driver, who has nothing to do anyway, there are several options in case a dog comes running after the unnecessary and polluting vehicle.
One is to increase the speed and outrun the dog.
Who will give up and feel happy to have chased the monster away.
Another way is to simply stop and kindly approach the dog.
Maybe even give it a little cookie and some pats on the head.
Dog happy also and peace continues at the east coast of Baja California between the humans and the canines.
But this week an idiot of the highest classification on an ATV approached the situation in a different way.
When the barking, chasing but basically good willing dog came close to him driving his decadent doughnut, he got out his can with pepper spray.
Waited for the perfect moment and sprayed right in the eyes and the head of the dog a full load of the vicious and aggressive stuff.
How about that?
The dog panicked and ran home.
Her owner, the one in the birthday cake, didn't know what had happened except that she saw the dog was in tremendous pain and suffering.
She tried to clean the eyes and the nose, ignorant of the stuff sprayed on the dog.
Next thing that happened was that she herself got the residues of the pepper spray on her hands and knees suffering strong pain and irritation.
Yes, fervent and loyal blog readers, there are assholes on ATV's driving around with pepper spray hurting dogs in a sadistic way .
Another event this week was that there were visitors in the Fuso Szulc.
Ants.
Real big ones.
What to do?
Ants can bite and cause pain and irritation.
But only when they are cornered.
It was admired that these big ants manage to live in a desert.
Because that is where the Fuso Szulc is located these days.
And it was admired that these animals were so smart to find out that inside the Fuso Szulc was delicious food for them.
From far away they had been smelling it or sensing it and they managed to find their way inside.
Now recently, on the BBC radio, a program interviewed a scientist who had been studying ants.
Animals that are tremendously sophisticated.
For example, they have a way to communicate with each other by sound.
Yes, ants make sounds that make sense.
To inform the others that there is food.
Or danger.
The scientist had managed to record these sounds the ants make.
So, knowing how very much advanced ants are, how on earth could someone be hostile towards them when they come to visit?
Hence, it was decided that the ants were welcome.
Could feed themselves as they pleased.
The next revelation was that it is OK to have ants around.
They are in fact very helpful.
They join in keeping the place clean.
However, to not let things get out of hand, the interior of the Fuso Szulc was kept tidy more than ever.
No more food crumbles on the table and the floor.
Garbage removed frequently.
And guess what?
After two days the ants were gone.
This feels good.
The ants came.
Had their party.
And moved on.
With not one killed.
By simply being a little tolerant and respectful.
Pepper spray...
Aggressiveness is never a good solution.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To hear ants, go to:
http://home.olemiss.edu/~hickling/
.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Running a party.
Yesterday the daily running was together with Annie Lennox.
Annie Lennox?
The Scottish singer formerly from the Eurythmics?
Yes, her.
And for this Nicolas Sarkozy was responsible.
The president of France.
He is into running as well to stay fit.
But recently he collapsed while doing this exercise and was taken to hospital.
Had to be checked inside out.
And he is not the only one becoming unwell while running.
Senior citizens frequently collapse while running and sometimes even die of a heart attack.
Sarkozy and the others are sending the message that running is not just putting on Nike’s and marathon clothes.
And next fight aging by fanatically making daily miles at mule speed.
In this way the exercise is even counterproductive because it comes with too much stress.
And for stress a senior citizen is as vulnerable as an adolescent for pimples.
Over here the conviction is that doing exercises to stay in good physical shape is a perfect and meaningful thing to do.
However, with one condition.
It has to be done in a totally relaxed way.
Without any stress whatsoever.
As a pleasure and a beautiful privilege.
An opportunity to enjoy.
If the exercise is performed in this relaxed way, it will be truly beneficial.
In two ways.
During the time of the exercise there is the pleasure and joy.
And then there are the physical benefits for the longer term.
With total absence of stress.
So, what has this to do with Annie Lennox?
In order to make the running even more pleasant, an iPod is carried along.
And yesterday it was the album “Diva” of Annie Lennox that was musically accompanying the 45 minutes run.
It was a party!
.
Annie Lennox?
The Scottish singer formerly from the Eurythmics?
Yes, her.
And for this Nicolas Sarkozy was responsible.
The president of France.
He is into running as well to stay fit.
But recently he collapsed while doing this exercise and was taken to hospital.
Had to be checked inside out.
And he is not the only one becoming unwell while running.
Senior citizens frequently collapse while running and sometimes even die of a heart attack.
Sarkozy and the others are sending the message that running is not just putting on Nike’s and marathon clothes.
And next fight aging by fanatically making daily miles at mule speed.
In this way the exercise is even counterproductive because it comes with too much stress.
And for stress a senior citizen is as vulnerable as an adolescent for pimples.
Over here the conviction is that doing exercises to stay in good physical shape is a perfect and meaningful thing to do.
However, with one condition.
It has to be done in a totally relaxed way.
Without any stress whatsoever.
As a pleasure and a beautiful privilege.
An opportunity to enjoy.
If the exercise is performed in this relaxed way, it will be truly beneficial.
In two ways.
During the time of the exercise there is the pleasure and joy.
And then there are the physical benefits for the longer term.
With total absence of stress.
So, what has this to do with Annie Lennox?
In order to make the running even more pleasant, an iPod is carried along.
And yesterday it was the album “Diva” of Annie Lennox that was musically accompanying the 45 minutes run.
It was a party!
.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Is life an endless series of mountains to climb?
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended...”
A Russian friend, the brilliant photographer Masha Osipova, published this text on Facebook today.
And immediately feelings of sadness were experienced.
For a friend to see life in that way.
Because it seems to express defeatism.
Like life is a hopeless course of things one can only passively suffer.
Life being only an endless series of mountains to climb and responsibilities to have.
And although once on top a vista can be enjoyed, by stealing a view, obligation is felt to go down quickly to suffer climbing a new mountain.
It is a way of handling the own life as almost a burden.
Like a tough job.
A martyrdom.
An exhausting, permanent expedition.
And life is like that.
That is, if one chooses life to be in that way.
Life can be the way of the Cross.
Or…….. life can be a beautiful and graceful dance.
It is all in the mind and heart which approach to life one chooses.
However, the way one chooses to see life: it is not always a choice.
In many cases it is an imposition.
Things can happen in the life of a person that decide how life is experienced.
Infiltrating and dominating the point of view with which life is approached.
A good example we find in the statement of the friend.
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
Indeed, if that is what life has to offer, to get as the only reward of climbing a hill to see many more hills to climb, life sucks for sure.
What an exhausting, demoralizing and de-motivating exercise life is, when it is seen in that way.
No wonder people with that philosophy in life will at one point just sit down halfway a hill and give up.
Stopping their process of growing.
But, is it true that in life one finds on the top of the hill only more hills to climb?
Yes and no.
It is up to ourselves once arrived on top of a hill to come to conclusions.
One conclusion to consider is that each hilltop reached, can be the last one in life.
Because in principle possibly the climber can shortly after reaching a top die.
Before to start climbing the next hill.
Hence, the hills that can be seen from the top reached, are not necessarily the next ones to climb.
When that is realized, the importance of the hilltop on which one is standing becomes of much greater importance.
And what lies possibly ahead, diminishes in importance.
It is about the relevance between where one is versus where one may go.
A practical and pragmatic person will quickly decide that the hilltop reached is the best ever and the next ones are for another day to worry about.
To be able to enjoy 100 % where one is without being bothered what may or not may come.
To worry about the future and have that influence the actual moment of living, comes from not having eliminated yet the power of the imposition.
Past experiences at a younger age disrupt existence often profoundly.
Often they have a deep and long emotional impact.
That keeps a person in the past through memories and traumas.
When somebody is haunted by the past, one is worried about the future.
And consequently, the landscape of life is perceived as a series of cruel mountains to climb.
Dealing with the past and being able to leave that behind makes one reach hilltops without much effort.
Where one dances celebrating life as the perfect party.
Let’s dance, Masha!
A Russian friend, the brilliant photographer Masha Osipova, published this text on Facebook today.
And immediately feelings of sadness were experienced.
For a friend to see life in that way.
Because it seems to express defeatism.
Like life is a hopeless course of things one can only passively suffer.
Life being only an endless series of mountains to climb and responsibilities to have.
And although once on top a vista can be enjoyed, by stealing a view, obligation is felt to go down quickly to suffer climbing a new mountain.
It is a way of handling the own life as almost a burden.
Like a tough job.
A martyrdom.
An exhausting, permanent expedition.
And life is like that.
That is, if one chooses life to be in that way.
Life can be the way of the Cross.
Or…….. life can be a beautiful and graceful dance.
It is all in the mind and heart which approach to life one chooses.
However, the way one chooses to see life: it is not always a choice.
In many cases it is an imposition.
Things can happen in the life of a person that decide how life is experienced.
Infiltrating and dominating the point of view with which life is approached.
A good example we find in the statement of the friend.
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
Indeed, if that is what life has to offer, to get as the only reward of climbing a hill to see many more hills to climb, life sucks for sure.
What an exhausting, demoralizing and de-motivating exercise life is, when it is seen in that way.
No wonder people with that philosophy in life will at one point just sit down halfway a hill and give up.
Stopping their process of growing.
But, is it true that in life one finds on the top of the hill only more hills to climb?
Yes and no.
It is up to ourselves once arrived on top of a hill to come to conclusions.
One conclusion to consider is that each hilltop reached, can be the last one in life.
Because in principle possibly the climber can shortly after reaching a top die.
Before to start climbing the next hill.
Hence, the hills that can be seen from the top reached, are not necessarily the next ones to climb.
When that is realized, the importance of the hilltop on which one is standing becomes of much greater importance.
And what lies possibly ahead, diminishes in importance.
It is about the relevance between where one is versus where one may go.
A practical and pragmatic person will quickly decide that the hilltop reached is the best ever and the next ones are for another day to worry about.
To be able to enjoy 100 % where one is without being bothered what may or not may come.
To worry about the future and have that influence the actual moment of living, comes from not having eliminated yet the power of the imposition.
Past experiences at a younger age disrupt existence often profoundly.
Often they have a deep and long emotional impact.
That keeps a person in the past through memories and traumas.
When somebody is haunted by the past, one is worried about the future.
And consequently, the landscape of life is perceived as a series of cruel mountains to climb.
Dealing with the past and being able to leave that behind makes one reach hilltops without much effort.
Where one dances celebrating life as the perfect party.
Let’s dance, Masha!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
A noisy night
Where to spend the night while living like a nomad is a very essential thing.
First of all, it needs to be a safe place.
Makes no sense to wander this world and be slit the throat by some guys interested in the Apple computer and some cash.
Second priority is that it has to be a quiet place.
Sleeping is most enjoyed when outside it is peaceful.
No noises like trucks and cars passing by.
Or people quarrelling.
Or a generator running.
Having these objectives in mind while travelling, most of the time it is successful.
But sometimes it is unavoidable to fall into a trap.
Like last night.
Anna Karen and Roberto, their kids and their family are long time friends in Ciudad Constitucion, Baja California, Mexico.
Where they have a “campestre”.
A place where the local population comes to for relaxing under palm trees and swimming in the huge pool.
Besides, the family has orange tree plantations.
They make orange juice that they sell in the region.
And they sell the oranges for export.
Last year they got 0,14 Mexican Pesos per kilo.
This year 4,18 Mexican Pesos…
By the way, Anna Karen said, tonight we have rented the “campestre” out for a big wedding party.
And a large bus appeared soon with on its side “orchestra”.
From former experiences it had be learned that a trap was opening.
Yes, Anna Karen explained, it is going to be noisy tonight until at least 4 o’clock in the morning.
Wow!
Better run for a better place to spend the night as close to the swimming pool: the usual campsite.
So, a spot was found in between the orange trees far behind the “campestre”.
But the volume of a Mexican wedding party band was seriously underestimated.
Especially the bass guitar and the drums made sounds that carried for miles.
That inspired the birds living in the orange trees.
The poor creatures couldn’t sleep either and got inspired to sing along with the Mexican band.
So repeatedly the enterprising photographer woke up by the singing of the birds believing it was time to get ready for a new day while it was in the middle of the night.
And then there were the dogs.
A lot of them.
They had discovered on their nightly roaming expedition this strange vehicle in between the orange trees.
Most unusual and strange and maybe threatening.
So they grouped around it to bark the night away.
Testing each other’s volume and alertness.
Making so much noise that probably at the wedding party they were even wondering what was going on in the orange tree plantation.
It is easy in those circumstances to feel miserable.
To feel damned.
Victimized.
Frustrated.
Irritated.
Hopeless and helpless.
Desperate.
Suicidal.
But that all makes no sense.
That is being silly Billy himself.
Better to use Zen ways of dealing with life in those dramatic circumstances.
To remain relaxed.
And to imagine what a good time these people have at the wedding party.
What a good musicians the “orchestra” are.
What an opportunity the birds have for experiencing a pre-morning at night.
To feel happy for the dogs that they have something to be upset about together.
With this attitude, before we know, it is discovered that the wedding party is over, the birds asleep again and the dogs probably fucking each other now.
The permanent pilgrim able to enter the land of the thousand dreams forever and ever.
Until the sun comes up.
And the birds start singing again.
A new day so beautiful that last night does not count anymore.
.
First of all, it needs to be a safe place.
Makes no sense to wander this world and be slit the throat by some guys interested in the Apple computer and some cash.
Second priority is that it has to be a quiet place.
Sleeping is most enjoyed when outside it is peaceful.
No noises like trucks and cars passing by.
Or people quarrelling.
Or a generator running.
Having these objectives in mind while travelling, most of the time it is successful.
But sometimes it is unavoidable to fall into a trap.
Like last night.
Anna Karen and Roberto, their kids and their family are long time friends in Ciudad Constitucion, Baja California, Mexico.
Where they have a “campestre”.
A place where the local population comes to for relaxing under palm trees and swimming in the huge pool.
Besides, the family has orange tree plantations.
They make orange juice that they sell in the region.
And they sell the oranges for export.
Last year they got 0,14 Mexican Pesos per kilo.
This year 4,18 Mexican Pesos…
By the way, Anna Karen said, tonight we have rented the “campestre” out for a big wedding party.
And a large bus appeared soon with on its side “orchestra”.
From former experiences it had be learned that a trap was opening.
Yes, Anna Karen explained, it is going to be noisy tonight until at least 4 o’clock in the morning.
Wow!
Better run for a better place to spend the night as close to the swimming pool: the usual campsite.
So, a spot was found in between the orange trees far behind the “campestre”.
But the volume of a Mexican wedding party band was seriously underestimated.
Especially the bass guitar and the drums made sounds that carried for miles.
That inspired the birds living in the orange trees.
The poor creatures couldn’t sleep either and got inspired to sing along with the Mexican band.
So repeatedly the enterprising photographer woke up by the singing of the birds believing it was time to get ready for a new day while it was in the middle of the night.
And then there were the dogs.
A lot of them.
They had discovered on their nightly roaming expedition this strange vehicle in between the orange trees.
Most unusual and strange and maybe threatening.
So they grouped around it to bark the night away.
Testing each other’s volume and alertness.
Making so much noise that probably at the wedding party they were even wondering what was going on in the orange tree plantation.
It is easy in those circumstances to feel miserable.
To feel damned.
Victimized.
Frustrated.
Irritated.
Hopeless and helpless.
Desperate.
Suicidal.
But that all makes no sense.
That is being silly Billy himself.
Better to use Zen ways of dealing with life in those dramatic circumstances.
To remain relaxed.
And to imagine what a good time these people have at the wedding party.
What a good musicians the “orchestra” are.
What an opportunity the birds have for experiencing a pre-morning at night.
To feel happy for the dogs that they have something to be upset about together.
With this attitude, before we know, it is discovered that the wedding party is over, the birds asleep again and the dogs probably fucking each other now.
The permanent pilgrim able to enter the land of the thousand dreams forever and ever.
Until the sun comes up.
And the birds start singing again.
A new day so beautiful that last night does not count anymore.
.
Monday, June 29, 2009
+ and -
Many fervent and loyal blog readers will remember a recent posting about a woman whose son was killed.
How she went to the prison where the killer was locked up.
How she had a confrontation with the criminal and was able to forgive him.
There is a second part to this story.
Once this remarkable lady had been able to forgive the killer of her son, she had herself trained as a social worker.
Specialised in assisting and guiding drug addicts.
We must remember that the killer of her son was a young man addicted to drugs.
And that he committed his fatal crime while under the influence.
Her work became one of the efforts to have young people that fall victim to drugs-use see this is not the way to live.
There is another friend who lost her two children in traffic accidents.
She was so incredibly devastated by these events: she lost any appetite for life.
And eventually killed herself with an overdose of sleeping tablets.
This was a very tragic event, not in the least for her close friends.
We may wonder why one person is able to sublimate a dramatic event in life and the other is not.
To turn negativity into positivism.
There must be an inner power.
Elements in the core.
Substance in the heart and soul.
That is able to handle negative input in a way that it changes into positive output.
Characteristics of a personality we call optimism or pessimism.
One can be an optimist.
Or one can be a pessimist.
Obviously, going through life as an optimist is by far the preferred way.
But it is not something that can be learned.
Someone is an optimist or a pessimist by nature.
There may be explanations to understand why someone is able to sublimate and why another person is unable.
Why one is an optimist by nature and another a pessimist.
However, every explanation is a speculation.
An interpretation.
There is no absolute truth in this matter.
No scientific explanation.
Nevertheless, pessimists are bombarded by methods promising a change.
Methods to have a negative approach to existence u-turned into always seeing the bright side of life.
Several of these methods actually work.
By putting a layer on top of the personality of the pessimist.
The natural pessimism is covered completely and life is lived from a doctrine.
But is real change of a personality possible?
Fundamentally?
Drastically?
Don’t be too optimistic about that!
Or be pessimistic, if you prefer.
.
How she went to the prison where the killer was locked up.
How she had a confrontation with the criminal and was able to forgive him.
There is a second part to this story.
Once this remarkable lady had been able to forgive the killer of her son, she had herself trained as a social worker.
Specialised in assisting and guiding drug addicts.
We must remember that the killer of her son was a young man addicted to drugs.
And that he committed his fatal crime while under the influence.
Her work became one of the efforts to have young people that fall victim to drugs-use see this is not the way to live.
There is another friend who lost her two children in traffic accidents.
She was so incredibly devastated by these events: she lost any appetite for life.
And eventually killed herself with an overdose of sleeping tablets.
This was a very tragic event, not in the least for her close friends.
We may wonder why one person is able to sublimate a dramatic event in life and the other is not.
To turn negativity into positivism.
There must be an inner power.
Elements in the core.
Substance in the heart and soul.
That is able to handle negative input in a way that it changes into positive output.
Characteristics of a personality we call optimism or pessimism.
One can be an optimist.
Or one can be a pessimist.
Obviously, going through life as an optimist is by far the preferred way.
But it is not something that can be learned.
Someone is an optimist or a pessimist by nature.
There may be explanations to understand why someone is able to sublimate and why another person is unable.
Why one is an optimist by nature and another a pessimist.
However, every explanation is a speculation.
An interpretation.
There is no absolute truth in this matter.
No scientific explanation.
Nevertheless, pessimists are bombarded by methods promising a change.
Methods to have a negative approach to existence u-turned into always seeing the bright side of life.
Several of these methods actually work.
By putting a layer on top of the personality of the pessimist.
The natural pessimism is covered completely and life is lived from a doctrine.
But is real change of a personality possible?
Fundamentally?
Drastically?
Don’t be too optimistic about that!
Or be pessimistic, if you prefer.
.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
To forgive
Yesterday a dinner at a friend’s place in Laguna Beach, California, USA.
A beautiful woman told the story how her 21-year-old son was killed.
He was shot in the streets just like that.
By a guy under the influence of drugs.
The murderer was caught and got 15 years in prison.
The mother of the killed son was in the courtroom and saw the culprit.
Now clean and sober, it was a young guy looking normal and innocent.
Of course the mother was devastated.
And decided some time later to go to the prison to see the assassin of her son.
In order for herself to close a chapter in her life and to be able to go on.
Not to remain emotionally stuck in this tragic event.
She managed to get into the prison and even to have a private meeting with the condemned.
There, the criminal told that he felt very, very sorry.
That not one day passed by without him having deep regret.
That often he was wishing he could turn back all the events.
It was there and then the mother of the deceased son decided to forgive the killer of her son.
And this she told him.
This remarkable woman was born on a farm.
When it was harvest time she would help her father.
She was able to lift up hay bales two rows high.
“Man, was I strong in those days”, she said.
And she still is.
A beautiful woman told the story how her 21-year-old son was killed.
He was shot in the streets just like that.
By a guy under the influence of drugs.
The murderer was caught and got 15 years in prison.
The mother of the killed son was in the courtroom and saw the culprit.
Now clean and sober, it was a young guy looking normal and innocent.
Of course the mother was devastated.
And decided some time later to go to the prison to see the assassin of her son.
In order for herself to close a chapter in her life and to be able to go on.
Not to remain emotionally stuck in this tragic event.
She managed to get into the prison and even to have a private meeting with the condemned.
There, the criminal told that he felt very, very sorry.
That not one day passed by without him having deep regret.
That often he was wishing he could turn back all the events.
It was there and then the mother of the deceased son decided to forgive the killer of her son.
And this she told him.
This remarkable woman was born on a farm.
When it was harvest time she would help her father.
She was able to lift up hay bales two rows high.
“Man, was I strong in those days”, she said.
And she still is.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sturdy steps
In a fish restaurant in Temecula, California, USA.
Upon entering the eating place a large aquarium.
Inside a large yellow eel that was remembered from a previous visit to this restaurant more than a year ago.
So this eel was spending his life in a space that must be for him extremely small used as he is to the ocean where he can’t reach the end.
Would an eel be aware of this?
And be upset about his confinement?
Obviously these kinds of thoughts, that may result in sadness and being upset about the faith of the eel, are not intended by the restaurant staff.
The aquarium is there to give you a good feeling.
About the sea.
About fish.
And you are not supposed to realise that fish are brutally caught, killed, slaughtered, butchered, cooked and swallowed.
The menu offered all kinds of fish.
Like “Butterfish fas”.
Now, what is “fas”?
The waitress was asked this question and “fas” means “frozen at sea”.
Good to know because it means the fish has not been caught and been rotting on the ship until finally a freezer was found once arrived in harbour.
The menu also offered freshly caught Abalone from Mexico.
At $ 65 per person.
Oh dear, oh dear, the economic times are so hard on us.
But it seems that there are still people who order Abalone.
Otherwise they wouldn’t bring it to the restaurant.
Eating a plate of the edible mollusk of the warm seas that has a shallow ear-shell lined with mother-of-pearl and pierced with respiratory holes.
For a price a person could live of for one week when shopping at “Food4Less” supermarket.
So, the conversation with the two best friends quickly turned to a vital question: “Did you ever make a real big mistake in your life?”
The friends are a couple.
The man was thinking and eventually said: “No”.
The woman was thinking and said: “Yes”.
Because, once in her life, she had had a woman friend she had totally trusted.
But this trust had been shattered: the friend had betrayed her.
Of course the two men in her company insisted immediately this could not be considered a real big mistake in her life.
It is never a mistake to trust someone.
It is a big mistake not to respect the trust that is offered and accepted.
Maybe there are only two real big mistakes a human being can make.
The first one is to terminate the life of another person.
And the other big mistake is to finish the own life.
Besides that, everything else are sturdy steps of the dance life is.
.
Upon entering the eating place a large aquarium.
Inside a large yellow eel that was remembered from a previous visit to this restaurant more than a year ago.
So this eel was spending his life in a space that must be for him extremely small used as he is to the ocean where he can’t reach the end.
Would an eel be aware of this?
And be upset about his confinement?
Obviously these kinds of thoughts, that may result in sadness and being upset about the faith of the eel, are not intended by the restaurant staff.
The aquarium is there to give you a good feeling.
About the sea.
About fish.
And you are not supposed to realise that fish are brutally caught, killed, slaughtered, butchered, cooked and swallowed.
The menu offered all kinds of fish.
Like “Butterfish fas”.
Now, what is “fas”?
The waitress was asked this question and “fas” means “frozen at sea”.
Good to know because it means the fish has not been caught and been rotting on the ship until finally a freezer was found once arrived in harbour.
The menu also offered freshly caught Abalone from Mexico.
At $ 65 per person.
Oh dear, oh dear, the economic times are so hard on us.
But it seems that there are still people who order Abalone.
Otherwise they wouldn’t bring it to the restaurant.
Eating a plate of the edible mollusk of the warm seas that has a shallow ear-shell lined with mother-of-pearl and pierced with respiratory holes.
For a price a person could live of for one week when shopping at “Food4Less” supermarket.
So, the conversation with the two best friends quickly turned to a vital question: “Did you ever make a real big mistake in your life?”
The friends are a couple.
The man was thinking and eventually said: “No”.
The woman was thinking and said: “Yes”.
Because, once in her life, she had had a woman friend she had totally trusted.
But this trust had been shattered: the friend had betrayed her.
Of course the two men in her company insisted immediately this could not be considered a real big mistake in her life.
It is never a mistake to trust someone.
It is a big mistake not to respect the trust that is offered and accepted.
Maybe there are only two real big mistakes a human being can make.
The first one is to terminate the life of another person.
And the other big mistake is to finish the own life.
Besides that, everything else are sturdy steps of the dance life is.
.
Monday, June 22, 2009
We are stupid
In nature a lot happens.
Snow melts.
Trees grow.
Animals hunt.
Bees fly.
Sun shines.
All the phenomenons that happen in nature, we can understand.
The snow melts because the temperature rises.
The trees grow because their roots find water.
The animals hunt in order to have food and eat.
The bees fly because walking takes too much time.
And the sun shines because we are close to a sun.
Nothing complicated.
All very easy to understand and explain.
However, if it concerns the behaviour of human beings, often it is much more difficult to understand their phenomenons.
In fact, we human beings, are very erratic creatures.
Harder to understand compared to nature.
All of us, including you and also the pioneering photographer, we are stupid.
Now that said, we could try to understand why we are stupid.
And for that we are too stupid too.
It is so bad that even the interference of God, who has send his own Son to fix matters here, has not helped.
And all efforts of well intending human beings, like Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Baden Powell and Mother Teresa to alleviate our stupidity: can anyone point out it made us less stupid?
Even the appearance among us of enlightened persons like Osho and Confucius: they only demonstrated eventually how stupid we are.
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung explained us how our psychology works but in fact only proving how inadequate it is.
Now, what to do?
The problem is that any answer to this question will be stupid as well.
Except maybe one answer…
Which is that we simply must give up.
Stop living as we do.
We must give up autonomy and authority.
And put ourselves under the command of nature.
We must let ourselves rule by nature.
When to decide to do something, we turn to nature to find the answer there.
Does that make sense?
Many people will say it doesn’t.
But then, does the actual situation make sense?
Well??
So, let’s go.
To follow the melting snow, the growing tree, the busy bee and the warm sun.
.
Snow melts.
Trees grow.
Animals hunt.
Bees fly.
Sun shines.
All the phenomenons that happen in nature, we can understand.
The snow melts because the temperature rises.
The trees grow because their roots find water.
The animals hunt in order to have food and eat.
The bees fly because walking takes too much time.
And the sun shines because we are close to a sun.
Nothing complicated.
All very easy to understand and explain.
However, if it concerns the behaviour of human beings, often it is much more difficult to understand their phenomenons.
In fact, we human beings, are very erratic creatures.
Harder to understand compared to nature.
Because we are stupid.Yes, dear fervent and loyal blog readers, it is time someone stands up and tells the truth.
All of us, including you and also the pioneering photographer, we are stupid.
Now that said, we could try to understand why we are stupid.
And for that we are too stupid too.
It is so bad that even the interference of God, who has send his own Son to fix matters here, has not helped.
And all efforts of well intending human beings, like Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Baden Powell and Mother Teresa to alleviate our stupidity: can anyone point out it made us less stupid?
Even the appearance among us of enlightened persons like Osho and Confucius: they only demonstrated eventually how stupid we are.
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung explained us how our psychology works but in fact only proving how inadequate it is.
Now, what to do?
The problem is that any answer to this question will be stupid as well.
Except maybe one answer…
Which is that we simply must give up.
Stop living as we do.
We must give up autonomy and authority.
And put ourselves under the command of nature.
We must let ourselves rule by nature.
When to decide to do something, we turn to nature to find the answer there.
Does that make sense?
Many people will say it doesn’t.
But then, does the actual situation make sense?
Well??
So, let’s go.
To follow the melting snow, the growing tree, the busy bee and the warm sun.
.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
A quality encounter
These days a most preferred way of living is possible.
Each morning it is unknown where the journey will go, who will be met, what will happen as events and where at the end of the day the night will be spend.
It is like getting a big bag full of presents each morning and one by one they are taken out and appreciated.
Yesterday the journey went from Wendover to Ely in Nevada.
A long road through sweet mountains with few inhabitants.
Deers and coyotes kingdoms.
At one point was a rest area where a stop was made for a simple lunch.
Some bread with cheese and marmalade with decaffeinated tea.
When reading a panel with information about the area, a person approached.
In motorbike clothes.
Taking off the helmet cap to reveal a pretty face of a woman with blond hair.
She asked about the Fuso Szulc and a conversation started that lasted three hours.
A special conversation because in a short time it was very personal.
Without reservation, fear or timidity.
Her name is Kaya.
A name she gave herself.
When she was 18 she legally changed her first name and her family name.
Very unique.
And she made the choice to live a life that is her own.
Unavoidably, that implies someone with that way of thinking needs to travel.
To reach open spaces to fill in the own self.
To detach in order to discover the core of the personal existence.
And have that evolve.
Therefore, she works any job in her home state Montana to make some money and when enough, she takes off on her Kawasaki motorbike to experience freedom and allow the growing process to continue.
It is not often that a person is met in the USA who has an identical approach to life as the pioneering photographer.
Hence, meeting Kaya and sharing with her beautiful moments, is one of the best gifts of this trip.
The moment to continue the journeys came.
One going north, one going south.
The question is now: will they ever meet again?
.
Each morning it is unknown where the journey will go, who will be met, what will happen as events and where at the end of the day the night will be spend.
It is like getting a big bag full of presents each morning and one by one they are taken out and appreciated.
Yesterday the journey went from Wendover to Ely in Nevada.
A long road through sweet mountains with few inhabitants.
Deers and coyotes kingdoms.
At one point was a rest area where a stop was made for a simple lunch.
Some bread with cheese and marmalade with decaffeinated tea.
When reading a panel with information about the area, a person approached.
In motorbike clothes.
Taking off the helmet cap to reveal a pretty face of a woman with blond hair.
She asked about the Fuso Szulc and a conversation started that lasted three hours.
A special conversation because in a short time it was very personal.
Without reservation, fear or timidity.
Her name is Kaya.
A name she gave herself.
When she was 18 she legally changed her first name and her family name.
Very unique.
And she made the choice to live a life that is her own.
Unavoidably, that implies someone with that way of thinking needs to travel.
To reach open spaces to fill in the own self.
To detach in order to discover the core of the personal existence.
And have that evolve.
Therefore, she works any job in her home state Montana to make some money and when enough, she takes off on her Kawasaki motorbike to experience freedom and allow the growing process to continue.
It is not often that a person is met in the USA who has an identical approach to life as the pioneering photographer.
Hence, meeting Kaya and sharing with her beautiful moments, is one of the best gifts of this trip.
The moment to continue the journeys came.
One going north, one going south.
The question is now: will they ever meet again?
.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Cool thougths in the hot desert
In the centre of the Mojave Desert, in California, USA, is the town of Baker situated.
A town that lives off the traffic passing by on the I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Lives off people that need to eat, to sleep or need to have their car fixed.
Otherwise, no other income could be generated in Baker since mining for gold and silver in the area is not profitable anymore.
Passing the town of Baker brought back memories.
It has been used in the 80’s as the starting point for making sequences not far from Baker.
In an area of the Mojave Desert known as “Devil’s Playground”.
And in the 90’s, travelling with Judith O., the Chevrolet pickup truck with a Midas camper had its time chain broken and was fixed in Baker.
Driving the I-15 passing Baker, these memories flashed through the mind.
How unique this sequence making was and the love making with Judith O. also.
Reminiscing though is not in the nature.
Memories that are too old and that are brought back to the presence occupy the space for having new experiences.
Otherwise, one may fear to become an old and passive memorizer.
Much more the mind was occupied, while driving through the Mojave Desert on I-15 passing Baker, with what had been heard on Dutch TV recently.
A man was talking about AA.
Alcoholics Anonymous.
And said he had no problems with alcohol.
But that he had problems with life.
That is a stunning statement.
The man explained that when he was drinking, he felt fine.
But when he was sober, he had constantly uneasy experiences.
Fervent and loyal blog readers who know what is drinking, may confirm this observation.
When under the influence of alcohol a “letting it all go”-feeling dominates.
Life becomes more simple.
More easy.
More flexible.
Less overwhelming.
But when sober, many issues are found on the road of life.
There is friction.
Complications.
Hurdles.
This situation may develop into a circle.
Life is good when alcohol is in the blood and life is hard when sober.
Hence, a constant desire is felt to return to being tipsy.
Where life is good.
Even alcoholics know this is not a good thing.
It ruins the health and places a person in an unrealistic and therefore lonely reality.
The issue is that life for most people is not easy.
All of us deal with the things that come on our paths.
Nobody lives in paradise.
Alcohol though is an inadequate and inefficient escape.
Much better is to handle the issues of life in a different way.
To feel good about oneself from within.
Not by influences from outside like alcohol.
One excellent way to feel good about oneself from within is to be involved in sports.
To do for example exercises.
Or to run.
To swim.
To do yoga.
To do Taichi.
Another fantastic way is to do a daily meditation.
To become through meditation more centered and balanced.
So the mind doesn’t get that upset anymore when a new issue in the life arises.
The town of Baker in the Mojave Desert: art, sex and now wisdom.
.
A town that lives off the traffic passing by on the I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Lives off people that need to eat, to sleep or need to have their car fixed.
Otherwise, no other income could be generated in Baker since mining for gold and silver in the area is not profitable anymore.
Passing the town of Baker brought back memories.
It has been used in the 80’s as the starting point for making sequences not far from Baker.
In an area of the Mojave Desert known as “Devil’s Playground”.
And in the 90’s, travelling with Judith O., the Chevrolet pickup truck with a Midas camper had its time chain broken and was fixed in Baker.
Driving the I-15 passing Baker, these memories flashed through the mind.
How unique this sequence making was and the love making with Judith O. also.
Reminiscing though is not in the nature.
Memories that are too old and that are brought back to the presence occupy the space for having new experiences.
Otherwise, one may fear to become an old and passive memorizer.
Much more the mind was occupied, while driving through the Mojave Desert on I-15 passing Baker, with what had been heard on Dutch TV recently.
A man was talking about AA.
Alcoholics Anonymous.
And said he had no problems with alcohol.
But that he had problems with life.
That is a stunning statement.
The man explained that when he was drinking, he felt fine.
But when he was sober, he had constantly uneasy experiences.
Fervent and loyal blog readers who know what is drinking, may confirm this observation.
When under the influence of alcohol a “letting it all go”-feeling dominates.
Life becomes more simple.
More easy.
More flexible.
Less overwhelming.
But when sober, many issues are found on the road of life.
There is friction.
Complications.
Hurdles.
This situation may develop into a circle.
Life is good when alcohol is in the blood and life is hard when sober.
Hence, a constant desire is felt to return to being tipsy.
Where life is good.
Even alcoholics know this is not a good thing.
It ruins the health and places a person in an unrealistic and therefore lonely reality.
The issue is that life for most people is not easy.
All of us deal with the things that come on our paths.
Nobody lives in paradise.
Alcohol though is an inadequate and inefficient escape.
Much better is to handle the issues of life in a different way.
To feel good about oneself from within.
Not by influences from outside like alcohol.
One excellent way to feel good about oneself from within is to be involved in sports.
To do for example exercises.
Or to run.
To swim.
To do yoga.
To do Taichi.
Another fantastic way is to do a daily meditation.
To become through meditation more centered and balanced.
So the mind doesn’t get that upset anymore when a new issue in the life arises.
The town of Baker in the Mojave Desert: art, sex and now wisdom.
.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
A thief or a saint?
If possible when in the USA, around 10.30 in the morning a stop is made.
To have a coffee in a Starbucks Café.
A café latté.
A lot of foamy milk and some coffee.
The coffee is good at Starbucks.
And always it is comfortable.
When the weather is nice, there are chairs and tables outside.
When the weather is wet and cool, there are comfortable tables and chairs inside.
Another advantage of Starbucks is that they sell for $ 1.50 the newspaper called “The New York Times”.
A very good newspaper.
Yesterday, in El Cajon a Starbucks was visited.
The usual order was placed.
A café latté and a newspaper.
Most of the time they ask in a Starbucks the name of the customer.
So they can call your name when the coffee is ready.
Often the tendency is noticed to say:
“My name is Beatrice”.
Or “Jacqueline”.
Reflecting this constant urge to have a laugh in life.
But these Starbucks employees, who are not allowed to be members of a labour union and who are paid not much more than $ 10 an hour, usually are not the kind of people who like jokes.
They work fast and furious within the company guidelines so they won’t take no BS from any guy imposing as a Beatrice or a Jacqueline.
A pity because it would be nice to see the Starbucks clientele watch in amazement when a manly guy walks up to the counter when “Jacqueline” is informed her café latté is ready.
In El Cajon’ Starbucks a strange situation occurred.
After the coffee was obtained it was realized that the employee had forgotten to make the customer pay for the “New York Times”.
Moving to a table the thought was spinning in the head that the situation was not fully correct.
Now, what to do?
Nobody was noticing that the newspaper was not paid for.
So, basically nothing was the matter.
A mistake and confusion when paying hence now coffee and a free newspaper.
But if life is love, isn’t this a taint on the sheet of the virgin?
Aren’t we supposed to pay for what we get?
Even if it is a $ 1.50 newspaper?
The decision was made to give Starbucks and The New York Times what they were entitled to.
Not that it would boost their profits in an important way.
But to have things clear and clean.
And that is worth a fortune.
The girl at the counter was busy.
A line of several customers waiting to place their orders.
But a Starbucks man was on the side.
The manager.
Counting the money.
He was approached and informed that a mistake had happened.
And in front of him was put $ 1.50.
He immediately responded negatively.
“No, no, I can’t accept that money!
You must go and stand in line to pay”.
So now the holy and saintly customer, wishing to purify the love in his life, be as correct as possible, not wanting to be a thief, had to go and stand in line for 5 to 10 minutes to pay for the newspaper.
While his coffee would get cold.
What would you do in this situation, fervent and loyal blog reader?
Send your answer as a comment and inform us about your inventivity or diplomacy.
.
To have a coffee in a Starbucks Café.
A café latté.
A lot of foamy milk and some coffee.
The coffee is good at Starbucks.
And always it is comfortable.
When the weather is nice, there are chairs and tables outside.
When the weather is wet and cool, there are comfortable tables and chairs inside.
Another advantage of Starbucks is that they sell for $ 1.50 the newspaper called “The New York Times”.
A very good newspaper.
Yesterday, in El Cajon a Starbucks was visited.
The usual order was placed.
A café latté and a newspaper.
Most of the time they ask in a Starbucks the name of the customer.
So they can call your name when the coffee is ready.
Often the tendency is noticed to say:
“My name is Beatrice”.
Or “Jacqueline”.
Reflecting this constant urge to have a laugh in life.
But these Starbucks employees, who are not allowed to be members of a labour union and who are paid not much more than $ 10 an hour, usually are not the kind of people who like jokes.
They work fast and furious within the company guidelines so they won’t take no BS from any guy imposing as a Beatrice or a Jacqueline.
A pity because it would be nice to see the Starbucks clientele watch in amazement when a manly guy walks up to the counter when “Jacqueline” is informed her café latté is ready.
In El Cajon’ Starbucks a strange situation occurred.
After the coffee was obtained it was realized that the employee had forgotten to make the customer pay for the “New York Times”.
Moving to a table the thought was spinning in the head that the situation was not fully correct.
Now, what to do?
Nobody was noticing that the newspaper was not paid for.
So, basically nothing was the matter.
A mistake and confusion when paying hence now coffee and a free newspaper.
But if life is love, isn’t this a taint on the sheet of the virgin?
Aren’t we supposed to pay for what we get?
Even if it is a $ 1.50 newspaper?
The decision was made to give Starbucks and The New York Times what they were entitled to.
Not that it would boost their profits in an important way.
But to have things clear and clean.
And that is worth a fortune.
The girl at the counter was busy.
A line of several customers waiting to place their orders.
But a Starbucks man was on the side.
The manager.
Counting the money.
He was approached and informed that a mistake had happened.
And in front of him was put $ 1.50.
He immediately responded negatively.
“No, no, I can’t accept that money!
You must go and stand in line to pay”.
So now the holy and saintly customer, wishing to purify the love in his life, be as correct as possible, not wanting to be a thief, had to go and stand in line for 5 to 10 minutes to pay for the newspaper.
While his coffee would get cold.
What would you do in this situation, fervent and loyal blog reader?
Send your answer as a comment and inform us about your inventivity or diplomacy.
.
Monday, April 13, 2009
The child within whining
Because of Easter it is a coming and going of family and friends in the house of the cousin in the small town of Nowy Sacz in Poland.
Who are all most pleased to meet a person related to them who comes from far away.
But who doesn’t speak Polish and after a polite 5 minutes of chatting in either English, German or French, quickly the conversation changes into Polish.
That always becomes lively but someone who doesn’t understand Polish has no clue what they are talking about.
If it goes on too long and the presence serves no more purpose and it all becomes very boring, it is no problem for anybody when there is a retreat and the job of scanning negatives is continued.
Yesterday a couple came for tea but that soon changed for whiskey.
She was what is called a well-proportioned lady.
In other words, a fat woman.
A local dentist and single.
He was her brother in law and a graphic designer: lean and athletic.
How loud and dominating this woman was.
Later cousin Jerzek explained she was single because until now she considered no man good enough for her.
At a certain moment cousin Jerzek proudly put 3 of the photo books of the family photographer on the table for the visitors to see.
As the following conversation was all in Polish, obviously the role of observer of the situation was the only thing left to do.
Usually people ask questions when they see the books or the comments are understood.
But this time it was like being in a cocoon.
Where emotions were reaching anger level.
This was not because of the man.
He had told he had been studying at the Academy of the Arts in Cracow, Poland.
Hence, he had a certain artistic background.
And this could be seen.
Carefully he turned the pages of the books and studied every image he saw.
Obviously he had never seen this kind of photography and his body language said he was surprised and amused.
However, the woman had a book and turned the pages but without looking at the images at all.
She was just talking with this loud voice and watching the persons listening to her.
Telling stories how she is in competition with another local female dentist.
Having zero interest in the photo book.
This made the author rage.
Getting very upset with that lady.
To see a book, made by the person present, and then so clearly show disinterest and disdain was too much to take.
Some people have temperament.
Which means a sudden rising of emotions triggered by an event.
It is like hand warm water suddenly starts to be boiling hot.
And this blinds the temperamental person who consequently does things later deeply regretted.
The thought came up, while in the boiling water, to stand up, go to the fat lady, rip the book from her hands and say:
“You are not worth to see my books”.
However, this would have been completely in violation with the spiritual side and with all the philosophies that are sold here on the website and in the many e-mails to dear friends.
Therefore the technique learned from yoga teacher Kixe Grau in Cadaques, Spain was adapted.
To breathe deeply in and let the air go out slowly and become centred again.
Therefore the teachings learned from wise and balanced friend Karine Versluis were adapted.
To realize that each person has a way in life and that your own way and that of others should be respected and not mixed up.
It was an arduous experience.
The childish side inside who wants everybody to love the books and praise them as the best.
And the grown up side that accepts that every person has a way and that this should not affect the own mountain to climb.
This experience showed there is still a child inside.
Who doesn’t get in the way anymore.
.
Who are all most pleased to meet a person related to them who comes from far away.
But who doesn’t speak Polish and after a polite 5 minutes of chatting in either English, German or French, quickly the conversation changes into Polish.
That always becomes lively but someone who doesn’t understand Polish has no clue what they are talking about.
If it goes on too long and the presence serves no more purpose and it all becomes very boring, it is no problem for anybody when there is a retreat and the job of scanning negatives is continued.
Yesterday a couple came for tea but that soon changed for whiskey.
She was what is called a well-proportioned lady.
In other words, a fat woman.
A local dentist and single.
He was her brother in law and a graphic designer: lean and athletic.
How loud and dominating this woman was.
Later cousin Jerzek explained she was single because until now she considered no man good enough for her.
At a certain moment cousin Jerzek proudly put 3 of the photo books of the family photographer on the table for the visitors to see.
As the following conversation was all in Polish, obviously the role of observer of the situation was the only thing left to do.
Usually people ask questions when they see the books or the comments are understood.
But this time it was like being in a cocoon.
Where emotions were reaching anger level.
This was not because of the man.
He had told he had been studying at the Academy of the Arts in Cracow, Poland.
Hence, he had a certain artistic background.
And this could be seen.
Carefully he turned the pages of the books and studied every image he saw.
Obviously he had never seen this kind of photography and his body language said he was surprised and amused.
However, the woman had a book and turned the pages but without looking at the images at all.
She was just talking with this loud voice and watching the persons listening to her.
Telling stories how she is in competition with another local female dentist.
Having zero interest in the photo book.
This made the author rage.
Getting very upset with that lady.
To see a book, made by the person present, and then so clearly show disinterest and disdain was too much to take.
Some people have temperament.
Which means a sudden rising of emotions triggered by an event.
It is like hand warm water suddenly starts to be boiling hot.
And this blinds the temperamental person who consequently does things later deeply regretted.
The thought came up, while in the boiling water, to stand up, go to the fat lady, rip the book from her hands and say:
“You are not worth to see my books”.
However, this would have been completely in violation with the spiritual side and with all the philosophies that are sold here on the website and in the many e-mails to dear friends.
Therefore the technique learned from yoga teacher Kixe Grau in Cadaques, Spain was adapted.
To breathe deeply in and let the air go out slowly and become centred again.
Therefore the teachings learned from wise and balanced friend Karine Versluis were adapted.
To realize that each person has a way in life and that your own way and that of others should be respected and not mixed up.
It was an arduous experience.
The childish side inside who wants everybody to love the books and praise them as the best.
And the grown up side that accepts that every person has a way and that this should not affect the own mountain to climb.
This experience showed there is still a child inside.
Who doesn’t get in the way anymore.
.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Be a bee
One could say we live in times of great uncertainty.
The US Government is taking the biggest gamble ever in history.
Getting as deep in debt as never before hoping that the economy will revive and that the trillions borrowed can be paid back.
When one listens to the commentaries on radio and TV, we hear only two tunes.
One is singing that all will be well.
The other that we are approaching total catastrophe.
Who can decide with ultimate authority who is right and who is wrong?
Nobody, ladies and gentlemen.
However we imagine the outcome will be, it will be different.
So let’s lower the eyes from the future and point them to the present.
To the own well being this very moment.
Towards the people that are surrounding us.
To the nature embracing us.
And all that we see now does not need any explanation or prediction.
We know what it is and we can enjoy it.
We can find peace and harmony in our existence as it is right now.
This is rather important.
Because anything that is going to happen in the future will come from how a person lives now.
It is a direct line from now to next.
A perspective originating in the now and widening into the future.
Hence, the more happiness, harmony and peace we achieve in our daily life now, the more happy, healthy and harmonious we will be in the time to come.
And this doesn’t depend on what Barack Obama decides to do to fix the economy.
Happiness and harmony is a personal thing.
Rain or shine.
Of course these thoughts come up in the mind because tomorrow an attempt will be made to cross the Mexican-American border.
Because the last time in Tijuana it was explained by the US Immigration authorities that crossing there could only happen when first obtaining visa documents from the American consulate in Tijuana, tomorrow the border crossing at Tecate will be tried.
Tecate is 46 kilometres (29 miles) east from Tijuana and is reached taking a mountain road from Ensenada.
The mind is forced now not to think and speculate about crossing the border.
But to focus on that cat in front of the Fuso Szulc right now.
Bathing in the early sunshine while watchful to catch an innocent bird.
.
The US Government is taking the biggest gamble ever in history.
Getting as deep in debt as never before hoping that the economy will revive and that the trillions borrowed can be paid back.
When one listens to the commentaries on radio and TV, we hear only two tunes.
One is singing that all will be well.
The other that we are approaching total catastrophe.
Who can decide with ultimate authority who is right and who is wrong?
Nobody, ladies and gentlemen.
However we imagine the outcome will be, it will be different.
So let’s lower the eyes from the future and point them to the present.
To the own well being this very moment.
Towards the people that are surrounding us.
To the nature embracing us.
And all that we see now does not need any explanation or prediction.
We know what it is and we can enjoy it.
We can find peace and harmony in our existence as it is right now.
This is rather important.
Because anything that is going to happen in the future will come from how a person lives now.
It is a direct line from now to next.
A perspective originating in the now and widening into the future.
Hence, the more happiness, harmony and peace we achieve in our daily life now, the more happy, healthy and harmonious we will be in the time to come.
And this doesn’t depend on what Barack Obama decides to do to fix the economy.
Happiness and harmony is a personal thing.
Rain or shine.
Of course these thoughts come up in the mind because tomorrow an attempt will be made to cross the Mexican-American border.
Because the last time in Tijuana it was explained by the US Immigration authorities that crossing there could only happen when first obtaining visa documents from the American consulate in Tijuana, tomorrow the border crossing at Tecate will be tried.
Tecate is 46 kilometres (29 miles) east from Tijuana and is reached taking a mountain road from Ensenada.
The mind is forced now not to think and speculate about crossing the border.
But to focus on that cat in front of the Fuso Szulc right now.
Bathing in the early sunshine while watchful to catch an innocent bird.
.
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