Fools Are Deaf To Wise Words

  Picture of Buddha from brandrea.files.wordpress.com

 

Sometimes it seems that people ask for advice, and, when they receive it, they get angry and ignore it.  Buddha explains this action very nicely in the following story.

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                    New Homes for the Tree Spirits 

Once upon a time, as happens to all beings, the King of the Tree Spirits died. King Sakka, ruler of the Heaven of 33, appointed a new King of the Tree Spirits. As his first official act, the new king sent out a proclamation that every tree spirit should choose a tree to live in. Likewise it was stated that every tree was to be pleased with its resident spirit.

There just so happened to be a very wise tree spirit who was the leader of a large clan. He advised his clan members not to live in freestanding trees. Instead it would be safer to live in the forest trees near him. The wise tree spirits settled down in the forest trees with their leader.

But there were also some foolish and arrogant tree spirits. They said to each other, "Why should we live in this crowd? Let us go to the villages, towns and cities inhabited by human beings. Tree spirits who live there receive the best offerings. And they are even worshipped by the superstitious people living in those places. What a life we will have!"

So they went to the villages, towns and cities, and moved into the big freestanding trees, looked after by people. Then one day a big storm came up. The wind blew strong and hard. The big heavy trees with old stiff branches did not do well in the storm. Branches fell down, trunks broke in two, and some were even uprooted. But the trees in the forest, which were intertwined with each other, were able to bend and support each other in the mighty wind. They did not break or fall!

The tree spirits in the villages, towns and cities had their tree homes destroyed. They gathered up their children and returned to the forest. They, complained to the wise leader about their misfortune in the big lonely trees in the land of men. He said, "This is what happens to arrogant ones who ignore wise advice and go off by themselves."

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Blessings,

Judy

Wisdom Accumulates - Message From Spirit

   

Wisdom accumulates—not in a linear arithmetic progression but in a complex, dynamic system. Each understanding sheds light upon the others in an interactive living process. Insights that seem unassailable may suddenly meet passionate doubt, all clarity shattered at the very moment it is most needed. Then, just as suddenly, wisdom will resurface, stronger for having vanished, wisdom that now knows of its own disintegration. 

Nina Wise, "Sudden Awakening"

I read this quote, and I had this click in my brain that said I have seen or heard this before, but not in this lifetime!  It seems that one of the life lessons that I have chosen is to find out how wisdom works.  What I mean is, what is the shifting point where we move from having random knowledge to the point of having great wisdom?

The Mayan believed that the shift to wisdom happens between fifty and fifty-four years old – if the person lived that long.  Most indigenous peoples do move their adults to an honoured position of “elder” at about the same time.  Very rarely does one become an elder at a younger age.  So, the question for me is – does the time frame that you are alive automatically qualify you to be wise; or, is it that something chemically happens in your brain to make you wise?

In the reading that I have been doing, it seems that there is an actual, physical, chemical change in the brain around this age of life.  This change also seems to be reflected in the emotional, mental, and spiritual make up of the person.  Perhaps that saying is true.  “As we get older, we get smarter!”

What are your thoughts about this?

Many blessings,

Judy

Confucius Speaks — About Good People

“Good people live wisely and improve customs.” is the meaning that Confucius attributes to the 53rd meaning of the I Ching or Book of Change 

 

 

Picture of the 53rd cast of the I-Ching

The translation of this cast (shown below) comes from a translation by Wilhelm, both in English and French.

On the mountain, a tree: The image of DEVELOPMENT. 
Thus the superior man abides in dignity and virtue, 
In order to improve the mores. 

The tree on the mountain is visible from afar, and its development influences the landscape of the entire region. It does not shoot up like a swamp plant; its growth proceeds gradually. Thus also the work of influencing people can be only gradual. No sudden influence or awakening is of lasting effect. Progress must be quite gradual, and in order to obtain such progress in public opinion and in the mores of the people, it is necessary for the personality to acquire influence and weight. This comes about through careful and constant work on one's own moral development. 

I saw this cast of the I-Ching, and immediately realized that this is actually the journey of our lives. It takes well into our adult hood before we develop the credibility to have others look to us for answers, or for leadership.  The Mayans believed one was not truly a Master or a true teacher until the person reached 52 years of age.

The irony of this, is, that while many of us believe in the wisdom that comes from age, we have created “Masters” programs in our Universities and Business Schools that purport to give a twenty-two to twenty-six year old the same knowledge one has at fifty-two.  Does it work?  In most cases, no!  The other sad fact about this hypocrisy is that the twenty-something wants to earn the same as the fifty something, and feels it is “due” to them because they have the education. 

Blessings,

Judy

About Cheating

This is a funny time in the world.  When you watch the news, most of what is broadcast talks about people cheating on others, people in power cheating those without power by taking bribes and making decisions that are not for the highest good; and about cheating in sporting events.  

I came across this story in my studies on Buddhism, and thought it was appropriate for the times.

A Man Named Wise 

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born in a merchants' family in Benares, in northern India. He was given the name Wise. When he grew up he began doing business with a man whose name just happened to be Verywise. 

It came to pass that Wise and Verywise took a caravan of 500 bullock carts into the countryside. After selling all their goods they returned to Benares with their handsome profits. 

When it came time to split their gains between them, Verywise said, "I should get twice as much profit as you." "How come?" asked Wise. "Because you are Wise and I am Verywise. It is obvious that Wise should get only half as much as Verywise." 

Then Wise asked, "Didn't we both invest equal amounts in this caravan trip? Why do you deserve twice as much profit as I?" Verywise replied, "Because of my quality of being Verywise." In this way their quarrel went on with no end in sight. 

Then Verywise thought, "I have a plan to win this argument." So he went to his father and asked him to hide inside a huge hollow tree. He said, "When my partner and I come by and ask how to share our profits, then you should say, 'Verywise deserves a double share."' 

Verywise returned to Wise and said, 'My friend, neither of us wants this quarrel. Let's go to the old sacred tree and ask the tree spirit to settle it." 

When they went to the tree Verywise said solemnly, "My lord tree spirit, we have a problem. Kindly solve it for us." Then his father, hidden inside the hollow tree, disguised his voice and asked, "What is your question?" The man's cheating son said, "My lord tree spirit, this man is Wise and I am Verywise. We have done business together. Tell us how to share the profits." Again disguising his voice, his father responded, "Wise deserves a single share and Verywise deserves a double share." 

Hearing this solution, Wise decided to find out if it really was a tree spirit speaking from inside the tree. So he threw some hay into it and set it on fire. Immediately Verywise's father grabbed onto a branch, jumped out of the flames and fell on the ground. He said in his own voice,, "Although his name is Verywise, my son is just a clever cheater. I'm lucky that the one named Wise really is so. and I've escaped only half toasted!" 

Then Wise and Verywise shared their profits equally. Eventually they both died and were reborn as they deserved.  The lesson, “A cheater may be clever but not wise.”

Blessings,

Judy

Everyone Feels Energy

I have been having several conversations around energy, with different people over the last two weeks.  Some people maintain that they cannot feel energy.  Others – healers – say that they meet with much resistance to the energy work that they do.  And, there are those who post anonymous vicious comments about various healers and energy workers.  The events started me thinking about how differently people can feel energy.  

 

Picture of energy flying up from US… from www.lockheedmartin.com

 

From the time we are born, we can feel the energy of our mother’s love or disapproval.  As children, we feel the energy of the relationship between our parents. And, we feel the energy of the warmth of the Sun, that, by the way, is traveling about 93 million miles to touch our skin. This means that we can feel energy from afar, and that energy that is created at a distance, can travel and effect a change in the person that it hits. 

From a healer’s point of view, this means that distance healing is real, and that it does work.  Even though the person receiving the healing energy cannot see the healer create the energy, the process is like the sun creating energy and sending it out.  No one actually sees the Sun create the energy, however, over time, everyone on the planet agrees that the energy is real.  

If the energy that the Sun sends out is real, then, by application of logic, all stars and planets send out energy.  This is particularly true of the Moon, the closest celestial object to Earth.  The Moon does not send out the same type of warmth as the Sun. However, if you go and stand outside for an hour under a full moon, then you too will feel the energy. The Moon is an average of 239,000 miles from the Earth according to www.nasa.gov.  So, the effects of the energy of the Moon should be stronger than the Sun, because it is closer. 

   

Mosaic of the near side of the moon as taken by the Clementine star trackers. The images were taken on March 15, 1994. In this view, north is up. The bright crater near the bottom of the image is the Tycho. www.nasa.gov

We already know that the Moon’s energy has an influence on Earth because wise men, philosophers, and now modern day scientists have proven that the Moon’s energy affects the winds and the tides.  Medical people will tell you that the Moon’s energy also affects many people, causing anxiety, sleeplessness, and even profound personality changes.  

So if the energy of the Moon can cause physical and mental or emotional changes in people, why is it difficult to believe that people can cause energetic changes in other people?  Again, a behaviourist will tell you that the energy of the “one bad apple” person in a work environment or class room will often quickly change the energy of the other people in the area, bringing them down to that energy level.  The same is true of the energy of a very charismatic leader or speaker.  The energy in the room, and of the people, will rise to that level. 

Again, if we have this kind of proof that the energy of one person can affect the energy of another, why do so many people discount energy healing?

Many blessings,

Judy

Great Horned Owl - Spirit ANimal

  Image from http://wdfw.wa.gov 

I was driving out of the parking lot at Fish Creek Park after teaching an evening workshop, when a big Great Horned Owl flew out of the tall grasses beside the road and across the hood of my vehicle.  I had already slowed to almost a stop so the big bird was safe.  It flew up into a tree close by the road and looked down at me.  It then hooted.  I started driving again.

As I drove home, I wondered about the message that Owl was sending me.  As I filtered through what I know of Owl, I realized that she has some unusual capabilities.  First, her eyes face forward while most birds and animals have eyes on the side of their head.  So, to allow her full range of vision, she is capable of turning her head ninety degrees either way which gives her the appearance of being able to do the impossible – to turn her head completely around.  

Second, she can fly silently because of the setting of the feathers on her wings.  Most birds fly with a flapping noise.  This silence gives her the mysterious ability of seemingly to appear out of thin air.  Owl is also associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom.  And, because of their unusual characteristics, Owl is also considered wise.

Third, Owl has very keen hearing and can hunt a mouse by sound alone, simply by listening for squeaks and for scampering sounds.  Owl’s ability to hear so well has created a mythology around its ability to hear humans and to hear human thoughts.  Some say that Owl hears one’s cry for assistance and brings down wisdom to help the person in need.

Owl is a loner bird. After she raises her young, and trains them in the hunt, she and her mate go their separate ways until the next mating season.  Being solitary, much like a monk or wizard, also gives the Owl the air of being wise and contemplative.  Our Ancestors believed that Owl could fly into the heavens and talk with the Gods and Goddesses so that Owl had no need of other company.

What Owl’s message is, then, is that it is okay to be alone and by one’s self.  Contemplation is okay.  Simply following one’s own needs and harming no one is a way to be in service.  As well, learning to use one’s gifts in the quiet times is a good way to determine if the gifts are to be used in service to mankind in a direct way or in the indirect way.  

Owl does bring a touch of magic to our lives.  Enjoy her visits.

Many blessings,

Judy

Comfortable and Wise

  

Picture’s origin is not known as it was part of an email.

The most comfortable and wisest people are those who watch their health when they are healthy; guard their country when it is untroubled; and cultivate their fields well when weeds are nonexistent or scarce.
—Venerable Chwasan, “The Grace in This World” - a Buddhist

The Archangels share many ideas with us, and the wisdom today is about being on guard.  This means that we must not slip into complacency about health, protection, growing our food, and tending our animals and children. 

Mankind is a caretaker of many things, and over time, mankind has forgotten how to care-take himself and others.  This is a tragedy that has transpired into many businesses that profit from the idea of doing your caretaking for you.

Today, choose one thing to be more mindful about.  It may be looking after plants at home or in the office.  Become the best that you can be at this task.

Many blessings,

Judy