Tranquility’s Power - A Buddhist Story

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...

not going all the way and not starting.

Buddha

This is a Zen story about the power of calmness.  

 

A master of the tea ceremony in old Japan once accidentally slighted a soldier. He quickly apologized, but the rather impetuous soldier demanded that the matter be settled in a sword duel. The tea master, who had no experience with swords, asked the advice of a fellow Zen master who did possess such skill. As he was served by his friend, the Zen swordsman could not help but notice how the tea master performed his art with perfect concentration and tranquility. "Tomorrow," the Zen swordsman said, "when you duel the soldier, hold your weapon above your head, as if ready to strike, and face him with the same concentration and tranquility with which you perform the tea ceremony."  The next day, at the appointed time and place for the duel, the tea master followed this advice. The soldier, readying himself to strike, stared for a long time into the fully attentive but calm face of the tea master. Finally, the soldier lowered his sword, apologized for his arrogance, and left without a blow being struck. 

After you read this story, gage your reaction to it.  Does your mind tell you that this is impossible?  Why do you think that?  Does your anger flare up and get you into trouble?  Have you ever experienced the power of tranquility?  What is the gift in this story?  Why did the soldier back down?  

May you find the first seeds of tranquility here.

Many blessings,

Judy

White Owl’s Thoughts - Spirit Animal

This picture is from a series of wild life pictures someone sent me in an email.  Origin not known.

A while ago, one of my clients phoned me because they had an unusual experience driving into work in the morning, down Memorial Drive.  He said that a big white owl flew across his windshield twice.  He was awestruck.  However, when he excitedly looked around at other drivers, no one else appeared to see it.  He wanted to know what the message was.  The following message came to me in a meditation.  I shared it with him, and with his permission, with you.

White Owl’s Message

“This is the time to practice wisdom.  One of the greatest gifts of wisdom is patience.  The large Earth changes are upon us, and, because they happen slowly, humans do not see the degree of change that is happening.  We animals notice that the Sun and the Moon do not seem to always be in the place that it has been in seasons gone by.  We notice that there is more water in some places and much dryness in others.  It changes our food supply and we too must change – move to new hunting grounds and find new prey.  We notice that some of our kind do not seem to be as plentiful.  We that survive will need to continue the species.  We see changes in our abilities with each new change.  We are not ones to die off; we are survivors.  

We find it easy to move.  We have no home or possessions to carry with us.  We simply set our destination, and fly to that place.  We do have favourite places that we like to be, although it does not matter much to us where we sleep.  Humans are weighted down by so many things.  Perhaps that is why humans cannot fly.  Even your clothes seem heavy.  

I, Owl, say to you that now is a good time to look at lightening your load and finding ways to make your journey easier. “

Many blessings,

Judy

Mountain Goat Speaks - Spirit Animal

Picture is from an email and an unknown source.

One of the last times we drove up into the mountains this summer, we saw Mountain Goats roaming in the lower pastures along the mountain range.  The road that we use closes October 15.  In the past, the mountain goats have looked relaxed and pay little attention to what is around them.  This time, however, the mountain goats were on high alert and seemed anxious.  Even the youngest goats were not capering like they normally do.  The following came to me in a meditation.

Mountain Goat Beings

We, the Mountain Goat beings are so happy that we live on the mountains.  We look at the destruction of the waters and oceans (the Gulf of Mexico, the tar sands, and the pollution of the rivers) and say, “Animals have never done this much damage to anything!” Man, so far, has left the mountains alone.  The mountains are the wisdom keepers of the Earth.  All information passes from one side of the globe to the other through the vibrations carried through the Earth, from one mountain to another.  

The Mountain Goat herd lives on all the highest mountains, and we carry wisdom up and down the mountain.  We anchor the light so that it can reach the valleys more easily.  At one point in our history, the peoples that lived in the valleys and up the foothills, regarded us as spirits that brought news and brought them foretelling of the weather.  We were treated with respect by man.  Now, our lives are in danger from what you call “big game hunters”.  We do not see their hunting as much of a game.  They use high vision heat tracking seeing things to find us, and they corner us.  They do not even eat us. These hunters are our worst predator and generate fear for our kind’s future.

Blessings,

Judy

Happy Thanksgiving To The United States - November 23 2023

I wish Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the United States!  This has been a difficult year for many, and my hope for the next year is:

• good food for all
• great housing for all
• great jobs with great pay in a great company
• time for walks in the park or out in the country
• time to read a good book, or play with your kids
• friends that love you and support
• family that respects you and cherishes you
• warm houses for those that live in the snowy climates
• healing for all that are ill
• peace as you go about your day

I wish you all abundance this Thanksgiving Day.

Many blessings,

Judy

Canada Goose on Sharing - A Spirit Guide

The Canada Goose never used to be seen walking about on the snow because it is a migratory bird. However, in mild climates from California to the Great Lakes, some of the population has become non-migratory due to adequate winter food supply and a lack of former predators. (Source Wikipedia) Ducks have also begun to stay further north as a result of the abundance of food and milder winters.

Goose talks about sharing:

“When more birds stay North, we must learn to get along for the food supply is limited, the amount of open water is limited, and the heat available from the open water sewer releases is limited. We have found a way to keep our territories intact and to respect the space of the other flocks. In this way, we share without battle. No one of us needs to own the space. The space – the water – is ever changing and stays not long in one place. 

As part of the sharing, we act as guards and alerts for one another. If one of us is safe, then we are all safe. The side benefit of us staying and sharing the same space is that we keep the waters very clean of seaweed type grasses and weeds. Because we each have a preference for different flavors, we eat different things and sharing becomes easier. We do not need to hoard things we do not need for food.”

Many blessings,

Judy

Doe In the Snow

This morning as my dog and I walked in the small off leash dog park, we were startled by a Doe (Deer) plunging uphill through the snow.  It seemed she was running to us. Then she was about fifteen feet away when she veered away.  She made intense eye contact with us and in her huffing, seemed to be sounding out a message.  I thought that it was for me, however, it does seem to be for all of us.

She says:

“Even though it may seem at the moment, that all of your movement is uphill, the feeling is momentary.  When one lives in rolling landscapes, one can expect “rolling” times – both uphill and downhill.  Uphill builds one’s strength at a core level, and makes one healthier and able to bear all things.  Being strong is a positive.  Anyone who simply travels downhill all the time does not have the endurance for life, and will eventually get to the bottom, and lay down and die.

Sometimes the choicest twigs are on the bushes on the side of the hill.  Because the bushes are spread out, they get more sun, and they are tastier!  One must work harder to get there and one does not need to compete with others for the bushes in the valley.  

Breaking a path in the snow is hard work.  All new trails, however, are started by one being.  I am a trail blazer.  Are you?”

Many Blessings,

Judy

Lessons from Turtle - Spirit Animal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turtle has been a “Keeper of the Earth” for many millions of years.  She has evolved and adapted to change as required.  She made the transition from water to land, and now, most of her kind are able to move between the two worlds of water and earth – something that humans cannot do without an adequate air supply.

Many of our human sayings are from the life that turtle leads.  Some are:

• Don’t stick your neck out unless you know what is going on.
• Travel lightly for your home is always with you.
• Slow but sure wins the day.
• Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.
• Sleepy turtles never catch up with the sunrise.
• Try to be like the turtle – at ease in your own shell.
• Trusting in wealth is like looking for feathers on turtles.

What we humans see when we look at a turtle is a being that is so wise, completely comfortable with its life, and a being that is a survivor.  We would all like to be as resilient as a Turtle. 

Blessings,

Judy