Monday, January 6, 2020

Rejecting Existential Pointlessness, and Coming into the Light

Spent the evening attending Honolulu's Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Mass, with the priest enjoining everyone to turn to the Light and no longer live in darkness.  There was an Epiphany Homily by Pope Francis in the church bulletin which stated: "Do we know how to dream, to long for God,...or do we let ourselves be swept along by life, like dry branches before the wind?  The Magi were not content with just getting by, with keeping afloat.  They understood that to truly live, we need a lofty goal and we need to keep looking up."  
       It's another balmy evening on Oahu, with cool trade winds and the palm trees gently swaying, island flowers abloom and the many varieties of birds singing, Polynesian sunsets and the scent of the luau feast is in the air.  Lots of island fruits and vegetables accompany daily meals, with Hawaiian specialties available at the corner markets.  And the coffee is the best.  Endless quantities of Hawaiian brewed beer too.  T-shirts read: "We don't skinny dip.  We chunky dunk!"  And there is the vast Pacific Ocean surrounding Hawaii, which stretches for thousands of miles. 
       The evening news on the big screens at the sports bars at Waikiki Beach keep everyone advised of the intolerable stupidity of politics in Washington, D.C., the fact that nuclear war and global climate destabilization remain poised to destroy all, that America's moral compass has been lost, that social alienation in a capitalist pyramid is now permanent, and ignoring the situation isn't going to work.  And then, it is back to cheeseburgers and surfing videos.  
         If you have realized that we are going to be present for the grand finale of this absurd worldly spectacle, and if you are clear about being centered in your own inner Light to take action from there, then let us organize oursleves while there appears to be time to do so.   We require collective inner guidance and spontaneous action!  Contact me when you believe that we have reached the point of critical mass.  ~Mahalo~

Craig Louis Stehr
January 5th, 2020 Anno Domini
Paypal.me/craiglouisstehr

Sunday, January 5, 2020

~MIND IS NOTHING BUT THOUGHT~

Mind is nothing but thought. If there is thought, mind is. The moment thought ceases, mind ceases to be.
- Swami Chidananda

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Gensei Instructs

My poems, they’re poems too;
Some people even call them hymns.
Poems and hymns are on the whole alike
When you read them you’ve got
To go at it with care,
Slowly, slowly, carefully probing
Don’t rashly assume it’s all simple and easy.
Use poems to learn how to practice the Way
Then you’ll find it a hugely laughable affair!
- Gensei (1623-1668)