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Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is the rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you. 

~ *Pope Francis

in Buddhism, this relationship is described as interdependence. we are in relationship with all life, offering and receiving. even life and death are a dance of offering and receiving. this, in my view, is love manifest and embodied, from us and life itself, recognized or not.

our suffering comes from our misunderstanding of this. in Buddhism we call this ignorance or delusion. in my Christian upbringing we call this sin, a state of disconnect (i.e. out of the Garden of Eden, another way of saying not in union, dualistic thinking).

this perceived separation from others and from other life is what causes us to harm and destroy, causing so much pain and suffering. it is what moves us to inflict harm and be indifferent to the suffering of others.

amazingly, we still have this core of who/what we are that in spite of such delusion, arises as empathy. empathy connects us to the tenderness/warmth in our heart, which calls forth compassion, which is love in action, connecting us to others and life. this awareness is where we find the wisdom to heal rather than destroy, to love rather than hate.

may our hearts open, may this awareness and wisdom arise. our survival depends on it.

~j

 ⭕️♥️🙏🏼

*Please Note: based on multiple fact check sites, the above quote, although widely attributed to Pope Francis, is not verified to be an accurate attribution. There is no verified known author.

#interdependence #life #nature #love #OpenHeart #awareness #wisdom #Buddhism #EternalKnot #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art

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as imperfect as it is, i love our democracy and i’m devoted to the promised potential it has. i cannot have this day pass without recognizing the anniversary of the Jan 6th insurrection in 2021 following the 2020 Presidential election, especially with the growing percentage of Trump supporters who believe it was an inside job (25% of Americans in latest polling), who believe that it was instigated by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. i’m sharing my posts from the day as i watched. i won’t forget what i watched live that day (even on Fox News!). it is a lie promoted by Trump and his most devoted sycophants.

as concerning as it is, it isn’t surprising. the whole of Trump’s time leading up to, in, and post Presidency was prepping for a “reality” that is based on no facts and no truth, a non-reality fabricated over time, bit by bit, spoonful by spoonful, so it is dangerously barely noticed and even more dangerously, accepted. a fabricated non-reality where his lies don’t matter because “everyone does it” and there is no longer a verifiable truth, despite clear evidence to the contrary based on observable and verifiable facts. a world where you can’t trust your own eyes, ears, analytical mind. a nation primed for a “strong man” autocrat, dictator, who will simply tell you what to believe and will save you from the murkiness of it all. 

i’m also sharing a couple of quotes and a beneficial book recommendation. this moment calls for our attention, our love, and best efforts. may hearts, eyes, and ears open. may wisdom arise, and may our democracy survive.

~j

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#Jan6th #January6th #insurrection #authoritarianism #democracy #EngagedBuddhist #JinpaLhaga #RickFrausto #VoltaireQuotes #IsaacAsimovQuotes

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…and it’s a practice.

life will continually present the triggers that set us off and running. may we learn with practice to recognize we are running, to pause before running, and in that gap, to choose whether or not to run based on what is beneficial and doesn’t add to harm.

~j

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#path #practice #JinpaLhaga #IdilAhmedQuotes

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“resilient life ” enso

the potential for life is always present. life always finds a way.

even in a concrete sidewalk we’ll find a sprout of green making its way from darkness to light.

are we any different?

⭕️💚🙏🏼

#life #potential #resilience #green #growth #path #practice #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art #Zen #enso

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“healing into wellness” enso

in Buddhism, the Medicine Buddha appears in color as Lapis Lazuli (blue), the same as the healing light that emanates from him. 

our world feels unwell at the moment, needing much healing.

may we, with our best efforts, contribute to healing.

may it be so.

⭕️💙🙏🏼

#illness #healing #wellness #MedicineBuddha #blue #LapisLazuli #path #practice #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art #Zen #enso

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“wake up & flow” enso.

this is our life!

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#WakeUp #flow #life #path #practice #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art #Zen #enso

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as this year ends and the new year begins, may we let go, may it be our practice let go.

may we let go of all that is destructive and harmful, all that is oppressive and insatiable with blind consumption, all that is fearful and filled with aggression and hate. 

may we let go of the desire to hurt or rob others of the joy of life. 

may we let go of the myth that vengeance is somehow justice and that mass death solves anything, or that we can bomb our way to peace.

may we let go of all that is not born of an empathetic, open heart – tender and raw, gentle and kind, compassionate and healing in word and action.

may we let go of all that isn’t love.

rising from the ash that once was ego and delusion, may all that is left, BE LOVE.

may it be so.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏼

#LastPostOf2023 #NewYear #LetGo #impermanence #ego #delusion #OpenHeart #empathy #love #compassion #kindness #peace #path #practice #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art

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a thought as this year draws to a close and a new year approaches.

no one can live our lives for us. it is up to us to step up to and live our lives, to dance with the divine, to explore the inner workings of our heart, and be that unique and authentic embodiment of love the world is missing.

grateful that your unique light is shining in this world.

shine bright, shine true, and let the gentle tenderness and warmth of your heart lead the way.

~j

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#OpenHeart #ShineYourLight #LoveYourlove #authenticity #unique #embodiment #love #gentleness #tenderness #warmth #light #meditation #contemplation #InnerJourney #YourLife #JinpaLhaga #RainerMariaRilke #RainerMariaRilkeQuotes

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each day, each moment, each thought and breath are an opportunity to choose to stay open, to be present, to allow for awareness to arise, to allow for love to be embodied, to choose peace instead of war, to choose healing instead of harm and destruction, to choose kindness instead of cruelty, to choose authenticity rather than deception.

may hearts open, may minds be steady, may wisdom arise, and may our lives be a benefit to a world in need.

~j

⭕️♥️🙏🏼

#OpenHeart #WakeUp #ShowUp #HeedTheCall #wisdom #kindness #compassion #healing #peace #love #JinpaLhaga #PemaKhandro #PemaKhandroQuotes

over two thousand years ago, a baby was born to a poor refugee family in exile. this baby would grow into a man who embodied Love so completely that he was willing to offer his life over to wherever that Love led, even to death.

his message and emphasis of a life lived in service to love, upset the status quo. he prioritized loving people over tradition and rules. he met people where they were and loved them. he stood with the marginalized. he preached serving the needy and feeding the hungry, turning the other cheek and loving our enemies. he warned against obsessive wealth and greed. he cautioned against indebting others, and instead preached the alternative: forgiveness.

he taught that this was the way to know God’s heart, that such love saves us. a transformative message!

he taught from the bottom; he taught vulnerability. he taught that true power, transformative power, is paradoxically found in powerlessness.

unfortunately vulnerability and powerlessness, and loving our enemies just doesn’t fit nicely into our dualistic, hero narratives.

dying to ourselves, allowing us to be brought to new life through love, is scary. it’s easier to state a few beliefs and keep the status quo rather than surrendering to such transformation.

his words (and call), “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” echos through our world unanswered. 

i sometimes wonder how our world would be now, if following Jesus’ teachings and living his message were emphasized rather than just worshipping him. 

we work hard at not loving, and even worse, many take Jesus’ message of love and weaponize it, oppressing others. 

“Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace…”

May it be so. May hearts open to the love and wisdom Jesus preached, not just on Christmas, but every day.

Merry Christmas to you, my friends. May your lives be blessed.

~j

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#Christmas #GoodNews #Jesus #JesusChrist #Love #Peace #Forgiveness #Service #OpenHeart #Wisdom #JinpaLhaga #JMWart #art