Cecil…renewed call to Wake Up

  

Whether Walter James Palmer, as a proud trophy hunter, thought this hunt was legal or not (though apparently he was found guilty of poaching in a previous incident) is really beside the point.
After shooting Cecil, this majestic lion, with an arrow and then allowing him to experience pain and suffering for 40 hours as his life drained out of him, he finally ended Cecil life, beheading and skinning him.
The disconnection from another life, the perceived separation, the false hierarchy and inflated ego that leads to such cruelty, lack of empathy and recognition of another’s suffering, along with the lack of awareness of the consequences and repercussions of such actions is what concerns me. 
I do not know what fate will befall Mr. Palmer. And as a practitioner and cultivator of peace I cannot encourage more harm or an increase in suffering. But, I do hope that in the wake of such tragedy, an opportunity arises for not just Walter James Palmer, but all of us, to wake up.
~j
“We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.” 

~ Thich Nhat Hanh
“I do not care for happiness which is sought at the price of others’ suffering.”  

~ Siddhartha Gautama, The Buddha

an old path for a new era…

  

So many ideas of what is right and wrong, good and bad, and we love to think we are in the right camp, the good camp. Perhaps the better questions are: What is kind? What is generous? What is compassionate? What is beneficial to the world and does not add suffering? This is the path we can dedicate our lives to in the short time we are here. A path of non-harming, of loving-kindness, of empathy and peace. A path of compassionate action. 

~j

#LookingDeep #BeyondTheSurface #WhatReallyMatters #OffTheMatAndIntoTheWorld #OffTheCushionAndIntoTheWorld #WithCompassion #kindness #compassion #generosity #practice #empathy #peace

Happy Birthday to His Holiness The Dalai Lama!

a wise and beneficial birthday message/gift for us from His Holiness The Dalai Lama on his birthday.
HH Dalai Lama Birthday Message
on a side note: yesterday i had the great pleasure of seeing His Holiness give a public talk in the afternoon around noon. you know what time he got up that day? 1am. at 80 years old and after a full day the previous day, he got up at 1am for his 4 hours of prayers and meditation, then spoke at a breakfast, did interviews, had lunch, and then gave a public talk that went until 3:30pm. he had energy, humor and clarity while delivering a much needed message on compassion, education and art. so impressive and generous! happy birthday your Holiness, deep bows of gratitude and a vow to contribute to this compassion movement!!

#HHDL80 #WithCompassion

#Nonviolence365

  

@BerniceKing: The best path to save the soul of America and transform our culture is through #Nonviolence365 . It’s more than a tactic, it’s a lifestyle.
#this #BeTheChange #peace #wisdom #love #compassion #transformation #NoDayButToday

meditation is a practice…

  

meditation is a practice


coming back to reality ~
here i am. 

this is my breath coming in 

and going out.

this is my body aching or at rest.
hearing the sounds of this moment.

taking care of oneself in this reality ~
i feel my body. i feel any tension or pain.

i hold it with tenderness and breathe into it
and breathe out of it. 
i hear the confusion in my mind.
thoughts racing nowhere.
i hold this feeling with understanding
and compassion.
letting go and coming back to my breath. 
i hear the lovely sounds of life around me.
i am grateful and smile.

staying open to reality ~
my heart has the capacity to hold 

the entire world and all of life.
my mind, the wisdom to let go. 
i stay open to the present, 
trusting life and my true nature, 
trusting the capacity of my heart to 
stay open and grow.  
and in this space of understanding 
and compassion 
– in this openness – 
i am able to be of benefit 
to others’ well being 
and their end to suffering 
as well as my own.

~j

Nepal Earthquake Relief…

please consider giving some assistance  to Nepal and surrounding areas affected by this devastating earthquake, through a vetted, reputable charity. Charity Navigator is a wonderful resource to investigate. 

I have chosen Global Giving. they are well regarded, working with local groups to affect relief and assistance fast with first responders, health and food aid and into the long term. they have set up a specific funding page for the Nepal earthquake. #Nepal #NepalEarthquake

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/nepal-earthquake-relief-fund/

Donate Here