Hello from the road

I've been quite busy lately.  Trying to find work, working, and trying to start a relationship. I hope everyone is well.  When I get a good chance, I'll sit down and catch up with everyone.
Until then, i guess....here's some stuff I've been thinking about:

The Buddha sits on top of the lotus flower.  The mud supports and nourishes the lotus flower that the buddha sprouts from.  Let us embrace everything in our lives....the good, the terrible, the unthinkable.....all of it is an opportunity.  Let us not forget this for our own sake, and for the sake of others.  We can be an example to the young ones.  You can be the buddha on top of the lotus.  So can your enemy.  We all have the capacity for both good and also not good............and awakening from both.  Become a master of yourself........while you enjoy this existence.  "Play serious..." as Bruce Lee would've said. ;)

This is from "The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hanh:
"When you realize your own capacity to be happy anywhere, you can put down roots in the present moment.  You can take whatever the conditions of the present moment are and make them the foundation of your life and happiness.  When the sun is shining, you are happy.  When it is raining, you are also happy.  You don't need to go anywhere else.  You don't need to travel into the future or return to the past."

In a way the practice is to realize that there is no path to happiness.......happiness is the path to itself in the present moment(the present moment is the only time there is at any given moment).  Just like the saying, no path to peace, peace is the path.  We're creating our realities in each moment by choosing to keep patterns, or create new ones by choosing to be happy in each moment.  It can be a fresh kind of happiness.

From the Gospel of Thomas(Jesus spoke about the PRESENT MOMENT):

90 Jesus said, "Come to me, for my yoke is comfortable and my lordship is gentle, ² and you will find rest for yourselves."

91 They said to him, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you."

²He said to them, "You examine the face of heaven and earth, but you have not come to know the one who is in your presence, and you do not know how to examine the present moment."

I think most people who've lived long enough, can appreciate letting go of old thought patterns.  It is a relief.....the sense of happiness already comes back....that sense of freedom from clinging to an idea or concept we had of our selves or our lives....or even someone else or a situation.

Letting go and/or acceptance of "what already is" both seem to be the hardest to learn in life.  At least for myself.  Even though I don't study only one type of religion or philosophy......as i get older, I see that Buddhism is similar to "old timers philosophies."  If you ever listen to older folks, they've got old sayings that get to the heart of life's struggles and how to keep yourself happy on your journey.  They didn't ever study buddhism or any eastern philosophy........but anyone who's lived long enough and thought/reflected enough about their life, will have something useful to help you in your life.  That, to me....is what buddhism is.  It is just down to earth stuff that you can partially get from your grandparents, great grandparents and so on.  It can go deeper.....but that's up to us to journey there. Anything that helps us in life is useful and ought to be considered. The best stuff is the stuff we learn on our own and then reflect on how others have went through something similar.  When we know we're not alone in sharing an experience.........it doesn't make us feel alone or like an alien.

I wish you all well on your paths and send bundles of good thoughts/energy your way.   Take it easy.

Cheers