Christmas songs during Advent

Is it OK to listen to Christmas songs during Advent? This is something that has been an issue since my husband became a priest about 13 years ago. Before he went to seminary, we listened to lots of Christmas music throughout Advent. Somehow, over the past 10 years, it became an issue; it wasn't Christmas so no Christmas Carols until Christmas. We also celebrate the 12 days of Christmas where Christmas Carols are allowed. These end on Epiphany, the Three Kings Day which we celebrate at the church.

So here's an article by Dennis Bratcher who, like my husband until today, prefers to put off Christmas caroling until Christmas. For Dennis, it's a matter of hope, a period of hope before the birth of Jesus and the real celebration is Christmas day, the day we glorify the birth of our Savior.

For me it's about hope that the world needs to continue. Hope that our lives will improve with the blessings of God. Hope that we can do God's will today and everyday. Hope that we live one day at a time and in the now, not in the past or in the future so we miss out on today. Hope that we learn to treat each other with kindness, compassion and as equals because God loves each of us the same. The grace of God falls on each of us.

Part of my discipline is to treat each person as a person God loves. I have various people to whom I give alms. However, there's one guy who is always asking for alms, and I just want to run away from him. There was always something that truly bothered me about him. Knowing that I am to treat each person with dignity and give alms to those who ask, I decided to give him his quarter. That's what we usually give hear in Panama. Once I became willing, I didn't see him where I usually do. The other day, there he was. I reminded myself that I would give him alms and as usual, he came up to me. I gave him his quarter and he was genuinely surprised and grateful. I smiled and said "Vaya con Dios" and in that instant I could see his humanity, I could feel love and compassion for him.

So what does this have to do with Christmas music? Well, I know no one reads these posts, so I figure I can write anything I want as a diary and know they will be secret. I brought up the Christmas music because much to my surprise, my husband is listening to our iTunes' Christmas play list. We have another week until Christmas and we're listening to The Bob's "Too Many Santas," James Brown Christmas, The Bells of Dublin, and "Carols from a New and Old World." I love those songs and I hope to listen to them until Epiphany even though we will be living in the States where they don't celebrate it like they do here.

I pray that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  If for any reason someone other than me actually comes to my site and reads this, I hope you drop me a line and let me know.

May you have many blessings throughout the rest of our life and all future lives.

Human Planet Audio show

A friend of mine just sent me this link of a 7 minute slide show about people around the world. They are from the depths of the world we don't normally see. What I loved about it is the perfection of the photography, the colors, the beauty of the various places, the way people painted up their faces, the way they dressed, how the water stops in mid-air, that what was daily routine for them is what we would never think of.

As the photographer says in his narration, every one of them is just looking for shelter, love, community, food, safety, sharing. These are the needs of each one of us. By connecting to these needs, we can have compassion toward them and each other; we can be reminded that everyone is connected, everything on the planet is connected. We are all part of the same greater spirit living inside us, wanting to take care of all our needs, comforting our feelings, being heard, being taken seriously, being taken care of, taking care of others. All these actions affect others, and the connection of our actions live on in the actions and thoughts of others.

Hope you enjoy the show.

You Are

I got this from a friend on FB. I don't who wrote it. It's on several inspirational web sites listed as 'Author Unknown.' So, as it is free for all, here it is.

 You are strong ..
when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave ..
when you overcome your fear and help others
to do the same.

You are happy ..
when you see a flower and are thankful
for the blessing.

You are loving ..
when your own pain does not blind you to the
pain of others.

You are wise ..
when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true ..
when you admit there are times you
fool yourself.

You are alive ..
when tomorrow's hope means more to you than
yesterday's mistake.

You are growing ..
when you know what you are but not what you
will become.

You are free ..
when you are in control of yourself and do not wish
to control others.

You are honorable ..
when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous ..
when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble ..
when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful ..
when you see me just as I am and treat me
just as you are.

You are merciful ..
when you forgive in others the faults you condemn
in yourself.

You are beautiful ..
when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich ..
when you never need more than what you have.

You are you ..
when you are at peace with who you are not.

Raw Peanuts

I'm going through my shelves to finish eating all the food before I move. One of the things I have is raw peanuts. I've been throwing a handful on my salads every night and really enjoying it. I decided to look up raw peanuts on line to see what they have to offer nutritionally.

What I found is that they are high in protein, have lots of good fats, and great for ones health.   They are good for the heart, the colon, and help those with anemia.

My salads have a really nice taste with the peanuts in them. I like the subtle flavor and the extra crunch. They seem to be good with any kind of dressing that I've used so far. Enjoy adding peanuts to your salad and help your heart.

Peace and serenity are only unimaginable to those without the wings of faith.

oil cleanse

I have not tried this because I just found out about it. According to the article The Oil Cleansing Method, you mix castor oil and sunflower oil for cleansing your face and your skin. This replaces using soaps which dry skin out. I have the dryist skin in the world. It hurts most of the time due to the dryness. I tried putting olive oil on it after bathing, I'm back to using whatever lotions I can get to make it feel better. I am willing to try this method for a few weeks to see what happens. 

I may be better able to do it once I'm back in the States which will be in 2 weeks. One reason is I don't have hot running water unless I'm in the shower. Even then, it's not always hot. This method is mostly for the face, but with my dry skin, I am willing to try it on my whole body.

If you find this interesting, please try it and let me know. I would love to hear from you.


The distance is nothing; it is only the first step toward it that is difficult.

Guided by Spirit

For the last year I've been reading "The Journey," a daily Bible reading program which was given to me by one of the members in the congregation at the church. I have found it very interesting and have even taken on some of the practices brought up in it. At the end of each reading is a question for reflections. Today's reading was titled "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit" which discusses John the Baptist's prophecy regarding the coming of Jesus.

Today's question is, "Have you experienced the fullness of God's Spirit working in and through you? Explain." I find this question wonderful. I have felt the Holy Spirit working in me, guiding me, and helping me. There has been no doubt that there is something that helps me move forward in my life, that gives me faith. The most recent was back in October when I received an email from a friend of mine. Here is the first part of the email:

This is my favorite Bible Verse. ...I think some times I have seen "to give you peace".

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 
 ...
Dear Woman of God
Be still for a while and praise God for His favor, His grace and His awesomeness
God is able to do the impossible and is always near
He loves us unconditionally.

I though that is was a nice Bible verse and moved on with my day. Well, that afternoon I went to my Bible Study group. We were given handouts and started to read them aloud. My turn came and as I read, there it was, Jer. 29:11. Now I have never read Jeremiah before and to get the same verse twice in one day told me the Holy Spirit was giving me a message. Indeed that turned out to be the case. I found out at the end of October that my husband and I are moving to California, no job, just faith. I'm am so excited I can hardly stand it. There are so many possibilities for us. We have a place to stay and I have faith that my Higher Power will guide me through this time. My heart is filled with excitement and hope. I know this message was sent to let me know that God has a purpose for us in the next journey in this life. God has plans for us to prosper. We are blessed with hope and a future. I believe God blesses all of with hope and a future.

Regrets of Dying

I didn't get permission to copy this so I'm giving you the link, too. I don't know who T Kelly is and I hope she doesn't mind me passing this piece of wisdom on. Personally, I cried when I read this. That is because over the last 7 years, I've been breaking out of decades of depression. Although there's still some work to be done,  I'm happier now than I ever have been in my life.

I choose happiness and serenity. When I made that continuous choice 7 years ago, my life slowly began to change. When I realize I still have some major changes to make, I feel overwhelmed. But then I work toward that goal one day at a time, doing my part for the moment. That is all I can do for now. Things in my life are changing rapidly. I am moving to California in two weeks which has been my dream for the last 4 years. I'm spending Christmas with my family for the first time in almost 15  years.

What I see in the article below is all the regrets I have had and were depressed about. That is the nerve it touched when I cried while reading it. I know there are more changes to make. I pray I will have the courage to make them so I don't regret them on my dying bed. I will make these changes one day at a time, following the will of my Higher Power, the Holy Spirit who guides me through each day, every moment of the day. These five points happen to be how I now live my life to the best of my ability, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Top Five Regrets of The Dying
December 1, 2011 By T Kelly

For many years I worked in palliative care.
My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared.
I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it,
it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late.
Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Source: http://www.activistpost.com/2011/11/top-5-regrets-of-dying.html

Raw Food Pyramid

I got this from my husband who eats everything. I love this pyramid, it's the way I try to eat. I found when I eat more greens, I started gaining weight. My first 4 years of eating raw foods, I ate mostly fruit and lost 30 pounds. I was not fat, I was thin. I weighed 135 when I started and got down to 105 at my lowest.  By eating more greens, I've gained weight and now weigh 120 pounds. I feel better, look better (I got really ugly).  I don't like being that skinny. I hope to gain another 5 pounds in muscle weight.

It is time to develop a big ‘US’, rather than the old ‘us and them’ that lets us to exploit and bully others on a personal level, and on an international level to wage war. The East must see the West as part of ‘US’ and the North must come to feel that the South is part of ‘US’. We should include the entire world in our concern, wishing all humanity well. If we can do that there will be no room for hatred, thinking of others as enemies. And we will achieve this through education, not through prayer.--Dalai Lama

I didn't eat much in the way of raw gourmet for a long time and lost too much weight. Now I'm eating a bit more gourmet and a little bit of cooked. Well, one thing I'm doing is trying to eat more greens. This is also an interesting video by raw food coach Star Khechara. She's an advocate for real food and not super food powders. I don't do powders because I can't get it here in Panama. I'm also trying to increase my calorie intake because I exercise more now than before.  Enjoy the video!

Let us cultivate love and compassion, both of which give life true meaning. This is the religion I preach. It is simple. Its temple is the heart. Its teaching is love and compassion. Its moral values are loving and respecting others, whoever they may be. Whether one is a lay person or a monastic, we have no other option if we wish to survive in this world.--The Dalai Lama

Ann Wigmore

More interesting videos on raw food. This is about Energy Soup and Ann Wigmore.

Building Muscle

This is an important area for me. As I get closer to 60, I am noticing how my skin is beginning to sag more. I've been eating a high raw food diet for 7 years and have been working out pretty regularly over that time. It seems like I'm not gaining much in the muscle area. Perhaps I'm keeping it from weakening. However, I would love to be more toned.

What I like about Storm's philosophy, is that he believes using light weights and many reps is key. He also believes not only in building the muscle, but training them by using some form of martial arts. What I'm practicing now, with the help of P90X CDs, is Kenpo. I can see how weak my thigh muscles were when I started, how much stronger they've become over the last 2 months. Yet, I see no physical results. Perhaps that's OK for now. Maybe it takes more time for visible results. What I notice, is that my stamina is better as is my control over some of the exercises.


I've notice that over the last month since going to the park to work out, I can do 50 reps X3 on the rowing machine and 20 reps X4 on the other machine I use. Sorry, don't know what it's called but it's for the arms and back. There are no weights on these machines. That's why the rower is so easy now.

Even if I have loose saggy skin, at least my muscles will be strong.

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Feel Good Tea

I just discovered this guy: Markus Rothkranz


What I like is you use garden veggies and herbs. Unfortunately, I live in Central America where the plants he's talking about don't grow. So.... I have something to look forward to when I return to the States next year. Enjoy!

 

Raw Potatoes

I haven't tried them yet. I have a couple of recipes to use them, but just haven't done it. Natural News posted a great article on potatoes. Without the butter, sour cream, etc. potatoes alone are high in "an assortment of minerals and vitamins." Those that have more color are expecially high in minerals.

The recipe from the video I posted earlier this week has one recipe: process in food processor potato, kale, avocado, and a bit of soy sauce. He says it tastes like mashed potatoes. I wonder what I could substitute kale for? We don't have a lot of greens here. Maybe I could try spinach or romaine. 

Another recipe I found is in "The Complete Book of Raw Food" on pg. 273. It's a bit more complicated: soaked macadamia nuts, garlic salt, lemon juice, rejuvelac, pine nuts, spinach, sweet onions, red potatoes, flaxseed, paprika powder. It's to make Spinach and Potato Latkes. They sound great. I love latkes. Since I don't have a dehydrator I've never tried that. Maybe I could use some of the same ingredients and make something that would work. 

I'll let you know.

Modern education pays attention to the development of the brain and the intellect, but this is not enough. We need also to be able to develop warm-heartedness in our educational systems. This we need from kindergarten all the way through university.--Dalai Lama

Excellent talk about osteoporosis

Osteoporosis runs in my family so I am very aware of what I can do to help prevent it. So far, from what I am hearing I am doing all the right things.  I am listening to a great discussion on the topic. Dr. Michael Klaper from The Vegetarian Health Institute is led the discussion.

He discusses the alkalizing foods, how countries that consume the most meat and dairy are running rampent with osteoporosis, what floride does to your bones, among other great info. Enjoy!

My new hero

Part 1

Most of the people I know are between the ages of 50 and 100. That's because I'm a missionary in a West Indian church in Panama. None of them look this healthy. All of them are on meds, most of them have sugar (diabetes) and pressure (high blood pressure). Some are still quite attractive yet suffer many subtle symptoms from their illnesses. I've known people who have gone in and out of the hospital and have watched friends grow so weak they die. I have lost my three dearest friends due to illnesses: two were in their 60's, the other was 79. One of my favorite persons has been in the hospital since the day after Father's Day. Last time I visited him, he was in intensive care and looked very weak; he's only 69. All lived on a standard Panamanian diet.

Like Mimi Kirk, I want to be healthy as I age. I don't want to take any meds, have aches and pains, or other symptoms of getting old. I know I am getting old, but why be unhealthy. As I continue to search for a healthier lifestyle in my final years (I'm 58) I am encouraged by Mimi to keep doing what I am doing and continue getting better.

Part 2

It is clear that feelings of love, affection, closeness and compassion bring happiness. I believe that every one of us has the means to be happy, to access the warm and compassionate states of mind that bring happiness. In fact, it is one of my fundamental beliefs that not only do we inherently possess the potential for compassion, but I believe that the basic or underlying nature of human beings is gentleness. --The Dalai Lama

Check out this raw food body builder

As someone who is into becoming strong for several reasons, this man has inspired me. I find his recipe for protein quite interesting: spanish peanuts and raisins. He also makes mashed potatoes in the food processor with raw potato, avocado, kale and Shoyu. Wish we got Kale in Panama, but I'm sure I can find a substitute for that.

He has incredible muscles. He says he only works out twice a week, but it's for 3 hours. That's what the difference is. I work out 4 times a week for about 45 minutes to an hour. I don't see any results. I know I'm getting stronger because I can increase my repetitions and my balance in some exercises is better. At the time the video was made, he had been raw for as long as I have. Yet he looks way healthier and stronger. I am older though. Well, I also know I cheat a lot. I'm not 100%. So, perhaps I can use his example to help me stay closer to 100% and reach the kind of strength I want to gain.

The other thing he talks about is the weight loss the first year or two of being raw. I was super skinny for about 5 years. It wasn't until the last 2 years where I started gaining weight. I think it was through the help of green smoothies.

Well, enjoy the video!

Everyone can understand from natural experience and common sense that affection is crucial from the day of birth; it is the basis of life. The very survival of our body requires the affection of others, to whom we also respond with affection. Though mixed with attachment, this affection is not based on physical or sexual attraction, so it can be extended to all living beings without bias.--Dalai Lama

Nut Yogurt

I haven't tried this yet. It sure looks good.

I would love to hear if you have tried this and how it came out.

Cancer Report

Here is a movie I got from Rhio on FB. It's excellent. It discusses Big Pharma, Rockefeller's roll in Big Pharma and the FDA, various cancer cures and more. It is worth watching the whole movie. You can take what you like and leave the rest. If the info is new to you, it is food for thought and grounds for further research.

I got into raw food because I was ill and first heard of pH balance through my research to find a cure. I was between 4-5 acid 7 years ago when I first started eating raw food. Now my litmus paper tells me I'm in the 7-8 range. According to the movie and other reports that I have read, I now have more oxygen in my cells and am at lower risk for cancer.

Other treatments the movie discusses are vitamin B-17 and almonds and how the medical establishment effectively killed B-17 in almonds via pasteurization, vitamin C treatment, and others.

Hope you enjoy the movie.

The practice of altruism is the authentic way to live as a human being, and it is not just for religious people. As human beings, our purpose is to live meaningful lives, to develop a warm heart. There is meaning in being everyone's friend. The real source of peace amongst our families, friends and neighbours is love and compassion.--Dalai Lama

5 in 5 Video Winners and the church fair.

 I voted and my person didn't win. However, I got a great recipe book from it. Who won? You can see here. The recipe looks great and I plan on trying it. I bought the maple syrup today. I don't usually use maple syrup, but I figure I would try it this time.

I'm still doing well staying as raw as I can. It may be a bit difficult tomorrow. My church is having a small fair to celebrate their anniversary and to raise money. There will be lot of West Indian food which tastes really good. I used to eat quite a bit of West Indian food when I first arrived in Panama twelve years ago. Then I got sick and began eating raw food which healed my illness. I admit, I have a weakness for codfish cake, cucu and fry fish. I will work hard not to eat those, hopefully taking it one minute at a time, delaying buying such tempting treats, remembering where I've been and how far I've come with my diet and health.

Please wish me luck or pray for me, which ever your heart chooses as your faith dictates.

A journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step.


God taught us to laugh again but God please don't let us forget that we once cried.

Linear Thinking vs Cyclic Thinking

I belong to flutenet, a yahoo group which focus is on flute playing. One question about competition came up. Since I'm judging a competition I really loved what this post has to say. I hope the author, Rev. John Giunta, MA, FRC, forgives me for reposting it without his permission. On the other hand, his web site says we may download and share whatever we like of his as long as he gets credit. Thank you, Rev. John for your wonderful words of wisdom. 

We all need to clean ourselves of impure motives.
Here is a very useful thought from the Dhammapada: "Winning gives birth to hostility. Losing, one lies down in pain. The calmed lie down with ease, having set winning and losing aside."
I know that the linear thinkers on the list will be puzzled and restless over this seemingly enigmatic bit of wisdom, but it can work very well for the more cyclic thinkers. What is the difference? Read on:

The following definitions are from the journal, Earth Ethics, Winter, 1990
 
Linear Thinking: "Progress. The conquest of nature. The Promised Land motif in the Westward Movement. Heavenly aspiration without earthy reconciliation or stewardship. The creation as commodity. Training. Programming. Possession. Quantity. Newness. The unique and 'original' Life." [and from Emmanuel's Book II, "Rules".]
 
Cyclic Thinking: "Atonement with the creation. Black Elk's sacred hoop, the community of creation. Reconciliation of heaven and earth in aspiration inward responsible life. The creation as source and end. Education. Cultural process. Usufruct, relinquishment. Quality. Renewal. The recurring. Life and death." [and from Emmanuel's Book II, "Structure". ]

Don't think of besting anyone. Just love the music. Radiate love. Be compassionate and helpful with others. You will received what you are ready to receive.

two great recipes

So far I have tried two recipes from the 5 in 5 video contest which I mentioned in my last post. The ones I tried were Nut So Sloppy Joe's which I found quite good, but lacking something. Could be I didn't put in enough cayenne because I had no chipotle or I needed to use more sun dried tomatoes. None the less, it was quite good the next day.

Tonight, I made Angela Salvucci's Tropical Fruit Cobbler with a kick. Wow! Wow, wow, wow! It was excellent! I live in the tropics so mangos are in season and really cheap right now. Also, pineapple is easy to get and cheap for me, too. So here's the recipe of today's winner thus far:

In a pie plate toss 2 cups each thinly sliced pineappe and mango.

In a food processor grind to a medium coarse crumb:
1 C almonds
1 C Medjool dates, pitted (Mine weren't medjool and I soaked them a while before using)
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Set the crumble in a small bowl. 

In the same food processer, place some of the pineapple and mango mix (I did about a quarter to a half cup).  Add:
2 pitted and soaked dates (I used 4 because my dates were small)
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/8 tsp or less of cayenne.

Process and pour on fruit. Lightly mix. Place crumble on top and press down.

This really didn't take that long to make. And WOW! It was worth it. It's my new dessert when mangos are in season. Right now she's on the top of my list. But I have other recipes to try this week still.

With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world.
Dalai Lama

Hot Raw Food Chef contest

I decided to be  one of the judges for the next Hot Raw Food Chef which Living Light is showcasing. I just watched all the videos and I must say there are some really great presenters with some fantastic looking recipes. I have until July 15 to send in my vote. So tomorrow, I'm going to start making some of the dishes which look interesting with ingredients I can get in Panama. I took notes and will watch some of the more interesting contestants again.

I can't get chai seeds and some of the other ingredients here in Panama.  I've never been able to find kale or collard greens.  Cacao is another ingredient I don't think I can find here. But I haven't looked in the herb shops. Perhaps they would have it in its unadulterated form.

If you are a judge in this contest, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Look back and be grateful,
    look ahead and be hopeful,
    look around and be helpful.

Vacation & eating raw food

I was off in Boston for the last month and haven't been able to post.  I found it really hard to stay 100% raw during that time. I was freezing and wanting something warm to eat and drink. So I broke down and ate baked potatoes regularly.  I'm home now and working on getting back to at least 95% raw again.  I got papayas growing in the yard and been enjoying them. 

Today I bought apples with the intention of making Bakalava. It's Bruce Horowitz's recipe which I have yet to do right. I don't know about you, but when recipes are written from the biggest ingredient to the smallest, and the order for processing the recipe is different, I always make errors.  Therefore, I think I'll rewrite the recipe to suit either my brain's interpretation (I like things listed in exact order of action) or rewrite it in the way in which I ended up making it.

This is how I made the recipe and it was still delicious:

In processor mix:
2 C pecans
1 C raisins
1 cut orange, rind included
1/2 C honey
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. sea salt (I use kosher salt)

Process and set aside.

5-6 firm apples (My favorite are Fuji's)
1/2 C lemon juice

Core and half apples. With spiral slicer (Use wide blade), slice apples into thin wedges. (I don't have a spiral slicer, so I used a knife to do that which worked just fine.) Mix with lemon juice.

Layering:
Place a layer of apples in a 8"X13" Pyrex followed by a layer of pecan and raisin mix. Repeat so you have 3 layers of apples and topping. Top with cinnamon.

That's not exactly what  Horowitz's recipe says. He says to mix the nuts and honey separately. In that way you have 3 different layers times 3.  I like the way mine turned out. You can make any changes to suit your taste buds.  It's a great lunch.  Yummy!

Write a gratitude list and count your blessings.

Internet problems & Patience

Over the past month, I have had internet problems. The internet connection was moving so slowly I couldn't load or download anything without it going off. However, lots have happened. I'm studying a fasting book with a group of women at the church. I am currently doing morning fasts with prayers intent on patience.

Patience is not only one of the seven virtues, it is also one of the six perfections. In my Pema Chodron lessons, we were told to practice "being patient with slight irritations and annoyances..." In this way, we prepare ourselves to remain calm with bigger problems arise. By becoming familiar with arising feelings of impatience and annoyance, we can move into patience more readily and "deescalate" any negativity while it is relatively easy to do so.

The Dalai Lama says "there are four qualities of patience and tolerance:"

• If someone pushes you around, you should be tolerant, patient.
• If someone shows anger to you, you should not respond with anger.
• If someone hits you, you should not strike back.
• If someone embarrasses and insults you, you should not answer back.

What I have found to help me be patient with such aggressions, is to have empathy for the other person. I do this with tonglen and NVC. Do I do this every time? No. But I try. For me, this is a process, not perfection.

Even the Dalai Lama says patience is a transformation of attitude. It's an inside job.

“We cannot learn real patience and tolerance from a guru or a friend. They can be practiced only when we come in contact with someone who creates unpleasant experiences. According to Shantideva, enemies are really good for us as we can learn a lot from them and build our inner strength."”--Dalai Lama

Osho

I first heard of Osho when I started studying Tonglen. His writing is at the Tonglen and Mind Training Site.  I was empressed by his writings on tonglen. So I found him on FB. Now I am checking out his site called Osho Times: The Magazine for Conscious Living.

Today, an article on inner emptiness was posted on the site. He addresses when people feel out of place and how preforming religious rituals alone doesn't make you religious. His point seems to be more about doing thing the same as others just because that's the way it's done. What's important is looking for the essentials in life.

If you decide to read the article, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I would really love to hear from you.

...be silent so that you can hear the still small voice of your heart. And it is always speaking, but you are so noisy you go on missing its message.”--Osho

Authenticity is an antidote to inner emptiness. --Osho

Lenten fast from Carbon

 

It is Lent and I am doing my usual half-day fast. I'm also taking on studying fasting.  My bible study group is reading a book on fasting which I find somewhat difficult, mostly because of the belief system of the evangelical preacher who wrote it. So, I am doing my own research as I read it.

I found this interesting article by LeeAnne Beres. Her suggestion is to look at Lent as an opportunity to grow closer to God and God's creation. By seeing Lent this way, we can celebrate creation by decreasing  our carbon footprint. If God created earth and said it was good, then it is our responsibility to take care of it. Another way to see it, is to notice how integrated we are on earth; we are all equal and have a role in keeping God's creation beautiful and healthy for us all.


Prayers may seem unanswered, but never are.

Our ancestors viewed the earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we know is the case only if we care for it. It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past that resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more information, and it is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations.--The Dalai Lama

Been traveling

I have been traveling and have not been online for quite some time.  My father's 89th birthday was last week so I got to fly to California to be with him and other family members. It was quite the family reunion.

How did I use what I learned in my Buddha classes?  By practicing patience and joyful effort I was able to get through conversations with certain family members who usually push my buttons just right. Don't we all have kinfolk like that? I also remembered: Do no harm. This really helped, too.  So, by practicing the 6 perfections and on-the-spot tonglen I felt really great.

I start work tomorrow with a new schedule. As long as I do everything with patience and joyful effort, I'll do OK. That's my starting point. From there, I move into the ethics.

Have a beautiful day!

The hardest thing in life is letting go of what you thought was real.

Germ theory, true or false?

I've heard for several years that germ theory was a hoax. It was accepted and seen as an opportunity to make money. According to several articles I've read, the very scientist, Louis Pasteur, who pushed it rejected it on his death bed saying, "Bernard was right... the microbe is nothing; the terrain is everything." 

Another scientist and contemporary of Pasteur, Professor Antoine Béchamp, had rejected the germ theory in favor of his own theory of pleomorphism:

·    Acidic terrain, not germs, cause disease
·    Germs are already in the body by the billions and don't necessarily have to come from without (although that can sometimes happen)
·    Blood is not sterile but can contain many microbial forms
·    Germs are pleomorphic, i.e., they can change through many forms (Dr Gaston Naessens identified a microbe undergoing 16 different stages of  evolution)
·    Virtually all diseases are caused by acidic terrain
·    Diseases can be prevented or reversed by increasing the alkalinity of the terrain
--Gabriel Donohoe in natural news.com

 Click here to get the complete article.

The bottom line is the key to health is having alkaline body. How does one do that? By eating a diet high in uncooked fresh fruit and vegetables.

80/10/10

I had a bit of a cooked food relapse lately--Indian food which I find hard to resist--and decided to go on a cleanse.  Why a cleanse? Because I felt sick afterwards. In the past when I 'cheated,' I didn't have many problems. This time my stomach ached, mucus returned, and I felt bloated.

I decided not to do another series of dry fasts, but to do 80/10/10.  I've done this before with good results, so here I am, three weeks before Lent begins and already doing my Lenten fast.  Within two days I noticed one of the things I like about it: the feeling of a cleaner colon and bowl movements. For some reason, with this diet, I don't need as much toilet paper as I do when I eat more fats.  I even feel lighter.

So here I am, attempting to stay on 80/10/10.  While I was at the grocery store, I looked at those foods which tempt me but decided that I'm on a great path on which I want to stay.  Why mess up a good thing before getting maximum results?

The road to recovery is always under construction.

There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.

Osho on the Three Objects

Three objects which can function as either poisons or the basis of virtue:

1. Aversion: you feel aversion to whoever you dislike
2. Attachment: you feel attachment to whatever you like
3. indifference/ignorance[I've seen both terms used together by other authors, but Osho prefers indifference]: you feel indifferent to things which you neither dislike nor like

(From Osho: The Book of Wisdom : Discourses on Atisha`s Seven Points of Mind Training)

To make the terms clear, the following is from my computer dictionary:

Aversion: a strong dislike or disinclination; someone or something that arouses such feelings; antipathy for, abhorrence of, hatred of… you get the idea.

Attachment: the condition of being attached to something or someone in particular; affection, fondness, or sympathy for someone or something; bond with, closeness to/with, affection for, feeling for…

Indifference: lack of interest, concern, or sympathy; unimportance

Ignorance: lack of knowledge or information; unawareness of, unconsciousness of [this sounds like a definition the Buddhists would use] lack of intelligence; stupidity, illiteracy… [these are the synonyms other writers use to describe indifference/ignorance. They seem to combine the two words. More on that later.]

We normally make judgments about people, places and things. We say, "I like it, I don't like it, or I am indifferent to it."  Atisha considered these objects the three poisons which can become the bases of great virtue. How is that?

According to Osho,

"if you bring in the quality of compassion...If you learn the art of absorbing suffering, as if all the suffering of the world is coming riding on the breath, then how can you be repulsed? How can you dislike anything and how can you be indifferent to anything? If you are unconditionally taking in all the suffering of the world, drinking it, absorbing it into your heart, and then instead of it pouring blessings on the whole of existence - UNCONDITIONALLY; not to someone in particular, remember; not only to man but to all; to all beings, trees and rocks and birds and animals, to the whole existence - material, immaterial - when you are pouring out blessings unconditionally, how can you be attached?" 

Osho goes on to say that by doing the above, all poisons will "transform into nectar and the bondage becomes freedom, and the hell is no more a hell, it is heaven."
This is what I imagine when practicing tonglen: I visualize my breath inward as a dark cloud or smoke. Then, I exhale the white soft moonlight.  I like the idea of changing the poison into sweet nectar and exhaling it for all to receive.

This is part of my study on tonglen which I got from The Tonglen and Mind Training website. As I learn more, I'll do my best to pass it on. If you would like to share your knowledge on this subject,  please feel free. I would love to hear from you. So far, everyone is shy and likes to lurk… That's OK. 


 If you have no object of aggression, you cannot hold your own aggression purely by yourself. If you have no object of passion, you cannot hold your passion yourself. And in the same way, you cannot hold on to your ignorance either.
--From Training the Mind & Cultivating Loving-Kindness by Chogyam Trungpa

From Dalai Lama to Pema Chodron

The classes I was taking on the teaching of the Dalai Lama are now over.  I really enjoyed them and hope you have the opportunity to take them. You can find them online at Spiritualilty and Practice. I like the on-demand classes not only because they are half the price, you can take them at your leisure rather than daily.  I prefer 3 times a week which gives me a chance to digest the lessons.

I started classes on Pema Chodron a couple of weeks ago from the same website. I'm really enjoying the lessons so far.  I'm on lesson 6.  It's about rejoicing in ordinary things.  I've been calling that an attitude of gratitude which is to be grateful for everything, big or little things in my life.

It also sounds like joyful effort. Her example is setting the table with care and joy. Her idea is to enjoy everything we do, even cleaning the toilet. In joyful effort, you would even do unpleasant tasks with care and love.

....take equal care of brooms and toilets and plants in order to show their gratitude to these things.
--Pema Chodron 


Can you show gratitude in brooms, toilets, and plants? Plants are easy. I think I can be grateful for the other two because our homes and lives would be different without them.


(21)Always maintain only a joyful mind. Constantly apply cheerfulness, if for no other reason than because you are on this spiritual path. Have a sense of gratitude to everything, even difficult emotions, because of their potential to wake you up.--lojong slogan #21

Dalai Lama Class 34

The title of class 34 is : Meet Adversity with a Positive  Attitude.

That's just what I need. There's time when the person most closest to me is in a derogatory mood and I can easily go into "poor me, poor me, pour me another drink" mode and fall into the depths of a pity party.

The Dalai Lama writes, "By greeting trouble with optimism and hope, you are undermining worse troubles down the line." How does one do that when it comes to verbally abusive jokes? By using tonglen;  by accepting my pain I will  be using up the negative karma; by taking in everyone's suffering to myself, then releasing compassion and "my potential for happiness" toward them.

I know I have huge amounts of joy buried in me. I've seen it slip out from time to time. When it does, I feel like I'm my true self. When I hide myself, protect myself from potential dangers, I feel trapped like an animal who is no longer able to run free.

So Tonglen is my hope for inner peace and serenity.  Tonglen can be used toward all people.  According to the Dalai Lama, there are stories of monks who were kept as prisoners by the Chinese for years.  After their release, they said they continued the meditation practices and felt compassion for their Chinese guards. In this reading, I'm guessing they used tonglen.  This is what the Dalai Lama uses; this is what Judith Ragir taught me several years ago in her online lectures. I will continue to use it daily like I have, and know the results in in God's hands. In this way, I pray to have peace of mind.

 I practice taking others' suffering to myself and giving them my potential for happiness; this provides a good deal of mental relief.
--Dalai Lama in "How to Practice"

Jennifer Cornbleet

I just learned about Jennifer Cornbleet's site and really liked it. I can't wait to try the Zucchini Pasta with Marinara Sauce. It looks so good.  I watched several of her videos and like her calmness, how she explains why she does what she does and ideas she has such as saving the parts of the vegetables you don't use for the dish for either a soup or juice. You can also see more of her videos on Youtube. 

She demonstrates a variety of recipes from Kale Salad, Garden Vegetable Soup, Not Tuna Paté to Chocolate Mousse. From what I see, all recipes take less than 10 minutes to prepare. I also like how she explains and shows knife techniques, something I would love to improve upon. You can really see that in her video on California Rolls.

Her book is now on my list of other raw food books to buy once I make it back to the States. For the time being, I can use what I learn from her in my kitchen tonight.

"The rest of the world lives to eat, while I eat to live."
Socrates

"It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician."
Meryl Streep  

Six Perfections: More on Generosity

I decided to review the Six Perfections, but this time with a Christian tilt. 

The first of the Six Perfections is Generosity.  Ignatius even wrote a prayer for Generosity. So far, it's the only prayer I have found regarding this subject. I'm sure there are more. If you know of one, I would love to read it.

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
    to give and not to count the cost,
    to fight and not to heed the wounds,
    to toil and not to seek for rest,
    to labor and not to ask for reward,
    save that of knowing that I do your will.

For most of us, we have some kind of motive when we give such as giving to charities to for a tax break. According to an article on inner frontier, "true generosity… involves giving to others beyond what is required of us, and that outstrips any self-centered motives we might harbor in the process."  I don't know about  you, but I find this difficult to do.  Here's where the list of the types of mind to be abandon come into play: wrong view, pride, dependence, discouragement, partiality, self-interest (a huge obsession for most of us), fear, and maliciousness. These are explained in a previous post.   

Generosity is not only the giving of things, but also our time, listening to someone who is in need of being heard, to helping at a soup kitchen, to volunteer at a hospital or hospice or many other such organizations. All this will be done with the fourth perfection: joyous effort.

How many of us can give something and not think about  how much it cost us?
How many of us can fight for something and not take inventory of our wounds?
How many of us can work with joyous effort without needing rest? Not me. If I'm tired, I want to rest.
How many of us can work, again with joyous effort, and not ask for something in return?

As Ignatius' prayer suggests, this is not easy without the help of a Higher Power and great faith.


You have to give it away in order to keep it.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

This weeks favorite salad dressing

I just gotta share my favorite salad dressing of the week.

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled and chopped
salt to taste
1-3 tsps. olive oil (Personally, I like only a teaspoon, but you might want more)
1 tsp. basil

Blend in blender until smooth.

I admit, I don't like lots of spices anymore. You could add garlic, pepper and other spices, some lemon juice or vinegar if you like.  I've been eating raw food for almost 7 years and my taste buds don't really care for too many spices.  So for me, this tastes wonderful.

I like it with romaine lettuce, black olives, sliced cucumbers, thin slices of red cabbage, and avocado.

Hope you like it.  Please let me know what you think.  I would love to hear from you.

Courage is the ability to change the familiar.

So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains and we never even know we have the key. 

Judith's dharma talks

I'm listening to Judith Ragir's Dharma lectures again. I first listened to them about two to three years ago. It took me about a year to listen to all of them. This time, because I know more about Buddhism, I'm catching more of what she says.

Today, I listened to her lecture on Practicing in all Circumstances from her 7-28-06 lecture.  Her main theme was about pivoting. When you find yourself in a habituated pattern, you pivot to the "now," trusting the teaching. For example, when I get caught up in one of my 1000s of fantasies, I pivot to the "now." I'm either listening to a lecture, typing, washing dishes, sweeping the floor. Whatever I'm doing, Judith says, stay with the "now" and practice realization.

The practice of realization is important. If we stay in the moment we are able to hold the moment in a vast way. It's the truth of impermanence, the ups and owns of life, that we are a grain of sand on the beach. We are one star in a countless number of stars. In this perspective, our storyline becomes smaller. Judith says that is enlightenment.

Pivoting is the practice of returning to the moment and realizing the universal perspective is in each moment. Judith mentions that we are training ourselves with repetition, in the same manner we would train a dog. We do the training moment by moment, in the now.

Each moment is an opportunity to pivot and make changes. Every event when we catch ourselves in an old pattern, we have a opening for pivoting toward change.

What do we do with the moments we don't like? Judith says to work with uncomfortableness. Turn towards the uncomfortable parts of life. Be more interested in awareness and the activity at the moment than building a comfortable nest and being in denial about uncomfortable place.  This is difficult for me when I hear an insult. I feel uncomfortable, even angry, but I'm supposed to pivot to the moment.  Hmmmm.  The Dalai Lama teaches to be compassionate at these moments.  Guess this will take much practice.

She also teaches us to turn compassion toward the fear and emotion. Then those fears become a doorway to enlightenment. It's freeing because we interrupt the storyline and remembering it's only the present moment, not what happened 30 years ago.  The promos is, as I develop my capacity to trust, then I'm able to go through the situation with more ease.

For her, "returning to the moment is a refuge, a release. You can't do it unless you trust that something larger than you is taking care of things."

We are to bring our habituated pattern to the forefront once we notice it. We are to practice pivoting daily. I've been working on this for some time. Right now, I'm releasing all fear.  When I find myself fearful, I trust, have faith, and remember that God is with me. I can bring in all that fear with the black smoke of tonglen, and release it with the image of the moonlight of compassion to myself and to all people who suffer from fear.

Another point Judith makes is it's none of my business how things turn out. That's taking refuge in the Buddha, in the teaching.  That's trusting in a Higher Power, God, Alla,  the Dharma, the Universe, or whatever you choose to call it.


"What you plant in the present moment is what you will receive in the future. It causes you to discern  what is wholesome and what is non-wholesome."
--Judith Ragir

Abide without praising, with the mind inwardly at peace.

May I avoiding both the repulsive and unrepulsive abiding with equanimity, mindful and fully aware.

 At first the eyes ears nose tongue and body cause suffering but then they become the seeing of the miracle of the garden of suchness.

Attitude of Gratitude

 
The Dalai Lama writes in his book The Art of Happiness to be grateful for your enemies. Firstly, whom do we consider as our enemies? According to my computer's dictionary, "an enemy is someone who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something."  I can take this to mean someone we may love such as my husband or mother.

I know I would have been very upset and confused by these instructions had I gotten them 6 years ago.  When I was going through my bad times of depression and misery, I saw my mother and my husband as my combatants, my adversaries.  No matter how hard I tried to change to fit into the mold in which they wanted to shape me, I couldn't do it without part of me dying.  When I was tired of dying (in truth I was actually ready to literally die), I fought to be on my current path without knowing where I was heading. My true self was battling to become free. My inner spirit no longer wanted to flounder with confusion and pain; it no longer wanted to be stifled; it wanted to be released and respected for who it was. Therefore, I was reborn, but not without conflict from my perceived enemies.

I first heard of "Attitude of Gratitude" in recovery.  Now I hear it in Buddhism.  "Be thankful for your enemies. They are your greatest teachers." The Dalai Lama says to use each "encounter as an opportunity to enhance one's practice of patience and tolerance." I have learned in recovery, too. 

"The enemy is the necessary condition for practicing patience. Without an enemy's action, there is no possibility for patience or tolerance to arise." What I know is by practicing my recovery program, I learn more compassion toward others; I learn about accepting people for who they are because I can't change them, I can only change myself. As I focus on my own spiritual growth and healing, those around me also seemed to heal to a point. They no longer fight with me as before. Nor do I fight with them.

"So when you come across such a chance for practicing patience and tolerance, you should treat it with gratitude."  With daily practice, I am able to do this more often. When I see times of conflict, I can think of it more often that before as an occasion to see the person with compassion and send to him/her loving kindness.  I am also better at accepting the person for who he or she is.


Attitudes are contagious.  Is yours worth catching?

Look back and be grateful,
    look ahead and be hopeful,
    look around and be helpful.

The Three Lazinesses & The Three Confidences

In reading from The Six Perfections Part 1, I saw that there are The Three Lazinesses which are opponents of perseverance. I am a pretty lazy person. I can sit in front of the TV and do sudoku all night. It doesn't matter what else needs to be done: washing dishes, sweeping, exercising, sewing, ironing, fixing something, whatever.  I would rather just sit on the couch playing sudoku.

The Three Lazinesses are good reminders to help me get up and take action.

1. The Laziness of Putting off Dharma.  I do study the dharma daily. So this isn't a problem for me. I love reading and learning about it. I would like to hone in on one thing rather than all the aspects of it that I'm learning. That is why I'm focusing on the 6 Perfections right now. 

2. The Laziness Arising from Attachment. I'm still attached to some worldly pleasures.  I know I can't take them with me when I cross over. These are things that I realize I will lose at some point and will give up. I'm just not ready to give them all up yet.

3. The Laziness of Discouragement.   I lived most of my life feeling discouraged.  Since being in recovery I found encouragement. I found a support system I never dreamed I would have.  However, once in a while, something will trigger those old feelings of discouragement. I try to be vigilant in watching out for them.  I try to live one moment at a time in hopes to continue on my path of healing, serenity and joy.

The article discusses how discouragement keeps us from living the practices.  I'm not discouraged at all. I'm encouraged as I learn more. If I want enlightenment, I got to do what they did to get it; I gotta learn what they know to get it. I'm not concerned how many lifetimes it will take. As long as I practice one day at a time, I will get there.

Feeling discouraged only results in loss and doesn't bring benefit for gaining liberation.
---The Buddha

***
The Three Confidences

These are the three prides of Confidences which the article suggests we meditate on.

1. The Confidence of Action. "Thinking of achieving the path by ourselves alone without depending on any helper." This is the  pride of thinking we can achieve this on our own. On the other hand, we must not be proud, so it sounds like a fine line to me. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

Liberation depends on oneself—there is no such thing as another helping in this.
--Nagarjuna

2. The Confidence of Capability. "We should practice by thinking, 'I am capable of achieving the purpose of myself and others.'"

3. The Confidence of Delusion.  Here we are to discourage negative thoughts and delusions by avoiding them and not letting them win us over. "If we have this pride then even the great opponents, non-virtuous actions and delusions, cannot hinder us. Therefore, it is necessary to gain such confidence."

By gaining confidence with perseverance, it is difficult to be controlled by great opponents. If the mind is firm, the moral falls are prevented.
---Nagarjuna

New Beginning Cleanse

I signed up for the New Beginning Cleanse and just listened to the replays for the first two talks.  The first was about diet improvements.  The second was about cleansing your fears.  There's lost of good information in both interviews.  There'll be a different interview each night this week.  Hope you can join them or at least listen to the replays. The replays, btw, will only be up for a couple of weeks.

Enjoy!