Natural World

Are You A Tiger or a Fox?

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“The modern dogma is comfort at any cost.” -Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac There are eleven pithy slogans that can be used as practice points and reminders of living the zero point agreement, which is to live life from your side; to live life from the inside-out.  These are not exhaustive or to be used as clubs. They are simply pointers, references to help in being the cause rather than the effect of our life. Each of these are brought out throughout the book, The Zero Point Agreement but can be more quickly referenced here. Pithy intentions, slogans, and principles can redirect the mind, in the … Continue reading →

What’s Trump Got to do with It?

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“What we name it matters little to me, since the origins, nature, and destiny of call-it-what-you-will are forever hidden from us, and no one can credibly claim to know its true name. But that we name it matters a great deal. For “it” is the objective, ontological reality of selfhood that keeps us from reducing ourselves, or each other, to biological mechanisms, psychological projections, sociological constructs, or raw material to be manufactured into whatever society needs — diminishments of our humanity that constantly threaten the quality of our lives.” Parker J Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness Our self-hood, true nature, integrity, or, self-esteem (call “it” … Continue reading →

Gathering Together

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“Our power as individuals is multiplied when we gather together as families, groups, and communities with common goals. It is our collective strength that makes positive change possible in the world.”  –Brain Browne Walker, Hexagram #45, Gathering Together As writers we need our tribe to support us in living a creative life. As authors we need our reader tribe. We are not in this alone, even though as we type away at a story or blog we do so on our own. I offer writing and Zero Point circles because everything wants to be round and in relationship. Everything comes … Continue reading →

Nature’s Way

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“The motion of nature is cyclic and returning.”  (Tao Te Ching, verse 40). One of the 11 principles of the zero point agreement is to rely on nature. Nature can show us the way. We can look to nature to help us with our writing. Nature can guide us in what we write and how we write. Nature is an ideal companion. Simply placing our attention on nature––how the light forms around the room, where the moon is in the sky, the changes of a favored tree through the seasons–will ground and inspire us. The law of attraction is a … Continue reading →

The Arrogance of Certainty (Or, How to Wake Up the Soul)

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A classmate of my daughter passed out pamphlets on his religious belief at the school’s entrance. (It’s a public school). He is fifteen years old. Every chance he gets, he talks about Jesus. At first I wasn’t sure what bothered me (the most), pushing his religion on others or his arrogance. (It doesn’t help that he is exceptional at everything and likely to be voted as best of something.) Of course, arrogance and forcing our ideas on others go hand in hand. Recently an angry atheist called me a stupid, boring c***  during  my first (and last) twitter debate about … Continue reading →

Ajatashutru’s Freedom from Anger and Attachment

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This is the fifth piece in the Venerable Geshe Lhundup Sopa’s introductory teachings, the “lessons before the lessons.” Commentary and spiritual writing prompts follow his lesson. Ajatashutru, who was a cousin of the Buddha, was under the influence of very strong attachment. This story is a good example because it shows us how even a relative of the Buddha can be under the influence of a strong mental delusion. He began to compete with the Buddha for recognition. In this story Ajatashutru met up with a companion in evil, Devadatta, who ignited more aggression and more anger in him, until he … Continue reading →

Seeking A Higher Consciousness

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We talk and write about raising our consciousness, and becoming more conscious, the consciousness of nature, the evolution of consciousness, the development of consciousness—all valuable discussions but when lacking action they are not truly sustainable concepts. Seeking higher consciousness can act like an opiate if we forget what really matters – our actions. Sending love to the earth is good but doing love is better. Sitting on the meditation cushion is good but compassion in action is better. Too often I hear superiority within this concept of “higher consciousness” – we humans claim a particular variety of it and then … Continue reading →