click below for the article.
Imagine: L.A. bicyclists in the driver's seat, one day a week -- latimes.com
Nov 4, 2009
Oct 11, 2009
Congratulation to my nephew.
My nephew, Erik, has been working on the Moto Blur development team from its inception to the first release. I'm sure it will do well.
Aug 30, 2009
Quien Sabe Wabi Sabi?
This subject has been hashed over many times on various blogs, I'm sure. But recently on a Buddhist website, I frequent, someone was writing that he had just purchased a book for his child, Wabi-Sabi, a story of a cat living in Kyoto. The writer asked the question about the true meaning of Wabi-Sabi. I don't think I have the deep down and beautiful Japanese understanding of that topic. So I posted this piece by architect, Tadao Ando answering the question "What is Wabi-Sabi?" This is a little long so you'll be scrolling a little, but it is wonderful essay. As Mr. Ando says, "Wabi, not slobby".
Jul 31, 2009
Jul 21, 2009
a sutra from the poet laureate of Deep Ecology
Thanks to Gary Snyder for allowing this to be reproduced free forever.
SMOKEY THE BEAR SUTRA
BY GARY SNYDER
Once in the Jurassic about 150 million years ago, the Great Sun Buddha in this corner of the Infinite Void gave a discourse to all the assembled elements and energies: to the standing beings, the walking beings, the flying beings, and the sitting beings--even the grasses, to the number of thirteen billion, each one born from a seed, assembled there: a Discourse concerning Enlightenment on the planet Earth.
"In some future time, there will be a continent called America. It will have great centers of power called such as Pyramid Lake, Walden Pond, Mt. Rainier, Big Sur, Everglades, and so forth; and powerful nerves and channels such as Columbia River, Mississippi River, and Grand Canyon. The human race in that era will get into troubles all over its head, and practically wreck everything in spite of its own strong intelligent Buddha-nature."
"The twisting strata of the great mountains and the pulsings of volcanoes are my love burning deep in the earth. My obstinate compassion is schist and basalt and granite, to be mountains, to bring down the rain. In that future American Era I shall enter a new form; to cure the world of loveless knowledge that seeks with blind hunger: and mindless rage eating food that will not fill it."
And he showed himself in his true form of
SMOKEY THE BEAR
A handsome smokey-colored brown bear standing on his hind legs, showing that he is aroused and watchful.
Bearing in his right paw the Shovel that digs to the truth beneath appearances; cuts the roots of useless attachments, and flings damp sand on the fires of greed and war;
His left paw in the mudra of Comradely Display--indicating that all creatures have the full right to live to their limits and that of deer, rabbits, chipmunks, snakes, dandelions, and lizards all grow in the realm of the Dharma;
Wearing the blue work overalls symbolic of slaves and laborers, the countless men oppressed by a civilization that claims to save but often destroys;
Wearing the broad-brimmed hat of the west, symbolic of the forces that guard the wilderness, which is the Natural State of the Dharma and the true path of man on Earth:
all true paths lead through mountains--
With a halo of smoke and flame behind, the forest fires of the kali-yuga, fires caused by the stupidity of those who think things can be gained and lost whereas in truth all is contained vast and free in the Blue Sky and Green Earth of One Mind;
Round-bellied to show his kind nature and that the great earth has food enough for everyone who loves her and trusts her;
Trampling underfoot wasteful freeways and needless suburbs, smashing the worms of capitalism and totalitarianism;
Indicating the task: his followers, becoming free of cars, houses, canned foods, universities, and shoes, master the Three Mysteries of their own Body, Speech, and Mind; and fearlessly chop down the rotten trees and prune out the sick limbs of this country America and then burn the leftover trash.
Wrathful but calm. Austere but Comic. Smokey the Bear will Illuminate those who would help him; but for those who would hinder or slander him...
HE WILL PUT THEM OUT.
Thus his great Mantra:
Namah samanta vajranam chanda maharoshana Sphataya hum traka ham mam
"I DEDICATE MYSELF TO THE UNIVERSAL DIAMOND BE THIS RAGING FURY BE DESTROYED"
And he will protect those who love the woods and rivers, Gods and animals, hobos and madmen, prisoners and sick people, musicians, playful women, and hopeful children:
And if anyone is threatened by advertising, air pollution, television, or the police, they should chant SMOKEY THE BEAR'S WAR SPELL:
DROWN THEIR BUTTS
CRUSH THEIR BUTTS
DROWN THEIR BUTTS
CRUSH THEIR BUTTS
And SMOKEY THE BEAR will surely appear to put the enemy out with his vajra-shovel.
Now those who recite this Sutra and then try to put it in practice will accumulate merit as countless as the sands of Arizona and Nevada.
Will help save the planet Earth from total oil slick.
Will enter the age of harmony of man and nature.
Will win the tender love and caresses of men, women, and beasts.
Will always have ripened blackberries to eat and a sunny spot under a pine tree to sit at.
AND IN THE END WILL WIN HIGHEST PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT
...thus we have heard...
(may be reproduced free forever)
SMOKEY THE BEAR SUTRA
BY GARY SNYDER
Once in the Jurassic about 150 million years ago, the Great Sun Buddha in this corner of the Infinite Void gave a discourse to all the assembled elements and energies: to the standing beings, the walking beings, the flying beings, and the sitting beings--even the grasses, to the number of thirteen billion, each one born from a seed, assembled there: a Discourse concerning Enlightenment on the planet Earth.
"In some future time, there will be a continent called America. It will have great centers of power called such as Pyramid Lake, Walden Pond, Mt. Rainier, Big Sur, Everglades, and so forth; and powerful nerves and channels such as Columbia River, Mississippi River, and Grand Canyon. The human race in that era will get into troubles all over its head, and practically wreck everything in spite of its own strong intelligent Buddha-nature."
"The twisting strata of the great mountains and the pulsings of volcanoes are my love burning deep in the earth. My obstinate compassion is schist and basalt and granite, to be mountains, to bring down the rain. In that future American Era I shall enter a new form; to cure the world of loveless knowledge that seeks with blind hunger: and mindless rage eating food that will not fill it."
And he showed himself in his true form of
SMOKEY THE BEAR
A handsome smokey-colored brown bear standing on his hind legs, showing that he is aroused and watchful.
Bearing in his right paw the Shovel that digs to the truth beneath appearances; cuts the roots of useless attachments, and flings damp sand on the fires of greed and war;
His left paw in the mudra of Comradely Display--indicating that all creatures have the full right to live to their limits and that of deer, rabbits, chipmunks, snakes, dandelions, and lizards all grow in the realm of the Dharma;
Wearing the blue work overalls symbolic of slaves and laborers, the countless men oppressed by a civilization that claims to save but often destroys;
Wearing the broad-brimmed hat of the west, symbolic of the forces that guard the wilderness, which is the Natural State of the Dharma and the true path of man on Earth:
all true paths lead through mountains--
With a halo of smoke and flame behind, the forest fires of the kali-yuga, fires caused by the stupidity of those who think things can be gained and lost whereas in truth all is contained vast and free in the Blue Sky and Green Earth of One Mind;
Round-bellied to show his kind nature and that the great earth has food enough for everyone who loves her and trusts her;
Trampling underfoot wasteful freeways and needless suburbs, smashing the worms of capitalism and totalitarianism;
Indicating the task: his followers, becoming free of cars, houses, canned foods, universities, and shoes, master the Three Mysteries of their own Body, Speech, and Mind; and fearlessly chop down the rotten trees and prune out the sick limbs of this country America and then burn the leftover trash.
Wrathful but calm. Austere but Comic. Smokey the Bear will Illuminate those who would help him; but for those who would hinder or slander him...
HE WILL PUT THEM OUT.
Thus his great Mantra:
Namah samanta vajranam chanda maharoshana Sphataya hum traka ham mam
"I DEDICATE MYSELF TO THE UNIVERSAL DIAMOND BE THIS RAGING FURY BE DESTROYED"
And he will protect those who love the woods and rivers, Gods and animals, hobos and madmen, prisoners and sick people, musicians, playful women, and hopeful children:
And if anyone is threatened by advertising, air pollution, television, or the police, they should chant SMOKEY THE BEAR'S WAR SPELL:
DROWN THEIR BUTTS
CRUSH THEIR BUTTS
DROWN THEIR BUTTS
CRUSH THEIR BUTTS
And SMOKEY THE BEAR will surely appear to put the enemy out with his vajra-shovel.
Now those who recite this Sutra and then try to put it in practice will accumulate merit as countless as the sands of Arizona and Nevada.
Will help save the planet Earth from total oil slick.
Will enter the age of harmony of man and nature.
Will win the tender love and caresses of men, women, and beasts.
Will always have ripened blackberries to eat and a sunny spot under a pine tree to sit at.
AND IN THE END WILL WIN HIGHEST PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT
...thus we have heard...
(may be reproduced free forever)
Jul 17, 2009
Jun 23, 2009
Re-united by Flickr
A few days ago I received a couple of comments under the following photos of one of my favorite designed classic cars, the Bristol. I photographed these when I was living in London back in the late 80's. I had forgotten the name of the car, but someone from Germany clued me in. If you read under these 2 pictures you will see what I mean by Re-united.
Hanneke4 said:
And this:
Hanneke4 said:
You ask how would she know this is the same Bristol, well I indicated where it was frequently parked in London, that would be off of New Bond Steet.
Hanneke4 said:Used to own this very car... FANTASTIC, not just in looks, went really well too :) I had wondered what had happened to it, so just googled it...
And this:
Hanneke4 said:My ex hb and I used to own this baby... God, I want it back now... It is the original Bristol 403 (1953) that went on a peace mission from Bristol to Bordeaux in 1954...
You ask how would she know this is the same Bristol, well I indicated where it was frequently parked in London, that would be off of New Bond Steet.
Jun 10, 2009
Dave K.'s garden slugs and the Buddha
Fellow tweeter and Flickr friend Dave K, tweeted this AM that slugs were out after the rain. From what I have seen on Flickr, Dave has a wonderful garden set against woodlands and near New England bogs. Another Flickr friend Cheryl the "Desert Diva" posted a lovely photo of the Buddha in the gardens of Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe. This particular buddha was different from others since it does not have the Ushinisha, the bump representing his expanded wisdom. I also noticed the many hundreds of curls on the head of this Buddha.
My mind, at times spews disjointed thoughts and experiences, which I link to something I may have read or seen in the past. Here is that connection.
Dave's slugs reminded me of garden snails, Cheryl's photo of the Buddha was contrary to the legend of the Buddha's curls. As I remember, traditionally there were 108 "curls" on the Buddha's head and they were not curls at all, because he had a shaved head. The story goes that when Gautama was meditating in the intense heat, a line of snails were passing by. These snails proceeded to cover his shaved head, and their mucus and bodies protected him from the intense sun as he sat and so they became the snail martyrs, all 108 of them. There are many other explanations and legends about the Buddha's head, but I especially like this one.
Since no depiction of the Buddha in human form has been uncovered earlier than 500 years after his death, it is not important how he looked.
This is why my teacher, Jundo, has stated the following about a household Buddha statue,
My mind, at times spews disjointed thoughts and experiences, which I link to something I may have read or seen in the past. Here is that connection.
Dave's slugs reminded me of garden snails, Cheryl's photo of the Buddha was contrary to the legend of the Buddha's curls. As I remember, traditionally there were 108 "curls" on the Buddha's head and they were not curls at all, because he had a shaved head. The story goes that when Gautama was meditating in the intense heat, a line of snails were passing by. These snails proceeded to cover his shaved head, and their mucus and bodies protected him from the intense sun as he sat and so they became the snail martyrs, all 108 of them. There are many other explanations and legends about the Buddha's head, but I especially like this one.
Since no depiction of the Buddha in human form has been uncovered earlier than 500 years after his death, it is not important how he looked.
This is why my teacher, Jundo, has stated the following about a household Buddha statue,
Now, in my opinion, one may place within one's home altar whatever speaks to one. One should have a "Buddha Statue" (but please see my recent talk on what that means ... for it can be anything that seems right, such as a stone, a coke bottle, a flower, a coat hanger, an empty space ... ) ...
May 25, 2009
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