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heath ledger – life and death, death and life

It seems that it’s always a shock when a young person dies. I find a person of any age who dies leaves a wonderment. When Heath Ledger died this week at 28 – it doesn’t really matter how – he was here and now he’s not, it was a shock to many people.

Robert Pirsig is the author of ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE. In the Introduction to his book he wrote about the death of his son who was two weeks away from his 23rd birthday when he was murdered in San Francisco in 1979. He wrote about how he dealt with his son’s death. He said that over and over and over he asked the question “Where did he go?” and then he realized that before that question could be answered “What is the ‘he’ that is gone?” must be asked. He asked until finally something answered him.

Although it seems we don’t come into the world with a promise that we’ll be here for any particular amount of time, in our western culture we’re still struck dumb, so to speak, when death happens. Many of the books I read have a way of reminding the reader that death is a part of life and life is a part of death. And they do this in an exquisite way, and the reader becomes comfortable with the idea of death. In many cultures throughout the world people have an understanding that life and death go hand in hand. When Sumi and Toshi visited Bali they got caught up in a street funeral. There was singing and dancing in a happy funeral parade and they were invited to join. If that’s the attitude about death, there are no surprises when it happens.

I’ve been at their bedside when people I love have died. Some died in peace and joy and some struggled til the end. Peace and joy is a choice and watching someone die this way feels right.

‘Impermanence is the universal law.’ – from Swami Bashkarananda to Alexandra David-Neel

“Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.” – Grace Hansen

“If I knew I were going to die tomorrow, I’d think, so soon? Still, if a man has spent his life doing what he wanted to do, he ought to be able to say goodbye without regrets.” – Paul Bowles

“It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up – that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

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on not noticing

Have you been left holding a door while a bunch of people you don’t know pass through without a nod, a smile, a thank you? They see you as their seemingly invisible doorman. Sometimes life leaves you holding the door. Now some people can do this graciously accepting their new position for the moment, others hold the door grudgingly unable to let go because they know it will slam into someone and they don’t want that to happen, others don’t care, if releasing the door from their hold means it will slam into someone, so be it. It’s all so hilarious. It’s a lesson in allowing.

People who write magazine articles often write about how busy and stressed out people are. But the busy and stressed out part of this is that it’s a busyness that’s mostly going nowhere because it’s a busyness caused by not being able to slow down or not being able to be alone.

It’s the same thing with people who drive while using a cell phone. If you ever walk in a city you have to be aware, or else. People who drive while using a cell phone have a look that says driving is secondary to talking on the phone. They don’t notice the things they should be noticing while driving. A little dangerous this is. They must have a angel on their shoulder or they wouldn’t make it home.

What am I getting at? Well, yesterday I saw a handsome, young, well-dressed man smiling as people passed by him as he held a door for a group he wasn’t attached to. They all paraded by, never noticing him, no one thanked him for not slamming the door in their faces. He didn’t care. That attitude was a neat thing to see. And the busy, busy ones? Well, maybe one day they’ll not be too busy to say thank you, or to actually hold the door for themselves and others.

“I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.” – Kahlil Gibran

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seth, a book; gary renard, more books

After reading SETH SPEAKS and now up nights reading THE NATURE OF PERSONAL REALITY, two books channeled by Jane Roberts, I’ll say this, it’s all really, really intriguing. There was a time when I’d hesitate to talk about a book that was channeled. That’s changed. The information in these books can only enhance one’s life and death. The thing is that this kind of information contributes immensely to a life lived consciously and powerfully, and a death of peace and joy. And besides, if we really sat and pondered all those other things we were taught that tend to stretch the imagination, well, why not this also. www.sethcenter.com

As I walked along South Street recently trying to figure out the lay of the Philadelphia land, I came across the bookshop Garland of Letters at 527 South Street. In front to the side of the entrance were a stack of magazines. I took the one called EVOLVE, and glanced inside. I hadn’t heard of “international best selling author” Gary Renard before reading his article in the magazine. He wrote about A Course in Miracles, forgiveness, death, the Mayan calendar, changes in the world, and there’s more. www.garyrenard.com It would seem that checking out this author can only be a good thing. And he talks about his ‘ascended masters,’ Arten and Pursah. Oh, yes.

In the book SETH SPEAKS Seth also talks about 2012 not being the end of the world, and he elaborates beautifully on what’s to come. www.sethlearning center.org . Gary Renard has a somewhat similar view about this topic which many were concerned about as the 21 century approached.

It’s a sunny, fairly warm day here. Hope it’s that way for you. Enjoy!

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britney in the limelight

When I click on my laptop, news about Britney manages to surface, and from magazine racks in stores, pictures of Britney manage to surface. So many adult people writing, judging, and photographing her. Time to give it a rest? Let her find herself, so to speak. Are we really a society that takes so much pleasure in watching someone beat themselves up? If we’re not going to assist, then, at the very least, we could refrain from putting her in the limelight where she doesn’t belong at the moment. Perhaps the way to assist is to allow her to live her life in private for now. Give her time to sort things out for herself. And that’ll give us all a chance to do the same for ourselves – cause when we’re so busy with someone else’s life, we’re not really paying attention to our own. And why are we so involved in scrutinizing someone else’s life? Who’s responsible for keeping all this going?

As supposedly evolving human beings we could be asking ourselves questions that bring us to other places, different ways of thinking, and far better ways of living. We humans could be, can we say, should be, concentrating on becoming all that we can be. Knocking people down whether it be with pen and paper, camera, or fist doesn’t feel right.

On another note is Louise Hay’s movie, YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE. We can “Watch a Preview of Louise’s New Movie at www.youcanhealyourlifemovie.com ”

Let’s do it. Yeah!

www.louisehay.com
www.hayhouse.com

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highly entertaining

The world is indeed a stage. The presidential candidates in the US are presently preening themselves in full force – sprucing up their image, while attempting to determine what “the people” want to hear. How many coaches are involved in bringing them up to snuff with their rapport with the cameras, with the way they answer tv journalists, coaching them on displaying the right emotion at the right time, the proper stance, the right intonation, selecting topics they want to make their own, ignoring others as actors do with scripts sent their way, lots of money required, lots of spectators needed. Months and months and months of rehearsals on the campaign trail. With every candidate involved, it almost suggests the orchestrating of a Broadway extravaganza. Interesting, highly entertaining, very imaginative, but, a little strange, too, since it’s not at all about a Broadway show.

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happy times

The holidays , they delighted the outer and inner. Four New Yorkers came to Philadelphia and we all stayed at The Four Seasons; it was a merry place. On Christmas day we walked a bit around Philadelphia (most everything was closed), played with seven-months old Sophie, had wonderful conversations, enjoyed carry-out from McCormick & Schmick on Christmas night as it seemed to be the only restaurant opened, watched Sophie sitting up straight opening her first Christmas gifts ever (mental note: tell Alicia and Michael she would have been completely happy with a piece of wrapping paper as a gift). Sumi and Toshi, – just teasing. Then, while Toshi put Sophie to sleep, we three – Sumi, Emi and I, quietly left the room for the lounge where The Four Seasons pampered its guests with scrumptious desserts and drinks on the house in a lovely setting.

The two days you were here were lovely, and I thank you, you New Yorkers, for coming to Philadelphia and making Christmas in Phila a truly beautiful one! www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia
www.mccormickschmick.com

The following Sunday I left for Raleigh on Southwest Airlines to spend New Year’s eve with nineteen-months old Sebastian, and Alicia and Michael. Southwest lets you choose your own seat. And that’s fine if you’re in the “A” line. I wasn’t, but that was all right, as one of the flight attendants had the kind of humor that kept us laughing for most of the trip. Don’t let it stop, flight attendant. It was good to see Michael’s smiling face at RDU Airport waiting. RDU is looking big and pretty spiffy. The city planners are keeping up with all the new residents moving into the Durham/Raleigh area. It wasn’t so long ago that a salad in Raleigh consisted of some lackluster lettuce leaves, a few slices of tomatoes, lots of bacon bits and croutons, and a heavy creamy dressing. Whew! Not anymore.
www.southwestairlines.com

Alicia and Michael spent New Year’s eve out and about on the town; Sebastian and I played until he was ready for bed at 7:30. During the week we spent time at a few well-designed playgrounds, drove to Earth Fare for some organic foods, cooked, talked and talked, ate carry-out from Cheesecake Factory at Crabtree Mall. Then on the day before I left, Alicia suggested Michael and I dine out. Thank you, Alicia. We went to Taverna Agora, 6101 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Taverna Agora is cozy, comfortable, friendly, with pleasant service, and, of course, tasty food. It feels like a well-liked, dependable neighborhood restaurant. We had a good time. On returning we found Alicia happily sitting in a corner of a couch, surrounded by big fluffy pillows, spending some down time catching up on missed tv programs. Sebastian was fast asleep; his little body only stops for naps and bedtime.
www.earthfare.com
www.cheesecakefactory.net
www.TavernAagora.com

Michael, thank you for your post. It’s always interesting and enjoyable spending time with family in Raleigh.

Now we’re ready to give 2008 our best shot. Right?

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peace and love in 2008

I hope anyone reading this was able to welcome in the New Year around family, friends and loved ones.

Mom, thanks for making the trip. It was wonderful as always having you with us. I’m thinking that Taverna Agora may become a family spot…

Good things coming for all of us in 2008!

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happy, happy new year 2008

Are the holidays being good to you? Are you being good to the holidays? New Year 2008 is just about here. How will you bring it in? If that’s what you do, meaning do you see it as separate from all other days, or is a new year a flow from one day to the next for you – and nothing more? Interesting how some of us see welcoming in the new year as an invitation to get rip roaring drunk with a handful of friends, others travel to distant lands to be with strangers and take in life in another culture, some enjoy a Chinese meal with a few friends seen only at new year’s eve of every year, some spend new year’s eve meditating, either alone or with others, at a retreat, or a place of similar quietness, others dance the night away, some walk around a city simply observing and enjoying and return to their home to watch a movie, read a book, listen to music, have a glass of wine, others are paddling along the Amazon. Whatever you decide to do, may you do it wisely, and have fun doing it. May you enter the new year in a powerful way, and may love, harmony, happiness, health, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, abundance, fulfillment, success be yours. May you be outrageous some times, bold at other times, courageous always. May you be inspired and inspire, may beauty envelope you, and creativity have a hold on you. May you have many wonderful things to write about in your gratitude journal.

Happy, happy New Year 2008 to all of us!

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seth speaks

Have you read SETH SPEAKS by Jane Roberts? It’s a book that opens one’s mind to an extraordinary way of looking at our selves, the way we think, the way we live, our world, the universe, etcetera. If you are a searcher and want to delve into other possibilities, this is a book worth considering. If, at the moment, you’re not a searcher, consider it an interesting novel. www.sethlearningcenter.org www.sethcenter.com

This is what’s written in the book about reincarnation: “. . . It is not correct, therefore, to suppose that your actions in this life are caused by a previous existence, or that you are being punished in this life for crimes of a past one. The lives are simultaneous.”

There’s more, lots more.

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johnny cash

I have a fascination with Johnny Cash’s voice and his songs. Playing one of his CDs is pure relaxation. Strange because a lot of his songs are rather depressing – in an unbeat sort of way. Is it his gravelly voice? Is it the way he strung simple words together felt by the listener’s heart? His energy going out to the people? Do you feel the complications of his life in his songs and his singing? From the first time I heard his voice, his songs, I liked them. Wherever he is perhaps he knows that people are enjoying his music and perhaps he’s smiling.

And now I’m out the door for this ‘n that, grateful for the day, even though the sun can’t be seen, and I’m humming Johnny’s music. What are you humming at the moment?
www.johnnycash.com