To reduce stress you must reduce expections

I use to get road rage because of the slow moving traffic, annoyed at long lines in the grocery store, angry when I died to often at Halo, and down right pissed off when people gossip about me.  If we don't expect a movie to be incredible, we are not disappointed when it falls short of being entertaining.  A simple agreement to never intentionally harm one another is sufficient to solidify a healthy and long lasting relationship with the people close to you. We are disconnected by a society that advertises overnight deliveries, 24-hour customer service, instant messaging, fast food, express lanes, and 5 hour energy shots. We are constantly encouraged to expect what we want, how we want it, and right away. This mentality leaves no room for learning patience, tolerance, listening.

Only when you slow down, smell the air after a thunderstorm, chew your food, and breathe consciously will you be able to be kind to yourself and others. Your disappointments will dissipate when you release the exceptions that the world should fulfill you.    

Don't focus too much on life after death, focus on life before death!!

Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future, that he does not enjoy the present moment. As a result, he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and the he dies having never truly lived. -The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprises him the most.

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.

Tolerance is a form of generosity and it is a form of wisdom. There is nothing anywhere in the Dharma that should ever lead anyone to become intolerant.-Hsing Yun

Finding Comfort in Being Uncomfortable

Living a life of moderation to me means living in a constant stage of being slightly uncomfortable.  I think there is a danger in being to comfortable.  Expectations grow from being comfortable. The more you expect, the less you are able to accept.  Accepting the impermanency of life makes it easy to live moderately.
We become irritate when we get attached on our view on the way things "should be." Be the flow, do not command the flow. Feel the feelings, drop the story. What you feel only matters to the self. What really counts is how we behave in the world. Our "feelings" or "beliefs" do not make us better people, but there is no doubt that our behavior does. So we can not be upset by results we did not receive from work we did not do.

The greatest truths are perceived on a level beyond logic.

I believe the mind is the origin of peace and happiness. My tranquility can not be disturbed by outward circumstances, but only if I choose it to be so. I believe in the saying "Huna Kupua" meaning "The world is what you think it is." I read in a Zen book "Zen is the discipline in enlightenment." Enlightenment = Emancipation. Emancipation = Freedom. If this is true, then discipline thought is freedom of the mind, and freedom of the mind is enlightenment. I think we fear freedom, we fear discipline.  Fear is not real. Fear is a product of thoughts we create. Danger is real, but fear is a choice. The only difference between fear and excitement is your attitude about it.  Zen goes beyond optimism or pessimism both of which presume to make judgements about the future. In Zen you are already who you are, and you are already everything you need to be.

Why is shakespere a better writer than God

A good friend of mine wrote this piece. His name is Jim but I refer to him a Splinter.  This has been occupying my thoughts, so I would like to share it. 


My best guess would be that whoever wrote in the name of Shakespeare was from upper class society and so they were very familiar with the sophisticated poetic style of literature whereas whoever wrote in the name of God (as far as the bible goes) was a member of the lower classes and not familiar with sophisticated poetic language. The "God" writers mistook poetic oral tradition for historical truth. (It was like a really bad game of telephone.) Your guess?

Inner Peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event control your emotions.

People who study Buddhism should seek real, true perception and understanding. If you attain real, true perception, birth and death don't affect you; you are free to go or stay. You needn't seek wonders, for wonders come of themselves. Just put thoughts to rest and don't seek outwardly anymore. When things come up, then give them your attention; just trust what is functional in you at present, and you have nothing to be concerned about.                                              -Sokei-an Sasaki