Winking Wisdom #10

Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike;
each has their suffering.
Some suffer too much, others too little.
— The Buddha
“Some suffer too much; others too little.”
“Too little”  — AH!

Christmas-Chanukah: What’s the Difference?

 

Just in case there might be someone who is not keenly aware of the differences between Christmas and Chanukah….

1. Christmas is one day, same day every year, December 25. Jews also love December 25th. It’s another paid day off work. We go to movies and out for Chinese food and Israeli dancing.
    Chanukah is 8 days. It [...]

Turtle Love Beyond The Grave

The photo below shows a male turtle who remained for hours at the memorial set up for its human friendly mate killed on a Hawaii beach.

People (usually scientists) who state animals lack emotions and memories, must lack such themselves
Please click here for the video. Have a hankie ready.

Cyber-Family

My uncle died last week.  Thanks, but no condolences are necessary. I saw him last some two decades ago. My mother’s oldest brother, he lived in Canada and rarely came to the States and our family rarely headed north. Once we got together for assorted Bat Mitzvahs or weddings, but we all grew apart as [...]

Yes We Can!

A myriad bubbles were floating on the surface of a stream. ‘What are you?’ I cried to them as they drifted by. ‘I am a bubble, of course’ nearly a myriad bubbles answered, and there was surprise and indignation in their voices as they passed.
But, here and there, a lonely bubble answered, ‘We are [...]

How Would Buddha Vote?

Joe The Plumber may be a big, bald, happy fellow, but he definitely is not a Buddha impersonator. The non-licensed plumber from Ohio misrepresented himself to Barack Obama during their rope line exchange. He became a Republican shill for no other reason that he could and he manipulated his 15-minutes of fame and UTube notoriety into a [...]

Clap for the Koan (with poll)

Koans function as quizzes in Zen Buddhism. Zen masters use seemingly irrational stories, questions, riddles to debate, test and often totally perplex students. Koans become the veritable nightmare of the unexpected final examination on your first day of physics class. 
Koans shock students from discursive thoughts and offer another path toward awareness.  A student professing insight [...]

Confession

The weather has been so nice here in Houston — in the low 70s, low humidity (great hair day), deep blue sky — that I’ve been spending all my time outside, rather than blogging.
 So, if you stopped by to check us out — my apologizes for nothing new.
But the day and season are [...]

Winking Wisdom #6: Eschew the Choos

A journey of a thousand miles begins with comfortable shoes.

A Midsummer’s Dream: The Finale

Hurricane Ike claimed yet another innocent victim. Midsummer Books, in Galveston’s historical Strand district, drowned in eight feet of mucky brine that destroyed its eclectic collection of literature and homey interior. 
For years Galveston’s only new bookseller, Midsummer Books provided a literary mecca for Isle readers, tourists, academics and otherwise freethinkers. Unlike those corporate megastores that [...]