Wednesday, September 10, 2008

It's all Projection, Baby!

"We are experiencing the initiation of the human race into a new level of consciousness, and that is a very terrifying experience. It does no good to turn and run from the terror of our darkness into light; we must sit it out: zazen.

"We must take our counsel from The Tibetan Book of the Dead and realize that these frightening projections of famines, economic disasters, ecological catastrophes, floods, earthquakes, and wars are all only the malevolent aspects of beneficent deities. If we sit and observe them, do not identify with them, but remember our Buddha-nature, we will not be dragged down by them into an incarnation of the hell they prefigure.

"If we run from them, we validate them; we give the projections the very psychic energy they need to overtake us. Then, as Jung has pointed out, the situation will happen outside as fate."

- William Irwin Thompson, Evil and World Order

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Talking Stick

In August, my daughter, Sarah and I helped to create the recent Father / Daughter weekend for MKP Indiana. I was the 'man on point.' Sarah was on the leader team. Part of the weekend included a talking stick exchange. It went something like this: The daughter gives her dad a talking stick that she created and says this: "When I bring you this talking stick, I want to talk and want you to listen" The dad replies: "When you bring this talking stick to me, I will listen and not talk." Then the roles are reversed so that both dad and daughter agree to listening and NOT SPEAKING when the other person holds the talking stick.

Fast forward to last Friday night. When I came home, Sarah was watching TV. I went upstairs to change clothes and brought the talking stick downstairs with me. Sarah took one look at the stick and turned the TV off. What was said was private. We both took a turn with the stick. I felt I was heard. I judge that I heard Sarah. I hope that the talking stick remains a part of our relationship for a long time.

My Favorite Breakup Line of ALL TIME!


This made me laugh out loud! I found it here.
I've got to get the shirt. Thank GOD I'm not dating!