A Simple Clear Day Conclusion

A wonderful sunset after a clear day, brought to us not by Kodak but by afternoon rains almost every day. The kind of day when you rediscover happily again, your love of life. I had a late lunch of soup, in an almost empty outdoor restaurant. I played with their new cute puppy with a razor back black line on his spine. His new teeth cut my hand but it was all done in play. He never meant to hurt and we were busy playing. I luckily had some alcohol hand cleaner, so I don’t worry. Great inexpensive soup so I ordered a second one. My favorite soup: rice noodles, pork, and pork blood with lots of dried chili.
Then off to meditate at temple, right as the rains started. They have Pali prayers with Dhamma talks in Thai ongoing while they have meditation cushions laid out. Prostrate for the bones that supposed are Buddha’s, but if that is so… he was giant bigger than a mastodon with all the places that claim this. They mean well, but we don’t really need bones just more meditation to try out the teaching’s wisdom in our heart against our experience. This right in the middle of busy Bangkok, which makes even more special. Once in a beautiful jungle setting that has since been torn down for shopping malls, but you almost would not know it while there. Except for the huge buildings that squeeze the land that Buddha’s peace hold. In a strange way I would like to be around when the malls disintegrate, which here happen faster than the temples, luckily. Everything is impermanent; all you have to do is look at your face in the mirror each day. Proof is right in front of you. If you still don’t believe, just grab a five-year old photo of you. Hey, where was that 10 yr old kid you were once? Poof.

Making Use of Our Precious Human Life

If you are going to take the wisdom out and practice, the first thing you do is start with an open heart. As simple as an intention, is it not necessarily easy to pull smile when the whole world seems like it is collapsing. But your own worries should not placed on others, knowing they too suffer. Walking down to temple, I encountered a guy in his PJ’s and his new puppy. Instead of walking by ignoring both, I kept my heart open and a wish to not show any displeasure. Mr PJ’s was not into talking to anyone, but his dog was saying howdy in a big way. I said to him, “Hi, how are you? And what dog is this, he is so cute?” while petting him. The puppy showed his excitement by pissing on my shoes and pants. The man said,”Oops!” I looked down at the puppy, and made no facial remark to compliment his spray of enthusiasm. What is done is done, I thought to myself… that is a new way of dealing for me. If I show any displeasure it will not undo what has been done, nor “make it right.” I said, “Oh, well…what mix is he?” Brushing right over what happened. The owner told me and I said good-bye walking onward to my temple. I ran into a friend, who told me about a break-up, leaving me to think about he fact that I find it much easier to access sadness than happiness and thought about why that is? Perhaps, this is a sign that we all suffer even in its minor forms, but more importantly this awareness alone will allow me to provide more happiness to others. I can change this dynamic just simply by being aware and taking care to show a happy face even when things get difficult, because there is no guarantee for anyone that life will be like they wanted, me included. We have the opportunity living where we do to make important changes with our precious human life. We often forget how lucky we really are. Photo by my partner from a border town in Cambodia, a poor boy who doesn’t beg and instead works hard. You can help these kids by clicking on and supporting Street Friends on the upper right.