Equanimity quote

Help others and follow dreams quote

written 02/08/09

Dharma

Each morning when I think of you
I awake with a smile
I jump out of bed, pick you up
And hug you for a while

You climb down my top
And nestle into my chest
With your little head poking out
There you happily rest

When I go out for the day
I'm excited to come home and see you
I can tell the feeling's mutual
When you frantically run over to me
Licking me like crazy

And you must really love Robbie too
With the way you let him constantly play with you
He makes you pull silly faces
And puts you in funny (safe) positions
And it never phases you a bit
You just close your eyes and drift off into it

And when I notice you curled up safely in his hand
While you both fell asleep together on the couch each night
I watch and smile
As I think it's truly a beautiful sight

Just like me
You love to eat
And when you smell food in the kitchen
You run in and sit by my feet
Waiting for your healthy treat

And when I give you something to munch on
Gees you're funny to watch
As you cantor down the hallway
With this piece of food hanging out of your mouth
While heading off to eat it in one of your 'safe' places in the house

When someone comes to visit
You graciously greet them
With plenty of kisses
And a wag of your tail
To you, they're like a new friend

I refuse to keep you locked up in a cage
So the sun room became your room
Although you prefer to be with us most of the time
And Obviously we didn't mind

When it's cold you make yourself comfy amongst the layers of the spare doona on the couch
Sometimes, shivering myself as I Iay in bed, I lie there with a smirk on my face
Thinking how spoilt you are
But I don't mind as long as you are warm and safe

You First fell ill when you were about 5 months old
I took you to the vet
She suggested to euthanise you
But I would have no part in it
As I believed you would pull through

I wrapped you in a towel
And for 6 days I nursed you in my arms
Medicating you and softly, singing mantras in your ear
Keeping you safe from harm

Every so often,
Your weary head would raise to look up at me
This is what began our bond that we shared
You started to completely trust me
As you could see how much I cared

The vet gave you two days to live
But you survived another one and a half years
And even though you're not always well
You know that love and support for you are always here

Some people might think
''gees, she's only a rat!''
But little Dharma girl
You are as much family to me
As a dog or cat would be

Naming you Dharma was perfectly suited to you
You are as kind spirited as the Buddha teachings themselves
Giving nothing but loyalty, friendship and unconditional love
You truly belong in an angelic realm up above

If i listened to the vet
I wouldve missed out on all the laughs you give me
And our friendship we share so honestly

Dharma, my heart feels completely open With you
Thankyou little rattie
I love you...

written 8/8/09

SAMSARA

The karmic wheel spins again, like waiting for a number on the roulette table, which realm of samsara, will we take birth in this time?
From beginningless times, we’ve had to endure the suffering of countless rebirths and experience all kinds of karma, because we cannot control our mental afflictions of desire, attachment and ignorance.

We are blessed to be born as humans, rather then a hell being, or in the animal realm of ‘eat or be eaten’, but being born into a place of leisure and opportunity, do we use our time wisely?

We’re too concerned with money, sex and power!
These are the most important things to have, or are they?

We work all day, sleep all night and strive to have material possessions. This is what success is based on. But what is success really?

When we pass on from this life, will working hard all our life, until one is sick or old and having all the latest gadgets (that we’re constantly bombarded with by big corporations, that don’t care, who or what they destroy, because they are fueled by their own greed) really mean anything in the end? Is this real success?
Living a simple life and showing love and compassion to all beings, wouldn’t this be considered true success?

Actually making a difference in the world, by bringing love into the hearts of people and animals and respecting our land.

After all, it’s mother earth that supplies us with all our needs and resources, and we show our appreciation, by treating it, like it’s our own personal toilet! People seem to be more concerned with trivial things, such as their vanity or the pain in their little toe, rather than the important things going on in the world.
When we pass on from this life, we leave all our loved ones behind and our possessions, so why have attachment?
Love unconditionally, give generously without expectations.

For it is not us who dies, just the form we take on in this life. When we leave this life, who we are now, will NEVER be here again. We will never come back as the person we’re known to others today. We will be someone entirely different.
However, our mental continuum will carry on to take our next rebirth and depending on how we behave, will determine, how our next life will be and what form we take on.

We are in control of what happens to us, through our thoughts and actions. Karma will continue to exist while we live with cravings and attachment to things, including our own self cherishing (one who cherishes the self, cannot be trusted) The way we see ourselves, the ‘I’, that we so desperately grasp on too, doesn’t really exist, the way we perceive it.
We are but merely a name, that exists for only a certain amount of time.

Being born as a human, we have accumulated much merit. To be beautiful one has created much patience. From ethics comes happiness, joyous effort comes strength and generousity comes resources.

Another thing i'd like to say, is why do we hold on to the past? Would you go through yesterday’s garbage to make tonight’s meal?

And fantasising about the future can bring disappointment, when things don’t go our way.
As John Lennon said “Life is what happens to you, while you’re busy making other plans”

So live in the now and follow a virtuous path.

Karma is expantial No matter how small the deed (good or bad).
It’s like a seed that’s planted and grows into a huge tree, with many branches. Once planted, nothing can stop the seed, unless other factors come into play and prevent that from happening.
For eg. doing a negative action, will ripen, unless purified.

Search for happiness within, because external conditions or in another term, samsaric pleasures, will only bring temporary happiness.

When suffering from mental anguish or physical pain, know that it will pass, nothing is permanent. I have had my own experiences with this. If one is going through this, know that it will be temporary, no matter how permanent it may seem at the time.

Everything is transient.

Have faith in two of the 4 noble truths which is “there is a cause to suffering and there is cessation of suffering.”

I know, that by feeling depressed, frustrated or angry, will only create more negative karma for myself, therefore, more suffering.

Instead, by helping other’s, helps relieve one’s own pain, because it takes the focus off one’s self. It also teaches us kindness and brings much merit.

If someone behaves badly to another being, this shows a lack of inner contentment. Instead of retaliating in the same manner, and seeing the person as inherently bad or as an enemy, use this person to help develop patience and wisdom.
Practice equanimity to all beings.

All our experiences we go through, are due to our own karmic conditions, ripening at that particular time. Nothing can happen to us, unless we have created the cause to do so.
So stay positive with an open mind, show love and compassion, be generous and follow the path of morality.

Love and blessings

Written 17/03/07

May you appreciate...

I was inspired to write this poem, after i witnessed something that i found very upsetting.I thought about the preciousness of life and the fragility of it. As i pondered over my many thoughts, i was admiring the beauty of nature, as i stood there and looked out over the 1000 acres of lush greenery, that surrounded me. And thought about how much we can learn from it...

may your days be filled with sunshine
and your nights with tw inkling stars
may you wake up everyday and value who you are.

may you have the chance to go out bush and find some tranquil time
to be away from the stresses of life and find peace within your mind
and to wake up to the soulful tunes of birds singing a happy song
and hear them call out to their relatives for them to merry-ly sing along

and may you have the chance to walk along the beach
while the ocean air cleanses your aura as the sand massages your feet
and as you stand there looking out to sea
with your skin being tickled by the gentle breeze
may you appreciate the abundant life and activity
that live beneath the ocean sheathe
and as you leave the beach may you feel refreshed and revived
after breathing in the fresh, cleansing air and you feel great to be alive

and may you appreciate the vibrant beauty of a flower as it blooms
and it's colours and smell radiate your senses and brings a smile when feeling gloom
and to enjoy the beauty of a dew drop as it drips upon a leaf
and glistens in the sunlight until it evaporates in the heat

and when going to bed at night feeling warm and cosy beneath the sheets
may you be thankful you're not living on the streets
and that you have no fear and are able to sleep

and may you give compassion to all living beings
whether an ant or human they all have feelings

to give love without wrong expectations is the true meaning of the word
and to live without judgements these are just some of our learning curves

and to acknowledge that desire is the key to all suffering
so before acting upon it think if there's anyone you'll be harming

and may you appreciate having intelligence and being physically and mentally able
to enjoy the beauty around us and to be living in a country that's relatively stable

and may you appreciate the warmth of a smile that appears on someone's face
either given or received is something that can never be taken or erased

so forget about the trivial things in life, for at any moment, can come death
it's as close as being on the other side of a wall
after the mere cessation of breath

and try not to be despondant about the negativities in life
and things that can't be changed
acknowledge the beauty within one's self and what mother nature has to offer
and by giving to the less fortunate helps to ease one's own pain

and may you always have a life that's filled with PEACE, LOVE, and meee (HARMONY)

written sep/06
age 26