Adjusting

In dim light or darkness, eyes adapt by widening the pupils to let in as much light as possible. The iris (the colored part of the eye surrounding the pupil) contains tiny muscles that control the size of the pupil. This all happens without us having to think about it. This autonomous transition is a daily occurrence happening several times if not dozens throughout our day. I mostly notice it at night before heading down the hallway after I have turned out the last light in the room. After continuously stepping on kids play toys and bumping into furniture that seemed to move in front of me, I have learned a very helpful tactic. I sit.....and wait. I wait for my eyes to adjust. Everything slowly begins to come in focus. I wait a little more. And now I feel confident I can make it. It has helped me many times to allow my eyes to adjust to the light before I take that first step. I was thinking the other day about how this process is involuntary of the mind. From some reason it led me to think about my emotions, something I have also seen at times as involuntary, or not of my control. It made me think about how I try to practice the same pause before a knee jerk reaction. And how it is much needed to allow 'everything to come in focus'. I have learned that I unfortunately fail many times. But I try to remain aware of where I am at all times (emotionally). As long as I can remember to wait, and think about what it really is that I am perceiving...I am usually better off I have found. I think God has left a lot of parallels like this in life. Little hints to keep us on track...

Amazing Facts Of The Human Body!

• During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools.
• Coughs clock in at about 60 mph.
• Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents.
• The surface area of a human lung is equal to a tennis court.
• Everyone has a unique smell, except for twins.
  

A Quick Story On Temper....

A Zen student came to Bankei and complained: "Master, I have an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?"

"You have something very strange," replied Bankei. "Let me see what you have."

"Just now I cannot show it to you," replied the other.

"When can you show it to me?" asked Bankei.

"It arises unexpectedly," replied the student.

"Then," concluded Bankei, "it must not be your own true nature. If it were, you could show it to me at any time. When you were born you did not have it, and your parents did not give it to you. Think that over."

Suffering

I was talking to my brother today about the idea of suffering. It made me think of a video that I had seen on suffering from one of my spiritual teachers named Ram Dass. Ram Dass was a Harvard professor with Timothy Leary in the 1960's. He wrote a very popular book in 1971 called "Be Here Now." In this video Ram explains the balance one must have with suffering. He explains how suffering is a part of life. Please watch the video and feel free to comment. Thanks.

White Collar Conservative....

"White collar conservative flashin down the street, pointing that plastic finger at me, they all assume my kind will drop and die, but I'm gonna wave my freak flag high."

-Jimi Hendrix

Radiohead - House of Cards