in pursuit?

the softest thing in the universe overcomes the hardest thing in the universe. 

that without substance can enter where there is no room, hence i know the value of non-action. 

teaching without words & work without doing are understood by very few..
- tao te ching (no. 43)

In the pursuit of learning, everyday something acquired.
In the pursuit of the tao, everyday something is dropped.
less & less is done until non-action is achieved.
when nothing is done, nothing is left undone..
- tao te ching (no. 48)

beyond boundaries..

so today arising after very little sleep, I began contemplating anahata nada & sanatana dharma, my favorite subjects. :)

interesting how in my life I happened upon, and was drawn to these principles.. I don't even know when it began. seems they have always been there, but the blessing of sanskrit has given them a name.. giving form to the formless..

anahata nada is soundless (or unstruck) sound.. the sound of the silence from which all sounds (forms) arise..

sanatana dharma is the eternal supporting principle of existence, or literally, eternal supporting mother (natural law).. it is often used in reference to hinduism and indeed hinduism falls into that definition, but sanatana dharma is even more inclusive than what is generally thought of as hinduism..

it is this very inclusiveness that make these principles so beautiful. to me they represent that from which everything emerges, that in which everything exists, and that to which all things return..

when, for brief moments, one allows one'e ego (attachment to form) to dissolve, these principles represent what remains..

it is blissful to return & return again to this boundless state before reincarnating into this thought-form, or that one. that is the dance of life from formlessness into form, and the music that plays is anahata nada..

so many people seem to think that one state is preferable over another. constantly chasing eternal bliss, one never catches it. we believe that formlessness is better than form, or vice-versa.. and it is the impossible moment between the two, the dance itself where joy abounds.

The War on Terror

". . .the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. . ."
-FDR Inaugural Address, March 1933



And the question becomes, if or when something terrible happens are we propelled by fear to participate in a tug-of-war with terror, or are we the visionaries who are inspired to move toward a new thought that creates something great?

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
-Bene Gesserit Rite from Frank Herbert's Dune

Gayatri Maha Mantra

om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT ~ om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - om bhûhû om bhuvaha om suvaha om mahaha om janaha om tapaha om satyaM om tat savitur vareNyaM bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayâT - shanti ~ shanti ~ shantihi

On Ki (Chi) and Serenity

So I woke up this morning thinking about Ki (or Chi,) and the validity of the Serenity Prayer  just within the context of my own personal beliefs. Of course, I acknowledge that the prayer is valid for many people and it helps them navigate their lives, but what about me? The prayer goes:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Just nitpicking, In writing, would address "G_d" rather than "God." Not that it really matters, except in theory. The reason I use "G_d" to symbolize "The-All-That-Is" is because it's shorter than writing "The-All-That-Is" and because it's a reminder that no utterance captures the full meaning of that Being. Well, that's the short explanation anyway.

One of my first thoughts upon waking was that there exists nothing I cannot change in my life, because I can change the way I think about anything. That alone transforms it. Is that unwise? Now, I am always saying that you can't change other people. . . but if you change the way you think about a person, effectively isn't it the same thing?

If I think Joe Schmoe is an a*shole, in reality who knows, doesn't matter. He is an a*shole to me. Then, I choose to think of Joe differently, Joe's got issues that have nothing to do with me. He can behave in whatever manner he likes. I choose to practice removing my attention from Joe, and to focus instead on something more pleasant. Eventually, Joes ceases to negatively affect my mood. Joe's a*sholeness is now a non-issue for me. The result is that I have just changed something (Joe) that normally, I would not think was in my power to change. 

I am inspired by people who do this all the time, people who take situations that seem hopeless, and turn them around 180 degrees. 
People with disabilities, people with terminal illnesses are frequently able to change the way they think about their [physical] condition and miraculously they are transformed. What is this miracle? The grace of allowing The Creative Spirit, a paradigm shift, a new thought to flow through one's being, thereby creating a new reality.

It does take practice to allow such a shift, as we are mostly trained from birth to focus on our fear.

So, this morning I took some time to allow an increase in the flow of Chi, that endless energy that imbues everything. I felt its warmth and I am blessed. When I look around me that is what I see, the abundance of Chi. I truly believe that I live in an abundant universe, and I intend to remain focused on that Truth.