tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74672852824683556122024-02-21T13:36:41.405-05:00Budding Buddhist...walking towards refuge.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-55971963257978979802009-03-30T17:43:00.002-06:002009-03-30T17:49:31.926-06:00Here we go......I've finally gotten everything ported over to WordPress. This blog will now be left as an archive. Please find me at my new home:<br /><blockquote><a href="http://walkingtowardrefuge.wordpress.com/">http://walkingtowardrefuge.wordpress.com/</a></blockquote>URL's a bit lengthy, but the other choices I tried were all taken. :D Forgive me!!EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-60717597521045289142009-03-12T14:45:00.007-06:002009-03-13T05:51:30.710-06:00An Overdue UpdateWell, I hate to say, it, 'cause I love da layout, but I've made the decision to port this blog to my wordpress account soon. I love the functionality over there, and that's where all my other creative projects are so...expect a move soon.<br /><br />In more serious news - I've been missing for so long because my Dad's liver began failing. A couple of weeks ago I called in some favors and managed to fly up to see him in Mt. Sinai. To be honest, my Mom and I figured he'd be dead within a week - he was really sick, y'all. And it was hard to watch the progression of his illness. He was diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy - basically as his liver failed, it would spew ammonia it couldn't process into surrounding tissues. This both ruined his muscle tone and messed with his cognition. When I flew up I hadn't really talked to my *Dad* per se in six or eight months.<br /><br />So, for months and months I've done the only thing I could think to do for my Mom, as far away as we live. I was an ear to her concerns and fears and frustrations. That's been heavy, but I was SO glad to be able to do it. Figured it was the least I could do.<br /><br />Anyway, he'd been on the transplant list for quite a bit, but we'd had 6 fall through - I few up on a non-refundable ticket because we had thought one was really it. I got on the plane thinking this was my opportunity to spend some last precious time with my parents together - that this was my goodbye to my Dad, more or less. I got off the plane and let my Mom know I was at JFK and I'm happy to report that during my flight they took my Dad into surgery for his transplant.<br /><br />Long story short, and I'm sure I'll blog more about this and all the other things I've been thinking about - I'm so deeply grateful for transplants - I have my Dad back. Not the befuddled, very sick guy I'd talk to briefly on the phone for a big chunk of the last year - they really cool guy I adore and grew up with. ^_^ Transplants are gobsmackingly amazing. People go into surgery near-death and a week later are able to leave the hospital under their own power. I just hope donor families know how amazing and precious a thing transplants are. I am forever grateful to the donor family that gave my Dad a second lease on life.<br /><br />Well, this post is meandering. I guess I should just say life has been keeping me busy. And don't get me started on the local economy and our little home based business.... :P<br /><br />Next post, back to "normal" - whatever that is.... ^_-EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-39391216428782107742009-01-20T14:15:00.002-06:002009-01-20T14:16:51.342-06:00GodSpeed, Mr. President<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUULXThciItzv0li0Z_Hhs6UXKSHkGS2zXrCYGhAv6pStMa7uLc1zom2f_vmqYTTX8TYmzAJ8YtoU0BezPA3QviSi7ONiZqhU7qaguGl40hQBzSn1vDuX2ezrYsX4WYcm5RMukGaYrVU/s1600-h/obama_Lama.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUULXThciItzv0li0Z_Hhs6UXKSHkGS2zXrCYGhAv6pStMa7uLc1zom2f_vmqYTTX8TYmzAJ8YtoU0BezPA3QviSi7ONiZqhU7qaguGl40hQBzSn1vDuX2ezrYsX4WYcm5RMukGaYrVU/s400/obama_Lama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293472298699804850" border="0" /></a>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-50413380793915345522009-01-08T13:23:00.004-06:002009-01-08T14:01:19.302-06:00ManyMolly Brown, over at <a href="http://destinationthejourney.com/">Destination the Journey</a>, <a href="http://destinationthejourney.com/2009/01/08/vicissitudes/">today</a> broached something that is a strong component of my practice.<br /><br />While you sit reading this, someone is giving birth, another is dying, another grieves the loss of a love one. Everything in the breadth and depth of daily human experience is happening right now.<br /><br />As I move through my day, I do my best to bear this in mind, and honor all these beings and their experiences with my behavior. It doesn't always work, and I am constantly having to pull myself back to this thought, but I try to do my best.<br /><br />When I begin to pity myself or my situation, I find remembering that many of my brothers and sisters are in far worse places returns me to center. I pray for peace and strength of heart for them, and then also for myself.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-40749849819399497032009-01-06T13:25:00.003-06:002009-01-06T13:37:47.887-06:00Grateful PostscriptI want to make a point to say that I am grateful for the good life that I have. I guess blogging can lead to some self-absorbed introspection, which is quite honestly why I hesitate to post a lot of times lately. XDEdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-13728790013867292822009-01-06T10:51:00.006-06:002009-01-06T13:23:31.831-06:00Quotes<blockquote><p class="style66" align="justify">Love is the capacity to take care, to protect, to nourish. If you are not capable of generating that kind of energy toward yourself – if you are not capable of taking care of yourself, of nourishing yourself, of protecting yourself – it is very difficult to take care of another person.</p> <p class="style66 style71" align="center"><a href="http://www.plumvillage.org/">Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh</a></p></blockquote><p class="style66 style71" align="center"></p>All my life I have tended to gravitate towards the hardest, most difficult road I can take. I've been that way since I was little. When I was 5 or 6, it was decided that I was too forceful a person - too full of myself is how I once had it explained to me by my parents. So in the first grade (I started school a bit young), a concerted effort was undertaken by my parents and teacher to "take me down a peg." That was a hard year for me. I love my parents and know that they did not mean me real harm, but their efforts with my teacher that year were very successful. I have long since struggled with issued of self-worth and self-confidence. This is part of my Origin.<br /><br />So I do what I do, and I am what I am. I sit, I practice. I try to practice mindfulness. I dissect, dissolve and attempt to release what I grasp after.<br /><blockquote>The great practitioners of nonviolence have never turned their heads or shrunk away from their own or others' suffering. Knowing the downfalls of aggression, they have been able to respond with wisdom and broad-mindedness. This type of wisdom and courage grows from our commitment to understanding our own mind and reactions and the causes and results of our actions. We develop the ability to accurately read and respond to the world around us without rejecting it. This is the practice of nonviolence. Of course this takes some maturity. We really need to cultivate this kind of maturity.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mangalashribhuti.org/">Dzigar Kongtrul</a><br /></div></blockquote>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-18049914169585102342009-01-01T14:53:00.004-06:002009-01-06T13:23:03.588-06:00Staying PresentI found a quote I really liked in<a href="http://edamommy.blogspot.com/2008/12/hmm.html"> the book I'm reading right now</a>:<br /><br />"...we often still find ourselves disengaged from our own clarity, moving along without thinking...."<br /><br />That's exactly it - I really can grok this - for me it's like residing a half-step away from being present.<br /><br />Perhaps with a "deeper breath" and a more mindful effort I can "let go" and ease down into this clarity more often.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-1324104921350996472008-12-28T21:38:00.004-06:002009-01-05T13:11:49.373-06:00HmmBlargh. It's been a long time since I blogged. Life has presented me with great challenges lately. An ailing parent. At least one child that may be heading for an Asperger's diagnosis. The failing "secondary" economy in the area (we live in an area that caters to vacationers) has made things...interesting, as well. That's definitely the word - interesting.<br /><br />Anyway - a couple of recent discoveries: I loved <a href="http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/zen-master-franz-kafka.html">James Ure's post on Kafka</a>, not so long ago. I always liked Kafka, but I don't remember reading that first poem James includes. In any case, I found the post refreshing. ^_^ Also - I'm currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590305671?ie=UTF8&tag=motherstuff&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1590305671"><span style="font-style: italic;">Light Comes Through</span></a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzigar_Kongtrul_Rinpoche">Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche</a>. This is a highly readable, slim little volume. I'll have a review soon.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-30464417669192611912008-09-28T12:21:00.004-05:002008-09-28T12:32:11.016-05:00One More Thing....While looking for information about Ayya Khema, I ran across a wonderful documentary photo collection on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a>: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/regfoto/sets/72157594239250099/with/211618024/">Sangha: Munks [sic] and Nuns in the Buddhist Community</a> by Friedrich Reg. There are several of Ven. Khema, but there are also many others including both the thought-provoking and lovely. Here's one:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC4G0fbY9q9GpwvIMtTV72aiA8d-F81pjHzKPKfq2pV6WielO4TBvvEOK17dVlYwxemFklsPBLiDs5yniJkZkCMJqHkxlHo_RAfB1VZGo-VfuVOaVvjJxzQsnotkSyv1MY2GQ73e3jeY/s1600-h/218470493_aee92f18eb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC4G0fbY9q9GpwvIMtTV72aiA8d-F81pjHzKPKfq2pV6WielO4TBvvEOK17dVlYwxemFklsPBLiDs5yniJkZkCMJqHkxlHo_RAfB1VZGo-VfuVOaVvjJxzQsnotkSyv1MY2GQ73e3jeY/s400/218470493_aee92f18eb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251125808916228610" border="0" /></a>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-79034666687093052912008-09-28T09:34:00.007-05:002008-10-02T19:02:46.243-05:00Ayya Khema<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmoFyMPYAHHidblYqcQBVWxvQ9Br8BqS34g-cY3k0T_VvcqfgQdzVqz94sE6tqTrsPZXul5xEPXKasEt_9mQC790urNw7VkYUEpIvUeY46pDOFnuGfGhpoJCJaIqbQXnKqUAOnFXd9Y0/s1600-h/ak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmoFyMPYAHHidblYqcQBVWxvQ9Br8BqS34g-cY3k0T_VvcqfgQdzVqz94sE6tqTrsPZXul5xEPXKasEt_9mQC790urNw7VkYUEpIvUeY46pDOFnuGfGhpoJCJaIqbQXnKqUAOnFXd9Y0/s400/ak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252711318792572882" border="0" /></a>Via both <a href="http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/faith-and-wisdom.html">The Buddhist Blog</a> and <a href="http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/2008/09/a-balance-betwe.html">lotusinthemud</a> I found a really interesting quote from Venerable Khema. (Check out the links for the quote - figured repeating it a third time was a bit redundant. 0.O) I wasn't familiar with the Venerable so I did a little research. Resources I found:<br /><ul><li>Gathered resources <a href="http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/6774/a_khema.htm">here</a>.</li><li>A Wikipedia article <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayya_Khema">here</a>.</li><li><a href="http://www.vipassana.com/meditation/khema/hereandnow/index.php">To Be Seen Here and Now: Ten Dhamma Talks from a meditation retreat at Pelmadulla Bhikkhu Training Centre, Sri Lanka, by Sister Ayya Khema</a> - I've yet to read these, but I look forward to it.</li><li><a href="http://www.buddhanet.net/ayyatalk.htm">Path and Fruit, a Dhamma Talk by Sister Ayya Khema</a> - Another one I look forward to reading.</li><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Ayya+Khema&emb=0#q=Ayya%20Khema&emb=0">Here</a>'s my search on Google video. A few are in English, most are in German.</li><li><a href="http://www.sangharakshita.org/a-tribute.html">Ayya Khema: A Personal Tribute</a> by <a href="http://www.sangharakshita.org/index.html">Urgyen Sanghara</a><a href="http://www.sangharakshita.org/index.html">kshita</a>.</li><li>A <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khema/index.html">collection of three of her writings</a>, which includes a copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">To Be Seen Here and Now</span>.</li></ul>A brief summary of her life, quoted directly from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/">Wikipedia</a>:<br /><blockquote><p><b>Ayya Khema</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_25" title="August 25">August 25</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923" title="1923">1923</a> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_2" title="November 2">November 2</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997" title="1997">1997</a>), a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism" title="Buddhism">Buddhis</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism" title="Buddhism">t</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher" title="Teacher">teacher</a>, was born as <i>Ilse Ledermann</i> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin" title="Berlin">Berlin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a>, to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew" title="Jew">Jewish</a> parents.</p> <p>Khema dodged the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism" title="Nazism">Nazis</a> during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>, but was interned by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japanese</a>. She eventually moved to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>. After travelling in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia">Asia</a> she decided to become a Buddhist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nun" title="Nun">nun</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a> in 1979. She was very active in providing opportunities for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women" title="Women" class="mw-redirect">women</a> to practice Buddhism, founding several centers around the world. In 1987 she co-ordinated the first ever <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Conference_of_Buddhist_Nuns&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="International Conference of Buddhist Nuns (page does not exist)">I</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Conference_of_Buddhist_Nuns&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="International Conference of Buddhist Nuns (page does not exist)">nternational Conference of Buddhist Nuns</a>.</p> <p>Khema wrote over two dozen <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book" title="Book">books</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_%28language%29" title="English (language)" class="mw-redirect">English</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_%28language%29" title="German (language)" class="mw-redirect">German</a>. Her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobiography" title="Autobiography">autobiography</a>, <i>I Give You My Life</i>, is an adventure story sprinkled with nuggets of spiritual wisdom.</p></blockquote>Among her many other accomplishments, Ayya Khema was the spiritual director of <a href="http://www.buddha-haus.de/">Buddha-Haus</a> in Germany, founded with her guidance. (An English language version of their website can be found <a href="http://www.buddha-haus.de/index_engl.htm">here</a>.) Her ashes rest in a beautiful stupa there:<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Ab-9RrI4KzG-5MuzdAz3yS2PbM2Iu3xHJ2JdPhfF0VIfsOP7EmyCu84bphA1Io5glTsSYUwZzXWgjSPUF6aGmdJqHUhzHbZznbvkuf1ELoJN3lk6vH3mrPLfcqtKSy_Nnm18ow62m8/s1600-h/stupa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Ab-9RrI4KzG-5MuzdAz3yS2PbM2Iu3xHJ2JdPhfF0VIfsOP7EmyCu84bphA1Io5glTsSYUwZzXWgjSPUF6aGmdJqHUhzHbZznbvkuf1ELoJN3lk6vH3mrPLfcqtKSy_Nnm18ow62m8/s200/stupa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252710289070046866" border="0" /></a>As you can tell (^_^), I've gathered a lot of online resources to read and listen to. So far I'd say her speaking and writing style are very accessible and interesting to lay-person-me. I'd be very interested to know if any of y'all have read her books, and what your opinion is, or perhaps even which one is your favorite, if you've read much by her.<br />----------------------<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Image sources - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/regfoto/sets/72157594239250099/with/211618024/">Sangha: Munks [sic] and Nuns in the Buddhist Community</a> by Friedrich Reg and the <a href="http://www.buddha-haus.de/">Buddha-Haus</a>.</span><br /></div>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-48405713822464136572008-09-27T12:54:00.008-05:002008-09-27T15:59:25.978-05:00Starting Off LightlyThought I'd begin a real return to blogging with some interesting tidbits.<br /><br />First off, did you know that <a href="http://www.kdlang.com/">k.d. lang</a> is Buddhist? I've known for quite a while, but it's only recently that I've seen a lot of press on the matter. As a matter of fact, <a href="http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php"><span style="font-style: italic;">Shambala Sun</span></a> has a <a href="http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3184&Itemid=247">recent (03/08) interview</a> with her:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Melvin McLeod</span>: What type of Buddhism do you practice?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt0G6gLQSa9Q8NBFfhrQKYnF6J5sWLc8GcagWqv7AcdVVn_Oy7IKj2TcmMhCP_AQnEhnf-lPcT3X4YWvtOwq2rGIDEN4g_wJPNJ1fiSTFdTx5VkO9dUykSVV_lYs037FzpNzT4gTqW2E/s1600-h/kdandvenerable.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt0G6gLQSa9Q8NBFfhrQKYnF6J5sWLc8GcagWqv7AcdVVn_Oy7IKj2TcmMhCP_AQnEhnf-lPcT3X4YWvtOwq2rGIDEN4g_wJPNJ1fiSTFdTx5VkO9dUykSVV_lYs037FzpNzT4gTqW2E/s200/kdandvenerable.jpg" alt="" id="kd and venerable" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">k.d.lang</span>: About eight years ago I met a teacher here in Los Angeles from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyingma">Nyingma</a> lineage of Tibet, <a href="http://www.thondupling.org/pages/page2.html">Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa</a>. The great teacher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagdud_Tulku_Rinpoche">Chagdud Tulku</a> asked him to come here and work on stabilizing dharma in the West. Lama Gyatso quickly became my teacher. I have been practicing and studying with him since.</blockquote>She and her partner (Jamie Price) are on the board of directors of <a href="http://www.aribhod.org/">Ari Bödh, the American Foundation for Tibetan Cultural Preservation</a>. Also amongst their small sangha's current projects is "a children’s camp called <a href="http://www.toolsforpeace.org/">Tools for Peace</a>."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Please note - <a href="http://www.kdlang.com/site.php?em11=0_-1__1_%7E0%7E4253_-1_09_2008_0_0&content=photos&em17=&em18=">image is from her website</a> - no infringement is intended, but it seemed highly appropriate for the entry.)</span><br /><br />Also, I was <a href="http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3257&Itemid=244">reading in last month</a>'s <a href="http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php"><span style="font-style: italic;">Shambala Sun</span></a> that <a href="http://www.kagyu.org/kagyulineage/karmapa/kar00.php">the 17th Karmapa</a>* has a love of comic books, especially the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-men"><span style="font-style: italic;">X-men</span></a>:<br /><blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-gys2MBW59_vjofJNDQkLCmvLihBLmZrvGPxFk40-xHvA0dPsPRrXQG1kI-9eO2N1sLNdo3QySMUSFDn4RJC5RtzPIg2TSq774oHEvawPkn5L7Vn6rTIYmEmnltzdbI-bYPKwLzsBpw/s1600-h/karmapa_captain.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-gys2MBW59_vjofJNDQkLCmvLihBLmZrvGPxFk40-xHvA0dPsPRrXQG1kI-9eO2N1sLNdo3QySMUSFDn4RJC5RtzPIg2TSq774oHEvawPkn5L7Vn6rTIYmEmnltzdbI-bYPKwLzsBpw/s200/karmapa_captain.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250808470640398354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">In your talk earlier today, you mentioned that you used to read </span>X-Men <span style="font-style: italic;">and other comics. Is that something you still do?<br /><br /></span>I would continue reading comic books, but not many people give them to me anymore! When I was young, all kinds of people would give me comic books, but now they don't. As you know, they made a movie of the <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men, </span>and I enjoyed that very much. When I went to Universal Studios, I thought about buying some <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men</span> comics while I was there. But it was very crowded and I thought, "Well, maybe it wouldn't be so appropriate for an adult to purchase such things."</blockquote>I am totally thinking about putting back a stash of comic books to send to <a href="http://www.kagyu.org/kagyulineage/karmapa/kar00.php">him</a>, when I can. ^_^<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:78%;">* I am not going to weigh in on this, but there is some controversy as to who the 17th Karmapa is - see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karmapa_controversy">this article</a> for more. I see no reason, regardless of one's position on this controversy, to not refer to him by his appropriate title.</span></blockquote>And last, but not least, via Venerable Konchog of <a href="http://danzanravjaa.typepad.com/my_weblog/">Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa</a>, comes a <a href="http://danzanravjaa.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/u-i-know.html">fun invitation to provide a caption</a> to this fab image:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ1x6ickunPCvxI2Jgf8k9YhhZlcwdYjFx8SkyvJuU7XEeQqyN9mXUAF01uNmGTIzK7m8dnrG62AlIaXsWb5dmS-6ubroATQki28EfPVGoQx4_n3dR8ES1Q1l8z2dpiXdjkSWoTuoBew/s1600-h/bushesandvenerable.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ1x6ickunPCvxI2Jgf8k9YhhZlcwdYjFx8SkyvJuU7XEeQqyN9mXUAF01uNmGTIzK7m8dnrG62AlIaXsWb5dmS-6ubroATQki28EfPVGoQx4_n3dR8ES1Q1l8z2dpiXdjkSWoTuoBew/s320/bushesandvenerable.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250801387501941090" border="0" /></a><br />You know you wanna. <a href="http://chaplaindanny.blogspot.com/">Rev. Danny Fisher</a> has weighed in already. ^_-<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span><a href="http://danzanravjaa.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/u-i-know.html">Drop by and weigh in</a>!<br /></span><blockquote></blockquote>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-40404510459635365022008-09-24T10:16:00.003-05:002008-09-24T10:32:56.969-05:00WhewI'm back. Well, sort of. At least I'm trying to be. Lots to do, between work, home and little people. Anyway - I'm out here. Listening. ^_- Hopefully soon to be posting more.<br /><br />Blunt honesty time: It can be intimidating for me, sometimes, trying to decide if what I have to say is interesting in the slightest, ya know? Sometimes I get hung up in a lack of self confidence. Lots of Buddhist thinking, musings, and questions cross my mind, but there's this crabby, cowed-acting corner of my mind that tells me that it's egotistical to think that anyone would be interested in my blogged contemplations. This has been a huge block to me lately, when it comes to writing.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-13603618927269731532008-03-10T16:15:00.001-06:002008-03-10T16:24:51.471-06:00Freeing TibetI'm a bit slow in mentioning this, but the issue doesn't end when March 10th ends:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.march10.org/"><img alt="March10" src="http://www.march10.org/images/youngtibetad.jpg" /></a><br /></div>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-86107255800923256042008-03-03T12:44:00.004-06:002008-03-04T10:50:53.279-06:00Loyalty?Just a quick post - have a lot of thoughts bumping around in my head right now, but no cohesive order to them yet. However, I found an interesting link on <a href="http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/">lotusinthemud</a> I thought was worth pointing out. Apparently, <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/29/BAQPVAUVO.DTL">a Quaker teacher was fired for changing her loyalty oath to reflect her nonviolent spiritual views</a>.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-66616956365641269982008-02-20T21:34:00.008-06:002008-02-21T11:35:39.273-06:00Random Pics from Date NightThe cat is away (well, in this case, the 3 kittens), so the mice have been at play - while <a href="http://bsc.cards.go.com/cards/dynamic/missionspace/retrieve?card_id=FA5C939CBDA4167DD72275EF7500F482">the kiddos are with their grandparents this week</a>, the other half and I have actually been getting in some grownup hang out time. Part of that was hanging at a mediocre chain bookstore after a movie. While da Man was checking out the <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu</a>, <a href="http://www.unix.org/">Unix</a> and <a href="http://www.debian.org/">Debian</a> books, I (of course) gravitated over to the anaemically stocked Buddhist selections. Here's part of what I saw - hoped y'all might find these two pics amusing:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kr-O4y8aWOjVdSCgbfeeQH5oM5KYxO1DDUS18sqTDQ3ECziJFpWJ2batlw4bIPAwoeHaCKe5dYlXHwbV6gFF95cuebc_t706epzIUHhklMtKO4M3U4gJoHDRfJqf_WhMDhyv1kY5Lyg/s1600-h/0218081918.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kr-O4y8aWOjVdSCgbfeeQH5oM5KYxO1DDUS18sqTDQ3ECziJFpWJ2batlw4bIPAwoeHaCKe5dYlXHwbV6gFF95cuebc_t706epzIUHhklMtKO4M3U4gJoHDRfJqf_WhMDhyv1kY5Lyg/s400/0218081918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169324422396176978" border="0" /></a><br />Nothing big here - just thought it was funny to be told that the sitting on the floor I was doing wasn't necessary....<br /><br />I sure hope someone out there understands why I find this one amusing - that magazine you see peeking out (the only "Buddhist brand" magazine this store carries, behind the title <span style="font-style: italic;">Nudes</span>) is <a href="http://www.shambhalasun.com/">Shambhala Sun</a>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVqUptsUcnr157ReeqgbfMsyRNmpfqZ4ZrP818dM8wpObteJfosSht59eOseCulk2_1PN8-SN7P4R0OEzy47M_V249gyrF6_0qHCQKjv_k1vCU_9pHS-BYb7ORs3BsrJrDENZ6xnj9q0/s1600-h/0218081932.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVqUptsUcnr157ReeqgbfMsyRNmpfqZ4ZrP818dM8wpObteJfosSht59eOseCulk2_1PN8-SN7P4R0OEzy47M_V249gyrF6_0qHCQKjv_k1vCU_9pHS-BYb7ORs3BsrJrDENZ6xnj9q0/s400/0218081932.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169325148245650018" border="0" /></a></div>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-40118198488502784932008-02-13T16:43:00.004-06:002008-02-14T18:20:24.568-06:00Tagged by Precious Metal - Very Belated!!!!Sooo - way back in December I got tagged to do a meme by <a href="http://preciousmetal.wordpress.com/">Precious Metal</a>. Sounds like fun, I was just up to my eyeballs. Still am, but I'm moving the stuff around me a bit - making breathing room. Anyway, even though it's quite late - thought I'd participate....<br /><br />The rules --<br /><blockquote>• Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.<br />• Share 7 random or weird things about yourself.<br />• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs<br />• Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.</blockquote>I think I'm going to not tag other folks, as late as this is, and as many people as I've found who've already done this. However, here are my responses:<br /><br />7 Random or Weird Things about Me<br /><ol><li>Spent a while working at a zoo when I was a lot younger - did many different jobs, many of them grunt jobs, so I can identify more kinds of poo than probably anyone you'll ever meet.</li><li>I am a Cold War Air Force brat - my Dad did "nuclear stuff" for a long time when I was a kid, and my birth in the Netherlands is directly related to that. You should see how much paperwork I have to take to the DMV to prove I'm an American citizen. ;P</li><li>I haven't been able to do it in years for lack of opportunity, but I was pretty good at Irish dancing. Used to go with a friend every Tuesday to dance at O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub in New Orleans (sadly closed down in 2005). I had a lot of friends and acquaintances that were tarot readers or street performers in the Quarter, and I once danced with a drunk clown in full Scottish formal dress (think kilt). His clown shoes kept crushing my feet. o.0 </li><li>I spent more than half a decade living in England - I had a dear elderly friend who used to take me to see the vicar at <a href="http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/grundisburgh.html">St. Mary's church</a> when we lived in <a href="http://www.grundisburgh.org.uk/">Grundisburgh</a> (roughly pronounced Grun-dis-bor-o). This late medieval church is the first one I ever attended services at and tends to be the one I use as a bench mark. ^_^</li><li>My oldest domain name is going on 13 years old.</li><li>I was stalked in an amusement park when I was 13.</li><li>I've taken to wearing wedding bands on both my ring fingers - a habit I picked up when I was living/studying in Austria for a little while, where folks wear their wedding rings on their right hands. Anyway, they're both simple thin gold bands and I feel more symmetrical this way....</li></ol>Hmm - hope that works! Anyone who reads this and wants to participate - consider yourself tagged.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-91000410624654226692008-02-12T20:08:00.000-06:002008-02-12T20:35:50.261-06:00Oh wow ......I really missed the boat on this one. Talk about not being present....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ9OT9xfdq4_H0lboVNMeVlwT4_KztI7M142ar-ydAHds-Fnpq65PZjEzlVei82_QSsJV_u1eLcVm_LAi-lBUnMpjV7-DFBEaXqTxcGoGAaK_D4utvZ4JlurJmCNi6EjEUX3T24X-YSQ/s1600-h/rborsodi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ9OT9xfdq4_H0lboVNMeVlwT4_KztI7M142ar-ydAHds-Fnpq65PZjEzlVei82_QSsJV_u1eLcVm_LAi-lBUnMpjV7-DFBEaXqTxcGoGAaK_D4utvZ4JlurJmCNi6EjEUX3T24X-YSQ/s400/rborsodi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166282885470939698" border="0" /></a>Here's a lesson in impermanence, and in the need to stay connected.<br /><br />There once was a man who had a major impact on my life. I don't know that he ever knew what a huge effect he had on me. He was a coffeehouse owner, a hobo, a poet, and a wonderful percolator of creativity and unity. It's hard to find words that <a href="http://www.nathanielturner.com/rememberingborsodi.htm">haven't already been used to describe him, and better</a>....<br /><br />Suffice it to say that his slow, genuine life is something that both my husband and I honor in our lives. We mention him fairly frequently, and will continue to do so.<br /><br />When I left New Orleans after college, I knew I was leaving an important and formative part of my life behind. I was also leaving a city and people I love behind, and I didn't know when I would be back. When we filled up at the gas station that day, I broke down and cried. I had to face impermanence head on, and just accept change.<br /><br />Things change, time passes, people live and die. Bob Borsodi died, just as we all must. However, to learn that he was so racked with the pain of metastasized, fatal cancer that he leapt to his death from the Hale Boggs Bridge, into the Mississippi River...and not only that, that I missed his passing by more than four years....well, it's just given me food for thought. What a mindfulness bell.... I've got much to think about.....<br /><blockquote><p align="center"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">A Cage Without a Bird -- Bob Borsodi<br /></span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">I have a dove that dwells</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Within a cage without a door.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">(I took the door off years ago.)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">And pretty girls have asked,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Their minds full of externals,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">"Is it safe?"</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">And how perhaps he needs a door</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">To protect him</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Lest he sneak away somehow to the city outside</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">And be lost.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">And compounding their request,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">If he needs a mate</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">That he might want for friendship</p> <p>In his prison without a gate.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Well, here it is.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">The dove and I have achieved this rare liberty</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Only after many years,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">A tedious story of near disaster experiences,</p> <p>Murky and dreary, too unkind to recall.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">The surest safety</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Comes from a source deep inside,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Deep inside the boney cage,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">From a peaceful feeling there</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Which I would do harm to explain.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">And the sweetest friendship likewise</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Comes from a free feeling there, deep inside,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">That I would do harm to tame.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: -16px;">Yet peaceful and free</p> <p>We do no harm to be.</p></blockquote>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-69411430289197002882008-02-12T11:47:00.002-06:002008-02-16T18:13:07.624-06:00A New Day...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzPAPhd0CIbCDnaS_sULrh8XEDpqWAXdt27Zct7OCsPgUeXxLv1EcXtB80L7Y4UEbxbj7gvmhFsR2cjKV7j1x0zX5IzVLM4Mw41Yu4vB15xP7qxeRyEPVIH9aBWPwFg547E7DjHseAxI/s1600-h/index.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzPAPhd0CIbCDnaS_sULrh8XEDpqWAXdt27Zct7OCsPgUeXxLv1EcXtB80L7Y4UEbxbj7gvmhFsR2cjKV7j1x0zX5IzVLM4Mw41Yu4vB15xP7qxeRyEPVIH9aBWPwFg547E7DjHseAxI/s200/index.2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167735434820512322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...well, after a fashion, at least. Time for another, more concerted effort, on a lot of fronts, including <a href="http://edamommy.blogspot.com/2007/11/thoughts.html">everyday life</a>.<br /><br />For the moment - I found something interesting on <a href="http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/">lotusinthemud</a> today:<br /><br /><blockquote><h3 class="entry-header"><a href="http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/2008/02/facing-our-own.html">facing our own boredom, impatience, and fears</a></h3> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> Having an initial good look round is a good idea but pick'n'mix isn't Buddhist training:<blockquote>If we do a little of one kind of practice and a little of another, the work we have done in one often doesn't continue to build as we change to the next. It is as if we were to dig many shallow wells instead of one deep one. In continually moving from one approach to another, we are never forced to face our own boredom, impatience, and fears. We are never brought face to face with ourselves. So we need to choose a way of practice that is deep and ancient and connected with our hearts, and then make a commitment to follow it as long as it takes to transform ourselves.</blockquote> ~ Jack Kornfield in A Path with Heart </div> </div></blockquote>So, interesting food for thought, and an interesting counterpoint/addition to <a href="http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/">The Buddhist Blog</a>'s <a href="http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/buddhism-is-watering-western-cultures.html">latest post</a>.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-5364178001668754632007-11-13T13:54:00.000-06:002007-11-13T14:04:20.886-06:00ThoughtsHi all - long time no blog, eh?<br /><br />No great insights here - just living life. Remaining mindful and aware can be a tremendous challenge in the day to day of a life with a marriage, kids, a budget.<br /><br />I very much wish that some of the great Buddhist teachers had shared this life, and had commented on it. Even the Buddha stepped away from these visceral issues whilst he sought Understanding.<br /><br />I love the path I've chosen. I love my marriage, my husband. I love my kids. I love my 2 cats and 1 dog. I love the challenge of my life - I am grateful that I have the opportunity to grow and learn so much. It's all very good, if challenging to my mindfulness, my peace of heart. I'm content with it all.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-24815543051158290382007-09-11T19:54:00.000-05:002007-09-11T19:57:07.935-05:00FaithThe only lack of faith I have is in myself. Mindfulness makes it easier to see exactly where I am, and what is going on. Still, it doesn't always provide me with the answers I need to adjust the way I do things. How does one shift to a healthier, saner way of being? I'm sure I'll figure it out. Time to find my cushion, methinks....EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-84715480415473866162007-09-10T17:31:00.000-05:002007-09-10T18:39:21.659-05:00Still here......wow, can't believe it's been a month!<br /><br />The last month has been busy and a test of my gumption. There's been a lot going on.<br /><br />We've got our 12 year old newly enrolled in a virtual school, which is turning out to be a stressful transition, even though it eliminates a lot of his previous school stresses and difficulties. (He's very bright and has a real, honest to goodness case of ADD/ADHD - not the fad diagnosis, but the real deal.) On top of that, we've chosen to homeschool our middle son - he'd be in kindergarten this year, but he's shown rapid development of OCD. They're both wonderful, intelligent kids, but I've had my hands full. Oh - I've got a 3 year old, too. 'Nuff said on that one.<br /><br />On top of that are various "real life issues." Always working on that whole ends-meeting bit....<br /><br />Suffice it to say, whilst I have attempted to make every moment an opportunity for mindfulness, I must admit my daily meditative practice has slipped.<br /><br />Now that things are beginning to calm down, time to begin anew....EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-392498622858891362007-08-07T19:05:00.000-05:002007-08-07T19:13:26.635-05:00Alan Watts TheaterI found a link to the coolest little flash-animated shorts at the company site for <a href="http://www.freshminds.com/">Freshminds</a>. One thing this company does is animate the public speaking of their clients - demonstrated <a href="http://www.freshminds.com/animation/alan_watts_theater.html">here</a> with a series of short <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts">Alan Watts</a> audio excerpts. Here's the really fun thing - they're produced by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Park">Trey Parker and Matt Stone</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.moridin.com/">Moridin.com</a> for finding this!</span>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-79274049386355843412007-08-05T19:33:00.000-05:002007-08-05T19:36:51.151-05:00Gregor's Back, Y'allFor anyone who chances on this blog and also reads Gregor's blogs, he's back, with a new blog: <a href="http://meetingiteverywhere.wordpress.com/">Meeting It Everywhere</a>.<br /><br />^_^EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-62196589875502899802007-08-05T13:49:00.000-05:002007-08-05T14:00:42.918-05:00Learn To Be StillTime for a fluffier post, methinks. Been a while since I've listened to this:<br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qFzVb2PV5cI"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qFzVb2PV5cI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eagles/learntobestill.html">lyrics</a> are interesting:<br /><blockquote><b>"Learn To Be Still"</b><br /><br />It's just another day in paradise<br />As you stumble to your bed<br />You'd give anything to silence<br />Those voices ringing in your head<br />You thought you could find happiness<br />Just over that green hill<br />You thought you would be satisfied<br />But you never will-<br />Learn to be still<br /><br />We are like sheep without a shepherd<br />We don't know how to be alone<br />So we wander 'round this desert<br />And wind up following the wrong gods home<br />But the flock cries out for another<br />And they keep answering that bell<br />And one more starry-eyed messiah<br />Meets a violent farewell-<br />Learn to be still<br />Learn to be still<br /><br />Now the flowers in your garden<br />They don't smell so sweet<br />Maybe you've forgotten<br />The heaven lying at your feet<br /><br /><i>[Solo]</i><br /><br />There are so many contradictions<br />In all these messages we send<br />(We keep asking)<br />How do I get out of here<br />Where do I fit in?<br />Though the world is torn and shaken<br />Even if your heart is breakin'<br />It's waiting for you to awaken<br />And someday you will-<br />Learn to be still<br />Learn to be still<br /><br />You just keep on runnin'<br />Keep on runnin'</span></span></blockquote>EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467285282468355612.post-39549744738044649762007-08-03T13:23:00.000-05:002007-08-03T14:16:01.008-05:00Murder and CreativityY'all, this is a "dead serious" post, so if that's not where your head is at, this is one to skip.<br /><br />So - we got a call from the FBI yesterday. Seriously. Seems that one of the websites that I created a while back, for no other purpose than the positive sharing of useful information - nothing negative - got perused by someone who's about to go to trial charged in a really notorious murder from a few years back. I'm not going to be more specific than that, just for the protection of everyone involved, but if you've even lightly followed the news for the past few years, you'd know which murder I'm referring to.<br /><br />Apparently this person is mounting an insanity defense, and the prosecution is trying to prove forethought and planning. And, knowing what pages this person was looking at, I know for a fact that he/she <span style="font-weight: bold;">had</span> to be planning. There's no other reason for this person to be surfing this information.<br /><br />So, knowing this, I know that something I created - that information I gathered and shared - was used by someone planning a nefarious murder. Something I created had a direct effect on the planning and possibly the actions of this person. In some small way, I feel a bit responsible.<br /><br />Knowing these two things - that this person was definitely planning, and that my created resource was utilized - provided us with extra incentive to help out the prosecution, beyond just civic duty. However, this particular case had another ethical and moral issue for us to wrangle with. See, this is a death penalty case.<br /><br />My husband and I are deeply opposed to the death penalty. Both of us have thought long and hard on this one, and have discussed it extensively. If either of us is horribly murdered - or both, I suppose - we don't want the death penalty for our killer. I won't trouble you with our reasoning. That's not the point of this post. The point is, that by helping out where we felt obligated to help out, we are aiding people seeking the death of another person.<br /><br />I guess that ultimately there was no question about whether or not we were going to help out. We sent along the data they asked for. I imagine (hope) that our response is going to become a court document in this case, and that's why we specifically included a paragraph concerning our ethical opposition to what the prosecution is aiming for.<br /><br />Still, this has brought up a lot of heavy ethical issues. Lots to think about here. Real life ethics are seldom black and white, are they? Wish my parents had prepared me better for that. Oh well, I'm sure I wouldn't be who I am if I hadn't been raised to be such an idealist.EdaMommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.com2