ZEN BUDDHIST MEDITATION CORNER: Coming Home to Buddha

"Coming Home to Buddha - coming home to your True Self"... Becoming your own Best friend 1st. Kindly, Gently, Warmly...this is what meditation facilitates. Would one wish to fool or neglect one's own Best Friend?!?...

Zen (& other Meditation practices, I believe...) is the daily practice of facing yourself, being honest with & liking self (even when you wish to escape the world or fool yourself during meditation...) That's the basic Practice, Just Be intimate w/whatever you're feeling when Sitting ... : ) no judgment.

While in the Discipline of Meditation, its the Effort of One's Devotion, 
we get back what we give...for one's own Awakening. 
As per our Teacher Tenshin Reb's "Being Upright" book. 
Better yet, following the steps of Meditation helps us choose the right steps in life...
the Awakening comes from our effort ; ) Why any daily Meditation is valuable. 
Namaste', Norma

WORD ART CORNER: STRONGER THAN THE LIE...You Are Not Alone!

STRONGER THAN THE LIE…You Are Not Alone! By N.D. Rodriguez 2/3/14
(Inspired by Chely Wright…and for all LGBT & Straight Friends ♥)

Fear is real, Being True Self…
In a world, built so black and white.
If there’s no safe place to Be...
Or friendly folks to say you’re alright.

Building a life in a house, that’s not your true home.
Though safe from outside harm, the lie is in every room
As your heart keeps drowning…
The stronger you grip a secret, you’ve hidden all your life…
Just to make it in Memphis, reach that Grand Ole Opry stage,
Feel the bright lights on your face, to sing songs from your heart.
They love you, they adore you. But your secret…

That country, church, community, career
Say is so wrong and sinful.
So much love, light and music, in the wrong direction,
You gave from your heart, to be liked, to lift them up.
A love you deeply needed, to carry you out…
To save your true life, a lonely painful secret, for so long.

So much hard work to throw away…
So pushing away true secret love won.
Pushed you further into the lie, spiraling down,
So far down the dark end of a secret, you did not know,
Reaching rock bottom, could feel so alone.
A test of inner faith, more than you know.

Feeling so weak, scared, ashamed,
Shutting down your heart, time and again…
Instead of staying with her sweet love you so needed.
Backed yourself into a corner of no return,
Facing life or death in the darkness of your lie,
Only one thing left to reach for…
That gun in your mouth, so dark and cold…
As your life flashes by, the ones you love so dear,
All the lies, shame and tears…how did you get here?

You paused…that still space between fear and love…
Darkness and light, death or life…
A moment of Grace…real love in your life, heart and soul
So much bigger than we know…so much stronger than the lie.
Your soul began pounding on your heart’s door!
You opened your eyes, not alone anymore…

First thing you asked, God lift me from this place!
Show the way out…Peace of mind from your Grace!
No sooner words spoken, flooding warmth poured down upon you!
Washing your worries clean, knowing full well God bent down to hold you.
Unfolding upon you, a Love greater than your troubles…
You asked from your heart… and God came closer.
Your life’s blessed purpose just begun!
The love of a life partner, a new special woman, to come.

Now a beautiful path still unfolding, living closer to your truth.
The like and love you sought outside you…
Really begins inside you. Whole women, men, human.
Accepting, liking, loving, embracing self first…
Not what’s expected of women in the past,
Fitting a mold instead of your Truth… NO!
LGBT or Straight…LOVE TRUE YOU FIRST!!!
And the TRUE rest will follow

THE BEGINNING : ) ...Love is All Around Us 

For Those In Need: PLEASE REACH OUT, You are not alone.

Whether God, Whatever Faith, Crisis Shelter, 911, True Family or Friend… 
Reach Out, You are so loved and never alone!!!

WORD ART CORNER: SWEET FRIEND, IN LOVING MEMORY...

SWEET FRIEND, IN LOVING MEMORY...
By N.D. Rodriguez Copyrights 1/31/13

Golden smile, all worthwhile…
When her eyes lit up…
Inside, out, so true and sweet.
Heart of gold, quick to laugh.
We were young, silly, care free.
Wish I knew you better though…
But your smile and sparkling eyes
Still remember, that warmth in your soul.

The 3 Amigas, a moment in time.
Summer fun, little butterflies.
Flit and fluttering all about,
New friends on the block.
From house to house,
Around the corner, up the hill...
Our safe playground for now.

Suspend time, if only, from what lay ahead…
If we could only, the ripples of change
And horrid things to come.
Add that shaky window tween Junior High
And High School, doggone emotional potholes.

Her new home, interim happy haven.
What we didn’t know beyond innocence…
About each other, the past…the future.
Why it mattered, how could anybody know or imagine?
We wouldn’t understand, never explained for years.
What damage was done, would be done.

Unthinkable, unimaginable violations, violent evil.
No one to really explain…evil, ever.
To the young back then, a different time.
What made you run away over and over?
What was your real story, secret demons?

Your home so warm and welcoming...
This one who adored your Mother like a mother.
Your family never knew what was being kindly given.
To another young person in need,
Her own painful secret, pothole journey just begun.

For all God’s love teaches and heals,
Such tremendous beauty, wonder and goodness
We do find in each other and our world…
The courageous resiliency of all survivors
And our capacity to love, trust, have faith in, again…

One can never fully comprehend why, how another
Can do bodily harm or murder another.
Especially young, vulnerable, innocent, troubled souls.

You will not be forgotten, dear precious Stacy Ann.
They can take the body…but never, never the Soul.

SCORE -
Good People:  Infinity  x  Infinity
Bad Seeds: Negative Zero  x  Black Hole
(Maybe not so Zen but very Human…)
Still, yes...God Forgive Them Their Trespasses...
but earned only by repentance and rehabilitation.
Sorry, just will never understand true evil.