For all of you aspiring Buddhas, the seven days of meditation starts tomorrow! Today you're supposed to be really frustrated (Wah, life is so unfair!) then insist on sitting under a Bodhi Tree (mine is a log cabin) until you're enlightened. It will take seven days. On the morning of the 8th day (Friday, December … Continue reading Tomorrow Begins the Secular Bodhi Season
Month: November 2017
The Path
Rubber Ducky Buddha of Joliet is in samadhi, which has been the case as we approach Bodhi Day two weeks from today. So he wanted me to share the story of what he said as we looked at the petroglyph during this past sabbatical. I pointed to the spiral and self-deprecatingly joked that it looks … Continue reading The Path
Ugly Stage
I asked Rubber Ducky how one who attains an enlightened state can keep it. We've all had those experiences of Oneness and peace, but like a Pink Lady apple thrown into a vat of Red Delicious, it's assimilated back into that lowest common denominator slurry once we walk back into civilization. How can a snowball … Continue reading Ugly Stage
It’s Not Magic
The Christmas lights in my home office window went on early this year because of Rubber Ducky's enlightenment. The great part about having an awakened being like Rubber Ducky sitting on your home office window sill is that I can ask him about enlightenment. Here is a transcript of what Rubber Ducky explained to me … Continue reading It’s Not Magic
Bright Dot in the Sky
One morning during the Fall 2017, as Rubber Ducky Buddha of Joliet and I watched Venus rise (for the last time on this sabbatical), he asked, "What are we seeing?" The first thing that came to my mind is a bright dot in the sky. "Is that what it is?", Rubber Ducky asked. What didn't … Continue reading Bright Dot in the Sky
Am I Enlightened?
I asked Rubber Ducky some time during our hours-long drive from our Peaceful Slumber to a Residence Inn in the heart of the Big City: Am I enlightened? I asked him that because I feel different and have been acting differently the past few days, but it was at our magical sabbatical place with people … Continue reading Am I Enlightened?
Immortal Life of Earth
The Universe provided a wonderful sunset picture for our last venture of the sabbatical. Rubber Ducky, who I found in Joliet and who is now enlightened, sensed the air of sadness in the car and said that this is the harder part of Dukkha to grasp. It's easier to understand the "bad" aspects of clinging … Continue reading Immortal Life of Earth
The Day I Met the Eternal Fishnu
On the outing for today, Rubber Ducky decided to stay at the cabin. I thought he just needed some meditation time. But today is the day I would meet his teacher, the teacher of my teacher, the Eternal Fishnu. The Eternal Fishnu is the ith manifestation of Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities, during … Continue reading The Day I Met the Eternal Fishnu
Eternal Soul
I asked Rubber Ducky if there is an eternal soul? He said there is a Duck word, "Mack", for which there is no direct English translation. But roughly, we could say it means "It doesn't matter". He went on: "If there is an eternal soul, Mack, this Earth is a school to learn about many … Continue reading Eternal Soul
Faith and Patience
Rubber Ducky taught me this mantra this morning as we watched Venus rise: Faith and Patience keep me calm so I can focus on the Moment, Om. Rubber Ducky went on: "There are two parts to 'faith' in this mantra. The first is that we’re never certain about anything, so every decision is based on … Continue reading Faith and Patience
Fishnu 