(inspired by Samme's blog today)


Please Call Me By My True Name
Thich Nhat Hanh


Do not say I depart tomorrow,
for even today I still arrive.

Look deeply: I arrive in every moment,
to be a bud on a branch,
to be a tiny bird with wings still fragile,
learning to sing in my new nest,
to be a caterpillar in the hearth of a flower,
to be jewel hiding itself in a stone.

I still arrive in order to laugh and to cry
in order to fear and to hope.
the rhythm of my heart is the birth and
death of all that are alive.

I am the may fly metamorphosing
on the surface of a river,
and I am the bird, which when spring comes,
arrives in time to eat the mayfly.

I am the frog, swimming happily
in the clear waters of my pond,
and I am the grass-snake who,
approaching in silence,
feeds itself on the frog.

I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,
my legs as thin as bamboo sticks,
and I am the arms merchant, selling deadly
weapons to Uganda.

I am the 12 year old girl, refugee on a small boat,
who throws herself into the ocean
after being raped by a sea pirate,
and I am the pirate, my heart not yet capable
of seeing and and loving.

I am a member of the politburo
with plenty of power in my hands,
and I am the man who has to pay his
“debt of blood” to my people,
dying slowly in a forced labor camp.

My joy is like spring so warm it makes
flowers bloom in all walks of life.
My pain like a river of tears, so full it
fills up the four oceans.

Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and my laughs at once,
So that I can see that my joy and my pain are one.

Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
that so the doors of my heart can be left open,
the doors of compassion.

Shadow and reflection
Are no different from object

It’s all here

it's thinking about it
that diminishes the experience

Take a listen to this special song dedicated to Burma
by David Rudder

http://www.burmadavidrudder.com/index.html

Gifted to us by our precious award winning journalistic blogger, Metta

Metta requests us not to forget Burma

sharing...

Mettacara's Covocation


Watch this space for upcoming song dedicated to Burma by Gien!

I am doing something a bit different in this blog
Im adding the comments  - if anyone objects let me know and i'll respect their objection and remove their comments upon request.

First let me say:

THANK YOU!

18 minutes later mettacara said
Mum,
Thank you for you kindness towards to Burma
love,
Metta

0 minutes later HummingBird said

Metta currently resides in Sri Lanka where he recently completed a Masters degree

Metta's visa expires in December

If Metta returns to Burma it is likely he will face death for his journalistic blogging on Burma

Metta has applied to live in France and still awaits to hear if his application is successful

7 minutes later HummingBird said
>:D<, Putta

about 4 hours later Nicole said
oh Metta! I do admire your courage. Thank you so much Anna for sharing this with us! love to you all.

about 21 hours later HummingBird said
Thank you for your open heart, Nicole.

What I am so aware of is,
precious Metta and Burma are in so many senses: One.
While Metta reports the atrocities happening in Burma,
he is at the same time speaking of that which affects him.
Metta simply chooses not to report on himself as an individual.

I am concerned what will happen
if Metta is not accepted by the French.
As he has already applied once and was not successful.

1 day later HummingBird said
http://pods.gaia.com/burma

this is Metta’s Free Burma pod

1 day later Mila said
Sending light and prayers metta's and burma's and the french government's way!

1 day later willowinthewind said
I join my heartfelt prayers with all of yours!  You have great courage and an enormous heart, Metta, surpassed only by your wisdom.   We pray for peace in Burma, and gentle understanding for you from the French govt.  May all be well with you! Sending light and love!

1 day later Jami said
I join with you all in sending love and light to Metta and to Burma.  May the strength of  your heart and being guide you.

We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power.  Then will our world know the blessings of peace.  ~William Ewart Gladstone

1 day later HummingBird said
Thank you, Mila, Jeannie and Jami for your precious sprinklings of love energy

1 day later Gien said
Metta is a warrior of peace

who has adopted Hummingbird as a mum
hmm….my wife is a mother to all!
She told me of how you wanted to be a mother
ever since she was a young girl
I guess it's part of her nature!

But like all good mothers,
she is like a polished mirror
honest and reflects back all things projected onto her from her children
back to them

What more can we do
for people like Metta
who is fighting against the harsh injustice of his homeland?
How do we,
a caring community of individuals
truly help?

Metta has been blogging relentlessly since the crisis in Burma
where so many hundreds of thousands have lost their lives
and he is threatened with death should he be forced to return
Where is the justice in that?
Why should someone who is trying his best to stop the injustice
be sent in to be a victim of the very injustice?
Where is the logic and compassion in that?

The world is upside down in its priorities
It should be supporting people like Metta in every conceivable way

We are caring
but we must also be creative and brave
just as Metta is
if we are to really make a difference in the world

So my challenge to all the Gaisters out there
is this:
what creative ways can we
as a community of caring AND creative people
come up with
to assist someone like Metta
who is at the forefront of the battle for humanity?

Not only Metta
but another Gaister
Mohammed, a doctor in Darfur
who I regularly correspond with when he is available
who everyday puts his life at risk
everyday see's death of children, family, elderly
sees pain every single day
how do we
as a caring and creative community
help these brave, couragous people
at the forefront of humanities battles against suffering.

the buddhas can help
but we must move limbs into action as well.

2 days later HummingBird said
Gien, thank you for your loving words
Perhaps paste Mohammed's link here too?

I am so aware how much suffering there is on earth.
Also of how many do what they can to assist others.

There are so many loving beings
and yet - still so much suffering

may we all examine our hearts consistently
- that we never be the enemy
and always be the beloved

2 days later Nicole said
that's a very cool thing, pasting the comments into the blog! I never thought of doing that. Thank you! I really appreciate what you said too about examining our hearts to always be the beloved… that's very deep. hugs

2 days later HummingBird said
Thank you, Nicole - I am happy you have met the idea of posting comments into the blog with open arms!
Thank you too for being open to searching your heart. This is the only way the world will become a better place - if we all are all prepared to examine ourselves with the intention of meeting our highest potential

2 days later willowinthewind said
the buddhas can help
but we must move limbs into action as well

I love this! And intending to meet our highest potential — can there be sweeter more powerful prayers rising up within us, Oneness, radiating out to those who may be lost.  We are all in this together, in ever-expanding love and gentleness.  It does us enormous good to embrace those who are suffering, to calm those who would do harm because of their loss of connection.  May it be so.  Peace be with us all.  Yesss!

2 days later HummingBird said



The United States says it remains “deeply concerned” about the welfare of Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi but can't confirm reports she is on a hunger strike.

A State Department spokesman says they're aware of reports that Ms Suu Kyi has refused food deliveries.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy said last week the Nobel Peace laureate had refused to accept food from the junta for three weeks, although the military government denied she was on a hunger strike.

Ms Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest.

Today Metta drew my attention to his beloved leader and his deep concerns that she may be on a hunger strike. Unfortunately he cannot find any confirmation to prove his concerns - as no one can get in contact with those who can offer real information
I think Aung San Suu Kyi is a truly amazing being and a true icon for all beings.

She says: “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”

Aung San Suu Kyi stands for non violence and extra ordinary bravery and unique leadership leadership of a very rare kind. Burma is so fortunate to have this precious jewel - how sad she is caged! Nonetheless her presence is impossible to cage…

2 days later Sherri said
This is so exciting! David Rudder is from the Caribbean as you may know. He is a legend in the region and writes with such incredible heart. I feel wonderful to know he has made the connection with us.

None of this is right; prayer, prayer, prayer… petition is not effective when there is so much personal interest at play.

Prayer to a higher power. We can do this, if more and more of us zero in…

2 days later HummingBird said
Thank you, that is a beautiful singer and, Sherri, yes prayer is powerful

The thing I wonder about is:
the world is clearly concerned about what's happening about Burma.
- yet - when I make inquiries - I see no countries eagerly housing monks who are endangered and unable to return home

2 days later Sherri said
Anna, this is why I get a little angry after a while; I try my best not to judge people, but the question of non-action still comes up to me… if everyone cares, why is nothing actually happening? Who is taking a stand?

Not the leadership, that's for certain… And it seems like there's a desire to stall on any mobile decision making until some election passes or something like that; there's still insular thinking which abounds internationally.

I'm fresh out of ideas, I have to say. I don't have faith in decision makers in many countries because of the obvious ego-ideas for leadership that they display.  Unless voters insist they want major change, that fits humanity, these leaders are going to keep playing the minor game while taking benefits of status and privilege that come along with old style politics.

Fortunately, I 'follow' a different authority, and I plan to for a while. I just hope more people buy in too for their own sakes.

Peace always. Sherri

2 days later Jami said
I am the first to confess I know nothing about how to get things done politically, but I have a crazy kind of idea.  Instead of contacting official people in countries about housing the monks who are in so much danger, what about contacting other religious people in countries to see if they would be willing to sponsor a monk to stay in their country?  (I am thinking about how people such as Jesse Jackson in the past have stepped up where political leaders have often failed).  Like I said, this might be a really dumb idea, but it just occurred to me as I was reading these responses and racking my brain as to what we can actually do!  (move our limbs..)
Sherri : embracing her humanity

2 days later Sherri said
Not intending to be facetious, but, I’d host a monk! Sure! I’m not a religious person …

Religion sometimes sets up boundaries for love expression as well; perhaps the reason that these persons have not jumped on board either. E.g. where is the Pope on things like this?

I don’t know; I am tired of all this hypocrisy… I’m moving on…

2 days later HummingBird said
Dear Sherri and Jami
You both speak of:
what can I do?
It feels so important that one does not feel impotent
as this gives rise to a sense of hopelessness and anger.

There are so many 'causes'
how does one summarise a 'cause' in a nutshell

Usually there is a 'cause' because there has been some harm
even if it is in the form of neglect

and it seems to be human to wish to right this harm
- this is compassion

I remember when Tenzin Palmo came to South Africa last year
people were telling her of all the problems and tensions here
and her 1st response was pray - pray hard!

what is prayer?
Prayer means so many things to so many different people
and all paths lead to the same place

As a Buddhist, Tenzin Palmo wouldn't have been suggesting
we turn to an external power to right things for us
- she would perhaps have been suggesting we examine the mind

The power of our prayer depends on the level of our awareness
- the prayers of a realised yogi will be very powerful
while the prayers of one with great obscurations will not

if we do not have a high degree of awareness
but have a good heart
we can still go inward with a relaxed mind to allow inspiration to flow
which may enable us to find a sense of direction
and be the source of right action

When many people pray at the same time for a common purpose
the effect will be very powerful

For example when Mao Tse Tung passed away
HH the Dalai Lama specifically instructed all monks and nuns to pray for him
to help offset his huge karmic debt

2 days later Sherri said
Yes I feel that. I truly do.

It would definitely be in my best interest to commune mostly with people who pray and do it in earnest. This is not the case with so many in my current world, especially on the internet.

I believe appealing to the highest energy and good is the most substantial way to overcome these hardships. Count on me to work to keep the clear mind and spirit and to be available for such communion all the time. Don't hesitate to invite me to any such events again…

Thanks for the blessing Anna. Sherri

2 days later Jami said
I will send my prayers in earnest and open my heart and mind to all possibilites …

Much love
Jami

2 days later Gien said
Hi Sherri and Jami,

I think the fact that we are all concerned is positive
discontent sows the seed for change
There is a lot of energy in anger
I think we all know that
When we are angry
don't you feel the blood surge in your body?
Are you mobilized for fight or flight?
Anger is positive if we can harness it
and use it to fuel change that brings awareness
As a technologist, my mind naturally works this way
when I notice a problem, I first notice my complaining
then upon noticing my complaining, I'll seek a solution for it

Most of us aren't realized yogis
so along with our prayers
actions are useful too
If Metta were the fully enlightened buddha, he would approach things differently
but he's a monk and he's using whatever means are within his capacity as a monk
to ease the suffering in the world
to him, this means taking actions like blogging
that is a concrete action in the world

We can do the same
when there are deep problems in the world
they rest in our consciousness
and our minds will naturally do something with that
we must trust in our own innate wisdom

Sometimes it takes awhile
before we hit upon an idea
that we truly feel will make a difference
There's a gestation period
where there seems to be nothing but frustration
but all the meanwhile,
our innate wisdom is working away at it subconsciously

Then one day
WHAM!
It hits us
and we are then motivated into action
At that point
we will feel empowered and making a difference
Know that it took that gestation period
for the seed of discontent
to grow and manifest into what it did

I have internalized all the problems of the world
the hundreds of thousands killed here
hundreds of thousands killed there
this inhumanity
that inhumanity
this cruel person
that cruel person
how is all this manifesting in my life?
well, I am involved in music and in film
Anna and I are writing a book together, a series of books
all these things
they are motivated by and directly address
all these forms of suffering and inequity in the world

And if our book, or our song, or our film touches your heart one day
that may help to motivate you into action
To me, my practice is like that of Gandhi
You are only one person
yet so was Gandhi
but his seed of discontent was what grew into the Satyagraha movement
which drew millions of others with this same seed of discontent
and united them into one huge, resonant force
that conquered the inequity which sowed the seeds in the first place
So each of us must feel
that Gandhi is within our grasp

In Buddhism
this is called “poverty mentality”
when we feel we are not of an equally sacred level as the buddha
and is the main reason we cannot realize our buddha-nature
Nelson Mandela referred to it in his speech as well
that we are afraid of our own greatness

Each of us
has the capacity for achieving amazing things
yet we must learn to inspire ourselves
to realize this
This is truly what will empower us into action

It is up to each of us
to find that power within us
and to act upon it
in ways that are natural to us

Many Blessings!

2 days later Sherri said
Bless you Gien, and I resonate with you totally.

And my story follows this exact EXACT path.

I'd never thought until now that blogging was a concrete action, but I guess it is. I do so try to put the truth out in my section of cyber space… both on the blog and on my website and Quality of Life mailings… I will continue to refine my mind and my offerings to the world through this avenue. Thanks!

Gandhi and Mother Teresa are my dearest heroes and I refer to them often - especially Gandhi because he struck the system at its hardest - as examples of leaders we can choose to follow as well.

You are helping me to embrace the gestation and the 'self' in this journey. I appreciate this really greatly.

It is great to know that people like yourself and Anna are on the same 'team' as I am in this incarnation. Let's keep on working together.

God is love.

Love to you! Sherri

3 days later Jami said
I add my thanks too Gien and Anna, you are both wonderful human beings and teachers - I am so grateful that life has put the two of you in my path!

3 days later HummingBird said
Jami - we are reflections of Jami
much love

6 days later Mother Mary said
As you are grateful to Gien and Anna, i am grateful for you and all you give to others.
What i will do is pass this message and Metta's situation onto the people at IMS, Insight Meditation Center at Barre, MA. I have a dear friend who lives there who will gladly pass this on to her colleagues at IMS and offer metta blessings for Metta. Her son left this plane as did your daughter and I would love to introduce you two.
Metta love and compassion,
mary

7 days later HummingBird said
Thank you, dear Mary, for your kindness and also for holding loving thoughts for my daughter

I had a powerful dream where Gra-anna visited me
wearing a long flowing dress.
Her hair was long too.
She felt very beautiful and in a good space.
In the dream Gra-anna was going to a further realm
and wanted a blessing from me

She was carrying an ancient book
which she referred to
She’d chosen this day for departure based on the book which guided her to selecting this as the most auspicious day.

Time was running out and she had to go soon
moving to further realms

I said to her that if I could keep her I would
– but it wouldn’t be the right thing to do

I told her my wishes for her are wisdom, creativity and compassion
And that my personnel wish is that she carry my nurturing maternal love
with her to the furthermost reaches of the infinite universe
to draw from when she needs to

I woke feeling acceptance and also sadness



Gra-anna my beloved daughter
journeyed on this earth
1979-2004
She still is on a journey
We all are

Someone asked me this question today:

"why is there beauty?"

Interesting question, I thought.

This was my response:

I just asked my daughter how she'd answer your question
and her reply was:
"beauty is food for the soul"
and I responded:
"does this mean so called 'ugliness' is not?"
and she said:
"ugliness is food for thought"

I enjoyed the playfulness of her response

I personally do not think there's anything such as beauty
- rather it's a perception which we create or do not create.

Right now the chat is unfolding with my daughter (she's in London and I'm in South Africa) and she's just said something rather nice:

"anyway, that's why we need beauty, for its positive energy. Coz it's love in another form"

I like that ;)

What do you think?

….  I'm having a sense that the question is more sacred than any answer
simply by what is being experienced
- that its the movement which takes place in the mind

an 'answer' placates movement/creativity
leads to something stagnant -
in a sense is the death of some journey (the question)

seems it's the 'I' (ego) who wants and creates answers
while being is the movement
which gives rise to these eternal questions

- or looking at it another way
a question can be seen as
a birth process suspended in time
- the unfolding creative process

and the answer is that final full stop
- the end of the telling of a tale
or dab of the brush when the painting's all done



mmm meandering, spinning a thoughtful thread…

(thoughts continuing from my previous blog...)

I call life GURU LIFE
because I'm finding Life to be the most amazing sacred teacher of all
- the perfect teacher -
all other teachers a mere shadow in comparison
I cannot begin to express...

I hear of those who have gurus
and their great love for these beings
- and know these gurus must either be direct channels of Guru Life
one and the same
or else paled
by their obstructions to this great guru
freelly available to all

I know the love of a disciple of a guru
I sing the same songs,
cry the same tears and dance the same ecstasy

how fortunate!
emaho

there is nothing Guru Life hands me
which is not sacred

my only desire
is to become one
with this great teacher of oneness

where is this dancer?

... when I look for it it is nowhere to be found

when I look without seeking

it is everywhere