Help Wanted: Over-Haul the Blog

So I am getting a bit restless here at TBB. I'm looking to change up the style of the blog a bit but my html is limited and my ability to customize and design is ZERO. I tried to change my font style to papyrus via my html "skills" and it got all jacked--defaulting to Aerial. In short, I had to change it back to the font the template was designed with. Although, I did increase the font size a bit--what do you think? Is it too big?

So it all comes down to this--I'm looking for someone to revamp the blog. Does anyone know how to customize blogs?? I'd be willing to pay someone a bit (depending on the price) to do this so let me know.

I'm looking to keep the minimal design with the black and white as much as possible to reflect the Tao. However, I'd like to have the background be of a stand of colorful green bamboo or bamboo forest and the Buddha picture stone, black and white or grey color.

Anyway, if anyone wishes to take on such a project and possibly get paid--let me know!! How many of you like the blog just the way it is?

~Peace to all beings~

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Working with Where We Are

When people start to mediate or to work with any kind of spiritual discipline, the often think that somehow they're going to improve, which is a sort of subtle aggression against who they really are. It's a bit like saying, "If I jog, I'll be a much better person." "If I could only get a nicer house, I'd be a better person." If I could meditate and calm down, I'd be a better person."... But loving-kindness--maitri--toward ourselves doesn't mean getting rid of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years. We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous or full of feelings of unworthiness. The point is not to try to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you or me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That's the ground, that's what we study, that's what we come to know with tremendous curiosity and interest.

--Pema Chodron

James: It's so difficult sometimes to just accept who we are already isn't it? We constantly yearn to be something else, something better--anything other then "us." Yet we can't be any better then we are in this present moment because this is the only moment we have. Radical acceptance is such an important lesson to learn in our spiritual journey.

~Peace to all beings~

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Help Build Blue Cliff Monastery

I received a letter today saying that Thich Nhat Hanh's Unified Buddhist Church and Plum Village monastery are announcing that they are purchasing land for a new monastery in the Walker Valley of Ulster County, New York, in the USA.

This monastery is much needed as the UBC has no monastery on the East Coast and will serve 28 sanghas in New York alone.

The property is 80 acres, 65 of which are forest. How peaceful that will be for walking meditation!!! The land was formerly used as a conference and retreat center. There is a forest, creek (would love to meditate next to the creek) and two small ponds (two other great places to meditate or just contemplate). In includes 13 buildings with 35 rooms. Each room can accommodate 4-6 people with a private bath. The dining room holds about 200 people.

The owner is selling it for the sum of $2,650,000 and the monastics have all but $450,000 of it and are asking for donations to help pay that off.

Thay has named the center Blue Cliff Monastery because on top of a hill it has magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs. The picture I've attached to this post is of the Trapps Cliffs and Clove Valley of the Mohank Preserve which is near the site of the monastery--I think.

This monastery will be a great place for East Coast practitioners within Thay's tradition of Zen Buddhism to attend retreat and days of mindfulness. Of course, those of different traditions, no tradition or non-Buddhists are allowed and encouraged to visit and attend the different monasteries and retreats offered by Thay and the monastics.

If you wish to donate to this wonderful project then you can send a check written to GMDC (or you can spell it out, Green Mountain Dharma Center). GMDC is a center under the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition located in Vermont.

Here is the address:

Unified Buddhist Church
P.O. Box 182
Hartland Four Corners, VT 05049

If you do not trust me that this is a legitimate project and do not wish to send your money without more verification and information then please contact:

Brother Phap Dang and Brother Phap Duyet at 802-457-9442

or

Sister Annabel - True Virtue at 802-436-1103

~Peace to all beings~

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Resentment Against Suffering

The suffering itself is not so bad, it's the resentment against suffering that is the real pain.

-Alan Ginsberg

James: Today I'm dealing with the resentment against suffering. Sorry it's been awhile since I last posted. It's been a rough week with my illness. Any words of comfort and support would be greatly appreciated.

~Peace to all beings~

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Thoughts on Enlightenment During Meditation

During my meditation session yesterday I had an interesting thought enter my mind:

"Enlightenment is a practice not a prize."

~Peace to all beings~

PHOTO CREDIT: Standing Buddha statue from the 2nd or 3rd century in a museum (not sure which one). However, Tom Armstrong sent the picture to me. Thanks Tom!!

It's amazing how well intact is appears to be considering it's age.

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