(#38/365) Offerings

"Many people have their first spiritual experience in childhood,
that of an innate and natural connection with what is sacred and holy.
The playfulness, joy and curiosity of our childhood can become a foundation
for the delighted rediscovery of this spirit in our practice. If our relationship
with our parents is respectful and loving, that too becomes a model
and foundation for respect and trust in all other relationships."
- Jack Kornfield


Title: Rooted
Flickr member Nick Moody

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Who is Jack Kornfield? Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He began his training after graduating from Dartmouth College in Asian Studies in 1967. Then he joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to the Public Health Service in northeast Thailand, which is home to several of the world's oldest Buddhist forest monasteries. He met and studied under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. After returning to the United States, Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. He is also a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California, where he currently lives and teaches. Over the years, Jack has taught in centers and universities worldwide, led International Buddhist Teacher meetings with the Dalai Lama and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a husband, father and an activist.

the sarcastic hmmmmm.....

Dave communicates sometimes in a series of hmmmmms - which is like the "dude" that went around for a little. Dude! Dude? Dude. oh Dude (sad tone). etc. accept that the brilliant genius mathematician version of "Dude" is the "hmmm." So today we're walking home from the grocer and I asked him if he was ready to be boyfriends this summer with a muscle bear god. and I got the dreaded sarcastic hmmmm.

He said that he thought that while I enjoy going to the gym - he didn't think I could commit to going five days a week. Granted he has reason to be sarcastic - as my gym going has been sporadic for the last few months - - nothing like it was when I lived in the city. So - we made a gentle agreement that we would do something special come 4th of July weekend if I committed to getting back on track at the gym - and go five days a week. (with leeway for occasional special guests like my Mom visiting, therefore a day off where I won't probably go to the gym and such) So - there you have it. :) and we'll all remember that my path to musclebear deity status started with a sarcastic hmmmmm.

Love Thy Neighbor!

Dave and I have decided that the first few months of 2010 are LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR time :) - - there are 9 units in the building and we're going to invite our neighbors over for dinner. Tonight was Jeff & Karen from upstairs - I did chicken empanadas filled with fresh vegetables nad chicken in a tomato mango sauce. (sweet and delicious!) and I made sauteed mushroom rice and served a lovely salad. We had a laugh-a-minute time. I'm glad we're doing this!