What defines “poor”?

So, recently I’ve been thinking alot of the financial difficulties my family is facing. It seems that every time we get ahead, we fall even farther back. Although I’ve tried to remain optimistic, it is very difficult. And than I saw this.

When facing poverty
Making the best of bad situations
First of all, ask yourself if you are really poor. Having less than others does not necessarily mean you are poor. A number of people feel poor because they compare themselves with others despite the fact that they already have everything they need. You may not own a car or a house but look again, you already have a lot of comforts in life, don’t you?

As soon as you feel contented or satisfied with what you have you will no longer feel poor and miserable.

Dirty Money? (Part 2)

It seems that the guy leaving bundles of money and inspirational messages in Japan has struck again. He has left bundles of cash, wrapped in a very similar way as his first campaign on public toilets, but this time in people’s mailboxes.

It has spooked some people, wondering whether or not the money was real or not. But after checking, all of them found the money to be real. For whatever reason these people have been making calls to the police to report it. As if the guy is a criminal or something, why call the cops?

A response to my letter regarding Darfur?

I was absolutely amazed to check my e-mail and find a reply to a letter I had written to my senator, Edward Kennedy, about my thoughts on Darfur and that the world should be doing more. Here is his reply to me. I did not edit it at all, it’s cut and pasted straight from my e-mail inbox.

Thank you for your letter about the genocide in Sudan. I share your concern over this horrific tragedy. Darfur has been embroiled in this deadly conflict for four years. It is estimated that 400,000 people have been killed. 2 million innocent civilians have been displaced, and more than 3.5 million men, women, and children are relying on international aid to survive. Despite the ceasefire agreement between the Sudanese government and the rebel forces, the violence continues. A negotiated peace settlement is urgently needed.

What is gone wrong with the Maryland courts?

There has been an ongoing case, for three years now, involving a Liberian man who “allegedly” raped and molested a 7 year old girl. The reason it has taken so long is the courts seem to have exhausted it’s efforts in finding a translator for Mahamu Kanneh, the man allegedly who committed these crimes.

During the three years, they found 3 translators, even swore them in to testify, but I’m not sure what happened and can find no information for the reasoning behind this. So, needless to say Judge Katherine Savage threw the case out, based on the defendants request to a speedy trial. I do understand where she is coming from on that one, we as American citizens do have the right to a speedy trial, but I’m not sure if that applies to someone who has political asylum in this country. Maybe I need to do some investigating on that a bit more.

Oscar the Bodhisattva?

I read an interesting article this morning on CNN (the link is provided at the bottom). In Providence, Rhode Island there is a nursing home, Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, that houses a cat in it’s dementia ward. The cat, Oscar, has a very bizarre connection with the coming of death for the patients in the nursing home.

So far there have been roughly 25 cases in which Oscar has gone into a patients room, laid down on their bed (curling up with them as well) and waited for their death. It seems he knows when they are going to pass, and they usually do.

Observing the end of an era; Harry Potter “Deathly Hallows”

Firstly, let me say there are no spoilers here, so if you are a fan don’t worry. I am almost 200 pages into the book already so I can’t spoil to much even if I wanted to. This is not a review either, like I said I’m only 200 pages into it.

I’ve been a Harry fan ever since reading the first book, and have anticipated the release of each and every one of them. I was very skeptical when the movies were announced, not sure if they would fill the big boots the books had been wearing. But the movies were good too, short of course, but good none the less.

Last night, at 12:01AM, I was at Borders Books waiting for the copy I had reserved for my family to read and trade amongst ourselves. Until this book I had not joined in any of the “mania” surrounding the books, minus the fact I usually bought a copy within the first couple days. This book, The Deathly Hallows, was more significant though, being the last of the series. So I felt like I need to at least experience the whole thing.

Calling all Tibetan nannies

I’m not sure if this is happening in other parts of the country, but in New York, specifically NYC, there is a growing trend. The hiring of Tibetan nannies. You heard me right, they are becoming a sort of “commodity”.

There are postings all over websites such as urbanbaby.com and other forums that mothers use to exchange info on what trends they are currently involved in. One woman posted “My nanny is Honduran, should I get a Tibetan? I hear they are all the rage.” What kind of junk is this? When did human beings become so “disposable” sounding?

An open letter to Mr. Roger Goodell, NFL Comissioner

I realize there is a court system here in the US that will allow Michael Vick to be innocent till proven guilty, and I’m glad we have such a system in place. But, I am utterly disgusted at the allegations facing him. And if he is found guilty, Michael Vick should kiss his career good bye. Meaning, the NFL should immediately, upon conviction, get rid of Michael Vick.

I am a big NFL fan, have been since I was a kid and me and my father would watch every Sunday. I would be terribly disappointed if Michael Vick is convicted and is then allowed to come back to play in the NFL. As a child I looked up to many players. I have children of my own now and hope they will find players to look up to. Michael Vick is not one of them, his name is tarnished and he will never be a positive role model. His antics throughout the years have shown this.

I request you look deeply into your beliefs and realize, if convicted, what he did was HORRIBLY wrong. I have friends who own pit bulls, and they are very nice dogs, if trained properly. They are killing machines if not trained properly. If you have children Mr. Goodell, who would you want raising pit bulls? Michael Vick? Or someone who has a compassionate intention to raise that dog as a companion and friend?

I hope this e-mail finds you well and I look forward to hearing you have done the right thing.

Dirty Money

Occasionally you hear of random acts of kindness. From the simple things like helping an older person cross the street, maybe a community fund raiser for homelessness or even simpler, holding a door open for someone with full hands at the grocery store. But I was baffled this morning to stumble onto the article below.

Seems like someone, noone knows who yet, has gone around various locations in Tokyo, Japan and left bundles of cash. Each amounting to roughly $82 in US money (or 10,000 yen). The really strange thing is the location of these bundles. They have mainly been found in public toilets, yes toilets. Talk about dirty money eh? Sorry, that was a ridiculous pun but I thought it was funny (at first).

“More like a set of guidelines…”

Like Captain Jack Sparrow says, the Pirate’s Code is not necessarily a code of sorts or rules, but more of a guideline that the Pirate’s Of The Caribbean live by. As the 8-Fold Path of Buddhism is like a guide, so are the 5 precepts. Some traditions have more than 5 but we’ll stick to just the 5 for now. I’ll go into each one a bit, and give you my take on it. Please, if you have something to say and or add, please comment below.

The precept wording I am going to use here is from Steve Hagen’s book “Buddhism Is Not What You Think”. So let’s get right into it here…

What’s been going on.

Well, life has been hectic yet again, but than again that’s the cycle of samsara, it keeps going and going. Anyway, a little bit of news and a quick message about an upcoming article.

You may or may not know already, but I am happily married to a wonderful woman and we have two great kids (one of them is from a previous relationship). We got some news this past weekend, and it looks like our family will be expanding yet again, we are having another child. While it was a bit of a shock, seeing as we had not planned it right now, we are still very excited. I feel lucky that I am able to bring another child into this life, especially since many unfortunately cannot. It’s reminded me yet again of the preciousness of life and how we need to embrace it whenever possible.

And… we’re back

Got a big post coming about what happened during the down time, should be up in the next couple days, I hope. I have four 14-hour shifts (working 2 jobs now, woo hoo) in a row though so it may actually be closer to the weekend. Until then, here’s a brilliant quote  found while surfing around…

“Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free” - Eugene V. Debs