HUSTON SMITH QUOTE of ALDOUS HUXLEY

Huston Smith, still going strong at 90 years old, recently published his autobiography. He has a knack for meeting and knowing many of the great spiritual lights of the 20th century: the Dalai Lama; Pete Seeger; Thomas Merton; Martin Luther King. Below is Smith's story about Aldous Huxley.Aldous Huxley once told Smith
"IT'S RATHER EMBARRASSING TO HAVE GIVEN ONE'S ENTIRE LIFE TO PONDERING THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT AND TO FIND THAT IN THE END ONE HAS LITTLE MORE TO SAY THAN,
'TRY TO BE A LITTLE KINDER.'"

UC BERKELEY 23 APRIL 2010

"MURYO"

Infinity. Or boundless, measureless, limitless
referring to the Buddha's virtues.

The proposed calligraphy exhibit has now been confirmed. It will run 3 months from April 15 to July 15. The opening and conference will take place all day on Friday April 23, titled "TENDAI STUDIES AND ARTS SYMPOSIUM."
(see Dec 14 post for update)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

In September? Yes, now is the beginning of the spiritual year. Not on a particular date, though today is the new moon, but rather when Summer is over, when the first light rain has fallen, when maples are changing colors and acorns are dropping to the ground, the deer hunters put away their 30-30s for another year (after Sept 20 in Lake County), near the Autumnal Equinox when sunrise and sunset are moving South on the horizon at their fastest rate.

By the end of Summer inspiration and spiritual energy are running on empty, prayer life is getting frayed and frazzled, yet we made it through another year without giving up the great adventure, without turning aside from the bodhisattva path or violating the Buddha's ethics. So there is hope at the dawn of a new year. A renewed effort to shout, "Wake up! Abandon greed-hatred-delusion! Fire up your energy and make the happiness of others your goal!"

Now at the start of Autumn recall and reflect on the previous four seasons. And consider, what can we undertake in the next four? What bad habits can I relinquish? What beneficial activities can I begin?

Prepare the fire. Make it burn brightly. Exude warmth and light.