28 Apr Way Of Way 171
In the world of collectible art, the tail wags the dog: the price of an artwork is more impactful than the artwork....
27 Apr Giannis Antetokounmpo
"It's not a failure; it's steps to success. There's always steps to it. Michael Jordan played 15 years, won six championships. The other nine years was a failure? That's what you're telling me? It's a wrong question; there's no failure in sports. There's good days, bad days. Some days you're able to be successful, some days you're not. Some days it's your turn, some days it's not your turn. And that's what sports is about. You don't always win. Sometimes other people win. And this year somebody else is going to win, simple as that. This has to be the worst postseason ever. We have a number in [the locker room] and we were stuck on 15 [wins to the NBA Finals] ...
26 Apr Tao
This symbol of Taoism reveals the essence of Taoism. Tao, in Chinese, literally means the (right) way. The Tao is the way, the nature, of reality; the way of the universe; and the harmonious way or path through life. The circle represents the universe. Within the universe are two seemingly independent abstract fish forms, in shades black and white, that are actually interdependent as curled together they form the universe as a whole. The fish represent life, consciousness, which is what makes the universe whole. Each fish has an eye, black or white, reflecting the shade of the other. Looking eye to eye, each sees its own shade in the other. Likewise, when we look in the eye of others, we see ourselves. The way through the life, along the interface of the white and black forms, is everchanging; bending left and bending right; requiring us to be conscious of our way, lest get lost in the white or black forms. Ultimately, the symbol of the Tao implies all things in the universe are interdependent; the path through life is everchanging; however, life is in balance, harmonious, when we consciously move between counterbalancing forms. Another interpretation is the symbol represents two animals engaged in a sexual position commonly known as "69." If so, the message there is that a happy way to make it through life is simply enjoy yourself. As above, the Tao acknowledges there are different ways for different people....
14 Apr Way Of Way 172
When we identify someone as of our kind, we treat them with kindness. When we identify with the universe we treat all with kindness....
05 Apr Mourning Rituals
Each morning I return from sleep-death and ever so slowly separate from being one with everything in a timeless place to a finite and temporal self. Before forgetting from whence I came, I recite the Mourning Prayer: Oh eternal universe oh ever-changing universe oh timeless universe oh endless universe. Thank God for creating the universe and granting us consciousness to realize our oneness with everything. The people I've been and the roles I've played in days passed, my prior lives, are illusions Now, I am who I am and every-thing is what it is whatever it is. Regardless of circumstances, I am grateful for however my life unfolds today, hopeful to realize divine consciousness, happy helping others likewise and laughing at my efforts to realize that which is always here. Shanti Shanti Shanti Now awakened, I reposition from horizontal pose, where all are of equal height, to vertical. Footsteps away is the throne for the ritual burial of what nourished me last life. Then, shower calls my name for washing and massaging the temporary envelope that holds me together and, without mirror, mind concentrates on shaving the face. Once dried and dressed for appearance on stage, fresh-squeezed blood orange juice seaweed salad hardboiled quail eggs toped with anchovies, followed by a Robusto-size cigar and black coffee. My new life begins, for which I already have much to be grateful. With that in mind, it's a wonderful day....
30 Mar Way Of Way 174
To live a life of compassion and wisdom, best to avoid those who lack compassion and their friends who obviously lack wisdom. ...
27 Mar Way Of Way 180
Apocalypse is the complete and final destruction of the world as described in the Book of Revelation. While most of us will not be around for the world's collective apocalypse, each of us will have our own apocalypse/revelation, the end of our days in unitary bodies. Apocalypse and revelation are used interchangeably, but are different. The etymology of both words is to "uncover, unveil." However, apocalypse is more about the destruction of the world as we know it and revelation is about what's revealed by what remains after the destruction. Apocalypse/revelation is like the lifting of a bride's veil to reveal her face before the groom kisses her to consummate their marriage. After the kiss, the groom's unitary existence is over as he is now one with the bride. Likewise, at the end of our days we realize that we are no longer unitary beings; we are one with all that heretofore seemed other than us. Apocalypse/revelation is when the truth is revealed about consciousness and reality. The veil represents our personal consciousness; the meanings, generalizations and stories we create that mask reality. When the veil is lifted, we see reality as it is: the nothingness that everything is before and after it is what it is whatever it is. That's who we are: The nothing that everything is before and after it is, one with everything. For those who know the veil is illusory, the veil is translucent; allowing them to see reality. Thus, as they know they are one with everything, they treat others as themselves (compassion) and are able to see the world from many perspectives (wisdom). Moreover, when the veil is lifted, apocalypse, it is the time for revelation; to revel with laughter as the illusions are now clearly absurd. However, for those who think the illusions are real, the veil is opaque. They live as unitary beings and when the veil is lifted the revelation is frightening as hell. Not a surprising outcome as taking our personal consciousness seriously is at times hellish, even before the apocalypse. Unfortunately, it is fear of reality than keeps us from seeing through our personal consciousness which is the foundation of our fear....
22 Mar Way Of Way 86
While a lie may initially hide the truth, when the truth is revealed the lie ultimately reveals more than it hides....
21 Mar Happy Birthday
Every night at sleep-time we die. Every morning upon awakening we are born. Each day is not a day in a life, it is a life in a day. Thus, we've lived thousands of lives before our reincarnation today upon awakening. Before sleep-death, we acknowledge each other with "good evening;" that is, "good even-ing" for in sleep-death everyone (the smart, the stupid, the rich, the poor) is even, equal. In sleep-death, our soul leaves our body and merges with the universal soul, which in some traditions is called God. When the soul returns to our body, we are born. Upon awakening, we greet each other and ourselves with "good morning;" that is, "good mourning," have a good time mourning the people you were in past lifetimes (yesterday and all days now passed) by remembering them in the light of wisdom and compassion; but, don't identify their life experiences as your own. Upon awakening and before we assume the roles and circumstances of the person we were yesterday, we recite out loud the Mourning Prayer. The Mourning Prayer acknowledges God's creation, the universe, and expresses our gratitude for the life and consciousness we have been given which allows us to be one with God. Moreover, we declare that we are free from karma (our intentions, actions and consequences in past lifetimes (days of our life)) and look forward to realizing our purpose in life: to have a wonderful experience, realize our potential of divine consciousness and help others likewise. Mourning Prayer Oh eternal universe Oh endless universe Oh ever-changing universe Oh timeless universe Oh universe of infinite finite things. Thank you for granting me today a role in the play of life. The people I’ve been and the roles I’ve played in days passed, my prior lives, are illusions in the seemingly real form of memories. Now, I am who I am and every thing is what it is whatever it is. Regardless of circumstances, I am grateful for however my life unfolds today, hopeful to realize divine consciousness before I'm scripted out of the play, happy helping others awaken to their good fortune and laughing at my efforts to realize that which is always here. Shanti Shanti Shanti We recite the mourning prayer aloud, again and again and again, until we feel it and truly awaken. Then, hopefully, we won't forget who we are as we make our way through this day of life with the peace that comes from not taking our self too seriously; as we know that our self, which will die in the even-ing when our soul departs, is not who we are. At day's end, it is time for the Even-ing Prayer before our sleep-death. Even-ing Prayer Oh eternal universe oh ever-changing universe oh timeless universe oh endless universe. Thank God for my role in the universe and for now, sleep-death, when my soul joins God which is what every-thing is before it is the universe. Shanti Shanti Shanti As few remember that every day is our birthday, we should remind whomever we meet with the greeting: "Happy birthday." Whether they recognize today as their birthday or not, they will undoubtedly have a laugh. What better gift can we give someone on their birthday?...
03 Mar Way Of Way 28
Intellectuals are mischievous entertainers. They make fools of those who take them seriously who in turn wreak havoc on everyone who doesn't....