Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Saturday, November 22, 2014

on thich nhat hanh and spreading peace

zen buddhist monk - thich nhat hanh

i wanted to share the news of thich nhat hanh's serious health crisis. like so many of you, i look to him as a guide on the path to peace and have learned so very much. he suffered a serious brain hemorrhage and is currently in the hospital. you can read more about it here. 

we all know that death is a reality, but that our time of death is unknown. it's not some dark trick, it's just the way of things. 

thay has given so much to the world - 

i wanted to give something back. 

for months i have had in my mind the creation of pieces that would work together to form a small sacred space. 

barry smith makes exquisite traveller's shrines

barry smith 2013 

mine are based upon my stitching and weaving, metal working and study of tibetan calligraphy. 

i had the mats and stones/shells firmed up. 

but not the metal. 

not until thay fell ill. 

and then i made an offering bowl. 

my offering to him for all he has done, 

to be used by others to make their own

ripples and ripples and ripples. 

mjd - 2014

mjd - 2014

may we all work towards peace
in our thoughts 
words 
and actions. 





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Sunday, September 21, 2014

honoring the international day of peace

natural objects of peace and connection 2014

life has a way of asserting itself when you aren't paying attention.

key words - not paying attention.

we've had happy busy and stressful busy this past year, 

you know, we've been living at a heightened level.

i usually have grand plans of how i want to honor this day.

i would think about it and say to myself 'once x,y,z is done, i can get to work'- 

but how it turned out 

has more to do with what i have learned (or relearned) this summer. 

life is in the moments, 

the gestures - small and large

the words of kindness

the thoughts that create our reality.

let go - brass leaf 2014

it's about releasing what doesn't serve us

or others,

what holds us back from reaching our potential.


with gentleness 

we can act, speak and think - 

that is how we relate to the outside world.

but if we are plagued by fear, 

do we know inner peace?

when i stand before my jizo

or the ocean

or gaze at the night sky

i feel a profound sense of calm.

when i take 3 deep breaths at different times during the day

to bring myself back to center

the serenity returns.

my goal is to increase the practices

so that my moments come closer together

and my life is lived more intentionally.

our world desperately needs those who are willing to commit 

to principles of non-harming and harmony. 

so this year, 

my attention will be given to small objects - like rocks, sticks and shells -

that can be left on curbs, 

boardwalks,

benches,

steps.

the hope being, 

that moment of stillness

will be noted and cherished

and, in the end, shared in some way. 


create your own butterfly effect.

you all have my deepest apologies for not being more present here this year. 

just because international peace is formally recognized today

does not mean that work in the name of peace is not important

every second 

of every minute

of every day.

so please come to share whatever you can. 

there are dark forces at work in the world - 

and your light is desperately needed.

mary jane




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