h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Abbi! *waves, waves*

*waves to JEllen in Abbi's absence*

There is a really great group of people gathering in this garden these days. I'm pleased to be part of it.
In the audio books I've been listening to these days there is quite often advice to hang out with people who are going where you want to go.
Surround yourself with healty people and becoming healthy is a lot easier than if your are around a lot of negative personalities. So thanks everyone for your good influence.



YB

YB, the float trip has been scheduled for Monday, July 3rd.

JEllen, you're an American....any chance you could come to the meet in July? It's shaping up to be a lot of fun. I am a President on a Mission. I want to have such a great meet that the UK/European bunch will all wish they were there. And since this will probably be the 'only' Presidential Meet, I need to get it right the first time.

It is an absolutely glorious day here already. The afternoon looks to be warm enough for me to get outside and dig in my garden.

(working hard to contain my jubilation over the biker smiley in the meditation garden)



YB

Hi! If the meet were in Memphis I could go, but if it is elsewhere I really can't afford to travel, nor can I take off time caring for my Mom.

I should have realized that you would love the biker one!

I like blue light and biro .

Rats. The meet is in Southwest Missouri. Well, YB and I shall toast our absent friends. We'll face Denver and toast Abbi, turn toward Memphis and toast JEllen, then try to figure out which exact direction Maggy is from here and toast her and AL. Northeast someplace. If Maggy isn't able to come - which she may be able to manage.

I just had a call from a girlfriend of mine from college days. She is a big collector. She collects all sorts of things and fortunately for her has a husband who can afford to indulge her. She is always trying to get me to buy this or that as an investment. I can't afford it and wouldn't be a collector even if I could afford it.It simply holds no attraction for me. I have determined that there are only two things worth collecting - friends and lovely memories.

I feel bad talking about her. She has some wonderful qualities, but she is obsessed with possessing 'things'. She has reached the point where all of it owns her instead of the other way around. It's sad, because it obviously fills some need she has. And it is driving people away from her because of her need to always brag about what she has or is trying to acquire. She doesn't see it. She is always talking about how greedy her family is, but never sees the same thing in herself. I suppose we are all blind to our own faults.

I found this and like it very much.


"But what makes these 'experts' preach their own opinion and call it truth?" asked the inquirer. "Is it an inheritance of humankind to do this, or is it merely something they gain satisfaction from?"

"Apart from consciousness," answered the Buddha, "no absolute truths exist. False reasoning declares one view to be true and another view wrong. It is delight in their dearly held opinions that makes them assert that anyone who disagrees is bound to come to a bad end. But no true seeker becomes embroiled in all this. Pass by peacefully and go a stainless way, free from theories, lusts, and dogmas."

-Majjhima Nikaya
From "Buddha Speaks," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000.

That is undeniably and unquestionably true.


YB

I enjoy philosophy very much. I am currently studying, Socrates, Pirsig, and "Buddhism Plain and Simple. All are very interesting. It seems to me though, that there is a tendancy among them to miss some very simple stuff. Truth and reality are words we use to understand and communicate. What is real is real and what is true is true. Whether we KNOW what is true or COMMUNICATE CORRECTLY what is real are comptetly seperate, and much smaller, issues. Our opinions are so important to us that we raise them above the world as it actually is. If a person is wrong about what is true, then they are wrong. Reality is not hanging around waiting for our opinions before it exists.

When people say truth and reality do not exist by themselves, they are just redefining words. Words people invented in the first place to describe something. It is best to just admit that we do'nt know for certain how to tell if we are correct.







YB

YB I thought of this poem after reading your posts. This one the author said could be shared along with other (IMO)wonderful ones. Selling faith by the pound. It�s sin that sells, the Vicar said, And hellfire and damnation. Keeps the pews all filled up, With a fearful congregation. No, its guilt that sells, the Rabbi said, And mother�s kosher nosh. Give them one day off a week, When they can dress up posh. Jihad sells, the Imam said, Don�t listen to that Rabbi. It�s a pity about the alcohol, So I�ll just have half a pint. Harmony sells, the bald monk said, And it�s the key to happiness. The punters love the tantric sex, Whilst wearing an orange dress. Sex does sell, the priestess said, If you just have the knack. And no matter what the rede requires, We all look good in black. Bollywood sells, the Yogi said, And the Kama Sutra too. If you�d like another god, We�re not short a few. Freedom sells, said the medicine man, And lots of drums and dancing. So come smoke the pipe of peace, And then we�ll all be trancing. Magic sells, the wizard said, It gives you a sense of power. Oh I wish I lived in Crowley�s days, With young virgins to deflower. Leather sells, the heathen said, And all the Viking gear. The Chainmail undies chafe a bit, But hey there�s lot�s of beer. Stone circles sell, the druid said, They�re mysterious and chunky. But we tend to take too many herbs, Which is why we�re all so funky. You�ve nothing I�d buy, the atheist said, Not clothes, nor sex nor grub. But we all blessed him just the same, And went off down the pub. Blessings, Matholwch /|\ Matholwch has a tribute to winter that is beautiful. Thanks for sharing Matholwch It was in and is on Prof link below http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F1926355?thread=533382&skip=0&show=20 Prof Animals BC page and Madame Cone and lil and many others leave poems thereif anybody cares to look. They do not have to be good but many are. They range from humor to tears.

Bravo



YB

Thanks for sharing that abbi. And thanks for the link.

I wish my muse would return. I haven't written a poem for ages.

All that we are is the result of our thoughts; it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. If you speak or act with a harmful thought, trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.

All that we are is the result of our thoughts; it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. If you speak or act with a harmonious thought, happiness will follow you as your own shadow, never leaving you.

-Dhammapada

I just needed to stop in at a friendly place for a while.

Hope everyone is ok!

I shouldn't complain because my life is wonderful

The things bothering me today are so small as to be embarassing.

Still, I can get wound up when I feel like I'm mishandling the situations that come before me.

Some folks bring out the worst in me. I keep trying to understand what I can do to improve the situation when confronted with difficult people. Sometimes I might just have to accept that I am not going to be able to make every situation pleasant.

Do the best I can and let it go.






YB

YB, don't forget about the Meet in July in Webb City.

The night of the 3rd, we're going ghost hunting. Really! There is a famous ghost light nearby. It has been investigated for generations. The Corp of Engineers even investigated it and couldn't determine what was causing it. Then the 4th will be the Hillbilly Fourth with the cousins - barbecue, fireworks.

It's looking unlikely that I'll make it. I'm finally back to work after an unproffitable winter and I can't see taking time off when funds are so scarce. I haven't written it off completely though. Maybe I'll get lucky and get canned in time for the event.





YB

Oh dear. I don't want you to lose your job just so you can come sit in my back yard and party.

Just stopping in to reconnect. How is everyone?(are everyone?)
I am happy but busy. This weekend should be devoted to catching up with correspondance. Since I type slowly and think even slower each e-mail eats up a ton of time. Hope all are well.

TTFN




YB