Bodhisattvas in an Election Year - Case Nine - Supreme Court Rulings

The Supreme Court ruling on Health Care (so-called Obama Care) has given us a wonderful opportunity to see where we create dreams and delusions, hold to reactions and beliefs.

Where you happy with the ruling? What goal have you attained? What is attaining the goal?

Where you unhappy, even angry, about the ruling? What thoughts and feelings are you holding to? 

What is your practice in the midst of your reactions? Notice what you say, how you hear and read the various public statements made - and how you believe this and your conclusions about various public officials. 

What views, if any, do you hold about the various Supreme Court Justices?

When you heard the earlier Supreme Court ruling concerning the Arizona "illegal" immigration law, what were your reactions, if any, then? What did you believe about the Justices, about Arizona government, about Obama - and how are these now?

Such wonderful opportunities if we are able to notice, even if we are entangled, noticing entanglement is a wonderful opportunity. Please enjoy this and make good use of it. It is our life gift.

(c) 2012 Elihu Genmyo Smith

Bodhisattvas in an Election Year - Case Eight

The election campaigning is heating up!

We know this by the political nature and "campaigning aspects" of even administrative decisions regarding the economy and domestic policy , as well as the daily pronouncements about foreign policy from the State and Defense Departments. The "press leaks" about accomplishments in various "secret" realms of intelligence and covert operations, and the Congressional criticisms of these leaks, often reveal aspects of election campaigning.

How do we hear these, read these? Our practice is revealed in noticing how we react when one side or the other uses "their" instruments of government.  They use "their" instruments of government to subtly and not so subtly inject campaign positions and strategy into governmental actions. And do we notice? Do we notice how our biases and leanings for or against Obama or Romney, for or against Democrats, for or against Republicans, for or against..., lead us to hear or not hear what is being said, what is good or not good?

Please do notice what is added on - especially since we have many more months of important governmental actions to deal with major issues of the economy, to deal with foreign affairs and respond to strife and war in the Middle East, actions dealing with Islamic terrorism and European debt crisis, to name just a few. Our practice opportunities in the realm will be many in this period up to the November elections.

(c) 2012 Elihu Genmyo Smith

Pictures of Old New York

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/06/more-historic-photos-from-the-nyc-municipal-archives/100318/

A wonderful and eye-opening collection of thousands of photos. Here are two from near my old home on the lower east side: