palms together..
trunks uplifted and trumpeting!!!
we sent off the trunkful of donations yesterday..
on st. nick's day..
st. nick is the patron saint of orphans..
how auspicious! that we would offer $1269
to the orphaned elephants of the planet ~
one of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us
to welcome and help people (elephants) in a way we couldn't
as individuals.
when we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility,
we can welcome many people (elephants), those in deep distress..
~ jean vanier
we certainly could have sent our individual donations
one by one..yet..as a yoga shala..we are unified..
and it is too much fun to see how vast and wealthy
we are together!
ursula le quin says in a book..
true wealth is spending..
i understand that to say..
true wealth is giving
&
rumi tells us..
generosity is a gainful trade!
thank you all for sharing your true wealth..
your giving spirit..your deep pockets of kindness..
praises!
dhammapada chapter 23 : the elephant
patiently i shall bear harsh words as the
elephant bears arrows on the battlefield.
people are often inconsiderate.
only a trained elephant goes to the battlefield;
only a trained elephant carries a king. best
among men are those who have trained their
mind to endure harsh words patiently.
mules are good animals when trained; even
better are well-trained sind horses and great
elephants. best among men is one with a
well-trained mind. no animal can take you
to nirvana; only a well-trained mind can
lead you to the untrodden land.
the elephant dhanapalaka in heat will not eat
at all when he is bound; he pines for his mate
in the elephant grove.
eating too much, sleeping too much, like an
overfed hog, those too lazy to exert effort are
born again and again.
long ago my mind used to wander as it liked
and do what it wanted. now i can rule my
mind as the mahout controls the elephant
with his hooked staff.
be vigilant; guard your mind against negative
thoughts. pull yourself out of bad ways as an
elephant raises itself out of the mud.
if you find a friend who is good, wise, and
loving, walk with him all the way and over-
come all dangers.
if you cannot find a friend who is good, wise,
and loving, walk alone, like a king who has
renounced his kingdom or an elephant roam-
ing at will in the forest. it is better to be alone
than to live with the immature. be contented,
and walk alone like an elephant roaming in the
forest. turn away from evil.
it is good to have friends when friendship is
mutual. good deeds are friends at the time of
death. but best of all is going beyond sorrow.
it is good to be a mother, good to be a father,
good to be one who follows the dharma. but
best of all is to be an illumined sage.
it is good to live in virtue, good to have faith,
good to attain the highest wisdom, good to
be pure in heart and mind. this will bring you
lasting joy.
