Metafizzics

The Zen of Peter Jennings

I am among the many people saddened deeply by the death of long-time ABC News anchor Peter Jennings.  At the time the story broke, shortly before midnight on Sunday, I happened to be talking with a friend on the phone and walking through a room where the television was tuned to CNN, with the sound muted.  I saw the headline below a clip of Charlie Gibson, who looked wearily composed.

So it was that I got to watch the first hour or so of live coverage and to see the emotional immediacy of those early responses from colleagues and friends.  By the next day, their sorrow was tempered by professionalism, but there is no doubt that Peter Jennings was loved and respected by his peers.

Even more striking is the outpouring of sadness and sympathy expressed in posts on the ABC site--numbering by this morning (Tuesday) more than 11,000.  Read some of those messages. They say a lot about the human gift for connection, and they reflect our longing to believe there are good people in the world. 

Many of the posts express surprise over the extent to which we can deeply feel the loss of someone we never really knew.  And I was wondering myself why Peter Jennings seemed to have such an enormous presence, one that captured the respect and affection of millions.  Partly, of course, it's about long familiarity.  But partly, too, I believe it is because he seemed to have that quality known in Zen as "beginner's mind"--an openness to everything, a lack of presumption, a simplicity that does not deny complexity. 

As Suzuki Roshi put it, "in the expert mind there are few possibilities; in beginner's mind, there are many."  Almost everyone in public life today seems to speak from the "expert mind" of partisan conviction or media manipulation.  Peter Jennings didn't do that. 

Good news, Ananda!

Insight meditation teacher Sharon Salzburg relates a classic Buddhist teaching story this way: 

The monk Amanda observed:  “It seems to me, oh Lord Buddha, that half of the holy life is having good friends. 

The Buddha replied:  “Not so, Amanda!  In fact, the whole of the holy life is having good friends.”

So what does the Buddha really mean by "good friend"?  Here's my hands-down, all-time favorite commentary on the topic, from assorted sutras via the Burmese Buddhist monk U Jotalankara:

These are the four types that can be seen to be good or true friends.  They are, in order: 1. one who is helpful, 2. one who is the same in happy and unhappy times, 3. one who points out what is good for you, and 4. one who is sympathetic.

1. The first good friend, who is helpful, has four characteristics:  (1) looking for you when you are drunk, (2) looking for your possessions when you are drunk, (3) being a refuge for you when you are in trouble, and (4) letting you have twice what you ask for when some business is to be done.

2. The second good friend, who is the same in happy and unhappy times, has four characteristics:  (1) telling you his secrets, (2) keeping your secrets, (3) not forsaking you when you are in trouble, and (4) sacrificing even his life for you.

3. The third good friend, who points out what is good for you, has four characteristics:  (1) keeping you from wrongdoing, (2) supporting you in doing good, (3) informing you of what you do not know, and (4) pointing out the path to heaven.

4. The fourth good friend, who is sympathetic, has four characteristics:  (1) not rejoicing at your misfortune, (2) rejoicing at your good fortune, (3) stopping others who speak against you, and (4) commending others who speak in praise of you.

"Sacrificing even his life" seems like it might be a bit much--but "looking for your possessions when you are drunk" is the most endearing friend-quality I've ever heard about.  And "pointing out the path to heaven" is not bad either!

The above is just an excerpt, so if you'd like to know yet more about the Buddhist perspective on good and bad friends, read the whole commentary--it's not long.  (Spoiler:  Bad friends are those who among other things take all your stuff, lie to you, and keep you company when "haunting the streets at unfitting times.")

Tales from the Healing Path

Once upon a time, there was a princess who didn't understand herself very well.  Her life was not what she had wished for, and she chose actions that seemed to be absolutely necessary when she was thinking about them . . . but they always turned out to make things worse instead of better.  She felt rather miserable.

It seemed that whenever she got rid of one dragon, another would pop out of the woods.  And the "magic spell" (therapist, book, program, realization, etc.) that had dispatched the last dragon did not seem to work at all on the new one!  So although she made progress in some ways, the path still seemed so murky and twisted that the next part was always invisible.      

Then one day she happened upon a book by Nancy J. Napier called Getting Through the Day, and as soon as she opened it, she saw herself reflected there as if the book were a mirror.  The more she read, the more she seemed to make sense to herself--and after a while, she knew just what to do whenever a dragon appeared.

She gave the book to other people.  Some saw themselves, and others didn't, because their mirrors were somewhere else.  But if you feel miserable more than once in a while, you might want to look at Getting Through the Day, just in case! 

Even if you hardly ever feel miserable, you will find something to treasure in Nancy J. Napier's later book, Sacred Practices for Conscious Living.  And please visit her lovely website to discover meditations and daily practices that will enrich your journey, no matter what part of the path you are on.  (The princess especially likes the meditation called "Your Future Self.")   

Big Wisdom (folded up very small)

The Zen version:

"You cannot avoid paradise.  You can only avoid seeing it."  Charlotte Joko Beck

Or to put it another way:

"All the way to Heaven is Heaven."  St. Catherine of Siena

Wonder-full

"Wonder cabinets were meant to encapsulate the universe in microcosm. They contained whatever was the smallest, the largest, the rarest, the most bizarre, the most intricately crafted - the goal being to inspire awe, an exalted state of mind somewhere between ignorance and knowledge."  Michael Kimmelman, The New York Times

In that spirit . . . here are the first few stops on a self-guided tour of the World Wide Wondercabinet:

Please don't miss The Museum of Jurassic Technology.  I can’t tell you more than that, but Lawrence Weschler explains it all in Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonders, a National Book Award finalist that can be found on the Get Fizzical (Print) list at left. (Don't miss the subtitle.)  While you are at the MJT, browse thoroughly, and be sure to visit the online Store for a "Garden of Eden on Wheels" T-shirt, or something else you've been yearning after. 

Next, go to Cabinet Magazine, and find out about crocheting hyperbolic planes.  (If you don’t crochet, there's always hyper-knitting.)  Then drop by the Harvard Magazine archives for a wonderful essay on the history of wonder.  And finally, visit The Web Museum, Paris to see photographs of the beautiful wonder-boxes created by Joseph Cornell, and/or explore Diane Waldman's gorgeous book of Cornell's work, listed at left.

Even if no one of these items happens to fascinate you--just the fact that such curious theories and beautiful objects are being created "out there" somewhere makes the world seem a little more fizzy!

Amarillo Risen Biscuits

Recently rediscovered while slowly progressing through the exploration and disposition of my mother's many possessions:  one well-used copy of a well-loved recipe.  (Click the picture for a closer view of the original, and a quick trip back to the 20th century.) 

Easy to make and really delicious--but you have to start hours ahead of time.

Scald 1 pint milk.  Add 1/2 cup shortening and 1/2 cup sugar.  Cool to lukewarm.  Add 1 envelope yeast and dissolve.  Add 1 1/2 cups flour.  Blend.  Cover and let stand one and one-half hours.

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder.  Blend into risen dough.

Turn out onto floured board and roll to one-half inch thickness.  Cut into 2" circles.  Place on greased baking sheet.  Let rise another 2 hours.  Bake 12 minutes at 425 degrees.

If you're flirting with the idea of collecting/preserving some of your own family recipes, find wonderful, well-designed supplies (albums, cards, boxes, sleeves, etc.) online at We're Cooking Now!

Earth Mysteries and Ancient Codes

If you've been curious about how Stonehenge, Pangaea, the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Kundalini, the Tree of Life, Glastonbury, squaring the circle, and other mysteries of earth, energy, creativity, number and form might all come together in a single image--look no further! Sacred Geometry II, a unique painting by George Holman, captures these relationships in a fascinating and beautiful mandala, perfect for study, meditation, or just lazy enjoyment.

The SG II image is now available in a limited edition of fine prints, as well as a high-quality poster reproduction.  Both are accompanied by an informative booklet.  Click to find out more! The SG II website also features an extensive list of links to books, web resources, and more . . . so if you've been even a little curious about ancient wisdom and earth energies, this is a great place to start exploring. 

Meanwhile, whether you are already in love with The Da Vinci Code, or you're one of the last three holdouts on Planet Earth--you may want/desire/covet the new Special Illustrated Edition.  As you're reading, you can see what Château de Villette looks like, check the overview map of the Louvre, or refer to any of the other 160+ graphic aids.  (They really do add a very enjoyable dimension to the book.)  And don't miss Wikipedia's dandy guide to the DVC's characters, plot, references and ideas, complete with an objective factual analysis and gazillions of hyperlinks.          

Taking Names

There's a name on your birth certificate--and whether you like it or not, it's your "real name" for this lifetime because it represents not only your ancestry, but also the way your parent(s) originally imagined you.  Your birth name is not necessarily your only name, though.  If you are exploring your identity, following a spiritual path, marking a life transition, or just feeling rebellious, it may be time to relabel yourself!

If you're interested in changing your name for public purposes, visit the helpful Nolo site to find out how what's involved.  (Less than you'd think, actually.)  But most of us aren't looking for a new identity--just a "rebirth" name, something that tells us who we have become or reminds us of who we wish to be.   

If you need help in finding your true name, visit the The Ya-Ya Name Generator , where "the Mistress of Names, descendant of the Divine Tribes of Ya-Ya" will bestow your Sisterhood name.  (Note:  The generator is case-sensitive, which means that you'll get different names if you do or don't use initial capitals when you put in your birth name.  Based on a very small survey, the Ya-Ya name returned seems more "true" when capitals are used.)  If you haven't a clue what Ya-Ya means, catch up by reading the best-selling book.

Another cool name-finding tool is brought to you by BuddhaMind.  When you get there, choose "your essential name" from near the bottom of the gray panel.  My personal experience was that the name given to me evoked instant recognition.

Curious about why people change their names and what happens then?  For the true story of a chosen name, and how it has taken up a long life of its own, enjoy Cat Yronwode's short autobiography.  Then be sure to browse her wonderful shop/site/school/library luckymojo. 

Finally . . . suppose you want to go beyond name play to an "extreme makeover" of your whole persona.  Well, start by reading the Building Your Brand series for some insightful ideas about using astrology to create your personal "marketing" campaign.  (Posts in this series are reverse-ordered, so scroll down to the bottom and work your way up!)  If you are even more interested in branding and symbolism, don't miss this fascinating book: The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands Through the Power of Archetypes by Carol S. Pearson.   

Two Books about Us and Everything

The Fabric of the Cosmos is a really long book (569 pages), and I usually avoid books with many pages.  But this one is absolutely fascinating (New York Magazine called Greene's first book "compulsively readable"), so I've cheered myself up by pretending it is really five very short books!  Although it's about cosmology, physics, etc., there are hardly any numbers, and the writing is simple, clear and often funny.  If you have an unfulfilled desire to know more about our current understanding of the universe--and you would like to see what happens when Einstein and Scully meet Homer and Marge--then this book will bring you great delight.

Closer to real life:  The Power of Flow offers easy and inspiring instructions on how to get in synch with the universe.  Larry Dossey says on the book jacket:  "There is a natural, joyous current in life, and tapping into it is what this book is all about.  If you prefer happiness and delight to being stuck, read The Power of Flow." 

Both titles are included in the Get Fizzical (Print) list on your left.  Just click the picture to get a full Amazon view of either title.   And check out Prayer Is Good Medicine, one of Larry Dossey's accessible and intriguing books about the mind-body connection.  (You may also want to visit Larry's website to learn more about his journey from typical physician  to medical revolutionary.)   

 

Surf the Rainbow, Part 3

Here's a colorful view of food from Carol Bridges, creator of the marvelous Medicine Woman Tarot.  Instead of the outmoded and uninteresting "pyramid" we all grew up with, Bridges suggests we choose our foods from the "rainbow of life-giving substances."  Here is her concept, as described in The Medicine Woman Inner Guidebook:

Violet, Indigo, Blue:  Berries and fruits, growing high off the ground, reaching for Spirit

Green:  Vegetables and weeds of the sea, healing me

Yellow:  Grains, eggs, cheese, butter, and oils, golden gifts of sustenance

Orange:  Carrots, pumpkins, and squash, citrus and melons, rich in the power of life

Red:  Beets, beans, nuts, seeds, basic building blocks of life

Brown:  And if there is a need to ground the self, to stabilize and warm the fragile body, cook the foods in the blessings of fire

Of course, there are lots of ways to break this down further (red strawberries, black beans, purple eggplant, and so on)--and there are also other types of foods that you might want to include in your own rainbow (yellow onions, pink shrimp, and so on).  But most important is the reminder to relate creatively to our food choices, recognizing that they represent the riches of the earth and the gift of nourishment.  We can use our senses to achieve a balanced, healthful diet.