It could be worse...

OK, I just came across some handy-dandy information about Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL...

As helpful as The Little Zen Companion is, there are simply times when I feel as if the pressures of life have just beaten me down, and Zen Readings--inspirational though they may be--just can't lift me back up. Well, now, I have the Rules of Pensacola Christian College to remind me that, no matter how bad things get, it could be worse...

For example, all of the following rules are upheld at PCC:

Pants may not be "frayed" at the bottom. OK, I've been meaning to get new jeans anyway.

No jeans, or double-stitched pants. Oh, damn.

[Listed under "There is to be no"]: Profanity. Oh. Damn. Whoops. Damn. Whoops. Damn. OK, I'll just shut up now.

OK, so maybe I'll just read.

A large amount of magazines are considered pornography and are not allowed, including: Men's Health, Muscle&Fitness, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, etc.

OK, maybe I'll listen to music.

Music is limited to classical, hymns, accepted "new age" and instrumental, and that distinctive "PCC sound."

OK, then maybe I'll play some music. It'll be nice music, soft, full of praise, you'll like it.

[Also listed under "There is to be no:"] Playing of instruments (of any kind) in your room, or outside. The only place to play on campus is in the practice rooms.

OK.... So if I can't read my Muscle & Fitness, and if I can't play my guitar, maybe I'll just read a book.

You may not go to a public library.

OK, I guess I'll just sit here in my room. Good thing it's nice outside.

You may not open your window.

But it's stuffy in here!

You may not adjust your thermostat.

OK, fine! I'll just sit here and...

You may not wipe "boogers" on the wall.

Fine!

Found Zen Reading

Every once in a while, I come across something that isn't in The Little Zen Companion but that, darn it all, should be. For example, a friend related to me the following about a leadership development program that he and I both attended several years ago:

I took part in a telephone survey about the . . . training - very interesting. I was asked meaningful questions like "did you have a sense of fulsomness and capacity growth within yourself?" I have great humorous regard for "describe a situation where you used facilitative leadership to overcome personal and professional obstacles in an inclusive and reflective way".

My Thoughts Elevating to a Higher Plane:

Whenever I feel a sense of fulsomness and capacity growth within myself, I take a little Gas-X. Works every time.

Oh, and there's that time I used facilitative leadership to overcome that personal obstacle in an inclusive and reflective way. I remember it like it was yesterday. My car wouldn't start, presenting me with a critical personal obstacle... Luckily, my extensive training in facilitative leadership kicked in! I facilitated the towing of my car by calling--inclusively--every tow company in town. When all the tow trucks arrived at my house, we reflected on the importance of maintaining the integrity of each tow driver's commitment to getting my car to the shop. Granted, the first driver to arrive was much more enthusiastic about this reflection, seeing as how he already had my car hooked up to his truck, and the other drivers seemed to be a bit put out, but I truly feel that we all engaged in a meaningful and personally resonant exchange of perspectives. It is my hope that each driver left my house that much more personally, professionally, and yes, even spiritually empowered by our frank sharing of our separate yet legitimate thoughts, beliefs, and opinions. But I have to admit that I was suprised when someone keyed my car at the shop...

Bonus Ram Dass Reading

When we're identified with Awareness, we're no longer living in a world of polarities. Everything is present at the same time.*

My Thoughts Elevating to a Higher Plane:

Polarities.... Isn't that some kind of exercise program? Is Ram saying we're all flabby if we're aware?

When we're identified in the lineup, we're no longer living in a world of freedom. Everyone is present in the same cell... It's amazing how easy it is to transform Ram Dass into prison stories... (And don't get me started on "ramdass" and "prison stories"...)

So, everything is present at the same time... No wonder it's stuffy in my office. Too much presence.

* Taken from Ram Dass' One-Liners: A Mini-Manual for a Spiritual Life.

The Grass Grows

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.

Zen saying


My Thoughts Elevating to a Higher Plane:

Yeah, the grass grows by itself, but it doesn't cut itself, now does it?

So, does this mean that spring is sitting quietly, doing nothing? (Sorry. All those years teaching English can't simply be switched off...)

Unfortunately, it may also be that, "Sitting quietly, doing nothing, the pink slip comes...." I'm just saying....

The Aim of Life

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.

Henry Miller

My Thoughts Elevating to a Higher Plane:

OK, I can do the drunkenly part...

I have to be honest, though--I thought the aim of life was to do as little as possible...

Something tells me that Henry was a fun guy to sit next to on the bus...

Welcome...

I have a book that I keep near my desk called The Little Zen Companion. (I’m not making this up; it’s a real book.) I flip through it from time to time. I’ll read a passage and reflect on the wisdom I encounter. Sometimes the thought will elevate to another plane, and sometimes not.

(This all sounds wonderfully deep until you realize that I could retype the last couple of sentences and replace “reading Zen passages” with “shifting in my seat because my shorts are binding” without losing much in the transition.)

And since my mission in life is to help ease your stressful burdens (which is only technically true if we agree that “mission” can mean “thing I do when I get bored”), I thought I would share with you some of the wisdom I find in this book.

Enjoy...

PS From time to time, I will go off topic. That's part of the beauty of Zen readings--they cover a lot of ground...