Busy days and a Gratitude Journal

As usual, there is plenty to be thankful for these days. Abundance and wonderful activities seem to be everywhere I look. And, as usual, this means I’m busy busy busy.

Last Friday was the opening of the show for the photos from the Wilderness Institute trip to Glacier that I was on. Good friends Patia and Jen, and of course miss Julie, all came out in support (thank you!). And then it was off to scope out other art before finding our way to “The Celtic Connection,” Missoula’s only Ireland-inspired store. There they had a keg of Guinness and a circle of musicians, including the youngster here keeping an eye on the rhythm.
And this week the good times continued, starting with my folks driving to town to see the photos on Sunday and to take me out to lunch. Then, Monday was the big Buddhism exam, leaving me with a three-inch thick “grade by Thursday” pile. No worries, though, as I can happily say I finished ’em very nearly right on time.

In the meantime though, I had a very busy week. Monday evening Rev. Master Zensho of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives was in town, so Julie and I went to meditate with him at the home of another friend, Sally. Below is Rev. Master Zensho and myself in my office from two years ago when I was teaching. He is an extraordinary man, a man of few words, quite soft-spoken, but always cutting through to the point of life and practice. As with other times spent with him, I came away with deepened confidence in and commitment to my practice and the basic Buddhist vow to work for the benefit of all beings.
Tuesday night brought Julie and I to Jen’s for babysitting (!) as Jen and husband went to the Nine Inch Nails concert. It was great that they got to go out on a date, which is understandably tough with four young boys (ages 2, 4, 7, and 10) and work travel. The night was easy and fun, the kids being the most well-behaved and fun children I have been around in as long as I can remember.

Wednesday brought “President’s Box” tickets to our university’s “Lady Griz” women’s basketball game. Now typically I’m not a sports fan, at all. But with special tickets, I figured it would be worth checking out. It was great. We had our own little cordoned off area, complete with stocked fridge, candy, and popcorn! Oh, and the game itself was pretty good too, with our team winning easily, something like 65 to 42. Then, last night, to celebrate being DONE grading exams, Julie and I rolled a delicious batch of sushi, opened a lovely bottle of Syrah, and chilled out for the evening.

So – gratitude:

1. To Missoula, for being an amazing town to live in, filled with fun, artsy, easy-going people and a perfect blend of Montana-esque charm and big-city culture. You, Missoula, will always be home (no matter where I am).
2. To my folks, for unwavering support in all I do along with steady guidance to keep me from going too far off track.
3. To Julie, for being an awesome girlfriend and all around beautiful woman. A bruding, busy Buddhist philosopher can be a pain to be around sometimes (so I’ve been told), so I appreciate your patience.
4. To my friends, Jen and Patia and all those out there in the blog and email world, for simply being you! You’ve been a steady stream of good news, great advice, laughs, comfort and support that has kept me flowing when I otherwise wouldn’t.
5. To the teachings, the Dharma, whether it comes from great masters in person, in books, or simply through the lessons of life. The simple facts of anicca, anatta, and dukkha, become ever-more obvious as time passes.
6. And to the wonderous completity of life itself (thanks). In all its twists and turns, it reveals itself as deep beyond imagination. One finds growing sympathy for the poets and artists, the mystics and philosophers who try in such vain to grasp it. Or – perhaps – what they give us is not nearly so much a grasp of reality, but a lesson to just let go.