Hallelujah it's Raining Zen!
Today a separate hard drive on which I had my art, and writings was killed in action, dead on arrival and otherwise, KAPUT! With a certain amount of denial, I initially pleaded with my computer genius son to recover the data, or otherwise fix that confounded thing.
I accepted his grim diagnosis with my characteristic acquiesence to the laws of nature. Nature means change. One day you have things, the next they are gone. I am not sad and I will not waste another moment on thoughts of how important that data was to me. You see, hanging on would mess me up, ruin my day, bum me out or otherwise have me moping about wringing my hands and cursing. That is bad energy I would not care to set in motion because it would come back to me, one way or another.
And so, we are born empty handed. The things we touch along the way are not ours even if we write our name on them, create a deed, contract other otherwise try to lay claim to them. We can clutch them, hug them, lock them in storage, tie them up, fence them in, but what do we really have?The hours I invested in my writings now gone helped me be a stronger writer and I am sure I can write more.
I think I have learned to sit comfortably under my own Bhodi tree. I know the concept of accepting reality for what it is and not to make my own rules. I accept that reality is constant change. Change is part of life. To accept this notion one accepts reality. Life is movement and change. You see, things were moving before we were born and will continue when we are gone. The swirling cosmos, the spinning earth, and all the movement of humanity; simply energy in motion. That is life. Energy in motion.
Energy set in motion has a power of its own. Try to stop the world from revolving, defy gravity or turn back time; it will not happen. One day we are wealthy, but we might be poor the next. Healthy today, sick tommorrow. We can only control our attitudes about those changes. Bad things happen to us, but we simply endeavor on and endure. “That’s life” we say.
And when things are taken from us? Letting go; not hanging on to things. Not grieving, whining, complaining, bargaining, denying; just accepting reality. What a concept.
Today I heard the thunder, got soaking wet, but chose to enjoy it. I lifted my head and the rain felt good on my face.
catherine walker
You have a wonderful and amazing attitude to life.. unlike me… so well done!
Rhinovangogh replied
Hi Catherine! Nice to hear from you. Yeah, I used to bang my head on rocks until I wised up. Ever see the Tom Cruz movie Magnolia? They had a Zen refrian in there. I loved it. “No it’s not gonna stop, til you wise up.” That is my favorite movie next to What Dreams May Come. I am only human. Working on a Buddist mindset takes practice and patience. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, Rhino
PJ Ryan
Bummer that you lost your data .. but i love your attititude .. and aptly, the timing is perfect for me to remember this particular little message .. so thank you :)
x
Rhinovangogh replied
Thanks PJ.
JRGarland
I kept waiting for the punch line, but it didn’t happen. What a change. I really liked this one. Well done.
Rhinovangogh replied
Sometimes life is the punch line. Thanks JR
Lynnette Shelley
You are more zen than me, my friend! Anyway, sorry to hear this happened, but well done on the attitude.
Rhinovangogh
Thanks Lynette, I am still working on the placid response. I had a woman pull out and cut me off today and I did not exhibit Zen at all. I yelled at my windshield as if she could hear. Curses! Every day, I have to think about Zen…....LOL!
madvlad
i know the feeling too two years ago i had an art show at the local library here-one night i woke up at one am and my apt was red i side- i jumped up-looked out the window and saw what i thought was the library burning down,i said-oh shit-got dressed and walked out side- as the library burned i said oh hell- thts life,s-
gone but hell i,ll replace them-i went back up to my apt and the next morning i found it was not the library it was the bulding next to it-i got my art back ok, smelly but ok—i felt good, because i had let them go-and got them back too?yes we all are here only now-nice story jerryRhinovangogh
that is a hoot Walt! Close call. I could write that one funny! Cheers, Just got back from a hike. I gotta go shower. Best, Jerry
Ron Moss
Hey there! yes you can practice non attachment and in the meantime I would go to a computer specialist as they have the equipment to recover lost data…...as far as data goes, the old saying “back up the back up” is very true :-)
Rhinovangogh replied
I will recover the data eventually. I actually found that I had a slaved laptop with plenty of my “lost data”. No worries. At least it ain’t raining. Nice to meet you Ron. Best, Rhino
greeneyedlady
isn’t it amazing how i needed the clarity of your thought and WHAM! the Universe draws me into your proximity…..when i first began reading this journal, i felt badly for you and all you’d lost….but then i read on and discovered how well prepared you were to handle it and how it was all in perfect order….i am married to a Buddhist yet don’t really seem to “get it” but i’m working on it….i have a fierce and indignant streak in me that doesn’t lend itself well to the calmness of Zen and Buddhism, lol!!!!! so nice to meet you and i look forward to your wonderful art and your inspiring calmness…..and you know how to yell at inconsiderate drivers, too! sweet!
Rhinovangogh replied
You were not born with the fierce and indignant streek. I think about Ghandi, MLK Jr., and Mandela all who if they would have exhibited thier indignant streak and forsaken peace could have set thier worlds on fire and created a potential hell on earth. keeping the animal self tamed is a challenge, but like with all things, practices makes… Sorry so late in replying. Peace
bluewhite
If you can zen what you write, you can zen anything! Great philosophy for peace/acceptance.
Rhinovangogh replied
Thanks for your visit. I like many will have to practice and practice. Like writing, the impetus/idea may exist but writing it completely so that it reads well, is another effort completely. Good thoughts, good practice. I am compelled to try at least… Cheers, Rhino