Jesus Christ and Ice Fishing

My 37th Christmas.

I have not participated in the tradition of giving and receiving presents on Christmas Day since 2001. I was angry and confused on why after September 11th our President didn't ask us to love more, to give more, to understand more... He asked us to shop more, to show the world that we would not let the "freedom haters, the evil doers" stop us and our economy. I was dismayed, I've spent some great December 25ths since then. I always spend time contemplating the teachings of Jesus and his call to humans to love thy enemy as you would love thy self which stands out during these times we follow in the news. I've gone hiking, i've spent the day in meditation and one year I drove down to Boston walked the Freedom trail and had dinner in China Town. One of my favorites was when I spent the day demolishing the old Kitchen at the Stone Church while we were renovating her back in 2003. I still do not participate in the gift process as I just believe this world needs less consumption. We will not destroy the Earth, we will only destroy ourselves.

This year I spent it with my family with a much better understanding of family. My Uncle got engaged, my 17 yr old cousin gave me a ride in his Jeep we even went off road a bit, I won a few bucks at the poker game and many more laughs! And we went Ice Fishing on a beautiful country pond in Brookfeild Mass. And I got a some time just to be with my family which I hope to do more of in 2008, which is at the gate. I hear the buzzer, smell the fresh and I look forward to what it will put in front of me.

Next up I'm heading back out on the road with my friend Derek around Jan. 8th. We are going to work at a Buddhist Retreat Center in Florida for a week long retreat. We are driving down and will wander on either side of the trip. Our plans are still coming into focus.....

The 8 Fold Noble Path

(1) RIGHT VIEW: Right view consists of an understanding of the Four Noble Truths: Right view also consists of an understanding of kamma: "Beings are the owners of their actions....whatever deeds they do, good or bad, of those they shall be heirs."

(2) RIGHT INTENTION: Right intention consists of the intentions of Renunciation, Good Will (Metta) and Harmlessness. The intention of renunciation means that the pull of desire (craving) is to be resisted and eventually abandoned, because it is the root of suffering. "Turning away from craving becomes the key to happiness, to freedom from the hold of attachment." The intention of good will (metta) involves the development of selfless love for other beings. The intention of harmlessness involves the development of thought guided by compassion, the wish that all beings will be free of suffering.

(3) RIGHT SPEECH: Right speech means abstaining from false speech, slander, harsh or hurtful language, and idle chatter.

(4) RIGHT ACTION: Right action means abstaining from killing other sentient beings (not just human beings), abstaining from stealing, and abstaining from sexual misconduct (sexual relations which are harmful to others).

(5) RIGHT LIVELIHOOD: Right livelihood means earning one's living in a righteous way: legally, honestly, peacefully, and without producing harm and suffering for others.

(6) RIGHT EFFORT: Right effort involves the undertaking of four "great endeavors": (a) to prevent the arising of unwholesome mental states (such as sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and worry, and doubt), (b) to abandon arisen unwholesome mental states, (c) to arouse wholesome mental states (such as the seven factors of enlightenment: mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, energy, rapture, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity), (d) to maintain arisen wholesome states.

(7) RIGHT MINDFULNESS: "The ultimate truth, the Dhamma, is not something mysterious and remote, but the truth of our own experience...It has to be known by insight...What brings the field of experience into focus and makes it accessible to insight is mindfulness." Right mindfulness is cultivated through the practice of the four foundations of mindfulness: mindful contemplation of the body, feelings, states of mind, and phenomena.

(8) RIGHT CONCENTRATION: Right concentration (one-pointedness of mind) "makes the mind still and steady...opens vast vistas of bliss, serenity and power," and helps us to "generate the insights unveiling the ultimate truth of things." It is developed through meditation on specific objects

Communication with my lawyer

ME:
Mulls how you feeling?

MULLS:
Yeah, I'm okay, just got to keep fighting through it, giving 110 percent at all times, not letting the man get to me, keeping hope alive, speaking truth to power, you know, that kinda shit.


ME:
On a short hallway leading to a square door I know I think, but not sure I know. I work, sleep, cry, race. I grasp, desire and shove my way to the middle. I only know today I will get my game to the point of relaxation and kill the many thoughts that would bring me back to the hallway.

MULLS:
The geo-centric days are gone and Earth is still a sphere,
Objects in the mirror may be just as they appear,
We spin around the sun and call each trip we make a year,
Thirty more years of this and, people, I am out of here.

WINTER!!

Winter...
snow, cold, deep blue skies, favorite hats, memories of skiing in snow up to your chest, and surviving snow as hard as the end of an aluminan bat. A time to reflect a time to plan a time to share tea with friends and strangers, to listen to new music, relax, feel blessed to have to ability to feel the cold. Eat soup and play scrabble. Feel the backend of your car slide out on the slippery roads. Winter, it's cool!

I took this photo in March o7! Mt. Everest is the Black Rock!

37 times around the sun

My Birthday is in about 37 minutes from the time I started this posting, I will be 37. The first 36 years have been so interesting at times intense, comical, magical, frustrating, but wow... I'm walking on the earth, i'm driving in an automobile, I'm on a airplane, I'm standing in front of the Taj Mahal, I'm crying uncontrollably, I'm so angry, I'm laughing so hard, I'm skiing, climbing, biking, running, questioning, meditating...

I think of all the people that have come and gone in my life. the ones that I love, some I did not give a chance, some that inspired me, some that made me look, some who would not let me feel sorry for myself, some I hurt, some that I would jump through fire for, some I see everyday at lunch but do not know there name..... all have a powerful message for me if I am open and ready.

I think about my 30th my 20th my 10th my 1st and I think about my 40th my 50th my 60th I see myself in all those ages.

My wonderful, beautiful Mom, Ms. Sandra Loftus gave birth to me on her 29th Birthday 37 years ago. We celebrate together!

I had one of my best thanksgivings in a long time, probably since I was a child at My Aunt Jeanette's when I felt so much love. It was the first time my Sister, Brother and Mom were together since 02... we sat by the fire, we shared a table together, we formed a family band, I play bass, my bro drums, my sister lead vocals and guitar and my nephew Dustin on lead! We ROCK.

I went to Burlington over the weekend with some good friends, we went and saw the Nate Wilson Group. 5 of not only my favorite musicians but 5 of the greatest folks as well. They play Rock and Roll Music... check out their music at http://www.myspace.com/natewilsongroupmusic

In lieu of gifts for my 37th birthday I ask you to reach enlightenment for all of us!

A picture from Halloween 2000 with my friend John and Benji... (Kimmie, Fat Tammy and Helga)

Astro and Old 37

This is ASTRO: she has been my companion, my home, my ride... In the short time we've been together we have seen so much, traveled so many places and slept wherever the wind blows us. I trust her with my life everyday, She is a true friend and I love her dearly!

This is OLD 37. She is currently with my friend Ned, am I jealous? Yeah a little but who wouldn't be, look at her... When she pulls up you can feel all others just staring in awe. She is rugged and beautiful. One minute she can be hauling hundreds of pounds of wood or a used refrigerator and the next gliding down Market st. with the ease and class of Cleopatra. I value my time with her and grateful she is in my life.

Pema Samye Ling

These pictures are from my recent trip to Trout Creek, NY to the Pema Samye Ling retreat center with my friend Derek. We cooked, we cleaned, we laughed, we practiced, we listened, we dreamed. I had a powerful expereince and met amazing, kind, happy, hard working folk who tell you they love you and treat you like family immediatly and mean it. The teachings are ancient and beautiful! If you want to hear more send me an email I'd love to share!

Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche during the Nyungne Retreat at Palden Padma Samye Ling, October 8, 2006.

"The gracious and kind Buddha gave many teachings on the Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Dzogchen paths. The essence of all of these teachings is to bring more
peace, calm, and joy to ourselves and others".