20 June 2015

A Slightly Cool Relief

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The Rainy Monsoon is here (albeit a very weak one), and the constant blazing hell of the Hot Season has been replaced by days with at least some cloud coverage and some nights with rain. Anything is an improvement. Even if we do not get the rain, we can often feel the relative coolness in stormy winds -- reminding me of my father's summer observations during similar weather in NW PA, USA: "It feels like it has rained somewhere."

Blessed Coolness. Zen Delight.

I would like to buy a jungle hammock with its mosquito-netted cocoon that you zip yourself into. It would be great for sleeping out on our roofed open second story veranda during rainy nights. I had one in 1968, which I used heavily while hitchhiking through the Northeast and hanging out as a forest hermit in my home county.

There is a famous -- and huge -- weekend flea market in northern Bangkok that might have jungle hammocks, but I must take a taxi to get to it plus I don't like crowded places like that. (I'm still a die-hard hermit.) We will have to see whether I ever make the expedition there or not.

-Zenwind.

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01 June 2015

Vesak 2015

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Toady is the full moon Buddhist holiday of Vesak, which in Theravada tradition celebrates the birth, enlightenment (at age 35), and paranirvana (death at age 80) of Gotama Buddha. Each of these important times of his life are believed to have happened at the full moon at this time of year (usually June). Big holiday. The neighborhood is very quiet.

-Zenwind.