I have not been writing much, but I
have been exercising faithfully, and that makes me feel incredibly good. There is a spring in my step, and I feel like
a healthy animal, prowling through the jungle.
Although I have the increasing pains and weaknesses of aging, I still
feel young at heart. I think that I will
never grow up.
And, I have been reading
obsessively – mostly biographies, histories, philosophy, and world geographical
news. So much to learn; so little
time!
And, I’ve been catching as many
movies as I can. Since DVDs are no
longer an easily obtained source of seeing films that I missed in theater, I
have to see them in their original showings here. Oppenheimer is still in the theaters,
and I am amazed at the range of its script, of its incredible cast, and its overall great
production.
In the last month, theaters here
re-played the 20-year-old trilogy of The Lord of the Rings, and it was
wonderful to see it on the big screen again.
The audiences were small, but I noticed some of the same people showing
up to see each of the three films – die-hard Tolkien fans!
Our Rainy Season continues, but it
is drier than other years, raising fears of drought for farmers, as the reservoirs
are low. Yesterday, I did a long march
in a light rain, only needing an umbrella when in exceptionally windy
spots. It was a delightfully cooler
march than normal, since there was no brutal sun on me.
Tomorrow is Asalha Puja, “Dharma
Day”, which commemorates Buddha’s First Discourse, outlining his fundamental therapeutic
advice: the fact of Dukkha [look it up];
Letting Go of our negative reactions to this reality; Experiencing the Cessation (aka, Nirvana) of these disturbing reactions; and a Path of ethical behavior to integrate
these enlightened insights into our lives.
-Zenwind.
.
