3X Caspar

Yes, that's me. I'm being a ghost for Halloween. A simple costume, just an old sheet. But as everyone knows, ghosts are invisible, unless you wear clothing. So I wore jeans and my Tilly hat so people wouldn't walk through me. I was the only ghost.

We had the principal cast of the Wizard of Oz (all upper management, with the CEO as the Wizard). We had a whole school of rainbow fish who smam through the room in a group dropping silver scales as they went by. There were m&m's of all colors, a nun in a traditional habit, hippies, animals, witches, oh my! Some very creative stuff.

A co-workers 3 year old daughter was frightened of me and wouldn't come near. She was a yellow m&m. Very cute. Her mother told her I was Casper but she wasn't buying it. She steered clear of me the whole party. And, yes, I had fun!!!

"The best things in life aren't things." ~Art Buchwald

"The artist brings something into the world that didn't exist before, and he does it without destroying something else. A kind of refutation of the conservation of matter." ~John Updike

H A L L O W E E N

Oy! I hate hoopla! I don't mind observing it. I even enjoy that aspect. It's participating in it that really puts me outside my comfort zone.

I bring it up because at work we have had a weeklong celebration of our United Way campaign. Being Halloween week, everyday was dedicated to a different theme. The first day each dept color coordinated their outfits. Then we had favorite team day - and everyone wore their favorite team colors or shirts. We had western wear day, and yesterday we had some very hysterical "tacky tourist" outfits. I did not dress for any of it. Happily so. But I did enjoy the creativity of my co-workers.

Today we will wrap up our United Way campaign with an afternoon halloween party and costume contest. I am going to bring a big sheet with me to wear as a costume because I don't want to be the only one in the room to not be wearing a costume. Talk about standing out. I'm sure I won't be the only ghost but I'll be the biggest ghost.

Meditation in the Park

Our Sangha held its' second annual Meditation-A-thon in the park this past weekend. Saturday was a damp day, never really drying out. Sunday was a picture perfect day of sun and cool air. Here are some photos from the weekend.

Buddha in the park. Our shrine and meditation area. Lama Khandro and Director Michael Turnquist taught Meditation several times throughout the weekend. We opened each morning chanting Chenrezig and Amitabha sadhanas.

Lama Khandro in the park with our prayers for peace flags. We had Tibetan prayer flags strung on the fences and between trees in the park. Lama Khandro had prepared little paper flags and brought colored pens so people could make their own prayer flags for peace. We then hung them on the fencing around the duck pond.

The ducks and geese in the park added to the ambience of the Meditation-A-Thon. Despite the wet and chilly weather, those of us who participated had a very enjoyable day. People new to meditation stopped by and took class, others had seen the ads for the event and sought us out.

Curious passersby took the time to stop and chat. Sangha members Kim and Cathy gave generously of their time and fed us all well. We had a wonderful banquet of Vietnamese vegetarian delights, a wonderful vegetable curry made by sangha member Richard, and fresh cheeses, fruits, veggies, water, and brownies (!) provided by Cathy.

The ducks in the park added to the call for peace. They spent the day swimming from side to side, where ever the potential for food presented itself. A number of toddlers and pre-schoolers came to the park with parents to feed the ducks. It was a lovely event and was a wonderful opportunity for the sangha to spend time together.

Our Lama in the Florida Times-Union

Last modified 10/26/2008 - 10:36 pm
Originally created 102708

Lama talks about her faith

Woman, 29, is the city's first Tibetan Buddhist lama.

By Jeff Brumley, The Times-Union

photo by Jeff Brumley/ The Times-Union
Lama Tsultrim Khandro is a spiritual leader of Karma Thegsum Choling Jacksonville, a Tibetan Buddhist center in Riverside. Khandro, seen here with her dog, Ohpea, is the city's first Tibetan Buddhist lama. She says one needn't be Buddhist, or even religious, to meditate.

When Tibetan Buddhist Michael Turnquist came to Jacksonville in 1984, there was just one Buddhist center in town. And that closed shortly after his arrival.

A lot has changed since then. Jacksonville is now home to at least a half-dozen Buddhist communities, including Zen and ethnic Vietnamese and Cambodian centers. The Tibetan Buddhist center Turnquist opened in 1986 reached a milestone this year with the arrival of its -and the city's - first resident Buddhist spiritual leader.

Lama Tsultrim Khandro, 29, who also is Turnquist's wife, returned six months ago after training for 31/2 years in a cloistered retreat. She led Karma Thegsum Choling Jacksonville's "Meditation for Peace" event during the weekend at Riverside Park.

The Times-Union spoke with her twice because the tape from the first interview was inaudible. Here's what she had to say the second time around.

(Jeff Brumley) Is it just me, or have we been here before?

(Lama Tsultrim Khandro) Reincarnation, brother. We have been here before.

(JB) What does "lama" mean?

(LTK) It means teacher.

(JB) What does it say about Jacksonville that it now has its first Tibetan Buddhist lama?

(LTK) It speaks to the maturity of the [Tibetan Buddhist] community here. The community has grown to where it needs it. We've had visiting lamas every year ... but it's good to have someone here full time for students.

(JB) So as a lama, you're essentially a pastor?

(LTK) I do all the pastoral stuff, I do all the ritual. I meet with students to talk about the concerns that they have ... I'm very much like a rabbi, but without the circumcision. [Laughs]

(JB) Is it your goal to grow the center?

(LTK) Ours is not a proselytizing faith. We are not looking for converts.

(JB) You were raised Catholic?

(LTK) Yes, I grew up Catholic. ... I was the first altar girl in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. I didn't know what I was doing but I was happy to be doing it.

(JB) What attracted you to Buddhism?

(LTK) It made sense to me. It was my karma to become a Buddhist. ... I looked into other spiritual traditions. None of them spoke to my heart like Buddhism did.

(JB) What do you think about all the references to Buddhism and reincarnation that we see in popular culture these days?

(LTK) It's a good thing. It's a bad thing. ... There are catch phrases I hear daily. I was at a concert and a girl was saying, "It's my karma that I got good tickets," and things like that. ... You can throw out phrases, but what do they mean? It's a good thing that it's out there, but even I have been guilty of purchasing the garden Buddhas in the big box stores.

(JB) Why is that a guilt thing?

(LTK) Well, these are items that we deeply honor and respect. These are images of the Buddha. This is not just a garden decoration. So for me to buy the image of the Buddha is completely different than ... perhaps somebody buying it to make their garden look pretty. It is an item of peace and tranquility, and they recognize that, so they purchase it. I think this is a great thing, but ... we believe in treating them with utmost honor and respect.

(JB) Are those statues and images worshiped?

(LTK) No. ... Most religions have symbols of their faith. You can simply take them as symbols of our faith, reminders of the Buddha who gave us the teachings of the Dharma, and as deeply sacred and touching images of our path.

jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4310

Basics

F and I are in the pocess of having the main bathroom in the house redone. It has been without a sink for over 2 years. It has been on my "must do" list since the day it was taken apart. We finally have gotten some cash together to do it.

The handy man we hired (and like) took down the old tile, checked out the pipes (which are fine) is putting in new tile today, and a new medicine cabinet, and lighting. Tomorrow he will put in the vanity, hook up the water, and put the toilet back. Yesterday he changed the pipes under the kitchen sink (they were a moment away from disintegrating) and put in new door sills in the kitchen and our bedroom.

I am so pleased to get this stuff done!

A Foggy Morn

I woke up to a thick fog this morning. By 9 AM when it was still with us I decided to photograph the creek again. The fog lifted about an hour later. The creek is so lovely and peaceful.

It's been a busy week. A busy week at work. So much to do including working all day Saturday at a Conference we are co-sponsoring at JU (my alma mater). The weather has been nice. Getting cooler each day. Still more humidity than I like, but at least the temps have gone below 90o.

I watched the debate last night. I caught all 3 of them. I thought Obama did well. I thought McCain dug a deeper hole for himself. I'm experiencing the same thing with McCain that I experienced with John Kerry. I respected both men so much more from afar.

I read both of McCain's books and was impressed with his life, how he responded to situations he found himself in, and the decisions he made to deal with them. The more I've seen him during this campaign, and the more familiar he becomes to me the less I like him. I think he's nasty. I sense the rage in him, that feels dangerous to me. It does not come off as passion, it comes off as poorly concealed rage.

I was disappointed in who John Kerry was because he had been a hero of mine since he led the Viet Nam Veterans Against the War movement in the 60's and 70's. Then he went into the congress and was a clear liberal. I held in my mind for 30 years that I would one day cast a vote for him for President. What I didn't realize is that he had become an elitist follower in those 30 years. I wound up feeling that he, as was my hero-worship of him, stuck in the past. I voted for him in the 2004 election, but there was no joy in it. I cast a vote against Bush, and would have voted for almost anyone other than Bush.

I've had the opposite experience of Obama. My initial reaction to him was distrust. I felt he was too young, too inexperienced to actualize his rhetoric. I like his ideas and the things he sees as needing change but I like Hillary's solutions better than his, especially regarding health insurance. But he is who we have and so I've been listening to him more closely, watching his reaction to attacks, watching his growth in debates. I'm liking him more and more. Partly it's because I am paying more attention to him. Partly it's because I'm getting over my disappointment and anger about Hillary's loss. I want to like him. I am not oblivious to the meaningfulness of how he has motivated and inspired a whole new generation. In a way it frightens me. I remember when my generation was inspired to action and creative solutions to problems. I also remember when that inspiration died, literally, over and over again, until we were defeated. I hope that in picking up that dropped torch that Ted Kennedy spoke about, Obama can go the distance with it. I want him to succeed. He is our best hope.

Reflection

Little Pottsburg Creek This Morning

"Capitalism: Nothing so mean could be right. Greed is the ugliest of the capital sins."

"There has got to be a God; the world could not have become so fucked up by chance alone."

~Edward Abbey