Rich's Kamidana

I placed 2 white candles in reindeer holders for my Aunt Joan. They remind me what a sweet, wonderful person she was.
I placed 1 candle with shells inside for my uncle Tom it reminds me of the fun times we had together.
I placed a vice grip for my grandfather to remind me all the things we fixed together.
I placed a kitchen mitt for my grandmother to remind me of all the delicious meals she made for us.
I placed a pair of binoculars for great grandmother to remind me of our rattle snake hunts
I placed a picture of Jetty one of my cats. To put a smile on my face
I put a food offering there for the gods to thank them, for all the help they provided.

My Kamidana is in my study it is eye level and is the only thing on that wall. The wall faces west so the sunset shines light on it.

Is it right

I went to a concert at the Becon Theater in NYC on Tues night. I saw Sinead O'Conner, she is an Irish folk/rock singer. In Oct of 1992 she was on Saturday Night Live . She sang 2 fantastic songs, and in protest she ripped up a picture of Pope John Paul II. She was protesting sexual abuse by priests in Ireland. Is it right for someone to protest in this way. Or is it right to ever protest the in any way the leader of a religious group. She paid a huge price for her actions, lost record sales, her music is hardly played on the radio. What do you think?

HInduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism

Hindus do not believe in one God. There are 3 leading Deity's Out Atman is trying to remember it is one with Brahman or Moksha.
They believe in reincarnation and Darma or duty is the way out of Samara.

Buddhists believe Bodi Safa's are to be worshiped. Satori is a flash of insight. Awakening is the goal. Rt view, Rt intentions, Rt speech, actions Rt livelihood, Rt effort, mindfulness, Rt and Rt concentration is the 8 fold path to enlightenment.

Jainism does not believe in one God. The world is composed of 2 substances (Jiva) the soul and (Ajiva) matter They have 5 steps to end rebirth. Ahisim, speak the truth, take only what is given to you, give up sexual contact, renounce all attachments family and belongings.

Sikhism believes one God is the creator and destroyer. Human beings are his supreme creation. All men, women, and children are equal. Do no harm in your travels
They believe in karma and reincarnation, and are freed from this cycle by The True Name.

Tao and Wu-Wei

Wu-Wei is the Taoist principle of non aggression and pacifism. To the extreme point, all striving, all quarrels and wars would cease, because war is useless and wasteful.

Tao is the basic unity behind the universe. It is a mysterious and undefinable force. The way

I don't think I could use Wu-Wei principle in my life because the world has changed so much since 600 BC. In those days you could have live outside of society, not needing things. Not wanting things. Today we strive, we quarrel, we got to war, and watch it on TV and sell advertising.

Tao is a different story. Life is the greatest gift of all. But if I stop striving I would lose my house, car, job. Money may be the greatest gift of all in America today.

The Role of Government

Lao-Tzu- Ideally people should turn their backs on civilization and live as simply as possible. The least government is the best government.

Confucius- What are you talking about. society needs an elaborate structure, reinforced by etiquette , to be effective. Li will take you to the promised land.

Lao- Tzu-Life is the greatest of all possessions, all others are doomed to decay. Your elaborate structure is doomed to decay. Fame, wealth, and power are all transient illusions.

Confucius-You can see for your own eyes my government is ideal. Crime is down, you do not have to lock your doors. Reciprocity will bring about superior human beings.

Lao-Tzu- Superior human beings have you looked around. Do you see what I see. We should have as little government as possible. The pursuit of fame and glory in your government is the source of all strife and discord. Is that what you want more strife and discord. Everyone knows that pride invites destruction.

One man's way out of the Iraq war

I read this article and was surprised. I think someone who does not believe in war should not have to kill . I am impressed that the US army would allow someone to leave active duty during wartime. There are a lot of soldiers now in Iraq who may have found the way.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier who said his Christian beliefs compelled him to love his enemies, not kill them, has been granted conscientious objector status and honorably discharged, a civil liberties group said on Tuesday.

Capt. Peter Brown -- who served in Iraq for more than a year and was a graduate of the elite U.S. military academy West Point -- said in a statement issued by the New York Civil Liberties Union that he was relieved the Army had recognized his beliefs made it impossible for him to serve.

"In following Jesus' example, I could not have fired my weapon at another human being, even if he were shooting at me," said Brown, who plans to continue seminary classes he began by correspondence while in Iraq.

While in Iraq, Brown processed insurgents and detainees, the NYCLU said.

Brown said he had no conflict between his faith and military service until after he graduated from West Point in 2004 and began to study scripture and his belief.

During his Iraq deployment he applied for discharge as a conscientious objector but the request was denied, the NYCLU said. In July 2007 the NYCLU and the American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal court in Washington, D.C., to order the honorable discharge.

"Before the court acted, the Army reconsidered the issue, this time granting Brown's request," said the NYCLU, adding it would now withdraw the lawsuit.

The U.S. Army was not immediately available for comment.

Confucius

This Chinese Philosophy is a wonderful way to live ones life. It takes many instances in ones life and provides a road map for success and happiness. I don't understand all the verses but they are interesting. It does not tell you how to make money or find love. It helps you find inner peace. It helps you find contentment. If you have inner peace and contentment you will have a better chance of making money and finding love. To be the best human being you can be.

Mishra

I learned how difficult it is to be an American Buddhist. The 2 things are polar opposites. Americans are forced to strive for material things. Don't keep up with the Joneses surpass them.
An American Buddhist can still work raise a family and find an awaking. Present awareness and mindful action can be very rewarding. There may not be a need for a large scale restructuring of society. Individual change can be profound. Changing ones world and making it better can encourage society to improve. We cannot control the world, only our perception of it. It is a noble cause to want to end suffering.

Spirituall Challenges We Face

I would like address all Americans. Since the 1950's our country has begun a shift in its priorities.
We use to be one nation with a common goal (under God). We might not have been the same, but we respected
differences of opinion and different cultures. Area's where we were not tolerant we were beginning the process to be more tolerant. We were all Americans interested in all Americans prospering.
What happened, today we are me, me, me. Our country went from we to me. We don't respect differences of opinion. We don't respect differences of religion. I think Americans need to get in touch with their spirituality. We need to make a fundamental shift in our priorities. We will need to start small, each American begin thinking of more than him or herself. We must practice what our individual religion teaches us. Even people who do not think they are religious will accept this
concept because they will want to be treated the same way. They want a better world for their children.
Do no harm.
Do onto others as you want them to do to you.
Love your neighbor as you love your family.
Respect all opinions
Everyone deserves education
Everyone deserves health care
Everyone deserves a good paying job.
If everyone has a good job, with health care, and a good education. We can start making America a better place. W will have more time for spirituality. This was once the best country in the world. It can be again.

What do you think?