This morning is the full moon called atantal, the "camas blooming time", by the Kalapuya of our area, and the Flower Moon by others, because - well - May flowers! The full Flower Moon is a good time to think about joy, contentment, play, and blossoming into our full potential.
The flowers in my garden are a delicate reminder to me to project a gentle, honest spirit (less cactus, more columbine).
We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the shift to the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon.
Today is also Wesak (pronounced way-sak). The full moon in May is the day that Buddhists honor the birth of Gautama Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal, in 623 BCE, and also honor his enlightenment and death. Buddhists all over the world celebrate this day by pausing to remember the Buddha's virtues, expressing their gratitude and appreciation for his teachings, and by finding ways to be more Buddha-like.
Agenda Today: 1. Take a vision walk
2. Celebrate joy
3. Read (and Practice) the Happiness Habit
4. Find ways to be more Buddha-like
5. Make a lantern
6. Cook Hath Maaluwa (Seven Vegetables Curry)
6. Cook Hath Maaluwa (Seven Vegetables Curry)
1. Take a vision walk:
The full moon shines a bright light on everything, and I might experience intuitive and creative breakthroughs. I might be shocked by the clarity of my insights. I might see some ugliness - the full moon illuminates all the things I've left in the shadows, some heavy truths and some embarrassing mistakes.
Today I'll settle in to silence and access my intuitive mind - my connection to the Creator and the Inner Guide - by putting myself into a relaxed, trance-like state, and seeking a leading of the spirit with an open mind and heart.
The full moon shines a bright light on everything, and I might experience intuitive and creative breakthroughs. I might be shocked by the clarity of my insights. I might see some ugliness - the full moon illuminates all the things I've left in the shadows, some heavy truths and some embarrassing mistakes.
Today I'll settle in to silence and access my intuitive mind - my connection to the Creator and the Inner Guide - by putting myself into a relaxed, trance-like state, and seeking a leading of the spirit with an open mind and heart.
How do I invite contentment, playfulness, and/or curiosity into my days? And how do I ground myself in times of stress?
What is blossoming in my life and how am I nurturing it?
2. Celebrate Joy:
My theme this month is Joy, contentment, serenity, and living with a wide-open, unbiased attitude of appreciation for life. A childlike quality of joy supports my spontaneous, innovative, creative spirit.
Most of us would say that we don't regularly feel joyful; it seems like such a big emotion. Joy comes in little splashes that come and go so fast we hardly recognize them. But when I invite those moments, and relish them -- like being invited to dance with my grandson ("Dance, Grandma!") and letting loose to "Who Let the Dogs Out" -- and then I relive that feeling by telling the story - that moment of joy stays with me, and carries me a long way.
Today I remind myself of my intentions for the month, and then celebrate my accomplishments and reaffirm this theme for the next two weeks. Each month I choose a different way to celebrate the full moon, and today I am ready to celebrate joy in these ways:
- Unlimited, joyful weeding time in the garden, talking to the weeds as I gently pull them out.
- Creative focus for my new collage, with a theme of joy.
3. Read (and Practice) the Happiness Habit:
Last May I started reading this book called "Happiness is a Habit: Simple Daily Rituals that Increase Energy, Improve Well-being, and Add Joy to Every Day", by Michele Phillips (2023). I only got halfway through before it was due back at the library, so I picked it up again this week to finish Habits 22 - 44.
Habit 22 is Take Responsibility for Your Reactions. Like the author, I was (am) a reactive person, but have mostly gotten a handle on it. I realize that I don't have control over situations or events but I do have control over how I react, and I've developed an ability to breathe, and (mostly) remain calm. I'm happy to say I've developed some equanimity. I still need to fine tune it, though: When my grandson is a bit aggressive with his baby brother, I can practice being calmer as I stop him. And I can practice keeping my mood light even when it feels dark in the world.
Habit 23 is Become an Optimist. "Pessimists might be right more often, but optimists are more successful. ... If you practice optimism, you will feel more satisfied, and ... find more meaning ..." Optimism is the practice of being happy for no particular reason, and accepting bad situations as temporary (rather than permanent and long-lasting). The way to build this habit is to pay attention to your self-talk about situations, and if you use pessimistic explanations about events, ask yourself "What's a more optimistic way to explain this?"
4. Find ways to be more Buddha-like:
 |
| Little Buddha, May 2022 |
Buddhists celebrate Wesak by finding ways to be more Buddha-like: By practicing meditation, visiting monasteries, listening to sermons from venerable monks and nuns, serving free vegetarian meals to poor people, making donations to charities, and distributing gifts.
Today I will do a weed-pulling meditation.
5. Make a lantern:
Many Buddhists in Asia decorate their homes for Wesak with flags and elaborate lanterns. One year I made a tissue paper lantern called an atapattama. They are usually made out of thin pieces of bamboo, but I found a good video demonstration on YouTube showing a simple wire technique. (look here for how to make my Wesak lantern above, and from another year, look here.)6. Cook Hath Maaluwa (Seven Vegetables Curry):
Buddhists all over the world refrain from eating meat on this day, and serve vegetarian meals to poor people. This tasty vegetarian curry is from Sri Lanka; you can use any seven vegetables that are in season in your area. The recipe is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment