Jim Dollar's Photography and Philosophy

Peaceful Abiding is a frame of mind, a perspective, an attitude, a point of view. It goes with us anywhere, any time, in all weather conditions. And it has no connection whatsoever with our environment or the company we keep. We take it with us wherever we go by taking nothing with more seriousness than it deserves. It is the way. The way of the Buddha can become our way like that. (Snaps fingers). Simply by not caring about anything we can’t do anything about.

“I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by me.” And, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus was a bit of an Egotist and maybe a tad psychotic. But he made enough of an impact on people that some of them had visions of him after he was “crucified, dead and buried.” And they told everyone else they had to believe them or go to hell. If Donald Trump can have rabid followers, anyone can. Where are you going to go to find something you can count on? I suggest the emptiness, stillness and silence, waiting for the mud to settle and the water to clear, and see where it goes. You will be safe as long as you maintain your sense of humor, and don’t take anything with more seriousness than it deserves.

If this is your house, what’s your life like? How can we live with what we live with without it showing through? What comes first? What remains in place the longest? What supports the arrangement if not the conversations? How we talk, and what we talk about, and the vocabulary we use are the determining factors in how we live and what we do–reflecting how interested we are in what we are saying, and how interesting we are for other people to talk to. If you want to be somebody speak like you are somebody. Understanding that how we speak is a direct and immediate reflection of what we read. And what we do. And where we live. How many people do we know who are interesting to talk with? How interesting are we to them to talk with? How many questions do we ask in a day? If we want to write, we have to start writing, and write all the time.

This is one of the places that restores my balance and harmony, stability, rhythm and flow. That is a lot to ask of a single scene, and this one is glad to oblige. The downside is that it is a long way from home. The upside is that I have the images. And that is the joy of photography after we have aged out. It is a gift that “keeps on giving.” And I get to share them with you so the blessing expands. What a joy!

And that opens the door for reflection on ways we might minister to the inner deficit’s in compensation for a lifetime of not enough in the way of grace and compassion. Where do we go to restore our soul? To gather our forces and take ourselves the places nearby that are good places for our body to be? There are nurseries and restaurants around me that fill the bill. Chick-Fil-A is a quiet surprise. And there is a breakfast spot on the list where my wife and I meet with the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, or those who can be free for brunch that day, and that is a regular event we all look forward to. We just fell into it with out planning and with out a director. Too much organization takes the fun out of it for me, and I love no cleanup.

I’m leaning more toward going slow and taking my time, and enjoying getting to the places I like to be throughout the week.

This image captures peaceful abiding here, now as well as it can be captured, lived, expressed. Such is the way of the Buddha, and the way of the Christ. What more is there to do, to be? This is doing what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done as well as anyone can do it, and that is all that needs to be done. Who can do more than that? This is the art and the practice of being alive and the way of the Way exactly as it needs doing.

The Way of the Buddha, 6th Edition is now an eBook on Kindle. And I am writing almost daily here and on my Tao-Psyche-Intuition.com blog. When I quit writing, I will be dead or dying. I have never know anyone with so much to say! Just today it occurred to me that there are three Biblical texts regarding the sayings of Jesus that, when understood (And they are point blank so everyone could have understood this from the beginning) will do away with Christianity instantly).

They are: “Why don’t you understand for yourselves what is right?” “The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it will.” “You have ears to hear! Let them hear!” “You have eyes to see! Let them see!” In these three texts, Jesus is telling us to take the authority for our own life and to assume the responsibility of knowing and doing what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done. Which also happens to be the ground and foundation of Taoism and Zen. And clarifying the realization that those who know, know the same things.

This image is emblematic of my career as a nature photographer. What I like most about it is that it is almost not there. Yet, it’s impact is quite perceptible. It reminds me of me in those ways. I like my potential as a surprise and enjoy sneaking up on people. And not hanging around. Being gone in no time at all. Now you see him, now you don’t. When the fog came in, the entire lake disappeared. It is on the way out as we watch here, now.

Intuition is the solution to all of our problems today every day. The source of all of our problems every day is forcing our way upon the day. Intuition says, “Everything in its own time.” Which means there are some times for noting. We don’t do anything during those times. Those are slack times when, for example, the tide turns around and nothing is happening. Those are great times for naps.

I think the source of evil is greed, fear, desire and anger. Unbounded greed, fear, desire and anger. Unrestrained greed, fear, desire and anger. Getting ourselves under control, living from the standpoint of not caring, not wanting, not needing and having no opinions about anything reduces the presence, and hence, the impact, of evil in the world. Give it a try and see if you don’t think it is so.

What associations do you make with this image? What comes to mind? Where does it take you and your imagination? It is a Portkey to where? When? What does it imply, suggest, instigate for your mental drifts of interest and preoccupation?

Every photograph, painting can become a meditative launching pad if we sit with it watching what stirs to life within us as we do so, leading us to reflect on our reflections and what they have to say to us here, now, and what we might learn about ourselves at this point in our life and where we might go from here by looking, listening within. Giving Psyche, Tao, Intuition opportunities to speak to us and influence us along our way.

Martin Palmer said, “The path that can be discerned as a path is not a reliable path.” Jesus said, “The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it will.” Joseph Campbell said, “The treasure you seek is found far back in the darkest corner of the cave you most don’t want to enter.” Are you getting the idea? What we want isn’t what we are after. Meeting the day as the day needs to be met. Doing what is called for in each situation as it arises. Being glad to do what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done–and when it is done letting that be that, day by day. Such are the lives of those who live well, with everything to be proud of and nothing to regret. Not even the unicorns can do better than that. It is the way that is the Way.

“The Way of the Wind” is the title of my most recent eBook on Kindle. This is the cover image. The book takes Jesus’ observation, “The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it will,” as an invitation to understand that no one can lock up the Spirit in something like, say, “The Reformed Faith,” or “The Roman Catholic Church,” or, “Christianity.”

The Spirit cannot be reduced to statements of faith, or catechisms, or theology. The Spirit is like the Tao that cannot be said, or told, or taught, or defined… We can know the Spirit, we can even, occasionally, BE the Spirit, Be One with the Spirit. But, we cannot say, tell, explain anything about that experience. The truth that can be told is not the eternal truth. And the book explains all of this in ways that relieve you of your doubts and misgivings. $3.99 at the Kindle store.