The old Taoists were right about it all. “Circumstances begetting circumstances,”was their explanation for everything being what it is.Circumstances call for what needs to happen next.And we are called, by our circumstances,to size things up and determine what is called for here, now, and do the right thing, at the right time,in the right way,andContinue reading “September 25, 2025”
Author Archives: jimwdollar
September 24, 2025
I once drove long distances for sunrises and sunsets,moonrises and moonsets. Not so much anymore. I trust them to perform on their own. They seem to have it down, and take care of business quite handily without my assistance.It is a comfort to know that things can manage complex sequences and show up on time,Continue reading “September 24, 2025”
September 23, 2025
It isn’t being dead that bothers me.It is the dying I would like to avoid.More specifically, it is the lingering incapacity,the dwindling, the not-dead-yet-but-maybe-a-little-deader-today-than-yesterday-it’s-hard-to-tell that I find to be tedious and unnecessary.I would like to be surprised, and yet, I like to think that I’m ready to die at any time, prepared, and looking forwardContinue reading “September 23, 2025”
September 22, 2025
Ms. Unglesby was my fifth-grade teacher at Georgia Tucker Elementary in Monroe, Louisiana, who told my mother in one of those Parent/Teacher conferences, “Jimmy looks out the window a lot.”Jimmy still does. He carries the window with him wherever he goes. And takes photographs of what he sees to share with those who couldn’t beContinue reading “September 22, 2025”
September 21, 2025
Experience is required to know/understand/comprehend. It cannot be said, told, explained, defined… Psyche is leading us to knowing throughout our life. We are not old enough to get it until we are old. And then it takes talking to/with people who are consciously seeking to grasp Psyche’s attempts at communion. Waking up. Enlightenment–is Psyche breakingContinue reading “September 21, 2025”
September 21, 2025
Participating in the rhythm and flow of life here, now–seeing, hearing, knowing, doing (One thing, not four) what is called for in response to what is happening in each situation as it arises is all there is. “Peaceful abiding, here, now” is seeing/doing this very thing, situation after situation, all our life long. In syncContinue reading “September 21, 2025”
September 20, 2025
We have to be available.What it means to be available is this:”Those who would be my disciple have to pick up their cross everyday and come with me.”Cross-bearing is making the routine sacrifice/practice of handing over what we want in the service of what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs toContinue reading “September 20, 2025”
September 19, 2025
We are the source of everything that isn’t a rock or a tree. Including God. We made it all up, right out of our own Psyche/imagination. We told ourselves stories that scared us into making up other stories to calm us down. Hate, anger, fear and greed are the origin of most of our problemsContinue reading “September 19, 2025”
September 18, 2025
We are all that stands between us and the Void.That being the case, we might think we would be doing a better job laying a foundation with ourselves that will allow us to deal with what’s coming up, instead of looking the other way and hoping for the best. If the best were in play,Continue reading “September 18, 2025”
September 17, 2025
We lived for a while with the fantasy of Galahad and his heart of nobility, purity and grace carrying us forth like Jesus from the grave as a goal for us to strive for, a human wonder for us to be, but.There was always littleness, meanness, hatred, greed, wrath and fear shinning through, getting inContinue reading “September 17, 2025”
September 16, 2025
The Buddha saw “Peaceful abiding, here, now,” as the foundation of “having life and having it abundantly.” I call it “Looking out the window.” When I sit, I sit looking out the window, at the focal point, the foundation, of “having life and having it abundantly.” Everywhere can be the vehicle/Portkey/threshold/doorway to “peaceful abiding, here,Continue reading “September 16, 2025”
September 15, 2025
I would like to live exactly where I am living, and be doing exactly what I am doing. I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s called “Having it made.”And, what does one do when one has it made? What is called for in each situation as it arises, day after day. Which may have nothing toContinue reading “September 15, 2025”
Jim Dollar's Photography and Philosophy 