Author Archives: jimwdollar

All the sitting, all the attention devoted to the dharma, all the talk, talk, talk… is not doing it the way the Buddha did it. The Buddha saw what he looked at and did what was called for in each situation as it arose. Without consulting a manual of how to do it. Seeing whatContinue reading “August 19, 2024 – B”

We help each other the most,I think,just by keeping one another going.An encouraging presence.Listening to the other’s stories. Sharing a meal.Helping to bear a burden. A kind word.A soft, safe, place to be…Carry on, carry on,we can do this. Being what the situation calls for,reliably,dependably,over time.Not much to it.Anybody can do it.Helping Sisyphus with hisContinue reading “August 19, 2024 – A”

We do not shape the world/life to suit ourselves.We shape ourselvesto fit what is called for in the world/life.The world/Life asks certain things of us,we negotiate how much for the world/life,how much for us,but it is very much a negotiated settlementand not something we can insist/demand/requireof the world and of life,that they serve us andContinue reading “August 18, 2024 – A”

Monitor the amount of emotionin your tone of voiceas an indicator of the degreeof emotional reactivity in your life. Aim at neutral livingfrom the centerof all bell-shaped curves.We can’t live from the centerwithout being grounded in neutralwith our emotional responses to life.The image of a spiritual masterscreaming at their lifesuggests one who is neither spiritualnorContinue reading “August 17, 2024 – B”

See if you can tell what is called forin each situation as it arises.NOT what you want to happen in the situation!What the situation itself is calling for. Live to know what is called forin each situation as it arises.Practice, practice, practiceknowing what is called for in each situation as it arises. When you watchContinue reading “August 17, 2024 – A”

When the New Testament writer (Maybe Paul)said, “Christ is all and in all,”he was saying, “God is all and in all.”Which is saying, “God is all there is–so what’s the point of all the divisionsand discord?””How can God be at God’s throat?”Look around.There is nothing but war, contention, strife…on all sides.God at war with God.ThisContinue reading “August 16, 2024 – A”

Knowing what is called for–and doing it–is all there is to itin each situation as it arises.Never mind what you want,or what is in your best interest,or what you “ought to do.”What is called for here, now?That is all you need to know.And do.Forever.Think of all that is arrayed againstknowing what is called for andContinue reading “August 15, 2024 – B”

Our circumstances can sweep us away.We have to be focused on–and grounded in–our intrinsic intuitionand the here, now and what is being called formoment-to-momentin each situation as it arises.The focus and ground of our lifehas to be on our intuition and what is called forright here, right now.What we want,where we want to be,and whatContinue reading “August 15, 2024 – A”

The words that greet me in the night:AtrocityOutrageObscenityDisgraceJustice/InjusticeInhumanityAbsurdityTruth/LieRacismBigotryBrutality…I am a witness to it all,and that makes me a participant–as in “Compliance with violenceis an accessory to violence.”And a victim–as in, “A witness to violenceis a victim of violence.”And there is no escape.Just as there is no justice.No amends.No compensation.No restitution.No atonement.No restoration.No escape.What are weContinue reading “August 14, 2024 – B”

Being true to our inherent intuitionIs laying aside our wants/desires/pleasures/dreamsin the service of our intuition’s ideasof what is called for in each situation as it arises.The guiding question is never,”What do we want?”And is always,”What is called for here, now?”Knowing what is called for and living to do itwhen/where/how it needs to be donetime afterContinue reading “August 14, 2024 – A”

The way we respondto events and cirumstancesdetermines–or strongly influences–everything that follows.We create the futureby the way we respond to the present.And living willfully, defiantly,demanding and insistent is not the way to producethe kind of resultswe have in mind.The way to experience smooth and easyis to be smooth and easy,open and receptive,with nothing to gainand nothingContinue reading “August 13, 2024 – A”

Indigenous peoples have it rightthroughout time.Colonizers destroy the world.World after world after world…The difference is living in syncwith the environmentand living to consume the environment.And the flip is madewhen the population growsbeyond the ability of the environmentto meet the needs of the population.Humans are intelligent enoughto avoid dying offby killing off one another.Becoming so proficientContinue reading “August 12, 2024 – B”