Author Archives: jimwdollar

We have no need of plansand agendas–a sense of what is necessaryis enough to steer us through circumstances and situations as they arise.It has been that waywith us as a speciessince time began.”If you meet an elephantcoming toward you on the path,GET OFF THE PATH!!!”This is not difficult.We make too much of it.Siting in theContinue reading “July 25, 2024 – A”

Liberty/freedom/liberation are over-rated.Balance and harmony are under-appreciated.What can we do with our choices?In light of what–toward what–do we live?What are we doing with our life?What guides our boat on its path through the sea?What do we have to work with?What are we here to do?What brings you joy?Assume with me that we are here toContinue reading “July 24, 2024 – B”

The old Taoists said”circumstances beget circumstances,”and it is our placeto respond to what’s what here, now,in ways appropriate to the occasion.That cannot be spelled out in advance.We cannot know beforehand what to dowhen and where.We respond to every here, now,here, now.To have any success with this process,we need a strong relationship with our intrinsic intuition,inContinue reading “July 24, 2024 – A”

“I don’t think that’s going anywhere,”could be said about everything.Along with it’s corollary,”Where do you think you’re going?”And,”What do you think you’re doing?”These are all statementsthat could be at the heart of Zen.Along with the following:”Those who say, don’t know.Those who know, don’t say.””The Tao that can be told/explained/saidis not the eternal Tao.”A Zen masterContinue reading “July 23, 2024 – A”

What do you think aboutas you are driving trainsthrough Canada?What do you think aboutwhen you are not?What do you think about?What we think about tells the tale.One thought tends to leadto another,particularly when we are thinking about our thinking.Being curious as to why we thinkthe way we thinkand not some other way instead–and thinking aboutContinue reading “July 22, 2024 – A”

Aligning ourselves with our original nature,innate virtues(The things we do best and enjoy doing most),and our intrinsic intuition,puts us at “the sweet spot”of our life,on the beam,at one with our destiny,and in accord with the Taoof life and being.You would think,that with all that going for it,more people would be faithfully engagedin centering themselveswith themselves,andContinue reading “July 21, 2024 – B”

If you choose to go the Non-Christian/Non-Buddhist route,you get to throw out all the theology,doctrines,dogma,dharma,sutras,rituals,catechismsand creeds,and focus exclusively on being the best Jesus and/or Buddhayou can be,simply by sitting in the right kind of emptiness,stillness and silence,waiting for the mud to settle and the water to clear,reflecting on,contemplating, considering, exploringyour original nature,your innate virtues(The thingsContinue reading “July 21, 2024 – A”

Tourist time starts around 10 AM.Sunrise on the peaks begins a bit earlier.It is a question of what matters most.Knowing what matters to usis a key piece of knowing,reflecting our original nature.We don’t know why the important thingsare important,we just live to serve them.Dogs, cats, horses and peoplematter a lot to a lot of people,andContinue reading “July 20, 2024 – A”

Zen is Taoism’s response to Buddhism.There is nothing Buddhist about it.”Don’t take suffering seriously, Bro!Just fold it into your lifeand live on!Live on!”The Buddha could have usedthe insights of Taoism.”Nothing is so badthat changing the way you look at itwon’t make better!””Why be undone about the way things are?Do what can be done about itandContinue reading “July 19, 2024 – B”

Spend the rest of your lifetrusting yourselfto the right kind of emptiness/stillness/silence,exploring your original nature,your innate virtues(The things you do well and enjoy/love doing most),and your intrinsic intuition.And experimenting with living in waysthat serve and exhibit/expressthese three aspects of yourselfin responding to what is called forin each situation as it arises.Bringing yourself forth in thisContinue reading “July 19, 2024 – A”

Making the world a better place is quite beyond any of us.It is out of our hands.We would do well to settlefor making ourselves a better place.That is well within our reach, but.We have to lay aside our wants, desires,aspirations, dreams of conquest and domination…We cannot go the Adam and Eve route,striving for what weContinue reading “July 18, 2024 – A”

Caring while not-caringgoes hand-in-hand withdoing while not-doing.Living our lifewhile being untouched by lifeis the trick the masters all have mastered.Distancing ourselveswhile staying in touch.Living as though we carewhile not caring at all.Acting like it matterswithout letting it matter.Faking it without appearingto be faking anything. Walking two paths at the same time.