This meat-
all that appears and exists, the nature of the five Buddha families,
my own body, inseparable from all beings,
we are all impermanent, changing from one body to the next,
changing bodies like clothes,
the mouse becomes the hawk, the cow the crops, lifetime after lifetime.
I am often stricken with the desire to be beyond all this,
but ours is the inherited responsibility to live a life of great purpose,
to be compassionate, generous and kind,
to discover our natural freedom in this very body of flesh,
for the benefit of all beings.
We should enjoy, question and respect,
but never assume, demean or disregard.
Emaho!
This wine-
this sublime nectar of the dakinis,
with its fragrant bouquet pervading the extent of space,
its bountiful mouthfeel of suchness,
I enjoy the one taste of all samsara and nirvana,
the union of bliss and emptiness.
Everything is encompassed by this single drop,
all perceptions, qualities and experiences dissolving
into the originally pure dharmadhatu, the basic space of phenomena.
Seeing through the intoxicating nature of all appearances,
the Great Mother, Prajnaparamita, is revealed
beyond all thought, description or imagination.
Ah la la.
These are my samaya substances. This is my commitment.
My vow not to turn from this world.
My commitment to remain, working for the benefit of beings.
Freely enjoying this wheel of tsok,
with nothing to be renounced or forsaken,
I consume all conditions as fuel for my practice.
May the blessings of the Trikaya Guru and assembly of dakinis
soften our hearts and transform our minds!
May the blessings of this completely virtuous Younge practice tradition ripen and flourish!
May we all gain accomplishment as one mandala!
Emaho Ah la la ho!
Clarify your practice. Let your practice clarify you.
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Let's Talk Wine
Not many people know this but Washington is a veritable treasury of excellent wines. You may have heard a few things about the region if you live outside of the Pacific NW, maybe you even tasted one of the mass distributed wines which don't really portray the depth and richness the region has to offer. Most likely though, you have been missing out on these great and accessible wines.
Let's start with amazing.
There are five main AVA's in Washington, each further divided into smaller AVA's that demonstrate unique characteristics and produce prestigious wines. More and more we are seeing terroir specific vineyards that produce the highest caliber wines, each displaying a depth and subtlety that differentiates it from other vineyards in the same region. You have top rated vineyards like Cailloux, Champous, Ciel du Cheval, In the Rocks and Red Mountain which each produce amazing wines that lead to endless exploration, fascination and delight. There are world class vintners like Quilceda Creek, Figgins Estate and Owen Roe producing cabernet. Merlot by Long Shadows and Leonetti. Syrah is really the break out star in Washington, with ingenious producers like Cayuse, Gramercy Cellars, Reynvaan and Rotie Cellars. That is just the tip of the iceberg, time and time again their are accessible, vivid and distinct Rhone varietals, Bordeaux blends and Riesling after Riesling that will knock your socks off.
And you can actually get most of these wines as opposed to similar quality California wines which have steep price tags, long waiting lists and seem to be more interested in their name and money.
Washington is forging a new frontier. You have to taste these wines to experience it yourself.
This is an example of inspirational faith.
There is something about this story that might stir you, hook your attention and curiosity. You may experience feelings of joy, hope or desire. It might bring you to laughter, maybe even tears. It inspires you.
Yearning faith.
The next step is where you say, 'I want to do that'. 'I can do that'. This is faith based on learning, contemplating and putting effort into your practice. This is where you actually taste some of the wines and develop a first impression.
Confident faith.
This is based on your own experience. You've tasted the wine, know its subtle aromas and flavors. You know its mouthfeel. You can distinguish the different regions and vintages, you've examined the unique characteristics of specific terroir. You know both the immediate and lasting impressions. Your practice can still go deeper, more subtle and profound, but you have developed certainty within your domain.
The Buddha taught that only confident faith is trustworthy.
In inspirational faith there is no knowledge, experience or conviction. In yearning faith there is some knowledge and experience but no conviction, allowing doubt to creep in. It is only in confident faith that we possess knowledge, experience and conviction.
It is this type of faith that we should develop, which means that we need to do the work.
You should come here, we can go wine tasting.
Let's start with amazing.
There are five main AVA's in Washington, each further divided into smaller AVA's that demonstrate unique characteristics and produce prestigious wines. More and more we are seeing terroir specific vineyards that produce the highest caliber wines, each displaying a depth and subtlety that differentiates it from other vineyards in the same region. You have top rated vineyards like Cailloux, Champous, Ciel du Cheval, In the Rocks and Red Mountain which each produce amazing wines that lead to endless exploration, fascination and delight. There are world class vintners like Quilceda Creek, Figgins Estate and Owen Roe producing cabernet. Merlot by Long Shadows and Leonetti. Syrah is really the break out star in Washington, with ingenious producers like Cayuse, Gramercy Cellars, Reynvaan and Rotie Cellars. That is just the tip of the iceberg, time and time again their are accessible, vivid and distinct Rhone varietals, Bordeaux blends and Riesling after Riesling that will knock your socks off.
And you can actually get most of these wines as opposed to similar quality California wines which have steep price tags, long waiting lists and seem to be more interested in their name and money.
Washington is forging a new frontier. You have to taste these wines to experience it yourself.
This is an example of inspirational faith.
There is something about this story that might stir you, hook your attention and curiosity. You may experience feelings of joy, hope or desire. It might bring you to laughter, maybe even tears. It inspires you.
Yearning faith.
The next step is where you say, 'I want to do that'. 'I can do that'. This is faith based on learning, contemplating and putting effort into your practice. This is where you actually taste some of the wines and develop a first impression.
Confident faith.
This is based on your own experience. You've tasted the wine, know its subtle aromas and flavors. You know its mouthfeel. You can distinguish the different regions and vintages, you've examined the unique characteristics of specific terroir. You know both the immediate and lasting impressions. Your practice can still go deeper, more subtle and profound, but you have developed certainty within your domain.
The Buddha taught that only confident faith is trustworthy.
In inspirational faith there is no knowledge, experience or conviction. In yearning faith there is some knowledge and experience but no conviction, allowing doubt to creep in. It is only in confident faith that we possess knowledge, experience and conviction.
It is this type of faith that we should develop, which means that we need to do the work.
You should come here, we can go wine tasting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)