The warrior's life.

It is one thing to study war

and another to live the warrior's life.

-Telamon of Arcadia

Truer words have never been spoken.  Try out your own:

It is one thing to study art, and another to live the artist's life.  

It is one thing to study mindfulness, and another to live a mindful life.

It is one thing to study compassion, and another to live a compassionate life.

Today, everyone has all the information they need.  We are all comfortable in our concepts and the data at hand.  Everyday I see a new study professing the benefits of mindfulness or meditation.  We feel safe in what we know and act as an expert in that sphere.

But we are living in a bubble.  

The lived experience is raw, naked and exposed.  The lived experience is one of working intimately with failure, fear, doubt and uncertainty.  Those who actually go out to battle know that those concepts have tastes and textures.  

The warrior has scars that give them conviction.  Conviction that this battle is worth fighting.  

The warrior knows that giving into the resistance means certain loss.  

The artist knows that giving into the resistance means art not done.

The mindful practitioner knows that giving into the resistance means a wandering mind.

The compassionate soul knows that giving into resistance means turning away.   

If you haven't bridged the gap between study and the lived experience all you have to do is identify the resistance.  When you encounter it in your life, stay with it, work with it.  That is the practice- this is the path forward.

Welcome to the real world. 

 

  

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.