DISQUS

I'm still floating around after this historic, amazing election. My life hasn't directly changed much in the last few days since the election but somehow i feel it has. I know that we have a fresh new opportunity to do something different and something different sounds so refreshing right now. I am proud too that so-called "red areas" of the country have united with "blue areas" to push for change. Not since 9/11 have I felt this united as a country and that was after a horrible event but this time its after a glorious event.

I'm so jealous, Egypt is one of the places that I want to see before I die.

Hmm. I have to say that I lean toward not suing. I worry the site will be taken down. I would hate to see the site taken down because there are so many who do benefit from the site who don't have problems with the moderators. I wish that they would resolve their problems with the Soto Zen leaders but I just feel that a lawsuit is a bit too much.

When I was regularly attending a sangha I was by far the youngest too and I'm 32. I think for many of the younger generations they are happy to just read books, meditate alone, listen to Dharma talks and have their online sanghas.

I don't know if either is right or better but the times they are a changing indeed.

Great post. I couldn't agree more with the points you raised. I'm not a vegan either. I think being vegetarian is the middle path between meat eaters and vegans and the middle way is what the Buddha taught.

The grain and feed issue is a big deal as you mentioned. It takes WAY more grain to feed animals for slaughter than to feed humans all over the world. Not to mention that who are we to decided which animal lives and which one dies? I always tell people who are on the fence that a good question to ask in helping make a decision is, "Could you slaughter your own meat?"

Also how can you call yourself an animal rights activist, have a house pet and still eat animals? I also ask people on the fence, "Would you eat your dog or cat?" If not then maybe you might want to consider a vegetarian diet.

And the health benefits are a great plus as you say.

Yes, many people don't realize the role (as you mention) that the collapse of the economy in the USSR lead to their overall collapse.

So many here in America like usual think we made the difference in bringing down the USSR. Those who nearly worship Ronald Reagan think he single handedly brought about the end of the Soviet empire.

Hardly any credit is given to Gorbachev and the desire of the Russian people for change. And certainly many don't even know the shape of the economy during those years in the USSR.

Great post.

How wonderful!!

Wow, you work for Mozilla?? I LOVE, nay, ADORE Firefox!!! I was so happy to find it. I hated and still do hate IE with a passion. Happy Anniversary!!!

The revenge of the machines is at hand!!

I'd love the Kwan Yin statue.

Yeah I kind of go the lone wolf route with my Buddhist practice. I don't attend a formal sangha as I find it too contrictive.

I have tend to have a more far reaching view of the sangha, that all is sangha. The internet has made it possible for hermits such as myself to stay in contact with Buddhists from around the globe.

I guess I'm the reclusive monk type who would prefer to live in a cave than in society or in a monastery.

I don't believe either to be better or worse. I think it's more about finding what works the best for you.

Congrats!! I know the hard work it takes to write 20+ page papers from my time in the graduate program in African/Middle-Eastern histories.

I think that Buddhism has a great future in the west and that it will develop it's own style as the Dharma does in all countries.

That's the beauty of Buddhism, it's a very fluid belief system and blends well with each new culture that it touches.

I really like pin-ball machines. I loved playing them as a kid and still do. I wish I had one at my humble abode. They have the computer/video games versions but it's just not the same.

Yeah I was a crappy monotheist too. It never made sense me. I just didn't like all the black and white thinking.

Interesting subject, The Golden Dawn. I studied it for a time and considered following it's teachings before I came to Buddhism. I read, "The Golden Dawn" as revealed by Israel Regardie and enjoyed much within it. I still relate to a lot of the mystical schools around the world, especially Taoism.