Proud Mom!

Good job Nick! Keep up the good work at school. I've been meaning to place this photo here. Love you! Mom

Speak Kindly

The Colors of Many
The Words Yours
So Speak Carefully
Others are Listening
Harsh Words
Spoken Untruthful
Senseless Words
Hurt Growth
Destroys New
Welcomes the Old

Kind Words
Speak Truth
Spread and Flourish
Until Gently
They are Delivered

Jen

Very Creative

A Collection of Zen Poems

One of my Own:

Shallow seas open
Expanding the mind
thought leaves
emotions abate

all is quiet
now I can ((see))

Jen Park

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In this way and that I have tried to save
the old pail
Since the bamboo strip was weakening and
about to break
Until at last the bottom fell out.
No more water in the pail!
No more moon in the water!

-Chiyono's enlightenment poem,
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, 1957, p. 31
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This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.

- The Buddha's Words on Kindness (Metta Sutta)

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Everything
just as it is,
as it is,
as is.
Flowers in bloom.
Nothing to add.

- Robert Aitken, Roshi, As it Is

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The body is the tree of enlightenment,
The mind like a clear mirror stand;
Time and gain wipe it diligently,
Don't let it gather dust.

- Shenxiu

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Two come about because of One,
but don't cling to the One either!
So long as the mind does not stir,
the ten thousand things stay blameless;
no blame, no phenomena,
no stirring, no mind.
The viewer disappears along with the scene,
the scene follows the viewer into oblivion,
for scene becomes scene only through the viewer,
viewer becomes viewer because of the scene.

- Seng-ts'an, 600
Hsin-Hsin-Ming: Inscription on Trust in the Mind
Translated by Burton Watson
Found in Entering the Stream, p. 149
Edited by Samuel Bercholz and Sherab Chodzin Kohn

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Step out onto the Planet.
Draw a circle a hundred feet round.
Inside the circle are
300 things nobody understands, and maybe
nobody's ever seen.
How many can you find?

- Lew Welch
From What Book, 1998, p. 124
Edited by Gary Gach

How Emotions can Effect Reasoning -words by the Dalai Lama

"Control negative emotions through reasoning"
By e-mail[Thursday, March 08, 2007 15:58]
Thousands of devotees gathered at the Tsuglakhang (Main Temple) to listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings from the Jataka tales.

The Tsuglakhang courtyard was packed with devotees comprising of both Tibetans and non-Tibetans. There are many Tibetans from Tibet among the crowd.

His Holiness spoke on the importance of training our mind. His Holiness explained how negative emotions like anger, attachment and ignorance cause problems and unhappiness to all the sentient beings because we can't see and think when we are covered by these negative emotions and ultimately they lead to violence. These are our real enemies and it is within us.

He said that these negative emotions arise because we don't control or train our mind. "We cannot do that by offering prayers. Rather it can be done through reasoning. If we could train our mind and develop positive mental attitude such as compassion, then it would help oneself as well as the other beings. It will also help us in this life as well as in our next life. As we all believe in religion, we have to be compassionate all the time in good as well as in bad times. Thus, through reason we can train our mind.

"And for that, we need wisdom and knowledge to differentiate what is right and what is wrong and what are the things we have to adopt and what have to be dropped. That is why it is important to study the teachings of the Buddha", His Holiness said.

His Holiness emphasized the importance of studying even if we are dying tomorrow. He related that to the old people in jest and made every audience laugh.

Speaking on the various religions, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that all the religions in the world are for our benefit. They help us in solving problems though with different approach. All the religions conveys same message of love, compassion, forgiveness, and tolerance etc.

**I am experiencing some harsh life events due to negative emotions by others. How can we not have them in our lives, but one has to step back and see the whole picture
and realize the implications. I have also written a paper for my psychology class
this semester and found this article very interesting and so very true to my belief.

Just a Quick Hello

Hi Jen, It's been quite a while ..thank your for your posts on my profile and thank you for the invite to blog. I see you and Pat have kept with it. I however, took a good while off, one while I got settled into my job which I have since quit, it just didn't work out for a variety of reasons. I have tried to keep in abreast in what happened with Pat, although we lost touch. I'm not sure if Pat was aware possibly through Cindy but had he heard that Mark passed away, he was hit by car crossing the street after a Bengals game, and passed away do to head injuries I miss him incredibly. That along with other things kept me from blogging. I am back to blogging and hope to keep it going its really therapeutic I hope Pat is well, and when you talk to him ..please let him know I had asked about him... and I of course remain very good friends with Cindy. She is well, had more then her share of snow.. and is still getting it. I wonder if its ever going to stop snowing in Cindy's world ..lol

At the current time I am not working ...taking a little break.. (translation) cant find a job I am willing to work. I do hope that something comes along soon. Until then I will try to post something here and keep in touch.
Until then.. take care and be well. ~ Lisa

Happy St. Pat's Day!

Green everywhere you look! Lot's of Irish around this area. Was a long day of work and studies and it was fun to watch all the party-goers on the street. It's about 9pm and it seems the celebrations are just starting. I can hear bagpipes out on the street and people singing along. Lot's of funny green bling hats and jewelry. Someone came up to me and said that she couldn't get rid of her hiccups and I politely pointed her to the next irish pub for another drink to calm her spasms. A band is playing in the distance, a real Irish traditional song. Sometimes I wonder if they chose to make St. Patrick's Day in America just for the sake of a drink starting at noon and going into the night, but it's music like this that makes me realize that it is carrying on the traditions and celebrating life. I hope you all had a great St. Pat's Day! For me, I think I will wonder over to hear this band and perhaps a drink or two.

Take a look at Obama's Stand on Education

I was talking with a young teacher there, and I asked her what she saw as the biggest challenge facing her students. She gave me an answer that I had never heard before. She spoke about what she called "These Kids Syndrome" - the tendency to explain away the shortcomings and failures of our education system by saying that "these kids can't learn" or "these kids don't want to learn" or "these kids are just too far behind." And after awhile, "these kids" become somebody else's problem.

And this teacher looked at me and said, "When I hear that term it drives me nuts. They're not ‘these kids.' They're our kids. All of them."

She's absolutely right. The small child in Manchester or Nashua whose parents can't find or afford a quality pre-school that we know would make him more likely to stay in school, and read better, and succeed later in life - he is our child.


**VOTE FOR OBAMA**

Back to college

Okay, had a second to give you all an update. In case you did not know, I have returned to college. It was a big step to get back into school, but now that I am here...it is well worth the stress. The college that I attend is a great place for my choice of study. I am in an excellorated program and soon will be a junior at the University here. I apologize if it takes me time to get back to you. Keep writing and sending your e-mails. I will let you know how things are going on my end. Keep reading.....Love, Jen

Africa Fundraising Video

Thank you everyone for making this possible. Peace, Jazzi

SECOND MARATHON FUNDRAISING EVENT AFRICA

****SECOND MARATHON FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR FIGHTING POVERTY**
AND AIDS IN AFRICA

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DATE: Saturday, January 19th and Sunday, January 20th 2008
TIME: 10am slt - 10 pm slt both days

*Total of 24 hours

LOCATION:AFRICA ��

*Need a tp on the day of the event? IM Jen Leval or Roldan Noel
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Our first event last November raised $500,000L in 48 hours. We'd like to do that in 24 this time. So, please come join us and bring your friends to enjoy this beautiful SIM. Enjoy the art and culture, music and dance.

~~~~~~~~There will be a full line up of musicians here to entertain you during the event. If you'd like to participate or would like a schedule of preformances, please IM Jen Leval or Roldan Noel.

~~~~~~~~There will also be a silent auction running during the entire event of fine art and craft. Again, if you have a talent to share, please contact us, thank you.

*All proceeds will go to Africa to help fight poverty and AIDS. We will donate to the charity One.Org.

TOGETHER WE CAN HELP MAKE POVERTY IN AFRICA HISTORY!!! FIRST LIFE CAN BE DIFFICULT WITH GOVERNMENTS AND SYSTEMS. SECOND LIFE IS BORDERLESS, POWERFUL AND A GREAT PLACE TO COME TOGETHER AND HELP THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD.

Don't Give up the Fight

clipped from www.ellenbailey.com

Don't Quit

Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road your trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victors cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when your hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit!

Sassy, this one is for you too! Jen

Alone on an island of ice

I am alone
Alone on this island of ice
Wouldn't it be nice to not be so alone

Postpone all these feelings
Delay them till later

Would this help in my case?
Chase these feelings away
Till another day?

It is so cold here
Not a warm vein flowing
Just this icy tear
running down my cheek

Cried so many tears
for so many years
Just wish I can disappear

But lo...I am away
on this lonely island of ice
with one hope lingering so near
yet too far
It is running astray

How can I capture it
Grasp it tight and not let it go?
Persue it with strength and courage
to better my spirit

I think I will try
to swim away from this
lonely island of ice
Wouldn't it be nice

to be warm again
to be whole again
not only for myself
but for the children too

Oh my children
they are so full of life
so warm and gentle

deep down inside
they strive for the same thing
happiness, wholeness, and love

Potentially Interesting Park Geneology

I found a geneology website with the following record for a Nathan Park(e)"

"Nathan PARKE (2402, FSP422) was born on 20 May 1774. He married Pamelia HEATH (2417, FSP422W) circa 1795. He witnessed "Among the early settlers in the west portion of the town, were Samuel Coleman, Clark Bailey, Nathan Park, Zenas Northway and Ozias Northway, who kept a tavern near the Post Office, Archibald and John Garfield, Graudius Cuddeback, whose widow is a niece of Major Moses De Witt; Wm. Sniffen, Hendrick Upperhousen, a Hessian who was captured from the British army, and John Hill, also a Hessian " before 1800 at Lafayette, Onondaga, NY.446 He died circa 1812 at Cardiff, NY."

I think she is making an assumption that Parke changed his name to Park. Or, she might think that N. Parke and N. Park are the same person... Census recorders frequently spelled what they heard, and didn't take the time to get spellings accurate. Anyhow, if her records are accurate, she has fairly extensive GEDCOM file on the Park(e)s and their relatives. I have it on my PC, and can show you when I'm in town. Click here. the GEDCOM is on her home page. Any geneology program should be able to read it. The Nathaniel Parke traces back to a Robert Parke, who was christened in Suffolk, England in 1580 and lived in Mystic, CT. There's lots of info on all the Park(e)s in between. They were mostly in Voluntown and Preston, CT. Neat stuff.

The African SIM

This is the SIM where we had the Art Gallery for the fundraiser, which the owner of the SIM decided to keep there. This is a beautiful film of this wonderful SIM. Take a look. Rain you must feel so proud of your accomplishment.

oh..btw, a sculpt of mine called the Matrix is shown. :-)