Damp Soil Haiku.

spout pours waterfall

damp soil aroma swells lungs
smiling body sighs

By James R. Ure

When cleansing rain touches brittle and cracked soil it expands and swells to life, which allows it to emit that rich, musty scent that is so relaxing. There is something so familiar about this scent that makes me feel so comfortable and balanced. I think it's because it reinforces the reality that I am at one and interdependent upon the saturated earth. Perhaps we feel that instant comfort from wet soil because we recognize the motherly essence of it as so much life springs from it. I know I do.

It's calming effect on me is so instant and consuming that it has often reminded me of how automatic my nerves relax when I catch the scent of my mother. It is the scent of being "home." Another reason I think the smell calms us is because by breathing it in we are very vividly living in the present moment. Wet soil is so common to the basic operations of life that it's hard to not feel profoundly connected to the present moment when intoxicated by its scent.

Interestingly, that rich smell from damp dirt comes from a bacteria that resides within it:

As it turns out, the smells people associate with rainstorms can be caused by a number of things. One of the more pleasant rain smells, the one we often notice in the woods, is actually caused by bacteria! Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, grow in soil when conditions are damp and warm. When the soil dries out, the bacteria produces spores in the soil. The wetness and force of rainfall kick these tiny spores up into the air where the moisture after a rain acts as an aerosol (just like an aerosol air freshener). The moist air easily carries the spores to us so we breathe them in. These spores have a distinctive, earthy smell we often associate with rainfall.

~Peace to all beings~

How to Use Silver to Purify Drinking Water

Image via Wikipedia

First, let me start off the article by saying two things. First, I'm not a medical doctor. Use my advice at your own risk. Second, there are some risks associated with overexposure to silver, the worst of which is called argyria, which is basically a condition where the skin around your eyes, nails, and gums becomes discolored. Again, use my advice at your own risk.
 
Now that we have that settled, let me explain how to use silver to purify drinking water.

The process is pretty simple really. Basically, if you expose the drinking water to silver for a long enough time period, silver ions will disolve into the water. These silver ions will interact with the water to kill bacteria in the water. This process has been well known since the times of the Greeks and Phoenicians. In fact, the Phoenicians are said to have stored liquids in silver flasks to keep the liquids fresh for longer. More recently, the International Space Station also uses silver to purify drinking water.

The easiest way to purify your drinking water is simply to pour it into a silver flask, vessel, etc. and wait for a long time before drinking it. I'm not sure exactly how long you want to wait, but some of the sources that I've read suggest waiting about 3 days to make sure that the bacteria is dead.
If you want to wait a shorter period of time before drinking, you can speed up the introduction of silver ions into the water (and thus the purifying properties) by running an electrical current between two silver electrodes or by using "colloidal" silver. To use the electrolysis method, simply take two pieces of silver and use wires to hook them to the terminals of a battery. Then, place both pieces of silver close together (but not touching) in the water solution. Again, I'm unsure of the time that you have to wait until the water is safe to drink, but I would think that a few hours to a few minutes before drinking would be sufficient with this method. However, as I said, I'm not a doctor. Also, because I was unable to find the exact times that the silver should be in contact with the water before it's safe to drink, I recommend only using this method in an emergency.

If you want to use colloidal silver, you can purchase this at many health stores. Basically, colloidal silver is a mixture where microscopic silver particles are mixed in solution with a liquid. In these cases, carefully follow the recommendations of the solution maker as to how much of the colloidal solution you should mix in per liter of water.

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How to turn "water" into marbles

How do you turn "water" into "marbles"? Click to find out!





That was a neat little trick of chemistry. If you want some more articles about amazing science, check out the links below.

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A cute Korean girl as a bonus!

Spring Rain Meditation and Haiku.

crackling night sky

illuminating soaked leaves
man silently sits

-By James R. Ure

James: The clouds have been crashing up against each other since last night. Swollen with water they are showering a budding expanse of green. The entrancing sound of the methodical rain quiets the noise of the bustling city and centers the mind upon the present moment. It is a beautiful call to slow down, breath deeply, open awareness and absorb the moment. Opening the window to hear the rush of water falling from the heavens is the original call to meditation. It is nature's Dharma bell gently bringing our attention in line with the rhythm of nature, which is nothing short of Buddha Nature. Meditating while it rains is a very special experience, which relaxes tense muscles and frayed nerves. It is a soothing balm to the heated mind of suffering.

So, I stepped out onto the drenched patio to silently watch the rainfall and focused my attention on one tiny area of the porch edge where water was dripping from the roof. As I took in the surroundings with my senses the rich, relaxing smell of damp Earth filled my lungs and eased my tense body. As my attention grew I noticed that in the middle of the constant rushing of water cascading off my roof there was one spot that dripped off rhythm from the other spots. So, I timed it and discovered to my joy it splattered every five seconds. A smile exploded across my face as I meditated for a few moments on the order of all things. It made me feel small in a good way--It reminded me that I'm apart of a bigger plan unfolding exactly as it should whether I'm aware of it or not.

~Peace to all beings~

Thich Nhat Hanh's Disciples in Vietnam Facing Turmoil.

By BEN STOCKING Associated Press Writer

HANOI, Vietnam August 1, 2009 (AP)

Communist Vietnam's sometimes edgy relationship with religious freedom is being tested in a dispute over a monastery inhabited by disciples of Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the world's most famous Zen masters. For four years, the Buddhist monks and nuns at Bat Nha monastery in central Vietnam have been quietly meditating and studying the teachings of the 82-year-old Vietnamese sage who is perhaps the world's best-known living Buddhist after Tibet's Dalai Lama. But lately, they are in a standoff that could test the patience of even the most enlightened. First, local authorities cut off their power, water and telephones. Then, a mob descended on their compound with sledgehammers, smashing windows, damaging buildings and threatening occupants.

Communist authorities have ordered the 379 Vietnamese monks to leave the monastery in Vietnam's Central Highlands. They say the standoff stems from disagreements between two Buddhist factions at the monastery. But Hanh's followers believe they are being punished because of Hanh's praise for the Dalai Lama and his call to broaden religious freedom in Vietnam. The affair represents a remarkable turnaround from four years ago, when France-based Hanh returned to his native land after 39 years of exile during which he developed a philosophy called "Engaged Buddhism" and sold more than a million books in the West. The abbot at Bat Nha, which belonged to the official Buddhist Church of Vietnam, invited Hanh's followers to train monks in their brand of Buddhism at the temple there. The letter also said that Hanh's followers should leave Bat Nha and stressed that Abbot Duc Nghi, the property's original owner, wanted them to go. Nghi could not be reached, and committee members declined to comment, saying they needed several days to arrange an interview.

Sister Dang said the Plum Village followers were taken by surprise when Nghi told them to leave because the abbot had visited the monastery in France two or three times and seemed to respect Hanh. She theorized that Nghi must have been pressured from above to ask the Plum Village practitioners to leave. Otherwise, she said, any tensions between the two camps could have been resolved.

James: Vietnam will one day have full religious freedom and what a joy that day will be!! I hope to visit this beautiful, stunning country one day but I don't have the money to travel there right now. When I do, however, I hope to meet a reader from Vietnam--I know there are some from that great country who read this blog and I thank-you for reading. May the power of the people seeking freedom break down the cold structure of Communism and in a peaceful, Gandhi-like fashion. Trying to contain freedom is like trying to contain water. Water blocked by unbending, restrictive rocks will always find a way to erode them and continue on its way toward joining the open, vast freedom of the sea and ocean. Water has carved through some of the strongest rock to form natural wonders that inspire awe, respect and unrestrained possibilities. The concept of change as taught in Buddhism is no exception.

The saying, "Time heals all wounds" is over-used and sometimes simplistic but is important to remember as it enables people to endure things that they thought weren't possible and for longer periods of time than thought possible. Buddhists seem better prepared and capable of enduring long hardship and suffering than some because of the Buddha's teachings of the inevitability of suffering, dealing with anger but also the inevitability of change. In this case the inevitability that Vietnam will change it's government and allow full and fair religious freedom.

Thich Nhat Hanh speaks often of the idea of seeds, "The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy."
— Thich Nhat Hanh (The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching).

James: I need to hear those words right now because lately I've been struggling.Whether we suffer the oppression of an authoritarian government or from an authoritarian mental illness like I do we lessen our suffering by finding the good in the little things, which upon further reflection are anything but little. It's easier said than done but for example, I always amaze myself at how much joy and peace can be found in focusing on the vibrancy and beauty of nature. A simple rainstorm can change the mood of my entire day toward one of increased relaxation and renewal. Gazing mindfulfully upon a simple flower swaying gently in the breeze can give me great comfort that signs of happiness can still be found despite all the misery and suffering in the world. Especially those hearty flowers, which sprout up inbetween rocks. In addition, Buddhism lends itself well to practicing alone if an organized sangha is not possible because of religious oppression such as in Vietnam and China.

It's hard for an oppressive regime to police what people do in the privacy in their own homes and a small altar is easy to hide. Meditation is often done quietly, which makes it easy to practice without drawing attention. Thich Nhat Hanh knows this well and teaches that meditation can be done while walking, working, enjoying music, physical exercise, etc. Hanh teaches like all wise Buddhist masters that even if we live in a religiously open and free society that meditation shouldn't be a separate part of our lives, which we only practice in formal settings/sessions. Otherwise it becomes just another hobby, which is fun but without deeper intigration into one's daily activities dies out like a fad. Another example would be like trying to cure a sickness through a patch on the skin rather than injecting it into the blood stream.

In keeping with the teaching of seeds, Nhat Hanh teaches that we all have the seeds for violence, ambivilance, peace and loving-kindness. I hope that my Vietnamese brothers and sisters can water the seeds of love and not anger because in watering the seeds of anger we are watering the seeds to our own destruction. The easy answer is what the ego-mind goes toward first and often that is anger, which is a seed that like a weed grows quickly with little watering and can quickly grow out of control. Anger/violence might feel good and seem to be the answer at first but that quickly fades and often leads to an even stronger backlash by the other side. If both sides keep watering those seeds the anger and violence can spiral to such an extent that eventually it will destroy both sides completely. Total annilation isn't in anyone's interest.

I hope this post doesn't sound too simplistic or that I think the solutions in Vietnam are easy and simple because I know that they aren't. I am also very much aware that it is easy for me to sit here in America in the comfort of my home, enjoying my religious freedom and advise others about dealing with an authoritarian government. However, my intentions are to provide encouragement as well as encouragement to myself in dealing with my oppressive mental health. It gives me hope and I always underestimate the power of hope. The beauty of Buddhism is that we know this hope will ripen one day into reality as change of all kinds is inevitable--yes, even change for the better, which I have to remind myself daily it seems being a born pessimist.

It sounds cliche to focus on the seemingly little things that bring happiness into our lives and sometimes it doesn't always work but when it does it sure changes my entire perspective. It's amazing how much more patience and peace I have after spending just 15 minutes contemplating the organization and feeling of completeness of nature. If nature can live in harmony and completeness despite the reality of suffering than so can we especially since despite our best efforts at separating ourselves--we are nature as well!!

~Peace to all beings~

The Nature of Things.

In order to learn the nature of the myriad things, you must know that although they may look round or square, the other features of oceans and mountains are infinite in variety; whole worlds are there. It is so not only around you, but also directly beneath your feet, or in a drop of water.

-Genjo Koan

James: How often do we gaze out at a mountain or hill and see them as immoveable and symbols of unchanging constants that stand the test of time. Such views are reflections of the limited nature of our minds. We often see time within specific parameters and that if something stands outside those parameters than we tend to ascribe those things with labels that make them seem imprevious to time or of a separate nature.

Mountains are subtly different over the generations but seem to not change because the changes are so small and slow that our faced paced stream of thinking tends to easily over-look their evolution. For all the pride that humans build up about the perceived perfection and superior nature of our minds, they are quite suseptable to trickery and delusion.

For centuries water was seen as just water and only supporting animals. So imagine the surprise when the first humans gazed deeper into the nature of the life giving liquid and saw a whole world thriving within the tiniest drop. A microscopic world of microbes explode into our vision with just one adjustment in sight.

There is so much that we take for granted and so much we still don't know and might not ever know. I don't think that we are necessarly meant to "know it all." I don't think that knowing everything automatically brings us happiness and comfort. At times knowing more only brings us more suffering and stress. So I take comfort in just being another cog in the wheel. That being said I think there is value in being intellectually curious as well. It's all about balance as we know.

PHOTO: Koolau mountains on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. My wife grew up on Oahu underneath the Koolaus in Kahaluu.

---End of Transmission---

Dishwasher Mindfulness

Upon emerging from my formal sitting meditation I decided to unload the dishwasher with deep concentration and mindfulness. As I slowly began the process of unloading the clean dishes I thought about each cup, each plate and each utensil. How many wonderful meals have these plates and bowls held for this body to enjoy!! How many times have those forks and spoons helped me eat??

Yet I could not have savored these many wonderful tastes without water for more then one reason but mostly I was concentrating upon the cleaning aspect of water. How wonderful that we have this beautiful, soft, cool manifestation to cleanse our body and dishes amongst so many other gifts. When later washing dishes to put into the dishwasher I ran my fingers through the water cascading out of the facet. Here I had a little waterfall right in my home!! I couldn't help but think of all the beautiful waterfalls that I saw upon our visit to Oregon a few years ago. However, mostly I thought of the world famous Multnomah falls (pictured above) outside Portland--the water pouring into the sink through my hands was no different then the water pouring down the Multnomah falls!! What a great thing to have a waterfall in one's house!! How lucky that I am to have such a delightful and generous gift.

It made me think about my brothers and sisters around the world who do not have such access to clean drinking water. I remember the difficulty that some Africans had in obtaining water during my two years living in the Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa. They cherished every drop because of all the effort that went into obtaining it. It reminded me not to take that fresh water available right inside my house for granted. Water is so precious and as we know we'd die without it so let us treat it as the precious treasure that it is and keep our rivers and lakes clean.

However, let us return to the dishes. My focus then settled into the make-up of the plates themselves. How wondrous and curious a thing is a plate. I wouldn't even know where to start to make manifest a plate from all the non-plate elements within it. I don't even know how to make a paper plate!! However, I do enjoy them and honor all the things that go into their creation including the artisans who invest their time, energy and concentration into making these dishes possible. I care for these plates as to not break them and waste the efforts of these wonderful people.

There is no magic other then what is already around and within us. How amazing that we can create any number of things from the joining of individual elements and other materials!! A bowl is a bowl and yet it is not--it's also a rock. A table is a table and yet it is not--it is also water and iron. This warm hooded sweatshirt is a warm hooded sweatshirt and yet it is not--it's a sheep and a sowing machine. The fingers that type this post are fingers and yet they are not--they are oxygen and tomatoes. Why tomatoes? Why not? All things are found within an one isolated "thing" (as well as anything can actually be isolated). In a more precise answer, however, my mother ate many tomatoes when she was carrying me in her womb and I would not have grown into a human being without those tomatoes--amongst so many other things that she ingested and did NOT ingest.

My focus also settled next upon my beautiful, kind and compassionate wife who was the last one to touch these dishes. She was in those dishes and I gently caressed them before placing them gently in the cabinets because I wasn't just handling fragile dishes--I was handling my fragile wife at the same time. If I slammed the dishes into the cabinets without care then I was doing the same to my wife and I didn't want to bring discomfort to her so I handled them with the careful attention that they deserve.

And I also saw you, my friend reading this right now--and I smiled to you. I hope that you see my smile the next time you use a plate. And when you do? Please smile back to me to maintain an infinite circle of smiles. Thank-you in advance for your smile blessed one.

:)

~Peace to all beings~

The World is an Illusion

When the world arises in me,
It is just an illusion:
Water shimmering in the sun,
A vein of silver in mother-of-pearl,
A serpent in a strand of rope.

From me the world streams out
And in me it dissolves,
As a bracelet melts into gold,
A pot crumbles into clay,
A wave subsides into water.

-Ashtavakra Gita 2: 9-10

James: This is an appropriate message today as it is has been raining heavily all day and it has been such a calming energy. I stare out into the driving rain and I am one with each droplet. It has been a wonderful meditation for me through out the morning and now afternoon.

I subside into the rain.

As the rain poured down I wondered why I wasn't seeing a huddle of birds that I normally see on stormy days such as this and then I realized the feeder was empty!! I ran outside and went to fill the feeder and in doing so found two wasps stuck in the feeder that were barely moving. I rescued them with a stick and put them up against the wall under the patio to dry out. I hope they make it through this day but I doubt it. If they do have their continuation day today then I hope that they are reborn in a state where they can find and realize liberation.

PHOTO: "Rain Drops on Pine Branch Needles" by Eric Kamp.

~Peace to all beings~