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   This week I am pondering Karma and the effect my actions, and how the actions of others have an effect on my outlook. Karma is not some mysterious force in life - which is what I once thought - it is simply put as:

                                          Because this happens, that happens.

   By example, if I cut my hand while cooking, what happens can be pain, bleeding, a possible emergency room visit to get stitches, more pain, etc. What could also happen is that I don't take care of the wound and I eventually die. Because this happened, that happened.

   Another example, I see you in emotional pain - I experience what I sense about your distress - I then perhaps hold you in your tears, find compassion in myself to enable being more fully present to you, you feel less alone in the disturbing issue, we talk working through the problem if possible, and you feel better. 

   These two examples are a short series of Karmic events that happen between here and there, this and that, what is and what is. Problems happen when we don't pay attention to the unfolding events that are always happening. So, how can we be more awake, more attentive to what is going on moment by moment? Practice is the answer, and having a "Practice," a way of living that promotes skillful understanding of this moment, and this moment, etc. is a truly worthwhile endeavor to develop.

   I have included a list of twelve steps that are in its essence an excellent way of life and living  at the end of this post. There are many more available once we seek them out and know our desire to incorporate good directions in our life.

   The life we have is what we have. The solutions to the eternal question, "Why are we here," can be over time understood a little at a time if we have a Practice that promotes understanding and brings to the forefront our Gift of compassion for our self, and for others in all of life's happenings.

                     - Seeing the forest for the trees is seeing the forest one tree at a time -

   Here is a chapter from the book of Proverbs, ancient biblical advice about guarding against enemies we create and whose long life we can foster. It is followed by the part of the next chapter in proverbs that offers an insightful answer - or perhaps just insight.

Proverbs 7

Warning Against the Adulterating Of Our True Self

 ¹ My child, keep my words 
   and store up my wisdom within you. 
² Keep my commands and you will live; 
   guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. 
³ Bind them on your fingers; 
   write them on the tablet of your heart. 
⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” 
   and to insight, “You are my relative.” 
⁵ They will keep you from the adulterous woman, 
   from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

 ⁶ At the window of my house
   I looked down through the lattice.
⁷ I saw among the simple,
   I noticed among the young man,
   a youth who had no sense.
⁸ He was going down the street near her corner,
   walking along in the direction of her house
⁹ at twilight, as the day was fading,
   as the dark of night set in.

 ¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
   dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
¹¹ (She is unruly and defiant,
   her feet never stay at home;
¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
   at every corner she lurks.)
¹³ She took hold of him and kissed him
   and with a brazen face she said:

 ¹⁴ “Today I fulfilled my vows,
   and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
¹⁵ So I came out to meet you;
   I looked for you and have found you!
¹⁶ I have covered my bed
   with colored linens from Egypt.
¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed
   with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
   let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
¹⁹ My husband is not at home;
   he has gone on a long journey.
²⁰ He took his purse filled with money
   and will not be home till full moon.”

 ²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
   she seduced him with her smooth talk.
²² All at once he followed her
   like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
 ²³ till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
   little knowing it will cost him his life.

 ²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
   pay attention to what I say.
²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
   or stray into her paths.
²⁶ Many are the victims she has brought down;
   her slain are a mighty throng.
²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave,
   leading down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 8 - Wisdom’s Call

 1 Does not Wisdom call out?

   Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 At the highest point along the way,

   where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gate leading into the city,

   at the entrance, she cries aloud:

4 “To you, O people, I call out;

   I raise my voice to everyone.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence;

   you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

   I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true,

   for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just;

   none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right;

   they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,

   knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for Wisdom is more precious than rubies,

   and nothing you desire can compare with her.

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             Do not move away from the tree before it reveals something of its "self " to you

   Here is a fine article on the website of Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hahn's community in southern France. It is an excellent set of directions for living well -

   http://www.plumvillage.org/mindfulness-practice.html

   Please watch the following wonderful short video that proclaims the joy of living one day at a time -

   http://www.flixxy.com/simple-gratitude.htm

   A fine talk on the Eightfold Path to Understanding by Gil Fronsdal who is an excellent, gentle teacher of the Buddhist Way Of Life - Well worth a listen -

   http://www.box.com/s/f92i836unmszgg0obz13

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   The Twelve Steps Of The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path - (Practiced by 300 million plus Buddhists worldwide.)

The Four Noble Truths

There is suffering.
There is the recognition of suffering.
There is the recognition of the path out of suffering.
There is the path out of suffering.

(Which is: ) The Eightfold Path


Right Understanding
Right Thought
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration

    It is said that practicing these twelve steps can in themselves be the path to enlightenment, the way to living life fully.

   There are many books on the items on this list, two of which I have placed in the "recommended books" at the top right of this blog.

   Peace and serenity,

   Bill Lagerstrom

                   Seeing the trees one at a time is the the path through the forest