Letter to David - The Warehouse

Dear David, 

Last night I dreamt of the warehouse and pushing the green cart.

Francis

Letter to David - The Locked Room

Dear David,

My breath cannot escape the locked room.

Francis

Letter to David - AHHJEG and GKC

Dear David,

The seeds : 

AHHJEG (anger, hatred, hostility, jealousy, envy, greed).

GKC (gratitude, kindness, compassion).

Buddha contended with Devadatta.

Francis

Present :

Past :

Letter to David - Running and Meditating in a Lockdown

Dear David,

When running and sitting I don't expect much.

Francis

Letter to David - Bring the Mind Home

Dear David,

Today I imagined myself running in Chiang Mai and its smutty heat, after months of having not run at all.

Francis

Letter to David - The Farawayness of God

Dear David,

Today I watched my nine year old self wander into a field with five boys. One of them gets too far ahead and the rest scatter, leaving the leader to his silent church of one. Even the birds have fled.

Francis

Letter to David - Lockdown

Dear David,

I hope all is well with you and your family. 

The virus lock down reminds me of Camus' The Plague.

Even though a lock down is in place, I believe walking is still allowed. 

My daily routine of meditation, walking, reading, and eating, will not be affected. 

Francis

Letter to David - Random Pleasure/Random Pain

Dear David,

A few days ago while walking at the zoo I sensed I was heavy with the past.

Francis

Letter to David - Loss

Dear David,

I dreamt of my father a few weeks ago. I have not seen him in thirty years. 

Francis

Letter to David - Grief

Dear David,

Last night I lay in bed and a great feeling of loss overcame me. 

I listened to a Chalisa by Krishna Das and cried. 

Francis

Traveler of the Century

I am reading Traveler of the Century and on page 246 read the following:

"I'm embarrassed to tell you this, Hans admitted, but the fact is I'm running out of money. Up until now I always did things in the same way - I worked, saved, and traveled until I ran out of funds, then I started all over again."

Compliment

Today was pleasantly warm and after turning around at the zoo I walked along the boardwalk.

When I entered the cool shadows of the underpass a female runner passed, and when I emerged into sunlight I saw the runner had stopped and was leaning against a boulder, facing me. 

She spoke as I passed. I gazed at her pretty face, losing myself in the frame of her sunglasses. "Your hair is beautiful," she said. I let the words fade and continued to stare into her sunglasses. I thanked her for the compliment.

We chit chatted for a minute and then we parted.

2020 - Birth/Death/Birth/Death

While walking in Lincoln Park last week I chanted Birth/Death/Birth/Death.

I became ill with influenza and meditation was put aside while I rested and slept. 

I am past 50 and becoming uglier with each passing month. What is an old man to do to survive?

"Be realistic: Plan for a miracle." Osho