Our first joy is happiness for ourselves. If we are not happy, we cannot do anything else with this life. Seek pleasure in all that you do. You deserve it!

The second joy, once we have found what makes us happy, is the pleasure of bringing happiness to others. To engage in activities that fulfill our need for joy in our lives and share that joy with others. Making people happy is good.

The third joy, if we are able to focus all our energy on what we are doing, is not only to be happy and to share that happiness, but to enable others to make even more people happy. To provide the space and opportunity for people to make others happy is the ultimate.

Experience happiness.

Share happiness.

Help others share happiness.

Ain’t it cool that it all starts with you being happy?

October was a crazy month; I moved into a new apartment, renovated it, and got a dog. All the while the election loomed closer (vote tomorrow!), the economy struggled, and people lived out their lives on this crazy planet.

With all the pressure we are inclined to feel these days, with people of The System telling us to worry about our financial future, our political future, our religious future, and our environmental future, this might be a perfect time for a quick reality check. So sit back, and take a deep breath.

Really, do it.

If you so choose, also take a deep breath in between each line as you read. Just slows it all down a bit.

.*.*.*.*.

this moment….

feel your heartbeat….

feel the blood running through you….

feel the oxygen filling your lungs….

and feel your muscles resting on your bones.

notice the air around you….

notice the room you are in….

and the life you lead.

is it perfect?

you bet.

think of what you have….

say “thank you” out loud.

for loved ones….

for pets….

for shelter….

for food.

say “thank you” out loud.

for challenges….

for opportunities to grow….

for opportunities to change the world….

for opportunities for the world to change you.

Remember today, of all days and of all times throughout history, that every single thing is exactly as it should be right now. This moment, this world, you, and the people in your life are all exactly perfect.

As I once read:

“The first step to changing the world

- and yourself -

is loving it exactly as it is

- and as you are -

today.

And thankfully

There is no second step.”

Mahalo means the act of giving thanks.

Live Mahalo today, and see your world find peace.

No matter who ‘wins’ the election.

Watch the trailer below, watch the full feature at: Google Video

Follow his progress and be inspired at http://supertrip08.blogspot.com/.

…if you hold back even an ounce of your weight, there won’t be enough friction created between you and the rock and you will fall.

See, rocks are simple things that conform to the laws of physics and nature. The only force they can exert is the force you exert on them. Kinda like our dreams. They conform to laws of nature too. The only force they will ever have is the force we are willing to invest in them. If we hold back even an ounce of our passion from them - if we lose focus or doubt for even a moment - we will not be able to hold on.

And it’s not that the dream is too hard or unrealistic or silly, either.

Even the smallest nugget of hope that a dream might come true is enough to support us if we commit ourselves fully to it, damn the odds.

Make it happen, dude.

Whatever it is, you can do it!

Abundant, you say? But Philip, I don’t have a Hummer! How am I amidst abundance if I don’t have a Hummer?

Well my friend, let me tell you that Hummers may be important for squishing those pesky road blocking dandelions, but what is truly important in life is not what you DON’T have, but what you DO have.

In Hawaiian thought, “god” is represented by a symbol meaning “grace receiving gratitude”. It’s a cool triangle thing with two dots and a ‘t’. Really sweet, check it out. Anyway…. god is abundant grace, ever present, ever giving, never ceasing, always ready to dole out more stuff. Pretty cool. But there is a catch.

Just like connecting the positive (giving) side of a battery does NOTHING to power up your Hummer until you recycle that electronic juice via the negative connection back to the battery, ‘god’ can only give to those who are plugged in with gratitude.

The light bulb only works when power flows through it not just to it.

So, pay attention to the things you have, be thankful, and be ready to receive.

Oh, and why are you driving a Hummer? Are you expecting Mobile gas stations to be open during the apocolypse?

For the time, I just want to say how hard it is sometimes to keep my head up in this world. There are so many forces trying to bring us down… wars, hunger, terror, politics, poverty, frustration, the perils of love, the judgments of our friends and family and (worse!) our selves… it’s almost too much.

That is why I write these blog posts. Not because I think I know the best thing to do in these hard times, or that I am happy all the time (god knows I’m not). The videos, music, thoughts, wishes, and little prayers I offer here are just footholds I cling to on my toughest days, and I offer them to you in peace and love and hope that at some point - at a weak moment- someone will read and grab hold.

So, in your dark hour, I hope someone (perhaps me) can be there to restore your faith, hold your hand, and keep you on the path of joyful living.

Namaste, friends. Keep smiling, and keep hoping for the best.

Hope is our only hope.

“…..have a thousand kind of love:love the ocean, love the mountains,the forest,the beautiful sky with stars,love the sunshine and fresh air,love the beautiful trees and the birds singing,love the pure of water.Love the fresh smell of the sun and clap of waves toward a sandy beach.Love babies, friends,Family and love peace. All of these love is endless love but……….. love between a man and a woman?

“It isn’t easy topic to get through to it. How can someone recognize if it is a true love without trying at least couple of times in their life with mistakes and without knowledges(which you can get once when you tried and learned from) and that the feelings of love is a hundred time bigger than what your body want. Does it listen to you at all times or ignores you?How to tell? It’s a secret of the body and that is how the body works. It is beautiful! Yes and No! “Yes” because it brings the feeling of happiness and content deep inside you for that great moment but “No” because that feelings never last until the next days,just a moment and short as a perpect day and until next time who knows if can get another perfect day!

“It’s going up and down as a” Regular” human being without endless. Does it bring a beautiful meaning? (It is when it just comes with love) and how can someone pass the test of love without giving such as the most treasure that they desire to give only one time in their life for a real love. Will they have enough the knowledge to recognize at the right time!? How hard to pass the test!!! How can someone keep a solid body before getting to the right door of a true love as it comes?

“Well,…………..just breath,take your time and be awake!”

When I got home I realized that the difference in air pressure between when I closed it in Colorado and when I got home to Western New York caused the bottle to crush in on itself. It became my souvenir from the journey: fresh mountain air of healing caught in a water bottle, now sitting before me as I breathe.

As I was meditating this morning, I thought about how special that bottle is to me. Well, truthfully, the bottle itself means nothing, only it’s contents. And even that’s not really accurate. What’s special is the change that occurred in that bottle between Colorado and here. It is, perhaps, a visual representation of the change that occurred in me.

And as I meditated this morning, I thought about how fragile that relic is, and what emotion I would feel if the bottle were opened and the meaning lost. Would I be sad? Probably. After all, it’s lasted three years in that state and found its way onto my shrine. I would most likely miss it, and occasionally wish it hadn’t been opened and I could still see and touch this thing that represented an event in my life.

But then again, perhaps not. Perhaps it would be exhilarating to free myself from the clinging to this meaningless, plastic object that is merely a symbol of a change that can never be lost inside my Self. Perhaps the only true connection I have to this bottle that sits before me as I meditate is posession of it; the feeling that somehow I can own that which it represents if I only cling to this one sacred relic.

How many times to we cling to things in our lives that in themselves aren’t all that spectacular, but hold some hidden meaning that anoints them as sacred in this world of impermanence? And does that connection give us strength of its own virtue, or do we perhaps rely on the fear of losing this (elementally) meaningless thing to keep us engaged with the memory of what it represents?

The truth, I think, is that if we were to let go of those objects in our possession - be they water bottles, scars, or emotional baggage - we might feel not sadness, but release… Freedom from the attachment to something that once served us well, but now only takes up space in our lives that might better be filled with the only thing that really matters…..

…. this moment.

The good news is that the past few weeks I have been busy working on getting things ready for the September 1st launch of the Ohanamalu Tae Kwon Do Community Program and Club. We (the World Martial Arts Association) will be reaching out to the West Side of Buffalo, bringing TKD to those who otherwise couldn’t or wouldn’t get to experience the magic.

More updates will follow, but for now, keep checking back here to see what you can do to help this initiative.

And for this week’s point to ponder, a simple thought that struck me as I comforted a friend in need:

“Perhaps love is not about being happy. It’s about being there when you are needed, and doing what you need to do.”

Much peace, my friends.

The only true evil in this life is the temptation to separate the two, and believe we are wise enough to tell the difference.

(special thanks to Michael T. Dealy for providing the inspiration for this entry)

Life’s the same way.

It’s not about keeping drama, heartbreak, or general confusion out of your life, that’d be boring. It’s about making good choices about which ‘knots’ you’ll tie, and knowing that at any given moment you can stop, breathe, and remember that under all those knots you chose is a beautiful, useful piece of, well…

you.

But be prepared to give. Love is not a gift for you to play with; it is a journey for you to learn from and enjoy.

“Seek, and you shall find.”

Search without ceasing for that which your heart desires, but be honest in your search. If you are searching for sex, sex is what you will find, not love. If you are searching for comfort, comfort is what you will find, not love. If you are searching for completion, you will find it, though it may not come with love.

Search for love, and love alone. Accept no substitutes.

“Knock, and the door shall be open to you.”

The issue, I have found, is not that the door does not open, but that we may not have the courage to enter.

……………………………..

May you be worthy of what you have asked for, honest in your search, and have the courage to enter when love opens its door.

(and pray this for me, too)

Mahalo, friends.

Perhaps there are men and women we will remember as having died with valor for their country.

Perhaps there are children and elderly whose souls will never know why their home was targeted by bombs in the middle of the night, wondering why they were called “collateral”.

Perhaps there are old soldiers sitting quietly at home remembering things they wish could be forgotten, like charred body parts lying in roadways and children without limbs who will not be honored in ceremonies today.

Perhaps there are men who are trying to remember their own children while they fall asleep to the sounds of generators in far off places, awaiting the nightly mortar attacks.

Perhaps there are men in offices who count bills and fail to remember that at the other end of their profits lie broken souls whose courage and honor were exploited for gains few will see but all will notice.

Perhaps we should remember, someday, that war benefits few and destroys many.

Happy Memorial Day.

War is ugly, enjoy the hot dogs.

East and west could not agree
So their generals gave a call and gathered at the border
With guns ready, drawn and aimed
each side was praying to a god
to bless them with strength and courage
it was in his name that artillery lit the sky on fire
the people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier’s gun

Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier’s gun
But the battle raged on……

Sirens filled the air and the ground shook with war
Civilian casualties has been a cost that was predetermined
when interviewed for report victims pleaded in frustration
Their claim: That this was a war without reason
Bureacrats enraged in debate to try and reach a resolution
the people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier’s gun

Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier’s gun
But the battle raged on……

The Broadcast like their prayers went unanswered and ignored
god, like the rest of the world, just watched in silence
There was purpose to be served, there were fortunes to be earned
before a peace could be called to stop a war

Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier’s gun
But the battle raged on……

As the Ronin approached, he noticed first their slack eyes and hunched shoulders. One amongst them looked his way briefly with mild annoyance, never once interrupting the slow, exasperated flow of barely audible conversation.

“Hello”, he spoke.

His greeting was received only with peripheral glances and slight tilts of the head.

“Where are you going?” he questioned.

“Isn’t it obvious?”, one of them replied. “We’re going where we are supposed to go”.

Accustomed to such strange answers from the zen monks of his education, he dismissed the vague reply as misunderstood, then asked instead,

“What are you doing?”

The group, no longer able to ignore the stranger’s presence, turned to him.

“We are discussing our objective”. They replied, almost in unison, though barely louder than a sigh.

“Which is what?” pressed the young warrior.

“To get to where we were going and do what we said we would do. I told you this.” said the one who had answered before.

“We are going to the end of the road to bring people news,” said the apparent leader of the party, “and are just trying to figure out the best way to walk there”.

“And are you the one in charge?” asked the samurai.

“Can’t you tell? Of course I am the leader here. I am in charge. But we all have to have a say in where we are going, otherwise we might not get there in the most amiable fassion. Besides”, the man stated, “we all know where we are going. We don’t need just one person to lead”.

This stunned the soldier into silence. In his training and his experience, no group of many could lead itself. It would be like a flock of sheep without a shepherd, or a horse without reins. The flock would wander and feed and the horse would run, but the sheep would be afraid and the horse would do no work.

All men are willing to give themselves to a cause they believe in. Samurai are the most noble example of this ideal. They give their lives and even their deaths for the safety of the people of their land, and empower those they protect to live free and on their own terms. But the samurai follow the lead of their lord, without whom they are merely wandering, as the Ronin himself was doing.

But he had no cause, he had no one to serve. These missionaries in the road needed to deliver their news to those waiting at their destination. There was no time for mild discussion on such things as how to walk or which foot to place first. Did they not believe it was possible to be friends and efficient at the same time?

The Ronin attempted to interject his thoughts, but grew frustrated and remembered that this was not his fight.

Leaving the group to their mission, the Ronin had no doubt they would reach their destination. But his was a path of effort and of intention and of motivated action, not slow, encumbered deliberation.

And so he walked on into the new day, pondering what he had heard and questioning his way.

These words I type and the stories I tell come from my heart; they are ideals to which I strive and bearings on my journey. They are not testaments to my own perfection or mastery of life’s living.

Like the martial artist studies his forms and pursues the perfect execution of every move without ever anticipating the achievement of that perfection, so too do I live. I hurt, I fall, I make many mistakes, and I most certainly struggle with life. I will never claim otherwise.

What I will claim without hesitation is my desire to make every effort to learn which direction to set my sights, in order that I may live consciously and compassionately. I believe in what I say, and set my heart to that course. Someday those beliefs may change and if they do then I will adjust.

I encourage everyone to choose their own path in life, and to find their own moral compass. You are your own best teacher, and you alone bear the responsibility for your growth and guidance. I merely share what I have found to work, in the hopes of providing seed to those who seek to grow their own garden.

“If naught but this: to thine own self be true”.

Next week: Ronin, part II

For ways to help, see Earth Day, Part II

A young warrior, orphaned by war and the passing of his master, walked on a dry and dusty path. Well trained in combat, he believed in his strength but also in the inevitability of death. No thought of remorse passed when he saw fallen men, for he knew that just as the result of all life is death, so the result of all death is new life. Equally so, no blooming flower escaped his notice, nor did the scent of its sweet pollen drift without his quiet appreciation.

Trained in honor and courage, the young samurai felt driven to serve. He sought the helpless and friendless, and gave them aid. He taught the weak strength of character and hoped to serve the strong as an example of humility. He learned from monks and from masters of war, and sought balance and harmony in all things.

As he walked, he contemplated his path and wondered where his future lay. Samurai were meant to slay their spirit upon the death of their master, but he loved life too much to leave this world behind. In fact, his warrior soul cherished life more for having seen the blackness of the abyss pass before its eyes. So despite the temptation to give up his armor, he held firm to his sword and braved his walk alone.

Seeking camaraderie, he visited with other Samurai. Their spirit sounded with the cries of war, and echoed in the young man’s soul. But they were still under the service of their master, and had not yet discovered their own way.

Seeking again, he set out to the fields to speak with the farmers and people of the earth. They met him with innocent eyes and spoke great dreams of harmony and brotherhood. The warrior longed to believe in their vision, but feared the ease with which they lived, having seen the violence men were capable of.

Seeking still, he spent evenings in the houses of women, drinking their wine and eating their rich food. But the distant cry of battle and the knowledge that somewhere someone needed his service cut short most of these nights.

On he wandered, until sunset came and he slept under a pine on a bed of soft needles, cloaked by the fragrance of the sweet sap and warmed by the heartbeat of the earth itself.

to be continued…

All of this provides a great moment to speak of the beauty of life. Yes I said beauty and no, it’s not because I am delusional. (Though I am sort of seeing double.) Moments like this are perfect for remembering that our days of exhaustion are just as great as our days of bliss.

It’s easy to philosophize and wax poetic about the oneness of things when the sun is shining and you are sitting barefoot on warm grass sipping iced vanilla-almond tea, surrounded by loved ones and happy puppies. But remembering in the darkness what is clear in the light is the true challenge put to us on the path of conscious living.

Today I am struggling to remember that all is one, and perfect according to the laws of the universe. I am struggling to remember that life is not meant to be pain free. I am struggling to love myself and go forth with my life despite gross amounts of fear and sadness, and I am struggling to be thankful.

I am struggling to remember that life is always beautiful.

So, in the “all-one” spirit of Ohanamalu, I bear my humanity and officially and on record say that I never said it was supposed to be easy. Sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes it hurts. And sometimes it is REALLY hard and hurts a LOT.

But we’re alive. And I, for one, am never more keen to that than in moments like this.

Peace is a verb.*`

And I am so passionate about keeping Mamma happy, that I’m doubling down on my Blog for it. So here you go, part two….

There is little doubt in anyone’s mind that carbon emissions are contributing to global warming. And for those skeptics out there, I have taken an entire college course on global warming and sorry to say, it’s happening.

But seriously, that’s neither here nor there. We live here, and the best way to keep things green is to live lightly. So here is a short list of things I do (or try to do) that might inspire you to go a little greener.

1. Eat vegetarian food. No kidding, this reduces your carbon footprint (the amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide your lifestyle causes to be released into the atmosphere.) by a HUGE margin. Why, you ask? Cows. The raising of livestock contributes to almost ONE FIFTH of the carbon released by human activity into our ecosystems. Don’t believe me? Read it from the BBC. Eating vegetarian food therefore reduces your carbon footprint by about 18%….. chew on that! (It also lowers your cholesterol, decreases blood pressure, provides adequate protein, and adds good fiber to your diet. Rock on, tofu.)
2. Support the Hemp market. Non psychotropic hemp - the stuff you can’t get high off of - has been around for as long as humans have. The constitution was printed on hemp paper. There was a “Hemp for Victory” campaign during WWII to provide enough rope and fiber to the troops. It’s patriotic.
   It also takes ONE TENTH of the amount of land needed to grow cotton to produce the same amount of raw material. But hemp growing is illegal or legally impractical in the US due to current drug laws that lump industrial hemp in with psychotropic hemp. There IS a difference. You can read more about industrial hemp here.
   Hemp is still available in product form from Canada and places in the EU. Try it out. It’s not as rough as it has been made out to be. I do Tae Kwon Do in hemp pants, and my favorite hoodie is made from hemp fiber. Man, it’s comfey.
3. I own no car. I skateboard to work or take a bus. This one is self explanatory and we all know we should cut down on transportation emissions. Ghandi said it best: “Live simply, so that others may simply live”. The less you commute, the less petrol you burn. (And instead, you burn calories…. BONUS!!!!)
4. Buy local produce. Mexican tomatoes and corn from the Midwest you find at your local corporate run grocery store had to get there somehow. Food transportation is a big industry. If you buy local, you food has traveled far fewer miles, burning much less gasoline. And it probably tastes better too.
5. RECYCLE!!!! Freakin DUH!!!! Do it. No excuses.
6. PRECYCLE. Only buy food in packaging you know your municipality currently processes for recycling. It takes more effort at the grocery store, but come on… it’s totally worth it for your kids. And speaking of kids, my seventh and final save-the-earth suggestion is:
7. Ask yourself if what you are doing at this VERY moment will leave a positive impact for your relatives seven generations down the line. If not, rethink it. If so, do it more often. We gotta take care of this place. If not for us, for our kids’ kids’ kids, etc.

There are a lot of other things you can do. Invest in mutual funds that only support green companies. Buy Carbon Credits to offset your unavoidable contributions to pollution. Talk to your coworkers and team mates and friends about what you are doing to promote a better and more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.

If not you, who?
If not now, when?

Happy Earth Day, everyone.

better yet, hug one.

dance barefoot in the grass.

pick up some trash.

listen to the birds with your eyes closed.

turn off your television, air conditioner, stereo, and lights for one hour to save energy.

google “ecological living” (or something similar) and learn something new.

walk to the store if it’s close enough.

car pool if it’s not.

learn how to reduce your carbon footprint.

listen to Xavier Rudd, he has a message.

we come from her, we live on her, we breathe her air and drink her water.

treat yo’ mamma (earth) with respect!!

Walking through Chiang Mai, Thailand with my acro-yogi friends, I spotted this shirt on a man riding a bicycle. It’s a simple phrase and an even simpler concept, but so daunting none the less. What a mountain in our path, this challenge to put aside thoughts of what ’should be’ or is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and embrace the fact that no matter what we are doing, saying or thinking, life just exists.

The Tao Te Ching says: “When you see good, bad arises. When beauty is seen, ugliness becomes apparent”.

How do we say “I am right” without suggesting that someone else who does the opposite is wrong? How do we decide that a certain faith or creed or race or sexual orientation or contact sport is sacred or universal without condemning those who do not practice the same?

Perhaps the challenge is the same between these two thoughts: to embrace life for the sake and joy of living without needing to be right. Life is beautiful. Not some of it, or just part of it… all of it.

And we are enough, just the way we are today. Flaws are only seen when we have a vision of what is right in our minds.

In this breath, we are whole.

Be happy.

Just thought I’d share. Go check it out at http://zenhabits.net/2008/04/the-simple-life/.