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Pat, I’d like to buy a vowel please. Maybe the title of this post is a bit harsh. Should a Buddhist be angry about the ongoing conflicts all over the world? Should we worry? I’m reminded of a saying I read somewhere long ago, before my recent interest in Buddhism, but I believe it was attributed to a Buddhist somewhere, maybe even the Dalai Lama. To paraphrase:

Worry is fruitless. If you can do nothing about a situation, worry does no good. If you can do something, then you should act, not worry.

Yesterday was the International Day of Peace, and I was absorbed in getting ready to move, and had forgotten all about it. Two posts on the Second Life Blog reminded me this morning about it. One from Torley Linden, and another from Blue Linden. Torley sums it up by saying, “My plea to you, not just for today but forever: live well, live peacefully, love lots.” What can we do to live peacefully, and love lots, and act instead of worrying? Buddhists know the answer, I think. Every day we should remember and practice the Noble Eightfold Path. I also have a special fondness for the term “loving-kindness” and that is one thing I want to remember to always strive to practice. Other than our personal practice, what can we do? Some ideas that immediately come to mind: Support a charity like the American Red Cross, or my favorite, CARE. We can volunteer and work in our communities to promote loving-kindness where we live (remember the saying, “Think globally, act locally.” Our actions at home filter upwards.) We can engage in dialog with our elected officials — writing to them, phoning them, sending emails — letting them know our views, as the people they represent, on issues that affect world peace. I hope that the Dharma continues to grow ever stronger in the West, and that by the actions of those who live it, will help the world to become ever more peaceful. That is my wish for the International Day of Peace.

NH3 and Buddhism

Just because I’ve taken to Buddhism doesn’t mean I’ve given up science. Actually, even His Holiness the Dalai Lama will tell you that science and Buddhism are not incompatible. From my jaunts across the net, I’ve also noted that many Buddhists, especially those in America, are also quite aware of and participate in environmental causes. So, I was quite interested to find in my news aggregator an article on Wired News about a new irrigation pump engine fueled by anhydrous ammonia (NH₃). The article points out that a significant infrastructure already exists for the distribution of NH₃, largely due to its use by farmers as fertilizer. I was surprised to learn that there are even pipelines carrying the stuff. Contrast that with the practically non-existent infrastructure for large-scale hydrogen distribution. It should be noted that NH₃ is not a mild chemical. It’s actually very noxious. It’s corrosive and explosive. But we also have to consider that the gasoline we fuel our automobiles with is also pretty nasty stuff. It’s poisonous and, like NH₃, very explosive. It’s that combustibility that makes both potential fuels. So how is NH₃ a fuel? (And are you surprised to consider it a fuel, like I was?) Well, I’m not completely sure, but from what I have read on Wikipedia, normal combustion of NH₃ yields nitrogen and water. I grabbed a scratch pad and worked it out, and I think the reaction goes like this (chemists, correct me if I’m wrong!): 4 NH₃ + 3 O₂ → 2 N₂ + 6 H₂O Four ammonia molecules react with 3 oxygen molecules from the atmosphere — it’s oxidized. This is what has me most excited: the exhaust products are just nitrogen and water! What could be cleaner? Now, you might be concerned about that nitrogen part, but remember that clean pristine air you are breathing right now is almost 80% nitrogen (in the same form as the combustion product, N₂). I imagine there is the possibility that problems in the engine because of improper combustions could lead to the formation of nitric oxides, but according to Wikipedia (ibid) that reaction requires a catalyst such as platinum. I would imagine that it is also possible for other nasty things to come out of the ammonia engine’s exhaust, as small amounts of engine lubricants are combusted as well. But that’s a (probably very minor) problem with any internal combustion engine — gasoline, biodiesel, ethanol or hydrogen. So how does this link to Buddhism, aside from the general notion of the compatibility of it with science? Well, remember how everything is interconnected? How what we do has direct karmic consequences? For me, keeping these things in mind means I should support and be enthusiastic about any new technology that helps me to lessen my impact on our planet and live more responsibly. Though I’m not the best recycler around, and I could certainly drive less, I’m happy to know that maybe one day in the not-so-distant future, I may be driving an automobile fueled by anhydrous ammonia that made its way into my take via a distribution infrastructure that is already in place. To me, this seems like the answer the so-called hydrogen economy has been looking for.

What’s up with this blog name?

I suppose I should explain the name of this blog, since it might not make any sense if you haven’t studied a Buddhism a bit. So here goes: In Buddhism, there are what are called the Eight Auspicious Symbols. You can think of them as little icons to remind Buddhists about certain tenets and precepts. The Endless Knot is one of those symbols. A View on Buddhism has this to say:

The Auspicious or Endless Knot is a geometric diagram which symbolizes the nature of reality where everything is interrelated and only exists as part of a web of karma and its effect. Having no beginning or end, it also represents the infinite wisdom of the Buddha, and the union of compassion and wisdom. Also, it represents the illusory character of time, and long life as it is endless.

That last little bit, “... long life as it is endless” is what I was thinking of when I named the blog, along with the interconnectedness of all of life. We are all part of this Universe together, and we must strive to treat each other with loving kindness. Our lives are full of cycles, and in many ways we depend upon each other to get through the trying times, and to celebrate the happy times. You can see the knot’s traditional design, rendered in gold, at the top of the page. If you’re wondering about the other seven of the Auspicious Symbols, here ya go:

• The Parasol
• The Two Golden Fish
• The Great Treasure Vase
• The Lotus Blossom
• The Right-Turning Conch Shell
• The Banner of Victory
• The Wheel of Dharma

You can read up on their meanings at A View on Buddhism, which is an excellent site for new Buddhists, and people who just want to have a little more knowledge of Buddhism for whatever reason. I will mention one of the others though, and that is the Lotus. A lotus is very much like a water lily, and its roots lie in the mud at the bottom of ponds where it is found. The stem that holds the blossom grows up through the water, lifting the blossom high above the mud below. This reminds us that we can rise above the confusion and suffering of our lives, and like the Buddha, become enlightened and reach blissful Nirvana. The lotus is a wonderful symbol (maybe I should have called the blog something with “lotus” in the name). I decided to go do some research on lotuses, and I found that one kind of lotus is native to the eastern US. It's very much like the one in the image, except it is a pale yellow. It’s called Nelumbo lutea. The beautiful pink lotus of India and Asia is Nelumbo nucifera. Both lotuses will grow wonderfully in most parts of the United States, and can be grown in water gardens, and even half whiskey barrels. Though fall is practically here, I’m thinking that it might be nice to try to grow a lotus or two. I suppose it’s a good thing its too late in the season to try it now — it will force me to learn good cultivation, and make good plans that will have a better chance of being successful. If it works, I’ll post pictures!

The Beginning Continues — and Some Things Come to an End

Burning Life ended yesterday with the official “burning” of the Man, and somehow I managed to forget about it. Oh well. Tomorrow, the twelve Burning Life sims go poof. I’ve constantly reminded myself about Impermanence, but yesterday was kinda tough. I went to my build to bundle things up, and I felt very sad. That build was like a second home for me. I actually spent more time there than my home parcel in Second Life. So, I decided to give all the build components away. The moment I posted a notice to the SL Buddhists group, I had three people drop in to look around. One decided to take a copy of just the stupa and courtyard, another didn’t have space, but wanted to come see it before the sims were deleted. Later on, another resident sent me a message asking about it, and I gave her a copy of everything except the Bodhi Tree, because when I bundled it up, I accidentally picked up some other stuff with it. She’ll be getting the tree soon. One exciting thing about giving away the stupa is that I’ve made some new friends. Both residents who took builds are just wonderful people. And the resident who just came to look around is an author who wrote a book on meditation! I can’t wait to get to know her better. I set up the kuti on a friend’s island near my house, and it looks perfect there. It’s nice to have a bit of the build close at hand, where I can continue to enjoy it. So, my build is disappearing, but it will live on in other locations in Second Life. Who knows, maybe I’ll recreate it on a new parcel somewhere myself, or maybe the Milarepa Land Trust will be endowed with a new parcel for a tranquil stupa and surroundings. As for the continuing beginning, I spent most of the day making massive modifications to the default Blogger “Scribe” template, turning it into what you see now. All the artwork is my own creation, with the exception of the saffron fabric in the header and footer, which is from iStockPhoto.com. I’m well pleased with the results.

Stupa-fied

Oh wow! My build in Second Life’s Burning Life got another nod on the “un-official” Burning Life blog! I really worked hard on the stupa and the rest, and connecting to Broccoli Curry’s cool pyramid was something she and I talked about before either of us had dropped the first prim. I’m glad someone noticed! I’m also pleased that GavinLeigh mentioned my build way back when I was working on it.

I also have to shout out to Broccoli for the post on Stratics. She posted some of the early builds before the official start on September 1.

Anyway, stop by and circumambulate the stupa, and visit Broccoli’s pyramid, too! (Burning Life has concluded, so there’s no stupa to be visited anymore.)

New Beginnings

Life is a grand journey. I'm sure some poet somewhere has written something about it’s twists and turns, unexpected plummets over Niagra-sized falls, and even those all-to-rare, languid stretches of peaceful waters. Lately I feel as if I’ve been tossed by rapids smashing over hidden boulders, and now, though the flow is calmer, I feel bruised and exhausted. My old blog is long gone, and it's time to start a new one. Unlike the old one, this one is going to be a free-for-all, unfocused. But, I’m sure it will be mostly about my discovery of Buddhism. This discovery has come at a trying time in my life, and I’m filled with the hope for a kind of peace that I’ve never had in my life. Except maybe for some moments as a child. So, to get started, I'm going to post some pictures from my life in Second Life. I was fortunate to win a parcel in Burning Life, and there I built a stupa. I’m pleased that it has been well received. I'm excited that so many people have visited, and almost all have used the same word to describe it — peaceful. So here are the pictures: