Buddha Archives - Liz Esquirol

TBIF

It’s a rainy Friday here in NY….and I think that’s perfect for today’s Thank Buddha It’s Friday.

Although rain can be a bit of a nuisance in our lives – wet clothes, soaked shoes, bad hair – it really is essential to all living things. Without the rain, we wouldn’t have any clothes to dry, shoes to air out, or hair to brush. We, as a species and a planet, would not exist (as we know it, at least.)

I’m still awed by the miracle of rain every time it happens. It reminds me of science class, learning about evaporation, cloud formation and condensation, and how crazy it seemed that nature just did these tasks all on her own, without prodding or pushing. She just did it (regardless of our objections.) How cool is that? Nature has a way of being its own cyclical sprinkler system, its own garden hose, to keep the land moist and alive.

Yes, sometimes the rain has its way with us – battering our umbrellas, homes and sea walls – which can be quite devastating at her worst. Yet nature does not mean us harm. Her only job is to sustain herself and keep the rain coming – so that future generations may splash in her puddles.

Thank you clouds. – BB

Quotables

Be

Be – don’t try to become. Within these two words, be and becoming, your whole life is contained. Being is enlightenment, becoming is ignorance. – Osho

My friend passed this Buddhist quote by me recently and I wanted to share it.

Everyone has their own interpretations of quotes and principles – none more correct than the other, as each is personal. So to me, this idea is about the simplicity of being human. That we are, by our very nature, good and whole without having to “become” something. That we all should spend more time just “being” – that which we are…and finding peace within that.

But I also think that becoming is part of the circle…each day we are becoming more enlightened, growing into the people we want to be. Nothing wrong with that in my book. I can’t help but use the reference of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly…naturally…as it was meant to. Moving from one form to another. Our life is contained within that arc – being who we are and becoming what we are meant to.

So a little Buddha Balboa philosophy here seems to be the right formula for a life well lived – a little bit of “being” mixed with a dash of “becoming” equals an amazing you. – BB

TBIF (Thank Buddha It's Friday)

TBIF (Thank Buddha It’s Friday)

Ahhhh yes…it’s that glorious day of the week for the traditional worker….Friday!

And why do we look at Friday differently? Because as a culture we have come to view it as the marker of freedom – from our jobs, our daily grind, our weeklong drudgery. Yuck. Why have we done this to ourselves?

Yes – is it nice knowing that now we have some “free” time to enjoy our other pursuits – that of relaxation, dinner with family, hobbies and sports? Yes, it is. Have we come to believe that the weekend, days off, are our time to be who we really are, without the confines of cubicle culture? Yes, we have.

Although that’s lovely and all – I don’t think I want to hear “Happy Friday” from anyone anymore. I want to hear, “Happy that we are alive and have jobs and have our health and have love and look how fortunate we really are Day” from my office mates and fellow street passengers. Wouldn’t that be refreshing?!

The truth is – Buddha Balboa get’s it. There are 2 sides to just about everything. BUT – if we flip the perspective coin and let every day land heads up, then every day can be our personal Friday. Every day can be a chance to be who we really are…to be thankful for what we have…and to look forward to work as well as play. It’s all part of the same circle.

So, with that in mind, Thank Buddha It’s Today. – BB