I have come to understand the meaning of “coolness” in spiritual terms.
A person is `cool’ when he or she is free from pressing desires (grasping) which always produce dissonant emotions (uncoolness).
An uncool person squirms with needs, waiting for the next coffee or cigarette or chance to break into the conversation, and thus is a state called “senseless agitation,” like Bodhi in the cartoon below.
On the other hand, a cool person is free of cravings and repulsions, and is thus in an empowered state of equanimity.
Being cool and detached is not being cold and uncaring. I’ve noticed that when I’m feeling cool and requiring nothing from the situation, it seems to clarify my thoughts, and in this state I tend to respond to other people’s agendas more, instead of my head being full of my own agenda.
To me, coolness means more compassion and less self-ness – the opposite of being heated.
Interestingly, the ultra-cool Buddhist who has realized nirvana is often referred to as “fully blown out,” referring to the flame of desire he has extinguished within himself.
David Lourie
Dharma the Cat’s Blog
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Vincent Van Gogh failed as an art dealer, flunked his entrance exam to theology school, and was fired by the church after an ill-fated attempt at missionary work. In fact, during his life, he seldom experienced anything other than failure as an artist. Although a single painting by Van Gogh would fetch in excess of $100 million today, in his lifetime Van Gogh sold only one painting, four months prior to his death.
Before developing his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein encountered academic failure. One headmaster expelled Einstein from school and another teacher predicted that he would never amount to anything. Einstein even failed his entrance exam into college.
Prior to dazzling the world with his athletic skill, Michael Jordan was cut from his sophomore basketball team. Even though he captured six championships, during his professional career, Jordan missed over 12,000 shots, lost nearly 400 games, and failed to make more than 25 would-be game-winning baskets.
Failure didn't stop Vincent Van Gogh from painting, Albert Einstein from theorizing, or Michael Jordan from playing basketball, but it has paralyzed countless leaders and prevented them from reaching their potential.
At some point, all great achievers are tempted to believe they are failures. But in spite of that, they persevere. In the face of adversity, shortcomings, and rejection, they hold onto self-belief and refuse to see themselves as failures.
I believe it's nearly impossible for any person to believe he or she is a failure and move forward at the same time. For those who have been downsized, let go, or bankrupted, the temptation may be to internalize failure. My hope is that anyone who has suffered setbacks recently will be able to separate life's unfortunate events from their self-worth. Failure, like death and taxes, will happen. Your response to failure holds the key to your future.
I invite you to check out Thanks-o-meter.com. This site is trying to reflect the positive things that people do each day. You can submit what you are thankful for, share a story, and read what others are saying "thank you" for.
In these trying times, Thanks-o-meter.com is a place to focus on the positive aspects of life. Can you make it though a day or week without someone smiling and saying hello? Opening a door for you, letting you merge into traffic, offering to help, or sharing some of their wisdom?
These may not be the sort of things which draw much attention. They probably are not news-worthy. Yet, they are vital to the fabric of our society. It's these little things that give us a sense of community.
Have you had someone do something truly exceptional for you? Have you been rescued, mentored, or impacted in a positive way by someone? Thanks-o-meter.com is your forum to share a story of what others have done for you. When others read these stories, they are reminded of the kind, generous, and courageous people in the world.
Thanks-o-meter.com aggregates these gestures and presents them in a way that reminds us how good it feels to interact with courtesy, respect, and selflessness.
In honor of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, a timely quote:
"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: 'And this, too, shall pass away.' How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!"
It is better to light candles
than to curse the darkness.
It is better to plant seeds
than to accuse the earth.
The world needs all of our power
and love and energy,
and each of us has something that we can give.
The trick is to find it and use it,
to find it and give it away.
So there will always be more.
We can be lights for each other,
and through each other's illumination
we will see the way.
Each of us is a seed,
a silent promise,
and it is always spring.
Merle Shain (1935-1989) was an author, a feature writer for the Toronto Telegram, an associate editor of Chatelaine, and a columnist for the Toronto Sun. She was a host of the CTV Network program, "W5", and served for four years as a member of the board of the National Film Board of Canada.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Prayer of St. Francis first appeared around the year 1915 A.D., and though not written by St. Francis of Assisi, embodies his spirit of simplicity. The words seem appropriate not only to this time of year but to the current political and economic circumstances.
