I Came Back.. You Can Too

It took me four years full time to get well. What I did was the exact opposite of what I considered (through much meditation, asking, and honest introspection) had brought me to my knees.

The day after my diagnosis I closed my business, went on a fast, joined a Zen group, and literally turned my world upside down. Coming from a technical background where I had trouble shot $60K pieces of video gear day in and out, designed studios, etc. I said to myself "if I can fix them I can figure out what's killing me and fix it too."

So I took my skills and went at my body; researched, asked, busted balls, spent all my money, then begged for free help, went away on retreats, fasted again and again, and in the mist of it signed up for a full load at college which dismayed my friends and relatives for in their minds I was dying and what the fuck thinking going to school. They thought I should go have gone to Europe, Costa Rica, and laid on a beach and died. Instead I studied, sat on my pillow meditating, became close to a qigong master traveling the country to find the best teachers. One time I had to be emergency airlifted home from Boston after four day class arriving at my acupuncturist near death, scarring the life out of him. They all thought I had lost it, but I knew in my knower what I needed to be doing. I knew it was my mind that required healing, that my state of being had become sooo fucked up. IN order to heal I needed to rebuild myself from the inside out. To literally become a new creature.

I ate the wildest shit. I was raw for two years, lived on wheatgrass and sprouts, became soo thin I could hardly stand and knew I need to be nourished. I found a man who told me about the primal diet. A raw diet that included all foods... Meat, eggs, lots of raw butter, goat milk, cream, and raw greens. After 2.5 months eating this way I awoke... (let me say that for years I had bled every day. I’d awake with blood on my pillow, my nose clogged with it, my bed soaked with sweat from night sweats. I would sleep on beach towels to absorb the sweat, changing them many times each nite) that morning there was no blood in my nose and my bed was dry. I thought... hmmm oh how interesting... I will continue.

This was the beginning. In the next two years I worked on my spleen (it was huge), rebuilt my body, continued my schooling and received my Masters in Oriental medicine (April 2010). Today I am well, whole, educated, and positioned to offer hope and help to all those who are willing to any length  to find their healing. Considering my quest, what I was willing to endure, I have little patience for those who whine and cry, saying "I don’t like to eat that, do this".  Fuck them! Let them die (he says with a Buddha’s compassion) I say this for "it's up to us what will happen," personal responsibility is of the utmost importance. Too many people want things to be done "for them," few are willing to do for themselves..

So that’s a thumbnail of what I did. The particulars will take a book, which btw is in the works... All is well dear ones. All is well. So be it...

Smiles... gabriel

energy soup

Energy soup... this soup, like a raw vegan gazpacho, is made from whatever you have that is good for you, raw, and hopefully organic...

The one in the jar was made from reguvelac, sprouts grown in soil, sprouts grown in air, greens,(kale) carrot, sea weed, spirulina, cilantro, bee pollen, goji berries, coconut oil and cayenne pepper to balance the yin/yang of it.

Raw greens are very cooling to the system, if you have a tendency to become damp (carry or put on weight easily, phlegm in lungs, lung problems, diarrhea, UTI's) or if you are cold (cold hands, feet, aversion to cold air and wind) or if you live in a damp/cold climate, always put something warming into your smoothies/energy soups salads, etc. and NO ICE CREAM FOR YOU!

Click on this text to find more information about energy soups and many other good things - please visit...

Dirty Hands, Frightened Minds

This little note was in response to a FB post what asked... Why don’t waiters wash their hand, change their gloves, etc?

So I went off.. Surprise ha? Hee hee.......

An aside... I was at Whole Foods the other day (another place I’m really not happy with) while checking out I looked down to watch the young man scanning my food, he pick a piece of my fruit and suddenly I noticed both his hands and arms where covered with open sores. YIKES!

I was shocked and disgusted, but in kindness to the lad I didn't say a word, but instead found the manager and mentioned the condition of the boy. He looked at me like "what's your problem" I said “do you think it's proper for this boy to be handing food?” to which he shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't have time to examine all my cashiers.”

I washed my fruit well... What that said, let me carry on...

Like everything else that has to do with business and mind there are problems that need be addressed... good luck...

First one must have the mind to do things correctly; this means being educated to what that is and to have the intention to do what your education has taught you...

Next business... I'm getting to really dislike that word, for in business one often loses (if they ever had one) their integrity and positive intention as the strain of making money, keeping it, growing it and keeping up with all this world has convinced us is necessary for happiness. The weight of this load often bends the backs of even the best of us. If it costs a penny, they would spend it, if it takes a moment, they won’t take it... It is the manifestation of greed and fear... a nasty combination...

I know, I know, there are a few who are not in this box.. Sorry for the box, but look around, where do you find truth, integrity, good service or product. Capitalism is a killer... Mindless living steals from both the participant and all those within reach of their energy field...

big smiles...

Is this world for sale.. and if so, who owns it?

Is there really a mine and yours?

This note is in response to what I daily see and hear all around me. The now long embedded idea that this earth, this universe is for sale to the highest bidder. We already have companies offering trips into space; soon the moon will have Hilton hotels, casinos, etc., then mars, then??? Who gave anyone permission or the idea that they own or can own any of this?

If we do not control our lusts there will be nothing left for generations to come... This lust to own is a manifestation of the sense of entitlement many have, thinking that the world is theirs to buy and own if they have the money to do so...

This idea that having “made it” entities us to take, own, destroy or horde is the manifestation of a sociality, a world soo caught up in “mine mine mine” that there is no room for the rest of us... At this moment there is an antique car action going on, selling cars I personally have purchased in my youth for pennies, now for hundreds of thousands of dollars... meanwhile millions suffer, but these “made ones” only seek to satisfy their lusts.... Oh yes some of them give, but only under the advice of their accountants who help them steal from all of us by playing with the tax laws...

No one should own a tree, a piece of property, a drop of the ocean or a star in the sky, these are all community property. The desire to own will soon blow up in all of our faces as these things become more and more hard to own, as these items literally “run out”... Sorry to say, but human beings will not put up with this, they will rebel. Those on their estates will not have enough money to protect themselves from the thousands who will be at their door demanding their piece of the pie. This is what is on the horizon... wake up folks... Revolution is just around the corner...

And btw:... this same scenario will play itself out as sick people will also show up at doctors’ offices and hospitals with guns demanding their sick and dying loved ones receive the care they need/deserve. People... where is your compassion?

Sorry my friends, but if someone doesn’t yell fire all of our asses will soon burn... Be well...gi

What disturbs you?

Peace...

Hello my friends... I’m soon to leave, but a sweet friend reminded me of all those who enjoy my words and offered the topic “attaining peace.” Oh not too big a topic ha? It's ok, I’ll offer my opinion and all will do with it as they please...

Peace, what is peace? For me it is attaining balance, for where balance is achieved many of the items that disturb our peace will have been dealt with... but it’s a bit more difficult than words lead us to believe, for peace of mind is the cornerstone to peace in general, for we may have all the practical, physical things all in order yet still be disturbed, very disturbed.

So what causes these disturbances? I have come to the conclusion it is our perpetual evaluation of all that surrounds us and our equally perpetual dissatisfaction with what has arisen, the things we call our lives. So how do we change this?

First we need to take a close look at what we desire in order acheive satisfaction. let me ask "what will satisfy you?" Next look at that list to see if what is listed are items that truly satisfy; are substantial and lasting, or are we placing our hopes and expectations on shifting sand? (best to not expect anything, just live)

The next item is our mind, the state of it and our clear view of what it is viewing and what these views generate in our mind. This is best done via a simple mediation offered to lessen the reactiveness of our minds, this reactive state is what keeps us unhappy, disturbed, for things we don’t like, have aversion to, are all a part of the stream of consciences that passes each of our noses every moment of the day.

This is a general idea of what to do. While sitting watching these arisings, we let them pass without evaluation, by doing so we find we need not follow every leaf that floats down the stream, just see them, recognize their appearance, and let them pass. This practice builds the ability to walk, drive, sit, play or make love in the moment, no projecting, no evaluating, just living, in this moment, this slice of life, knowing all is well.

If we are breathing well, are without pain, then all is well, even if we are not, seeing these so called negative things clearly, accepting their existence, and as such, the way things are, offer us peace... try it..

If you or your group desires instruction in mind training I offer a secular version of a combination of both Japanese and Tibetan Buddhist strategies for working with mind, finding peace, knowing one self... If you’d like me to speak to your group, offer instruction, etc. I am available based on an hourly rate + expenses... I also offer private instruction.

subtlethings@bellsouth.net

http://www.subtlethings.com

http://changeyourmindchangeyourbody.blogspot.com/

Time Well Spent

Let's trust ourselves... Be brave.

Hello my friends...  I'm a practicing Buddhist. One who is open to hearing from many sources. While practicing I've been exposed to practitioners of all sorts, seeking knowledge they studying the dharma, meditate and consult with their teachers and "space". The are those who study little, instead perpetually dive off the springboard of the foundational truth “space is information” believing there is no need to learn what others know, that it is best to learn for oneself though communicating with "space" on ones pillow (in meditation).

Now it is said, all is empty, everything composite is illusion and that we live and swim in an impermanent soup of perception composed of a composite of all things manifest, a soup which has no reality in itself demostrated by the fact it does not last, falls away the instant it has manifest, and as such is unreal. Also unreliable in the next moment. 

This is all good, but to what end is this information to be used, and how much of it is needed in order to live this life well and to do the work of a Buddha; an awake compassionate human being?

To think too much about something which has no fundamental reality (if you believe it is so) is a waste of our precious lives, time better spent living the life of a bodhisattva (a compassionate being whose intentions and actions are aimed at relieving suffering, that of their own and others) for to know and not do has little worth, and to do without knowledge will bring little positive results. We need to find balance.

So who can answer this question of balance? Well certainly not me for you, instead we all have this responsibility to find balance between compassion and wisdom, doing and knowing, and the time spent in these activities, for our lives are short, our time precious, and the needs to be met great.

I encourage all who are “on their way” to use their minds, to not be like lemmings who jump to their death following what’s in front of their nose whether it be true or not because of their fear of not knowing, or possibly “doing it wrong.” My friends once you have found your way to the silence found in communing with space trust in what arises before you, be fearless in your actions, and do good.

This way of living will never betray you, for all gurus, lamas and roshis know they have received from the source of all knowledge and would point you there. Run from any who would point to themselves. Go there today and harvest your bounty. Eat it and give it away in a loving hug to all sentient beings...

Warm smiles...gi

http://www.subtlethings.com/

Capitalism in the name of "prosperity"

Does money equal prosperity?

I opened my facebook this morning and came upon a post from a new friend who seems to me to be walking a thin line between compassion and wisdom. She seems to have a big heart, wants to help, but like most is still caught up in, will not to let go of, the western ideal of prosperity; something that in my opinion needs be dumped, jettisoned into space once and for all...

Below you'll find my rant concerning the "Women Prosperity Network" a group who in my opinion just uses the very portion of our society who have been out of the "prosperity" loop, and so has been recognised by these organizers as prime for the picking...

Ok here we go................

I wish they had found a better name for the group "Prosperity"... creeps use it, capitalists use it, “name it and claim it” Christians use it, those with their eyes on money money use it, but the thing, the item of life of humanity that truly needs/requires prosperity continues to be poor, lives in poverty, this being ones clear view of who they are, the nature of mind, and reality of what life is about.. No it’s not that every woman deserves a new Lexus, trips to their favorite retreat and more shoes than their closet can hold... Oh and face lifts, boob jobs and lipo to suck out the rich foods their new "prosperity" has offered their prosperous lifestyles (and bodies)...

When does this end? When will we jump off this cyclic round and round nonsense many call life and stop, sit, and listen long enough to see clearly?

Even the very organization that was brought into being to "help" women (was it?) is just one more capitalists move to make a few wealthy and to leave the rest wonder "what happened?"

Wake up!!!!

You know I love u just means you've learned to play the game, the very game that has destroyed this world, killing multiple millions for the sake of stuff and ego...

I’m sitting here writing this at the end of a five year quest to become a DOM, still not done. As I look at my possibilities, at my fellow students' plans, ideas of why they're doing what they’re doing, and what I see are people seeing this education as a way to cash in… Their conversations are about over billing insurance companies, turning over treatment rooms to bill the amount maximum clients per day, selling procedures, some not soo necessary, products, some not so effective, etc etc etc... just to make money. I’m sick to my stomach…

Perhaps my view differs because unlike many I have been in the place of being told “you’re dying” not having the money some required to receive (buy) so-called treatment, of being used, cut, drilled into, just because these were "billable items" and then told "no hope, go home and die"….

This experince has made me promise to never use another’s’ suffering to fill my pockets... If I do... Shame on me… I refuse to; refuse to even if I must continue my modest life, even if I have to bail out of this social structure, opt out of this life “as it is” in this moment…

Smiles.... gi

http://www.subtlethings.com/