Wild but not angry.
Back home grazing on the plains.
He looks friendly.
There once was a wild buffalo that roamed the muddy swamp lands of the young mind.
Rice field in Thailand.
Things must change the swamp was drained the ox was tamed. It was a savage youthful game the picador, matador or bull, one must meet disaster. Death was flaunted in those adventurous, hectic years of joy and tears.
This is not a bullfight.
Let us not forget those naïve years and judge unfairly the youth of today. To tame the bull takes calm and patient contemplation. In time with practice a state of peace and contentment can be achieved. The ox is free from yoke and harness to roam the fertile grassland of the mind. It is now tamed and does not stray as in those stressful, boisterous party years.
An attractive flower.
Life is a challenging jungle to adventurer in, full of wonderful exotic things to tempt us from the virtuous safe path. To become the prey of some greedy hateful thing and be devoured by the beast of ignorance.
Lunch time on the Adelaide River.
Carried away by the turbulent flow of life we desire the flowers blooming on the roadside. These flowers never last they wither fade and die. We crave for more and are led astray into the danger zone. We can be aware that we are straying from the path this is not enough we must be mindful of the danger in these misadventures and return to focus on the destination.
Showing respect to the Buddha.
There are always wondrous temptations to distract the unmindful from the path that leads to the fertile grassy plain where true understanding resides and peace and contentment reigns. This is where the calm serene ox grazes.
Fertile land.
You may see this as bull but this is wisdom to the wise.
My favourite Buddhist quote.
Well, I never thought I would say this, but Pauline is lucky to have you. Mostly, though, I think how lucky anyone would be to have Pauline.
Asking Pauline would she like to dance with me. Then asking her out to dinner using my birthday as a persuasive tactic, I said.” Would like to go to a nice restraint with an acoustic guitarist, on Wednesday.” she hesitated “To celebrate the birthday.” I said to persuade her. “How did you know it was my birthday?” she wanted to know. So that was when we got lucky and it has been 33 of good fortune.
Cindy’s right, you’re an amazing couple.
Just read my reply to Cindy.
To add to that. We both had some previous practice.
😀
Thank you for this Jack – my mind really needs calming at the moment. It’s true there is temptation by the truck load out there these days and one certainly needs to be strong to resist.
will be popping back again to read some more of your interesting posts. I have to agree with the others – Pauline is a very lovely lady. Lucky too lol
Cathy
ps have seen feeding time on the Alligator River. Can those crocs jump 🙂
I agree Cathy, we all need truck loads of calming rather than temptations. Pauline is lovely I am lucky and yes you know how those crocks sure can jump and you probably saw those fisher men in their little tinnies, with two niches of freeboard. 🙂
Jack another post full of your wisdom gained through the years as we grow, learn and mature we can now appreciate the calm mind.. As we see the youth of today rushing around and clashing, and grasping the pleasures that youth affords.. For isn’t life an adventure and isn’t that how we learn and grow..
I agree so many distractions that now take a young and older 😉 mind out there .. Its not until we become a little wiser we see the calm space was always there.. We just forgot to access it..
Jack.. a delightful read.. and amazing photo’s.. Loved that you shared your thoughts and I am that bit older and wiser myself these days LOL.. and take myself off within much more often.. 🙂
Love and Blessings _/\_
Sue
It is wonderful Sue that we have become cyber friends. Sharing our thoughts and still learning from this communication._/\_
We are never too old to learn.. and I enjoy my lessons… _/\_
Self improvement lessons give us a noble aim in life. That is the key to joy. _/\_
Agreed my friend.. 🙂
Nice to read your observations, jack. Your glowing health and happy togetherness is an outcome of a well-lived life…cheers..,
Love your final line – thanks for this.
That line is an appropriate pun. Nice to know you noticed it and good of you to let me know.
Ah, desire! Bane of human existence! (But without it, would we have art? Time and place and all …) 😉 Aloha, Jack!
Where would we be without art, lost I think. There will always be a place for art, our gods are revered by mans art. It is mans feeble attempt to imitate natures perfection.
There is no one way in my opinion. there is the ‘Path’ and there is the ‘Way’.
Excessive desire wanting to possess impermanent fleeting things is the cause of suffering according to Buddha. The ‘Way’ of yin and yang is perfect balance. Words are an imperfect medium especially in clumsy hands.
Thank you Bela for your comment it is good to question any ambiguity. Even though I know you understand where I am coming from. _/\_
Jack, I think we understand one another pretty well, despite the physical distance. I do have a bit of the Trickster in me, so can’t help it leaking out once in awhile 😉
I love your words, and it is a pleasure to read them. Aloha
One of the nice things about WordPress is the like minded people we become friends with regardless of nationality or distance._/\_
It’s so true. I just read a eulogy, for lack of a better term, from an old college friend who lost a virtual friend recently. It was so eloquent and beautiful – perhaps the best sendoff that man could have received from anybody. We never know where we may discover treasure in our fellows. It’s a pleasure to ‘know’ you, Jack! 🙂