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asbury park, nj

I remember the fun so many of us had at Asbury Park, NJ when it was in its prime. On many weekends a lot of people would gather in cars, – in those days there were no seat belts, no real crowding on the roads, and no one to stop the driver of a car for having too many people in it. So, off we went from Manhattan, eager to taste the ocean air, dance, walk on the sand, enjoy the merriment of the environment, visit the fun house, and feast our eyes on the sturdy and well-designed whimsical buildings beckoning to us to enjoy what was inside. Once for $3 a woman read my palm, and years later when she suddenly came to mind, I had to salute her accuracy.

Then life got very busy, and for many years I temporarily forgot about Asbury Park, NJ. And so, one day on my way to somewhere else, I passed this once delightful place that had brought so much innocent entertainment and enjoyment to so many, and thought, “What happened to you dear friend? What a haggard look you’re wearing. Doesn’t anyone love you anymore? How undignified and unnecessary for you to be left this way.”

Now recently on a visit to somewhere else, I had a chance to glimpse an Asbury Park, NJ edging toward new life. And I whispered to it, “Hooray for you, Asbury Park!” And so, once again people care, and it shows. Its boardwalk is seeing a wonderful selection of speciality restaurants, a few stands that smack of organic and nutrition, a bakery that has its customers coming back again and again, and a small seafood place next door that does the same, there are hat shops, courses in pottery and glass making, galleries, entertainment, a most creative water playground for children, – yes, all that and more. There are condos being built and people moving in, and the town is in the process of becoming what the people moving in and those opening businesses want it to be. Lots of creativity happening.

Hooray for you, Asbury Park!

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bill moyers and huston smith

In 2004, Bill Moyers and Huston Smith sat together for a PBS Special to talk about “. . . the world’s enduring religions” – Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Five DVDs titled The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith comprise their dialogue. Huston Smith is a scholar who has devoted his life to studying, and participating in the religions he speaks about, and which he has traveled extensively to study. He is ninety years old; his eyes suggest he is much younger. He’s taught at MIT, Syracuse University and UC Berkeley. Bill Moyers was once a seminarian; his interest in religions was obvious as he carefully listened to Huston Smith, and asked questions of him that often produced exquisite answers. And I listened just as carefully to the dialogue between these two men, rewinding at times to catch a missed word. For me, some long-unanswered questions were answered – not only answered as in, “I understand, that was interesting.” but in, “I’ve never understood that until now, and those words have reached a deep level somewhere in my being.”

Spending a few evenings listening to Bill Moyers and Huston Smith speak about the ever-fascinating subject of religion is a superb treat.

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www.hustonsmith.net
www.pbs.org/now

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four websites, a movie, and a book

Four websites:
www.gratidudes.com

www.share-international.org

www.naturalnews.com

www.swamikriyananda.org

A movie:
THE KITE RUNNER –
“Surely one of THE GREATEST FILMS you are ever going to see!” -Jeffrey Lyons
“This is a MAGNIFICENT film!” -Roger Ebert

And a book:
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda –
“I keep stacks of Autobiography of a Yogi around the house, and I give it out constantly to people. When people need ‘regrooving,’ I say read this, because it cuts to the heart of every religion.” -George Harrison

“This book. . . .inspired me to change my diet, meditate, and pay attention to my spiritual well-being. Autobiography of a Yogi is a modern classic that also happens to be a terrific read-one of my very favorite books.” -Andrew Weil, M.D., author and pioneer in holistic medicine

“This book is a must-read for the budding yogi, the spiritual veteran looking for a deeper understanding, and everyone in between.” -Yogi Times

“A profound introduction to yoga and meditation.” -Odyssey, South Africa

“If we had a man like Paramahansa Yogananda in the United Nations today, probably the world would be a better place than it is.” -Ambasador of India B.R. Sen, in a eulogy at Yogananda’s funeral

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just pondering

If you could, what would you change in the world on a large scale? If you were up to the challenge, what would your heart tell you?

I think about the people whose focus is to uplift society, and the meager money and attention they get. And I think about those who manage to dumb down society by attempting to pull its people into being unquestioning, and untiring and devoted spectators, completely engrossed in nonsensical things while they with their dumb-down ideas accumulate big bucks. This seems to happen in just about any serious problem facing society – poverty, disease, crime, pollution. etc. Nature, however, suggests that the alternative could be wildly and magnificently different.

During lazy moments, or after reading an article that revs up the intellect, I ponder the many different turns available to a society at any given time in its history. There are the people having an idea for change, and there are “the leaders,” and then those having a say in the matter either wanting or not wanting change (sometimes to the detriment of society, and the betterment of themselves). And lastly, there are those having the energy required to execute the change, or to stop it. And little by little, a society flourishes by those who uplift it, or is tainted by those seeking money and/or power. And what could be simple becomes overwhelming complicated.

That said, I smell change in the air – ready and waiting.

www.takepart.com

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on death

Last month I watched the movie “How to Know God” by Deepak Chopra. Actually, I watched it twice, or perhaps it was three times. And I picked up another movie “Experiencing the Soul” Before Life, During Life, and After Death, in which those who are devoting their lives to understanding other aspects of life are interviewed.

At Border’s I found a book titled “The Open Road THE GLOBAL JOURNEY OF THE FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA” by Pico Iyer. On its cover is written: “An intimate portrait. . . . Without ever losing compassion or respect for his subject, Iyer peels away layer after layer of illusion, revealing critical truths about this man at every possible level.” -Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. The Dalai Lama was a friend of the writer’s father. I think I’ll read it more than once, not because it’s complicated, but because I want to experience reading the words again. The Dalai Lama wakes at 3am every morning to meditate for four hours. I’ve read a few times that he’s preparing himself for death. He’s also living a very full life.

Every so often I read the words “preparing for death” and it seems a very good way to live life. We prepare for many things, and since death goes hand-in-hand with us while we’re alive, it makes sense for us to get into the habit of preparing for it. Should we die tomorrow, or not for many decades, we’ll be comfortable with the thought of death. I’ve been at the bedside of people who’ve died peacefully, and with one who fought it tooth and nail. Peaceful looked right.

Michael Jackson’s death was a surprise to his family and his fans. I hope it wasn’t a surprise to him, and that his spirit is now peacefully of its journey. It’s quite obvious that his talent touched many lives in an extraordinary way.

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“When I die I will soar with the angels, and, when I die to the angels, what I shall become you cannot imagine.” – Rumi