knowing

Do not believe what you have heard.
Do not believe in tradition because it is handed down many generations.
Do not believe in anything that has been spoken of many times.
Do not believe because the written statements come from some old sage.
Do not believe in conjecture.
Do not believe in authority or teachers or elders.
But after careful observation and analysis, when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it.

~Buddha


2 DAYS AGO I RECEIVED MY 1ST CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

In addition to the $50 dollar bill inside the card from my dad and stepmom, Bonita, they also gave me a pair of books. The Circle, which I'd never heard of, was described by Bonita as "kind of like The Secret...but with a twist on all that stuff." The other gift, however, was a book I was familiar with. I'd seen Dr. Wayne Dyer discussing Wisdom of the Ages: 60 Days to Enlightenment during a PBS pledge drive several months ago. Then I actually started reading the book (but only the prologue) back in August, when it was sitting on the nightstand at the place in LA where I was housesitting.

I'm loving this gift.

Every day features a different theme to ponder, with the discussion being kicked off by a quote or passage from some great thinker through the ages. On Day 1 it was "Meditation," with quotes from Pascal and Pythagoras. Yesterday, Day 2, featured the aforementioned passage from Buddha heading the essay on "Knowing." Today's chapter on "Leadership" began with a great passage from Lao-Tzu.

In the days and weeks to follow I'll share with you my perspective on these themes and just how I'm reacting to reading this book. Will I be "enlightened" after 60 days? When I described the book to Tamale—who's in Seattle until Thursday—I half-jokingly said it was 'the Power 90 of spirituality."

As of Day 3 I like how it's making me think. It's got me asking tough questions. It has me analyzing and reflecting on whether I've been inadvertantly following the advice of some very wise humans.

That's why I chose to share this passage with you today. I'm on Day 2 and I'm already reading something that resonates deeply with me. When Buddha talks about not believing in authority or conjecture or—just about anything, really—unless "after careful observation and analysis, when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it"...I feel like I get all of that.

And if I'm not living it on an hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute basis—well, I'm certainly trying. And I feel like I'm succeeding a good deal of the time, too.

But there is still much work to be done. Or maybe "work" is the wrong choice of words. Growing. Evolving. Blossoming. Creating. Call it what you will. All I know is, it's happening.

And it is good.

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Up next time: I'll explain who the people in today's photo are. There are some crazy stories swirling around my comrade, Bug-Z, the cherubic New Yorker at the far end of the couch on Tamale's balcony. You'll want to hear this. (I'm driving up to Beverly Hills tomorrow to screen Bug-Z's baseball documentary for a pair of agents at a top talent agency. Wish me luck...if you believe in that sort of thing.)

And remember, only 13 more days left in 2007. Savor the moments, people!

Oh, and only 57 more days until I'm "enlightened."

Woo-hoo!

Do enlightened people say things like "Woo-hoo?"