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06/05/2002 Archived Entry: "6/5/02 Rambling"

I am finding that writing daily, with regularity, to be harder than I had anticipated. Something is always coming up, such as travel, or project deadlines. There are now several different daily things that vie for precedence in my life, which, I am sure, is true for most people.

There is my morning practice, which, by God’s grace, I do not miss, but the quality of which can vary enormously. There is walking for an hour every day, which is essential to my health, and then there is writing every morning. Then of course, there is all the rest of life, the work I have chosen to do, family, community, various organizations, etc. In the past month, or so, I have been allowing myself to slack with respect to walking and writing every day, and have allowed the quality of my morning sadhana to sink to minimum levels of maintenance only. Sometimes, I think I allow myself to slack at this time of year because I know that the 3HO Summer Solstice gathering is just around the corner.

This is my major place of yearly renewal. In the early years, I would make no plans for after Summer Solstice, because I did not know who I would be at the end of the gathering, or what my new goals and aspirations would be. Now, that I am so well seasoned, having been attending for 32 years, the changes are not so life altering. But the renewal and regeneration is so compelling that I could not imagine not attending.

I do not think I will be able to write or take regular walks during the Solstice gathering, as my schedule there is too tight. I am in charge of morning sadhana, which begins at 3:45 AM, and the evening programs, which are supposed to end at 9 PM, but which frequently run until 10 PM. There is some free time in the morning, but that is when the Solstice staff meets, so for me there is almost no free time. Perhaps I will allow myself take a break from visiting with my computer, unless I feel compelled to record impressions or inspirations.

I just returned from driving to Santa Barbara with my son, Rishi, to visit Bernie Glassman, the founder of Peacemakers, to compare notes, to see how and where we might work with one another. He is quite an interesting man. We are the same age; both come from New York City, and from Eastern Europe Jewish families. He, however, began his Buddhist practice in 1958, when he was 19, whereas, for me, the door through which I could perceive the wisdom of the east did not open until I had completed my psychedelic experiences. It was given to him to enter practice and see the Dharma at very early age, and he has made good use of his time on that road. We will do various things together.

Meeting with him reminded me of a part of the work I want to do through Creating Our Future that has been falling through the cracks. It is essential to create community for our (excuse the repetition) community. That is, to create ways and places for people to come together to support and inspire one another. We must create a lifestyle that is so compelling that it attracts those able to perceive it, and we must do so quickly, as time is running out. May we find the ways and means to do so soon.