Amazing it is Sunday already. Shifu was just saying how times flies these days. Today was the last day of the White Elephant sale. I planned on going. I had a couple of small things I hoped for and nothing else in mind.

The place where the sale is being held is just a few blocks from my cousin. In fact I go by it every time I go to pick her up for “Zen practice” . That was in fact the big plan for today was to go to Zen session. I had not been in awhile. I guess the formal name is my Shanga, ( hmmmaybe that is not right, whatever ). Lady Z was sick last time so I stayed with her. It is more important for me to be consistent daily at home, more than if I go to Shanga. Also for now I will be cutting it down to once a month with the change of working status coming.  Anyway moving on…

I dropped by the White Elephant sale, there were not as many people as years before, so I thought. There where however a lot still coming in as I was leaving. So maybe they, the masses start later or grow over time on the last day. I walked right through the lines as they started to break down the ropes for the opening of the day. It was my smoothest entry yet. Sweet.

I make my planned rounds , only to find nothing I was looking for was left or there. I was very tempted to buy a wetsuit, but figured I could wait until I was sure of the size.  It was 25.00 bucks, if it was 10.00 I would have goen for it. It seemed a bit too small to risk the chance today. Even if I was not overdress for the weather which I was, the weather was great. Still I would not have been able to try it on to test the size. I had this feeling of fighting the force by buying it, so I passed. The only place I did not pass up on a purchase was the book dept. Books go for 4.00 a bag full on the last day. You buy a bag, pay $4.00 and fill it up with whatever you like. Sweet Deal! As a book lover I can not pass up such a deal. I got a few sailing books, for me. Some Japanese novels & Zen Philosophy for lady Z, plus some others fir me, about 25 books for $4.00 nice! After reading the disposable ones will go to a used book store and purchased or recycled. ( reuse, recycle , reduce) Nice desho?!

Next stop is over to get my Cuz, then we drive down to the Zen meeting in Fremont. We were attending the advance session this time. With the change of days and times, this was our best choice. The advance classes are longer. Longer sitting time, one legs and spirit must be up for challenge. The knees are really the only hard part about doing it, 30 min , 40 min. Getting into a comfortable spot and being able to be relaxed yet focus, Body, Chakras, Spirit in alignment, like Kyudo, like doing Tai Chi  or Yoga.

We arrived in prefect time. The beginner session is just finished.

Today they had a movie done by the Shifu in Taiwan, part of his lecture series. Today was about sitting, and being centered. Also about not doing Spirit harmimg practices like letting yourself be possessed by negative force or spirit to gain power. Channeling spirits. This we were told is done in Taiwan by some to who seek enlightenment via some unknown being the key word spirit. Shifu said, we do not need to go to any outside source for spiritual power or enlightenment, or open ourselves up to he chance of Negative power. We have it , enlightenment, spiritual power already with in us. We just need to tap into it.

One can put it another way, God is within us all. All we need to do is turn to that living part of us. God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Buddha, Allah, the Great Spirit there is true power.

This in turn after the 30 min. meditation lead to another discussion about, Chi, Spiritual energy, positive and negative. How we take on energy whenever we are out and exposed to other people. The good and the bad chi. How even not doing anything, just living a life of compassion adds good chi to the environment . However like the dust that gathers on us during the day, we need to wash off our spirit by meditation daily, to help rid us of negative chi. Meditation is a shower for our spirit. I have heard that before…

The interesting thing about Meditation is it can be many things. Prayer, worship, celebration, centering, relinking. Depends on where your heart and mind are… I feel like I’ve been to church today. hmmmmm
I doubt if me Mum would see it that way, but that’s another story.