Author Archives: admin

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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Ethan took Moody and I to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on Monday night. It had been so long since I’d seen a show at the Palladium! Same old place; though either I’m getting older, or their sound man is getting deafer and speakers getting worse. Likely just that I’m getting old. Oh well. Second thought – that has to be it. Watched the first opening band whose name escapes me currently, they were pretty good. Then the Blood Brothers were on. They weren’t bad, but they really weren’t my thing. Way too much screaming. And seriously, someone needs to take the old Rolling Stones videos away from the singer. But, just my opinion.

Then the Yeah Yeah Yeahs came on. It was great. I’ve been saying it since I first heard them – Karen really reminds me of early Siouxsie. Good stage presence, similar moves, similar (at times) voice, above all else – an intensity like Siouxsie. (consider that a massive compliment, I LOVE Siouxsie… I even proposed to her over the phone once)

I really enjoyed the show. For me, Maps really stole the night. Karen began the song, then stopped the band because she felt that the acoustic version was really needed. (thank you Karen – that was seriously perfect.)

It was a lot of fun hanging out with Ethan and Moody too. We NEVER get to do that anymore.

Moving – Car (what a weekend)

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So it’s been quite a ride lately. Saturday I helped Ethan move his Grandparents from Victorville to Alhambra. It wasn’t a bad day. Very tiring, but overall, just not bad. His Grandparents are so nice how could a day of helping them possibly be a bad day.

Not to say it wasn’t a challenging day. ;) The morning started out quite funny. So Ethan had reserved a 26 ft. truck a few days before, nicely telling the person on the phone that we’d intended to drive about 200-300 miles. Well, we got there, and after waiting for around 20-30 minutes for the sadly understaffed worker to help us, she let us know that though she did have the truck, she just couldn’t let us drive it that far due to a radiator issue. Though irritating at the time, in hindsight we agreed that at least she was nice enough to tell us this, rather than let us load up the thing and wait for it to break down, fully loaded (because you know that’s what would have happened) and then break down out in Timbuktoo. Once we got there it wasn’t bad. There’s some sick part of me that finds moving to be a fun challenge. Some say my love of Tetris really shows on moving day… hahhaa

Here’s the cherry on top though….. poor poor Ethan. We get the truck and van (forgot to mention, talked the nice person at the rental place into throwing in a van completely free. You know, if you tell places how they can resolve your issue, they typically will listen ;) ) all loaded up with stuff and drove to the destination. Get there and it’s a somewhat busy street. Then it happens. I’m sitting there in the van, behind Ethan in the truck, and I start to yell NO ETHAN NO ETHAN ohhhhh crap. Yep, you guessed it – the family van that needed to be right in the way of a massive truck being parallel parked is now missing some of it’s original shape, paint, and one headlight. :( They were nice when Ethan went to talk to them though, so that even turned out better than it could have.

So, got home around 1:30AM. Very tired. Then of course Little Man wakes me up at 7AM. We played trains :)

Then Sunday; we’re driving to temple for my BLIA meeting, then planned to head over to Disneyland for the Jedi Training show at Tomorrowland, and the lovely car decides to lose power. Long story short, it’s now at the dealer and they are fixing electrical and transmission problems. Word of advice everyone – the extended warranty they try to sell you with a new car —- ya, buy it!!! So happy I have it currently.

Well, you know what they say; chop wood, carry water.

Massive Attack

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Ethan and I went to see Massive Attack last night at the Hollywood Bowl. Simply put – it was completely amazing. Being able to finally see them was a treat in itself, but, to have them far exceed any expectation I would have had was the icing on the cake.

Liz Fraser was even there with them; whom I’ve loved for many years. The gift of seeing her perform in person was outstanding. Such a wondrous voice. Daddy G couldn’t make it though. When 3D came out to give that news I was a little bummed at first, but then he explained that Daddy G was on paternity leave! Ya!!! Best wishes to Daddy G, baby g, and family. :) Mr. Horace Andy also graced us with his presence! Oi what a night of music it was.

Everything they played sounded great. The full band behind them sounded spot on – perfect.

TV on the Radio opened – which made Ethan quite happy. He’s quite into them currently so I was happy he got to see them. And a band named Gang Gang Dance started off the night; wish I got to hear more of them – interesting sound as well.

Hollywood Bowl is weird. Frigin weird. Everyone is allowed to bring in picnic baskets. (wish we knew this before) You’d think I had been there before, but nope, I’ll know for next time. Here’s the weirdest part; not only do they allow people to bring in alcohol, they sell full glass bottles of wine and allow people to bring them back to their seats. WTH? Not that it matters since I don’t drink, but that just struck me as strange.

paper bags…

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So yesterday we went to Fashion (fascist) Island to see the nifty playhouses they currently have on display. I like the fact that all proceeds will be donated to charity. As cool as they are, they defeat the purpose of a playhouse in my mind, but, that’s a while different discussion. They are definitely nifty though.

The other day, Dawn brought home some dark chocolate made with chili for me to try. It was amazingly good. The store she got it from is at Fascist Island so we decided to get more while we were there. Went in, nicely done store and very nice people working there. Dawn bought the chocolate and we went outside. Low and behold, they had taken the chocolate bar (normal size mind you) – wrapped it in tissue paper – and placed it inside a gift bag. Now, I can understand that presentation means something in the consumer world; hell – I admittedly walk into the Apple Store and eat it with a spoon. That I get. But, seriously people, this is a dang chocolate bar! Does it really need all this waste? I’m quite bothered by this. Do we really need to have our chocolate wrapped in 42 times as much waste paper as necessary? Isn’t the the cleverly designed wrapper enough?

Ok, I’ll stop the rant. It is insanely great chocolate BTW…

Magazine update

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So I’ve slowly become a little more comfortable with the Joomla! software. It’s a but un-intuative, but when you just sit and hack away at it, things seems to fall into place. Guess that’s not too far off from most software packages though. (expect the mac,, it does most everything as you’d expect it to; maybe I’m a little biased though. haha) I am quiet excited about the magazine website though – it’s going to be such a rewarding thing to do. I don’t ever expect recognition for this – I don’t need any – so not what it’s about. I do however, hope that the website becomes a tool for more people to get familiar with Hsi Lai Temple, and the Dharma. Even if only a few people – that would make it all worth it.

If I hadn’t posted it before, our URL will be http://www.blmla.org – Buddha’s Light Magazine of Los Angeles.

What The Bleep Do We Know?!

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We had movie night at Hsi Lai tonight with our group. Such a good time. We watched ‘What the Bleep Do We Know’ – and I must say so appropriate after this week’s teachings with His Holiness. Then on do dinner at a great vegetarian Chinese place in 99 Ranch. (Yes, it was a little too good, I stuffed myself.. haha)

Start work again tomorrow…. betting my inbox is going to be insane…

HHDL – Day 3

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Well, yesterday was the final day of teachings, along with the initiation ceremony. It was amazing. Overall, I feel this deepened my Bodhisattva vows. A deeper commitment to the path of Awakening Mind. Something has already changed. Through right effort, right thought, I will continue on the path.

It was interesting, I’ve noticed my change already…. So I walked out yesterday for lunch break and heard yelling in front of the building. Come to see it, there were three men across the street holding up signs about how we should all read the bible and we’re going to hell. Before, I would have laughed at them,, and now I didn’t so much do that; I felt that they must be suffering with all that hate inside, to go out and just stand there to yell at people who they perceived as different from them. Hopefully they find peace in their minds.

The initiation and transmission was incredible. I can’t describe it here in words.

Afterwards, I was walking downstairs and just browsed into the bottom level of the auditorium. His Holiness was of course gone already, but the monastics were taking down the stage and giving out the flowers from each of the massive vessels on stage. I was fortunate enough to receive a yellow rose, and also bits of rice from the ceremony.

Today, Dawn took ‘the day off’. We all went to lunch with Matt, then she left to go see a movie, while he, Matt, and I went to the Apple store. Nice new iPods. The green one is especially nice looking. Then, Matt left so little man and I rode the ‘Giant Wheel’ at the Spectrum. He loved it, so of course I did as well. After that we came home so he could nap. Then, this evening we went and got him a fish for the tank he got for his birthday last Saturday. He got a red beta today. Ask him what the fish’s name is and his reply is: ‘his name’s fish’. so adorable.

HHDL – Day 2

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Today was yet another amazing day with His Holiness. This mornings teaching session was even quite intense. With each session though, I can honestly say I see changes in my own mind. My own way of thinking. (mind/own in the conventional sense of course ;) )

Bringing up mind and self; this is the essence of the teachings. The realization of no self – emptiness. Nagajuna’s commentary was written precisely for this; a deeper understanding.
The heart of Buddha’s teaching is really the combination, union, of compassion and understanding of emptiness.
The path that gets you there must be a form of this.
Method = cultivation of merit and collection of wisdom.
Great compassion is what makes the Buddha all that is good.
Highest level of conventional truth = compassion.
Ultimate truth – wisdom collection —- perfect view.
Truth about embodiment of truth and form
Through this one travels toward the attainment of Buddhahood.

Then we are on to the public talk over at Universal’s Gibson Amphitheater. The title of His Holiness’ talk was ‘Compassion – the source of happiness.’ My friend Fardous was going to meet me there, but was unable to due to family emergency. Quite unfortunate; I was happy that she would be able to see him. We can hope she’ll be able to next time.

Two things His Holiness said that really stuck in my mind today were:
This century should be the century of dialogue.
&
His real guru who taught him compassion was his mother.

Wow.

to be continued…