Sundays and Sunsets

Cherish here!

 Sundays are tough days for me. I feel distinctly at war with myself when the rest of the world makes its peace in churches and mosques and temples. I wonder why I wage a private war with myself and my maker. It leaves me unsatisfied and questioning everything. So today when the walls of the world closed in on me once again I picked up a card that had been given to me by a kindly Russian fellow at a poetry slam days ago.

In large words the card holds the mantra; Nam myoho renge kyo. I said them aloud and they felt good. They rolled off the tongue and I felt calm. Nam myoho renge kyo. The Lotus Sutra, considered by some to contain the Ultimate Truth of Buddhism. That everyone can become a Buddha, the potential rests within each of us to reach enlightenment. Diamoku is the practice of chanting the Lotus Sutra to find the Buddha in one's life.

The words had felt so right, so soothing a balm to my soul, that I looked deeper. And I'm not done looking. I checked out a copy of the Tibetan Book of Death and I've started reading it. I'm not sure so far how I feel about it all, but I keep thinking how good those words were. So I'll keep reading. And the card? I wasn't brave enough to call the man yet, but I think I will. Nam myoho renge kyo.

***

Also today I went on another family outing with Riley and his family. Prepare for another onslaught of photos, dear readers.

We went to Kayak Point and it was a lot more enjoyable than I expected it to be. And I learned yet another interesting fact about myself! Yesterday I learned I speak Komodo Dragon and today I discovered I am a fantastic bolo player! I was undefeated, ladies and gentlemen. I mean sure, I only played two games, but I destroyed those two games. I sent my competitors running away with their thoroughly whipped tails between their legs. And it was great.

It was beautiful out. Not too hot and not too cold. The sun was more photogenic than usual. We even brough the family dog with us. It was so nice. We had a picnic table under an awning and a blanket in the grass right on the edge of the beach. A perfect set up for reading deep religious texts. Well, except for the children and dogs. I didn't read for long. 

As the sun slowly descended, Riley's family and I played frisbee and bolo in our somewhat secluded field. I didn't expect to have nearly as good a time as I did. He has three younger siblings, and alternatingly strict and laidback parents. Usually I've a headache pretty quickly into our excursions, but this was fun, much more so than any other family trip I've been on with them.

After a wonderful summery barbeque, with delicious garden burgers and root beers out of the cooler, Riley and I took a walk along the beach, just the two of us. It was really nice. The sunset was the perfect back drop as we walked hand in hand down the rocky beach. 

Romantic and beautiful. In otherwords, perfect. It was a fantastic way to finish off the day. I'm so fortunate.

***

That leads us here, sitting with Riley on his couch, he's playing Pokemon Stadium on his Nintendo64, I'm next in the lineup. I've a mug of terrible flowery tea next to me and an english muffin with my name on it. I am content with things. I hope you are too. I'll head home soon and end the night with some more scriptures and a bedtime story from my wonderful boyfriend. Sleep well, readers.

Cherish out!