Green Tara

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva had immense compassion for other living beings. Although he strove ceaselessly to help other beings, he felt great sorrow that so many beings continued to fall helplessly into the lower realms of existence such as the hells. He saw that very few beings were making progress on the path to enlightenment.

In utter despair, out of unbearable compassion, Avalokiteshvara cried in anguish, praying that it would be better that his body be broken into pieces and he die, since he was unable to fulfill his task of rescuing living beings from suffering. From his tears of compassion, the goddess Tara arose.

- His Holiness Chogye Trichen Rinpoche

Yesterday's session done solo

Dr. Fetterman said, You have these difficult stories that don't resolve; you could question your expectations, you could resolve them.

The situation may never get better and it will probably get worse. We can't know in advance. I've thought about that many times but I have never applied it to myself as I did yesterday. I could set aside this unreasonable hope, this wrestling with the future. It is a feeling of relief, physical lightness. A feeling of healing grief.

I have not gotten anywhere, I have not accomplished anything...

I parked the car next to the row of trees. I picked up my book from the passenger seat. Opened the door, straightened up as I straightened my jacket, zipped it against the morning cold air. I blipped the locks and did my memorizing routine on the parking stall number: 1401 -- I need to plug that in to the machine inside the paid area of the Lafayette BART station to keep from getting a parking ticket. As I started to walk away, I looked back again to see the stall number: 1401 -- part of my routine. When I get 1/2 way to the station something I notice always triggers a reminder to think again of the number (1401), also part of my routine. As I began to walk away through the maze of cars I thought, "What time is it?", and instantly saw in my mind my Blackberry plugged into the charger on my desk back at home. I don't wear a watch, I use the Blackberry. Too late to go get it, I kept walking while an inventory of all the ways I'd need it today strolled through my thoughts.

(Professional Advice)

Grief, fear and despair

(Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

A riveting photograph. It stopped me in mid-click. From the New York Times on-line... at this moment...

Years of Strife Scar Young Palestinians

By STEVEN ERLANGER

Parents fear that an atmosphere of despair has destroyed their children’s sense of hope.

Leaving sounds

Much quiet now as the work-day ends. Loud, easily heard voices slightly down the hallway, seem isolated in the suite space. "Yes, sir!", strange to hear, must be a visiting consultant. Throat clearing, cell phone jingle rings once, modest call of another's name; indications there are people seated in the silence. Digital clock ticks by blinking colon (e.g., 4:59).

Time to go.