Good, Good, Good Vibrations

One of the foundations of Buddhist thought is the concept of the five precepts.  Basically, respect life in all forms; don't steal; don't talk shit behind people's backs; don't misbehave sexually; and don't use mind-altering substances.  The last one made me laugh a little bit.  My immediate thought is "Leave me alone - I'm not hurting anyone else" but the Buddhist reasoning is that it's best to avoid anything that can cause carelessness or loss of awareness.  It is funny how important it is to be present to be connected to this philosophy.  No running away.  No pretending that this or that is something else.  No hiding my head in the sand or up my ass.

Here's a reminder from Jack Kornfield: "The basic precepts are not passive.  At first, they are a practice.  Then they become a necessity, and finally they become a joy.  When our heart is awakened, they spontaneously illuminate our way in the  world.  This is called Shining Virtue.  The light around someone who speaks truth, who consistently acts with compassion for all, even in great difficulty, is visible all around them."

This really rings true to me.  I can definitely feel a good energy when I'm around people who are spiritually centered.   Many years ago I was chatting with a man who was going to do some work on my car.  I had just come from a meeting and was being me, Little Stevie Seaweed, in all my random, tarnished glory.  I can't recall if I was feeling especially good or bad or anything unusual at all.  I was being present.  I was conscious.  I was aware of the presence of another person, more so than a self-awareness of my flawed being.  At one point he stopped mid-sentence and said: "Man, I feel energized talking to you."  The memory of this brief episode has really stuck with me, a reminder that when I'm doing well people can sense this as they can also feel a heavy, negative, dark stench wafting skyward when someone I'm being dickish.  It's real, this stuff.