stumbled upon mental floss today
ripe to prevent ramrom decay
8th annual “10” issue
exfoliated latin tissue

i zeroed in on phrase number 9 gory
remember u must die – “memento mori”
fit to claim ramrom title glory
for it tells a good story

“u can interprete the phrase in two ways”
eat, drink, and party down faze or amaze
“or, less hedonistically, be good so u can get past the pearly gates
forgo temporal pleasures in favor of eternal bliss in heaven,” it grates
the phrase also served to prevent swelling heads
plebians whispering “memento mori” into roman soldiers’ ears
to keep their egos in check, ouch such sharp spears

humble stumble
human lives crumble
humans fumble
only way for life to rumble
is through the One that rose from death’s tumble
an easter mumble

because He lives, i can face tomorrow
because He lives, all fear is gone
because i know He holds the future
and life is worth the living
just because He lives

brr, drastic temperature drop today
so urge to dip in pool is kept at bay
that frees up time to blog
dots to connect and unclog
yesterday night
enjoyed chancel choir with musical might
highlight was blog title – hadyn’s “mass in time of distress”
along with mark hayes’ arrangements to de-stress
“little david play on your harp” imploring
ending with joshua’s jericho victory cresendoing

weekend entertainment was anne of green gables
a peninsula youth theater production in mt view performing arts stables
reminding me of my own youth
accepting unknowns and disappointments can actually soothe

bc recently shared quotes from “wild, witty, women”
poet nikki giovanni summoned
“we love because it’s the only true adventure”

and there are those who love Him because He first loved us
1 John 4:19

indeed franz haydn – a lovely missa in angustiis

Kyrie eleison..
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
misere nobis…dona nobis pacem

today marked 77th swim, since i began a battle of the bulge
averaging 0.7 minute a lap pace to enjoy and indulge
unwavering 70 laps per session goal i did keep
to-date a total of 77 miles to rip and reap
a reward of 7teen pounds less, the scale did beep

spring still vacillating between winter chill and summer heat
like world in turmoil, nature’s lost its beat
past 7 months’ gift of time flew at frenzy clip
spiked by 7 life blips, now reflecting to sip

first we were bereft when john suddenly left
then maryanne upon thanksgiving blew her last breath
that thanksgiving week, i cramped for CIA exams and passed
followed by jk’s pomp and circumstance, it came to pass
then mother got spared further suffering in feb
7-weeks (49-days) later end of march, a closure fab
topping as magnificent 7th – recent trip to vegas, fun moments to grab
friendships rekindled, good eats, jersey boys, phantom of opera, a 7th heaven wrap

matthew 7:7 comforting cue
ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you

john newman memorial – april 11, 2009

it seems like only yesterday
you diligently tended the garden from going astray
you kept the weeds at bay
can you prune our hedges too, by the way

since you went away
we miss the neighborly care you displayed
how you picked up our mail and garbage-can attendant play

you got us hooked on sudoku
with passionate gusto, you  kept on skiing and biking too
how you kept up with all these, we have no clue

farewell john, take eternal rest from labor
thanks for the fond memories to savor

life’s indeed a great buffet
now we can see you having a field day
having all the ice cream, literally a 7th heaven restful stay

source
no fooling when dealing with life after death
the plausible answer is different depending on your beliefs and faith
what is significance of prayers on 49th day after demise lurked
why google, to quench curiosity perked

first captivating hit was tibetan book of the dead “bardo thodol” video, a 45-minute clip
explaining view of what happens to one after life on earth flip’d
3-phase “bardo” representing 3 “liberation” chances, the soul energy could traverse
rooted in buddhist karmic principles terse
by recognizing the heavenly realms, we can attain nirvana pureland dew
instead of entering into the lower realms where the cycle of birth and rebirth continue

the 1st bardo comes at the very moment of death, entering the “clear light of the ultimate reality”
aka “whitelight” phase and first chance determination if one can be liberated eternally
if he can recognize signs of “supreme state” at the moment of death, he will attain liberation
alas, few make it to remain in the Clear Light forever – “dharmakaya” condition

the un-liberated will then descend into the 2nd bardo – two weeks of labyrinth romps
encountering deities of sorts – peaceful, knowledge-holding, wrathful demons – God in various forms
if his life on earth was well lived, he will now be in a state of purity and grace
entering into the joy of the God, attaining liberation, a heavenly place
if on the other hand he has lived an ignoble and impious life
the effects of his bad karma will launch him to next bardo, a 3rd degree liberation to strive

in the 3rd bardo, the soul encounters the Lord of death
a fearsome demonic deity appearing in smoke and fire, subjecting the soul to a judgment fate
if the dead person protests that he has done no evil
et voila, the Lord of death holds up before him the incriminating karma mirror

’tis wise to follow bardo thodol’s instructions
recognize the voidness of all these beings, mere mindplay projections
for in so doing, he can attain liberation
otherwise, the un-liberated soul will now be drawn toward rebirth, to his consternation

the lights of the 6 “lokas” will dawn again; into one of these worlds the soul must be born,
and the light of the one he is destined for, will more brightly than the others be shone
the still terrifed soul cowers, seeking shelter in what appear to be caves or hiding-places
but which are actually womb entrances
bardo thodol warns and urges him not to enter them birth trenches
if he un-attaches from worldly pleasures and meditates upon the Clear Light instead
it’s still possible to achieve the third degree of liberation and avoid rebirth stead

journeying through 3 bardos takes 49 days it seems
either enter cycle of laborious painful earthly life to “get it right” or eternal heaven gleams
now i have context for the 49-days prayer ritual, what it means

we received positive validation and vibes that pure heart got liberated, made it to pureland
from rental car being upgraded from hyundai, a toyota instead to land

then chuck got relieved from kaiser command center watch and enjoyed hotel room upgraded to suite
parking spot unbeknowst in front of burning of prayer scroll site and our last supper restaurant were super sweet

on morning before heading to airport, banking matters taken care of, sans plight
but thereafter, somehow we missed exit to airport to catch sfo flight
which created nice hurried confusion at counter, voila – our seats got promoted from near loo to first class delight
thank U, heavenly Lord for the mighty gracious oversight

source wiki

if we wish to die well
we must learn to live well
– a dalai lama wisdom swell

so pray tell
what do we make of heaven and hell?
for how doth a finite mind
understand the Infinite kind

thanks to chuck pointing me to basic buddhist tenets in poem form
from the last book of sir edwin arnold’s “the light of asia” –  a tidbit ramrom
source wiki
measure not with words the immeasurable
nor sink the string of thought into the fathomless
who asks doth err
who answers errs,  say nought!