Living from the heart

“People are strange. They are constantly angered by trivial things, but on a major matter like totally wasting their lives, they hardly seem to notice.” – Charles Bukowski, Author

Penny licking out the pudding cup on my bed. 
She never wasted one minute of her beautiful life which she lived completely from her heart.

Bukowski saw life as it is and yet lived deep from his soul I think, letting everything pass through his heart. Most people are afraid to let everything pass through their heart. It hurts too much. And most people are afraid of pain, afraid it has more power than the heart, which is, of course, a lie.

Back in Los Angeles

Hello Dear Students, I am back in California, with reliable internet service once again. So you shall be seeing more of me here perhaps. The sky was dark and cloudy this evening but only a few raindrops have fallen so far. I even cancelled my walk because the sky looked like thunderstorms! I for one am happy to be back in Your Open Classroom, to feel connected again to each of you in this very special way.

As you all know, my little dog, Penny, disappeared. I can only assume she has passed on, since I don't think she could survive without me--she needed very specialized care that only I knew how to give her, and she would not have survived this last year, had I not been taking  special care of her. I miss her greatly and keep forgetting that she is not here, in CA, where she grew up with me, grew old. I have loved and love her so deeply and always will. She was a great Teacher, a great Friend, a great Companion on the Way. She is still with me in my heart and always will be. Life is very different without my sweet Penny.

Keep in mind there will be an angel seminar here in Altadena, CA in June. There will be a reduced fee for students of the school. Thank each of you who offered special prayers for Penny, for your cards, and kindness.

Why Do We Shout In Anger?

-Anonymous (probably a dog wrote it. Dogs really don't like shouting)

A saint who was once visiting a river to take a bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples, smiled and asked.

'Why do people in anger shout at each other?'

The disciples thought for a while, then one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner,' asked the saint.

The disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples. 

Finally the saint explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they need not even whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said, 'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.'

Unhappiness

When you are unhappy, inquire: Why? Why am I unhappy? You do not have to accept your unhappiness like the color of your eyes.

Penny Yawning

Lessons my dog is teaching me

Penelope Sparks Parsons aka Penny

My little dog, Penny, is growing older everyday. Dogs have such short lives compared to us. It seems just yesterday she was jumping into my lap, and now she can't jump at all. She needs extra tender love and care. She needs me to be gentle and understanding since she can't hear so well or move so well. If I hold onto the past when she was a coppery shiny penny of energy, I will only be sad. I must see her as she is today. I must accept her as she is today. Then today is just fine. I let her be as she is. I take her for walks and carry her most of the way. I let her run through the grass when she can. Everything in life changes. Which is why we must learn to live in Eternity. The arms of True Love are always open to hold us. Just be willing to be held, to let go, to surrender, into the arms of True Love. For sure, Penny teaches me about true love. All she has ever known how to do, her whole life long, is to love and be loved. She is an expert at love. I love little Penny. She's my little angel dog.