Saturday, May 31, 2025

Parrots: Avoid fools, associate with wise

I had to get out of that situation. I'd rather fly alone than keep company with a fool.
25 funniest comics about parrots, illustrated by keeper of the birds herself (boredcomics.com)
Stay far away from fools, and instead associate with the wise
Avoiding fools and
Associating with the wise,
Giving respect to the deserving,
This is [among] life's highest blessings.

Sattigumba and Pupphaka
Asevanā ca bālānaṃ, paṇḍitānañca sevanā;
Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānaṃ
etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ.

Maṅgala Sutra
That's a good bird! - Thank you, sir.
These lines verses from the "Blessings Sutra" uttered by the Buddha who was asked, “What is life's highest blessing?” He spoke of 38 blessings. However, this first verse is perhaps the most important. We are smart to distinguish the fools from the wise.

The Commentary to this verse explains: Fools commit unskillful karma (demeritorious deeds of body, speech, and mind).

The wise create skillful karma (meritorious deeds of body, speech, and mind). The wise develop virtue (sila, morality, ethical conduct).

Lay Buddhists keep Five Precepts, Eight Precepts on fasting (lunar observance) days, and Ten Precepts on retreat or during intensive practice). Monastics vow to adhere to 227 Precepts, including eight more for females who follow the garudhammas.

When a wise person hears about or recollects the Five Precepts, or a wise monastic hears about or calls to mind the 227 Precepts, that person becomes happy.

When one hears of the unskillful karma created by breaking precepts, one becomes happy because of not having broken those precepts and knowing that bad karmic results (resultants and fruits or vipaka and phala) will be avoided.

When one hears of skillful karma due to virtue, one becomes happy, knowing that welcome results will come. This is true for "wise" people, according to the Bālapaṇḍita Sutra (MN 129).

I'm not a fool. I'm drunk -- and loving it. 🤢🤮
Fools (bāla) are described in the same discourse:

Suppose a fool is sitting in a council hall, street, or crossroads, where people are discussing what is proper and suitable. And suppose that fool is someone who kills living creatures, steals, engages in sexual misconduct, lies (deceives), and uses intoxicants that occasion negligence.  That fool thinks:

"‘These people are discussing what is proper and fitting; those things are found in me, and I am seen in them!’

"This is the first kind of suffering and sadness a fool experiences in the present life.

"Those who fail to uphold the Five Precepts [which are useful for all humans of whatever religion or philosophy] for lay practitioners or 227 for monastics become fearful when they hear these precepts and the negative results from breaking them. They are called fools."

Actually, the ones who become afraid have some hints of wisdom, for they know they should change [so as to avoid future suffering].

I'm starting to think you might be a bad influence on me. - Shut the front door, Birdbrain.
.
It is the ones without fear who do not become afraid at all when hearing these things who are absolute fools. They are the most dangerous because they hold wrong views and act on them. They are dangerous because they believe the unskillful actions they do are actually skillful, and they spread these wrong views with others.

The Commentary to the Maṅgala Sutra, "The Discourse on Blessings," says that this is like a house on fire, burning: It easily spreads to neighboring houses.

Spiritual development starts with being morally wise. After morality is developed, one is capable of developing stillness of mind (samatha, samadhi).

Those who have developed stillness (samadhi, unification, concentration, coherence) have completed the second part of “being wise.”

The third part is to develop insight knowledge or vipassana. One must have the ability to focus, be calm, and remain still to develop insight knowledge. And one must have virtue (morality) to develop focus (non-distractedness).

That is why it is said that virtue, stillness, and wisdom (sīla, samādhi, and paññā), in this order and not in any other order, is the path to enlightenment.

The highest level of insight is the glimpsing or realization of nirvana (Pali nibbāna). And the highest level of attaining nirvana (while still alive) is full enlightenment or arahant knowledge.
  • While a person yet lives, this is called enlightenment with remainder because one is still experiencing the results of previous karma, while no longer accruing any new karma. All intentional actions at this point are called kriyas or "simple (functional) actions." They do not bear fruit. When one enters final nirvana or parinibbana, this is enlightenment without remainder.
An arhat (arahant) is someone in whom passion (greed and clinging), aversion (hatred and fear), and delusion (ignorance and wrong views) are completely destroyed without remainder. These are the noble ones who have laid down the burden, who have made an end of suffering and rebirth here and now.

Where do I ordain?
Wanting to practice a direct path to enlightenment free of all worldly distractions, many people ask where to ordain. To find a proper abbey, look for spiritually wise monastics. While this is difficult to discern by merely looking, morally wise monastics are easier to detect.

One cannot be spiritually wise without being morally wise. Therefore, start at a place where both the monastic rules (vinaya) and meditation are regarded as important.

Rotten apple

[In the West, one bad apple rots the entire barrel.] In addition to a burning house spreading fire to another, the Maṅgala Sutra Commentary speaks of rotten fish spreading rot to nearby objects.

One who ties up putrid fish
with blades of kusa grass
makes the kusa grass smell foul:
so it is in the following fools
(It 68, 9-12, Ja IV 435, 28-29, JaVI 236 4-5).

Maṅgala Sutra Commentary: In contrast, the commentary explains that if one were to wrap tagara jasmine flowers with leaves, those leaves would become wonderfully fragrant.

One who ties up tagara
with leaves [fallen from a tree]
makes the leaves sweetly fragrant:
So it is in following the wise
(It 68, 13-16, Ja IV 436, 1-2, Ja VI 236, 6-7).

Maṅgala Sutra Commentary: This is literally used to explain that whatever is near to us can easily “rub off” on us. Perhaps the best example of this is our language or accent.

Not long ago, if someone were from New York City or Long Island, one could easily tell by the way that person talked.

My father is from the Bronx, and everyone who hears him speak knows it. This is becoming a thing of the past because of TV and internet videos that are homogenizing us.

Think about it. Television and internet media affect us in deeply rooted and subconscious ways. They affect the way we speak without us realizing it. If they can affect the way we sound to others, why would they not impact our attitudes, beliefs, and morals without us realizing it?

As internet algorithms choose more and more polarizing and extreme material to present to us, those things will become a part of us. They become the new normal. They already have.

We are encouraged to associate or live with the wise, with those who are higher than us in terms of morality and wisdom. This is very important because it will be easy for this to rub off on us, such as the fragrance of flowers.

The twin parrots Buddhist birth story

The Sattigumba Jātaka is listed in the Commentaries quoted above to explain this point.

It is the tale of two parrots born as twins. A storm comes, and they are separated shortly after birth.

One bird is raised by a gang of thieves, the other by hermit wandering ascetics. The king comes across both parrots at different times. The first encounter is the bad parrot who speaks of stealing and killing, while the other speaks of sharing and kindness. The king is moved by the difference between the two.

This story may seem hard to believe, but we can find examples of parrots on YouTube that point this out. Believe it or not, many parrots are in need of shelter. Enter “parrot + a location” into a search engine and see the many organizations looking for new nests for their avian orphans. 
  • The video above is about a rescued bird who lived with bad people and witnessed a terrible crime.
This parrot witnessed the murder of its owner. It became a key witness at the trial in the human world. Likewise, there are numerous channels with loving parrots who obviously had loving owners, such as this one:

Hey, give me a kiss. - Sure, 'bout time you asked. Hey, WTH? Why you you little love-blocker!

Hello? What the H do you want? - Les, is that U?
This post by Bhante, now edited by Wisdom Quarterly, is dedicated to Bhante’s cousin, Les Brodie, who died. He had a well-trained talking bird and told me about what a joy it was to have it. It had its own bike, and the bird would often pick up the house phone with its claw on the first ring and imitate his voice, “Hello? Uh huh...ummm...yes...uh huh…”

Apparently, sometimes his friends would have whole conversations with the bird without Les knowing it. He was a very special bird, and his person was not so bad either.

If we are parents, our children are our parrots. They are watching and listening whether we like it or not, and they will mimic and model themselves after us.

Moreover, WE are all talking birds, parroting whomever we follow and associate with. Those with whom we associate rub off on us like wrapping around stinky fish or fragrant flowers. So it is wise to be wise in choosing our associates.

Avoiding fools and
Associating with the wise,
Giving respect to those worthy of it,
This is life’s highest blessing.

Friday, May 30, 2025

Party: Oh Happy Days Reunion (6/1)




WHAT HAPPENED?
Building may be gone, spirit lives on
Potluckers gathered to cook on four separate stoves in a very green garden with wild birds singing that made the mindfulness instructions seem easier to incorporate. New stimuli in an unfamiliar garden allows all of the senses become alive to what the feet are feeling (sensing), what fragrances of vegan food cooking are wafting, what sights and sounds are being taken in with new faces and networking opportunities, old friends and new fellows in acts of collective compassion, and finally the many delicious flavors from the grill, gluten-free vegan protein doused with Korean BBQ sauces over brown rice angels hair noodles and fresh kale, strawberry cheese cake from Silverlake. The sixth sense (the mind) had many delights to watch dispassionately with great interest but not self-interest, not "How does it relate to me?" reckoning, measuring, surmising, simply taking in. The health community in Altadena-Pasadena has remained cohesive and strong with loving bonds for Oh Happy Days Vegan Cafe and grocery. Music, slam poetry, and heartfelt talks were featured as we ate more than we could comfortably hold -- Korean, Mediterranean, Indian, Mexican, all-American grilled veggies, baked potatoes, kombuchas, punches, teas, and all of the usual entrees. The guest of honor was overwhelmed with the show of affection and enthusiasm for bringing back the store.

Survivor John Hopkins
Once upon a time, there was a vegan restaurant, grocery store, and vitamin shop in Altadena (Los Angeles) called Oh Happy Days.
It was in a time warp and felt like a den of vegetarian hippies and an old-timey General Store after hiking down on Lake Avenue from the Cobb Estate (home of Groucho Marx) and White City, looking down on LA, Orange County, even Santa Monica Bay and Catalina Island.

We are all Friends in the new Los Angeles
The local Native Americans -- now called the Kizh (Tongva, Gabrielenos) -- must have loved the view of their land next to Hahamog'na (headwaters to the LA River starting Pasadena, near the Rose Bowl), east of the Tataviam Tribe in the Valley (Fernandeño), They would have loved it more if they could eat here with the hippies and health conscious.

Burned in Eaton Fire

The shop burned down in the Eaton Fire, along with the owner's Altadena home, vehicles, and those of his workers. Read all about his harrowing survival:
The comeback Reunion/Potluck
John Hopkins controls the music like The Fonz
Clearing the Eaton Fire debris has taken months, due to its size and also clearing Pacific Palisades. But things are developing apace.

In the meantime, before it formally reopens, Oh Happy Days is returning to its monthly Potluck Parties with a REUNION (with music and mindfulness meditation) at nearby home:

Irish (Gaelic) rappers Kneecap: 'witch-hunt'

The old Middle Finger Mudra makes a comeback with Gaelic rappers Kneecap (Dazed)
.
Kneecap dares to criticize Israel (IG)
Speaking at a surprise gig in London last night (May 24, 2025), [Irish Gaelic outlaw rappers] Kneecap claimed that the terror[ism] charge against one of their members is part of a “witch-hunt” intended to stop them from playing at Glastonbury.

Yesterday, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence [terrorism offense] after allegedly waving the flag of Hezbollah onstage at a gig last November.

Hezbollah is a proscribed group in the UK, meaning it is illegal to “invite support” for them.

Don't say, "F*CK ISRAEL!"
Whatever you say, don't say "Fuck Israel" -- or you'll get in BIG trouble.
Meet Kneecap (the movie)
In the US, you can cheer for war, fund Israel's genocide, and silence the oppressed in Gaza.
"It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes"

Kneecap announces London show (Instagram)
After denying the charge and promising to fight it in court, the band announced a surprise gig at the 100 Club in London, which they said sold out in 90 seconds.

The poster for the gig featured a recent quote from former [punk rock legend] Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten, who suggested the band “need a bloody good kneecapping.”

Ó hAnnaidh took the stage with duct tape over his mouth, before saying, “There’s a reason why what’s happened to me, happened before Glastonbury. There’s a reason they’re trying to f*cking stop me speaking at Glastonbury in front of the UK.”


Not in our name! (ifnotnowmovement.org)
His bandmate, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, said, “This is our first gig back after [Coachella]. They want to stop what we’re doing, because they want us to stop protesting. There are 60,000-plus dead in Gaza right now. That’s the real story; it’s not about us.”

Kneecap were first investigated by counter-terrorism police after footage emerged that appeared to show one of the members saying, “The only good Tory [traditionalist conservative] is a dead Tory. Kill your local M.P. [British member of parliament.]” This led to a wave of condemnations... More

Jewish supremacist mobs in NYC, ICE's illegal arrests, Liberation Seder (Shoresh/Instagram)
.
Desi Lydic on Trumper and dog killer Kristi Noem - US college students walk out on MAGA gov.

AI explains Kneecap's stand for justice

Putting Zen into practice (SLICE)



Daitoku-ji: A Glimpse into the Life and Practice of Zen Buddhism | SLICE
(SLICE) Daitoku-ji is a Zen monastery that embodies the most radical path of Buddhism [mixed with Taoism, Hinduism, and Shinto] — a return to the pure teachings of the Buddha. [These teachings are so far from the Dharma of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni as to be preposterous, mixing instead Brahmanism, Taoism, and Japanese Chan Buddhism]. Here, practice takes precedence, leading to self-discovery in perfect harmony with nature and the divine. At the heart of Zen practice lies a deep connection to nature, reflected in the design of the monastery’s gardens. These gardens are more than just a backdrop; they are an essential part of the temple’s architecture, serving as constant tools for meditation. For Zen monastics, the garden is a microcosm of the universe:
  • gravel symbolizes the vast sea, rocks represent towering mountains, sand swirled in spiraling lines...
Through its serene spaces and profound symbolism, Daitoku-ji invites visitors to find peace, balance, and enlightenment (or satori rather than what the historical Buddha called bodhi) by connecting deeply with the natural world.


Documentary: Sacred Spaces – Asian temples. Humans, Nature and Gods, directed by Véronique Legendre. Production: ZED, ARTE FRANCE, CuriosityStream We fully own the rights to the use of the published content. Any illegal reproduction of this content will result in immediate legal action. SLICE wants to fill up viewers' curiosity! Accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time, this channel is a weekly dose of short docs about curious facts, discoveries, astounding info, unusual stories, weird, fun, and instructive. Be smart, have a slice! Subscribe now ► @slicedocumentary. Become a fan: @slicedocumentary Follow 👇 In French: slicefr. Facebook: slicedocs. Instagram: slicedocs. #documentary #slice #fulldocumentary #freedocumentary #Japan #zen #buddhism #sacred #enlightenment #religion #monk #temple #tea #teahouse #nature #harmony
  • SLICE, Dec. 26, 2024; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

California's forgotten Pyramid (video)

Lost ancient technology: Inside Egypt's Abu Rawash Pyramid | Watch (MSN)
Adventure traveler and spiritual tourist Thea Booysen meditates in Egypt's Giza Pyramid

The Forgotten Pyramid of Rocklin: A Family's Monument for Reincarnation
The Pyramid House of Malibu (realtor.com)
(Sidetrack AdventuresROCKLIN, California. Hidden in a suburban neighborhood in Rocklin is the Whitney Pyramid, the last resting place of Joel Parker Whitney and a number of his relatives.
Joe Rogan talks to Why Files - No one knows how predynastic Egyptians built the pyramids
San Francisco Bay, Oakland Hills (sfgate.com)
Arriving in California nearly penniless in the 1850s, Whitney would become the richest man in Placer County, owning over 27,000 acres. When Whitney passed away in 1913, he chose to be entombed in a pyramid, with the belief that it would bestow reincarnation on him. [He had no idea rebirth was inevitable in any case.]

Let's go inside Malibu's Pyramid House
Inside $3 million Pyramid House in Malibu, Los Angeles, California (manofmany.com)
.
Venusian aliens went under a rock and gave the meditators The Integratron?

With this floorplan, we can all live in pyramids.
Over time, the Whitney family sold off most of their property, and a neighborhood built up around the pyramid. Now, the pyramid is hidden in a wooded area next to Rocklin Golf Course.

This video looks into Joel Parker Whitney's history, with a visit to Whitney Pyramid, and explores the Nisenan (Native American) history of the site.

What is Pyramid Meditation?
Meditation pyramid for sale (Giza 46) - Etsy
Meditation done inside a pyramid is thrice more powerful meditation done outside a pyramid, or underneath a pyramid. But any of these are called Pyramid Meditation. Many people experience feelings ranging from calm to extreme euphoria during their meditation sessions inside pyramids.

Could one sleep inside for better dreaming?
Pyramids provide the most effective high-energy environments for beginners. Pyramids help reduce the level of stress and tension in the physical body.

Most people who have experimented with Pyramid Meditation describe themselves as experiencing total bodily relaxation, followed by the shutting out of distracting external stimuli and irrelevant discursive thoughts. Finally, one achieves an altered state of consciousness that allows the practitioner to concentrate on deeper inner levels. More

“Spiritual health is the root,
and physical health is the fruit."

Gear used: amazon.com/shop/sidetrack... ► Patreon: sidetrackadventures ► Subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some adventures: @sidetrackadventures ► Follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: sidetrackadventures ► Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use this link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj