So, a month ago, I started a journey that lasted for three weeks. My definition of myself, others, and what a community is, has been totally redefined. Therefore, Tumblr no longer serves me any purpose. You all are beautiful people. I have never met you, but you’re beautiful. It’s been a pleasure interacting with you. I have hope for you and wish you well. Thank you!

I’m off on a little adventure for three weeks as of tomorrow! I probably won’t have the time to update though. So yes, no koans, story of Buddha, quotes, pictures, or teachings for three weeks, which I apologize for, but if you stick around, I’ll be right back in action in the future. Have a great summer everyone! 

In the meantime, you can check out my other blogs!

http://www.comfortablyplum.tumblr.com (personal)

http://www.kingdomplantae.tumblr.com (nature blog)

P.S. we’re going to hit 500 followers sometime with one more, so yay in advance! That’s really cool!

Anonymous asked: Pretty sure you've always wanted to see me naked.. Well.. I'm feeling pretty adventurous today so go to datelink5(dot)com (switch [dot] with .) then sign up and find my profile under the username 'lolsummer69'. I hid my face in the pictures. but I want you to guess who I am and then hit me up on Facebook lol. Good luck.

Pretty sure you don’t know what I’m pretty sure about when I’m not even pretty sure what I’m pretty sure about.. Well..

King Shuddodana consulted Asita, a well-known sooth-sayer, concerning the future of his son.  Asita proclaimed that he would be one of two things:  He could become a great king, even an emperor.  Or he could become a great sage and savior of humanity.  The king, eager that his son should become a king like himself, was determined to shield the child from anything that might result in him taking up the religious life.  And so Siddhartha was kept in one or another of their three palaces, and was prevented from experiencing much of what ordinary folk might consider quite commonplace.  He was not permitted to see the elderly, the sickly, the dead, or anyone who had dedicated themselves to spiritual practices.  Only beauty and health surrounded Siddhartha.

Siddhartha grew up to be a strong and handsome young man.  As a prince of the warrior caste, he trained in the arts of war.  When it came time for him to marry, he won the hand of a beautiful princess of a neighboring kingdom by besting all competitors at a variety of sports. Yashodhara was her name, and they married when both were 16 years old.

As Siddhartha continued living in the luxury of his palaces, he grew increasing restless and curious about the world beyond the palace walls.  He finally demanded that he be permitted to see his people and his lands.  The king carefully arranged that Siddhartha should still not see the kind of suffering that he feared would lead him to a religious life, and decried that only young and healthy people should greet the prince.

mellifluousbeauty asked: more about the author of this tumblr- where are you from? how old are you? because you sound professional:)

I was going to link you to my personal Tumblr, but then you said I sounded professional, so I knew that would shatter all pleasing illusions. I am fifteen and Canadian. 

The master Bankei’s talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras not indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.

His large audience angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to have a debate with Bankei.

“Hey, Zen teacher!” he called out. “Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?”

“Come up beside me and I will show you,” said Bankei.

Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.

Bankei smiled. “Come over to my left side.”

The priest obeyed.

“No,” said Bankei, “we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here.”

The priest proudly stepped over to the right.