Capturing the Sunrise
1988.
Dragon - active, determined, confident, enterprising, versatile, scrupulous and lucky.
The Earth Dragon - courageous, motivated by jurisdiction, is practical, steady and leisurely.
June 12.
Horse - active, alert, outgoing, adventurous, eloquent, free spirited and independent.
The Earth Horse - reliable, rational, motivated by prudence, accurate and slow.
18:15.
Rooster - meticulous, efficient, orderly, conscientious, intelligent, honourable, notoriously candid.
The Earth Rooster - well-organized, motivated by efficiency, scholarly, methodical and modest.
Chinese Zodiac
Today, marks the newest season of my life. I know 20 isn't special for most people, but it is for me. The clock is ticking, and it's time I took life seriously. Today, begins the countdown for all things I wish to accomplish by the time I'm 30. I want to finish the ITB series, I want to travel to Australia and Africa. I have goals I want to reach, these are just a few of the larger ones.
ITB is already well into development, I've begun to write sections of it. The first book I plan on being finished in two years. Smaller goals accompanying my larger ones, is I want to get my first tattoo and my Mustang in a year or two. Hopefully the former for the latter.
All day I smelled of sweat, the zoo, and dead lizard. I was filling the ant moats and suddenly something dark turned over and I saw the white belly shaped as a lizard. Poor guy. I texted Sarah to see if she wanted it... I held it in my hand for about 30 seconds as I texted her, and it took three times of washing my hands for the smell to finally go away. I know Kooks eat carrion, but really, all I wanted was for Sarah's bird to eat something I caught, I don't blame her for tuning it down in the end though. Oh well. Maybe next time...
I have my classes all set up for this fall. Summer semester begins this coming monday, just math class. This fall, I signed up for all animal science classes. Behavior, Behavior Lab, Diversity, Animal Physiology, and Avian and Reptile Care, which I'm REALLY excited about. I finally got Diversity squared away after being unable to sign up for that class.
I've come to find people who think beyond their own little insignificant world hard to come by. We all want truth, but truth is in the eye of the beholder, or so they say. But that's only true when all you care about is yourself. It's painful to see, every day, every bit of vanity that goes into a person to be concerned with how they look, how much they care others think of them. I don't respect people like this.
But further, they will never find a truth in life, for the world is so much larger when you realize it's not just you. I love my internship, because these are the few people who seem to understand that even if the world is against us, we're still doing the right thing. We are protecting a species from being destroyed, wiped off the earth. Were any of us responsible? No. But the people who were, want fucking money for it. How is that fair?
I fully disagree with what the man from the NHM said. We do this to be bigger than ourselves, not greedy or selfish. There are those who just perhaps get corrupted along the lines, or maybe were in it for themselves all along. Why do we give the world away to those who don't even fucking respect it? It won't happen on my watch. I'm sick of giving way, and letting those who don't give a shit take control of the world. It's the same as those who think a dog's behavior is grounds for it to be euthanized. There are so many things wrong with that scenario that is all too common, because we've let absurdity become common.
This world needs a change, this world needs better people. There are many who are determined to drown out the world with pessimism and bleak outlooks, but the few who see the world in positive light are the ones that keep me going. Myself, included.
I've had this post sitting on my computer for nearly 2 days now, I felt like there was much to say, but in essence, I've said much of it before...
I do, however, have some new news. I've heard before that Buddhism isn't a religion suited for most people, but anybody can become Buddhist. The main inhibiting factor is your own perception of life. There's nobody telling you what to think, there's nothing to worship, Buddhism is simply a state of mind and existence.
I find it actually pretty fascinating. It seems some beliefs applied to the Buddhist religion are actually from the Hindu religion. They don't believe in a God or formally worship anything, although in a separate Buddhist religion they do worship some deities, but the original Buddhism that was developed doesn't. Their belief in reincarnation is also heavily mistaken for Hinduism. In Hinduism, people were judged by their classes for how close they were to reaching nirvana. Peasants and servants, apparently, never moved up the chain, because they were being punished, but for everybody else, as they were spiritually reincarnated, they would stay in the same class or move up, or sometimes move down.
Now, I was told Buddhism was set up in the same way, except you couldn't go down. As it turns out, Buddhists don't believe in spiritual reincarnation. They do believe in, however, the reincarnation of the mind and body. Now, I think this sounds confusing at first, because frankly I don't think modern interpreters of the religion understand what they meant. I think in body, is obvious, your children. In mind, it's the values you pass on to others, not just your children, but everybody around you. This is why Buddhists believes in being good, harmonious, balanced people. They value knowledge, they seek balance in life.
Also, they only study and believe in practical things. They don't go over matters such as what created the universe, spiritual forces, etc. They know that they will never know, and can't know, and will never claim to know.
They are in harmony with the psychological, physiological, and metaphysical aspects of life, which includes karma. Karma, is a sort of energy. If you are positive and optimistic, then you'll receive positive. Without going into my own philosophies, save to say, it's all about perspective. But it doesn't make them wrong, either.
Buddhism describes just about everything I have ever believed in for the past year of my life. Almost all of my own philosophies, word for word, have been described in Buddhism. I mediatate, I am here, and I care for balance and being harmonious with nature. Hell, Buddhism even suggests to be vegetarian though they don't have to. Another thing I like about Buddhism--it's a self-journey. Nobody ever tells you what to do, what to worship, when to worship. It's about finding your path and balance in life, and the creator, or "Teacher" as they call him, Buddha, has apparently scriptures to help people enlighten themselves.
But what it boils down to, now that I've discovered this religion, finally, for what it is, and not just for the speculation, is do I want to call myself a Buddhist? For now, no. Maybe I'm still too attached to not calling myself any religion, not even atheist or agnostic. I think if I read the scriptures written by Buddha, I'd be more confident, or have more clarification of their beliefs. Only then, do I think I would call myself a Buddhist.
I can't say I wouldn't be happy to, though. I've always admired Buddhists, but I perhaps just don't feel up to the label yet. But regardless, a Buddhist, apparently, is a Buddhist, no matter if they give themselves the title or not. Or so I've read.
I'm going up to our other house in Kern tomorrow. We're bringing the bikes so we can finally hit the trails, I'm looking forward to that. I enjoy going up to Kern, simply because there's no static like there is here from the city life. Even more, I find myself refreshed after a visit. I need it now, especially. I'm at a strange cross section of life, where I'm between watching myself from the outside to being comfortable with myself and feeling more grounded and present than ever.
It's even stranger when several people have now expressed doubts about me sticking in the animal field. So speaking of mixed feelings, not since finding the dead lizard in the ant moat have I ever had such a strong pull between being saddened and wanting to laugh.
Despite this statement, I will never be leaving the animal field for my primary area of focus in life. Frankly, I have nothing else but that to keep me happy in this world, and I wouldn't give it up for any amount of money.
Cheers, mates.
Dragon - active, determined, confident, enterprising, versatile, scrupulous and lucky.
The Earth Dragon - courageous, motivated by jurisdiction, is practical, steady and leisurely.
June 12.
Horse - active, alert, outgoing, adventurous, eloquent, free spirited and independent.
The Earth Horse - reliable, rational, motivated by prudence, accurate and slow.
18:15.
Rooster - meticulous, efficient, orderly, conscientious, intelligent, honourable, notoriously candid.
The Earth Rooster - well-organized, motivated by efficiency, scholarly, methodical and modest.
Chinese Zodiac
Today, marks the newest season of my life. I know 20 isn't special for most people, but it is for me. The clock is ticking, and it's time I took life seriously. Today, begins the countdown for all things I wish to accomplish by the time I'm 30. I want to finish the ITB series, I want to travel to Australia and Africa. I have goals I want to reach, these are just a few of the larger ones.
ITB is already well into development, I've begun to write sections of it. The first book I plan on being finished in two years. Smaller goals accompanying my larger ones, is I want to get my first tattoo and my Mustang in a year or two. Hopefully the former for the latter.
All day I smelled of sweat, the zoo, and dead lizard. I was filling the ant moats and suddenly something dark turned over and I saw the white belly shaped as a lizard. Poor guy. I texted Sarah to see if she wanted it... I held it in my hand for about 30 seconds as I texted her, and it took three times of washing my hands for the smell to finally go away. I know Kooks eat carrion, but really, all I wanted was for Sarah's bird to eat something I caught, I don't blame her for tuning it down in the end though. Oh well. Maybe next time...
I have my classes all set up for this fall. Summer semester begins this coming monday, just math class. This fall, I signed up for all animal science classes. Behavior, Behavior Lab, Diversity, Animal Physiology, and Avian and Reptile Care, which I'm REALLY excited about. I finally got Diversity squared away after being unable to sign up for that class.
I've come to find people who think beyond their own little insignificant world hard to come by. We all want truth, but truth is in the eye of the beholder, or so they say. But that's only true when all you care about is yourself. It's painful to see, every day, every bit of vanity that goes into a person to be concerned with how they look, how much they care others think of them. I don't respect people like this.
But further, they will never find a truth in life, for the world is so much larger when you realize it's not just you. I love my internship, because these are the few people who seem to understand that even if the world is against us, we're still doing the right thing. We are protecting a species from being destroyed, wiped off the earth. Were any of us responsible? No. But the people who were, want fucking money for it. How is that fair?
I fully disagree with what the man from the NHM said. We do this to be bigger than ourselves, not greedy or selfish. There are those who just perhaps get corrupted along the lines, or maybe were in it for themselves all along. Why do we give the world away to those who don't even fucking respect it? It won't happen on my watch. I'm sick of giving way, and letting those who don't give a shit take control of the world. It's the same as those who think a dog's behavior is grounds for it to be euthanized. There are so many things wrong with that scenario that is all too common, because we've let absurdity become common.
This world needs a change, this world needs better people. There are many who are determined to drown out the world with pessimism and bleak outlooks, but the few who see the world in positive light are the ones that keep me going. Myself, included.
I've had this post sitting on my computer for nearly 2 days now, I felt like there was much to say, but in essence, I've said much of it before...
I do, however, have some new news. I've heard before that Buddhism isn't a religion suited for most people, but anybody can become Buddhist. The main inhibiting factor is your own perception of life. There's nobody telling you what to think, there's nothing to worship, Buddhism is simply a state of mind and existence.
I find it actually pretty fascinating. It seems some beliefs applied to the Buddhist religion are actually from the Hindu religion. They don't believe in a God or formally worship anything, although in a separate Buddhist religion they do worship some deities, but the original Buddhism that was developed doesn't. Their belief in reincarnation is also heavily mistaken for Hinduism. In Hinduism, people were judged by their classes for how close they were to reaching nirvana. Peasants and servants, apparently, never moved up the chain, because they were being punished, but for everybody else, as they were spiritually reincarnated, they would stay in the same class or move up, or sometimes move down.
Now, I was told Buddhism was set up in the same way, except you couldn't go down. As it turns out, Buddhists don't believe in spiritual reincarnation. They do believe in, however, the reincarnation of the mind and body. Now, I think this sounds confusing at first, because frankly I don't think modern interpreters of the religion understand what they meant. I think in body, is obvious, your children. In mind, it's the values you pass on to others, not just your children, but everybody around you. This is why Buddhists believes in being good, harmonious, balanced people. They value knowledge, they seek balance in life.
Also, they only study and believe in practical things. They don't go over matters such as what created the universe, spiritual forces, etc. They know that they will never know, and can't know, and will never claim to know.
They are in harmony with the psychological, physiological, and metaphysical aspects of life, which includes karma. Karma, is a sort of energy. If you are positive and optimistic, then you'll receive positive. Without going into my own philosophies, save to say, it's all about perspective. But it doesn't make them wrong, either.
Buddhism describes just about everything I have ever believed in for the past year of my life. Almost all of my own philosophies, word for word, have been described in Buddhism. I mediatate, I am here, and I care for balance and being harmonious with nature. Hell, Buddhism even suggests to be vegetarian though they don't have to. Another thing I like about Buddhism--it's a self-journey. Nobody ever tells you what to do, what to worship, when to worship. It's about finding your path and balance in life, and the creator, or "Teacher" as they call him, Buddha, has apparently scriptures to help people enlighten themselves.
But what it boils down to, now that I've discovered this religion, finally, for what it is, and not just for the speculation, is do I want to call myself a Buddhist? For now, no. Maybe I'm still too attached to not calling myself any religion, not even atheist or agnostic. I think if I read the scriptures written by Buddha, I'd be more confident, or have more clarification of their beliefs. Only then, do I think I would call myself a Buddhist.
I can't say I wouldn't be happy to, though. I've always admired Buddhists, but I perhaps just don't feel up to the label yet. But regardless, a Buddhist, apparently, is a Buddhist, no matter if they give themselves the title or not. Or so I've read.
I'm going up to our other house in Kern tomorrow. We're bringing the bikes so we can finally hit the trails, I'm looking forward to that. I enjoy going up to Kern, simply because there's no static like there is here from the city life. Even more, I find myself refreshed after a visit. I need it now, especially. I'm at a strange cross section of life, where I'm between watching myself from the outside to being comfortable with myself and feeling more grounded and present than ever.
It's even stranger when several people have now expressed doubts about me sticking in the animal field. So speaking of mixed feelings, not since finding the dead lizard in the ant moat have I ever had such a strong pull between being saddened and wanting to laugh.
Despite this statement, I will never be leaving the animal field for my primary area of focus in life. Frankly, I have nothing else but that to keep me happy in this world, and I wouldn't give it up for any amount of money.
Cheers, mates.