We have all the answers...

By Vichara


We all have the answers. Let that sink in for a while. Say it to yourself again. We all have the answers. There is the factual and those answers are easily obtainable these days by many means, books, video, teachers, Internet, etc. Then there is the esoteric and the answers to those humanistic, emotional questions that to most seem remote and unobtainable. All of the keys that will open the doors of understanding are in everyone’s pocket. Our reluctance to getting the “answers” is not based in ignorance but in reluctance of being patient enough to locate the key to each question that resides in al of us. Sometimes it may take some time to get the answer but with patience you will get there

utile • \YOO-tul\ • adjective
: useful

Example Sentence:
Shaker crafts are simple, meticulously constructed, pleasing to the eye, and eminently utile, all at the same time.

Did you know?
For over a hundred years before "useful" entered our language, "utile" served us well on its own. We borrowed "utile" from Middle French in the 15th century. The French derived it from Latin "utilis," meaning "useful," which in turn comes from "uti," meaning "to use." "Uti" (the past participle of which is "usus") is also the source of our "use" and "useful." We've been using "use" since at least the 13th century, but we didn't acquire "useful" until the late 16th century, when William Shakespeare inserted it into King John. Needless to say, we've come to prefer "useful" over "utile" since then, though "utile" functions as a very usable synonym. Other handy terms derived from "uti" include "utilize," "usury," "abuse" and "utensil."

The whispers of today...

By Vichara


The whispers of today will become the voices of tomorrow. What may begin as a simple thought quietly sitting without great pomp and circumstance could blossom into a profound act or phonetic talisman to lead you (and others) through the mire of confusion. Whatever stages it may appear observe it in the light of brave honesty to see it clearly as it is. All of us are subjected to the delusion of what is forced upon us from outside forces; media, friends and others. So it is up to us individually to take responsibility of these thoughts. They may hold the answers you have needed or someone else has. Their durability and survival will be based on our ability to be honest not only to ourselves but with others around us and to plant these thoughts in love, compassion and patience.

popinjay • \PAH-pin-jay\ • noun
: a strutting supercilious person

Example Sentence:
Shopping was going fine until, in one of the boutiques, a popinjay of a sales clerk clearly snubbed us.

Did you know?
Popinjays and parrots are birds of a feather. "Popinjay," from the Middle French word "papegai," is the original name for a parrot in English. (The French word in turn came from the Arabic word for the bird, "babghā." "Parrot," which English speakers adopted later, probably comes from Middle French "perroquet.") In the days of Middle English, parrots were rare and exotic, and it was quite a compliment to be called a "popinjay" after such a beautiful bird. But by the 1500s, parrots had become more commonplace, and their gaudy plumage and vulgar mimicry helped "popinjay" develop the pejorative sense we use today.

The Present is here, now....

By Vichara


Move aside “Future”, step to the back “Past”, make room the “Present” is here! For a limited time only…right now…and again…right now, the Present is here. It is jealous and yet indifferent. It wants you to experience its presence but will move forward if you insist in languishing with its siblings, Future and Past. They will indulge your ego by allowing you to think of what has happened and what may happen but the Present will not lure you with false pretenses. It gives you only now with all it’s vivid colors and sounds. So it’s up to you, you can retreat to a time that has already happened or flutter in a future that may not happen or hang out with the cool crowd that’s happening right now…in the Present.

Laodicean • \lay-ah-duh-SEE-un\ • adjective
: lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics

Example Sentence:
Evan lamented the Laodicean attitude of his fellow citizens, as evidenced by the low voter turnout on Election Day.

Did you know?
English speakers owe the word "Laodicean" to Chapter 3, verses 15 and 16 of the Book of Revelation, in which the church of Laodicea is admonished for being "neither cold nor hot, . . . neither one nor the other, but just lukewarm" in its devotion. By 1633, the name of that tepid biblical church had become a general term for any half-hearted or irresolute follower of a religious faith. Since then, the word’s use has broadened to cover flimsy political devotion as well. For example, in comparing U.S. presidents, journalist Samuel Hopkins Adams compared "the fiery and aggressive [Theodore] Roosevelt" to "the timorous Laodicean [Warren] Harding."

Koan #12...

By Vichara


Monday is here again gang and here’s the Koan of the week. “Mu!”
No it’s not an answer to a kids knock knock joke. It is simple and yet, you guessed it, a profound Koan. Have you ever had a question in which “yes” or “no” would seem like an inadequate answer? There is a third possibility beyond the duality affirming and negating and that is “Mu!” Mu can help you see the truth of the situation, which can never be expressed with words. Whatever you believe or think you know, confront it with “Mu!”. It’s dissolving your rational mind into an intuitive understanding. When you are seeking beyond yes and no…Mu!

sockdolager • \sock-DAH-lih-jer\ • noun
1 : something that settles a matter : a decisive blow or answer : finisher
2 : something outstanding or exceptional

Example Sentence:
For a while I was completely stumped, but then, all of a sudden, I got a sockdolager of an idea.

Did you know?
The verb "sock" ("to punch") and the noun "doxology" ("a hymn of praise to God") may seem like an odd pairing, but it is a match that has been promoted by a few word mavens when discussing the origins of the Americanism "sockdolager." Don't be too quick to believe the hype, however. When a word's origin is simply unknown, as is the case with "sockdolager," there's a tendency for folks to fill in the gap with an interesting story, whether or not it can be verified. In the case of "sockdolager," the "sock" part is plausible but unproven, and the "doxology" to "dolager" suggestion is highly questionable. The theory continues to have many fans, but it can't deliver the knockout punch.

For a better world...

By Vichara


Down with screaming chefs, manipulative talk show people, demeaning stunt-like programs and anything that belittles and makes people feel foolish and helpless. I supposed there is some that believe that this is “entertainment”. Seeing programs like these that in some voyeuristic way will make some feel superior, think again. It only further erodes any steps we have made to unify the myriad of cultures and people. By yelling at someone for something as trivial as misplaced basil leaf or how a slice of fish is placed on a dish is both simply ridiculous and stupid! There are millions of hungry people out there that wouldn’t care which way it was presented to them, just feed them. It’s irreprehensible with the coercion of people to expose their frailties just for the sake of entertainment. Why not sense the suffering and support a new helpful direction. Make people feel less in a maze of stunts that belittles their tenuous need to be accepted and laugh at them when they cry. We do nothing to further the growth of people or enrich the foundation of society through manipulative means. It’s time to see the emperor has no clothes and provide a new wardrobe that is supportive, compassionate an uplifting.

jingoism • \JING-goh-is-uhm\ • noun
: extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy

Example Sentence:
Albert Einstein was a pacifist who found German jingoism, with its ultra-nationalistic ideology and militaristic policy, so objectionable that he left his homeland in 1933, never to return.

Did you know?
"Jingoism" originated during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, when many British citizens were hostile toward Russia and felt Britain should intervene in the conflict. Supporters of the cause expressed their sentiments in a music-hall ditty with this refrain:
"We don't want to fight, yet by jingo if we do,
We've got the ships, we've got the men,
We've got the money, too!"
Someone holding the attitude implied in the song became known as a "jingo" or "jingoist," and the attitude itself was dubbed "jingoism." The "jingo" in the tune is probably a euphemism for "Jesus."

Finding some answers...

By Vichara


Where do we find the answers we need when we have been consistently manipulated and berated from multiple sources and find it difficult to trust the footing we are on? Who can you trust when it may seem like the many have ulterior motives or are biased by less than credible sources. Where to search, where to find, where to seek safe refuge? I don’t have an answer that I can give; I only raise this as a catalyst to further the search for the “truth”. You may have the answer or part of the answer but raising these questions and others like them I am only trying to ignite that, which is in all of us with the “search”. But many our altruistic searches can get clouded by many unnecessary diversions. Give yourselves the time, the space and the encouragement to poke at the darkness until it bleeds daylight and know that there are others out there that are “thinking” and you are not alone.

pink • \PINK\ • verb
1 a : to perforate in an ornamental pattern * b : to cut a saw-toothed edge on
2 a : pierce, stab b : to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule

Example Sentence:
"The sleek curtain requires no sewing; we pinked the edges to add a bit of detail." (Jennie Voorhees, Martha Stewart Living, April 2002)

Did you know?
Our unabridged dictionary, Webster's Third New International, includes 13 distinct entries for "pink," whereas our abridged volume, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate, satisfies itself with the five most common. (Words get distinct entries in our dictionaries when they have different etymologies or different parts of speech.) Today's "pink," the only verb of the five, is from a Middle English word meaning "to thrust." Of the remaining four, the only "pink" older than the verb (which dates to 1503) is a 15th century noun referring to a kind of ship. The next-oldest noun has since 1573 referred to a genus of herbs. The noun referring to the color pink and its related adjective date to 1678 and 1720, respectively. Evidence suggests that a new verb "pink" -- a synonym of the verb "pink-slip" -- is also emerging.

Silence needs you...

By Vichara


Silence needs you as much as you need silence. The cacophony has its friends and it’s place but our friend silence needs to be part of our frenetic lifestyle as well. Silence is needed as a place where we can weigh out the options presented to us, focus the signal of optimism, gratitude and compassion. Use the silence’s calming presence to energize the battery of forgiveness for oneself and for others. With silence all can be measured, weighed, evaluated and resolved with efficiency.

sternutation • \ster-nyuh-TAY-shun\ • noun
: the act, fact, or noise of sneezing

Example Sentence:
Julie knew that she had put on too much perfume when she entered the car and immediately heard a chorus of sternutation from the passengers.

Did you know?
"Sternutation" comes from Latin and is a descendant of the verb "sternuere," meaning "to sneeze." One of the earliest known English uses occurred in a 16th-century edition of a book on midwifery, in a passage about infants suffering from frequent "sternutation and sneesynge." The term has long been used in serious medical contexts, but also on occasion for humorous effect. In 1850, for example, author Grace Greenwood observed that U.S. senators from opposing political parties would often come together to share snuff: "And all three forget their sectional differences in a delightful concert of sternutation. No business is too grave, no speaker too eloquent, to be 'sneezed at.'"

Waiting for Godot...

By Vichara


I find in a number of ways we are all like the characters in the Samuel Beckett play “Waiting For Godot”. We at times are anticipating the arrival of “something” but it fails to show. We bicker and pass time in an endless round of self-deception and mindless viewing while a cast of characters mill in and out filling the canvas of life with muted colors and incomprehensible conjectures. What to do, what to do…nothing. Nothing can be done, we must wait for Godot. What is Godot anyway, God, a wish unfulfilled, an answer to a life puzzle? And as we wait, sitting in just one place taunting our existence with self pity and delusions of grandeur we miss out what may be just pass that Tree and around the corner. Get up Vladimir; put your boots on Estragon, Godot is not coming. You must go to it. Get up it’s around the corner for all of us.

intestate • \in-TESS-tayt\ • adjective
1 : having made no valid will
2 : not disposed of by will

Example Sentence:
Mark and Joan worried about what would happen to their child if they died intestate, so they hired a lawyer to draw up a will soon after the baby was born.

Did you know?
"Intestate" was borrowed into English in the 14th century from Latin "intestatus," which was itself formed by combining the prefix "in-" ("not") and the adjective "testatus," meaning "having left a valid will." "Testatus," in turn, derives from the past participle of the verb "testari," meaning "to make a will." Approximately a century later, English speakers returned to "testatus" to coin the word "testate," which also means "having left a valid will." Other descendants of "testari" in English include "detest," "protest," and "testament," as well as "testator" ("a person who dies leaving a will or testament in force"). The antonym of "testator" is the noun "intestate," meaning "one who dies without a will."

Koan #11...

By Vichara


Hey gang! it’s Koan Monday!...”Know who you are. Be what you know.” When you truly “unplug” yourself form the myriad of stimuli that constantly surrounds us and reflect deeply into yourself you open the window of opportunity to glimpse, even for just a little, at your intrinsic nature. In Buddhism it is called your Buddha-nature but is basically a view our essential nature. You may see from this vantage point who you really are and if we are being authentic. If you are not living a life that expresses your true nature then it may be time to consider the changes you could make. Have your life reflect who you really are. Review the ways you may want to live your life differently and make those changes today. If you stumble a bit don’t be harsh on yourself, just contemplate the change you want to make and move forward…you can do it.

peregrination • \pair-uh-gruh-NAY-shun\ • noun
: an excursion especially on foot or to a foreign country : journey
Example Sentence:
The eccentric millionaire set out on a peregrination around the world, in search of the perfect wine to complement his favorite meal.
Did you know?
We begin our narrative of the linguistic travels of "peregrination" with the Latin word "peregrinus," which means "foreign" or "foreigner." That term also gave us the words "pilgrim" and "peregrine," the latter of which once meant "alien" but is now used as an adjective meaning "tending to wander" and a noun naming a kind of falcon. (The peregrine falcon is so named because it was traditionally captured during its first flight -- or pilgrimage -- from the nest.) From "peregrinus" we travel to the Latin verb "peregrinari" ("to travel in foreign lands") and its past participle "peregrinatus." Our final destination is the adoption into English in the 16th century of both "peregrination" and the verb "peregrinate" ("to travel especially on foot" or "to traverse").

Come together...

By Vichara


From two different sides of the world, two sayings from two anonymous sources connect in an understanding of how sometimes when we feel a sense of hopelessness; a new path is revealed to us. It’s almost like the obscurities that spin around us to distraction are suddenly cleared by our shared single-minded focus to find an answer. These answers are always there but are blocked by negative influences. As soon as the course has been shifted to a positive direction they are revealed. I say this not only for you but also for me of course. And in remembering this fact that we can help each other out in the difficult times with love, compassion and patience.

causerie • \kohz-REE\ • noun
1 : an informal conversation : chat
2 : a short informal essay

Example Sentence:
After the table was cleared and coffee was served, the dinner guests rose and continued their causerie in the other room.

Did you know?
"Causerie" first appeared in English in the early 19th century, and it can be traced back to French "causer" ("to chat") and ultimately to Latin "causa" ("cause, reason"). The word was originally used to refer to a friendly or informal conversation. Then, in 1849, the author and critic Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve began publishing a weekly column devoted to literary topics in the French newspaper Le Constitutionnel. These critical essays were called "Causeries du lundi" ("Monday chats") and were later collected into a series of books of the same name. After that, the word "causerie" acquired a second sense in English, referring to a brief, informal article or essay.

Knock, knock?...

By Vichara


Knock knock? Who’s there? Today…today who? Today, who knows where we are going but let’s try not to engage are discursive conversations and vengeful actions. Try to do at least do one thing that encourages, not discourages another person or one thing that will take one step farther in building a better foundation of support for each other. In a world currently pointing a lot of fingers, let’s use them to point us in a better direction rather than to point out blame.

slough • \SLUFF\ • verb
1 : to cast off or become cast off
2 : to crumble slowly and fall away
3 : to get rid of or discard as irksome, objectionable, or disadvantageous -- usually used with off

Example Sentence:
"As the war advanced the armies reluctantly sloughed off such amenities as two-man tents." (Paul Fussell, Wartime)

Did you know?
There are two verbs spelled "slough" in English, as well as two nouns, and both sets have different pronunciations. The first noun, referring to a swamp or a discouraged state of mind, is pronounced to rhyme with either "blue" or "cow." Its related verb, which can mean "to plod through mud," has the same pronunciation. The second noun, pronounced to rhyme with "cuff," refers to the shed skin of a snake (as well as anything else that has been cast off). Its related verb describes the action of shedding or eliminating something, just like a snake sheds its skin. This "slough" derives from Middle English "slughe" and is distantly related to a Middle High German word meaning "snakeskin."

Question things...

By Vichara


Question everything. Question why you did what you just did. Question why you decided to do something. Question the way you spoke to that person. Question why you felt how you felt when you left the room. This is not to create a self-imposed paranoia state, no not at all. It is to heighten the senses and how we come to the world every moment. This is not to make you hyper sensitive and fearful, it is to strip away the trashing about in how we spend a majority of our day. It is so we can rise up through the turbulent waters of Maya buoyant with the confidence that all can be resolved with a patient and compassionate heart.

ennead • \EN-ee-ad\ • noun
: a group of nine

Example Sentence:
Immediately following the show, viewers will be able to call or text in their votes for their favorite among this ennead of remaining contestants.

Did you know?
Since ancient times, various groups of people have considered nine to be a very special and sacred number. Legends and literature have long characterized groups of nine as having a special, in some cases magical, significance. Ancient Egyptians organized their gods into groups of nine; even today, their principal group of gods (headed by sun god Re-Atum) is called the "Great Ennead of Heliopolis." The "Ennead" English speakers use in that name traces to "ennea," the Greek word for "nine." "Ennead" is also used generally to refer to other groups of ancient gods. Furthermore, it is the name given to six sets of nine treatises by Greek philosopher Plotinus that were collected and organized by his 3rd-century disciple, Porphyry.

Koan #10...

By Vichara


Koan Monday on a Tuesday…”Without anxious thought, doing comes from being”. A number of times a day we can overload our mind / body system with information, creating a state of possible anxiousness and confusion. This multi-task, multi-stimuli state makes it difficult to come to clear answers. It is like when you have many programs opened up on your computer and the processing of information is significantly slowed down. If you close down any unnecessary programs the process of information increases. Much the same way our minds can have many programs of anxieties and irrelevant thoughts open that can slow down our natural process. If we still our mind through such practices as meditation it will free up the mental processes to respond quickly and efficiently, igniting a more spontaneous and natural response to whatever situation may arise.

marmoreal • \marh-MOR-ee-ul\ • adjective
: of, relating to, or suggestive of marble or a marble statue especially in coldness or aloofness

Example Sentence:
Mary sat silently in the corner of the room, her face expressing nothing but marmoreal calm.

Did you know?
Most marble-related words in English were chiseled from the Latin noun "marmor," meaning "marble." "Marmor" gave our language the word "marble" itself in the 12th century. It is also the parent of "marmoreal," which has been used in English since the mid-1600s. "Marbleize," another "marmor" descendant, came later, making its print debut around 1859

The hidden road...

By Vichara


I look at the moon nestled in a bed of stars floating out there, calmly passing through the night sky and think; I will never go there. But I think of where I have been and what I have seen and I believe that lay out, end-to-end, I would probably reach that illuminated orb that has beckoned many. We all regardless of the physical miles, traveled so far in our lives that a conventional map would not adequately translate the twists and turns, the peaks and valleys and of course the lost roads and dead ends. But of course the moments when we stand stalled, not seeing the next step from these dead ends, we need to take a moment and breathe. Allow the vista to unfold that hidden road and soon you will be on your way…maybe to the moon.

comminute • \KAH-muh-noot\ • verb
: to reduce to minute particles : pulverize

Example Sentence:
A mortar and pestle are used to comminute the herbs and roots before introducing them into the distilled alcohol.

Did you know?
What do "comminute," "pulverize," and "triturate" all have in common? All three words are derived from Latin and share the meaning "to reduce to small particles." "Comminute" can be traced back to the prefix "com-" and the verb "minuere," meaning "to lessen." "Pulverize" descends from a combination of "pulver-," meaning "dust" or "powder," with the suffix "-izare," which -- like the English "-ize" -- can mean "to cause to be." "Triturate" is borrowed from the past participle of the Latin "triturare," which means "to thresh." "Triturate" specifically refers to the use of rubbing or grinding to achieve pulverization, a process which could be said to resemble the use of rubbing to separate grains from harvested cereal plants.

Lighten the load...

By Vichara


The “road” stretches out in front of us and we question which way to go. We seek guidance of direction for this journey from many sources in hope that whatever advice we have been given or follow will be right. It won’t be some of the time but that is just part of the plan. Mistakes will be made but it is wise not to discard them as they benefit you as much as the triumphs, in fact maybe even more. Sounds simple enough right? Sounds a bit remedial but we will sometimes forget this and fall again over the same “rock” in the road. Pick it up, put it in your “satchel of lessons learned” and take it with you. By having it’s figurative presence with you will raise the cognizant attention you will pay to similar situations and with the other lessons you have learned, lead to the most efficient and logical answers you need. The satchel will not get heavier but lighter. Simple yes, but good things to remember.

bibelot • \BEE-buh-loh\ • noun
: a small household ornament or decorative object : trinket

Example Sentence:
Donna's children often tease her about her hobby of collecting quaint bibelots, which can be found everywhere throughout her house.

Did you know?
Can you think of a six-letter synonym of "bibelot" that starts with the letter "g"? No? How about an eight-letter one? Crossword puzzle whizzes might guess that the words we are thinking of are "gewgaw" and "gimcrack." But "bibelot," which English speakers borrowed from French in the late 1800s, has uses beyond wordplay. In addition to its general use as a synonym of "trinket," it can refer specifically to a miniature book of elegant design (such as those made by Tiffany and Faberge). It also appears regularly in the names of things as diverse as restaurants and show dogs.

Keep your eyes open...

By Vichara


Keep your “eyes” open. That’s not just in the literal sense ether. If we are blind to the “truths” that exist or turn our eyes away in trepidation, we will falter. It may not be this minute or hour but the accumulative blindness to “truths” will put you at a disadvantage. Of course sometimes we feel that by turning our heads that there is always a chance that things will resolve, things will go away or just ignore them. Ignorance is not bliss, ignorance perpetuates instability. Be well informed, keep you eyes open and meet the “truths” with equanimity and the resolutions that you feel would be difficult, will be able to be met.

inflammable • \in-FLAM-uh-bul\ • adjective
1 : flammable
2 : easily inflamed, excited, or angered : irascible

Example Sentence:
The messenger trembled as he stuttered out the news of the army's defeat to the highly inflammable king.

Did you know?
"Combustible" and "incombustible" are opposites but "flammable" and "inflammable" are synonyms. Why? The "in-" of "incombustible" is a common prefix meaning "not," but the "in-" of "inflammable" is a different prefix. "Inflammable," which dates back to 1605, descends from Latin "inflammare" ("to inflame"), itself from "in-" (here meaning "in" or "into") plus "flammare" ("to flame"). "Flammable" also comes from "flammare," but didn't enter English until 1813. In the early 20th century, firefighters worried that people might think "inflammable" meant "not able to catch fire," so they adopted "flammable" and "nonflammable" as official safety labels and encouraged their use to prevent confusion. In general use, "flammable" is now the preferred term for describing things that can catch fire, but "inflammable" is still occasionally used with that meaning as well.

A change...

By Vichara


If there is acknowledgment within yourself with a desire for change, you are half way there. If your awareness of the world around is heightened, the seed has been planted. If you find yourself talking about social and moral values, the shift has already happened. Sooner or later and hopefully sooner awareness arises inside you and creates the catalyst for change and moves your dialogue from internal to external. From this point you will be drawn to other voices that will encourage your steps and like kindred souls finally meeting, will set down the demarcation point for change. Not only for you but the world around you. But please remember this, be kind to yourself and move forward with patience, love and compassion.

holus-bolus • \hoh-lus-BOH-lus\ • adverb
: all at once

Example Sentence:
Incredibly, the company shuttered its factory holus-bolus, with no regard for the livelihoods of the men and women working there.

Did you know?
The story of "holus-bolus" is not a hard one to swallow. "Holus-bolus" originated in English dialect in the mid-19th century and is believed to be a waggish reduplication of the word "bolus." "Bolus" is from the Greek word "bolos," meaning "lump," and has retained that Greek meaning. In English, "bolus" has additionally come to mean "a large pill," "a mass of chewed food," or "a dose of a drug given intravenously." Considering this "lumpish" history, it's not hard to see how "holus-bolus," a word meaning "all at once" or "all in a lump," came about.