Koan #18...

By Vichara


Koan #18 “Don’t search for truth, simply stop having opinions”. Think of how many opinions we have in one day. Too many to really recall I would speculate. When there are to many they can obscure the intuitive insight that we all have. Our consciousness is like a vast and limitless clear blue sky and our ideas and opinions are like clouds passing by. When we focus on the clouds we miss out on the empty vastness and the ability to gain insight. Sometimes you may want to stop frantically trying to have an opinion about what is going on and simply say, “don’t know”. By embracing the “don’t know” confusion will dissipate and your intuitive nature grows stronger. In Zen wisdom is not found by having ideas but experiencing life directly through not knowing.

tristful • \TRIST-ful\ • adjective

: sad, melancholy

Example Sentence:

"And, come four o'clock, the Winter Garden is packed with tea parties gobbling cucumber sandwiches …, while a tristful harpist completes recollections of rainy afternoons trapped in British seaside palm courts…." (Simon Schama, The New Yorker, May 31, 2004)

Did you know?

The Middle English word "trist," from which "tristful" is derived, means "sad." Today, we spell this word "triste" (echoing the spelling of a French ancestor), whereas "tristful" has continued to be spelled without the "e." Is there a connection between "triste" ("sad") and "tryst" ("a secret rendezvous of lovers")? Not exactly. "Tryst" can be traced back to a Middle English "trist," but it is a different word, one that was a synonym of "trust." This word eventually fell into disuse, but before doing so, it may have given rise to a word for a station used by hunters, which is in turn believed to have led to "tryst."

The waves of emotions...

By Vichara


Emotions and thoughts can be like large waves crashing in succession all around you. A wave of worry followed by a wave of remorse followed by a wave of obligation and concern. It never seems to stop, they gather strength from what is churning in our heads and perpetually keep rolling one after another after another until you feel that the storm never seems to stop. While it may seem that there is no way to stop these waves there may be ways to quell the intensity of them. After all, your mind is creating these waves so our mind should be able to control them, right?

Anyone wishing to know one type of methodology to quell these waves e-mail me (craig.renwick@fox.com) and I will send simple instructions to you.

inoculate • \ih-NAHK-yuh-layt\ • verb

1 a : to introduce a microorganism into b : to introduce (as a microorganism) into a suitable situation for growth * c : to introduce immunologically active material (as an antibody or antigen) into especially in order to treat or prevent a disease

2 : to introduce something into the mind of

3 : to protect as if by inoculation

Example Sentence:

In 1796, the English physician Edward Jenner discovered that inoculating people with cowpox could provide immunity against smallpox.

Did you know?

If you think you see a connection between "inoculate" and "ocular" ("of or relating to the eye"), you are not mistaken -- both words look back to "oculus," the Latin word for "eye." But what does the eye have to do with inoculation? Our answer lies in the original use in English of "inoculate" in Middle English: "to insert a bud in a plant." Latin "oculus" was sometimes applied to things that were seen to resemble eyes, and one such thing was the bud of a plant. "Inoculate" was later applied to other forms of engrafting or implanting, including the introduction of vaccines as a preventative against disease.

Thanksgiving 2009...

By Vichara


What are you thankful for? This is the day we are to set aside to give thanks for what we have. To put aside the frenetic daily activities, stop and reflect with those around us of the gratitude we have for the things we have and can share. The family that has gathered physically and in our hearts and all the wonderful opportunities we have had and what will be. Whatever stories we have heard as children about Indians, pilgrims, the cold, the hardships and corn at the core of this day we put aside. This month is the transitions of the seasons. The rural celebration of having completed the harvesting of foodstuffs for the winter months and gathering our families and friends who toiled together with the collective harvest no being represented on the table. While for the most of us that type of lifestyle barely exists personally so try to take a moment away from the mutated gorging, excessive football watching, tryptophan coma afternoon to find one thing to be thankful of and one thing you could do to make things better for you and those around. Think about it like planting a “seed of potentiality” that could reap a harvest of blessings for you and those around you at this time next year.

scrumptious • \SKRUMP-shus\ • adjective

: delightful, excellent; especially : delicious

Example Sentence:

To celebrate their first Thanksgiving in their new home, Ilene and Paul prepared a scrumptious feast for 12 guests.

Did you know?

First appearing in English in 1830, "scrumptious" is a mouth-watering word that is used to describe what is delightful and delectable. It probably originated as an alteration of "sumptuous," and it carries the elegant and wonderful connotations of its parent. ("Sumptuous" derives via Middle English from the Latin verb "sumere," meaning "to take or spend.") British author Roald Dahl had some fun with “scrumptious,” and created a delightful coinage, when he inserted the infix “-diddly-” into the word to make “scrumdiddlyumptious,” the word that chocolate magnate Willy Wonka uses to name his best-selling treats in his novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964).

A new direction...

By Vichara


If you believe it, then you can. If you can see, it will appear. Lift the restrictions off of tomorrow by feeling yourself of the events from the past. Only by this liberation can you present and meet the world in each moment with clarity, compassion and equanimity.

temerarious • \tem-uh-RAIR-ee-us\ • adjective

: marked by temerity : rashly or presumptuously daring

Example Sentence:

The brave explorer set off for the unplumbed depths of the dangerous cave with only a few supplies and one temerarious companion.

Did you know?

If you have guessed that "temerarious" may be related to the somewhat more common word "temerity," you are correct. "Temerarious" was borrowed into English in the early 16th century from Latin "temerarius," which in turn derives from Latin "temere," meaning "blindly" or" recklessly." "Temerity," which arrived in English over a century earlier, also derives from "temere"; another descendant is the rare word "intemerate" (meaning "pure" or "undefiled"). "Temere" itself is akin to Old High German "demar," Latin "tenebrae," and Sanskrit "tamas," all of which have associations with darkness.

Escape?

By Vichara


You cannot escape with escapism. Just when you believe that you have left “whatever” behind, perhaps by some distractions you think will chase it away, it always comes back. You truly cannot escape from things because once a question, incident or task manifests itself within your path it needs to be resolved. The circumstance of events creates things especially for you and others to facilitate growth and understanding. Once it has presented itself it is there for a reason to be addressed. It is not just “bad” things but “good” things as well. It is all of them because ultimately they all have value and worth. Don’t try to escape, shake hands with it, learn and grow.

macédoine • \mass-uh-DWAHN\ • noun

1 : a confused mixture : medley

2 : a mixture of fruits or vegetables served as a salad or cocktail or in a jellied dessert or used in a sauce or as a garnish

Example Sentence:

The focal point of the painting is a mesmerizing macédoine of warm colors.

Did you know?

"Macédoine" is the French name for Macedonia, a region on the Balkan Peninsula that is now part of Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Historically, this area has been home to a richly varied population encompassing many ethnic groups. Etymologists believe that the cultural heterogeneity of the region may have inspired people to use its name as a generic term for any kind of wildly jumbled mixture. English speakers borrowed "macédoine" early in the 19th century. The word took on its more specific "salad" sense later in the century.

Koan #17...

By Vichara


Koan Monday #17 “Gaze at the stars but walk on the earth”. Of course this Koan has an obvious message in remembering that even though we can dream it is always good to have some realistic stability in our everyday lives. But that of course assumes that we recognize these two fields of existence. We have perhaps seen some people who seem to live life in grand jesters and are at times oblivious to the world around them. Then there are those whose gaze seems to be figuratively cast downwards as if tied to every object around them. In so many ways we are like both of these teeter-tottering to both extremes. What this Koan of course is saying is to find the fulcrum point between these. Find a path of balance where we can retain the vision of dreams to accelerate of “hearts” while wearing really comfortable shoes. J

pedantic • \pih-DAN-tik\ • adjective

1 : narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned

2 : unimaginative, pedestrian

Example Sentence:

Many students at the lecture were confused about what the pedantic professor was saying because he insisted on using highly elevated diction.

Did you know?

In Shakespeare's day, a pedant was a male schoolteacher. The word's meaning was close to that of the Italian "pedante," from which the English word was adapted. Someone who was pedantic was simply a tutor or teacher. But some instructional pedants of the day must have been pompous and dull, because by the early 1600s both "pedant" and "pedantic" had gained extended senses referring to anyone who was obnoxiously and tediously devoted to his or her own academic acumen.

Speak up...

By Vichara


If you have the answers, speak up. If they have manifested with innocence and purity they will have value. If they have risen through maliciousness and vengeance they will fall flat, as they should.

galvanize • \GAL-vuh-nyze\ • verb

1 : to stimulate with an electric current

2 : to excite or be excited as if by an electric shock

3 : to coat (iron or steel) with zinc; especially : to immerse in molten zinc to

produce a coating of zinc-iron alloy

Example Sentence:

“The Russians launched a satellite into space, and the sudden realization that we were falling behind galvanized Americans into action.” -- Bill Powell, Newsweek, October 9, 1989

Did you know?

Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician and physicist who, in the 1770s, studied the electrical nature of nerve impulses by applying electrical stimulation to frogs’ leg muscles, causing them to contract. Although Galvani’s theory that animal tissue contained an innate electrical impulse was disproven, the Italian word "galvanismo" came to describe a current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action. English speakers borrowed the word as "galvanism" in 1797; the verb "galvanize" was introduced in 1802. Charlotte Brontë, in 1853, used the verb figuratively in her novel Villette: "Her approach always galvanized him to new and spasmodic life." These days, "galvanize" also means to cover metal with zinc or a zinc alloy to protect from rust (as in galvanized carpentry nails).

Time for "maintenance"?

By Vichara


Do you need new spark plugs for your mind? As they say, “back in the day”, there was sometimes the need when your car was running rough to check the spark plugs. Those important little items in the mechanism of the car that provides the electrical charge to ensure all of the cylinders that propel your vehicle forward are all firing together. If one of these little guys had some material build-up and prevented it from igniting the whole system of the car would be sluggish and stall out. In much the same way if there are mental hindrances, things in your own mind that are having a stalling effect in your movement forward then perhaps it may be time to clean your own mental spark plugs or replace them. But where do you find a mechanic for that you may ask? It’s basically you! You may get “technical” assistance from some life “manuals” like literature, spiritual writings, conversations and meditation but it’s really up to you to clean the bodily spark plug heads and gain clarity to propel you forward.

anachronism • \uh-NAK-ruh-niz-um\ • noun

1 : an error in chronology; especially : a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other

2 : a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place; especially : one from a former age that is incongruous in the present

Example Sentence:

Manual typewriters and slide rules are often regarded as anachronisms in this age of computers and calculators.

Did you know?

An anachronism is something that is out of place in terms of time or chronology. The word derives from "chronos," the Greek word for "time," and "ana-," a Greek prefix meaning "up," "back," or "again." When it was first used in English in the 17th century, "anachronism" referred to an error in the dating of something (as, for example, in etymology, when a word or use is mistakenly assumed to have arisen earlier than it did). Anachronisms were sometimes distinguished from parachronisms, chronological errors in which dates are set later than is correct. But "parachronism" did not stand the test of time. It is now a very rare word.

The self or you?...

By Vichara


What is more important; you or your self? The actual you with all the nooks and crannies of emotions or the self which you present to the world? You are probably thinking you can’t have one without the other, they are tied together right? Why yes they are but the self is the entity protected in many ways by the armor of defense mechanisms and projections that you want to show the world. While yes to show a whole you could be fraught with anxieties that if you were out there completely it would be open to possible manipulation by others. Sadly that could be true but not to be more of you, the self that is projected could consume who you truly are and get lost. Think of the self as a comfortable windbreaker jacket, while it can serve its function it is you that is more important.

littoral • \LIT-uh-rul\ • adjective

: of, relating to, or situated or growing on or near a shore especially of the sea

Example Sentence:

The report shows dramatic improvement in the condition of the state's littoral waters since the cleanup effort began.

Did you know?

You're most likely to encounter "littoral" in contexts relating to the military and marine sciences. A "littoral combat ship" is a fast and easily maneuverable combat ship built for use in coastal waters. And in marine ecology, the "littoral zone" is a coastal zone characterized by abundant dissolved oxygen, sunlight, nutrients, and generally high wave energies and water motion. Most of us, however, are more likely to encounter the noun "littoral," which refers to a coastal region (and more technically, to the shore zone between the high tide and low tide points). Although the adjective is older -- dating from the mid 17th century -- the noun, which dates from the early 19th century, is more common. "Littoral" comes to English from Latin "litoralis," itself from "litor-" or "litus," meaning "seashore."

Search for answers...

By Vichara


We all just want answers, all the time. Is this the right thing to do? Does this look ok? Will I be all right? Did I hurt their feelings? Do they like me? Reassurance of not only of your safety and well-being but safety and reassurance of your heart. For the most of us we need to know in to some degree, if in those that we invest our heart and spirit in do actually care for us. A very hard question to answer with true conviction. The caution here however is if there is a dependence on someone else’s measurement then you will always be in a flux and increase your need for reassurance and answers. Find comfort and confidence in you first. Build an identity of yourself with compassion and patience and you will gain a foundation where the search for answers and reassurance will decrease and a life with conviction and confidence will increase.

flyting • \FLY-ting\ • noun

: a dispute or exchange of personal abuse in verse form

Example Sentence:

In the first flyting in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice wittily responds to Benedick's line "What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?" with "Is it possible Disdain should die while she hath such meet / food to feed it as Signior Benedick?"

Did you know?

Flyting in 15th- and 16th-century Scotland is analogous to a modern-day rap competition during which rappers improvise clever disses and put-downs against their opponents. Similarly, the makars (a Scottish word for "poets") engaged in verbal duels in which they voiced extravagant invectives in verse against their rivals. The base of "flyting" is the ancient verb "flyte" (also spelled "flite"), meaning "to contend" or "to quarrel."

Koan #16...

By Vichara


Koan Monday – “You smile the world changes”. It is often said that the simplest things can be profound. What could be anymore than just that than a simple smile given out of compassion and love? One of the most basic human needs is to feel love. It is love that can lift us out of sense of separateness, which is the root of suffering. If we simply smile out of love we reach out across the separateness and connect with the world around us in profound ways. You may have been in a situation, maybe somewhere you didn’t know the language being spoken but with a shared smile you create a bridge of communication that transcends language. When we smile, others will smile. When we show compassion others will show compassion and what better place to start than with a simple smile? ☺

dissertate • \DISS-er-tayt\ • verb
: to speak or write at length : dissert; also : to write a dissertation

Example Sentence:
Amy shared with her academic advisor her plans to dissertate on the subject of women’s roles in postcolonial India.

Did you know?
English speakers created the word "dissert" in the mid-17th century, but a single word for the concept was apparently not enough because "dissertate" appeared in the language less than a hundred years later. Both words descend from the Latin noun "dissertus," which shares their meaning. ("Dissert" came directly from "dissertus," whereas "dissertate" came by way of "dissertatus," past participle of "dissertare," meaning "to discuss, argue, or debate.") "Dissertus" itself traces back to the verb "disserere," formed by combining the prefix "dis-" and "serere" ("to place, arrange, or join together"). Other descendants of "serere" in English include "assert," "insert," and even "series."

Transcendence...

By Vichara


What is it that will inspire you to reach beyond the barrier of conformity and step into the realm of transcendence? Will you find it in your sock drawer, on the #3 lane on the freeway, in the half-filled coffee mug in front of you? Where will it be? It’s out there in many places and you will find it when you are ready. When you lift your own resistance to the “possibilities” turn the corner of “complicacy” and desire more illumination. I don’t necessarily recommend conducting a search for it; it can be a slippery fellow. Instead if you have more presence in your step, a little more cognizant value to your vision things there will be a better chance of discovery. However, I wouldn’t necessarily count out finding it in your sock drawer.

gust • \GUST\ • noun
: keen delight

Example Sentence:
The hungry children ate every morsel with gust.

Did you know?
You're no doubt familiar with the simple "gust" that means "a brief burst of wind." But that word, which first appeared in print in 1588, was preceded at least a century and a half earlier by a differently derived homograph. The windy "gust" is probably derived from an Old Norse word, whereas our featured word today (which is now considerably rarer than its look-alike) comes to us through Middle English from "gustus," the Latin word for "taste." "Gustus" gave English another word as well. "Gusto" (which now usually means "zest," but can also mean "an individual or specific taste") comes to us from "gustus" by way of Italian

The conscious step forward...

By Vichara


There is no automatic entitlement in this life. Even the act of our first breath is dependent on our shear will to live and draw in the air that will initiate this life outside of the womb. From that point in your developed skills, knowledge and tenacity will function as the catalyst for change and growth until your last breath. With every inhale you take there is also an exhale and with every thought there is a conscious decision made for each circumstance. Unlike animals, which act of out instinct and survival, hopefully the decisions you make today are tempered by love and compassion.

douceur • \doo-SER\ • noun
: a conciliatory gift

Example Sentence:
While waiting for Mark’s decision on the company’s contract offer, the CEO sent him two tickets to a Broadway show as a douceur.

Did you know?
In French, "douceur" means "pleasantness," and it is often used in phrases such as "douceur de vivre" ("the pleasure of life"). The word derives from the Latin adjective "dulcis," meaning "sweet." A douceur is a gift or payment -- sometimes, but not necessarily, considered a bribe -- provided by someone to enhance or "sweeten" a deal. In the United Kingdom, "douceur" specifically refers to a tax benefit given to someone who sells a historical artifact to a public collection. Other sweet treats that "dulcis" has given to our language include "dulcet" (having a "sweet" sound that is pleasing to the ear) and "dulcimer" (a kind of stringed instrument that provides "sweet" music).

...we will remember them...

By Vichara


…and with the going down of the sun, we will remember them. Today marks the day that around the country we take time to remember those family members and people that we know that served their country to defend the freedoms we now know. To some it is just a day off from school or work with little acknowledgment of the reasons why. And for some rightly so as they may not have a direct connection to those that an early age decided willingly that it was the noble thing to do to defend their country and others from threats to our lives and freedom. While not necessarily attractive to be proud of things our veterans did during the course of battle, we can honor their courage that they thought it was the right things to do and retain the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted. My father and 5 of my uncles did this in WWII and all came back and for that I thank them and remember them today.

exhilarate • \ig-ZIL-uh-rayt\ • verb
1 a : to make cheerful and excited * b : enliven, excite
2 : refresh, stimulate

Example Sentence:
“Whooshing down a snow-covered mountain at high speed exhilarates me,” said Tara, explaining her love of skiing.

Did you know?
Many people find "exhilarate" a difficult word to spell. It's easy to forget that silent "h" in there, and is it an "er" or "ar" after the "l"? It may be easier to remember the spelling if you know that "exhilarate" is ultimately derived from the Latin adjective "hilarus," meaning "cheerful." (This also explains why the earliest meaning of "exhilarate" is "to make cheerful.") "Exhilarate" comes from "exhilaratus," the past participle of "exhilarare," which is formed by combining "ex-" and "hilarare," a verb that derives from "hilarus" and means "to cheer or gladden." If "hilarus" looks familiar, that may be because it's also the source of "hilarious" and "hilarity" (as well as "hilariously" and "hilariousness," of course).

A "spark"...

By Vichara


There is a “spark” inside everyone that could ignite a revolution. I am not implying an uprising that would ignite violence and destruction. No, I’m suggesting a movement to change the course of our current lives from complacency to engagement. And with engagement responsibility for your actions and inertia with compassion.

rectify • \REK-tuh-fye\ • verb
1 : to set right : remedy
2 : to purify (as alcohol) especially by repeated or fractional distillation
3 : to correct by removing errors : adjust

Example Sentence:
The night before the Web site was to go live, the programmers worked frantically to rectify several unresolved security problems.

Did you know?
Which of the following words does not share its ancestry with "rectify"?
1) direct 2) regimen 3) obstruct 4) correct 5) resurrection
Like "rectify," four of these words ultimately come from Latin "regere," which can mean "to lead straight," "to direct," or "to rule." "Correct" and "direct" come from "regere" via Latin "corrigere" and "dirigere," respectively. "Resurrection" comes from Latin "resurgere," whose stem "surgere," meaning "to rise," is a combination of "sub-" and "regere." "Regimen" is from Latin "regimen" ("position of authority," "direction," "set of rules"), itself from "regere." And "rectify" is from "regere" by way of Latin "rectus" ("right"). "Obstruct" is the only one of the set above that has no relation to "rectify." It traces back to Latin "struere," meaning "to build" or "to heap up."

Koan #15...

By Vichara


Koan Monday…”The seeds of the past are the fruits of the future”. We have all heard “you have good karma” or “oh, that’s just bad karma”. Buddhism teaches that wherever you are now that is created by our previous choices, creating a sort of cosmic justice. If you have done good things then good things happen and if you have done bad things, well…you know. Take a moment to reflect on the good and bad choices that you made. What can you learn from these previous situations? What seeds have you created and what fruit will they produce in the future? Nobody likes to see weeds growing in their garden so endeavor not to plant these seeds in your garden or anyone else’s garden. Karma is not just something that will take time to effect us it can also be immediate. So be careful of the seeds you produce and keep your “garden” free from weeds.

docile • \DAH-sul\ • adjective
1 : easily taught
2 : easily led or managed

Example Sentence:
"Quite docile and harmless was Billy, and it was pitiful to see how hard he tried to learn, as if groping dimly after the lost knowledge which had cost him so much." (Louisa May Alcott, Little Men)

Did you know?
Docile students can make teaching a lot easier. Nowadays, calling students "docile" indicates they aren't trouble-makers. But there's more than just good behavior connecting docility to teachability. The original meaning of "docile" is more to the point: "readily absorbing something taught." "The docile mind may soon thy precepts know," rendered Ben Jonson, for example, in a 17th-century translation of the Roman poet Horace. "Docile" comes from Latin "docēre," which means "to teach." Other descendants of "docēre" include "doctrine" (which can mean "something that is taught"), "document" (the earliest meaning of which was "instruction"), and "doctor" and "docent" (both of which can refer to college teachers)

Go the distance...

By Vichara


Where can you go tomorrow when you have not even “lived” this day yet? Yes there is some element of preparedness that would and prove to be useful but more than likely if you were cognizant in each moment the resolve and resources would be apparent. So let’s see if we can go the distance, just for today. No I’m not talking about lacing up your shoes for a 20K but lacing up the whole package, mind, body & soul. See if we can make a difference today even if it is in a minor, it’s still significant. As that sports company says, just do it! See you out on the track!

nudnik • \NOOD-nik (the “OO” is as in “good”)\ • noun
: a person who is a bore or nuisance

Example Sentence:
James worried that he would never finish his work if the office nudnik didn't quit hanging around his cubicle.

Did you know?
The suffix "-nik" came to English through Yiddish (and ultimately from Polish and Ukrainian). It means "one connected with or characterized by being." You might be familiar with "beatnik," "computernik," or "neatnik," but what about "no-goodnik" or "allrightnik"? The suffix "-nik" is frequently used in English to create nonce words that are often jocular or slightly derogatory. Some theorize that the popularity of the suffix was enhanced by Russian "Sputnik," as well as Al Capp's frequent use of "-nik" words in his "L'il Abner" cartoons. The "nud-" of the Yiddish borrowing "nudnik" ultimately comes from the Polish word "nuda," meaning "

What you create...

By Vichara


You will burn yourself with the fire you create. You will cut yourself with razor words you flail about and you diminish yourself with the limitations you place yourself. It is your choice what path you choose. In the creation of one’s actions also comes responsibility of accepting the consequences. We will all develop defense mechanisms that try to justify the results and proceeds of what we do but if our actions stand on their own, without excuses, the path will be clearer. Yes we all will falter from time to time but in the mere act of conducting your words and deeds with the foundation of compassion, love and patience you steps moving forward will be unencumbered and instilled a clearer confidence and vision.

maugre • \MAW-gur\ • preposition
Example Sentence:
"I love thee so that, maugre all thy pride, / Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide." (Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act III, Scene i)

Did you know?
"Maugre" is now quite rare, but having served the English language for more than 700 years, it's due whatever rest it's currently enjoying. Although it may not be a word worth incorporating into your expressive vocabulary, being familiar with it will be helpful in reading the works of such authors as Shakespeare, Scott, Milton, and, as in this quote from his Essays, First Series, Emerson: "By virtue of this inevitable nature, private will is overpowered, and, maugre our efforts or our imperfections, your genius will speak from you, and mine from me." The word is Anglo-French in origin, coming from "mal" or "mau," meaning "evil," and "gré," meaning "grace, favor."

A belief system...

By Vichara


Your belief system needs to be able to support and protect you. Make sure that the ever-growing reservoir is being filed with thoughts and actions that contain genuine merit. Ensure they do not need to justify themselves with extraneous words and they are based in compassion. When filtered in this manner they will sustain and create a foundation with moral and humanistic fortitude. There is not an obligation to do this it is just a suggestion. After all it’s your path.


invective • \in-VEK-tiv\ • noun
1 : an abusive expression or speech
2 : insulting or abusive language : vituperation

Example Sentence:
The sonnet is an invective against the poet's wife and the man who cuckolded him.

Did you know?
"Invective" began life in the 15th century as an adjective meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse." In 1523, it appeared in print as a noun meaning "an example of abusive speech." Eventually, the noun developed a second sense applying to abusive language as a whole. "Invective" comes to us from the Middle French word "invectif," which in turn derives from Latin "invectivus," meaning "reproachful, abusive." ("Invectivus" comes from Latin "invectus," past participle of the verb "invehere," one form of which means "to assail with words.") "Invective" is similar to "abuse," but it tends to suggest not only anger and vehemence, but also verbal and rhetorical skill. It sometimes implies public denunciation, as in "blistering political invective."

Open shores...

By Vichara


You are an island, a collective of senses, tasks, emotions and declaratives. A mass of energies that will astound you with their depth and resourcefulness if…you grant them space, serenity and compassionate support to develop and create your own personal language that could not only guide your heart but for those around you as well. Keep the waters of love, communication and openness free from hindrances and obstacles. Build a channel of shared knowledge that can support and elevate each other. Retain dams and obstacles and you perpetuate selfishness and isolationist attitudes. Yes celebrate the unique quality of being your own island but share in its strength, beauty, knowledge and open shores of communication.


regimen • \REJ-uh-mun\ • noun
1 : a systematic course of treatment or training
2 : government, rule
3 : a government in power : regime

Example Sentence:
Sherry’s personal trainer at the gym started her on a workout regimen of 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes of weight training.

Did you know?
We borrowed "regimen" straight from Latin, spelling and all -- but in Latin, the word simply meant "rule" or "government." In English, it usually refers to a system of rules or guidelines, often for living a healthy life or taking a regular dose of exercise. The Latin "regimen" derives from another Latin word, the verb "regere," which means "to lead straight" or "to rule." If you trace straight back from "regere," you'll find that "regimen" has plenty of lexical kin, including "correct," "erect," "region," "rule," and "surge." If you are using the "training" sense of "regimen," be careful not to confuse the word with "regiment," another "regere" descendant, which is used for a military unit.

Koan #14...

By Vichara


Koan Monday…”The fearless hero is a loving child”. Compassion brings courage and the power to overcome fear. We often hear stories of fearlessness when individuals are motivated by love. Great feats of strength, resourcefulness from the most unlikely sources. We all have these qualities. While having an innocent and loving heart of a child we can have the resilience and stamina of a well trained athlete. The fear may never completely disappear but creating this resilient armor you can face most obstacles. Take the attitude of a compassionate heart and you can fearlessly meet the challenges you meet everyday. Do not succumb to cynicism or defensiveness but be polished by life rather then be ground down by it. You can raise up your armor when needed but remember a true hero’s strength lies in their compassion and openness, not in their armor.

voluble • \VAHL-yuh-bul\ • adjective
1 : easily rolling or turning : rotating
2 : characterized by ready or rapid speech : glib, fluent

Example Sentence:
The young man proved to be a voluble informer who would tell stories of bookies, smugglers, and hit men to the detectives for hours.

Did you know?
English has many terms for gabby types, but it's important to choose the right word to get across what kind of chatterbox you mean. "Talkative" usually implies a readiness to engage in talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation. "Loquacious" generally suggests the power to express oneself fluently, articulately, or glibly, but it can also mean "talking excessively." "Garrulous" is even stronger in its suggestion of excessive talkativeness; it is most often used for tedious, rambling talkers. "Voluble" describes an individual who speaks easily and often.