Words, Words, Words, Words

I really want an iPod, and can't afford one. Tragic, no?

I think I might tell my family to just chip in and buy me one for Christmas. Thing is, I don't often get to listen to music. Though I could fool myself into thinking I'd start exersising because I'll have the music to distract me. Or something.

Currently I'm listening to my MP3 player, which I do love, because over at house_music this lovely person made MP3s of songs from the show House, and I was able to get the ones I like on my player. My player, however, only holds a few songs, not the bazillion an iPod holds.

Question for ya'all.

Pot smoking. There was this post on buddhists and the guy was basically wondering if it would go against his practise to 'keep his friend company' by smoking pot, or something. Some people took me to task for pointing out that, whatever one's personal view, pot is illegal, and therefore you could be messing with your karma by going against the 'right thinking' thing. Many people pointed out that some laws are meant to be broken. Frankly I don't think a bunch of people smoking pot constitutes civil disobedience, but maybe my own experiences are colouring my opinion. What do you think?

I just think, by a certain age, one should outgrow things like drinking to excess* and smoking pot. And I do think one could have a couple of glasses of wine and be fine, but smoking pot immediately impairs you.

Anyhoodles, what are your opinions?

*not to say one still can't do that on occasion - one suffers for it more than one did when one was young

I just ordered tickets to see the Dalai Lama at Rutgers University in September.

I'm very excited.

We must make a clear distinction between religious institutions and the practice of religion. Religious institutions and politics should stay apart.

That's the Dalai Lama's take on the seperation of church and state, I guess.

I have to say I agree with the difference between religious institutiions and the practice of religion. I've often felt that religion and faith are sometimes two different things.

Lots of bad things have happened in the name of a relgion, but not, when you think about it, in the name of God.

In other news, I'm feeling unaccountably depressed today.

I need some tea.

Thanks to zakkati for pointing this out to me.

It's the The Dalai Lama's birthday today.

He's 70 years old, and looks in good health. My birthday wish for him is to be able to go back to an independent Tibet sometime soon.

In honor of HH the Dalai Lama, here are a few recent quotes from my calendar:

I believe in humanity, and its level in a person is more important than his or her belief or faith.

Hatred comes from past lives. It is not grounded like wisdom and compassion and can therefore be uprooted and removed.

One can't achieve happiness merely through education and knowledge, though they are important, but should also imbibe compassion and nonviolence.

When I say that human nature is gentleness, it is not 100 percent so. Every human being has that nature, but there are many people acting against their nature, being false.

Many difficulties arise from ideological or even religious conflicts, and men fight each other for means and methods, losing sight of their human ends and goals.

Free Tibet.