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August 30, 2006
catalyst foundatiion
doing some research on nonprofit organizations in vietnam and i stumbled upon this one. i know it's has nothing to do with surfing, but it does have to do with the soul & human spirit. so once again, i'd like to share with you all:
please check out this blog: http://bikingforhope.blogspot.com
Scott Parker, Co-Founder of Catalyst Foundation, will be Biking for Hope - 2000 miles from Oregon to Minnesota August 16- September 3, 2006 to raise awareness and money for girls living in a garbage dump of Rach Gia City (Kien Giang Province). Our goal is to raise $40,000 to send 300 children to school, to build a school where they can live and study, to start a job training program for the oldest, and most importantly to give them HOPE for a better future.
(single fin, could you put this one as one of our friend's blog to check out)
with love & gratitude,
soul sista'
Posted by soul sista' at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)
thich nhat hahn's precepts
i had a nice conversation on ichat with my dad this morning. funny how this is the way communication is coming to nowadays :) he inspired me to write a letter to thich nhat hahn, which i'll share with you all one day. it was a letter coming from the heart. my father wants to move back to vietnam one day & live a simple life.
anyway, just wanted to share:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. All systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.
Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout our entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.
Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.
Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. find ways to be with those who are suffering by all means, including personal contact and visits, images, sound. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.
Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of you life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.
Do not maintain anger or hatred. As soon as anger and hatred arise, practice the meditation on compassion in order to deeply understand the persons who have caused anger and hatred. Learn to look at other beings with the eyes of compassion.
Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Learn to practice breathing in order to regain composure of body and mind, to practice mindfulness, and to develop concentration and understanding.
Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest of to impress people. Do not utter words that cause diversion and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things you are not sure of. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.
Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community should, however, take a clear stand against oppression and injustice, and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.
Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to life. Select a vocation which helps realize your ideal compassion.
Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and to prevent war.
Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others but prevent others from enriching themselves from human suffering or the suffering of other beings.
Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only and instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. Sexual expression should not happen without love and commitment. In sexual relationships be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.
"Do not believe that I feel that I follow each and every of these precepts perfectly. I know I fail in many ways. None of us can fully fulfill any of these. However, I must work toward a goal. These are my goal. No words can replace practice, only practice can make the words."
~thich nhat hanh
Posted by soul sista' at 04:17 PM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2006
go figure
headed out last night for a quiet session at cliffs. long waits from 4pm-6. then it started to pick up & be more regular at dusk. over heard a funny conversation between soul sista & "Mr. go figure". we'll call him that for now and you'll see why in a few lines.
needless to say the story is like this. soul sista gets dropped in on by your typical alpha male on a regualr basis. she takes the high road everytime & shares with a big smile. she loves to surf & she loves people in general. meanwhile, these men are your typical clowns & will do this on a regular basis. now, insert entitled man "Mr. Go Figure" into the story.
he's typical in this manner... he's a local guy, surfs well w/ no leash, surfs well period.., lets hot girls take waves he doesn't want, talks to girls for the potential to hit on them or joke with them & stare at her, drops in on people when the wave is nice & he can out paddle the person next to him, also tends to only go for the set waves.
i hate to say this but i've been surfing with this guy for 2+ yrs & have figured out his style recently.
soul sista has reached a threshold in her surfing & now is charging more & more. taking bigger risks & paddling hard to fight the men off her waves. (& i'm damn proud of her that she can do that) our friend mention above now has to share. he no likey!
so last night he has a friendly chatter w/ soul sista about proper rules & who gets to do what in a good manner of sport talking. he brings up funny points & makes some general comments about dropping in, waiting turns etc. soul sista her own & brings up humor as a starting point & keeps it light w/ a couple solid quips. i couldn't help but to shut him down so i fired back w/ "well that's not true...there are at least 5 regulars out here tonight that have 30 years of surfing under their belts that drop in on people steady. such as XXX example right there 50yrds away."
Mr. Go Figure says nothing & paddles away after a minute or 2.
then later makes a comment about it's been so long in between sets that he now wonders who is in the poll position to take the first wave. in essence who is waiting the longest. so...soul sista goes "its mine but i'll share"
he looked confused w/ this comment. mind you a firecracker comment from a gal in hawaii means the general alpha man can no longer dominate & he must "pound on chest 2 show he main man monkey".
so the set waves arrive & lucky for me it's right at my spot about 40 yrds away from the dude. just far enough away but close enough for me. so...i take the wave...make the bottom turn & look up at the lip to see Mr. Go Figure shoulder hopping & dropping in on me.
WTF?
so i laugh and say..."go bra, c'mon on..no worries" as i wave my arms to let him on.
that's the ALOHA spirit....
surfing is not about how good you are at times. it's about getting along & sharing. especially on a sunday night after the swell is past & everybody is surfing small glassy waves.
next time i see "Mr. Go Figure" in the water. i'll be doing the same thing as he drops in on me.
sharing & smiling...
sf~
Posted by Single Fin at 02:53 PM | Comments (0)
August 26, 2006
double shot
nice session this sat morning. great day for the beach cruz'r. headed out to cliffs again in search of glass love. nice ride with some good light trade breezes starting to blow in. about 100 people in the water so catching a wave was more about how many people can you share it with and still make your section. not an uncommon site today to see 4 guys taking off on a over head out side set.
not to mention the pit was filled with kookie short boards. ah well...gotta just take it for what it is.
managed to catch a couple late drops and then made the paddle in. the ride home was sweet.
time to rest...then out again for a long afternoon session.
arms a made tired as we've been surfing every day now for 2 weeks. but...the summer in hawaii on the south shore is in full swing.
Posted by Single Fin at 06:02 PM | Comments (0)
head high and glassy...
..thats been the surf report for the past 2 days. yesterday was nice in the morning. swell built into the afternoon and on through the eve. this morning was epic. long long rights from "rights" into the inside at "cliffs". soft, clean, glassy, light teal blues, plenty fish swimming about, pink/ orange bursty sunrise & lots of locals dawn patrolers tear'n it up. this is and will be a reward for all those long windy months of choppy slop. diamond head is a fickle wave with lots of wind at times. so these days are so so worth every moment you can soak out there. tomorow will be a double session on the 8ft'r single fin.
speaking of which i did see soul sista get munched on a few 6ft'rs this week. :-) one was a great and late drop on a head high right. she made it down to the pit and the wave spit the single fin out from the wall. next thing i could see was her getting rolled into the wave as if it just made her part of it. then it sucked her up into the lip and threw her down into the pit over the falls. if that wasn't enough she went for the very next wave which was a little bigger. ....results? he he he. same thing. except this time i think she lost her top? the best part was her popping up from the set and stroking outside for the next round w/ a huge grin and super bloodshot eyes from getting pounded. i love to see people charge like that.
stoked!
Posted by Single Fin at 02:02 AM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2006
just another day...
busy, busy, busy...that's how it is these days since we've been back on the island. single fin is working like a mad man. thankfully, he enjoys his work and is his latest passion...herding cats & putting out video games. i am trying hard to live my balanced life. i, too, get to herd cats, my naturopathic colleagues of hawaii. planning for our big annual meeting in maui. seeing my clients, whom i've realized more and more how they are like family here in hawaii. getting out in the ocean has been our way to wash away the day. hiking in the mountains to gain some perspective on the bigger things in life. i love that feeling of realizing that we're so small in the grander scheme of things. i'm making a special effort to sit on my meditation cushion at least a couple times a day, even if it is for a few minutes. there's something about that feeling of stillness, that is so very rare to get during the day. alas, my answer to all our problems is meditation. it is our response to stress that messes us up.
living in paradise & making it happen everyday...full of gratitude for this moment in time. i surfed a new break yesterday at sunset. fast waves, had to jump up really quickly on my longboard. i was pretty proud of myself for being the only longboarder, in a shortboard break. i had a beautiful glassy wall right beside me, put out my hand and ran it across the water, way over my head, right at the cusp of a perfect wave and a wave that would completely pummel(sp?) me. i love that feeling!!
we took some beautiful pictures of flowers in the koko crater botanical garden over the week-end. once our graphic artist comes up for some air, i'll have him post them for you. the plumeria flowers are all in bloom. the smells are all so different & also slightly intoxicating. i can't seem to get enough of their scents. we saw plants from africa, madagascar, native hawaiian plants, cactus from the desert.
love & namaste,
soul sista'
Posted by soul sista' at 03:01 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2006
addicted to surf
surf, surf, surf...that's all i feel like doing by the end of the day. it's hotter than hell here. after my last client, single fin & i are out on the water to surf our day away. being on the mainland for 2 weeks truly made me realized how the ocean is such a way of life here for us. there's something about being able to jump in the water to cleanse the day away, to surf your cares away, to forget about all your problems and/or responsibilities. no wonder nothing ever gets done here. the sunset surf crowd is a different breed from the dawn patrol crowd. it's nice to play around and surf different times of the day and to just observe the energy around you. i can honestly say that i'm addicted to surfing. i didn't think it was possible. there's something about the waves, the ocean, being on my board, and just watching all around me. doing dawn patrol tomorrow morning. it'll be a nice change from the evening crowd. but then again, i have a feeling it may be a double session for us tomorrow.
Posted by soul sista' at 02:01 AM | Comments (0)
August 18, 2006
day trippin (part 3)
more shots from the second leg around the new public library.
Posted by Single Fin at 07:35 PM | Comments (1)
day trippin in seattle (part 2)
finally had a day of solo time. needed to get jacked up one java and hit the streets for a design tour of my own. take a look if you like. some fun shots to get a nice jetsons feel.
Posted by Single Fin at 07:28 PM | Comments (1)
August 15, 2006
inspiration
just got back from 2 weeks of travel in the pacific northwest. it is soooo good to be home. this place is so magical. it's easy to take it for granted when you're in the island too long. i guess that's what you call "island fever". i've come back refreshed, renewed, inspired, and full of love.
single fin & i went on a nice little walk back in the valley to our little waterfall. the flowers were in full bloom, fragrant smells everywhere you went, guava fruit on the ground, bright, vibrant colors surround us, the coolness of the water against our skin...me & my best friend. life is beautiful.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask our selves 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
Talented and fabulous??'
Actually, who are you NOT to be??
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world,
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
Other people won't feel inadequate around you.
We are born to make manifest the Glory of God that
is within us,
It is not just in SOME of us,
It is in EVERYONE,
And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other
People permission to do the same,
As we are liberated from fear, our presence automatically
liberates others."
~nelson mandela
Posted by soul sista' at 01:38 PM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2006
sunday sessions
it was great to be back in the water. especially after 2 weeks on the mainland w/ no surf. was feeling alittle ansy when i fflew in last night. the moment i go on the plane i was already planning on where & when to jump in the water asap. this brings me to this mornings waves that were coming in @ high tide. so the over all feel was mushy & choppy. still had a few chest high sets roll in every now & again. alittle akward at first, guess i just needed a few good wipeouts to clear the head. bishman dragged out his 10ft'r single fin. damn that thing is a hog. you can sit 20-40 yrds deeper than everyone & just wait for your wave of choice. not to mention the epoxy lightness when turning. twas nice to get on that large of a board again. there is just something about loggin that can't be beat for an easy day of surfing.
more of a classic moment i would say. just cruz'n on a log single fin, sunday morning, sun shining,teal blue h2o & lots of people just having fun. i will openly admitt that i'm one very grateful SOB for days like these.
anyhow..the craving for fish tacos over took us after a few hours getting fried in the sun. a little down time in the afternoon for some chores & a cold beer to combat the heat. ....then off for a sunset session.
hope all is well out there in your world and life is good.
sf~
Posted by Single Fin at 07:11 PM | Comments (0)
looking lonely
shessh, this blog seems stale.
been away for 2 weeks & just getting in.
more to come soon. so tired..i must go to sleep now.
Posted by Single Fin at 02:47 AM | Comments (11)