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The mindful life with Waylon H. Lewis
An American Bigot
Man sees woman, man awkwardly approaches woman, woman gives number, man calls nervously, man/woman go for walk, man/woman go for drink, man/woman go dutch (these days) on dindin, man/woman go on two more dates (that’s the law) and spend a warm, raw, love-filled night together. Man/woman fall in love, get married, have children.
And that’s how the human races perpetuates this tragicomedy known as this precious human birth.
What’s the root of all this? It’s that tender love. And you don’t have to be a man/woman to share it. You can be a mom/baby, a dad/grandma, a boy/dog, a poet/moon. Love makes the world go around—and, like taste, you can’t legislate it.
The Mindful Life with Waylon H. Lewis
Why “elephant”?
I publish a little magazine, called 'elephant.' We've been around for 4 plus years, now, we print 35K eco-copies of each issue, we're available in five states in the Rockies, and we're just starting to go national. We focus on 'the mindful life' -- living a good life that also happens to be good for others (most folks just do one or the other--witness my mom, a poorly-paid teacher, who is all about others but lives in a one-bedroom, unheated apartment -- or your average hedge fund manager with requisite 10,000 square foot mansion in Greenwich with indoor squash court, underground parking garage and beachfront access).
The Mindful Life with Waylon H. Lewis
Today’s To-Do List: 1) Gay Rights 2) Animal Welfare 3) Save the Planet
Each generation inherits (and strips away, and adds on) a layer (or two, or 2,000) of history (or karma) from its ancestors. We don't only inherit a working knowledge of science; inventions such as light bulbs, 2-ply recycled toilet-paper and 5-blade razors and cars and solar panels; and traditions such as tea ceremony and baseball -- but we inherit Victorian houses, family and national feuds, poetry, beer, bicycles…etc.
We also inherit prejudices. Two centuries ago, poor folk weren't allowed the vote. A century ago, womenfolk weren't allowed the vote. Then came Civil Rights. Then feminism. Next three on the list, in my sage opinion?
The Mindful Life with Waylon H. Lewis
Toshiro Mifune, Willy Ryken, Cary Grant & Cyndi Lee—vs. the World.
Christians may be excused if they look upon 2006 as a dark time: for pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth are in rampant excess, for sale at every 7-11, as seen on TV.
Those heathens, the Buddhists, couldn’t agree more. They call this ‘the dark age,’ when even devoted ‘warriors’ for peace and gentleness are losing heart. One of the signs of this ‘dark age,’ it’s said, is a lack of respect for one’s elders (reverence is a value particularly pronounced in Confucianism, the Tao and Tibetan Buddhism—three ways of life that, less than welcome in their native country, survive primarily in $90 textbooks that college freshman have to, but don’t, read).
The Mindful Life with Waylon H. Lewis
Anti-Abortion and Pro-War…What Gives?
Abortion is everyone’s favorite political issue. But in daily life, it’s a non-issue.
Ask a deep-South candidate why he’s running for something, he’ll say “Pro-Life” before you can say ‘knee-jerk,’ or even just ‘jerk.’ Ask him why he (because, yes, he’s a he—over 108% of Republican candidates are men) supports The War, on the other hand, and suddenly our Right-to-Kill is a good thing. Death Penalty? He likes that, too.
So if we’re not talking about a Right-to-Life, just what are we talking about?
The Mindful Life with Waylon H. Lewis
You Say You Wanna Revolution?
Wanna change the world? Wanna lose those five pounds, strengthen community ties, get to lunch on time and save thousands of dollars?
“Nahhh."
Oh. Okay. Well…well then riddle me this: what’s good for rich and poor, black and white, male and female, young and old, fat and thin—and our planet—that doesn’t involve starting a non-profit or burning bras or waving banners or wearing hemp necklaces with little abalone shells in ‘em?
jedediah Redman said: "Wow! Ann, your intutive intellect is probably without parallel."
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