Unknown Buddhist

Ah, July 4th: food, fun and sun. Who could ask for more?

However, in the culinary world, the reigning champ of Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, is set to compete against a number of other contestants. Last year, Chestnut downed 62 Nathan franks in 10 minutes. I simply cannot imagine.

Yet, when it comes to July 4^th, there is nothing more mouth-watering than a couple of old standards: Vienna Beef and Hebrew National hot dogs. Buddhist or not, Vienna and Hebrew franks, when cooked on a grill, emit an ambiance of flavors unlike any other.

The best grilled hot dog ends crunchy dark brown, just a shade prior to black. Hebrew National purports a big Bayou flavor while I personally claim Vienna is the ultimate taste sensation, a religious experience unmatched by any other. Additionally, as a certifiable ‘Northerner,’ ketchup on a hot dog amounts to blasphemy.

As a kid, I used to proudly watch my ol’ man torch such lovely delicacies via Kingsford briquets. While some claim the many hazards of briquettes, I for one, could care less.  Most briquettes have some form wood char but they may also include some level of sodium nitrate, borax, mineral carbon and starch.  Personally, when comes to July 4^th, everyone needs a little borax. Right?

No one on my block could consider themselves barbeque aficionados without properly demonstrating proper culinary skills under the July sun.  Man-to-man, each house secretly competed against another for yearly braging rights for the year’s top honor. There was a certain aroma that intoxicatingly filled the summer breeze as children ran under sprinklers and threw firecrackers at ugly sisters.  For a kid with firecrackers, all sisters were ugly.

After secretly turning Buddhist several years ago, someone attempted to convert me to veggie dogs. I swear, I almost became Catholic. Accordingly, while veggie dogs may be great for your health they simply … ah … suck. Yes, yes … there’s simply nothing like barbequed soy protein and tofu on July 4^th.

So for all those Buddhists out there, for one day, July 4^th, enjoy the rapturous flavors of the mighty grill. Honor your inner caveman, pay alms to one another and enjoy a real Kingsford grilled dog.

And don’t forget the Kettle Chips … potato salad … and suffering in another Cubs loss … it’s all about tradition.

Regardless, as a Buddhist, enjoy each and every moment.

According to Wayne Dryer, your soulmate is not the person who always agrees with you or shares all the same interests. Rather, it is the person who can say one thing, pushes your button and you go into a frenzy. That’s your soulmate. Supposedly, they’re teaching you in that moment that you have not mastered yourself.

I thought of Mr. Dyer last night as I sat in complete peace, interrupted only by the one ‘Dipstick’ who seemed to reach within me and just went ahead and “Made my Day.” It’s not that I became ravenous mad, but my personal psyche was whacked, like a compass losing true north.  Sometimes, I think God is attempting to drive me insane, for there in the midst of my soul, I could easily summon painful cries of appeals to the Lord Jesus Christ and other dang spirit who would listen.  Yet, letting go of the internal tirade, all I could muster was a plain old sigh. I titled my head, rolled my eyes and slowly rose from my version of a luxury skybox: a brown leather La-Z-Boy recliner.

From a Buddhist perspective I know that I am in control: that the ability lay within me to control almost any situation … that I can respond versus reacting. But like many of us, while I am less responsible in the presence of certain dipsticks, I am, nonetheless, responsible.

I’m not trying to convince anyone that dipsticks don’t exist, but this experience teaches me I must continually accept responsibility for all of my actions – my thoughts, words, and deeds.  The world was not created for me and me alone. This is not only my schoolyard but it belongs to all. For good or bad, we are most uniquely interconnected and thus; there is no outside force that makes me behave individually stupid.

When faced with an inexplicable souldmate, it is important to remember that for some of people, life will never be right. The glass will always be half-empty. Others will not only see the glass half-empty, but god dang it, someone’s got a straw in there as well.

Maybe the meaning of it all is release. And by releasing, this person retains a sense of belonging and companionship. As Master Khan wisely pointed out, “Each man has the right to choose his enemies and his friends. He may choose unwisely, but the decision is his alone, to make. Then he must live with the consequences. And so must his enemies.”  I am I say, “…so must his friends.’

When the glass is half-empty, release the stress and be willing, if possible, to refill it. Do what must be done with a tame heart.

Seems strange: being on a Buddhist diet leads to suffering.  Think about it … the point of Buddhism is to end suffering, yet here I sit, at 1:52 PM Eastern, listening to my innards gurgled as though I came from an ‘Aliens’ movie.

Unbeknown to most, I took up eating an almost authentic Buddhist Diet upon embarking on this journey.  And to put it bluntly, the first three days were hell. After that, I made it through most days with occasional hunger pain here and there. Still, I tackle weight loss honorable, albeit, even if at times, somewhat unsuccessful.  I can’t say that I’ve had profound suffering. But I can say that I ravaged and entire Pizza Hut Pepperoni Pizza about a week ago. And was it good? Oh God yes! Fantastic. Loved it.

On a funny note, the Buddha found the solution to life’s persistent problems, including weight-related ones, is available right now and can be summed up in two simple words: look within. Personally, I looked within, further in and out. At the end of the day, what I truly found helpful for me was to clean out the dam frig, expunging all things bad and ugly. That’s right, I actually had to get rid of all the ice cream, frozen foods and peanut butter.  I even had to get rid of the potato chips.

For those in the dark, potato chips, especially Kettle Chips (KC), is my greatest friend. Whenever I was down and out, KC was there. KC and I live a sordid life of friendship and love.  Together we commiserated through a spouse’s depression, found peace after my accident, learned to re-walk, cried through the Cubs 2003 historic fold, taught my cat to understand ‘No’ and was very helpful in spinach and chip sandwiches.

Unfortunately, neither the cat nor the spinach sandwich was successful. But hey, in there interest of human progress I forged onward. I learned the two common toaster settings: burnt and not on. I thought about the ways of extracting the real lemon in Pledge … just to taste and curse at the Dairy Queen as I drove past.

Maybe I became a vegetarian because I was bad hunter. And that’s why my cat sometimes brings me half a mouse. I know he’s doing the ‘manly’ thing, sharing his prey with the family unit. But there’s little about a dead mouse that appears …. ah … satisfying. So while I think he loves me in some way, I also see him sleeping next to the barbecue grill lighter fluid. I liken this as a symbolic gesture of former days, when man and beast shared prey and licked themselves dry.

So onward Mr. Buddha I trudge. Onward to the goal of living well and doing myself no harm. In truth, I honestly have no clue how Buddha would live in our fast food, processed meal world.  But from personal perspective, one of the main principles of Buddhism is moderation. So I would say anything in moderation is fine but you have to try to maintain the balance.

Thus, I leave my weight loss (thus far) for your humor and enjoyment. As for the cat … he bows to the grill.

Today is a big day for Mississippi’s only abortion clinic. A new Mississippi law requires every abortionist in the state to be board certified as an obstetrician-gynecologist and to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.

Representative Mims claimed the law does not outlaw abortion. The idea was to require physicians at the clinic to be able to follow their patients to a local hospital should complications arise. However, “…if this abortion clinic is closed, I think it’s a great day for Mississippi.”

Representative Mims isn’t the only one. It’s no secret Republican Governor Phil Bryant is against abortion. In his words, he wants Mississippi to be “abortion-free.” Also, Terri Herring, president of the Mississippi-based Pro Life America Network feels the only way that unborn babies will be safe is when abortion is no longer available, “Would we like to see this clinic close? Absolutely!”

To counter the potential closing, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization has filed a lawsuit arguing that the law is unconstitutional and would close the clinic by imposing medically unjustified requirements on physicians who perform the procedure.

Still, a Health Department spokeswoman has said the department intends to inspect Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Monday, July 2^nd, the first day that both state government offices and the clinic is open.

While the state does its best to impede on a woman’s right to abortion procedures, they apparently will do little to help support that child after life begins. The Kaiser Family Foundation ranked Mississippi as the poorest state in the country. Other studies have reported Mississippi has the highest birth rate among teenagers, and the second-highest infant mortality rate. More than half of Mississippi births occur out of wedlock. Of the 2,297 women who had abortions in Mississippi in 2010, according to the State Department of Health, most were unmarried, most already had at least one child and more than three-quarters were black. Mississippi had the lowest life expectancy in the United States and the highest rate of adults 25 years or older who have not completed high school or equivalency degree. Lastly, most Mississippi workers have the lowest in personal earnings and wages.

What is surprising is not that Mississippi was at the bottom, but just how far down the bottom was. According to the Human Development report, a process of enlarging people’s freedoms, opportunities and improving their well-being, Mississippi Ranks near a level I’ll classify as abysmal. In fact, Mississippi is so bad; they would have to improve to be labeled ‘Abysmal.’ (Ok, that’s my own classification.)

As a Buddhist, I honor the precept do no harm.  But if one is for life, then one has to be for quality of life as well. Childcare and higher education are essential for working families and their ability access to economic security in the long-term. Covering child care equates to 25 weeks of work for a Mississippi minimum wage earner. The reality is that families have many other expenses aside from child care that are equally if not more essential like food, housing, health care, utilities.

Thus, Covering all these costs is increasingly out of reach for those earning amounts near the minimum wage and beyond. These findings underscore both the importance of public supports and programs that reduce these expenses for families and initiatives that move more working adults to quality-wage employment.

If we are pro-life, then we must be pro-quality of life. If we do one without the other, our works is inconsistent with our faith.

————————————– Post Script ————————————–

Reporters Alexander E.M. Hess and Samuel Weigley, 24/7 Wall St reported Families USA, a health care consumer advocacy group identified the 10 states with the highest number of deaths per 100,000 people due to a lack of insurance. Guess who’s number 1?

1. Mississippi

• Excess deaths from a lack of insurance (per 100,000): 15.82
• Percent of population uninsured: 18.2 percent (ninth highest)
• Percent living below the poverty line: 22.4 percent (tied for the highest)
• Life expectancy at birth: 74.81 years (the lowest)

But at least Mississippi is tackling the problem of abortion head-on. Praise Jesus!