Reflections From The Accidental Buddhist ~ The Road To Freedom…
Many years ago, I coined myself the Accidental Buddhist because at the time, I considered my finding the spiritual path to Buddhism an “accident”, a “fluke”.
Of course once I began to follow the Path, I realized that my spiritual journey was no fluke at all — it was my destiny. Today, I see it as my rock.
Buddhism did for me what all spiritual paths are intended to do — it saved me from myself. Does it make me perfect? No. Does it make life trouble-free? No. However it does make me forever conscious of my impact to those [and things] around me and aware of my accountability to mankind in both large and small ways.
I am thankful. The Path is the only source capable of calming the fire of rage I’ve often felt in respect oppression, racism and suffering. The Path is the only comfort allowing me to rise each day as my heart is challenged with watching more and more of Mom transition away due to Alzheimer’s Disease.
After all these years, I am still working on accepting that I am, right now FREE. I am happy. There is much good in this season because Mom is still here, right now and there are lessons for me to learn in the present. I am working on accepting reality (or the illusion that looks like it) with grace, peace and ease.
So you should know, following the June 19th FreedomTweet event, I will be taking an indefinite hiatus from the genea-space to just… well, be.
There are other needs calling my name. I need to connect with a Sangha so that I continue learning the Teachings I’ve vowed to. I am committed to investing more time in helping to alleviate suffering and hardship wherever I find it. I want to read books again — I haven’t read Walker’s Temple of My Familiar in ages, it’s time. I want to roller skate with my children again and just be in the moment.
What this means for the genealogy community is that the Carnival of African-American Genealogy definitely and possibly, A Friend of Friends will *pause* with me. Likewise, my presence among the Twitter GeneaBloggers will also be vacationing. Our Georgia Roots and Our Alabama Roots will both remain up as a resource to fellow researchers and a connector to me. I vowed NEVER to pull my sites offline again, I’m keeping my word.
There will be some of you relieved to see me absent (smile) but take no comfort because you don’t physically see my presence. Like my Great Grandmother Annie used to say “every shut eye ain’t sleep, and every goodbye ain’t gone“!
The Genea-community is my Family too and I always protect Family.
While researching and planning for FREEDOMTweet 2010, I discovered the Road To Freedom Exhibit currently at the Bronx Museum. I plan to visit this too and take my kids with me. I don’t know they REALLY grasp what’s been sacrificed so that they today could continue the Liberation Fight.
I encourage you to support FreedomTweet 2010. Not for Luckie Daniels and not just for CoAAG.
Be you black, brown, red, yellow or white — there is a Liberation Fight for you too. We are all in this together and there are MORE than enough social, civil and environmental causes to go around.
Lastly, I leave you with this. Just because you have the right to make a choice, doesn’t remove your obligation to choose what’s right; what’s just. There has been sacrifice lent to afford us a choice. It was not and is not FREE.
We are put on this planet to evolve and to make life better — both for ourselves and others.
Dare to stand-up and accept the gift [and challenge] of loving and being accountable for each other. It is the only hope we have.
I truly love you,
Luckie.
Well, I’ll miss you. But I understand the need to get out from behind the keyboard and into the wider world. I’ve taken breaks from the internet, and I’ve never regretted it.
Going out and DOING…that’s an awesome example for your children.
Luckie – Wow!!
Sometime we have to take a step away and reflect on life’s journey. We come to a fork in the road, and have to decide which path to follow. With that being said, follow your dreams, follow your heart – spend time with family because nothing can bring that back. Spend time with Luckie! Each moment is a treasure – everlasting memories.
I truly have enjoyed this small part of your journey. It’s like I know you but really don’t. I have always looked forward to reading your blog for quite some time; Even when you first talked about your mom. Thanks for your inspiration, and sharing the wealth of knowledge with so many of us.
I will certainly miss your presence here for you truly have impacted my journey in genealogy.
There’s something that I’ve been listening to for the last few months. The part that I like the most is when the singer (Dorinda Clark Cole) says, “I’m in the season of my life where I can claim what’s mine. Check it out..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOhREjDOFjY
Continue to stay blessed and I hope our paths will cross again soon! My prayers are always with you.
-Joann
Luckie:
What a huge gapping hole you will be leaving in the geneablogger community! Enjoy your time “off” but please come back soon. We need to hear your words of wisdom.
Lisa
Luckie,
Family is SO important. And time is flying by for all of us. We all have our selfish reasons for wanting you to remain in cyberspace, but in reality none of those reasons could ever outweigh the ones you mentioned. Although you will be on a hiatus, I do hope you will accept a call from me every now and again. I appreciated and enjoyed the honest dialogue we shared via email. For some reason, I just don’t get challenged much, so it took me a minute to regroup. But you challenged and changed my thinking in many ways and I Thank You for that!
One thing that I take heart in is that when the Ancestors call you back, you will be unable to deny them! *smile*
All The Best,
-AMY
Well, I definitely understand. I vowed to spend more quality time with the folks this year and half the year is over and….You’ll be missed. I feel that I found a sister as well as a geneapal.But I know you’ll be back. Just don’t take a ten year hiatus, like I did.
BTW – Love the every shut eye saying. It’s one my mother, even too this day, is always saying to me.
Mavis
Well geeze, now you’ve got me blowing my nose and rubbing my eyes, sort of like when my best friend moved away to Indiana! I know it’s crazy, we have never actually met, but I have so enjoyed getting to know you through “tweets” and reading your blog. There is just something about you ~ you make me want to be a better person and do my part in whatever.
Although I will miss your presence in cyberspace terribly, I commend you for stepping away to live in the real world and make many happy, wonderful memories with your family. I think we all should do this every now and then.
I wish you the best ~ always!
Love you,
Leslie
Take care Luckie your online presence will be missed.
Luckie, to say you will be missed falls so short of expressing the impact you’ve had. You have a gift. That’s the only way to say it. Your authenticity, your passion, your commitmentm your heart…I speak for others when I say I feel like I’ve known you for years and we have never technically met! I love that you practice Buddhism, as I am on my own spiritual journey away from organized religion. Go live life, but be sure to come back to us!! I should have my little one by then:)
Taking a break is always a healthy thing, and know when to do so is a sign of wisdom.
You and only you will know when the time is right to resume those activities and the most important thing is to know how to respond to the call.
Enjoy your break and do those things that you must do–family, friends, health and the things that guide you–those are the most important for they will allow you to do more even better when you return.
Best wishes for a rewarding break! And know that you will be missed.
Best Wishes! You plus family is what’s important. Take care and be blessed.
Vicky