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Kona Storm Clouds

Often in class, I will change the direction of what's to be considered the "front of the class" and left and right directions may get confusing. Holy Costco, coined instantly one day by Jean Swift, is one direction that cannot be mislaid. Everyone knows where Costco in Kona is.

I came out of the store yesterday to find that the name had finally stuck: "Holy Costco, look at that sky Batman!"

The weather this past week has surpassed traffic as the number one conversation opener in Kailua-Kona. But a little after 6pm last night, it had us gazing up at the sky in awe. People had come outdoors from other businesses in the Kaloko area to witness the display.

All I had with me was my little Minolta digital camera, purchased years ago from Holy Costco.

Full of Me?

A wonderful little reminder from Tricycle Magazine about holding an open mind:

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the cup overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. "it is overfull. No more will go in."

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?" - Paul Reps, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones From Everyday Mind, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith

When I was a realtor, I had a client who bought and sold investment properties. She had the amazing ability to patiently ask the same questions of everyone who had anything remotely pertinent to offer. "They all have different viewpoints," she explained. "When you buy an apartment building, the janitor, rentor, owner and neighbor all see it in a different light. I want to know what they all think."

Showing up full of our own opinions and speculations may save time, but it might make for a poor investment.