You're welcome, Bruce.
For me, H.I.'s legacy is not just 20+ years of making the finest khukuri,with an awesome warrantee at very reasonable prices. It is the feeling of kindness,fairness, friendliness and generousity, the Giving nature that Uncle Bill brought and Auntie Yangdu continues to bring to this forum and our lives. The comeraderie that all us members , old and new bring to this forum and continues to flow from the archives right onto the current pages.
I myself have always sought enlightenment,for as long as i can remember i've been searching for something, so seemingly unattainable,that i thought i'd never even see it if it was staring me back in the face. As i grew older i began to learn introspection and thru some buddhist friends, began to look at things a little differently from the christian and western view that i was brought up on. Like so many others , i've strayed from the path many times, only to end up back at the same intersection of my life. Then i came to these forums, i read, i listened and thru Uncles own words, i came to realize that we are all the same,all animals, all fallible creatures who seek guidance, to be nurtured,loved and all seek peace. I found the place to start was within ones own self, I continue to learn everyday and my only wish is that i'd done this long ago.
Uncle Bill chose his path in life. A Good and Righteous path. He never looked back. He did his best and tried to affect his surroundings in the best and most positive ways he could. I can't help but believe his legacy and life still touches us here and affects us in more ways than we can imagine. Yangdu continues to carry his legacy, as well as her own, and thru her words and deeds we can all learn to be humble and selfless, to walk the eightfold path toward enlightenment and in doing so, make this world and each other better.
(from Asunam.com):
The Eightfold Path / The Dharma Path
PANNA - Wisdom, insight that purifies the mind.
1.
Right Understanding (Right View)
Seeing reality through eyes of Clarity, not through the eyes of illusion. Meaning, not seeing things as we would like them, or want them to be, but as they are. Yet knowing that the spiritual world is the actual world of reality, which can manifest in the guise of the physical world.
2.
Right Resolve (Right Thoughts)
Thoughts remain, but the pattern of thinking changes from thirst/craving and aversion TO compassion, generosity, goodwill, higher realms of unconditional love.
SILA - Morality - abstaining from unwholesome action of speech and body.
3.
Right Speech
Being careful for what we say, realizing that words are indeed the sharpest of swords, that can cut both ways; uplifting or tearing apart. Thus, no lying, backbiting, slander or idle chatter (gossip).
4.
Right Action
This encompasses the area of "right motivation" or why, what, when and how we do it. How does something serve? Is it helpful? Is it harmful? To others? To myself? To humanity? The smaller affect and the greater affect taken into account. Encompassed within this is no intoxication, no stealing, no cheating no harm done to others. Respecting the rights of all life forms.
5.
Right Livelihood (Right Conduct)
Earning your living honestly. Are you being true to yourself and others as you conduct your business? Is this the best effort you can give at this time? Is this what I am best suited to do? Am I in this just for the money?
SAMADHI - Developing mastery over one's mind
6.
Right Effort
Gaining responsible control over one's thoughts and cultivating a positive state of mind. Filtering out, on a conscious, all thoughts and things that are not uplifting and edifying. Development of wholesome qualities.
7.
Right Mindfulness/Attention/Thought
Cultivation of constant "awareness". Being, living, awareness of the moment - at the highest level, to the highest degree as to how one can live in that moment at the optimum.
8.
Right Meditation
Development of the deepest levels of the mind and mental calm through various techniques which concentrate/train the mind towards deeper integration of the "higher self" personality and the "lower self" personality. Thus, the true "burning away" and purification of the undesirable aspects of the self, leaving you, along with the implementation of the already stated practices, "as refined as gold".
Basically:
- Do Not Commit Any Unwholesome Act
- Perform Only Wholesome, Virtuous Actions
- Subdue Your Mind
- Know That This Is The Teaching Of The Enlightened Ones
