posted February 21, 2008 07:47 PM         

“Friends do not live in harmony merely, as some say, but in melody”
Henry David Thoreau

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude,
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Kahlil Gibran

A distant melody comes to mind,
like the faint chiming of a tiny bell.
A faraway sound, nearly silent here,
but ringing loudly in some forgotten memory.
Memories, as olde and pale as sun-bleached,
withered bones; as fragile as chalk.
Reminiscent memories, like an heirloom
of fine, olde, lace; soft, yet painfully delicate.
Ah, painful, fondly-echoing past.
Never forgotten, often misplaced, surprisingly sharp.
Gently it returns, hauntingly, as if an ageless,
timeless reflection. Ever sweet as ambrosia.
For the reflections of todays past
are the subtle, poisoned nectar of today's mind.
A taste of honey too often bitter as rind,
but, nevertheless endeared; endured.
Opening, unfurling as delicately as the fragrant, sacred
lotus blossom, blooming deep within the recesses of our minds.
Soft intrusions from the private abyss of ones own darkness.
Echoing, churning, melodiously resounding eternally therein.

posted February 22, 2008 10:38 AM         

I know Melody was deeply wounded recently by an altercation in FFA, and she has expressed to me her decision to leave LL. She did this quietly and without drama. I tried to talk her out of leaving, and I'm going to try again later today. For some reason, maybe intuition, maybe something else, I cant believe that she is really gone. Hopefully, she just needs a little time. I would at least expect to see her over at Conscious Evolution. She would be a great loss here, but a greater acquisition there.

It's unfortuneate that a person can feel so hurt as to speak some very nasty words, and repeat those same nasty words several times, as if to really drill it into the other person's head. This is what was done to Melody. I have forgiven the person who did this, because I understand she was very hurt herself, and because, in my opinion, there was, at least, some excuse for offense on both sides of the altercation. I do feel that this person's behavior was particularly excessive, though. It is easier for me to understand how nasty words can find there way into the expression of something larger. But when they appear by themselves, in a sentence which is no more than a string of nasty words, with no object beyond themselves, and when this "sentence" is repeated ad nauseaum, -- it's very hard for me to understand. But I try.

Right now, I'm reading "Being Nobody, Going Nowhere". There is a great chapter in there about anger, and the destructiveness and futility of anger, or "Ill Will", as it is referred to in the book. I feel like there is no problem more important for me right now, than the dissolution of the ill will that has been accumulating within me for so long, and which has such a destructive effect on myself and the people I love most, as well as on people whom I do not know nearly so well. I just hope its not too late for me. I am learning to be mindful, now, and seeing that bad habits, and emotions like anger, must be attended to when they are small, for that is when it is easiest, and most possible, to control them. It is unfortuneate that we so often allow these emotions to build, and refuse to give them our attention until they are out of our control. I want to emulate the mindful people I see, who attend to problems when they are small, and who do not cease from the practices of the wise. The enlightened know that dazen (or is it zazen?) must never cease. All progress is fleeting, if it is not continuous. Good karma is speedily exhausted. This is why the aim of the bodhisattva is not to attain to the heavenly realms, but to become a Buddha. The supreme pleasures of the heavenly realms tempt many into complacency and lethargy. So, a bodhisattva would rather continue buddhist practice here in the world, and develop good habits as ends in themselves, and not as means to some higher heaven.

Love for Melody and Everyone.

Gorgeous poems, T.

posted February 22, 2008 01:26 PM         

I was so hurt by her reaction that I stayed away from a thread she turned up on recently, in which she seemed to again be hateful and angry for no apparent reason, and if that was how she felt she needn't have bothered taking part in the thread in the first place. She herself asked me not to ever ever speak to her again or respond to her threads, when I was the one who she had attacked, then she goes and responds to my thread.

I am nervous about typing this, because I'm scared of how she will react or erupt, being the sensitive person I am and having opened up so much LL and exposed so many weaknesses and problems in my life which could be used against me so easily.

She might have insecurities, but others do too- especially me. I mean, from the latter part of last year I was suicidal, and had hit rock bottom. I might not have gone on about it all the time here, but that's because I came here in the first place to try and cheer myself up, to think about other things.

More than anything I wish Melody to not feel hurt any more, and just to try and see things in a different light, that things are not always as they seem, that people do not always mean things in the way she feels. Because when she is hurt, she us very hurt, and this comes out in a rage which I personally find terrifying, hurtful and cruel. I know its because she feels that what inspired those feelings in the first place was cruelty towards her, but I for one can say that I have never intended such a thing.

I will probably regret writing this, and I too will probably end up leaving Linda Land after this.

I'm viewing it as an experiment to find out if some constructive advice might be able to help someone.

Edited to add:

Melody, you are a beautiful soul. I truly mean that. Please continue to shine here.

posted February 22, 2008 01:43 PM         

Your perspective has its place.

But this is not a matter of Melody's perception alone.

I spoke mainly of my own first-hand interpretation of the events.

And the person who I speak of has since editted her post(s), --
at least, the very worst of what was in them, --
so, I am pretty sure that she saw what I saw as well.

Misunderstandings are common enough,
but it takes two to make them snowball.

The case I am referring to only indirectly concerned you.
And, in this case to which I am referring,
after the initial misunderstanding,
Melody made a sincere attempt to understand,
to see and be appreciative of the good,
and to extend a hand of friendship to her "enemy".
The worst of what was said was said AFTER this gesture was made.
And that is something I still do not understand.

posted February 22, 2008 01:55 PM         

quote:

---

And the person who I speak of has since editted her post(s), --
at least, the very worst of what was in them, --
so, I am pretty sure that she saw what I saw as well.

---

if you are speaking of me and the recent thread in FFA, i edited nothing in my posts at all. in fact, i saved the originals in the event that someone did edit, if you are interested in viewing the original posts. you will see that i have edited nothing in them.

posted February 22, 2008 04:19 PM         

thanks for addressing me personally about this.

i'm sorry you disagreed with my answers. i answered her words only. each time (twice, not three), my answer was to her raising the subject. in fact i stated as much, mentioning my sincere wish not to discuss it further.

that said, i prefer not to discuss Mystic Melody here in this fashion, with you.

i don't mind that you voice your feelings about the conversation, and i appreciate that you finally make them known to me personally, in a straightforward fashion. i am sorry for any offense that my words may have caused you.

posted February 22, 2008 04:35 PM         

They are only my opinions, and there will be things I am not aware of; such is the human condition- to only be aware of so much.

posted February 22, 2008 04:55 PM         

"God sees the truth, but waits."

If I waited, it was for things to cool off a bit,
and because I had faith in your ability to get beyond it.
Also, it is not especially any of my business.
I'm sure numerous people had reactions similar to mine
upon reading what the two of you wrote in that thread,
and no one has felt called upon to give their opinion
until now, when a thread asking "what's up?" appeared in our midst.
So I told 26T what was up, from my point of view.

I would also prefer not to discuss Melody with you,
here, in this fashion, or anywhere else,
although I often enjoy discussing other things with you.

quote:

---

I am sorry for any offense that my words may have caused you.

---

Thank you, Zanya.
But its not me you owe an apology to.

quote:

---

i do admire Listens to Trees for her ability always to respond in a gentle manner. of course i have something to learn from her, and others who both value kindness and compassion, and demonstrate them consistently.

---

Well said. Thank you. Me too.
We can, and do, both learn.
Nobody is entirely consistent,
but I have witnessed and learned from your kindness,
empathy, compassion, and sensitivity with people,
as I'm sure you have mine, from time to time.

We are all trying, and we all slip.
I'm sure its not easy with an impulsive,
mars-ruled Sun and Moon to light the way,
but, for the most part, I think,
you seem to handle it admirably.
This is one instance that took me by surprise,
and concerned me, as much for you as for Melody.
I am very relieved to hear you
speaking of it now in a more positive tone.
We are all so similar, Z.
Why do we hurt each other?

I love everyone on this thread.

And I love Melody too.

And I miss her.

And I'm not alone.

This is our place to hang and to heal.

This is our tavern and our temple.

This is our "Cheers", and, for what its worth
(and I happen to think its worth a lot)
this is our Jerusalem, and our Mecca, if we allow it to be.

Melody understands that.
She starts threads to boost morale
and appreciation for the spirit of Lindaland.
She glows with gratitude for this communal home away from home.
And, sure, some of us have our differences,
and we have very different ways of communicating,
and sometimes we misinterpret each other's cues,
but we are all good people, trying to be better people.
We need to take up each others' slack,
and learn not to get "hooked", like Pema says.
Things can escalate in two posts flat.
OR, things can be smoothed over in the nicest way.
The choice is ours when we become aware of it.

Today, Zanya, we are discussing a mistake you made.
Tomorrow, we will be learning from someone else's mistake.
Everybody plays the "teacher".
I dont hold anything against you at all.
I just think its beautiful to see you take responsibility,
as you have begun to do here, in this thread.
There is not one among us who cannot learn something from that.

Love to you,
Stephen

posted February 22, 2008 05:04 PM         

Anyone in their right mind can see exactly what went on there and i understand why you need to take a break Mystic Melody. I also understand a few other things that maybe i shouldnt, that may give an explanation as to where this really came from.

I fail to see how Melody's first post was offensive. She brought up some great points and clearly has a mind of her own. She also has a right to her opinion. It's refreshing to see someone so honest and aware of herself. You were a bigger person than i might have been, Mel.

I've seen Melody get passionate few times, but it's a far cry from the "ANGRY" hateful person she was portrayed to be on that thread. How someone could percieve her that way and then tell her so harsh and coldly is way beyond me. And only can they truly know or face the reasons why.

Usually other's will butt into a thread like that... maybe not enough people read it or they simply wanted to stay far away from what it reeked of as they could. I found it very disturbing and though it had to be some kind of sick joke.

Melody is one of the brightest lights here and how nice for her and for us that she doesnt have to fake it.

Knowing you Melody, you have already dealt with this in your own mind. It never belonged to you anyway.

God bless.

posted February 22, 2008 05:10 PM         

I guess we all have different ways of communicating and in life some people will gel better than others for this reason.

Sorry, Mel, if I offended you here once more.

I will learn to stay out of the way from now on.

Perhaps Zanya feels the same......viewing words in a similar way I do, that's why I could better understand her perspective.
I actually felt protective toward her at the time, but didn't want to get involved.
I would have emailed her given her address but I guessed she'd be ok.

posted February 22, 2008 05:23 PM         

quote:

---

I'm sorry for all of our humanness too. And that Melody is hurting because of it.

---

posted February 22, 2008 05:24 PM         

It is the ebb and flow of life: action/ reaction and prayerfully, the hurlers and listeners will see a lesson/message in the exchanges and Learn from them.
Chin up MM and return when you have your feet under you again! Until then, you are in my thoughts and Prayers!

------------------
~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted February 22, 2008 05:30 PM         

I hope you are okay, T.

Do you have Mel's address?
I know she wanted me to give it to you,
or to give your to her, with your permission,
but i never followed up on that,
and i dont know if either of you guys did.

Melody knows I care for her very much.

And I hope everyone understands why
it is so hard for me to "take sides" here
in a more black and white fashion.

God bless,
S

posted February 22, 2008 05:31 PM         

Okay.

You arent mad at me?

posted February 22, 2008 05:45 PM         

"i do admire Listens to Trees for her ability always to respond in a gentle manner. of course i have something to learn from her, and others who both value kindness and compassion, and demonstrate them consistently."

to saying "those who demonstrate these in a sincere way." more often than not, the insults are delivered and disguised in the sweetest and/ or most underhanded of ways.