Processional: William Ackerman Cover

Another reverential cover of a William Ackerman piece. Enjoy the music and the video, both home productions of the guitarist.

Iraq and Karma

(For information on this image of Thich Quang Duc, click here.)

The U.S. led Iraq invasion and occupation is a crime in progress. The president, vice-president and members of the cabinet and administration have committed fraud leading to war, violated the United States Constitution, broken international laws, and authorized war crimes.

It was a failure of our other elected officials, the press, and ultimately the American people to have let this happen. I am not a lawyer, but the question would be what responsibility does one have as he or she passively watches a homicide being committed?

After five years in Iraq, the U.S. military has suffered over 33,000 casualties, more than 29,000 wounded and 4,000 dead, and it remains engulfed by three converging currents that constitute the Iraq War – the underlying military conflict, the battle for political control, and grinding civil strife. (Click here for more information.)

Because there is no functioning national government in Iraq, outside authorities must be relied upon for some information. The Opinion Research Business in January, 2008, gave the Iraqi violent death estimate as a range of 946,000 to 1,120,000, since the 2003 U.S. invasion.

The Buddha taught that all beings live within the law of Karma. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others.

Christians have a similar statement in the New Testament : "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6)

I believe that both perspectives are true. So we must ask ourselves "What exactly have we sown in Iraq? What shall we reap?"

Buddhists believe that all life is precious. "No killing" is the first Precept. For those who have, with intent and foresight, harmed or caused harm, their future is set within the law of Karma. This isn't judgment; just a statement of cause and effect.

But how are the many Americans to be viewed, having allowed this continued killing?

Fleetwood Mac Albatross

I play this on my Martin acoustic, and am pleased that I take the place of four guitarists and a drummer! The lead guitarist and composer of this, Peter Green, is a genius that fell from his potential. But just close your eyes and listen.

The Peace Memorial Day

This weekend, Americans observe Memorial Day, to justly honor the sacrifices of our service men and women.

I would also like to remember the men and women who have worked tirelessly for peace. The following are the Americans who have won the Nobel Peace Prize. This honor was bequeathed by Alfred Nobel, "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

2007 : AL GORE JR. for his efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.

2002 : JIMMY CARTER JR., former President of the United States of America, for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.

1997 : JODY WILLIAMS for her work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines.

1986 : ELIE WIESEL, Chairman of 'The President's Commission on the Holocaust'. Author, humanitarian.

1973 : HENRY A. KISSINGER, Secretary of State, State Department, Washington.

1970 : NORMAN BORLAUG, for research at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.

1964 : MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, campaigner for civil rights.

1962 : LINUS CARL PAULING, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. Campaigner especially for an end to nuclear weapons tests.

1953 : GEORGE CATLETT MARSHALL, General, President American Red Cross, ex-Secretary of State and of Defense, Delegate to the U.N., Originator of the Marshall Plan.

1950 : RALPH BUNCHE, Professor Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, Director of the UN Division of Trusteeship, Acting Mediator in Palestine 1948.

1947 : THE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (The Quakers), Washington. The society's first official meeting was held in 1672.

1946 : The prize was divided equally between:

EMILY GREENE BALCH, former Professor of History and Sociology, Honorary International President Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

JOHN RALEIGH MOTT, Chairman of the first International Missionary Council, President of the World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations .

1945 : CORDELL HULL, Former Secretary of State. One of the initiators of the United Nations.

1931 : The prize was divided equally between:

JANE ADDAMS, Sociologist. International President of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER, President of Columbia University. Promoter of the Briand-Kellogg Pact.

1929 : FRANK BILLINGS KELLOGG, Former Secretary of State, Negotiated the Briand-Kellogg Pact.

1925: CHARLES GATES DAWES, Vice-President of the United States of America. Chairman of the Allied Reparation Commission. Originator of the Dawes Plan .

1919 : THOMAS WOODROW WILSON, President of the United States of America. Founder of the Société des Nations (League of Nations)

1912 : ELIHU ROOT, Former Secretary of State. Initiator of several arbitration agreements.

1906 : THEODORE ROOSEVELT, USA. President of the United States of America. Drew up the 1905 peace treaty between Russia and Japan.

With or Without You - Sungha Jung

This is a U2 tune, nicely played by a musical prodigy.

Buddhist Full Moon Day

Each Sunday, nearest the Full Moon, I take as a Buddhist day of rest, study and extra meditation; a Buddhist Sabbath, if you will. Of course, I study and meditate each day, but on these Full Moon days, the entire day is devoted to learning and practice. This means no work beyond what is necessary, fasting after a light noon meal, no distractions (such as music, television, or secular reading), reading Buddhist texts, and six meditation sessions. These Full Moon days reaffirm my commitment to and deepen my knowledge of the Buddhist philosophy and view.

Here is one example of those views, called The Five Cardinal Precepts:

I vow :

1. Not to kill, but to cherish all life.
2. Not to take what is not given, but to respect the things of others.
3. Not to misuse sexuality, but to be caring and responsible.
4. Not to lie, but to speak the truth.
5. Not to cause others to use substances that confuse the mind, nor to do so oneself, but to keep
the mind clear.

Global Generosity

Thirty eight years ago, the United Nations estimated that 0.7% of each developed nation's gross national income would be sufficient for aiding the poorest of the world's nations. For emphasis, that is less than 1 penny on a dollar.

I send my warmest blessings to the following nations, who meet or exceed this amount: Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

(In contrast, the United States is tied for last place at 0.16%, although (thankfully) individual Americans are more generous.)

What was to be the form of that aid? According to the United Nations, it is to, "make loans tied to particular sources available for use by the recipient countries for the purpose of buying goods and services from other developing countries... Financial and technical assistance should be aimed exclusively at promoting the economic and social progress of developing countries and should not in any way be used by the developed countries to the detriment of the national sovereignty of recipient countries."

In other words, the assistance was to be low cost loans, with no strings and no interference. Pretty basic ideas.

To learn more, click here.

From the top

I've listened to this radio program for several years, and each week is an awesome display of young talent. All musicians on this program are 18 years or younger.

From the Top is a non-profit organization that celebrates the passion, dedication and personal stories of the nation's outstanding young classical musicians. Through entertaining radio and television broadcasts, online media, and a national tour of live events and outreach programs, these performers inspire the pursuit of excellence and encourage participation in the arts as an integral part of a vibrant and civil society.

From the Top's training and mentorship programs prepare young musicians to connect with new audiences, serve as positive peer role models, and give back to their communities in many ways.

To learn more (and listen), click here. Christopher O'Riley, the host, is amazing with these young performers. He highlights both the child and the musician in each.

Om mani padme hum

The six perfect syllables, whose literal meaning is "Hail the jewel in the lotus."

The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entirety of the Buddha's teaching.

When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Päd, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.

So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas.

Learn more here.

We the People . . . our responsibility

The United States Constitution defines who we are. It sets the boundaries for what our government can or cannot do. It makes us a free people.

I hear many discussions about what is right or wrong with America. There are many opinions out there. In my view, all of these opinions must be taken to the central authority for our nation: How do these opinions square with what's in the Constitution?

An opinion which contradicts the Constitution is invalid. To deny a person free speech, or to promote public religion, or prohibit private religion, or to search without a warrant, or to detain without trial are all violations of the Constitution.

When our leaders fail to protect and defend the Constitution, and pursue to political (or even criminal) purposes, they should be held to accounts.

We the people are responsible for knowing the Constitution. We the people can either keep it alive, or we can watch it perish.

Learn more here.

Impending Death of the Virgin Spirit

This is a William Ackerman piece, warmly and reverently performed here by Adam Werner & Michael Manring. Listen as you explore the Josephson Institute, below.

The Six Pillars of Character

The Josephson Institute is an organization whose mission is to improve the ethical commitment, competence, and practice in all segments of society. (It is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian, nonprofit organization.) I have read and reminded myself of these Six Pillars many times over the past twenty years. Sometimes, it's not that we need to learn something new, but we need reminding of what we already know. Visit their website, and enjoy much more.


• Trustworthiness
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Reliability (Promise-keeping)
- Loyalty
• Respect
- Civility, Courtesy and Decency
- Dignity and Autonomy
- Tolerance and Acceptance
• Responsibility
- Accountability
- Pursuit of Excellence
- Self-Restraint
• Fairness
- Process
- Impartiality
- Equity
• Caring
• Citizenship