Buddha

Flow with the river!

My best prayers to the people of Mumbai!

A thought of those who aren't here to speak to anymore!

CLICK ON THE PHOTOGRAPH AND IT WILL EXPAND TO FULL SIZE.






In the photo, I'm the guy with the dark black moustache. Don is right behind me, carrying a suit bag over his shoulder. It was April 1969, we had just landed at Buckley Field, Colorado, having come back from one year in Viet Nam.....we were the lucky ones. For most of us, there were lots of people waiting to cheer us off the plane. We were the Colorado Air National Guard; coming home from the war.....



Here's to you!

Don L. Winters - We met in 1967 as we both went into the Colorado Air National Guard at Buckley Field, Colorado. We went to bootcamp from August 13th for six weeks at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Don was the youngest guy in the entire unit, and I was second youngest as we were sent to Viet Nam the following spring.... April of 1968. We had been roommates just prior to getting the word we're going to get shipped out.

We lived in downtown Denver, Colorado. We shared a two bedroom apartment with another young Guardsman; Jay Applegate. "hey Jay", I hope you read this someday.

That was a wild place to live in the fall and early spring of 1968.....

They were putting out these lists of who would; and who would not, go to Viet Nam. There were 900 total guys in the Guard unit. Only 300 were going to be sent there.

In the end Don was on the list; and I was not. I decided to go in and volunteer to be put on it. That was way too easy.....now I was on the list. The next day we found out that Don was taken back off the list....then we left.

Thought I'd not see him again, at least for the year we would be in Viet Nam. Nope....son of a gun....there he was walking up the street one day about 10 days or two weeks after the rest of us got there. Never did find out how that worked out.

The year in the war was an amazing time. We were very young (both of us; just 18). We were so naive, and so optomistic...we never thought about anything bad happening to us....and luckily nothing did over there.

We met a bunch of other young guys from our unit and we became bonded for life as we spent that year....always wondering.....what was happening back home with our girl friends; our wives, our families.....Many got the infamous; "Dear John" letter. I did....so did Don....although he really got it before we left as well.....

So there we were, young, naive, broken hearted, becoming a close group of friends that would last forever......

And then we got introduced to Mary......Mary Jane....you know.....

As we spent the rest of the year learning about life, war, and ...Mary....we all began to develop the personalities that would stay with us for the rest of our lives.

OK.....back to Don...(although this free form rambling is really taking me back there, so please forgive my wandering)......

Don was the Super Hippest guy of all of us....(my opinion). Tall, great looking, and just ooozing cool....

There was Don....Jay....Scott T.,Bob Reposa (Rip - Rip was his nicknamne), Jim Murray (I hope you're alive buddy, I've tried a long time to find you), Doyle M. (who called me from his farm in Colorado to wish me Happy Veteran's Day last week while I was in NYC)...thanks Doyle.....Larry Christiansen (we spoke last year), and a couple of others as well.....

We came back from VN in April of 1969...hard to believe it....home again. The longest year of my life.

As I assume happens in all war-buddy stories; we hung together for a few years after we came back....always close in a special way. But then, one by one, we got married, or 'kinda' got married, and moved off with our spouse; had kids, and pretty much - disappeared....

I hadn't seen Don between March of 1972 and August or September of 1975....I couldn't get my act together after coming back, and finally...out of desperation; I joined the U.S. Coast Guard, simply in order to get away from the influences of my friends and begin to make my own life. I was poor, and had no daddy to ask for a loan....so it seemed like my only way to get back on my feet on my own. When I was around my friends, it was easier to party or 'go to the park', then it was to work, so I didn't work much then!

Coast Guard - August 13, 1971 - August 12, 1975.....it actually worked out very well for me. I got my 'act' together nicely. I married Joyce, and we had our only child; Gretchen.

When I got out; it was August 1975. I saw Don a few times then, although I never got a really good chance to talk to him. There was always something that would get in the way of a nice chat....wife's needed something; other guests wanted to talk...whatever.....but I never got a good chance to talk again with Don.

Sometime a few years later; I got a phone call to say Don was in the hospital after a motorcycle wreck between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, Colorado. He had been rushed by ambulance down to a Denver hospital with more services available. I tracked down the hospital; called it; got to the floor he was on and spoke to the nurse on call.

She said; very slowly and sadly.....I'm afraid Donald has passed!.....WOW! It hit me incredibly hard........

We saw his wife a few times after that; but she soon left town, ended up marrying someone else, and I only saw her one time after that.......Hello Dana! I hope you're doing well....up there in Georgetown.

So......"Here's to Donald Lewis Winters", A2c, Colorado Air Nat'l Guard...My friend, and a hell of a cool guy.

And Jim....If I don't hear something soon......I'm really going to wonder if you're still with us.

Finally; Bob Reposa; Doyle Miller; Scott Terhark, Larry C, here's to us all - brothers in arms!

God bless us all!!!!!

Proud to be an American tonight!

Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America!!!!!

We have finally come back from the dark path we have been on for the last 8 years and are once again the Great Nation that I grew up believing in!

I am just back from New York City!

Something about being in NYC always makes me think of Simon and Garfunkle. They sang so many songs with reference to the city. I lived in NYC from September 1971 - March 1972 while going thru a 'school' for the U.S. Coast Guard on Governor's Island out in the River off the tip of Manhattan.

The picture is actually me from about six months earlier; just prior to joining the Coast Guard. (my hair was much shorter after joining). It's the closest picture I have to that time and probably reflects who I was at that time more than any other picture I have.

You could see the twin towers; and the Statue of Liberty and the hustle and bustle of the city while in the comfort of a little island that was only accessible if you were in the Coast Guard.

I have deep and warm feelings for the city. Back in '71 I spent many a day and night wandering the streets watching the people. I was pretty poor back then, and so walking around was about all I could afford. I look back with great fondness on that now, and really enjoy each trip to the city.

Why am I talking about that; well,....I'm reminded that wherever you are; there you must be.....and whether in a city the size of NYC or in my back yard in Olympia, Washington...you are responsible for yourself, and the only way to find peace is to look within and find it in yourself.

Peace to you all...may the Bush and Bush imitators be thrown from power for ever and may the USA come back to being the great nation it was prior to those criminals coming to power.

God Bless America!


"Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin even me
I am older than I once was, and younger than Ill be, thats not unusual
No it isnt strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same"...........Paul Simon from "The Boxer"

Sunset in Sochi!

The sunset...oh the sunset....

The gift to remember each day!

15 Buddhas are in my home!

Here are the 9 Buddha's who sit on the mantle in my family room! If you look down the blog you'll see my Buddha garden in the back yard, where a large Buddha sits to remind me to put my Buddha head on whenever I see them.

There are 5 more Buddha's around my home as I move from room to room.....

I am just beginning to learn how to be more like Buddha, but these small reminders help me every time I pass them.

Almost 60 days since my last post!

I have been rewarded for my hard work. I have sold the company I manage to a very solid Japanese company, and have been focused on making the transition to our small company to being part of this much larger company.

This has taken much of my time.

However, even more so, I have spent the last two months mostly focusing on helping my wife handle some cancer treatments and balancing that by taking her to some nice quite places away from home where she can concentrate on relaxation and good things.

As a result I have not written in here for some time, but I am back now.

As I've said; maybe no one ever reads this, but for me, it's a therapeutic way to explore my inner self, and to take things from my mind by putting them to paper (so to speak). This has been an ongoing way for me to find my own inner peace.

Peace to you all!

Good things come to those who wait!

Patience .......... Flow with the river! These are the thoughts I must keep in the front of my mind as the river enters an area of rapids. There are many new ideas in the fast moving river. Go with the river; do not fight the current!

My last post until my return from my beginning!

My life has been adrift like the leaf in this picture was prior to landing on the rock. My leaf has found a new land.......a new beginning.

I leave on Saturday; riding my motorcycle toward my destiny in Las Vegas where next week my life will start again in some way.

For clarity; I am not going to gamble in Las Vegas in the traditional way. I AM going to gamble in a very traditional business way.

Will the business gamble pay off? Where will my rock come from? Have I already found it?

Only upon leaving Las Vegas on June 21st will I have the knowledge to really know.

Please come back to visit often while I'm away. ......and say a prayer for me......in the way you do best!

I send my own prayer of hope for those who suffer in the world in a much greater fashion than I.

My Backyard Buddha Garden

Click the picture and it will blow up to full screen.

This last weekend, I prepared my house and yard for the upcoming visit of my close friends Peter and Fran. They will arrive this coming Friday afternoon on their motorcycles from Vancouver, British Columbia.

We'll share the evening and spend some time in the back yard here with Buddha, the fountain (just out of site), and the birds chirping....

On Saturday morning we will get on our bikes and ride to Las Vegas. Along the way we will surely find our own personal Nirvana........It always happens on the annual long ride.

I may not post more before leaving......may peace be with you!

I send my thoughts of well-being, peace and good will to the people of the world who are suffering tonight. May good things come to you on all levels very soon!

A Second Old Friend makes contact this same week!

The last time I really talked to Larry Christenson was probably 1969 in May. We had just finished spending a year in VietNam together and were back safely in Colorado.

We were 'a little messed' up from the experience. All in different ways.....

Larry and his good buddy Tom Freeman.....were good friends while we were in Phan Rang. They were some of my 'big brothers' since in their mid 20's they were 'old' guys. I was the second youngest guy in my unit at 18 1/2 years old at the time we arrived in VietNam. My good friend Don Winters was the youngest.

Larry found my email and sent me a note. We followed that with a phone call.

We share motorcycles as a passion.

I'm going to try to remember the other members of our 'group' that hung out and watched out for each other in VietNam.

Don Winters (died in early 90's from motorcycle crash), James L (Jim) Murray - used to see him and talk regularly; but he's disappeared and I can't find him, Doyle Miller - Lives in Elizabeth, CO, Scott Terhark - lives in Parker, CO, (saw Doyle and Scott at our big coming home reunion in 1989, but not since), Jay Applegate (lives in Denver), Bob (Rip) Reposa - lives in Aurora, CO....Hi Bob!

I love you guys! Miss you! Wish we could all get together again.

I send a message of peace and an end to suffering for all the people in the world affected by war, drought, hunger, natural disaster, or internal personal suffering. I pray you will have an end to your suffering and a return to joy and inner happiness very soon!

Today I began the next journey of my business life!

After three and 1/2 months of steady movement......always coming back to center myself on the idea of going with the flow.....I have just signed a legal document to initiate moving toward a contract that will take me to the next stage of my journey.

Although the next stop is not absolute as a result of this signing; it is nearly that.

So....I take a breath......and begin to move slowly ahead again toward the final contract and the realization of my plan for the future.

Thank you.

My blessings and humble thanks are sent to you.

Please give a moment for silent prayer in support of the many who suffer in the world on this very day, at this very moment. They need our 'extra' prayer.

Peace to all who read this!

I talked to an old friend today - that is a gift!

Thank you friend......Travel in peace my friend!

For some reason this song came to my head after our talk:

"OM" by the Moody Blues
It starts off with these words:

"The Rain is on the roof; hurry high butterfly"

You can hear it by going to the music player at the top of this page and clicking on the Arrow to advance to the next song until you come to it

PLEASE....take the time; sit back; listen; close your eyes....and truly let the music take over. Relax..............................

My blessings to the people of war torn countries and those of the recent natural disasters. Peace be with you.

I cross another river on my journey!

One more river has been crossed as I walk on my journey. I decided to 'flow with the river' yesterday (like I knew all along), and the result was I achieved my goal.

My thoughts continue to be for the millions around the world who are suffering from war, famine, natural disaster.....it is even harder than ever now to understand why those people have such terrible times and my disasters have so far been very stressful at times; but incomparable to theirs. I thank God for my luck.....and I will try to live my life in a way that shows that.

Peace be with you today!

Let the river flow....flow with the river. Immerse yourself in nature! Find pleasure in simple things. Take the time to look at the springtime beauty.

These are the things I must concentrate on today as I go into a new level of negotiation for my future.

My thoughts as always to those who suffer.....my own difficulty is so incomparably minor to those in Myanmar, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Chinese earthquake among so many others. Peace and an end to suffering to you in those situations!

Animals know!

While out for a ride in the country this weekend, we met this little deer.

He knew we were peaceful people. He came to show us!

Peace be to you little deer! Peace and freedom from sorrow for all the people now recovering from natural disasters and war!

Stop and smell the flowers of spring...............

My thought for the day.

In our current world where rushing everywhere is the sign of the times, we need to take a moment each day and 'smell the flowers'.

Allow 5 minutes with no other purpose.

There is peace and inner happiness for you in each flower.

Prayers to the people of China and Myanmar!

I say a prayer for the people who have suffered so much in China and in Myanmar. I met a nice man from Chengdu, China where so many have been killed.....

Mr. Hexu from Chengdu Fscreen Sci-tech Co., Ltd. - I think of you tonight as I say my prayer for you and your family and workers and friends from Chengdu and the rest of your region.

I pray that you will find an end to your suffering as soon as possible and that you and yours will be able to recover quickly from this terrible tragedy.

Also for the people of Myanmar.....my prayers to the many who suffer.....

20 Wise Quotes from the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama has some very insightful verses. I’ve gathered my favorite quotes from the Tibetan leader about a variety of topics such as love, compassion, peace, humanity, violence, and the environment. It’s a very interesting read. Enjoy :

1- Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.

2- If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.

3- If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

4- My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

5- Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

6- The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.

7- We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

8- We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

9- Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

10- If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.

11- If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love others. You will not be able to love others. If you have no compassion for yourself then you are not able of developing compassion for others.

12- Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling, “I am of no value”, is wrong. Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought - so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything. It is usually said that you are your own master.

13- We must recognize that the suffering of one person or one nation is the suffering of humanity. That the happiness of one person or nation is the happiness of humanity.

14- Through violence, you may ’solve’ one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.

15- As people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility toward others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier, than we found it.

16- To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.

17- There is a saying in Tibetan, “Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.”
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.

18- The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.

19- A spoon cannot taste of the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man´s wisdom even if he associates with a sage.

20- In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.

My thoughts go out to the victims of natural disasters

In Myanmar and now in China today!

I pray that your suffering will be as little as possible. I wish for you the fastest recovery and quickest route back to inner happiness.....may it be very soon!

Spring - the flowers bloom everywhere, the sun shines

It is time to focus our thoughts on the world we live in. It's quite beautiful. All around there are different kinds of beauty. Blue Sky, clouds with amazing shapes, mountains (in some places), water (in some places), flowers, trees, birds of all shapes and sizes. There is the beauty of the 'outdoor' sound; birds singing, the wind blowing thru the trees, water rushing by. Take a moment and let the world come into your head.


It is time we all began to stop the craziness of world leaders who have no love for the world! It is time to slow down the money crazy people who have no desire but for more money.

It is time we said thank you to our world, and tobegin to tell the money slaves that there is more to life and that we do not wish for them to rule the world any longer.

Thank you for visiting.

World peace is within our reach if we all take one small step forward at a time. We must tell our leaders that we seek peace for the world, not war. If they do not accept our words, then we must take two steps forward. We must stop supporting them politically. If this does not work; we must take the third step forward; we must stop supporting the business that profits substantially from war by boycotting their products. If this does not work; we must go to the streets and take our message to the others who have not yet seen the light. In the independent movie from the late 1980's; "Amazing Grace and Chuck", one small boy made a difference by giving up his best thing. Others followed, and finally the world saw the light. This is the way!

Welcome - Friends of Buddha

I wish the best to you all!

This is a brand new site, I will add information often.

We are for peace in the world. We are for sharing the world. We are for 'going with the flow' of the world. We are for helping each other find inner happiness!