Remember, we are all Buddhas, we are all perfect. Which makes you wonder just how bad imperfect would look.

We all have the right to lead happy lives. But what if it makes me happy to make you unhappy? Ah, what a conundrum.

Embrace the emptiness. Hard to get your arms around that, isn't it?

It's a Monday. It's a rainy day. You do the math.

On the seventh day, the Zenish rested. We also rest Monday through Saturday but we like to make a big show of doing nothing on Sundays.

An open heart is an open mind. Well, not literally of course; they're two separate things. And just what is the mind exactly? Are the mind and the brain the same thing? I think the brain is a thing, but the mind is more of an idea, a concept, really. The brain is home to the mind and, like love and marriage, you can't  have one without the other. Or can you? Hmmmm. Food for thought. If you have a mind. Or a brain. Keep an open heart on the subject.

Time is an illusion. Or is it a delusion? Wait, what's the difference between illusion and delusion again? Oh. Those who think time is an illusion are delusional.

Can one become too enlightened? If so, what happens upon over-enlightenment? Spontaneous combustion? Boy, that would be cool, in a fiery hot sort of way.

To realize inner peace after a period of turmoil, know that behind every dark cloud is a silver lining, and behind every funnel cloud is a funnel cake.

Per the Dalai Lama on Twitter (yes, the Dalai Lama tweets), before we can meditate on compassion we must first moisten our minds with love. Uhmmm....what?

If you treat people as brothers and sisters, they will act accordingly. Mostly likely with bitter recriminations and extended periods of estrangement.

How can I find inner peace when last nights hot dogs with sport peppers are talking back to me?

We must remember that love and compassion are all we need. As well as the basic human needs of food, shelter, and clothing. And for those things we need money. Love, compassion, and money are all we need. And maybe a decent cup of coffee, no sugar, easy on the cream. You know what would go well with that coffee? Bacon. Actually, bacon goes well with everything, but in this case, bacon with two eggs, sunny side up. And some wheat toast. Good to scoop up that runny egg with. And let's not forget air conditioning. I can't sleep when it's too warm. And AC in the car as well. It's so uncomfortable to drive when it's hot out and you don't have AC. Sure, once upon a time we could sleep or drive around without air conditioning, but we're not cavemen anymore, are we? So, all we really need...

The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Unless in the past you died; then you really wouldn't have much of a present.

Let go of your preconceptions about yourself, everyone around you, where you live and work, etc. Replace them with significantly lowered expectations of all of the above. Expect nothing, receive what you expect, you will be happier.

I think not, therefore I am.

Practice mindfulness. Exist in this moment only. Yesterday's gone. Don't stop thinkin' about tomorrow, soon it will be here...wait a second...damn you, Fleetwood Mac!

Monday morning at the Zenish monastery already? Oooh, it's like Sunday never happened.

Does Instant Karma come in a decaffeinated package? Sometimes I want the Karma, I just don't want all that caffeine.

Be pure of heart. Or at least lie and say your heart is pure. Then deny when the truth is found out. The apologize, even if you don't mean it. Life is all about illusion, isn't it?

Be empty of mind.

The mind is an illusion. That's a problem. No, wait, I don't think that's right. The mind is a problem that is an illusion. This is all very problematical.

We have learned about the Three Treasures and now we are about to receive the Fourth Noble Truth, which gives us a map to the elimination of desire, and this map is called the Eightfold Path. Obviously, Buddha was a numerologist.

To eliminate suffering is the lesson of the Third Noble Truth. Eliminate desire, you eliminate suffering. We have all that we need already. Why desire more? Because my Faberge egg collection is a necessity, that's why. I get more eggs, no one suffers. Got it? Good. Lesson learned right there.

Now we know that to be human is to suffer, to feel dukkha. But why do we suffer? The second of the Four Noble Truths explains that suffering is caused by Desire, a Bob Dylan album from the mid-1970s. I guess some people suffer when they hear him sing, but to blame the suffering of all humanity on one guy from Hibbing, Minnesota seems a bit much. But who am I to argue?

The first of the Four Noble Truths is that all people experience suffering, known as dhukka. Dhukka can be summed up by the feeling you get on a summer Saturday morning trying to write a witty blog post that attempts to satirize self-help through semi-spirituality.

Let's talk about the Four Noble Truths. They are the core of the teachings, the heart of Dharma. "The Heart of Dharma." That would be a good name for one of those Lifetime romance movies. Now, what was I talking about again?

We complete our look at the Three Treasures with a brief mention of sangha, the word for the Buddhist/Zenish community. This community can be people of a like-mind, all the Zenish of the world, or all people in general. It can even include that child next door who, went not sleeping, is screaming as if he were being sacrificed, or the couple across street who spend many hours outdoors on their balcony in the nude. Really, put some clothes on already! I'm not seeing any treasures over there, so cover up!

Another of the Three Treasures are the Buddha's teachings, known as dharma, which reflect ultimate truth. Dharma? You can't handle dharma!