Today is Bodhi Day

A friend and I planned to spend Bodhi Day together; this is the day of Buddha's enlightenment. These plans were squelched because she became incapasitated by a cold. I celebrated solo (Get well, friend).  Bodhi Day is celebrated because Buddha, under a Bodhi tree, touched the earth and knew that all of our suffering could end; all of it gone, poof, simply by continually training the mind. Pain, you see, is a physical state and may not end, but our suffering is caused by the tormenting thoughts such as desire, attachment, or ruminations of the mind. By focusing on the breath, in and out, living in the very present moment humans can stop their suffering. Yet, this is a practice. Today, in the very present moment, I decided to continue my cleansing process by going into the New Year by ridding my home of anything that is unneeded, unused or in my estimation held negative energy. I am truly getting somewhere in this process; but there's more to accomplish. One huge project that I usually suffer through is going through my old photos. Generally, I play an internal tape that is too nostalgic. Today, in the spirit of Bodhi Day, I ended my suffering about ridding myself of these old photos, without deeply thinking about them;  I didn't stop and reflect. It was all about picture content or quality. It went like this: My sister isn't married to this guy anymore-toss;  oh, this is a picture of so and so, I haven't seen them and we don't keep in touch--toss. This is a blurry picture--no good ,toss. Pictures of a park where I used to live, lovely but unnecessary--good-bye! Look how young and thin I was here--keep! I have 1/3 of the pictures I used to have!  Fantastically enlightened regarding what I don't need in my life!