The Moment: 2005-11-27

Lights

Aloneness is not Loneliness

Though we are all human beings, we have built walls between ourselves and our neighbors through nationalism, through race, caste, and class-which again breeds isolation, loneliness.Now a mindthat is caught in loneliness, in this state of isolation, can never possibly understand what religion is. It can believe, it can have certain theories, concepts, formulas, it can try to identify itself with that which it calls God; but religion, it seems to me, has nothing whatsoever to do with any belief, with any priest, with any church or so-called sacred book. The state of the religious mind can be understood only when we begin to understand what beauty is; and the understanding of beauty must be approached through total aloneness. Only when the mind is completely alone can it know what is beauty, and not in any other state.Alonenessis obviously not isolation, and it is not uniqueness. To be unique is merely to be exceptional in some way, whereas to be completely alone demands extraordinary sensitivity, intelligence, understanding. To be completely alone implies that the mind is free of every kind of influence and is therefore uncontaminated by society; and it must be alone to understand what is religion-which is to find out for oneself whether there is something immortal, beyond time.
--Krishnamurti's Book of Life

dfd

The Internet Savvy Akita Pup

Puppy Akita is learning how to use internet. He likes chatting with his friends. :)

The Adorable Shetland Sheepdog

Not to be confused with the Colie, this is one of the most intelligent breed. They were breed for hearding, and working with humans. Very intelligent and loving. They can be quite protective of the family.

The Mighty Akita Inu

Then I continued my search, and found this teddy-bear like dog. Their cute appearence can be deceiving. These are legendary large Japaneese dogs that came from Akita Island. They were breed for fightings, then later were used as guarding, retrievering, hearding, hunting bears and wild boars, and pulling sledges (like huskies). They grow very big, up to 80KG for a full grown male. That is the sad part. Extremely protective of the family, good guard dog. The japanese allow Akita to protect their children, when they are not around. Quite intelligent but can be stubborn at times. Very friendly to the children if they grow up together. The famous one is Hachiko, white male Akita.. here is the story in length. (Excerpted from http://www.moellgaard.dk/English/Dogs/Akitas/Akitas_and_GJDs.htm)

For the Japanese, the most famous Akita is the Chuken Hachiko, which means “loyal Hachiko”, but he is usually referred to as Hachiko.
Hachiko, a white male Akita, was born in Odate, Akita Prefecture in November 1923. Two months old, he was sent to the home of Professor Eizaburo Ueno in Tokyo. The Professor named the puppy Hachi and called him Hachiko. At that time, Professor Ueno’s residence was in a suburb of Tokyo in the vicinity of Shibuya Station, and he used the train from that station to the agricultural experimental station in Nishihara where he worked.
May 21, 1925, Hachiko was at Shibuya Station as usual, waiting for his master’s arrival on the four o’clock train. However, Dr. Ueno would not return this time since he tragedly had suffered a stroke and had died at the university. Hachiko was by then eighteen months old. The next day and for the next nine years, Hachiko returned to the station and waited for his beloved master before walking home, alone. Hachiko was sent to homes of relatives or friends, but he always continued to await his master, who was never to return, at the train station.
Nothing and no one could discourage Hachiko from maintaining his nightly vigil. It was not until he followed his master in death, in March l934, at the age of 11 years and 4 months, that Hachiko failed to appear in his place at the railroad station.
The fidelity of Hachiko was known throughout Japan. Today, the statue of Hachiko, pays a silent tribute to the breed’s faithfulness and loyalty.

White German Shepherd

The Siberian Husky

I have been thinking lately, should I get a dog when everything has settled? My first thought went to the mystical Siberian Husky. I am beguilled by their wolf-like appearance, their independence, and strong-will. Then, I started digging into their characteristics, ummm... what a disappointment. They are working dogs, dogs that are bred to pull cart, so they are happiest when they are doing their job. They look aggresive, but in truth they are extremely approachable, so friendly that they will even greet strangers. No good, cannot be a watch dog or a guard dog. Very difficult to train, they are not stupid though, just stubborn. Will not play games with you, like retrieving stick, cause they think what is the point of retrieving a stick when you are going to throw it again. They will shed, 365 days a year, even your vacuum cleaner will be choked. Lastly, they must always be on leash when out, else they will RUN, RUN, RUN..and disappear. Can't blame them, that is their nature. Still love them though.