Washington DC or Obamaville
It is August 2nd already how the year and especially this last month has flown by.
I left India at the beginning of July and after the adjustment to being in the USA with the pure shock of all the luxury's, setting up home again and getting a job, I think I am back to my normal self again. One thing is for sure I truly appreciate this comfort and love my simple wee studio in the sky for the next few months. I did manage to sneak in a 6 day meditation retreat on Buddhist Philosophy with the FPMT Guhyasamaja center in Northern Virginia. http://www.guhyasamaja.org/ That was great and so nice to spend time with like minded Dharma folks struggling with the concept of emptiness.
So DC is pretty much the same; filled with very busy and some important people all thinking that politics will fix the world. Oh if only it could. It always strikes me when I come back here just how sad, drained, stressed out or puffed up people look. Everyone walks and talks so fast but do they really get anywhere? do they really accomplish what they think they can by going fast? Do they even enjoy what they are doing?
Then of course there is always the judgments that people make of each other in DC. This is really quite funny and I have had this happen to me more than a few times. Maybe you know it too, the once up and down glance a stranger will give you on first meeting which is then quickly followed by either a fake smile grin with a "pleased to meet you" and a limp handshake or a look of dismissal, as they turn their back. All because to there mind I am not dresses the correct way, or made up enough or not with the important people etc etc etc. Whatever it may be it is just sad that people do that. DC is a place where people only want to get to know you if they can get something from you and that is usually a better job or connection to someone who can get you a better job or free labour. I never knew until I moved here that every congress man will have a least one but may up to three unpaid interns doing all the research. Hellish that the government has so much unpaid labour, I though slavery was illegal in the USA but I guess white collar, striving to be upper class slavery for the 20 somethings is okay. What has also been funny in DC is that because I am under 5 ft tall this seems to gives people permission to treat me like a child, which is funny as I will be 50 this year.. hahhah Yip being tall means being important in DC, if only I could get platform shoes in size 4 I could get some respect... hahhaha
Anyway it is a complete contrast from the village life in India. I use it as a great anthropological study or an expedition through the concrete jungle and always use it as a reflection on the first Noble Trust of Buddha; that life is suffering and no matter how much comfort, possessions, position or power people may gain, it is their inner happiness that counts. I am not sure just how much inner happiness DC folks have?
So the good thing about being in DC is the access to info and all the government office. Since I am getting NobleHeart Charitable Trust on her feet all I need is right here in DC. I got the facebook page up so Like It; if you like it https://www.facebook.com/NobleheartCharitableTrust
So I attend classes at the Foundation Center foundationcenter.org which is an amazing resources for non-profits and they also give classes all for free. So mornings I am there and then do my part time job in the afternoons. The web site is coming along, slow but sure and thanks to Ashley for help with that as I was getting in a pickle with that one. Roland is conjuring up a logo and it has been fun working with him again on designs, Ernie has been a great help in referring me to business plan ideas and I just have to say thanks to Susan, Kat, Melissa, Jonna, Christos and everyone else who has been supportive of my vision for NobleHeart and helpful in giving feedback, asking questions and making me think things through. Love yi all!
So this next month will be an adventure in tacking bureaucracy and I am sure I will encounter more than a few more dismissal looks or surprises expression that question what is this small, unimportant person wanting? Will keep yi posted I am sure to have a few stories.
It is August 2nd already how the year and especially this last month has flown by.
I left India at the beginning of July and after the adjustment to being in the USA with the pure shock of all the luxury's, setting up home again and getting a job, I think I am back to my normal self again. One thing is for sure I truly appreciate this comfort and love my simple wee studio in the sky for the next few months. I did manage to sneak in a 6 day meditation retreat on Buddhist Philosophy with the FPMT Guhyasamaja center in Northern Virginia. http://www.guhyasamaja.org/ That was great and so nice to spend time with like minded Dharma folks struggling with the concept of emptiness.So DC is pretty much the same; filled with very busy and some important people all thinking that politics will fix the world. Oh if only it could. It always strikes me when I come back here just how sad, drained, stressed out or puffed up people look. Everyone walks and talks so fast but do they really get anywhere? do they really accomplish what they think they can by going fast? Do they even enjoy what they are doing?
Then of course there is always the judgments that people make of each other in DC. This is really quite funny and I have had this happen to me more than a few times. Maybe you know it too, the once up and down glance a stranger will give you on first meeting which is then quickly followed by either a fake smile grin with a "pleased to meet you" and a limp handshake or a look of dismissal, as they turn their back. All because to there mind I am not dresses the correct way, or made up enough or not with the important people etc etc etc. Whatever it may be it is just sad that people do that. DC is a place where people only want to get to know you if they can get something from you and that is usually a better job or connection to someone who can get you a better job or free labour. I never knew until I moved here that every congress man will have a least one but may up to three unpaid interns doing all the research. Hellish that the government has so much unpaid labour, I though slavery was illegal in the USA but I guess white collar, striving to be upper class slavery for the 20 somethings is okay. What has also been funny in DC is that because I am under 5 ft tall this seems to gives people permission to treat me like a child, which is funny as I will be 50 this year.. hahhah Yip being tall means being important in DC, if only I could get platform shoes in size 4 I could get some respect... hahhaha
Anyway it is a complete contrast from the village life in India. I use it as a great anthropological study or an expedition through the concrete jungle and always use it as a reflection on the first Noble Trust of Buddha; that life is suffering and no matter how much comfort, possessions, position or power people may gain, it is their inner happiness that counts. I am not sure just how much inner happiness DC folks have?
So the good thing about being in DC is the access to info and all the government office. Since I am getting NobleHeart Charitable Trust on her feet all I need is right here in DC. I got the facebook page up so Like It; if you like it https://www.facebook.com/NobleheartCharitableTrust
So I attend classes at the Foundation Center foundationcenter.org which is an amazing resources for non-profits and they also give classes all for free. So mornings I am there and then do my part time job in the afternoons. The web site is coming along, slow but sure and thanks to Ashley for help with that as I was getting in a pickle with that one. Roland is conjuring up a logo and it has been fun working with him again on designs, Ernie has been a great help in referring me to business plan ideas and I just have to say thanks to Susan, Kat, Melissa, Jonna, Christos and everyone else who has been supportive of my vision for NobleHeart and helpful in giving feedback, asking questions and making me think things through. Love yi all!
So this next month will be an adventure in tacking bureaucracy and I am sure I will encounter more than a few more dismissal looks or surprises expression that question what is this small, unimportant person wanting? Will keep yi posted I am sure to have a few stories.
