Mindful Lawyering

This little doo-dad has been on my desk for many years. Must have gotten it at Archie McPhee in Seattle or the dear departed Uncle Fun in Chicago. I should pay more attention to it.

I have a great admiration for Buddhism and the Western variety in vogue these days, secular Buddhism.  Over and over I think I should start a meditation practice but I seem to lack the self-discipline, time and social support. (The only person I know who does it is a couple of hundred miles away.) Maybe when I retire. There are a lot of things I'd like to do when I retire. 

On a related note, on one single occasion in my life a friend dragged me to a yoga class. I could do corpse. That's it.     

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I am so out of material. Fortunately I had the new Fuji with me at the office yesterday. There had to be something to capture. My selection was a little rubber Buddha with a laptop (it's a squeaky toy) and mouse pad with Munch's iconic painting. Sort of a summary of what it's like to be a mindful lawyer these days.      

Before Dark

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The Missouri Botanical Garden is a wondrous place to visit on its own but the Lantern Festival has really drawn in the crowds. You can see the lanterns - more like very creative Chinese-themed sculptures with lights - during the day but it's just not the same. The garden has closed at 5 PM this summer, re-opening for the evening spectacular at 6. By the way, the show closes on August 19. Locals, you owe it to yourself to get over there quickly.

There are worthwhile sights at twilight. The photo above is part of a dragon set in the reflecting pool in front of the Climatron, seen in yesterday's second picture. Note that the scales are made of plates. Its whiskers are formed from cups, as we shall see soon.

First below, electrified glass and plastic waterlilies replace the real thing in a still lily pond.

Bottom, Buddha keeps watch over St. Louis at sunset. The town could use that for real. Any deity. Take your pick, but watch over us.

NEWS FLASH: a new show, [context]Texture opened in the main gallery of Art St. Louis last night. It features 52 works by St. Louis area artists reflecting the theme. Two of my photographs were accepted. I FINALLY SOLD SOMETHING, the picture on the left of a woman standing on the levee watching the Mississippi on a cold day. YIPPIE! I've been in a bunch of group shows over the last five years or so and never sold a thing. About time.

Does Ronald McDonald Have Buddha Nature?

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McDonald's was the major corporate sponsor of last weekend's Annie Malone parade. They put up this huge inflatable Ronald in Kiener Plaza to make the point inescapable. I was wandering around it, taking random shots, when it hit me: he's sitting in the lotus position. And he's got his left hand on his thigh and is raising his right hand in benediction, not exactly in one of the Buddha's traditional hand gestures (mudras) but pretty close. Why?

Unbeknownst to most of the world, Ronald may be a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who remains on earth to help others reach the same goal. But then Ronald pushes Big Macs and super-size fries, which promote clogged arteries and diabetes. That doesn't help Buddha's intent of eliminating suffering. Umm. Better revise my theory.

Downtown St. Louis 365 steps lively.

Buddhas In My Office

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From the archives. Well, this is in St. Louis if not exactly about St. Louis. Actually, it's my desk. The little figures remind me of the impermanence of technology and coffee trends, whispering the principle of non-attachment to squeezable rubber toys, however holy. Oh, and what's that hand thing in the background? Click here.

WHAT I CAN'T DECIDE: what to do for theme day next week. I have an idea, though. Don't know if I can find all the props I'd need.

TOMORROW: Society For The Support of Penniless Lawyers