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by Rev. Koyo S. Kubose Kanon KuboseRev. Koyo S. KuboseAdrienne KubosePoemsReader Replies]]]]]]]]]]]]]]8334 60076 PhoneFax (847) 677-8053 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]cause the people who live with seasonalcontrol.year around for a few years until they toocircumstances, although we take the dailyIf it’s cold, we don’t snuggle in bed (okay,the weather. You should not let either theweather or your emotions dictate how you

Universal Teachings For Everyday Living Page 2

President’s Message

Editor of this issue

Editor-In-Chief

Managing Editor

Oneness Newsletter Autumn 1999

Dharma Glimpses

Winter issue deadline: October 15

Harding Avenue Skokie, Illinois

kubose@worldnet.att.net

The Chicago area suffered from a brutal

heat wave this past summer. Air condition-

ers and electric fans can be actual life savers

but I am sure the pervasiveness of the heat

was still oppressive. One may find relief in

cool places (like a movie theater) but no one

can completely escape the heat.

During the summer it is difficult to imagine

that winter will come with its bitter wind and

deep snow. One’s perception and mood is

dominated by whatever is the current sea-

sonal weather. Conversely, during winter, it

is hard to imagine what warm weather is like.

Of course we have quite pleasant springs and

autumns which we appreciate for awhile but

usually take for granted.

My son, who has been living in Los Ange-

les the past few years, says he misses the

seasons. He expressed a theory that people

who live in seasonal places can better ac-

cept life’s ups and downs than those who live

where its “nice” all year around. This is be-

weather have to accept seasonal changes

which are not under their direct control; thus

enabling them to accept life changes and dif-

ficulties that also are rarely under their direct

This theory is probably an over simplifica-

tion. Plus, most things are relative; e.g., even

those who live in balmy climates may experi-

ence seasonal variations (though granted it

may not be to the extremes of other areas).

For example, local people in Hawaii do not

go swimming in their winter season, “It’s too

cold!” Whereas newcomers go swimming all

become sensitive to seasonal changes.

For people like farmers, the weather is an

extremely crucial factor. For the rest of us,

although the weather is a basic thing that af-

fects us every day, it is usually only a back-

drop to our daily activities. Under ordinary

weather into consideration, we do not let it

dictate what we need to do. For example, if

it’s raining when we get up in the morning,

we don’t say, “Well, I can’t go to work today.”

Instead, we get our umbrellas and go to work.

except for a few minutes) and we don’t say,

“Nope, can’t do my work today.” Instead, we

dress appropriately and go do what needs to

In Morita therapy, an approach to living in-

fluenced by Japanese Buddhism, it is sug-

gested that one’s emotions be considered like

live. Negative feelings do not have to pre-

vent you from doing what needs to be done.

Although emotions are important and should

not be ignored, you do not have to use your

emotions as excuses to justify your behavior.