CrankyBuddhist   the learning never ends …

I’d do well to take my own advice. I have gone over the deep end in this election cycle. I am obsessed with reading the news, watching the stump speeches, making phone calls (and I absolutely hate, yes hate, making calls and talking on the phone!), and worrying about who is going to win this election.

I hear there are a lot of people out there suffering from the same thing.

If you are one of them, here are a few ways to de-stress in these last few days before the election.

Vote early. It’s easy, and it gets the process out of the way. And you still get your ‘I Voted’ sticker. Then on Tuesday you can sit back and watch the election results roll in. Or you can work on getting out the vote by making more calls and knocking on more doors.

Volunteer. If you feel like this election is as important as I do, be proactive and go volunteer for these last few days. It will keep you busy. The Obama campaign has many opportunities to volunteer and become a part of the electoral process. It may make you work more, but you will feel like you are taking something that feels like it is out of your control and doing something about it.

Do some yoga. Turning yourself into a pretzel, or just bending over and touching your toes, while focusing on what you are doing, will take you away from the election news and get you back into your own self.

Walking the dog is good too. The dog doesn’t understand that there is a major life-changing election going on. Make sure they get their daily dose of attention!

Take a deep breath. Remember to breathe. Get some air into your lungs, preferably fresh air.

Eat well. Halloween was just on Friday and there are probably bowls of leftover candy sitting around the house. Instead of sticking your hand into the candy bowl, go make a salad or just make sure your munchies are under control.

Get your sleep. Being sleep deprived doesn’t help anyone.

And step away from the screen. Just walk away. The news will still be there an hour from now.

Nechung Puja with Lama Lobsang Palden
Tuesday morning, 8:45-11:00
1741 W. Columbia Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626
ELECTION DAY PUJA: Tuesday, November 4, 8:45-11 AM
Please note that this practice will include an outdoor fire puja and will last at least 2 hours.
Everyone welcome

Dorje Drakden

Lama Lobsang will perform a Nechung (Dorje Drakden) Puja, which includes a tea offering, a fire puja, and prayers to the wrathful protectors Mahakala and Yamantaka. The traditional purposes of these ceremonies include clearing negative obstacles and cutting through negative emotions to reveal the truth. We will perform these pujas while holding the intention that Barack Obama will be elected president, visualizing not only the deities but also the future President Obama. If you would like to contribute something to the practice, please bring a traditional offering of black tea, alcohol, or natural incense (sage, juniper, cedar, sweetgrass). Donations are welcome.

Your Voting Information
Chicago citizens, look up your voter registration status and view the full list of Chicago polling places at the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago’s website.

Democracy Now! Report on Electronic Voting Machine Malfunctions
Just days away from the election, the battle is on for voting rights. Early voters across the country are reporting long lines and problems with electronic voting machines. Republicans, meanwhile, continue to file lawsuits that could stop thousands from voting. DN! spoke to Harvey Wasserman of Free Press and Brad Friedman of the Brad Blog on October 29. To read, listen to, or watch the whole story click here.

Video the Vote 2008
Video the Vote is a national initiative to protect voting rights by monitoring the electoral process. They are asking citizens to document election problems as they occur. They will distribute their footage to the mainstream media and online to make sure the full story of Election Day gets told.

CNN Voter Hotline
If you have a problem voting or see a problem, call the CNN Voter Hotline at 1-877-GOCNN08 (1-877-462-6608); CNN will report on some of the calls.

Free Video Download of Slacker Uprising
Michael Moore’s new documentary about the youth vote, Slacker Uprising, is available for free on his website.

A Zen Master looks at Same-Gender Marriage
Robert Aitken Roshi, a widely respected American Zen teacher, applies the classic Buddhist teaching of the Four Immeasurables: loving kindness, compassion, joy in the attainment of others, and equanimity, in an argument for the legalization of same-sex marriage. Read his blog entry here.

Barack Obama
All things Barack Obama

This information was received via email from the Buddhists for Obama group affiliated with www.barackobama.com

I can vouch for Bill Clinton’s statement. I have met people who have given up a year or more of their everyday lives to work full time on Obama’s campaign. He has persuaded me to make phone calls for him, knock on doors for him, and send emails to my base. I’m not only giving him my time, I’m giving it to him for free.

Obama has networked the country like no other presidential candidate before him, on either side of the fence. He has brought people together to make his election possible. If he can create this amazing network before becoming president, what are the possibilities after he becomes president?