"Bart's Buddies!"

Buddha - Become yourself...

Buddha c. 400 - ? BC

Siddhartha Gautama was variously called Siddharttha Gotama  Gautama Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha or just Buddha. Buddha means monk, mendicant, sage teacher, religious leader and philosopher.

Siddhartha was a prince brought up in a palace. As a child and young man, he never left the luxury of the palace. One day he wandered out of the palace and into the misery of the city. He was so struck by the suffering he witnessed that he vowed to understand why we as human beings suffer and how we could escape that state. He left his wife and family and the wealth of the palace, to live as a monk.

He took vows, meditated and is said to have achieved enlightenment while seated under a Bodhi tree. Siddhartha, as Buddha, originated the philosophy known as Buddhism.

Cover Art - There is a serene peace in Bart as the Buddha as he encourages us to "become our selves." Is he jumping from the flower or reclining and relaxing in it? Bart is our mentor, our teacher. He is "all heart," as he becomes himself.

Bart's stark black and white strips contrast with the pinks of the blossom, green leaves and blue water, or is that blue sky? The red heart reflects Bart's peaceful gaze.

Quotation - "Become yourself... as the flower delights in becoming itself!"

Growing is Being, life is being. Plants have stems, buds, and flowers. The petals begin to fall as they prepare for the change that is death. We arise, grow, mature and pass on. We become our expanded selves. We can consider and observe ourselves, arise and stand tall to become and to be.

Notable ideas from the Buddha:

Happiness, suffering and enlightenment,

Four noble truths and eight-fold path

"Bart the Cat" is more than just a "star!" He was a big Maine Coon cat. He was my buddy.  Bart's passed on now, but he lives on in our hearts. You can find him featured on many our cards and gifts.

Thank you to Mike and Trish Simpson for their Main Coon history in their article "America's Native Longhair," and to Wikipedia for more Maine Coon background and photos.