There is this profound play between application of effort, and letting go. Sometimes, and in some ways, one has to galvanise ones energy, enlist ones desire, focus aspiration, and strive for the goal. Whether that is in terms of life overall, or a particular moment within it, there is the need to make an effort. […]
Effort and Letting Go Read Post »
How dreamlike is this life …. Bringing experiences to mind from the past – they are like shimmering dreams, with a life of their own, never quite the same, and seemingly not like the experience in the present which seemed to inspire them. And that experience in the present, which had previously seemed so solid
Clarity and Emptiness Read Post »
Tomorrow is my father’s funeral. He died just over two weeks ago. I have nothing remotely profound to say on the subject. Time has flowed on … and thoughts and feelings have come and gone. Things have been arranged, and challenges taken up. So much seems to have happened, such an extraordinary mixture of rich
The limitless expanse of emptinessIs luminous with all-pervading light,In clear mind sky, free from complexities,The rainbow of phenomena shines forth. Where neither confusion nor freedom has ever existed,The father and mother of all, Universal Goodness,Dwell in the secret great bliss beyond thoughtYet reveal the miracles of love’s unceasing play. Whatever the eye sees is sacred
Aspiration of Great Perfection Read Post »
Inhabiting the ‘world’ of Vajrayana in my practice, it seems that the symbolism of events is very much transforming my sense of ‘sacred’ and ‘profane’. As appearances arise, they seem to naturally take on or perhaps, reflect characteristics of the Vajrayana symbolism of my Sadhana and practice. So when the wind blows during my Sadhana,
Vajrayana and the sacred and profane Read Post »
How often it is that our response to our own suffering is to grasp at the very things which bring about our suffering! We seem to have a wrong ‘gameplan’ – one which says that having or grasping this or that experience will make things ‘right’, and not having or pushing away something will lessen
The Response to Suffering Read Post »
Do not lose the view in the conduct; If you lose the view in the conduct, you will neverhave the chance to be liberated. Do not lose the conduct in the view; If you lose the conduct in the view, you stray into black diffusion. Padmasambhava This seems to be an ongoing theme for me,
Reflections on Padmasambhava – View and Conduct Read Post »
More car stuff – I’ve noticed this tendancy I have in the car to fiddle with the controls – not just when I set out, but pretty much all the way through a journey. I diligently adjust the heater – hot, cold, up, down – the wipers and windowscreen washer …. the radio – volume
Fiddling With Samsara Read Post »
I was sitting next to our bath last night, with my toddler playing with his bubbles. And I was reflecting that for many years, when I first came to practice, and first had children, I used to feel very strongly that my goal in life, the goal of spiritual life, was ‘somewhere else’, ‘something else’,
Is This All There Is? Read Post »
What an odd tendency I have! When I’m driving I invariably catch myself, every 10 minutes or so, looking what another driver is doing, and thinking in my mind “that’s not right, don’t do that, do it like I do”! Whether it’s turning without indicating, driving inches behind the car in front of them, hogging
