Just some thoughts in response to an email to a Buddhist list asking why it is that we discuss the latest terrorist act so energetically, yet don’t seem to pay any attention to such things as starvation in Africa, for example. The mailer pointed out that one child dies of starvation there every 5 seconds. […]
Famine and Terrorism Read Post »
I’m currently studying ‘Songs of Naropa’, a translation and commentary on two Mahamudra songs of Naropa by Thrangu Rinpoche. The book is wonderful, full of Thrangu Rinpoche’s usual systematic and insightful reflections. The Two Doha’s or spiritual songs in the book are new to me, the first time I’ve encountered them. Both are short, and
The Eight Worldly Winds keep on blowing ….. One moment I am sitting at work, having just heard the news that Anwar, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia had just had his conviction overturned and had been freed from jail. (He’d been sent to jail in one of the most dubious and obviously politically
The Winds Keep On Blowing Read Post »
Having been asked on a List to give my views on Islam, Muslims, and the actions and suffering which are associated in some way with them, I attempt to give it here. As it’s a huge and complex subject, I can only cover some aspects. And this is all just that, just my own views,
Islam, Emptiness and Realisation Read Post »
This is one of my favourite Dharma songs – Milarepa sings so powerfully of impermanence, and conditionality. It’s so beautiful I really cannot bear to add words of my own to it here … The patrons of Nya Non wish Milarepa to stay with them permanently. Milarepa replied, “I cannot stay here long, but I
Milarepa – Song to the Patrons of Nya Non Read Post »
Last night I was watching the 1996 documentary on Tibet – ‘Time-Life’s Lost Civilizations – Tibet’. The documentary was well made, with some very powerful imagery and strong narrative relating to the distinctive contribution that Tibet has made to both spiritual practice and social and cultural development. The end of the documentary focussed on the
Confused Dharma from Tibet Read Post »
About a month ago I switched to always meditating with my eyes open, after pretty much always meditating with my eyes shut for the last 16 years. In the past I’d tried to switch, but found my ability to concentrate greatly impaired, so had reverted to keeping them shut. However, it has been 3 years
How wonderful that my wife ‘woke me up’ this morning with the bell of rememberance! Having got little sleep this last few night with my sick toddler, I slipped into an old pattern of ‘wrong speech’ when overtired. How often it seems to be that when I’ve not slept, I revert to more automatic patterns
Seems like we often feel that we need to get into certain circumstances in order for our ‘practice’ to blossom. That we need to change the conditions in our lives to somehow support our practice. That we would be able to somehow do it ‘better’ if things were other than how they are now. But,
Right Where You Are …. Read Post »
Is there any pleasure in life as great as that of offering a stick of incense, or making a prostration? Could anything be so complete, so right, so wonderful in its simplicity and perfection? How amazing that something so simple, so small, could give such fulfilment and pleasure. How incredible, of all life’s pleasures, that
Perfect in its Simplicity Read Post »
