Monthly Archives: May 2011

Teachings

Don’t Know What You’ve Got – Till….

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The flowers and fruit of Buddhist practice.

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At the Monterey Market, Berkeley

Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got (in your mind) till it explodes out of your mouth! For example on the spiritual insight level of things. Not so very long ago by way of spiritual encouragement I said, You have everything. You ARE everything. The response? Oh, that’s very Zen! This came as a bit of a shock. Especially since I don’t really go for pithy Zen like sayings, let alone come out with them. Just what did I think I was doing? Obviously I wasn’t thinking at all. It just came out. And had I paused for a nano second I’d have spoken a paragraphs worth, not half a lines worth. Statements of certainty are all very well however they probably don’t help much.

And generally what comes out of ones mouth needs to be watched doesn’t it. It’s just amazing what escapes the lips when you’re not watching. Little asides, sharp words, blunt words, words like arrows which penetrate into the recesses of ones emotional being. Uh! we all have sent and received those arrows, lobbed blunt paragraphs when something softer would have worked better.

Looked at from a Buddhist practice perspective those words, phrases and lengthier escapees are so helpful. Sometimes one simply does not know what’s there hidden below the surface of ones everyday consciousness. That’s until some aside slips out and takes one by surprise. Happened with me the other day. Rather than drowning in guilt and shame one can choose (and it is a real and difficult internal choice) to keep swimming along mentally/emotionally allowing the layers of understanding and appreciation to surface.

It never ceases to amaze me how the unfolding or deepening appreciation of thoughts, words and deeds which catch ones attention simple undo. Once again it’s the basic intention to keep on track with the Precepts that’s the saving of us. That and several dollops of acceptance/compassion. For oneself and for others.

Last thought. Meditation, being reflective during ones day, helps with the ability to make that all important pause before opening ones mouth.

Photo/Poem Series, Teachings

The Universe Is….

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The universe is as the boundless sky – image by Sam.

During the week-end of celebrations at Throssel for the Buddha’s Birth there was a photography challenge. To catch an image which reflected the closing verse we use at the end of meal times.

The universe is as the boundless sky
as lotus blossoms above unclean water
pure and beyond the world
is the mind of the trainee
O holy Buddha we take refuge in thee.

When I saw the challenge I immediately thought of catching an image of the sky reflected in water. Then moments later I saw the image above and knew I’d not be able to match it. Here published in gratitude to Sam and to his patient dad and Sam’s brother too.
Thank you.

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Schedule Until September?

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I am now staying at the Berkeley Buddhist Priory and will travel north to Shasta Abbey Wednesday 11th May. My travel/visiting plans for the next four months have not been worked out. If you are wondering where I will be do check my schedule page from time to time. I’ll be adding more detailed information as my plans become clearer.

Daily Life

Mental Capacity?

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Here is an extract from a post by Iain of Little House In The Paddy. How I appreciate what he is talking about. Losing ones grip, so to speak, ends up not being such a very bad thing. Causes one to appreciate what having a mental grip actually is.

I always notice in periods like this how much my brain feels as if it has been reduced to scrambled eggs. Vocabulary slips away and the ability to concentrate and think sequentially evaporates. It doesn’t take much to undermine conventional mental processes and that illusion of ‘having a grip’. It is that Freudian distinction between ‘I’ and ‘me’ I suppose, all the ‘I’ functions become undermined as your capacity to concentrate is lost due to fever and with it goes the possibility of keeping a short leash on anxiety, you just have to sit there with who you are and feel rough.

Under The Weather @ Little House In The Paddy.

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The Buddha’s Birth Day

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We celebrated the Buddha’s Birth today at Throssel and it has been Family Week-end too with lots of activities for all ages. There was a photography competition and one lad, Simon, took the picture I had in mind to take on the theme of The Universe Is As the Boundless Sky. When I get hold of his picture I’ll publish it here. This picture by Max, one of the dads, caught my eye. I can’t put words to it but somehow this image speaks. Thanks dad Max.

Well, I’d like to speak up for the fathers on duty this week-end. What a great bunch! Uh! nappy needs changing. Uh! Sarah is throwing stones. Frisbee Golf? Sure I’m up for it. Fatherhood has changed and that gladdens the heart. But why exactly? Perhaps it is because I can sense and see the gladness in the hearts of the men who tend there small babies, infants, children, grandchildren. There is a pride. A natural pride in being a dad.