In Earnest

Quick now, here, now, always—
A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)
And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be well
When the tongues of flame are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.
Little Gidding. T.S.Elliot

Please be assured that all is well here and the reason for sporadic postings is due to my need to concentrate on a piece of writing connected with my monastic responsibilities. This has been a collaborative effort involving working with my monastic colleagues here in Britain and also in North America. The process of working together has been an adventure and a joy. Now the text has been written the process of taking Refuge with a wider group of monks begins in earnest. I’ll be traveling south tomorrow landing back in the monastery late Saturday night.

Thank you to those who have sent me gentle notes asking if all is well.

Rehabilitation

The sound of the engine changed from a purr to a full blow diesel rattle. There was no going back since we were on the final approach to the M6 Motorway heading North. If the car broke down we’d call out the break down service. Uh! no cell phone! No worries I’ve got mine. If we broke down we’d miss our appointment in Kendal. Going up a hill now. Are we loosing power? No, I’m just going slowly. We’d maybe not get to Throssel tomorrow. I’ll need to at least have the garage check the car before we leave. If there’s something seriously wrong I’ll catch the train, no problem..

Privately and together we tot up the possible consequences and scenarios of one simple event. A car engine changing from it’s customary and familiar purr to a worrisome rattle. We reached Kendal and parked for the day. It’ll be fine when we want it. said my companion with confidence. And sure enough after filling up with petrol in the evening the car returned to its normal smooth running state. But that all of life’s rattles mended so easily.

While machines rehabilitate, one way or another, we humans are rather more complicated when it comes to getting back on our feet. I have several people in mind who have had or are about to have major surgery. It’ll be fine. or:

All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well. Julian of Norwich

Teaching Off the Cuff

This evening a chap reminisced about something he’d heard me say, off the cuff, in the Throssel kitchen while washing a plate. He was eighteen then, now his daughter is eighteen and he’s thirty six. I remember him well, he had long black shining hair, he was shining inside too. Still is. I’m remembered as being somewhat stern, he says the novices were obviously on their best behaviour when I was around. That’s not my memory of me and how things were, but never mind.

I passed on a plate I’d washed to the novice doing the drying. Err, Rev. Mugo the dish isn’t quite clean. Oh never mind it will get clean next time around! That is of course an outrageous thing to say in terms of health and hygiene. What kind of example is that? The chap wasn’t able to come again for ten years however the remark was remembered and he’d derived something positive from it. Beats me what.

This story proves once again that it is not the truth or falsity of the teacher’s words but the sincerity of the student that moves somebody along, or brings them back.

I’m left wondering what I might have said off the cuff and caused somebody not to come back, ever. If there is anybody reading this and are in that position…please come back. As with my good friend above it is the student’s sincerity that makes the difference. How could it be any other way?

Blogger Appreciation Day

Walter of Evolving Space is back in Singapore and writing again. Sometimes it’s good to take a break and come back refreshed helping to make the world a better place. Mensch is the word, Walter is a mensch in the scientific community. Blush all you like I believe it is true. That’s enough for Blogger Appreciation Day. Here’s a picture taken last week at the British Library in London.

Walter_and_Mugo_British_Library.jpg

See Guy Kawasaki’s blog for more on Mensch qualities.

Flowers of the Mind

If the right conditions are present, then flowers will bloom.
Soto-Shu Calendar

A nun from another tradition told me of a woman who had written from prison in East Asia. Every day they take me out and beat me and abuse me. Every day I do my walking and sitting meditation, and I am free!

It is sometimes the case that the conditions that seem wrong can be the very ones in which the lotus blooms. This comes about through the faith that blooming is not dependent on external conditions, and then acting on that.

May the flowers of the mind bloom in the springtime of Enlightenment.

For my good sister in the Dharma, may you flower where ever you are.