Country As Benefactor

Census day was Sunday 27th March. Now, all over Britain, people are scurrying to fill in their Census form. This can be done by filling out the multiple page paper form or by completing an on-line form. It is ones civic duty to do this. There is a 1000 pound fine if you don’t.

Where do you normally live?
and Who usually lives at this address? Good questions which I tried to answer honestly, using the on-line option. And then before I knew it I’d clicked a button and the form had been submitted. Gone! In my effort to be honest I’d edited myself out of the 2011 Census all together. In the click of a mouse, I was not!

There must be many people, like me, who are not included in the 2011 Census. Homeless people. Traveling people. People who live in non official places. Tree houses perhaps. Not bad company. All the same I’m sad to be not. Not part of this huge data gathering exercise, not officially included as being anywhere on the night of the 27th March.

In Buddhism we regard our country as being one of the four benefactors which allow the peaceful conditions to practice ones religion. In Britain we are fortunate to be free to be Buddhist. The other three benefactors are, ones parents, the Buddha and all beings*. During formal meals there is a verse we recite where gratitude is offered to the four benefactors.

*Correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve not got a scripture book beside me.

Stepping Out IS Forgetting

The following quote and photograph came today in an email from a regular reader.

Each year my potted rose (which D bought me years ago) dies back and I cut the stems to stumps, then in the spring this happens!

roses.jpg

And there was this too:
I have been thinking for a while that I needed some physical object to remind me to look up and not believe the voice (that has me looking down and low). A sort of ‘get real!’ call. So, yesterday I put on my bodhi leaf with morning star pendant:

Then there was this….

Rise up!
Rise up and greet the dawn.

Step out!
Step out and the Great Earth,
Leaps joyfully.

Walk on!
Walk on and forget…

This is from your post 11 April 05. Maybe I should work on the forgetting part.

For one who has been, and still is, dealing with so much that is testing I can only applaud you, and your family, on your various ways forward. Oh! The Stepping out IS the forgetting. Think about it.

Active Offering

The monk is ringing a bell. No doubt offering scriptures.

Sometimes making a noise,
helps.
Ones intention, as with everything,
is paramount.

Sitting still, being still,
acting from within.
With the Precepts as ones
guide.

Where is self
interest
to be found?

Where indeed
self interest
for others?

Being There – Witness or Onlooker

Sometimes the merit of simply being there has incalculable benefits. Being witness. Allowing the sight to enter in. Just that. Just that, can bring benefits.

What is the difference between one who looks on, in the sense of idle curiosity, and one who witnesses? Well it has to be intention. I’m sure there has been much witnessing in Japan, however this image is most touching in it’s witnessing quality. Note the monks hand held up in a one-handed gesture of prayer (gassho).

So, what about watching the news. Watching all those images of the wave carrying everything before it. Watching as the power station exploded… Watching, watching, watching. Or simply bearing witness? Watching the news need not be mere entertainment – it can be an active offering. Of compassion.

Thank you to Michael in Canada for this link. And sorry to those whose comments I’ve not responded to, yet.

Proud Companion And Carer

Mattie.jpg

Here is a comment left by Angie uplifted to here as a posting.

As the proud companion & carer of a former Temple Cat from Reading Priory, one Matthew (Matty) Cat, aka as MC, I welcome Orlando to the (possible) status of Jade Mountains Temple Cat – perhaps. The Prior at Reading at that time was reluctant to take MC on as she knew she was away a lot. Being Siamese he attached strongly to one person & each time the prior went away he got more & more upset. Eventually he was shut in the utility room as he had wee’d in other rooms in the Temple!

One time the prior knew she would be away for several months. I had a vacancy in my household & heart for a cat & had been waiting for one to show up. I always remember the joy of having Matthew at first – it was like me & the dog became a family when he arrived to join us. He was fostered at first but everyone decided he should stay. He was a teenager then, now he’s 13 & still as handsome as ever. It is the only time I have experienced love at first sight when I first met him.