Monthly Archives: January 2013

Daily Life

Best Advice – Remembered

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There is a request, might even be a plea at this stage, to hand write an answer to the following question. What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? and submit it to the artist who is embarking on a rather interesting installation piece for an exhibition in Scotland in March. The details of what exactly is being asked for and the deadline for submissions can be found on The Society of Scottish Artists website. I understand the deadline for submissions has been extended to the 24th January and that might be extended again. Anyway this question has had me thinking back and forth remembering all sorts of advice I have been given over the years both pre and post becoming a monk.

And the winning advice? ….comes from a former head of our order, Rev. Master Daizui who said many times to many people, Never give up on anybody. A close second comes from another monastic, Remember, everybody has a good heart for you. Given the course of human connections which can become strained these two pieces of advice have stood me in good stead. Although I rarely have had need to call on them though.

Daily Life, Out and About

Nothing Needs To Be Nailed Down

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....and at dawn the light shines.
….and at dawn the light shines.

Sometimes go outside and sit
In the evening at sunset,
When there’s a slight breeze that touches your body,
And makes the leaves and trees move gently.

You’re not trying to do anything really.
You’re simply allowing yourself to be,
Very open from deep within,
Without holding onto anything whatsoever.
Don’t bring something back from the past, from a memory.
Don’t plan that something should happen.

Don’t hold onto anything in the present.
Nothing you perceive needs to be nailed down.
Simply let your experience take place, very freely,
So that your empty, open heart
Is suffused with the tenderness of true compassion.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Carefree Dignity

I took a look around and discovered Tsoknyi Rinpoche is instrumental in the support, education and training of nuns in Nepal, now numbering 60 with a waiting list of 100. Imagine! Here is a case of such engagement with a group of nuns from Tsoknyi Gorgon Ling.

…….Tsoknyi Gargon Ling nunnery high in the Himalayas at Muktinath. From a desperate situation in 1991, hearing of a great Tibetan lama of their own lineage, three senior nuns walked hundreds of miles over mountainous terrain to Kathmandu to request the spiritual and material help of Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Twenty years later, housing, a kitchen, dining hall and a beautiful new Shrine Hall have been constructed. The October 2011 Consecration of Tsoknyi Gargon Ling was a joyous occasion attended by thousands of villagers, renowned teachers and students of Tsoknyi Rinpoche from around the world.
From a Tibetan Buddhist Nunnery in Nepal.

Thank you to Jim for sending in this poem. I love it. The growing of Buddhist nuns, so many, is most uplifting and I’m glad and grateful to know of them.

Daily Life

Eye Opener

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Winter trees on parade
Winter trees on parade

Kathleen Taylor, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor gave a speech at TEDx TampaBay (about 10 minutes long) and she stated that people at the end of their lives are incapable of bullshit. People when they are faced with mortality become these distilled crystallized pure version of who they really are.

Facing with mortality, people become more open, and honest to themselves. The things that people usually do in their daily lives such as being right, being important, and being selfish suddenly vanished. That’s what made these people become more human than any of us. They are open to changes, even if they were certain for their entire lives that they were right. They apologize, They forgive, express love whenever possible.
From Bucketlistly Blog

Thanks to Julius for the link. The talk is well worth taking the time to watch. You especially DO NOT need to be at the end of your life to watch it. Keep warm, it’s getting chilly out there tonight.

Daily Life, Teachings

Breathe Out Well

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Snow in the morning light
Snow in the morning light
I’ve heard that Jade is read on the train. On the way to work or on the return. Perhaps you read while standing waiting for the bus or to order coffee. If you derive benefit well that’s good. However as you read why not pay attention to breathing. Most of us have a nasty habit of holding the breath, as one might if under water! But life is not sustained well like this! Breathing out well makes space for the new breath to arrive, of itself.

I’ve been thinking about the subject of change and embracing change. I can think of no better way than to breathe out well, literally as well as figuratively, and make space for the new. As surely as night follows day, breathing out is followed by breathing in. Renewal, change comes thus. There is no holding back, unless we want to drown!

Britain is excited this night. We have snow! Not that much but enough to remark on and frozen enough to take care when out and about. 

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Not Knowing

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At dawn
At dawn
At this time of night I’d normally reach for my diary and see if there was an inspirational saying to share with you. But a new year has turned and I have a new diary, with no quotes in it. But what’s this? Last years diary, still beside me. Here is the last quote of the year.

Not knowing
when the dawn
will come,
I open
every door.
Emily Dickinson

Well, I’ll have to contemplate that one.