Attempting to keep true to my word I have been responding to comments. Although some of my answers are personal, because I actually know the person (in person) they do contain 'content' which may be of interest.

Taken on a sunny afternoon above Ambleside in the Lake District while on a walk.

For most of my early adult life I looked for a purpose. A purpose to life, for living. Returning after my first retreat here at Throssel it occurred to me that I didn't need to think about having a purpose any more. It was not that I had found a purpose. I did however wonder if I had and what it might be but nothing came to mind. No it was simply that I didn't need to concern myself about a purpose for living any more. It was such a relief.

We hear of people in extremity who derive meaning, or purpose to live from simple things. For example I heard of a girl in a concentration camp who left behind, for she died in the camp, a diary. In it she recorded how each day she glimpsed a tree and it was this tree that kept her going and gave meaning to remaining alive.

Another story is of a Korean woman incarcerated for something she had not done. Each day the guards would take her out and beat and abuse her. Each day she did her walking and sitting meditation and, she wrote, I am free!

What is it that sets us free to simply live? Free as the tree to spread its branches and send its roots deep into the earth. To have our leaves turn brown in autumn and fall off and then to bud and blossom when the sun warms us. We are not plants, we are however filled with life. Is that not enough?

An after thought. At a certain time when I was almost at the end of reasonable life options I met a person who must have seen something in me. Anyway, he most seriously advised me to learn to meditate. And I couldn't but take notice of him, he was in earnest. I distinctly remember him saying, It doesn't matter where you do that, under a tree for example! So there you have it a link between trees and meditation

I've not been shy about wishing people Merry Christmas and the like however I have noticed a certain fluffing of lines coming back to me in return. Perhaps our neighbours are sensitive to the fact that we are Buddhist and a bit floored that we would acknowledge Christmas.

Anyway I was particularly pleased to read this article, 'Tis The Season written by a monk of our Order. He too is Merry Christmassing.

I'd keep an eye out for more articles on Lions Gate Buddhist Priory web site. They will be found under the heading From Dragon Flower Mountain towards the bottom left side of the home page.

It has been great to see so many readers turning out to leave a comment. Keep 'em coming. Doing that encourages others to do the same.

Winter Greetings From Northumberland from Mugo on Vimeo.

Snow in the lane.

The start of a yet to be uploaded greetings video.
Here you see me in full cold weather gear. Hopefully I'll be able to upload the video tomorrow.

Buddha sitting under the Bo Tree with Buddha Banner. Leeds Retreat, early December.
'Tis the eve of Christmas now and all through the house not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. The food has been eaten, the dishes all washed, the candles extinguished, dah, dah, dee, dah dee dah dee dah! The world is nestled all snug in bed. (miss the next bit...) And now I'm settling my brain for a long winter’s nap. After The Night Before Christmas poem. Quite a long way after!

Outside from my high vantage point all is in darkness, in a ghostly light. Snow. Moonlit snow. Blue. Is that a car picking it's way down on the Alston road? Across the valley a farm light is on. Closer the tree tubes stand sentinel around the cemetery. Up there high to the left, the moon. A sulky moon? Sulking in mist. Now shine, now not shine. An icicle glints a shaft of clear light. Now gone, with the moon.

When the world goes to bed it is, sometimes, good not do the same. Not always so easy to not do the same. Generally.