I learned today the merit of telling somebody in difficult and painful circumstances that all I could do was sit still. At the time of my response I felt at a bit of a loss as to what to say truthfully and for the best. That I was sitting still was _really_ all I could come up with. It turns out that hit the spot. Thankfully.

This post is for all those who find themselves in an unhappy and challenging place. Sometimes sitting still and simply that, is enough to do Great Good. That's for oneself and for others. And getting up from the meditation bench, an alone place just for one, and walking into the next thing is quite often enough too. The way may not be clear however keeping ones feet moving is significant.

17th January. The last paragraph of this post has been removed because it might possibly have been misunderstood as my advocating passivity.

My parents are buried in the cemetary at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey. Just in case you can't read the inscription on my mothers grave marker it says, The lord is my shepard.

Sending greeting and remembering the kindness of parents. They made it possible for us to live a good life; a unique life, a beneficial life. For that, at the very least, one can be grateful.

Years ago somebody said, quoting Dogen, that Attachments and detachments flow together throughout ones entire life. Something like that anyway. What I derived from this kind friend and the quote was that as long as we are human we will get attached and we will invariably detach from what ever it was in a natural enough way since nothing stays the same anyway. I think the issue we all face is the clinging to what we have, what we know, what we love, what we want, what we don't want but have! In the end, given time, holding fast to is just too painful. And what we hold on to might not even be there any more too! Just a thought.

And now I can pass on this link to a video which just can't help but raise a smile. It could, at a stretch, be linked to the subject at hand. The koan arising naturally, clinging, letting go and craving. Enjoy, especially if you enjoy creatures doing charming things.

Happy Holidays readers. Thank you for the link to my friend in the Bay Area, SFO. And thank you to the unknown donor who send me a replacement mug! It is an EXACT MATCH. Well done and thank you.

Did you ever stop
to appreciate
warm water
across your hands?

When life's
testing every
bit of you warm
water's the balm.

A woman confided
with glee (to me)
I had a bath
I washed my feet!

So basic
so very simple
the soothing balm
of water warmed.

For a friend and anybody who would appreciate warm water. But there isn't any.

Inspiration
for posts
has been slow
coming.

Returning
to my books
Ryokan to the
rescue.

So returning to Ryokan - ah, balm for the heart and mind.

Beware of:
talking a great deal
talking too fast
volunteering information when not asked
giving gratuitous advice
talking up your own accomplishments
breaking in before others have finished speaking
trying to explain to others something you don't understand yourself
starting on a new subject before you've finished with the last one
insisting on getting in the last word
making glib promises
repeating yourself, as old people will do
talking with your hands
speaking in an affectedly offhand manner reporting in detail on affairs that have nothing to do with anything
reporting on every single thing you see or hear

From a list of ninety Admonitory Words which Ryokan may have written for himself. Good reminders all around I'd say.

I remember somebody saying The entrenching tool looks like a joke, until you use one. Just so. In the first post on Jade Mountains back in the dim and distant past (August 2003) you will find a photograph. A picture of me holding an entrenching tool. What's more, as is the custom with first posts, I was contemplating my purpose and intention for starting a blog. Now referring back I am glad to say I still stand by what I wrote, back then.

....spiritual inspiration; inspiration to keep traveling the road and overcome difficulties. They also provide information and insights; information about the practice of the Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition (Soto Zen) and insights into how that practice unfolds in daily life.

My current thoughts around Jade have been about developing the site rather than questioning continuing to write, or not. Just in case anybody was wondering.

Just as with the entrenching tool on first sight Jade might look like a joke or better put, a self-indulgence. A monastic going on about herself, Where's the Buddhist teaching in THAT? One might well ask. Unfold the site, use it, and hopefully you will find it a useful tool. A good place to return to. But most importantly, Jades meta-message if you like, Buddhist practice is not something outside of daily living or confined within the walls of monastic practice. If that comes through then I'm happy.

Thanks folks for your feedback. If I had more time available I'd write more, and more often.