Category Archives: Teachings

Daily Life, Overcome Difficulties, Teachings

Faith/Trust – Buddhism is a Religion

August 16, 2013 Mugo Leave a comment

Phew! I have just spent quite a lot of time writing a post for the Field of Merit website. I’m linking to the article here because our getting charitable status means a huge amount to me personally and to the project itself. There maybe something of interest and help in the article too. I’m talking about how on earth one proceeds with ones life, the details of ones life, in such a way that one keeps true to ones basic spiritual intention which is based on faith. Not a word that some people go for. Why not try the word trust instead.

There is a line in the commentary to the Kyojukaimon (The Giving and Receiving of the Precepts) that goes, *The Buddha lacks for nothing, yet needs something. The Buddha that is the Field of Merit lacks for nothing and all of us who are engaged with this initiative lack for nothing. All that is needed is present right now. Nonetheless here we are poised and ready to step forward having been awarded charitable status. In our hands is a piece of paper with our charity number on it and between now and the opening of a hermitage door for our first guest is uncharted territory or empty space. It would seem obvious that we now leap forward and ‘fund-raise’ in order to fill that space with the necessary funds. And in a very real and practical sense that is indeed the effort that is called for. The something the Buddha needs. However the way that is approached and implemented is crucial to the spiritual integrity of the project. Now, later and much later.

Taken from Unfolding the Buddhas Teaching – Field of Merit.

**See note at the bottom of the Field of Merit post for the correct version of the quote. I’d remembered wrongly however the point still holds true.

Daily Life, Teachings

With The Intention To Be Kind

August 13, 2013 Mugo 1 Comment

There is so much in this speech by George Saunders to the 2013 graduates at a university in America I find it difficult to pull out a segment to give you a taster. This morning the theme of kindness came to the fore.

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.
Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded…sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.

Or, to look at it from the other end of the telescope: Who, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth?

Those who were kindest to you, I bet.

It’s a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I’d say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder.

Now, the million-dollar question: What’s our problem? Why aren’t we kinder?

And the answer he came up with is both surprising and not surprising. There is so much basic, kindly, wisdom through out the speech. More about this chaps writing and see a video of him talking.

With a hat-tip to Steve B. who linked to this article on a Facebook page.