The following letter is reproduced with the kind permission of the author.

Dear Rev. Mugo,
I hope you are well. I’ve been reading Rev. MacPhillamy’s book. I like its relaxed, conversational style. The lack of terms from other languages is also refreshing and offers a less “exotic” approach to the subject, which is a good thing. The ancient, Asian terminology that most Buddhist books use can make it seem that you should be having an ancient, Asian experience to really practice meditation, whatever that might mean!

I’m part way through the book, and I’ve come across something that really tripped me up. On page 66, the Reverend writes: “Meditation cannot be easily judged or measured—which is probably just as well, since measuring and judging are precisely some of the things which right thought teaches us to set aside. As a matter of fact, when people are meditating they don’t even know that they are doing it. That sounds strange, but the reason is actually very simple: if a person were to know that he or she was doing it, then part of the person would be doing it and another part would be knowing that it’s being done. This would create a division in a mind that, by its very essence, is one and undivided.”

The specific line that flipped my pancake was “when people are meditating they don’t even know that they are doing it.” That seems to go against the whole notion of being alert, focused, and present in the moment. How can one be aware of meditating and yet not know that one is doing it?

I guess part of the problem is that I’m trying to understand this from the “outside,” with the measuring and judging mind. Maybe the best thing is to keep meditating, keep practicing, and not be hung up over the contradiction. Or what seems like a contradiction.

What do you think?

I’ll post my answer tomorrow. This letter is a fine example of what we call in Buddhism; Going for Refuge: Taking Refuge in the Dharma (reading the book), Taking Refuge in the Sangha (asking me a question) and clearly the author is Taking Refuge in the Buddha (practicing seated meditation). The Three Refuges are sometimes referred to as the ‘Triple Gem’. It’s value is immeasurable.

Late last evening, quite frankly, writing for this blogger had stalled and the ‘engine’ was failing fast. I was struggling mentally and physically and becoming horizontal and unconscious seemed an attractive option. “What on this earth is the matter”? I asked myself, while remaining determined to keeping going and write. “I feel, hungover”. Then I realized I probably was; from eating leftover snacking food from this Sundays Open House. A lunch of Blue Cheese dip with raw vegi, coupled with cheesy crackers and tofu cream cheese was more fat than my system could handle. I’d become the consequence of what I’d eaten, hours before.

There are three time period during which one reaps the consequences of ones actions. Simply put; immediately, latter and much latter! Immediate? – felt very very sleepy and concluded I was tired. Latter? – felt tired and hungover’. Much Latter? – there is no knowing how long the time period extends for reaping consequences. However in the near future I’ll be eating leftover snacking food in smaller bites, over a longer time period!

The definition of a ‘hangover’ is: ‘The disagreeable aftereffects from the use of drugs (especially alcohol)’. In my case; no drugs, no alcohol just food in excess eaten with good intentions yet tainted with a whiff of ignorance. However wonderful ‘it’ may be in the moment, ignorance is not bliss long term.

And for the adventurous Star Trek, The Next Generation did an episode called Cause and Effect. In it they determine that they are caught in a causality time loop, and spend the rest of the episode devising a plan to escape it. Not a million miles away from here, but don’t pick that one up and run with it too far. Please!

During a recent meeting here at the Priory I talked about ignorance. Specifically, that aspect if ignorance which is a choice; to choose to ignore things as they are rather than acknowledge them.

I have been borrowing videos from the local library and particularly enjoy watching Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael in the BBC drama series of Ellis Peters’ murder mystery books. Cadfael is full of wisdom, love and compassion. Here he is:

I’ve just finished watching “The Pilgrim of Hate” which spoke of ‘penance’. Self-punishment in order to atone for a wrongdoing is the antithesis of how mistakes are dealt with in Buddhist practice. In The Pilgrim of Hate, Brother Cadfael is characteristically compassionate and understanding in the uncovering of the lies, greeds and religious fervor that obscure the truth.

I just ran the spell checker and the choices are: – Replace, Replace All, Ignore, Ignore All and Learn.

Made a mistake? First acknowledge it and then choose the ‘learn’ button.