Monthly Archives: December 2007

Curiosities, Information

Heart Broken Anybody?

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If you have had one or know somebody who is in line for one it’s worth educating yourself.

A woman of my acquaintance has recently been diagnosed with this condition and while it is not good news she seems amused by the name, Takotsubo or Octopus Trap Syndrome. Tako-tsubo” is the japanese name for octopus traps that fishermen still use to catch octopus. In this syndrome, the heart (left ventricle) takes the shape of an octopus trap (tako-tsubo). How about that!

About 70-80% of cases of Tako-tsubo Syndrome (TTS) occur in post-menopausal women under some form of extreme, exceptional and prolonged mental stress,… with no good way out, no relief and often feeling deep resentment (such as the loss of a dear one…)

Well I must have been in my mid twenties when I took my first broken heart to the doctor. I bet you think you are having a heart attack, he said lightly. Here, take some of these. The pills worked. I doubt if I was suffering from Takotsubo, just a broken heart which mended rather quickly. Thankfully the more serious condition is rarely fatal and rights itself reasonably quickly too.

Thoughts for the woman who is in her mid 80’s and for her son, who took his own life. And also thoughts for an elderly woman with kidney failure. Winter is here, wrap up warm.

The takotsubo website is both informative and funny with great graphics.

Out and About

With Frills Please

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Brr, it was cold and windy out on the moors today, however their subtle beauty was not diminished. I’d not been up to the Hexhamshire Common above Allendale, village of the year, before and can anticipate another walk in the not too distant future. Maybe when the snow comes. Back in our valley with grey clouds receding from the high moors to reveal a sprinkling of white I realize Brr, it really is getting colder. But not half as cold as in Edmonton at the moment.


On our way back to Throssel my walking companion and I stopped for a hot chocolate, with frills, at Pebbles Art Cafe in Allendale. Ah, civilisation at last we cryed. Aoww! I can feel the cold coming off you two! What will you have? Pebbles is a haven and no mistake. Each time I visit, which is not often, I’m reminded anew of the great refreshments, tasteful arts and crafts and the ever changing gallery treats upstairs. But perhaps the best thing about a visit is the level of familiarity and friendliness of the people there. They have it just right, just perfect. Thanks Pebbles people, you are artists.

Note on photographs. Sorry to say the quality of these pictures have suffered because of slow uploading speed. The hot chocolate picture suffered from camera shake!

Teachings, Transmission Lineage

Illuminate, Shine Light On

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The main altar this morning.

Shakyamuni Buddha in earth witness mudra.

When Shakyamuni was enlightened, He said, “I was, am and will be enlightened instantaneously with the universe” and now, as we hear these words, we are assured anew of our own Buddha Nature and our ability to enter the path of Truth. When Shakyamuni died, He told His followers to make His teaching the light of their lives and to make their own lives shine as brilliantly as the sun; the light of Shakyamuni and His followers has shone through many centuries and has been Transmitted to countless people. We must follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us so that our own light shall shine in the same way, and we must Transmit it, even as they did, so that it may shine brightly in countless worlds and for thousands of lives to come.
This text from the offertory sung at the very end of the Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment at Throssel.

Apparently last evening, as a parting comment at the end of a conversation about training, I encouraged somebody to write down some of the insights which had come during the week-end retreat. It was clear that the light of insight had illuminated segments of her life and others would benefit from what she had come to understand. We’ll see what she produces.

Information

On Seeing the Morning Star

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Rohatsu – the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, is a time when Zen Buddhists mark the date of Buddha’s enlightenment. It starts on the 1st of December and ends on Bodhi Day – the 8th of December. In the seven days leading up to the day of rohatsu, monks will spend their time in silent and intensive meditation. This period of intensive meditation is known as ‘sesshin’. This practice is the culmination of all the work that has been done previously in that year. (The last sentence is not quite how I would express the meaning of sesshin.)

Tomorrow here at Throssel we will be celebrating the Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment and over 50 guests are expected. The weather has been blustery with warnings of snow on high ground. We’ve certainly had our share of wind and heavy rain fall to-day, no signs of snow. Hopefully there will be some photographs of the festival altar published here tomorrow.

Ceremonies celebrating events in the Buddha’s life mark our year and give it shape. As do the monastic sesshins. The winter sesshin of Rohatsu started at Shasta Abbey today, ours starts on the 13th and ends seven days later on the 19th. The other sesshin is in the spring and traditionally ends with the Buddha’s Birth Festival, Wesak.

Please join us tomorrow by lighting some incense and offering it at your altar, if you have one. If you don’t, light some anyway and let the perfume permeate your home and know the Buddha’s Enlightenment permeates all time and space.

Fun Facts about Bodhi Day for children. Wikipedia on Bodhi Day.

Uncategorised

Buy and Save

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Seen on a bill-board in Leeds. An image of a couple embracing on a couch.
The text: When you find something that feels good, hang on to it!
The product: a cell phone!

Much to ponder here, not least of which is the dodgy personal relationship advice.

In the marketing world it’s worth pondering upon, in terms of wisdom, the thinking behind RED. John Humphrys in Beyond Words, How Language Reveals the Way We Live Now sees red on RED Products pages 64 and 65.

John Humphrys sees and says a great many things in this book. Maybe he would have something to say about the use of something in the advert, and more than likely feels good too.