Monthly Archives: January 2008

Curiosities, Falls Between the Cracks

Oh Joy!

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Wet and windy driving conditions (North West of England), endless long strait roads over flat fens (Norfolk), my favourite service station temporally rendered a building site (southbound Westmorland Services) all pale into insignificance in the face of a FAST INTERNET CONNECTION. Oh Joy, indeed.

But the subject on my mind this evening is memory, short term memory and the loss of it which comes with advancing years. I visited an elderly woman this afternoon who struggled to remember what she had just said and what she wanted to say right now. This happens to the best of us however at a certain point in ones life I can see how very frightening this can be. The question I am left with now is how much we/society equate loss of short term memory with dementia, especially in the elderly. Just a thought, a thought with a ladle full of compassion along with it.

Many thanks to Chris and his wife in Preston Lancashire where I’m staying before going on to Manchester tomorrow for a day retreat in the center of town. Hopefully by the end of Sunday I’ll be back in Northumberland again attempting to reconnect with tasks as yet not tackled. These involve activating long term memory, which I don’t have a problem with!

This and That

This and That

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Stillpointmeditation has a section on Illness & Meditation: Too ill to meditate? Meditation as an aid to healing. Problems when meditating with ME/CFS and some solutions, including some specific treatments that may make meditation easier. Relaxation advice for when meditation is too hard. Thanks to Rachael for this link.

Redeemer Reborn: A book by a one time monk in our Order writes about the connection between Wagners Ring cycle and Buddhism. Paul Schofield will expand on his book and talk about how Wagner utilized the Grail legends.

I’ve read the Buddhist bits which were checked by the late Head of the Order, Rev. Master Daizui. The book would be interesting to those who are into Wagner.

DharmaNet has been revived and revised. We’re on the way to becoming a seminal educational and informational resource that is ecumenical and all-encompassing, one that addresses the needs of newcomers and experienced practitioners, one that speaks to non-Buddhists, lower-case b buddhists and practicing Buddhists of all ages.

I’m inspired to make steps to give ‘Mountains’ a makeover with much help from friends, who know what they are doing.

Last but by no means least why not go to Radio Cornwall and listen to Andrew Taylor-Browne reflect on the subject of ‘Helping Others’ from a Buddhist perspective. He practices within the Serene Reflection Tradition by the way.

All is OK with me just in case any regular readers are wondering how things are going since I cut back posting regularly. At this moment I’m working my way out of the monastery to go on a five day trip south. Perhaps there will be some photo opportunities.

Information, Transmission Lineage

Now and Then Postings

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Dear Readers and Friends,

Postings are going to be somewhat irregular during January, February and possibly March. This is due to a number of factors the main ones being I need to organize my year, which will include a trip to North America, and to (Uh!) write something which is well over due.

In Gassho, _/\_
Mugo

That said the publication on the Internet of the entire Shobogenzo should keep everybody happy for some months. The file is 8.6 MB’s.

Information, Out and About

TripleGem – The Buddhist Think Tank

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TripleGem, the site for Buddhist news and ideas has now launched in the UK at the end of 2007. Featuring a news blog, forums, image gallery, event calendar, and analysis, we will gradually build a lively resource of contemporary Buddhist perspectives. TripleGem is a cooperative not-for-profit enterprise run by Buddhists from a range of traditions.”

So there we have it, a new blog based in Britain, for Buddhists. This does seem to be a developing site where news etc. relevent to Buddhists, British or otherwise, can be found.

Already I’m amazed one volunteers to be a speaker on Thought for the Day on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. For those not familiar with the institution of Thought for the Day, a religious leader speaks for a couple of minutes usually making comment on current issues from a spiritual/religious perspective. I must admit it is some time since I listened to the Today programme so my perspective on the Thought part might be outdated.

Curiosities, Out and About

Heads Up, Look Up

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Spore capsules of a moss plant carefully testing the temperature above the ice. Victor Bos

I went out for a walk today in blizzard like conditions with the intention of taking some photographs. Unfortunately when the moment came my camera told me it’s batteries were exhausted! I was fine though.

To make up for the lost snow pictures here is a photograph which came in a New Year greeting from a Dutch reader. What a brilliant picture. There are more on the web site of Victor Bos. (I’ve downloaded the Google Toolbar, which has a translation button, just so I can read his blog.)

I’d like to take the opportunity to applaud my Dutch friend who is undergoing major surgery on the 16th of this month. She is one brave woman, and such fun too!