Yearly Archives: 2013

Daily Life, Overcome Difficulties, Teachings

Faith/Trust – Buddhism is a Religion

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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

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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.

Overcome Difficulties

Going On From What You Know

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May the light shine through. See end of post.
May the light shine through. See end of post.
Yesterday’s ‘poem’ points very much to going on from what you know. This is a constant letting go alluded to in the ‘poem’ from last week, Over and over and Again and Again.

In May 2011 I was asked to give a formal Dharma Talk at Shasta Abbey and in preparation I wrote notes starting with this one Pilgrimage Revisited. Here is an extract from that introductory post.

Sitting still, allowing the senses to still, we enter into a metaphorical darkness of unknowing by allowing the known to fade. This is however an illuminated darkness, bright aliveness of body and mind rises naturally – given half a chance. So, within compassion/acceptance for all that comes and goes, letting go and trusting is…about how it is.

The habit is to follow the arising and the passing. To entertain, wine and dine, thoughts, sensations, emotions, bright ideas, memories etc. It is enough to notice the arising and passing, simply noticing is the letting go. Noticing over and over again, the known fades in importance.

To go to the next post look to the top right of the screen under the banner where you will find Previous and Next – click on Next (obviously!)

I spent last week amongst a remarkable group of people. Each in their own way remarkable, and brave. In a certain way of looking at it the week was about letting go of the known, the familiar.

May the merit of this post go to J, a woman in New York who is in a coma at the moment. May light shine through. Have a thought. Please?