Started to write about broken promises.
Started to get preachy.
Started to sense that it’s time to stop.
So that’s what I’m doing.
This is for H. <>
Broken Promises
Category Archives: Teachings
Levels Of Discourse – Vow
There are, of course, levels of discourse. And nowhere is this more apparent than when talking about the subject at hand. For short I’ll call that Vow.
In the early days of Buddhism, in the time of the Buddha, I believe there was a simple way to enter the community of monks. The Buddha, or perhaps one of his close followers would say: Come Monk! And that was it. This simple form was a mutual recognition of….mutual recognition of…that which inspires the heart, enlivens the heart, to follow that which the Buddha was pointing out through the way he was living and what he was saying. No doubt there were people who came to join the growing band of devotees who were not invited in. That would be for one reason or another and who know now what they might have been. Being female was one reason, and that changed due to the Venerable Ananda’s representations to the Buddha.
In the intervening centuries becoming a monk has become formalized to a huge extent. The center of the wish remains the same whether it be ones vocation to be a monk or ones vocation to be an IT professional for example. (I do have to stress however that living the life of a monastic isn’t a life style choice, it goes deeper than that.) What I’m pointing to is the fundamental of vow/wish. I’d go so far as to say this is common to all, although the form that takes is vast and unfathomable in its’ expression. Unfathomable because what one encounters in the world doesn’t always look like it’s inspired, deep, honorable, worthy, worthwhile etc.
So here in this post there is a focus on the deep, for most largely unconscious, level of what it is to be human. A human with other humans. Buddhas together with Buddhas. As I am sure I remember hearing, Buddhas come in all shapes and sizes.
See the comments section attached to yesterdays post.
FIRE!
The noise I heard coming from inside the chimney flu was almost immediate. A quick and panicked scratching. There was something in there. And it was alive.
I wondered how I could put the fire out, but the newspaper was burning fast, already catching the kindling. It must have been the fastest burning fire I’ve ever built. I suppose my father taught me well.
Then suddenly, there it was. A starling had popped down from the chimney into the firebox, and it was pecking against the glass. It was jumping and twisting, trying to get out, trying to avoid the quickly growing flames.
Instinctively, I reached for the door handle. I had to let it out.
But then I saw that its wing was already on fire. I thought of a burning bird inside the house, catching the drapes and rugs on fire.
Should I let it out? What would happen if I did?
From Moon Over Martinborough, posting Saturday Morning Fire.
The post, extracted above, is not an easy read. However I think it is good to read about/encounter difficult and disturbing truths. A bird burning up before ones eyes, and keeping those eyes open to witness, reminds me of something that happened a good few years ago. It was not about burning fire, it was the FIRE! of a gun.
Cattle that have tested positive for TB are shot. I was just feet away from one of these shooting events. Just a thin wall divided me from the cattle outside who were due to be shot. I could hear them, almost smell them. To run or to stay? I stayed. As it happened I was on the telephone to Adrienne. We both heard the shots, two of them. One each. BANG! and then the crash and struggle as the animal went down. CRACK! and again the thrashing around as the second creature finally became lifeless. We, Adrienne and I, were silent for a moment. It was a moment shared and I was glad of the company at the other end of the phone. Later I went outside and burnt some incense.
I’ll not forget that event, as I’m sure the chap who witnessed the bird burning up in his wood stove will not forget. We can love. Open our hearts when we might reflexively close and turn away.
Living In North Norfolk
A brilliant altar set up in memory of Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett. Rev. Jigen, my Dharma sister, was celebrant for the ceremony during a day retreat in north Norfolk.
Yep! There is a senior monk of our Order living in north Norfolk. We go way back to the early 1980’s at Shasta. As a new monk I’d volunteer to help her set up for ceremonies and clear away afterwards. Generations of monks have apprenticed with her since then. We all know the very first thing you do when setting up for a ceremony is take the altar apart and clean everything thoroughly. Cleaning everything thoroughly is a good start for most things when I think about it.
Please join with me in urging the Reverend to SET UP HER OWN WEBSITE! And if you are in Norfolk and want to learn to meditate I can put you in touch with her.
From The Dharmapada
Cultivate the company of those who support your aspiration
for energetic practise of the Teachings.
The beauty of pure conduct
conditions whole-hearted well-being
giving rise to complete freedom from remorse.
The Dharmapada
This verse is from the 2009 Buddhist Calendar on the November page. The calendar can be downloaded from Urban Dharma. I guess the 2010 one will be available shortly….
You might want to put aside some time to explore Urban Dharma. Kusala Bhikshu has amassed a huge amount of teaching on this site – a real treasure house to be sure. And, as all Buddhist do, please express your gratitude by offering a donation to help support Kusala Bhikshu in his work.
Many thanks to V for pointing me to this quote on the calendar.