Buddha sitting under the Bo Tree with Buddha Banner. Leeds Retreat, early December.
‘Tis the eve of Christmas now and all through the house not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. The food has been eaten, the dishes all washed, the candles extinguished, dah, dah, dee, dah dee dah dee dah! The world is nestled all snug in bed. (miss the next bit…) And now I’m settling my brain for a long winter’s nap. After The Night Before Christmas poem. Quite a long way after!

Outside from my high vantage point all is in darkness, in a ghostly light. Snow. Moonlit snow. Blue. Is that a car picking it’s way down on the Alston road? Across the valley a farm light is on. Closer the tree tubes stand sentinel around the cemetery. Up there high to the left, the moon. A sulky moon? Sulking in mist. Now shine, now not shine. An icicle glints a shaft of clear light. Now gone, with the moon.

When the world goes to bed it is, sometimes, good not do the same. Not always so easy to not do the same. Generally.

The tree of enlightenment was tall and outstanding. Its trunk was diamond, its main boughs were lapis lazuli, its branches and twigs were of various precious elements. The leaves, spreading in all directions, provided shade, like clouds. The precious blossoms were of various colors, the branching twigs spread out their shadows. Also the fruits were jewels containing a blazing radiance. They were together with the flowers in great arrays. The entire circumference of the tree emanated light; within the light there rained precious stones, and within each gem were enlightening beings [Bodhisattvas], in great hosts like clouds, simultaneously appearing….The tree of enlightenment constantly gave forth sublime sounds speaking various truths without end. From the opening of The Avatamsaka Sutra.

Quoted from Converting Christmas on the Edmonton Buddhist Meditation Group website. There is an abundance of information and practical suggestions in this article as well as more from the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Our entry for the Allendale Church Inter-religious (is that a word?!) tree decorating event.
So there you have the basis of why we, as Buddhists, string coloured lights where we can, hang garlands from picture frames, decorate trees and generally fest up at this time of year.

For your eating pleasure – the receipt for Miso Gravy on the Edmonton Meditation Groups site is a classic. Michelle, who devised the recipe, reads here from time to time, I hope.

Happy Holidays and thanks to those who have sent cards and presents. All received with much gratitude. Please consider postings as my cards and presents to you.

In the lane, in the snow, in my lovely new brown wool cape. Thank you Eve.
Today marks the turning of the year, the returning of the light. It is the Winter Solstice. (The winter solstice) – astronomically marks the beginning of shortening nights and lengthening days, interpretation varies from culture to culture, but most hold a recognition of rebirth.

In recognition, ones’ heart smiles.
Can the smile be enough for you?

If it is not,
No explanation will ever be enough.

If it is enough,
The smile smiles back.
Constantly.

That’s it. First post written after a long absence. Glad to be back at it. You can work out for yourself what I mean by ‘the smile’ however you should know it is not about….(can I say this, can I not? Yes I can say this…) It’s not about chocolate!

Here is some text which was chanted during the Festival Ceremony for Manjusri Bodhisattva back in October. Note the utter expansiveness within this piece. Listen to the heart within the words. It speaks of compassion does it not?

Now, in the presence of the entire assembly, I bring forth Bodhicitta for the sake of all sentient beings.
I vow to involve myself in samsara countless times to bring great boons to living beings until the end of the future.
I shall cultivate all the Bodhisattva’s deeds to save living beings from their sufferings.
From this moment on, if I break my vow and become greedy, miserly or resentful, I shall be deceiving the Buddhas in the ten directions.
From today until the day I realise enlightenment, I shall always follow the Buddhas in cultivating pure conduct; I shall observe the pure precepts and commit no misdeeds.
I shall not cherish the ideas of realising Buddhahood in haste, but until the end of the future, I shall benefit all living beings, and adorn and purify incalculable, inconceivable Buddha-lands.
My name shall be heard throughout the worlds in the ten directions.
Now I prophesy on my own behalf that I shall without fail become a Buddha. Because my aspiration is superior and pure, I have no doubt of my achievement.
I shall purify my words, thoughts and deeds and let no trace of evil arise. In accordance with this sincere vow, I shall eventually become a Buddha, an Honoured One among human beings.
If my vow is truly sincere, may the six kinds quakes shake the great earth! If my words are genuine and not false, may musical instruments sound spontaneously in the air!
I am free of flattery or resentment; If this is true, may flowers of the coral tree rain down!

When the king, who was then Manjusri Bodhisattva, had spoken this verse, the six kinds of quakes shook billions of Buddha-lands in the ten directions, musical instruments sounded in the air and flowers of the coral tree rained down, all because the king’s vow was sincere. At that time two billion of the king’s attendants rejoiced in ecstasy. They said to themselves with delight, “We shall realise supreme enlightenment,” and thus followed the king’s example engendering Bodhicitta.