Teachings

To Speak As Buddha Taught

3 Comments

I was in two minds as to whether or not to post this quote. The sentiments are a tad unfashionable perhaps given the current climate in the world. But listen: She is a speaker whose words are to be treasured, seasonable, reasoned, well-defined and connected with the goal. And speaking words which are pleasing to the ear. Who would not aspire to speak thus?

Abandoning false speech, the ascetic Gotama dwells refraining from false speech, a truth-speaker, one to be relied on, trustworthy, dependable, not a deceiver of the world. Abandoning malicious speech, she does not repeat there what he has heard here to the detriment of these, or repeat here what he has heard there to the detriment of those. Thus she is a reconciler of those at variance and an encourager of those at one, rejoicing in peace, loving it, delighting in it, one who speaks up for peace. Abandoning harsh speech, he refrains from it. She speaks whatever is blameless, pleasing to the ear, agreeable, reaching the heart, urbane, pleasing and attractive to the multitude. Abandoning idle chatter, he speaks at the right time, what is correct and to the point, of Dhamma and discipline. He is a speaker whose words are to be treasured, seasonable, reasoned, well-defined and connected with the goal.
Taken from the original Pali Brahmajala Sutta

With thanks to the Reverend who dug out this gem from the deep well of the internet. I’ve changed some he’s to she’s in the text just to mix things up a bit.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Falls Between the Cracks, photograph, Teachings

Free To Move

5 Comments
Sheep in The Lake District.
Alone together. Sheep in The Lake District.

Now visiting family my eye once again rested on Susan Sontag’s classic, On Photography published in 1977. This time I picked it off the shelf. It makes for interesting reading especially since so much has changed since her intelligent pondering on the photograph and photographers. Digital photography being one major change. This book alone had a huge influence on my decision not to continue on with my life-passion of photography, full time. There is much I would wish to quote from Sontag’s book. For now here is something from the end of the book quoting historic photographer, Paul Strand.

Your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really sees. You may see and be affected by other people’s ways, you may even use them to find your own, but you will have eventually to free yourself of them. That is what Nietzsche meant when he said, “I have just read Schopenhauer, now I have to get rid of him.” He knew how insidious other people’s ways could be, particularly those which have the forcefulness of profound experience, if you let them get between you and your own vision. Paul Strand

I guess we all know how we become coloured by those around us. Moods are strangely catching as are thought patterns. Where ones attention is directed will influence, not only others attention field, it will influence their whole person including their felt sense of themselves. That might include feeling dragged down, lifted up, unconnected, floating etc. This is normal enough and I believe we have an inbuilt sense as meditators/conscious beings to return to ourselves and to move on. We would talk of this as bringing meditation into daily life circumstances, to keep on returning to ones sitting place.

Yes, Susan Sontag and her profound reflections on photography influenced me way back and I am glad of that. We can and do benefit from the insights and hard graft of others and being open to influence is crucial. However, and almost simultaneously, we have to personally put in the hard graft of moving on past our teachers and mentors, parents or guardians, friends and partners who have helped shape us. Crucially, without judgment or rejection.

I guess that simple ol’ instruction to bring meditation into daily life, to constantly forget, and move and breathe ones uniqueness is not so simple. Not easy either, yet essential to going deeper. Spiritually speaking.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Daily Life

Caring For Buddha

2 Comments

Cairngorms, Scotland
Cairngorms, Scotland
How about this for a brilliant photograph of The Cairngorms in the Highlands of Scotland. It was taken on a cell phone using the panoramic feature. Thanks to Dave for this brilliant picture. And several hundred miles south in Kendal, in The Lake District Cumbria lights are going on. I love to see the Christmas lights.
Which way Lapland, Mt. Everest and Scarfel Pike?
Which way Lapland, Mt. Everest and Scarfel Pike?
As you can see the signpost proudly sports the distance to Mt. Everest and Lapland. As well as a local mountain, Scarfell Pike. I bet my walking companion has climbed that one at least once. In earlier years I longed to go to Lapland and walk the Kings Trail and even earlier I vowed I’d climb Mt Everest. Neither of which I did. I did however climbed Scarfell Pike with a group from our school, I was about fourteen. A risky climb if I remember correctly.

This is the time of year when many people are climbing aboard trains, ‘planes and automobiles, off to visit family and friends. Not the best time of year to be traveling.  I’ll be  staying at Throssel over the holidays and hoping for good weather when I drive away on January 1st to visit relatives further south. Last year I got caught out on Hartside Top in a blizzard. At the end of that post I promised myself if there was any risk of snow on the Pennines I’d take the long way around. I’ll remember that.

Zen Master Dogen reminds us in several places in his writing that our body is deeply significant and we are urged to take great care. I’d say body/mind is deeply significant. I’ll remember that. Would we not take care of the Buddha?

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Uncategorized

Let The Light Shine Through

3 Comments

I wish to be washed away
to be as the sea
to BE darkness and light
for the Light to shine through
to the depth

For this Life to be seen.

For this state of profound humility
to be me.
Anonymous

This post is for all those caught up in the recent killings in America. And for all of us who are neighbours, however distant. Within tragedy, horror and confusion the depths of us can shine through. Brighter deeper; still.

In humility we can bow deeply – lost for words. I am.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Daily Life, Teachings

Thinking Deeply Of The Ways And Means

Leave a comment

This week I set myself a sewing task. I can’t reveal what it is because it’s a/several Christmas present(s) for a small boy and a surprise for one of his parents too. (‘reminder to self’, must knit the scarf.) Enough to say I have been involved with wool and toy stuffing, felt and pompom making. Anybody better than me at blanket stitch? Anyway the point is I have been working to a deadline to get all the making up done before Saturday lunchtime. I’m two thirds the way there and when Christmas comes I’ll post photographs of what I’ve been working on. Probably only of interest to knitters and those who like cute stuff suitable for infants.

Working to a deadline has its merits; it keeps one focused, it keeps one working and it signals there is an end. But deadlines have their down-sides. Quality of work can suffer. Quality of mind can suffer. Quality of being present can suffer. In the service of a goal we can so easily loose sight of where we are with ourselves. Lose our sitting place.

For some reason, and I remember why now, I started to think of expectant mothers. The baby due date takes on a massive place in the lives of the parents to be. Each successive scan and check-up are way-markers; a deep sigh of relief for those who have cause to be anxious of results, another heart quickening moment of pride and joy for those who are in the clear. Phew, a moment to pause and think of the mum-to-be I am remembering, and for gran too. (I’m NOT thinking of the Queen either!) This is natures deadline, natures ticking clock.

Whether it is a deadline set by oneself as a skillful means to get a task done, or one set by somebody else to MAKE one get the task done! Or it’s simply nature’s deadline. It’s all the same in the end. While it would seem to be just me, a needle and a length of yarn who accomplish, there is in actual fact an interlinking cast of thousands contributing. When the goal is reached, the deadline met, there is a glow of pride, natural pride, in the achievement. Which is natural enough. However let’s remember the cast of thousands, just for a moment, just that will add a depth of quality to the work as well as bring us back to ourselves. In humility.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email