Teachings

Buddhist Attitude To Other Religions

1 Comment

You may find this article of interest.

The Buddhism holds that truth – especially religious truth – is something that everyone has access to and of which no one has monopoly. It could be understood by everyone for himself. The Buddha did not believe in distributing ready-made transcendental wisdom for everyone. He wanted people to get at the Dhamma by themselves (paccattam veditabbo). When someone presented a theory the Buddha would naturally ask him “Do you know and see this yourself?”.

Article in Daily News – Buddhist Attitude To Other Religions by Professor Chandima Wijebandara

Thank you to the Reverend who sent me the link to this article.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Daily Life

The Cat Enigma – Variation

Leave a comment

Just what is it about cats? Nora for example, a cat completely absorbed with the piano. Absorbed with the sound of the piano. If you enjoy classical music, and enjoy cats, this video is for you.

Thanks to the reader for sending in the links to Nora the Piano Cat, and for this question. I’d love to know exactly what it is that is so fascinating – is it the sense of self possession she – and all cats – seem to display? Maybe you’d have some thoughts on it … Well, there has to be something more than the fascination we humans seem to have for performing animals.

I met two new cats today. Both tabbies. One sat in her bed with moon round eyes, yellow and SO expressive. Does she always look like that? I asked. Oh yes, that’s normal, came the reply. Rather like Nora in the video she drew me in. She communicated. But what? The word enigma comes to mind. There is something that is baffling about cats, they defy understanding. They cannot be explained. And since we are talking about Enigma how about Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Here’s how that famous piece came into being.

Elgar’s account of the piece’s genesis was that after a tiring day of teaching in 1898, he was daydreaming at the piano. A melody he played caught the attention of his wife Alice, who liked it and asked him to repeat it for her. So, to entertain her, he began to improvise variations on this melody, each one either a musical portrait of one of their friends, or in the musical style they might have used. Elgar eventually expanded and orchestrated these improvisations into the Enigma Variations. Wikipedia on the Enigma Variations.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Daily Life, Out and About

Cities – People Magnets

Leave a comment

People came: from California to gamble their paychecks. People came: and never left. People came: for a quick divorce. And then left.
Ah! the bright city lights. The promise of winning. The dream, lived for a moment. Perhaps. And there are people who call Reno home. People who grew up outside of the confines of the money spinning city blocks.

Biggest_little_city1.jpg
Reno shouts out to the world
Wild_West_Tattoo1.jpg
a facade
Eldorado1.jpg
glittering
Reno_Tree2.jpg
while life grows on

Going to Reno. Walking up and down the streets. Taking photographs. Meeting residents. Hearing about the rise and now decline of this city whose name alone conjures up images of unbridled debauchery. I’m left pondering the whole matter of reputation. Of cities with reputations. They all have them. I’m left remembering walking up a city street in Seattle last year and realizing the authority carried by these great names. I’m left wondering on matters to do with humans congregating. In cities.

People magnets by another name!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Daily Life

Graduation

4 Comments

Melinda_hooded1.jpg

Today I was honored to be witness to the graduation of Melinda who had completed her Masters in social work at the University of Nevada, Reno. During the ceremony graduates are, as the program stated, being ‘hooded and pined’. The hoods are placed around the neck and hang elegantly down the back, more tradition than functional. The badge is pinned on the robe by one of the course tutors. All very moving this being the culmination of years of hard work.
Pins.jpg
Social Work pin and Bodhi Leaf pin!

Melinda left a comment on Intention and Direction In Daily Living back in June 2009. That must have been around the time she was starting in the Masters program.

Well done and congratulations for following through with your intentions, and keeping you direction. May you continue.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Out and About

Berkeley Artist In Residence – Supplies? From the Beach

Leave a comment

Mark_Oliver_Sculpture_Poodle1.jpg
Mark Olivier, blue poodle, yellow elephant.

Mark has always been artistic, but it was only after walking his dog down a filthy beach that he realized he could help clean up trash and utilize his creativity at the same time. Without any formal artistic training, but with a working knowledge of botany, anatomy, and physiology, Mark started creating sculptures out of the trash he picked up from the beach. Although Mark’s art depends on the waste of our society, he claims there is no message. “I just sort of fell into it,” he says, “but now I can’t stop. I get lost in the process. I get a great deal of pleasure out of it. What I build always changes. I like doing stuff with my hands, like construction and ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging.”

Mark Olivier’s Beach Art

Inspiration_Poodle1.jpg
The inspiration for latest project.

elephant_in_the_making1.jpg

Walking along the pavement this afternoon we came upon the most remarkable front garden full of sculptures made from beach combing picked up on East Bay beaches. A chap came tumbling out of his house and shook hands with my companion. They had met before. He shook my hand too. Come back and see my current projects he said. Mark is a remarkable man, creating remarkable art. With flare and humour. See Mark’s website.

What a likable man. A full time carpenter with a full time hobby. Wonderful to meet him. A person with a passion to create and to share. And to encourage a chuckle. Now I wish I’d taken a picture of his chuckling mask.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email