Sometimes the merit of simply being there has incalculable benefits. Being witness. Allowing the sight to enter in. Just that. Just that, can bring benefits.
What is the difference between one who looks on, in the sense of idle curiosity, and one who witnesses? Well it has to be intention. I’m sure there has been much witnessing in Japan, however this image is most touching in it’s witnessing quality. Note the monks hand held up in a one-handed gesture of prayer (gassho).
So, what about watching the news. Watching all those images of the wave carrying everything before it. Watching as the power station exploded… Watching, watching, watching. Or simply bearing witness? Watching the news need not be mere entertainment – it can be an active offering. Of compassion.
Thank you to Michael in Canada for this link. And sorry to those whose comments I’ve not responded to, yet.
Here is a comment left by Angie uplifted to here as a posting.
As the proud companion & carer of a former Temple Cat from Reading Priory, one Matthew (Matty) Cat, aka as MC, I welcome Orlando to the (possible) status of Jade Mountains Temple Cat – perhaps. The Prior at Reading at that time was reluctant to take MC on as she knew she was away a lot. Being Siamese he attached strongly to one person & each time the prior went away he got more & more upset. Eventually he was shut in the utility room as he had wee’d in other rooms in the Temple!
One time the prior knew she would be away for several months. I had a vacancy in my household & heart for a cat & had been waiting for one to show up. I always remember the joy of having Matthew at first – it was like me & the dog became a family when he arrived to join us. He was fostered at first but everyone decided he should stay. He was a teenager then, now he’s 13 & still as handsome as ever. It is the only time I have experienced love at first sight when I first met him.
Just wanted to draw your attention to this amazing project that sprang up through the use of Twitter and has resulted in a book which will raise funds for the Red Cross in Japan.
What started as a tweet has turned into an eBook project to benefit survivors of the earthquake and tsunami that have claimed the lives of more than 11,500 people and left more than 16,500 missing in Japan.
The project, “2:46” — or #Quakebook, as it is known on Twitter — has drawn dozens of international writers, artists, translators and contributors, the project’s organizers say. According to the Quakebook blog, sci-fi novelist William Gibson and musician and artist Yoko Ono also have contributed to the eBook, which will be available for purchase on Amazon.com.
Proceeds will go to the Red Cross in Japan, organizers say.
Hi Folks,
Looks like several comments have been lost due to the site being ‘rolled back’ to a previous version saved on the 29th March. We can only be thankful there was a saved version! So if you left a comment that you don’t now see please get back in there and leave a replacement. Orlando is waiting for you! I’m almost inclined to make him the ‘temple cat’.
Nothing like spring flowers to bring a smile to the heart. And the smell in the air too. Country smells. And sounds too. Drying mud. Animal manure. Lambs calling. Birds squawking. But it all falls to the ground with a splash as the rain and wind returns, which it has in the last couple of days.
And as many of you know Jade fell to the ground for a couple of days too. I think it was a combination of web server trouble, and possible something I just might have done…possibly. Anyway, thanks to those of you who wrote letting me know the site was not it’s usual self. And many thanks for the tech help in Houston which has everything working just as it should.
Having the site down had me wondering just why I was so out of sorts even though I knew (had faith perhaps) that eventually all would be back to normal. And it struck me the downed site was the equivalent of not being able to unlock the front door of a Priory. Nobody could get in.
There is a ceremony we have where a priest essentially makes a promise to keep the door of the temple open so people can benefit from what’s offered inside. On a personal level I guess there is the wish or promise one makes to oneself to always keep open to what is offered.
Thanks for returning and walking through the door.
Practice Within The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives
