STICKY POST
Saturday, 19. April 2008, 18:51:54
Friday, 20. November 2009, 13:20:41
The start of something means the end of something. What has an origin has a cessation. What comes then goes. With every beginning there is a finish. I think it's safe to say that most of us have experienced this pattern or cycle of birth and death.
In times of certainty there is no doubt. With certainty comes a need to be right which is fine if one is right. However, most times, our certainty in something or other is fleeting and if we are uncertain then a need to feel settled is stronger than ever. We crave and desire to know how to live in a world where things change and grip on what is certain is tenuous. When doubt in our ability to know for certain what is true and what is false appears then faith arises and allows us not only to live with not knowing what awaits us but rather gives us the courage to have doubts in the things that we have taken refuge in and question whether it is really a refuge or not.
Tuesday, 17. November 2009, 11:32:42
Every Monday evenings we have a class which is the equivalent to Christian's bible study - our class is called Sutra study and it is open to the public. Last night we looked at a section in the sutta on the Buddha's last days found in the Digha nikaya and in that section was a classification starting with stream enterer, then once returner, then non-returner, arhant.
Those who have unwavering confidence in the three gems and have spotless morality are stream enterers. Those who haven't are pritajna - ordinary sentient beings. So how did Pureland Buddhists come to recognise themselves as pritijnas given that faith is central in PL Buddhism.
I won't answer that question now, but wanted to talk more about the importance of faith found in this sutra and in Pureland Buddhism. Faith that comes from experiencing some sort of suffering - all the feelings that arise because of it and the experience of something else falling away is I think what the Buddha is getting at. Faith that there is something beyond suffering that causes us to have a change of heart or turns our minds around. And this is something that can only be experienced through an encounter with something other than ourselves.
It's through experience of this that bolsters our faith or confidence in the three gems plus Amida and the Pureland so that we can be present at home, at work, and at leisure and also at peace with death when it comes.
Wednesday, 28. October 2009, 20:56:07
Amida the measureless Buddha does what his name implies - Amida does not measure. Amida acts with love and wisdom in a uniquely unilateral way. Even the way Amida goes about it is not measured or calculated.
thank goodness for amida
Monday, 19. October 2009, 16:24:11
The piece of work by Shantideva is full of gems - the style and language is poetic and moving. The bit that I heard yesterday that has stayed with me is the flash of lightning in the darkest part of the storm. The light that flashes against the darkness - lighting up everything including the blackness or rather especially the blackness is .... beyond words. The experience of being in the liminal space, where the standards and norms of the ambient culture are turned upside down and the Dionysian power shakes and creates chaos and mahem. The worst moment in life can easily become the best moment in life. Darkness and light play together streaming tears of joy and sorrow together forming a glistening pool of sparkling diamonds. The beauty though coming from the hard edges.
Tuesday, 13. October 2009, 10:38:49
There were a few words uttered from inside a dimly lit room where I happened to find myself at one point in time. It was said with a matter of fact 'this is just a simple biology lesson - nothing new here' tone whilst at the same time sounding extremely ludicrous and ridiculous. Somehow what was being discussed had several layers and hidden meaning behind it. Size of a particular organ somehow influences the fidelity of that particular individual. Could that be true? One's faith in one's partner is determined by the size one's testes? It's a bewildering sort of statement - size matters. The bigger the organ the less faithful to one partner, however, in terms of the 'selfish' gene argument there would be an increase in the amount of faith one had for propagating the gene.
The trouble with this sort of theory is that it only seems to work for the male species - what about women who lack the organ altogether - does that make them unable to be faithful altogether?
Friday, 9. October 2009, 10:51:55
awakened by a spell of insomnia I slumber gently in dream sweetly
slumbering soundly I listen to the snoring masses
Friday, 9. October 2009, 07:05:55
PRESS RELEASE
One of Atherstone’s top businesses has been short listed for a prestigious Godiva Award.
Amitayus Wellbeing has had to fight off some stiff competition to make it in to the final four in the Best Business category. The team at Amitayus were visited by a judging panel from the awards back in August and will get the final result at a glittering awards ceremony at Warwick Arts Centre on Thursday 22nd October.
The Godiva Awards recognise the efforts of businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire and Amitayus Wellbeing were the only business to be short listed in the whole of North Warwickshire. ‘It was a real surprise to find we had been short listed. We had to put a written application together to support our entry and can’t believe we are in the final,’ enthuses Clinic Manager Dawn Hart.
The judges were looking for businesses that have the potential to attract people in to the area that might not have otherwise visited and Amitayus Wellbeing has been working hard to build its reputation as a dedicated centre for complementary therapy and training.
‘Back in April we became an accredited training facility with the Federation of Holistic Therapists and our courses are starting to attract attention from people across the country. We are also getting people travelling to us for treatments through word of mouth from as far away as London and Manchester, explains Dawn.
Amitayus Wellbeing was also nominated in the Best Health & Fitness Category of the awards which receives the public vote. ‘We closed in first place in the online voting although paper votes are still to be counted, so there is a small chance we could come away with two awards which would be incredible’.
Following the awards night Amitayus Wellbeing hope to celebrate their success at an Open Day which will be held on Saturday 24th October from 10am onwards when they will be raising funds once more for Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Amitayus Wellbeing is at 189 Long Street Atherstone.
ENDS
For more information contact DAWN HART on 01827 719926 or 07930 316233.
Wednesday, 7. October 2009, 21:37:27
my story is a mystery, her story is hysterical, his story turns my story into a mystery which then becomes history
Monday, 5. October 2009, 20:25:49
Just learned today that there are good and bad humans and devas in the Pureland. Great news for all those who would find heaven boring. A little bit of provocation, a little prick, a little grit to fire up the passions and make us feel alive.
Sunday, 4. October 2009, 20:30:08
Thoughts and feelings, threads that pull the mind this way and that, so delicate and s fragile, are like kindling in the fire. The fibres of self that alight so easily flicker away in the flames of desire. I stand by and watch, watering can in hand, ready to pour and dampen out the flames knowing that they will die out naturally if I just stand and watch without adding any else to the fire but I don't trust myself to let it die out. Mesmerized and entraced by the bluish green flames Amida comes to me and says that I am worthy of trust. I, the object and recipient of grace, of love, of faith, and trust, am worthy and loved. And I, the active one in entrusting myself, my life, my love, my being is not reliable to let the flames of desire go.
Monday, 28. September 2009, 18:11:08
Monday, 28. September 2009, 15:22:33
I'm busy watching everyone else being very busy. And everyone is too busy to notice that I'm noticing how busy they are. And being busy noticing that others are too busy to notice, I haven't noticed how busy I have become.
Sunday, 27. September 2009, 06:53:14
the melancholic notes of the minor scale
comes to my ears in sweet gentle cries
opening up to the darkness
remembering love
Tuesday, 22. September 2009, 10:32:14
rubble trying to love is transformed to gold even though it is only rubble
and when rubble is loved it is still rubble
Friday, 11. September 2009, 21:23:24
Friday, 4. September 2009, 20:48:43
the cruel cries find a way to the uppermost part of the crust bursting forth with vile and unpleasant fumes. the haunting horrors of the vacuum suck us into an abysmal sphere, empty and devoid of pleasure. the only escape from what lies within is to look for something loving and good without. the world that loves exisits in dharmas. and the impact of dharmas into this horror vacui is painfully blissful.
Sunday, 30. August 2009, 12:43:56
When it comes to alternative health care and talking therapies how much of the improvements to the individual are reflected in the wages of a physically and mentally healthy individual?
The suggestion is that it will have an overall benefit to the individual and collective and so the social return is bound to be great.
Saturday, 29. August 2009, 12:16:25
The Buzz word of 2009 is 'SOCIAL ENTREPRISES'
Social entreprises are businesses with social objectives. The main difference between a private business and SE is that SEs are not for profit type businesses which basically means that the business can trade and generate income but any profit that is made will get invested back into the community rather than divided up between the shareholders and pocketed for personal investments.
Why is a Buddhist writing about SEs? The Noble Eighfold path is often seen as the spiritual path taken to attain enlightenment and the end of suffering, but it can also be seen as the path that naturally unfolded after the Buddha's own transformative experience, and if suffering is to end then something else will have to start, hence with the end of suffering comes compassion. There are several different translations and ways to interpret the Noble Eightfold path but in general the list includes the following: Right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right meditation, right concentration, and right vision.
Could Social entreprises be an example of 'Right Livelihood'? I think the answer is yes but by no means the only way to achieve living a noble life. As a Buddhist whose aim is to improve conditions in which we live, and by this I think I broadly mean adopting a more respectful attitude to all sentient beings in a way that fits the 21st century, I think SEs are one of many other RL type schemes that would help us to create a more compassionate and enlightened society without having to destroy the current system and structures in place.
Individuals whose passion is to improve the lot of their fellow citizens can acheive this, in theory, full-time without worrying how they are going to make ends meet. It's a model where ordinary people can attempt to work together and use their skills to meet the needs of the community.
Monday, 24. August 2009, 20:34:00
dance with the shadows of the past
dance with the reflection of the moon
dance with the mirror on the wall
dance to the beating of the heart
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