There is an old story, you may have heard it, called
The Story Of The Perfect Heart
Once upon a time, in a certain place, there was a competition for the perfect heart. Various people entered the competition. Each one opened his body and showed his h
Read more…We zien allemaal dat de coronacrisis een nieuwe fase ingaat. We zijn gekomen tot een situatie waarin de grote meerderheid van de landen in de wereld heeft geaccepteerd dat een lockdown nodig was, in sommige gebieden is hij strenger dan in andere. So
Read more…In the early 1980s I left my work in Government Social Services and set up a small counselling centre. There, Jenny Biancardi and I saw clients and ran courses. We also travelled all over the country giving trainings to nurses and social workers. We
Read more…A correspondent has asked me about retreats. In this present time of the covid crisis it’s difficult for us to meet or to all go to the temple to do a retreat together with a teacher.
So, how does one do a retreat on one’s own? In many places in the
Read more…My parents took me to Cyrus when I was three years old; so, I spent most of my very early formative years on the island. I remember it as a rather idyllic period, despite the fact that towards the end of that time there were many political troubles d
Read more…In August there will be an on-line ceremony for admittance to the Amida Shu and Order. This will also be a time when anybody who has not taken refuge but wishes to can do so and also when anyone who has taken refuge in the past and wishes to reaffir
Read more…A correspondent has written to me about the sudden death of a close friend. In this time of the virus we are all, in a certain way, surrounded by death. And sometimes those close to us die, but in a time like this it often isn’t practical to go to th
Read more…I spend a lot of my time working in my garden. Some of this is practical in the sense that it’s to do with growing food, but a lot of it is about creating a space that’s beautiful and peaceful and welcoming, a place where people can feel at ease.
Alt
Read more…In June I did a podcast about the Sincere Mind. The Sincere Mind is one of the three minds that were written about by the great Pureland Teacher Shan Dao.
The second of these three minds is the Profound Mind. When we say that we are profoundly affect
Read more…I would like to share the following words with you:
“Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word ‘happy’ would loose it’s meaning, if it was not balanced by sadness. It’s far better to take things as they come along – with
Read more…These days I live alone in a rustic farmhouse set deep in the countryside. Living alone I can follow my own rhythm. I go to sleep when I’m tired, I get up when I wake. Perhaps I go outside and enjoy the calm atmosphere of the dawn before the sun has
Read more…This is a transcript of the podcast of 23rd April 2020 with Italian translation below
We are all living under lockdown and sharing stories about what it’s like. I’m here in France where the lockdown is pretty strict.
When it was first announced we
Read more…1. Right view: This too shall pass.
2. Right thought: Compassion for those who suffer. Gratitude for simple things.
3. Right speech: Don’t spread alarm. Stay calm. Keep in touch with friends and loved ones by wifi.
4. Right action: Do good for o
Read more…In response to Vajrapala’s request that I might describe the Buddhist teaching on death, here is what I have heard. Some parts of this, through near-death experiences, samadhi, and memories of innocent childhood, I have conscious awareness of having
Read more…PIJN IN EEN BOMBU WERELD
In de on-line orderbijeenkomst van afgelopen zaterdag heb ik gezegd dat ik in verband met de huidige wereldcrisis, veroorzaakt door de komst van een virus waarvoor we nog geen genezing hebben, een gelukkig pessimist ben.
Read more…Amida is always busy
Always be busy with Amida.
Make all business Amida Nembutsu
Be busy with the thought of Amida
Be courageously busy supported by Amida Light
Be busy supporting Amida
Be busy praying for the Pure Land of Amida
Grateful
Don’t be la
Read more…There is a verse called Koge in Japanese that is used regularly in Jodo Shu services.
A loose translation goes as follows:
FRAGRANCE GATHA
My body the pure censer
my heart afire with Dharma
to Buddhas of the three times
throughout the ten directions
m
In antwoord op het verzoek van Vajrapala om de boeddhistische leer over de dood te beschrijven, is dit wat ik heb gehoord. Sommige delen hiervan, via bijna-dood-ervaringen, samadhi, en herinneringen aan een onschuldige kindertijd, heb ik bewust erv
Read more…PAIN IN A BOMBU WORLD
In the on-line order meeting this past Saturday I said that in relation to the current world crisis caused by the arrival of a virus for which, as yet, we have no cure, I am a happy pessimist. I’ll say a little more on this sub
Read more…Saigyo (1118-1190) was a wandering poet monk in Japan. He is one of the most famous Japanese poets. He wrote more than fifteen hundred poems, many of which became famous. His poetry reflects his life as a rather solitary wanderer, often spending t
Read more…