Self is an intervening fantasy that masks reality. What does this mean?
Perhaps one eats too much chocolate. One feels a bit sick. One learns not to eat so much of it at one go. Simple.
However, what may happen is that after eating too much chocolate
Read more…The Three Jewels are the heart of Buddhism. The three are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. They are the foundation and core of the Buddhist religion. When one becomes a Buddhist one takes refuge in the Three Jewels. So what are they and what do
Read more…On December 8 we celebrate the anniversary of the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. Let us reflect a little upon this.
Siddhartha Gotama was somebody who threw himself into things. In his early life he evidently was a sensitive lad given to reflect
Read more…There is a wonderful text that records the saying of the Desert Fathers or Abba. The Abba were hermits who lived in the desert of North Africa in the early Christian period. The stories are of a similar genre to the Buddhist stories of enlightenment
Read more…Religion as a Vehicle
The Sanskrit word yana means vehicle. Buddhism is broadly divided into yanas. A yana may encompass a variety of denominations, orders or sects. Different yanas are characterised by some common broad orientation, so the term can
I was recently reviewing the work of one of my students and she brought my attention to a body of literature on research into bereavement counselling. The general drift of the findings suggested that bereavement counselling is ineffective and can ev
Read more…Who Loves Dies Well
Buddhism is often called a way of life. However, it can also be called a way of death. Many of the Buddhists I have met in Japan would regard it this way. The “great moment” is what really matters. All the rest is preparation, rea
Read more…Today's snow covers yesterdays tracks.
Success or failure, triumph or wreck.
The waning moon shall later wax.
Time continues her endless trek.
We who follow or go ahead
make war and peace, then rest and sigh.
We have no time to bury the dead,
the undertak
EGO OBSESSION
Buddhist psychology can be seen as a cure for addiction or obsession. Addiction is officially defined as a compulsive behaviour pattern in which one develops unpleasant symptoms if one does not get one’s fix. There are, however, any num
Read more…Meditation is a natural expression of spiritual liberation. When we are swimming in grace, the heart lifts and sings. In following the Dharma one is filled with joy and gratitude that Buddha’s appear in the world. The traditional way to express this
Read more…President Macron has said now that Europe needs its own military in order to protect itself against Russia, China and even the USA. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46162052 . I have been predicting this development for several years now. Europe
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Alternating Ages of Greed and Hate: A Little Bit of Buddhist Psychology
In Buddhist psychology we talk of delusion having a double valency. It either turns to greed or to hate. Greed is attractive and acquisitive. Hate is repulsive and rejecting.
The
Read more…It is certainly good news that Asia Bibi has been acquitted and is to be released, but very sad that she and her family will now have to flee the country and find refuge somewhere else in the world than her home land. You can read the story here http
Read more…I just want to say that if you can get together three or more people to start a local ITZI group anywhere in the world, I am happy to offer what I can via skype, Facebook or e-mail to support it.
Such groups can, amongst other things
- discuss Dharma
Read more…We call her Queen Vaidehi. Actually we do not know her name. At the time, twenty-five centuries ago, the word vaidehi probably meant a consort of the king, but she is now established as Queen Vaidehi. She was the mother of Ajatashattru. Ajatashattru
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Nir-vana means “no wind”
Here’s a poem…
Awful wind,
east, west,
north, south,
my little raft,
on rock,
is in time’s mouth.
Where flee?
How fight?
What pray? What tell?
Your dreadful whine!
I hide my lie
in hell.
Conceit to be,
to dine, to feast,
des
