A new crop coming
The garden and land around the house is rather demanding these days. When the sun shines there is lots to do before the next downpour. Yesterday we had a whirlwind passed through. It only lasted half and hour or so but it bent the
Read more…The new president of France, Emmanuel Macron, has chosen his government, appointing all his senior ministers. It is half women and half men. It is half experienced politicians and half people from civic society. It is drawn from the whole political s
Read more…When I was a teenager and the Cold War was at its height we were constantly hearing about the "arms race" between Russia and the USA. This battle for technological supremacy was closely related to the "space race" and the shock in the West when Russi
Read more…These days we hear a good deal about something called impeachment, often coupled with references to Richard Nixon, though Nixon was not impeached, he resigned. Different countries go about things in different ways. In France, for instance, the presid
Read more…Chapter 12
五色令人目盲，
五音令人耳聋，
五味令人口爽，
驰骋畋猎令人心发狂，
难得之货令人行妨。
是以圣人，
為腹不為目，
故去彼取此
The eyes of the person gone wild on the five sights, are blind.
The ears of the person driven wild by the five cries, are deaf.
The taste of the person driven wild by th
Read more…The may flowering is now almost over so that everywhere one looks the woods are a tide of young green. This is the season of maximum new growth. One can almost see the grass rising and, first thing in the morning, in the patches of longer stems, the
Read more…Chapter 11
三十幅共一毂，当其无，有車之用。
埏埴以為器，当其无，有器之用。
凿户牖以為室，当其无，有室之用。
故有之以為利，无之以為用。
Thirty spokes come together at the hub;
it is the space between that makes it usable.
Mix up clay and make a pot;
it is the space inside that makes it usable.
Assemble win
Read more…Just this morning we have several major pieces of news. It is difficult to make one coherent story out of these different tremors, but one can, perhaps, see connections between the rise of populism, the increasing chaos in Washington and astute polit
Read more…Continuing commentary upon Summary of Faith and Practice
TEXT: Dwelling in this settled faith
COMMENTARY
Settled faith is anshin. An-shin literally means "the heart-mind at peace". We can speak of different modes or dimensions of faith and anshin is
Read more…Emmanuel Macron has just gained the French presidency. France had a stark choice in the last round of the election and the rest of Europe had to watch as their fate also hovered. If Le Pen had won it might well have been the end of the European Union
Read more…The Rich List has just come out, listing the richest 1000 people in the UK. To be on the list you need to be worth at least £110 million. Being a mere millionaire is nothing these days.
Money makes money. The top 20 are, together, worth just under £1
Read more…Chapter 10
载营魄抱一，能毌離乎
專氣至柔 能 嬰兒乎
脩除玄監 能毌有疵乎
愛民栝國 能毌以知乎
天門啟闔 能為雌乎
明白四達 能毌以知乎
生之畜之
生而弗有
畜而弗宰也
是胃玄德
Unite body and soul – can you, without being dispersed?
Master the breath and be supple – can you, jus
Read more…The bell master is responsible for the meditation hall and, in the liturgy, works with the celebrant. The celebrant may specify exactly what is going to happen or may take it as it comes. The bell master fills in the gaps and keeps everything flowing
Read more…It is election season - recent general election in Netherlands, Thursday past local elections in UK, tomorrow presidential election in France, and a general election campaign under way in Britain. Germany goes to the polls in the autumn. And we are s
Read more…QUESTION: What does Pureland Buddhism say about God, if anything? Are there just Buddhas who are enlightened but no need / place for God? Are they the same thing?
SHORT ANSWER: Nothing about God with a capital G. Some gods might be Buddhas.
LONGER AN
Read more…Are we on a cusp of history between nationalism and internationalism? The idea of a nation-state rests upon a community of cultural and racial identity among the people occupying a defined piece of land under a single governmental/bureaucratic admini
Read more…Chapter Nine
持而盈之不盈其己；
揣而锐之不可长保；
金玉满堂莫之能守；
富贵而骄，自遗其咎。
功遂身退，天之道。
Hold to an excess of non-excessiveness, this is not about self.
Hide the sharpness that cannot last long.
When gold and jade fill the hall, nobody can guard them..
Fame and fortune m
Read more…After some hot days that dried the soil out completely we are now plunged into a cold snap. It is actually deluging down hail as I write and a very cold night is forecast. This is not great weather either for plants or folk. I tried planting a few to
Read more…Depending upon what happens in two weeks time, Yesterday could prove to have been a turning point in the history of Europe, even of the world. Yesterday, in an unexpected electoral stunt, Marine Le Pen seriously wrong-footed Emmanuel Macron by turnin
Read more…