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While written specifically about the Lotus Sutra, the questions posed here would be applicable to any endeavor, Buddhism included.

This chapter opens with the Buddha seated in meditation. As I think about this, I am reminded that we all began our practice of Buddhism from some place in our lives. Before our first exposure or our first acceptance, we were living in various ways. We had different approaches and understandings of life. We possibly had different emotional feelings about life in general.

Perhaps we were unhappy, or discouraged, or maybe depressed. Maybe everything was hunky-dory, simply peachy and all that. The point is what was your life like before Buddhism? Try to be as objective as you possibly can be at whatever distance you are from that point in time. Be honest, at least, be honest with yourself, even if not with everyone else.

None of us were blank slates with no prior history, no previous ways of processing life, no prior anything. We each began at a certain point.

The importance of this is to understand better the many ways in which your life has changed. The better you are at articulating this, the better you understand this at a fundamental level in your life. The clearer this is for you to explain the clearer it is at the core of your being. A thing not named is often not understood or considered.

For example, I came to Buddhism in a concrete way while I was in the Marine Corps. The military was the physical environment where I began my practice. The condition of my life, which is more important, was not so good. I was unhappy, I would say miserable. I will not claim I was suicidal; thoughts of suicide had entered my mind, and I entertained them seriously. I felt hopeless. I saw no possible happiness at any point in the near or distant future. I also felt helpless because I had no control over much in my life. I felt the victim. I was 19 and had lived independently for two years. I had been responsible for my food, clothing, shelter, and college education expenses. It wasn’t like I was away from home or family for the first time in my life, as so many in my environment were.

The broad view of my state of being when first introduced to a formal practice of Buddhism was not pleasant. I had studied as much as I could find about Buddhism before this and always felt there was more. What I could not articulate was that the missing pieces were the community of practitioners and the structure of practice. So I am using my first exposure to formal practice and sangha as my beginning point.

If I were to tell my story of the Lotus Sutra, the above would lead up to the opening or introduction chapter of my Lotus Sutra. It would be the first of the Threefold Lotus Sutra of Ryusho’s Life if you wish to call it so.

I can quickly identify these things because I have been working on this intently for a couple of years as well as writing about it in various books. Please take your time. Do not rush into or about this. Hopefully, over time, your story and understanding will evolve. What you identify now may not be the entire picture so be open to further insights and awareness.

Besides the insight this gives you, it also will enable you to articulate clearly to yourself and others where you began and how much you have grown, learned, changed, and benefited due to your faith and practice of the Lotus Sutra.

Sample Questions - in case you’re stuck
What were you doing in your life before?
What was your basic way of responding to events in your life? (Angry, complacent, confrontational, following, leading, directionless)
What were your dreams, aspirations, goals?
What was your frame of mind or emotional condition?
Give a general idea of what the week was like before you ever heard anything about Buddhism, or before you heard about the Lotus Sutra.</blockquote>

The illustration posted in this opening post for this series is an expression of some thoughts and feelings on my pre-Lotus Sutra life. The phrase from the Sutra of Infinite Meanings Sutra about how we can not hear without doing something hooked me. If I had remained in the barracks and never gone to my first sangha meeting, then today would not exist. If I had not been willing to make a commitment to the Lotus Sutra on that first day and on numerous days since then none of this would have happened. In our lives, in our Buddhist practice, in everything we do, something needs to be done, or else nothing happens. Obvious of course, yet is is profound if considered from various perspectives. The Buddha had existed before I was born, and Buddhism has been around longer than I have. The first contact between Buddhism and myself provided me an opportunity to do something to hear the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.

Another phrase that hooked me was "as the thunder sounds". Having lived in various places in my life, I have been able to experience the different sounds of thunder. For the many years, I lived in Hawaii, I missed the thunder, something that is rarely heard on the islands. Growing up in New Orleans we had thunder, it was without echoes and seemed to simply show up and then leave. Here in western North Carolina, the sounds of thunder roll around, returning again and again as if never quite willing to depart. Old tales have used the imagery of bolling-alleys, a not wholly inaccurate description.

The thunder of the Buddha's enlightenment or his first teaching was louder and as expansive as the universe. We might normally be afraid of thunder. The thunder of Buddhism and especially of the Lotus Sutra though is a sweet sound, it is pleasing to hear. It is a sound I have benefited from continually and without measure.

Life can be chaotic and is certainly unpredictable often if not always. Sometimes it repeats endlessly, the same things happen over and over. There are times we wish it would go away, wish it to be different, wish it to be anything other than what it is. The troubles and challenges even at times obscure our ability to see our own lives or the Dharma in our lives. In a way, that is what is going on with all the random weird stuff in this small piece. Or maybe it is simply that right now patterns and doodles are of interest to me. Who knows?

As we work our way along on this project, I may not always show you what I've done. It will depend on what I am inclined to do at that moment. I do envision highlighting or sharing what you all or doing. You don't have to share with me what you've done. I hope you do. If you do, I will not share details about something unless you have given me your permission. Remember it does not need to be just drawing or painting. How about a quilt with one panel for each chapter, or maybe you could knit a pair of crazy socks for each chapter. It can be anything that is your expression of the Lotus in your life.

Irritated

My breakfast is still going on when David starts to talk about the Summary of Faith and Practice .

I react a bit irritated because I want to eat my toast and suddenly I have to look for my notebook. I try to make as many notes as possible during David's Dharma talks, not only to memorise as much as possible, but also to improve my English.

Impossible

My irritation has also something to do with the fact that I am not good at doing two things at the same time. Since my life is happening in the English language my capacity to multitask seems to have completely disappeared. When I want to understand a conversation, or express myself in English, it asks for complete concentration. Listening and writing while preparing and eating toast seems to be an impossible exercise.

Muddled up

Language is a strange something... Language is dominating the thinking. Without language no thinking... I am thinking in Dutch and Enlish all muddled up. Even writing in Dutch is strange now. Especially about Pureland Buddhism, because everything I have learned about it, I have learned in English. My english vocabulary is limited, but my Dutch words seems also not available to express myself.

David quotes the part of the Summary of Faith and Practice where we stopped last lesson.

“Nor is it (practice of Nembutsu) based on study, understanding and wisdom or the revelation of deep meaning”

Wandering Holy Man

To illustrate the meaning of this sentence David tells us the story about Pureland Teacher Ippen (c. 1200 DC). Ippen was one the early followers of Honen and the founder of the Ji Shu.

He had his own way of spreading the dharma and practising. He was a wandering holy man. He travelled with his group of disciples from place to place to spread the Dharma. While he was travelling he asked everyone he met to say Nembutsu and when you did he gave you a 'Fuda' a little piece of paper with “Namo Amida Bu” written on it. You can put the Fuda on your home shrine. In this way Ippen gave you something concrete as a sign of being accepted by Amida.

No Faith

'One day Ippen met a man who did not want to say Nembutsu', David tells us. Ippen asked the man why he did not want to say it. “Because I don't have faith,” was his answer. Ippen asked the man to say Nembutsu anyway and the man did. Ippen gave him his Fuda.

Crises

Ippen could not forget this meeting with this man and it kept him preoccupied. What is the meaning of reciting Namo Amida Bu when you don't have faith in it? Or don't believe in it? It became a kind of religious crisis for Ippen himself.

David told that after this crisis Ippen came to the conclusion that it is not about personal experience, but it is about the Nembutsu itself. The words “Namo Amida Bu” are wholesome and perfect.

While David refers to the sentence of Summary of Faith and Practice” I am still thinking of the story and Ippen and his conclusion, and especially the question, what is the essence of practising Nembutsu? And what if you don't believe in it? The conclusion of the story came to quick for me.

Amida and Jesus

As a beginner in Pureland practise I still feel a kind of unfamiliarity with Amida Buddha. Chanting Namo Amida Bu can give me a calm feeling and sometimes the experience of a prayer.

The religious aspect, the devotion and the stories about salvation around Amida Buddha remind me of the stories about Jesus. I was brought up as a Christian and I have a lot of positive memories of my Christian background and I still feel connected to my Christian roots.

After a few years of Zen practice I am suddenly in touch in a quite intensive way with Pureland Buddhism and Amida Buddha.

Mysterious Spell

The words Namo Amida Bu sound sometimes as a mysterious spell in my ears and at these moments I can feel some resistance. After God, Jesus and Buddha, Amdia appears into my life... Why don't I feel connection with Amida, I wonder.

Questions

I tell David that I still have questions about the conclusion of Ippen and ask about the essence of practising, even if you don't have faith. Instead of giving me an answer David stand up to leave the kitchen. He returns with a book about the life and work of Ippen. He starts to read out loud the story of Ippen and his meeting with the man who didn't want to say Nembutsu. It is a beautiful story with a lot of details worth telling:

Sincere

Ippen meets a monk. The monk comes from a disciplined tradition in which it is very important to live according the vows in a very sincere way. When the monk refuses to say Nembutsu Yppen asked the monk why he refused. The monk tells Ippen that he does not experience faith himself. He explains that he can't accept the fuda of Ippen, because that will be like lying for him and he can't practise nembutsu in a sincere way.

After hearing this part of the story I understand better why Ippen himself went through a crisis. The monk gives him a beautiful koan about his own religion practice.

Vision

David is reading further and Ippen seems to have serious doubt about his own practice and the way he is teaching the Dharma. He is asking himself if he should go on with sharing the fudas and getting people to say the Nembutsu. Ippen visits a temple and prays for guidance. In the temple he gets an answer to his prayer in a vision. In this vision he is asked:

“Why are you doing this the wrong way? It is not by your own effort that all sentient beings are to attain birth in the Pure Land.”

Self-power and Other-power

What a beautiful question - a question that is speaking to me. A question about 'self-power' and 'other-power'. It is an answer to the question, what is the meaning of Nembutsu if you don't believe in it.

It does not depend of my personal way of chanting Nembutsu. The message is: Also with a heart full of doubt or feelings of discomfort you can say Nembutsu and reach the Pure Land. Your Nembutsu is perfect even if you can't do it sincerely.

It is easy to write, but hard to believe 'my Nembutsu is perfect'...

But maybe this is the essence of 'self-power and other-power'.

I WANT to believe that my Nembutsu is good

I WANT to feel faith

I WANT

It is quite difficult to get past “I want”.

Slowly on I get a clear picture of the meaning of 'self-power'.

Many times I attribute to myself a great power and influence. I know how to make myself important in my life. I can mourn as a broken weeping willow about the things I could have done better in my life. I can work very hard to improve myself. I can worry a lot about the things I may have done wrong. I always want to understand, what I am learning. I want to know why... and I want everything to be confirmed by personal experience...

All beautiful examples of self-power.

But what about the 'other-power'?

I believe it is there...somewhere...

Lets start with chanting Nembutsu without understanding and any expectation of a revelation of deep meaning.

This is my artist daughter's web site... http://www.lizzydickie.com/

On 6 February, when I was still in hospital, a good friend in Spain sent me this lovely mail...

Yesterday I felt very worried and sad when I read the bad news, so today reading your own words and seeing your photo with your laptop and that healthy looking, made me feel a great relief and very happy for you. Besides, having your friends and family with you will be the best pill of all.

I usually go to my bedroom and sit there to do my meditation, As you know I am Christian, but my practice is very personal, a sort of contemplation, I would say that is like a combination of Nei Quan and Chi quan meditation...I think.

But yesterday I wanted to make some offering to you and I practised my first Nembutsu. I do not know if it is like that: I did some walking meditation and with each step and exhalation I repeated to myself "Namo Amida Bu", understanding these words like" I surrender  my bombu nature to you (Amida) while I feel your total and eternal embracement, acceptance, compassion and love supporting us in each step"

It was a great experience,though maybe this is not the proper way of doing it....(.Anyway I am used to create my own practices or do my own version of them...). The words were not familiar to me but I really recognized the feelings and the connection, so concepts were falling apart.

Of course this is not important at all, but I wanted to share it with you. I think that  the main thing now is faith...and that you are feeling better.

With her permission, I am sharing it here as it gives such a wonderful sense of the spirit of nembutsu practice.

I have been asked to talk tomorrow at 11am EST on the subject of Meditation as Writing and Writing as Meditation. 

Taking stock of the progress of the Amida Shu sangha at the end of 2015 it is hard to find words sufficient to praise the achievement of Kaspalita and Satyavani and all those involved in the establishment of the Amida Mandala Temple in Malvern. This was itself the culmination of several years of dedication which began with them holding Pureland religious services in the tiny front room of their original accommodation in Malvern, doing walking recitation in a room hardly big enough to swing one’s arms, sometimes with one or two other visitors, sometimes alone. Over the years I have many times heard it said that presenting a blatantly religious approach to Buddhism could never work in England, that the Pureland message is particularly difficult to promote, and that in order to spread the word you have to go with the general secularising trend, yet here we have a temple run unashamedly as a Buddhist church in a quintessentially English provincial town flourishing and deeply appreciated by local people. Nobody who enters the front door with even a half open mind can help but be swept up in the spirit of love that pervades.

This is not to say that this is a group of super-human people. They make no bones of their bombu nature. I’m sure that there are days when they feel out of sorts. We know that there have been some disputes and some people have left. However, as somebody who has had much experience with communities over the years, I can say that there has actually been a good deal less trouble of this kind than could be considered to be par for the course, and the positives far, far outweigh the cost. There has to be room in any venture of this kind for enough space and flexibility to accommodate actual human nature and we should not be ashamed of that. The great genius of the Pureland approach is, in fact, the recognition of such human nature and the consequent avoidance of paralysing perfectionism on the one hand and hypocritical posing on the other. We are not a community that seeks to impose a taxing discipline, but rather one where experienced practitioners, complete new-comers and little children can all take part and  enjoy the Dharma in their different ways..

So it was a great pleasure to stay at the temple for a week before and another week during the Bodhi Retreat. Since then I have heard from several participants what an inspiring event they found it to be and how they have gone away full of renewed spiritual energy. Now, however, of course, comes the test. Where is this energy to go now? What will emerge in local sanghas in different parts of the world, among those who attended and those who were not able to? A wave has been set in motion. Back in France we shall be developing La Ville au Roi (Eleusis). Our model will be quite different to that in Malvern because our situation is completely different. As a remote, rural retreat we shall not be catering to a local congregation. However, our own unique development can certainly be complementary to that in England and I expect a fair bit of traffic of persons coming and going between the two (and other) locations. Each place must develop in its own way, but the salience of the religious spirit, of common humanity in its relation to greater powers that bridge the relation to eternity, expressed through simple prayer, will be common ground.

I remember long ago my Zen teacher Kennett Roshi saying to me that i should try to get a group of practitioners together to do zazen and, years later,  Achaan Viradhammo telling me to “get a sangha around me.” I had several tries and some successes but also failures. Groups started and fell apart again. I learnt. Too much leadership. Too little leadership. Too tightly defined. Not defined enough. Clashes of personality. Unbalanced people. There are many hazards. I know how difficult it can be. Thus, the evolution of Amida Shu as a spiritual communion that now has a robustness, depth, and sense of mutual love is a great satisfaction and I feel enormous gratitude to all my companions on this path, scattered around the world as we are and to the inspiring light of Amitabha Buddha which really does seem to penetrate through all obstacles.

On the Bodhi Retreat 7-13 December In Amida Mandala Malvern, I was ordained as Amita Vajrapala, a Gankonin in the Amida Order, vocation as a disciple to the service of the Buddhas and budhisattvas to help and serve all sentient beings.

The transmission of Amida's light was transmitted to me by the precepts I discided to take, by the kind love, care and wisdom off Dharmavidaya David Brazier, by Sujatin and Jnanamati  - who helped, supported and assisted me - and by the support and longing of the assembled Amida Sangha.

This step deepened my joyful faith in indescribable ways. A deep bow for all the ancestors, all Amida Sangha, all friends. May the light of Amida always guide my steps and shrine through me to all sentient beings. Namo Amida Bu.

Friends,

Yesterday,  the Amida Mosaic Sangha celebrated Bodhi Day.  Our day included morning service, sitting meditation and chanting.  Additionally, James led us on a mindful nature walk and Nancy led us in sacred movement. We also enjoyed two Dharma talks by Dharmavidya (Bodhi Day 2014 and this years first talk).  Also, Stephen, our guest from Connecticut, shared a few words prompting a lively discussion about Honen, Shinran, other-power and self-power. It was a very rich and full day!

The highlight of the day was the Vow ceremony.  The vows offered were:  Refuge ~ Nina Grigg,    Amida-Shu ~ Stephen Greenberg and Jennifer Adam and,  Lay Order membership (Mitra's) ~ Nancy DePutter and Sally Mackenzie. Unable to join us due to distance is Staci Noble who will join Amida-shu this summer when I visit the west coast.

Love to you all!

Prajnatara IMG_2649_2.jpeg.pdf

After Charlie's attack, Lama Wangmo wrote a practice, based on Tonglen to help keeping an open heart while assaulted by the madness of violence, terrorism and the answer people adopt.

It has been translated to English and can be freely used in any groups of :

Practising in face of horror

Breathe in suffering and breathe out, opening your heart

To all of you, men, women and children, anywhere in the world,

who lose their lives in violence, just as I utter these words,

I vow not to abandon you, in my thoughts, words and deeds.

You, who now wander, terrified and confused,

in the realms of death,

I share, from the depths of my powerless and rebellious heart,

all forms of your suffering.

In offer, I send you, as best as I can, love and peace and

vow to apply myself in this sense.

I breathe in, feeling inside your pain,

indissoluble from mine, and

I breathe out, in your direction, and give you

space for the refuge in peace and love.

For all those who witness the horror, I share that you are stunned

in dread and indescribable states of shock.

May I take some of your despair,

your unfathomable sadness and your rage

in my own heart, so as to relieve you.

In return, I send you strength, support and protection.

I breathe in, feeling inside your pain,

indissoluble from mine, and

I breathe out, in your direction, the force and power

of an indestructible support.

To all our brothers and sisters in humanity,

here and around the world,

undergoing intolerable pressures, tortures and massacres,

who have lost the meaning of their life

and found no refuge for their pains,

I share your confusion and utter dejection.

May I take in that which is inconsolable, your fear and

the nightmares that are haunting you.

In return, I offer you the space of my humility

and of my sincere heart.

I breathe in, feeling inside your pain,

indissoluble from mine, and

I breathe out, in your direction, a genuine ability

to be really capable of helping.

For all politicians, for all persons of responsibility and good will,

for all women and men engaged on the ground,

the helpers and the peace-keeping forces,

who have to act in urgency,

I share your helplessness and the pressures you undergo.

May I take your confusion and uncertainties.

In return, I send you clarity, confidence and gratitude.

I breathe in, feeling inside your pain,

indissoluble from mine, and

I breathe out, in your direction,

warmth and gratitude.

For all those who, under the influence of hatred, idleness and enslavement,

commit extreme acts against all forms of life,

may I take your darkness, your obscurity, your dementia,

and offer you the gift of hope and belief in

the fundamental goodness of all beings.

I send you the absolute silence

in which you may lay your heart bare and open it again

to the forces of love, peace and reconciliation.

I breathe in, feeling inside your pain,

indissoluble from mine, and

I breathe out, in your direction,

the infinite compassion which frees from all obscurity.

For all the sincere and pacific people who suffer in this chaotic time,

who are taken for what they are not and who suffer

distrust, rejection and isolation,

may I take your tears, your distress,

your difficulty to be understood and listened to.

In return, I send you the capacity to be heard and understood

with the respect and equanimity to which everyone is entitled.

I breathe in, feeling inside your pain,

indissoluble from mine, and

I breathe out, in your direction, my sincere wish not to abandon any being and

remain connected to all,

in accordance with the values of freedom, justice and goodness

which sustain me.

May the penetrating force of the heart

never leave the best of my thoughts and

guide my actions for the benefit of all,

without any exception.

(Lama Wangmo, january 2015)

The French original version can be found on this website.

PractisingInFaceOfHorror.pdf.

May this practice help sentient being to open their heart

Flowers of Mourning With so many deaths in the Middle East and now in Europe too, and more being planned as the clamour for military action grows, this is a time for mourning and for flowers, not just in Paris, but also in Beirut, in Baghdad, in Kabul and everywhere where this carnage spreads. Around us, here in Europe, we can sense the fear. The fear is not just individuals fearing that a jihadist might appear on the street and injure or kill one with a bomb or a bullet. It is more than that. It is the fear that things are getting worse. There is a widespread suspicion that the events in Paris will not be the last of their kind. Although many people are crying out for an escalation of the bombing in Syria, there are not many people who seem to seriously think that such a course will reduce the number of jihadists. It may change the way they operate. Their present leaders and heroes may get killed, but will that make future jihadist activity less or more? Many people are saying that the recent events are on a par with the 7/11 events in New York and that the response should be similar, but did that response then reduce jihadism? The present manifestation, in the form of IS, appears to be a more potent force than Al Qaida ever was and the Middle East is certainly no safer or in less chaos. Basically, that response failed and did a lot of damage in the process. Will more of the same do the trick now? It seems unlikely.

Seedbeds of Desperation There are currently three problems. One is the rise of IS in Syria. Another is the flood of refugees trying to enter Europe and the third is the bombings in Paris. These problems are related, but not always in the simplistic way that the media project. The events in Paris were not committed by new immigrants, nor by people coming to Paris from Damascus; they were committed by people coming from Brussels. Mostly these are second or third generation immigrants, born and brought up in a European city. Usually, when immigrants come from a poor country to a rich one they try to integrate into the culture of the host country. Their children do so even more. In this case, however, the opposite has happened. Instead of integrating more than their parents, these young people have become more alienated and vulnerable to seduction by militants  identified with an enemy of the country where they live and to which they should, by now, feel they belong. Something has gone wrong. Somehow, we have failed to absorb these youngsters in the normal way. Rather than easing their passage into becoming Europeans, we have driven them to desperation. Dropping bombs in the Middle East is not going to solve this problem. Greater efforts are needed to integrate existing settlers into European society and we must not make the same mistake with the new wave as we have evidently made with the last one. Promoting a wholesome sense of citizenship, opportunity and participation is vital.  Avoiding making the same mistakes all over again, however, is not going to be easy in the current climate of inter-communal hostility and suspicion that is, understandably, growing in Europe.

Flowers Once in a Different Cause At the same time as pondering these difficult questions, my mind also wanders back to earlier in my life when flowers symbolised love and peace and the idealism of young people was not recruited  to acts of hate, but to ones of spontaneity and delight in a widespread movement toward the creation of a more liberated society and culture. It has since become fashionable to ridicule that movement for its wild idealism, but is the present situation better? What does our money and status oriented society offer to alienated young people? Flower power became the slogan of resistance to militarism and, more constructively, of efforts to build a more communal, tolerant, counter-culture. All that was gradually lost as, on the one hand, political activism became sharper and more confrontational, and, on the other hand, the constructive aspects of the movement were largely subverted by consumerism or sapped by the drug culture. Nonetheless, they were heady and hopeful days. They say things go in cycles and, wistfully, I wonder if we might now be on the cusp of a new wave of idealism and the possibilities of a different kind of culture might start to bloom once again as sparks of light amidst the increasingly gloomy shadows of the deteriorating political situation. If this is more than a complete fantasy, then Eleusis will certainly be one of those sparks and one of those flowers.

New Flowers Of course, it such a renewal occurs it will not be for people of my age to dictate what form it shall take. With some perspective drawn from experience we may be able to contribute something, but the impetus, if it comes, will surely come from young people themselves. In every generation there are causes that attract youthful enthusiasm. Many years ago it was the enthusiasm to go and fight in the Spanish Civil War - mostly on the side that lost. Then that wave petered out with the rise of an even more deadly war all over Europe. Then, in the aftermath of that terrible conflict, a generation of hope was born. I was one of that generation. I am still hoping. There is, of course, a certain wisdom in abandoning hope and accepting the world as it is, come what may. I have learnt a little of that wisdom too, but one cannot completely abandon the sense that one was born for a purpose and that that purpose has something to do with creating the conditions for new flowers to grow and thrive and in this I don't think I am completely alone.

Image sources: http://972mag.com/paris-attacks-show-the-interconnectedness-of-our-troubles/113907/ {} http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/flanders%2Btoday/1.702442 {} news picture {} http://mycolorscreen.com/2013/01/13/make-love-not-war/

We Need Restraint Not More Bombs

We are all dismayed by the events in Paris. Yet, have we been equally dismayed by the daily events in the Middle East where our own governments are dropping bombs? I am deeply sympathetic to the French people affected by the recent violence. I am deeply sympathetic to the people in Syria, in Iraq, in Afghanistan and in the whole Middle East Region. I understand why there is hatred. I understand why people want to kill. However, killing more and more will not bring the killing to an end. Only restraint, understanding, wisdom and compassion will do that.

We are caught up in a tit-for-tat world and each retaliation only provokes more of the same. Every bomb we drop generates a new group of people who hate us. Every atrocity increases the likelihood of more. It is like fire spreading. Let us all pray for restraint and ask wisdom of our leaders. 

A Little Political Analysis

Who are Islamic State? They are basically the Sunni Muslims who were driven out of power by the invasion of Iraq. Since we invaded their country, do we expect them to be our friends? They have been more successful than was expected in establishing a new proto-state by becoming the most effective element in the opposition to the Assad government in Syria, but were not our own governments also supportive of that opposition? In effect, there is a civil war going on in the Middle East, mostly between Sunni and Shia Moslems. The West has changed sides several times in its interference in this regional conflict. Sometimes it is anti-Iran and therefore anti-Shia, then it is establishing a Shia government in Iraq and so being anti-Sunni, then it is opposing Assad and being anti-Shia again, then it is dropping bombs on the most effective anti-Assad faction and becoming anti-Sunni again. It is difficult to escape the impression that the basic logic of Western policy is to keep changing sides frequently so as to generate the maximum amount of chaos and ensure that nobody in the Middle East ever become powerful enough to establish peace and order and become a rival to Western interests. If we carry on like this, what can we expect? Do we think that exporting chaos, destruction and death to a whole region is never going to come home? And now that some of it is coming home, do we think that we can re-stabilise the situation by escalating the strategy that is responsible for the trouble in the first place?

What Will Happen?

If we go on like this we can only expect the situation to worsen, both in the Middle East and in Europe. No analyst I have read thinks that Islamic State can be destroyed by bombing alone, even if this were desirable, and no Western country seems likely to commit ground troops, so why are we fighting a war we cannot win? Apart from the horror of the killing involved, it makes little or no political sense. The only power that is at all likely ever to commit ground troops to the defeat of Islamic State is Turkey and the expansion of Turkey in the region would probably only lead to sudden, startled Western suspicion of Turkish intentions and a new arena of conflict. Perhaps the whole region will be carved up by Turkey and Iran. It has happened before.

Alternatively, there will be ever increasing fragmentation, chaos and killing. In the short run we need restraint, but I am pessimistic. The tit-for-tat may continue to escalate. If it does we shall lose civil rights, become paranoid, elect extremist governments and much that has been achieved in Europe in the past generation will be lost. I hope this pessimism is unfounded. All spiritual people should now be urging restraint. Many are doing so. Let us pray that wise voices prevail.

David and I were talking in the car during our 12 hours traveling to Spain. As David has written (see Eleusis Daily) we talked about lots of things.

I told David how I am looking forward to meeting the people of the Amida Sangha. I still feel a deep connection with my own sangha in Den Bosch, in Holland, but I do want to be involved in the Amida Sanga and the Amida order.

I already had the wish to take refuge and I talked about it months ago with my teacher Henk in Holland, but then a lot of other matters in my life happened. ….

Like the fact that I am driving a car to Spain with a Buddhist priest next to me talking about becoming a Buddhist….

We talked about the possibility for me to take refuge in December during the Bodhi Retreat in the Malvern temple. I asked David about the ceremony and the ritual so he explained it to me. I felt that I really want to take part at this ceremony.

I am still a bit worried about my English so I said to David that I want to practise how to pronounce the words I have to say.

So David said the words and I repeat…. Three times…

I took refuge to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha three times while a Buddhist priest was leading the ceremony in the car to Spain…

So I am a Buddhist now!

I do want to confirm my taking refuge in the retreat in Malvern, in December and I am truly looking forward to meeting more members of the sangha.

Namo Amida Bu. 

In the corner of the ‘sun-trap-field you will find the entire universe…

Look at that!

Dragonfly and Blackthorn,

blue sky and butterfly,

greenhills and yellow flowers,

what a treasures in november...

White clouds and forest lining the horizon, endless view covered with a blue cupola…

What a grace in november…

Tiny little human being

sitting on the earth in

November

This perfect little corner,

this warm silent spot, where

dragonfly and human enjoy

the sun together.

And all these tiny, little, big things gives this

tremendous feeling….

that something huge is going on…

A corner full of life, light and love…

a sacred corner…

It feels like a spirit is watching...

watching with friendly eyes… enjoying every little creature…

 just as you are….

My last blog post was back at the beginning of this year. A lot has happened, and yet, in a way, nothing has happened. Life here has a timeless quality. One can feel as if in suspended animation. Every day there is something to do - many things. Yet nothing is pressing. It is a wonderful life in that respect. A change of occupation is always possible. I have somewhat settled into a pattern of writing every morning and working outdoors in the afternoon, weather permitting. Lately it has been more than permitting. the extraordinary warm weather has been inviting.

This year I have spent more time here than in previous years so it has been possible to get more done and keep the place in order. The grass gets cut and we grow some crops. A healthy life.

Much of this year I have enjoyed solitude. Having had the painful break-up of a relationship I needed time to heal. Nowhere could have been better for the purpose. Now I feel more outgoing again. New relationships are forming. I feel more expansive and enjoy people coming. I always have a sense that this place is too much of a gift to simply keep it to oneself and I try to develop it in ways that will be attractive to others. At the same time I am aware that it is a rather primitive setting and not the sort of place that most modern people are likely to choose. An interesting tension exists between the simplicity of relatively primitive conditions and the desire to make people comfortable.

All in all it has been a year of healing and deepening and I now feel refreshed and restored by the energy of the land.

One week at Eleusis

A week at Eleusis… it was quite an experience! I came by train and arrived rather late at the station in St. Amand Montrond Orval. David picked me up at the station and drove me to the house. We drank a cup of tea and then I went to to bed. So, basically, my time at Eleusis started with the morning meditation.

The morning meditation was impressive for me. The meditation I am used to is zen, so I was not familiar with chants and a lot of recitation. I am only used to the heart sutra and a few other sutras.

 My first chant

So at half past seven I walk to the meditation hall where I meet Adam for the first time. He is preparing the zendo. I look around in this big old building. It has walls and a roof, but no doors. It gives you still the feeling that you are outside. There are a lot of Persian style carpets on the ground and several statues of different kinds of Buddhas.  There are little candles already lit by Adam.

 He tells me where I can sit. Very soon David arrives for the morning meditation.I sit, watch and listen and after a while, when I have enough courage I join in, stumbling through my first chant…

 Duet for Buddha

From the first moment I feel very moved by the walking meditation. This slow walking and then our voices chanting, calling the Buddha… I feel a kind of tenderness listening to the voices of David and Adam in this big old meditation hall in the freshness of early morning: these male voices before and behind me while I am walking somewhere in the middle. When you pass each other very close on the route of the walking meditation, for a brief moment, it is if you are singing a duet together… a duet for Buddha.

Tears

Before I know it big tears are dripping around my cheeks. So it was every morning, sometimes because of this chanting, sometimes because of the recitation of the “Summary Practice”, or other recitations. The recitations of the sutras sound to me as beautiful prayers. It doesn’t matter to me that I couldn’t understand every part of it. The energy of all these words reached me anyway. I feel very much at home during the morning meditation.

 After the morning meditation, everyday, there is the delight of breakfast outside in the field in the rising sun: a breakfast prepared by Adam; fresh chopped fruit and homemade bread, and homemade jams, what a treat!

The woods of Eleusis also impress me. All these different kind of areas with their own energies. So many old trees, unexpected open fields, old stone walls and wonderful pieces of rich, soft green moss carpet everywhere.

Friendship with an Oak

I remember the first time I saw the retreat hut. I thought, “Oh, that must be scary, to sleep here several nights all alone by your self in the middle of the woods…” A few days later I am cleaning the hut. I do the job at ease. I take my time and while I am cleaning the hut I also clean a bit of my inner worries with crying.  After a while, chanting “Namo Kwan Shi Yin Bosat”, I discover how beautiful the acoustic is in the hut.

But the crying becomes stronger instead of less… so I take the only chair there is and go sit outside with my tears. I look around and see beautiful golden September light everywhere playing with the leaves and the trees, all the green still very alive. Then I see the big old oak right before me: this old friendly giant looking upon me. He immediately calms me and I feel very safe. Then I realize that this oak must be a very nice friend when you stay a couple of days in the retreat hut all by your self. At that moment, with the friendly oak, I couldn’t imagine I would ever be scared in the hut.

 To do the dishes and fall in love

I noticed there is lots of work at Eleusis and I love this kind of work. Working in the woods, cutting the blackthorn, picking blackberries; these jobs I did. Also, working in the kitchen, making jams and syrups. And, not least, doing the dishes! Even that is a wonderful job outdoors, with a lovely view of the sunset at Eleusis. 

I had a wonderful week…and yes I fell in love with Eleusis…. I hope to return as soon as possible…