Let's keep God Out of it!

The Master said that he wanted a new shirt for his birthday.

His disciples were delighted .

The finest cloth was bought.

The village tailor was summoned. he came in to have the Master measured, and promised:

"By the will of God, I will have the shirt ready within a week."

A week went by, and a disciple was dispatched to the tailor, while the Master excitedly waited for his shirt.

Said the tailor, "There has been some delay. But, by the will of God, it will be ready by tomorrow."

The next day, the tailor said, "I'm sorry it isn't done. Try again tomorrow, and, if God wills, it will certainly be ready.

The following day, the Master said: "Ask him how long it will take if he keeps God out of it!"

After a silence... to speak

 

We all have special days to remember the dead, don't we?  Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew, Buddhist...

The reason perhaps is that these prayers and rituals we send up for our 'ancestors' or 'dearly beloved' are really a way of lessening our own fright of death ... the great unknown.

And somehow we want to believe in a heaven or an afterlife where  all of us 'good souls' will be together again?

But have you thought about it?

Would you really be able to stand your family being in your face for all eternity?

What about that cantankerous great grandfather, or that grumpy uncle.... maybe you are hoping that

they haven't made it up there? Or perhaps you believe that they will be in the 'other place'?

 

What does that say about you or the other place...? Or your beliefs?

 





Give Thanks

The year draws to an end.

As every year does, it has brought with it
challenges and opportunities

separations and reunion'
laughter and tears...

It's November

Five days to Thanksgiving...
and I'm just reminded
that it makes sense
to give praise

for all that has happened this year......

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a festival connected with American history and culture. For me, however, the last Thursday of November marks a day set aside for a few quiet moments. It’s a day to ponder upon the way the Universe has been kind to me.

Have I really learnt to ‘give thanks in all circumstances, to give thanks for all things’?

What are the wonderful things that happened to me this past year, since the last Thanksgiving? What were the opportunities I had for learning?

Who are the new people who have come into my life? What are the new opportunities I got to be happy and make others happy?

As I sit, in the quiet moments of that space between night and dawn, on the close of yet another Thanksgiving Day, I feel my heart opening up to the silence of the Universe, and my mind letting go of the tensions and worries of everyday living. And from somewhere, inside my consciousness, from inside my being, there is a wonderful one-ness with creation, and tears flow… tears of gratitude, tears of joy. As I sit in thankful meditation, I get, for a fleeting moment, a glimpse of the tapestry that is being woven by the Great Weaver in the Sky, as I see in how many beautiful ways hundreds of times throughout the year, She Who Has No Name has worked her miracles for me through the hands of countless people.

I realize, once again, that I am not alone, not for one single moment of the day. I realize that I, perhaps small, perhaps insignificant, definitely imperfect am still the receiver of a boundless, infinite Love. And that is immensely comforting.

That’s what I give thanks for on Thanksgiving Day.

WHAT IS A BUDDHA?

A Buddha is a person who has developed all positive qualities and eliminated all negative qualities.

Buddha was an "ordinary" human like you and me before he became enlightened.

Enlightenment is compared to awakening, as a person suddenly experiences a complete transformation of body and mind from sleeping to waking up.

One could say that a Buddha represents the very peak of evolution, as he/she is omniscient or all-knowing.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama writes in 'The Buddhism of Tibet':

"Our teacher, Sakyamuni Buddha, is one among the thousand Buddhas of this aeon. These Buddhas were not Buddhas from the beginning, but were once sentient beings like ourselves. How they came to be Buddhas is this.

Of body and mind, mind is predominant, for body and speech are under the influence of the mind.

Afflictions such as desire do not contaminate the nature of the mind, for the nature of the mind is pure, uncontaminated by any taint.

Afflictions are peripheral factors of a mind, and through gradually transforming all types of defects, such as these afflictions, the adventitious taints can be completely removed. This state of complete purification is Buddhahood; therefore, Buddhists do not assert that there is any Buddha who has been enlightened from the beginning."

The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni or Gautama Buddha, lived about 2,500 years ago in India.

  However, he was not the first Buddha, and will not be the last either. 

He taught that during this eon (very long time period, maybe comparable to the life-time of the universe as we know it), there would be 1,000 fully enlightened Buddhas who would introduce Buddhism (after it has been totally forgotten). 

The numbers one to three in this eon are Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, Kashyapa, then comes Shakyamuni (the historical Buddha some 2,500 years ago), and the next Buddha will be called Maitreya.

Heavenly Thoughts

On a cold winter morning, with mist all around, in quiet solitude, thoughts turn to heavenly things.
I would like to share with you a small extract of the evening recitations practised in the Mahayana Buddhist Temples, called the 'Pure Land Sutra'

In this way did the Buddha speak to the Venerable Sariputra:

"O Sariputra, if you go from here to the West and pass beyond Ten Ten Thousands of Hundreds of Thousands Buddhas Lands there exists a region called the Land of Ultimate Joy where there exists a Buddha called Amitabha. He is there now, expounding the Dharma, this Arhat.
"Now, Sariputra, why do you think that this land is called the Land of Ultimate Joy? Because in that realm for all living beings there is neither physical pain nor mental pain and the sources of blessings are without number. For this reason is it called the Land of Ultimate Joy.
"Furthermore Sariputra, the Land of Ultimate Joy is adorned with seven terraces and seven rows of wind chimes together with seven avenues of trees. The above are enclosed on all sides by the four precious substances. With such excellent things unique to Buddha Lands is this excellent Buddha Land adorned.
"Furthermore, O Sariputra, in that world called Ultimate Joy there are Lotus Ponds, ornamented with the seven precious stones. The water that fills them has the eight good qualities and the bottoms of these ponds are covered with pure golden sands that extend to their banks. On the four sides of these Lotus Ponds are flights of stairs--golden and silver, with beryl and crystal in splendid perfection. And at the top of these stairs are raised pavilions majestically adorned with gold and silver, beryl, crystal and coral, red pearls and agate. And in the ponds grow Lotus Flowers that are as large as the wheels of a cart blue colored, as if emitting blue radiance; yellow colored, as if emitting yellow light; red colored, radiating redness; white colored of pure white radiating light and their subtle and mysterious fragrances cleanse the air. O Sariputra for this reason is the Ultimate Joy Land perfect in its meritorious adornments.

[to be continued]

The Mother of Jesus

MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS - A Profile - Part one

Her name was Mary, a form of the name Miriam, the famous sister of Moses. The name was common among Jewish women in those days.

A well-known tradition says she was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of Joachim and Ann.
Other early sources say Mary was born in Nazareth. There is even an ancient record that points to Sepphoris, a town a few miles from Nazareth, as her birthplace.

Wherever she was born, Mary's life most likely unfolded in the staunch Jewish settlement of Nazareth in the hills of Galilee, not far from the important caravan routes linking Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The Jews there were a strong, robust people. The hill climate was dry and healthful. And though the land often lacked water and no one knew from one year to the next if enough rain would fall or if invading locusts or field mice would spoil the crops -- still, facing uncertainty only made the people of Galilee more hard-working and close-knit. Struggling for a living deepened their religious spirit. They learned you must depend on God always.

Mary was a woman of rural Galilee. She lived as they did, in a small family house of stone and mud-brick. She worked like any young girl, grinding wheat and barley into flour, preparing dishes of beans, vegetables, eggs, fruits, nuts, and occasional chunks of mutton. Wool had to be made into clothing. Bread had to be baked. A few chickens and a donkey had to be fed. And in the village, small as it was, there were always little children to care for.

Almost daily she carried a large jar of water from the town well for washing and cooking (the well still supplies modern Nazareth today and is called "Mary's Well"). Early on, the Jews found that cleanliness prevented disease, so frequent washing -- an important chore of women -- became part of their religious practice. The well also was a favorite spot where women talked and traded bits of everyday news.

They lived in a war-torn land. For centuries before the Roman occupation, conquering armies of Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians and Greeks fought over Palestine. Despite their wars, revolts and riots, the Jews remained a subject people -- taxed, bullied and despised by succeeding rulers. Like their compatriots, the Jews of Nazareth were never far from the dangers of political violence. During the Jewish uprisings in Galilee around 6 A.D. -- when Jesus was a child -- Roman legions captured the city of Sepphoris, sold all its inhabitants into slavery and burned the city to the ground.

From the people of Nazareth Mary learned about life. Few strangers visited the town. It had little wealth, culture or learning. But just as a tiny drop of water contains a wealth of living organisms, so the small town of Nazareth had a rich life of its own. Children were born, young people married, someone died and was buried. Mary felt these joys and sorrows. A sheep was lost, a family quarreled, a son left home. From such small things, life's deepest lessons could be learned.

The Greatest things

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
--Atisha Dipankara

Conquer

These teachings are like a raft, to be abandoned once you have crossed the flood.

Since you should abandon even good states of mind generated by these teachings,

How much more so should you abandon bad states of mind!

You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself,
and you will not find that person anywhere.

Conquer the angry man by love.

Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness.

Conquer the miser with generosity.

Conquer the liar with truth.

The Dhammapada

Perspective

The master was in a mellow mood and the disciples were inquisitive.

Did he ever feel depressed, they asked.

He did.

Wasn't it also true that he was in a continual state of happiness, they persisted. It was.

What was the secret, they wanted to know.

Said the Master, "This: Everything is as good or as bad as one's opinion makes it."

Challenge

An easy-going disciple complained that he had never really experienced the silence that the master frequently commended.

Said the Master, "Silence only comes to active people."

Non-violence

A snake in the village had bitten so many people that few dared to go into the fields.

Such was the Master's holiness that he was said to have tamed the snake and persuaded it to practise the discipline of non-violence.

It did not take long for the villagers to discover that the snake had become harmless.

They took to hurling stones at it and dragging it around by the tail.

The badly battered snake crawled into the master's house to complain.

Said the Master, " Friend, you've stopped frightening people. That's bad.!"

"But it was you who taught me to practise the discipline of non violence", answered the snake.

"Friend," sighed the Master, "I told you to stop hurting , not to stop hissing!"

Miracles

The man has travelled from a faraway land and crossed the seas

in search of the Master.

When he arrived at his dwelling, he asked a disciple,

"What miracles has your Master worked?"

Well, there are miracles, and then there are MIRACLES," said the disciple.

"In your land

you say it is a miracle when God does someone's will.

In our land

we say it is a miracle

when someone does the will of God"

Adulthood

The disciple was forever at his prayers.

The Master said, "When will you stop leaning on God and stand on your own two feet?"

The disciple was astonished.

He protested, "But Master, you are the one who taught us to look upon God as our father!"

The Master sighed.

"When will you learn that a father isn't someone you can lean on

but someone who cures you of your tendency to lean?"

When U thot I wuzzn't lookin'

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
Because others are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.


When you thought I wasn't looking
I saw you hang my First painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a Stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my Favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little Things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a Prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always Talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a Meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I Learned that we all have to help take care of each Other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of Your time and money to help people who had nothing, And I learned that those who have something should Give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care Of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have To take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you Handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't Feel good, and I learned that I would have to be Responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw Tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things Hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you Cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and Productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and Wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when You thought I wasn't looking.'

Washing feet... washing minds?

This year

Holy week and Holi week are the same.

Both are spring festivals.

renewal, birth, spring, colour, salvation,

and the hope that there's something beyond death

At the moment of death, to rely on our minds?

When we die we leave everything behind, especially this body we have cherished so much and relied upon so blindly and tried so hard to keep alive.

But our minds are no more dependable than our bodies.

Just look at your mind for a few minutes.

You will see that it is like a flea, constantly hopping to and fro.

You will see that thoughts arise without any reason, without any connection.

Swept along by the chaos of every moment, we are the victims of the fickleness of our minds.

If this is the only state of consciousness we are familiar with, then to rely on our minds at the moment of death is an absurd gamble.

- Sogyal Rinpoche

Fundamentalism means loss of innocence

We are living in a world that keeps growing crazier.

When we see 'sin' in everything.

When we discover 'abuse' even in the most ordinary of happenings.

When we forget what innocence and freedom means.

When we sacrifice our God-given intelligence to mouldy religious texts.

Our spiritual growth grinds to a halt.

Conflict happens.

War errutpts.

Jihad will be followed by Crusade.

Crusade will be countered by Hinduditva.

Drop everything.

Get naked.

Return to innocence.

Legacy

My legacy -

What will it be?

Flowers in spring,

The cuckoo in summer,

And the crimson maples

Of autumn ...

- Ryokan (1758-1831)

Dewdrops on a maple leaf

p.143

Translated by John Stevens

You are blessed, click here

Just Being

Nothing in the cry

of cicadas

suggests

they are about to die

- Basho