A Day Of Learning And Tranquillity

21 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Just PerfectWhat a glorious day it turned out to be. Beautiful sunshine, a cooling breeze, just perfect for a nice bit of learning and a spot of sunbathing.

So often lately it has been glorious all week and disappointing at the weekend, but not today.

I’ve spent the majority of the the day out on the balcony, reading Pat Allwright’s ‘Basics Of Buddhism’. Much of it reiterates what I already know, but it never hurts to go back over the basics. So much wisdom packed into such a little book.

To quote the opening page,

“If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured through eternity and attain supreme enlightenment in this lifetime, you must awaken to the mystic truth which has always been within your life” -Nichiren Daishonin

It is quite a powerful statement with which to start a book, but as I know to my own benefit, the teachings within are just that powerful and could be the basis for a happier and more enlightened life for all of us.

We are, I believe, all Buddhists at heart, that is why, as Allwright says,

“People who hear about it [Buddhism] for the first time often remark ‘I always thought that anyway’. This is because ultimately, we all know the Universal Truths, but have become separated from them. The adventure into the inner self is an endless journey of discovery, insight and joy.”

I could not agree more.

Good Friends

20 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Mr TurtleThis quote is for Jayne and Ken …

“The best way to attain Buddhahood is to encounter a good friend.

How far can our own wisdom take us? If we have even enough wisdom to distinguish hot from cold, we should seek out a good friend. But encountering a good friend is the hardest possible thing to do.

For this reason, the Buddha likened it to the rarity of a one-eyed turtle finding a floating log with a hollow in it, the right size to hold him, or to the difficulty of trying to lower a thread from the Brahma heaven and pass it through the eye of a needle on the Earth.”

Nichiren Daishonin

Which in modern parlance means, it’s pretty difficult to find one good friend, let alone two.

So thank you, you two are the best of good friends.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

The Greenest Of Issues

19 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

The Global CommunityA sense of being part of the great all-inclusive community prompts us to reflect on our place in it and on how we ought to live.

Protecting other’s lives, the ecology and the Earth is the same as protecting our own life.

By similar token, wounding them is the same thing as wounding ourselves.

Consequently, it is the duty of each of us to participate as members of the living community in the evolution of the Universe.

We must do this by protecting and cherishing Earth’s ecological systems. Not to do so would be the most extreme of follies.

Happiness

18 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

HappinessHappiness is a matter of the heart.

This is not mere spiritualism. Our hearts are precious vessels, endowed with the treasure of Buddhahood. When we strive earnestly, in faith and practice, and reveal our Buddhahood, we can walk along the sure and steady path to happiness, and attain a state of fulfilment and satisfaction.

Nichiren writes …

“Fortune comes from one’s heart and makes one worthy of respect.”

Chant, Chant And Chant Again

17 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags:

Finding the Right PathLife is a rollercoaster at the best of times, so the ups and downs shouldn’t be a surprise.

But just like a real rollercoaster, they can still make you scream at times.

When I am looking for answers, or need to know the path I need to take, I chant, as you might suspect.

Often the answers come quite quickly, so the fact that this particular question is taking it’s time about offering up a solution must mean that I need to focus more and Chant, Chant, Chant.

The important thing to remember, is that only you can provide the answers to your questions, no one else can decide for you.

Only your heart holds the key to unlock the path you must take, and only Nam Myoho Renge Kyo can turn that key.

Complete Gongyo

16 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Lotus FlowerIt has been asked, ‘Why do we chant two verses of the Lotus Sutra during Gongyo, when Nichiren says that chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is the true path to enlightenment?’

The Lotus Sutra has the drama of fighting for justice against evil. It has the warmth that comforts the weary. It has a vibrant, pulsing courage that drives away fear. It has a chorus of joy at attaining absolute freedom throughout past, present and future. It has the soaring flight of liberty. It has brilliant light, flowers, greenery, music, painting, vivid stories. It offers unsurpassed lessons on psychology, the workings of the human heart, lessons on life, lessons on happiness and lessons on peace. It maps out the basic rules for good health.

But maybe most importantly, it awakens us to the Universal Truth, that a change in one’s heart can transform everything.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

Wisdom, Courage And Compassion

15 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags:

Angel of CourageAs one of my recent posts said, having the wisdom and courage to make a difficult decision is to be admired and saluted.

Even though that decision might be painful, if it is made for the right reasons, it should never be regretted.

Karma works in ways we sometimes do not understand.

At times, we follow the same path as others for many years, sometimes our paths cross very briefly. Either way, the outcome can be beneficial for both parties and have deep and far reaching results.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Expect Effects

14 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

Cause and EffectMany of us have a mental wish list, the things we would like, or would like to happen, in our lives.

Karma is, as we know, all about cause and effect, we make, or have made causes and we see the effects in our daily lives.

There is a wise old saying about being careful what you wish for, so formulate your wishes very carefully. Make sure that you are precise, with both the wants and the don’t wants, that is very important.

Remember too, that for every positive, there is an equal an opposite negative, to maintain the balance in the Universe, so be ready to embrace both. Like shoes, they come along in pairs

So if you have some deep seated wish, you must make that wish part of your heart, embed it into your life and make causes towards that goal, you have nothing to lose. But when you start making causes, don’t be surprised when the effects come along, sometimes much sooner than you expect.

Embrace The Change

13 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

Embrace The ChangeMany people fear and oppose change within their lives. Be that at home, at work or in society as a whole.

That fear is, in many ways, understandable. Change often takes us into the unknown and the unknown can be a scary place.

The change that is brought about by embracing Nichiren Buddhism is less scary. The outcome of Practice is certain, although the time taken to reach enlightenment is less defined.

With the passing of every day, I feel my inner happiness growing. I have a strengthening confidence in my ability to handle problems as they arise. So how do I know I am progressing?

The Daishonin tells us to test our Practice. To measure our progress by seeing the results from our own lives on a daily basis. Problems are a fact of life. We should not seek to skirt around them, nor should we ignore them in the hope that they will solve themselves.

So how we tackle problems of all natures, as they arise, gives us a good way to measure our progress. Speaking personally, I find that my ability to deal with problems, large and small, has improved enormously. Now that might sound a little conceited, but it is all down to my Practice, and the more progress I make, the more confidence I gain. The ultimate in positive feedback.

If you Practice, you know exactly what I mean. If you don’t, you really should give it a go.

The Big C – Again

12 May 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags:

The Big C Cancer is such a scary word.

So to find out that one of my friends has been diagnosed with it today is very sad. All one can really do is be positive and supportive, but I could see and hear the fear in her this evening.

I have chanted for her and I know that will help. Now I have to be constant and help her help herself.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

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