Sunny Social Sunday

11 Mar 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Cottage GardenWhat a glorious Sunday !!!

Early March but wonderful warm sunshine, a family breakfast and a relaxing time in the cottage garden, just perfect.

Compared to the hullabaloo of Saturday, this is just so chilled. Everyone has their little tasks to complete, but there’s no rush, so it’s a nice case of fun in the sun.

The pace of life is so hectic these days, everyone rushing around and trying meet crazy deadlines. So to be able to take time to slow down, surround yourself with family and enjoy life is a privilege. It really makes you realise how fortunate you are.

Retail Hell

10 Mar 2012 4 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Rare as hen's teethI had never understood the phrase ‘retail therapy’. It seems that there are those amongst us who actually enjoy shopping, being immersed in a throng of like-minded people, all hell bent on spending their hard earned wonga on things they don’t really need, all in the pursuit of a short-term dose of euphoria. Not me.

Having subjected ourselves to hours of fruitless searching for various items, including a granary bloomer, we had to accept that we had failed abysmally on virtually all counts. The sad truth was however, that there were some items, curtain rails and lamp shades, amongst others, that were deemed to be necessities.

So it was, that we found ourselves in IKEA at 7:00pm on a Saturday evening, a joyless experience to say the least. Tired, hungry and completely devoid of any enthusiasm for the task in hand, it would have been easy to give up and go home, but still we pressed on.

The IKEA experience is a retail nightmare. One is forced, by store layout, to walk miles and miles, past thousands of items, none of which hold the faintest interest, before you even get a glimpse of the thing you went in there to buy. But suddenly there it was !!!

The perfect stainless steel rail, designed as a high-tech utensil rail, but doubling unwittingly as a utility room curtain pole. The design was perfect, the brackets were reversible, the length of 1200mm ideal, everything just right. So a purchase was agreed and the search for a boxed item began. Nothing. Lots of 800mm rails, lots of other designs, but not one 1200mm boxed item was to be found.

So we approached customer services, to see when the next batch would be delivered. Shock and horror !!! The item has been discontinued. Maybe too many people in the Bristol area had spotted the alternative usefulness of the rail and had caused a glut of bespoke curtain rails in the soft furnishing department. Who knows, but it was typical of our fruitless day.

Then a ray of hope !!! Apparently, and only because it was discontinued rather than simply out-of-stock, it became possible to purchase the very item that was screwed so alluringly to the display. But only if the Kitchen department would sanction such an action. So off to customer services (Kitchen department) we marched, determined to secure the last existing rail this side of the galaxy.

Obviously the guy had no idea of the rarity, and hence huge worth of his prized asset. Not only did he whip out his personal electric screwdriver to remove said item, but he also gave us a chit to take to Bargain Corner so we might acquire it at a discount. What a result !!! We raced down to the Corner of many delights, clutching our chit, fearful that an announcement, reversing the decision, might boom out over the Tannoy at any moment.

No such announcement was issued, so with our discount barcode zip-tied to our wholly unique curtain/utility rail we raced through the self service checkout, into the near empty car park and sped off into the Bristol night air. Success !!! The perfect curtain rail, and at a bargain price too !!! Now I know why they call it retail therapy, the buzz is almost better than sex. Or maybe not, but at least it did illustrate the Ten Worlds and Ichinen Sanzen rather nicely.

Totally Lacking Compassion

09 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Fat Cats - Laughing all the way to the bankFollowing the taxpayer bailout of HBOS and Lloyds TSB, you might expect the other banks to see the error of their ways and show a little compassion, or at least common sense, when it comes to paying out bankers bonuses. But not a bit of it, they have shown neither in the current round of astronomical pay settlements to their executives and top analysts.

Bob Diamond, the head of Barclays, is in line to receive around £27m in perks and other pay outs, with Lloyds and RBS chiefs Antonio Horta-Osorio and Stephen Hester in line for awards worth up to £8.2million and £7.9million respectively, despite presiding over combined losses of £5.5 billion last year.

Not only are such salaries and bonuses immoral, they show a complete lack of compassion for those people who are being destroyed by the current bank-lead recession, both here and on the continent. How can anyone, with an ounce of respect, justify such obscene amounts?

Whilst it is clear that the UK banking industry contributes hugely to the economy through employment and taxes, it has also left us all with a legacy of debt and negative equity on such a scale that it will take several generations to work off the outstanding amounts.

Such situations fly in the face of both common sense and common decency. Surely, given the scale of these offensive payments, and the fact that the taxpayers effectively ‘own’ HBOS and Lloyds TSB, it is beholding to the Government to put a stop to them once and for all.

Whilst it may be too late to avert these remunerative packages, I call upon those on the receiving end of the huge amounts to look at themselves in the mirror and to donate the majority, if not all of it, to worthy causes. At least that would go some way to restoring any respect we may have for these grossly overpaid fat cats.

Just Look Around

08 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Just Look AroundWe all have an inbuilt ability to feel sorry for ourselves. Sometimes it seems we have problem after problem, and think the world is against us. But we can all take a step back and look at our situation compared to others, and the chances are that there are many other people in much worse circumstances.

In Buddhist terms, the effects in our lives are the result of causes we make along our way, it’s called Karma. Whilst it is difficult sometimes, to reconcile ourselves with the fact that we have, in some way caused our own problems, it is important to remember that we are not being punished.

So when you have had enough of your troubles, and are ready to throw in the towel, just take time to look around and realise that there is always someone worse off somewhere. Be grateful for what you have, and concentrate on making causes for the effects you need to improve the situation. To do anything else is to lack wisdom, courage and compassion towards yourself, and that doesn’t help anyone, least of all you.

Exquisite Pain

07 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Look In The MirrorSelf awareness, the realisation of who, or what you really are, comes to some people with age, but for me, it came at a point in life where I was at my all time low. Seeing my true reflection in the mirror was a long and painful process, there’s no joy in realising that you are someone you don’t really like, but it lead me to the turning point that has allowed me to change for the better.

It is said that ‘we hate in others, what we refuse to see in ourselves’ and I suddenly understood what that meant. Things that annoy us about other people, are sometimes the very things in us that annoy others. Being honest enough with ourselves, to admit our failings or less attractive traits, can be the start of the process of self improvement.

In Nichiren Buddhism we refer to that process as Human Revolution, the nurturing and growth of self improvement through the acquisition of wisdom, courage and compassion. It is achieved, over time, through our practice and learning.

So next time, before you go criticising others, take a long, hard and honest look in that mirror, and have the courage to see the faults you are so desperate to hide from yourself. It will be a painful process, but you will emerge on the other side, like a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, a better and more beautiful being for doing it.

A Christian Attitude?

06 Mar 2012 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

The Most Reverend Vincent NicholsFollowing the storm around Cardinal O’Brien’s bigoted statement about the Government’s proposed changes in the law allowing same-sex marriages, it now appears that The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster has decided to pour more fuel on the fire.

He has been reported as saying that such a legal change would be a ‘profoundly radical step’ that threatens the ‘fundamental humanity’ expressed by matrimony. But who are these people to try to dictate just what humanity’s fundamentals should, or more importantly, shouldn’t be?

His statements come in a letter, due to be read out in 2,500 Catholic churches across the country this Sunday. The aim of said letter is to urge parishioners to sign a petition by former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey’s Coalition for Marriage, which argues that the current law does not discriminate against same-sex couples.

The whole episode smacks of rank homophobia and flies in the face of the Christian teaching that we are all made in the image of God. If there is a God, and we are indeed made in his image, surely that applies to everyone, not just the heterosexual amongst us. It is akin to the apartheid laws banning mixed race marriages that existed in South Africa or the similar colour bar laws in the USA. Both of which have been repealed many, many years ago.

Buddhism is an inclusive religion, it does not exclude anyone, for any reason. Nor, in the case of Nichiren Buddhism, does it have any form of duality, a set of dos and don’ts, just the fundamental principle of personal responsibility. Having exclusive rules, such as those of marriage, simply serves to promote the idea of ‘them and us’ and totally belittles the idea of loving thy neighbour.

We live in a modern, accepting, multicultural society and should strive to embrace the differences between the members of that society. If we are found to be discriminating against sex, race or creed, we are rightly subject to censure, so why are homosexuals excluded from those social ideals?

In this respect, the Catholic church further illustrates the fact that it is totally out of touch with modern thinking. Of course there will be people who champion that, but these are the very people who aim to divide society and subjugate minorities with whom they disagree.

Surely the people who look to the Catholic church for spiritual guidance deserve better. A good Christian attitude is to be applauded, it shows wisdom, courage and compassion, all of which are needed to accept the differences between us. But in my view, this is anything but a good Christian attitude, so let’s nip this farce in the bud and urge the Government to press ahead with these long-overdue changes to an arcane law.

Cardinal Sin?

05 Mar 2012 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Cardinal Keith O'BrienAm I just being picky, or is it a nasty case of double standards for the Catholic Church, the same church that condones, or at least covers up paedophilia in its clerical ranks, to be kicking up such a stink about same sex marriage?

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, has set out his opposition to the Government’s plans to legalise same sex marriage, likening it to reintroducing legalised slavery. Either the man has been spending too much time near the incense burners, or he is totally out of touch with our liberal modern society.

I did have a little chuckle to myself, listening to John Humphrys interviewing the Cardinal on Today on Radio 4 this morning. Cardinal O’Brien floundered around and sounded flustered by Mr Humphrys’ questions, but it seems rather two faced when compared to the Catholic Church’s bungled cover-up of a number of paedophile cases involving their own priests around the world.

Surely the principle of personal responsibility should come into play in all cases like these. Whilst I do not pretend to understand the nature of homosexuality, I am totally prepared to accept it as a fact of life, and would never condemn such relationships simply because they do not conform to my own views. If two people love each other and want to enter into an institution that shows their commitment to one another, does it matter whether they are both of the same sex?

Having said all that, I do think we have to be careful not to tar the entire Catholic Church with the same dogmatic brush, but incidences such as this cannot serve to promote respect of such institutions. Life has moved on in the two thousand years since Christianity was born and the church has to accept that. What will they want to bring back next, the burning of witches?

Super Soggy Sunday

04 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

Espresso With MarshmallowsEven the atrocious weather didn’t put a dampener on a lovely Sunday. The rain was coming down by the bucketful as B and I made our way to the Porto Lounge in Fishponds, but we managed to park nearby and didn’t get too wet getting to the cafe.

It was interesting to get a first hand account of how Charlotte and Hannah view the changes in me since becoming a Nichiren Buddhist. Being honest, I don’t like to think about the way I was before the ‘conversion’, but hearing their thoughts did put a slightly different slant on things.

Charlotte is the quieter and maybe more sensitive of the two, Hannah tells it like it is and doesn’t pull her punches. So it was a bit of an eye-opener to find that it is Hannah who is more prepared to see the changes at face value, with Charlotte letting time tell the true story.

Needless to say, we had a really nice time together, great relaxed atmosphere as always in the Porto Lounge and tasty food as usual. We did have a laugh at the reaction from the waiter, when he found that I was the one drinking the espresso with mini marshmallows. I guess that’s typically a bit more of a girlie drink, but I have to admit I do have a sweet tooth.

Anyway, it’s always nice to get together and talk, and it was good that Charlotte and Bridget got to meet, finally. Seeing the situation from other viewpoints is always good, as I keep saying, but I think we all had fun, even though Charlotte was tired and full of cold. And the DIY did get done in the afternoon too, so another fun and productive day. Just perfect.

Super Saturday

03 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Spring SunshineThe plan for today had been to get up, chant and then get some DIY done so that we could spend time down by the river Frome tomorrow. But as with all plans, a degree of flexibility never goes amiss. The weather forecast says it’s going to rain on Sunday, so it made far better sense to chant and then enjoy today’s sunshine leaving the DIY for tomorrow.

Following an exploratory expedition into Plastic Wax records to see the one and only Mr Dave Kellard, we headed off up Gloucester Road to see what ethnic delights awaited us. For those who don’t know the area, it is an eclectic mix of small privately own emporiums with the odd corporate coffee shop thrown in for bad measure.

It was interesting to see that a chap had set up a one-man demonstration outside Costa, to express his feelings about the apparently unstoppable encroachment of coffee shops,  fast food and mini supermarkets. He has a point, without the little private shops, the whole character of the place would change forever.

Having bought a nice freshly baked loaf from The Bread Shop (imaginatively named) and taken it home for lunch with a selection of yummy cheeses, we took a not-so-leisurely walk along the river. B’s daughter Josie, is a very free spirit and took us off the path most travelled over fallen trees, through piles of leaf litter and up onto a rock escapement.

From there we could get a totally different view of the river, as well as the people and their dogs who were enjoying the warm spring sunshine. It was great to get out in the fresh air, to have the sunshine on our faces and to be able to make the most of such a beautiful natural amenity. No doubt the DIY will rear it’s ugly head tomorrow, but at least we have the memories of today.

Cheer The Folk Up !!!

02 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Be Their Sunshine

Life has it’s ups and downs, as we all know. Little things can make friends and family members unhappy or even depressed, so make it your job to make them feel better.

There are so many people, so many lives on this planet, too numerous, in fact, to count.

From this great multitude, we wondrously find ourselves together with those in our families, as parents and children, as brothers and sisters, as husbands and wives.

If we do not live joyfully and cheerfully with whom we share this profound bond, what is life for?

Should the atmosphere at home be sombre, you can be the ‘sunshine’. By being a shining presence, you can cast the light of hope on your mother, father, children and indeed the whole family.

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