Sometimes we have an opportunity to do something different, something that takes us out of our comfort zone and challenges our courage. At that point we have a choice to make. Do we grasp the opportunity with both hands, jump in with both feet, or do we tell ourselves that it’s more prudent to back away and take the safe route?
Years ago, when my Dad retired, we went to the pub together, just the two of us. Now my Dad was a really good man, he stood up for his principles and he cared for his family as all good men do. He was always risk averse, never went out on a limb, always took the prudent path.
I remember asking him that night in the pub, “Do you like Guinness Dad?” to which he replied “No, I’ve never had one”. It was funny, it was very much my Dad. He would not leave his comfort zone, even for a different beer. Now my aunt has often said that I am “Just like my father” and in some ways I am, and proud of it. But with this opportunity, I’m going to be different, I’m going to leave my comfort zone and grasp it with both hands. I’m going to use all the wisdom, courage and compassion at my disposal and make the most of the opportunity.
I have to admit that winter is not my favourite time of year. I don’t like getting up in the dark or going home in the dark, it feels, at some primeval level, rather unnatural. Maybe the caveman in me still yearns to be guided by the sun, waking when it shines, sleeping when it’s dark.
The most commonly asked questions, when people learn that I am a Buddhist, are ‘do you chant?’ followed by ‘what do you chant?’ and then ‘what does it mean?’. Nichiren Buddhists chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo in a rhythmic mantra during Gongyo, and quite often at other times, to raise our Life-State and Life-Energy levels.
Weather of biblical proportions has struck most of the UK today, uprooting trees, creating havoc on the roads, cutting power to thousands of homes and causing two fatal accidents. In the office, it sounded like the roof was about to lift off and the windows were flexing with each gust of wind.
Having slept like a log for the whole night, I woke this morning feeling great. I chanted, I showered, got dressed and went to the supermarket to get a few ‘essentials’, almond croissants for breakfast. Having started the day with great gusto, I dove into my works email inbox and dealt with the email enquiries that were waiting for me. I spoke to my Mom on Skype, I was feeling so much better.
Having had a few days off has given me the opportunity to watch some amazing TV. Pick of the bunch has to be a re-run of the BBC’s Wonders of the Universe series. After it first ran, I received the book of the series as a present and it’s great to be able to read about the topics after the episode has finished.
Sometimes we need to wipe the slate clean, take a deep breath, and start anew. I think I am at that point, and with the New Year just around the corner, this might just be the perfect time to do so. Having new goals, new horizons and renewed vigour is just the ticket.
Sorting out our life can be a bit like solving a Rubik’s cube, each part is like one of the faces, separate but all connected. We work to get one face, let’s say Blue sorted out. On it’s own that task is pretty easy and we complete it quite quickly. So we move on to to the Red face, again it’s pretty easy, in isolation, so we get it sorted and we feel a satisfaction in that. But then we turn the cube back to the Blue side, and it’s all messed up again, because it is connected to the Red side.
The Search For Enlightenment 
Recents Comments