Deep Breaths

07 Dec 2011 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Software ProblemsWe all know that we should welcome, if not exactly seek out problems, to test our practice. We also know that sometimes it is easy to see the benefits, sometimes it’s not and today has been one of those times.

Our software has had a few issues since launch and a select group of clients have been making their thoughts known most vehemently. I don’t know what gives them the right to think that they are such an elite group, because we have had some very nice emails from other people. But being bombarded with vitriolic criticism, when you have little or no control over the project, is a difficult place to be.

We need to take a step back, take a few deep breaths, try to see the situation from their point of view and put things right. I’m meeting the boss in the office tomorrow and I’ll need to chant all the way to Ringwood to get myself into the right life-state. Poison into medicine, challenges not problems, that’s the way we’ll drag ourselves back from the edge of this particular brink.

Pure Evil

06 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Outrageous AttackJust how wicked do you have to be to organise the suicide bombing of worshipers at a sacred shrine? The bombing of an Islamic ceremony in Kabul today showed just how low the Taliban are prepared to stoop in the struggle to stop Afghanistan emerging into a democratic society. The Taliban have denied that they are behind the attack, the Afghan government say they are lying. Combined with a second bombing in Mazar-i-Sharif, the coordinated attacks appears to have been aimed at the Muslim Shia minority.

Imagine being in the situation where, in the middle of the act of worship, the ceremony is brought to an abrupt end by the death of over fifty worshippers and the injuring of a hundred and fifty more. It beggars belief that these people are, in any way, serious about being involved in anything like a peace process.

To the families and friends of the dead and injured, I send my condolences and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Sure, these people are different to us in the West, but they are still part of the global family, and deserve to be treated with respect. I have never been very supportive of the war on terrorism, the aims being too woolly and undefined. But incidents like this one today, make a strong case for strengthening and intensifying the action against these evil people, they are oblivious to the suffering they are causing.

Feeling Unwanted

05 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Germany and FranceIs it just me, or is the way the Germans and French are talking about uniting Europe with or without the British a little worrying? Of course there needs to be tighter bonds and regulation within the Eurozone, in order to put a stop to the economic issues plaguing Greece, Portugal, Italy and Spain, but a unilateral change in the treaties governing such ties must be a bad thing.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are working together for the good of their respective countries, and that is to be encouraged, but this cannot be allowed to happen at the expense of the other European countries. In a statement today in Paris, they are saying that change will go ahead, with or without agreement from other European partners.

What is really needed at this point is more dialogue, to produce a consensus and a workable solution for all our economic neighbours. The fact that the UK is, and rightly so in my opinion, outside the Eurozone, should not be a reason for us to be left out of the discussions.

Economic strife has been the cause of so much conflict of the centuries, now is not the time to be talking about going it alone. or leaving out partners for the sake of individual countries. Germany and France have been at the forefront of the bailout negotiations with Greece and Italy, but that does not give them the right to bulldoze through legislation that will affect every European citizen for the foreseeable future.

Let’s hope that President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel have the wisdom, courage and compassion to come to the right decision over this, not just for themselves, but for everyone.

Awkward Questions

04 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Facebook-ZuckerbergThere was a really thought provoking program about Facebook on BBC tonight. Emily Maitlis interviews Mark Zuckeberg, the founder of the social networking site, and asks some rather awkward questions about the underlying psychological issues and advertising practices facing subscribers.

As one of those subscribers, I had become rather concerned about the way commercial companies are now much more prominent and that they have access to all my details as well as all my friends if I choose to Like them, so I tend not to.

Nobody can argue that Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and the like haven’t changed the way we keep in touch with family and friends forever. But we should all pause to think about quite how comfortable we are, letting these companies have such easy access to our personal details as well as our spending patterns, simply in order to promote their products or persuade us to part with our cash.

Watch the program, via the link above, and then you decide.

Why Bother?

03 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Blah-Blah-BlahIt really makes me laugh, the comments I get when I write something contentious about religion or religious issues. So today I’ve had a great time reading the ‘hate-mail’ I’ve received regarding yesterday’s post about the Bideford council prayer issue.

The thing that really tickles my funny-bone is the way they all, almost without exception, go on and on about what a waste of their time it is for them to be reading my blog, and what drivel it all is, when all they are doing is wasting yet more time commenting on it.

Fortunately, my spam filter blocks them all, so after a cursory glance I hit the ‘empty spam’ button, and consign them to the great waste bin in the sky. Of course, everyone has the right to air their opinion, but I would really like to thank every one of the contributors for giving me such a laugh and raising my already high life-energy levels.

Oh God, You’re In Court

02 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

High CourtWhatever will our crazy society come up with next? Bideford Town Council defended their right to hold Christian prayers before its meetings in the High Court today. The defence was necessary because a former atheist councillor, Cline Bone, had tried to stop prayers because they made him feel ‘disadvantaged and embarrassed’.

Now call me progressive, but to my mind, prayers, beliefs, acts of worship and so on, are on a purely personal preference basis. Having said that, England is a Christian country, hence The Church of England. Even so, nobody should have to go to court to defend their beliefs, or their non-beliefs either.

So stop all this rubbish. At a time when the whole country is cash-strapped, people losing jobs and budgets being cut, left right and centre, the council tax payers of Bideford deserve better. Somebody bang these folk’s heads together and come to a compromise. I bet God is looking down on you all with a right proper frown on his (or her) face.

Of course, that compromise could be holding Gongyo before the meetings instead. I can just hear it now … Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, in a broad Devon accent, followed by clotted cream teas.

Sense Of Humour Failure?

01 Dec 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Jeremy ClarksonJeremy ‘Much Loved (by some) Buffoon’ Clarkson has put his brogue shod foot in his mouth once again. Having said on last night’s BBC One Show, that Public Sector strikers should all be taken out and shot, he is being pilloried by the unions and has offered a public apology. But is this really yet another case of political correctness gone mad?

Mr Clarkson, the popular presenter of the BBC’s hit show Top Gear, is renowned for his jokey outspoken views on everything from US cowboys to global warming. He comes out with outlandish statements all the time, but they are always said ‘tongue in cheek’ and need to be seen in that light.

Whilst neither I, nor Clarkson himself, believe that the strikers should actually be shot, I do believe that he is stating an opinion, held by many private sector workers, that pensions in the public sector do need to be made more sustainable and brought in line with those delivered by private pension schemes, and should not be treated as some sacrosanct right.

Much of the dissatisfaction caused by yesterday’s strike could have been avoided, maybe even the strike itself could have been avoided, if the Government had gone about the necessary changes in pay and conditions in a fairer manner. They could easily have phased in changes for new joiners to the public sector, whilst maintaining pay and conditions for existing staff.

At the end of the day, this country, in live with most of the rest of the world, has been living beyond it’s means for many years. The chickens have come home to roost and we all have to take our part in helping get the economy back on track. Nobody wants to see their standard of living drop, but we actually have little or no choice.

So rather than taking umbrage at a foolish comment on an entertainment show, let’s start working together to get ourselves out of this terrible mess.

Bite Your Tongue

30 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Bite Your TongueSome situations just get stuck, they just refuse to offer a resolution, be that through indecision, lack of control or reluctance to move on.

Having the patience, with a person or situation, to see things through to their conclusion takes Wisdom, Courage and Compassion for the following reasons:

  • The Wisdom to see that the desired path is both achievable and the correct outcome.
  • The Courage to stick to your path, despite setbacks or obstacles.
  • The Compassion to see things from another’s viewpoint, whether it agrees with yours or not.

One big problem with being patient, is that you never know what the outcome will be until it’s happened. We shall see.

One Out, All Out?

29 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Public Sector StrikeSo we are all bracing ourselves for tomorrow’s strike. Even the lifting bridge in Poole is going to be closed, whatever next? And it’s understandable that people are angry about a drop in their living standards. But we can all take a step back and look at our situation compared to others, and be honest enough to see that there are other people in much worse circumstances.

In Buddhist terms, the effects in our lives are caused by the 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 Courage and Wisdom and that doesn’t help anyone, least of all yourself.

The Personal Touch

28 Nov 2011 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

emailThere is no doubt that modern communications such as email, texts and Skype are very useful, but they all come with an underlying problem. We all tend to read the message in the mood we are in when it is received, rather than that of the sender when it was sent.

Having returned to work today, to be confronted by over 150 emails regarding different issues with our new software, I was dismayed to read some of the vitriol of the messages.

Being the sort who prefers to speak to our clients in person when issues arise, I made a number of phone calls, particularly targeting the most venomous email senders.

To my pleasant surprise, every one, without exception, greeted the call with gratitude and all the conversations were cordial and ended with satisfactory resolution of the issue in question. So the personal touch works much better than the sterile environment of the electronic age. Thank heavens for small mercies.

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