Spending the majority of the day waiting for news regarding Charlotte’s latest, and hopefully last operation, on her path to defeating cancer, puts life’s priorities into proper order. The reconstruction procedure sounds almost barbaric, and worse even than the operation to remove the cancerous tissues in the first place.
Having had Charlotte recovered and well after the chemotherapy had lulled me into a false sense of well-being. This final part of the jigsaw, albeit necessary to finish the job the oncology specialists started two years ago, shows yet again, just how brave Charlotte really has been.
The news from the hospital, news that took rather longer than expected, is that although she is rather poorly after the procedure, all went well, and she is expected to be able to come home in a few days. Actually, that will be the start of a long and painful period of recuperation, during which we can only offer her our full support, and chant and pray for a successful outcome.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
The function of fire is to burn and give light. The function of water is to wash away filth. The winds blow away dust and breathe life into plants, animals, and human beings. The earth produces the grasses and trees, and heaven provides nourishing moisture.
Relationship problems are opportunities to grow and mature. Such problems can be character building if you don’t let them defeat you.
The misfortune of others is our misfortune. Our happiness is the happiness of others. To see ourselves in others and feel an inner oneness and sense of unity with them represents a fundamental revolution in the way we view and live our lives.
Such things as money, fame, and material possessions offer a fleeting satisfaction, something that can be called relative happiness. 
Our actions in previous lives are all engraved upon, and contained within, this lifetime. The causes for our present suffering, our joy, happiness or misery, all lie with our own past actions. But Nichiren Buddhism enables us to fundamentally transform our destiny.
There are times in life, when it’s very reminiscent of being on a narrowboat, when the main object of each day is to get closer to an overall destination without rocking the boat. Steering the middle way, taking no risks, trying to get to the other end without making waves or upsetting the people you pass along the way.
What is true joy in life? This is a difficult question to answer, and one that has occupied the time of a great many thinkers and philosophers.
and do it anyway … a rather overused cliché, was perfectly illustrated less than an hour ago as Felix Baumgartner jumped from just over 128,000ft, 24 miles high, to set a whole bunch of world records.
I sat transfixed as Baumgartner and his team went through the pre-launch checklist. The professionalism and calm atmosphere was awe inspiring as the time for him to jump grew ever nearer.
capsule steps, 24 miles above the Earth, knowing that your life, your very existence is in the hands of those who designed, built and tested your life-support suit.
There is nothing better than getting out in the fresh air and sunshine. Today has been really beautiful, a striking contrast from most of the days this week, so a few hours down by the sea has done me a world of good. It’s all too easy to get depressed about the things that aren’t going quite the way we would like them to.
So getting out into the sunshine, instead of sitting in front of the PC, seemed like a very good idea. Walking along the prom from Branksome Chine to Sandbanks and back, taking in the sights and sounds of the seaside was just what I needed today. Having Steve and young Riley for company just made the trip all the better.
The Search For Enlightenment 
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