Reflections

02 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

It is important to remember that our prayers reflect our state of life. In that respect, prayer is a solemn means to raise our life-state or condition. To receive exactly the results for which we are praying, it is crucial to make a determined, single minded effort toward that goal.

This is the true path of manifesting faith in our daily life. Those of us who proceed along this narrow path, day after day, month after month, year after year, will develop, without fail. Just as a sapling grows into a mighty tree, to become a person of outstanding strength and character, one with wisdom, courage and compassion, relies on us remaining true to our chosen path.

What A Role Model

01 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Wiggo - Olympic GoldHuge, huge congratulations to Great Britain’s Bradley Wiggins for winning the gold medal in the Men’s Time Trial today at the London Olympics. His winning margin of over 40 seconds over Tony Martin, the German World Champion was nothing short of amazing.

Whilst all the excitement and focus will be on the medal winning performance, following on only ten days after his historic win in the Tour De France, it should not be forgotten that Bradley has put in a huge amount of training and personal sacrifice to make this all possible. Not that you would know it when you listen to interviews. A more down to earth fellow, it would be difficult to find.

Making the causes to bring the effects we wish to see is at the centre of Nichiren Buddhism and our routine of daily practice, although nothing like the physical effort of Mr Wiggins, is just as important if we are to progress along the path to enlightenment.

So enjoy the accolades Bradley, your efforts and sacrifices have paid off handsomely and you deserve all the plaudits you will receive. If there is a role model for us and others to try to emulate, Wiggo will be a very hard act to better. Congratulations are also due to Chris Froome, always the bridesmaid, never the bride, but a huge talent for the future, your time will come.

Little Chef

04 Jul 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Little ChefAsk anyone who knows me, I’m not the greatest cook on Earth, and openly admit it. But I’m always up for a challenge. So when I was told, before the holiday, that everyone was expected to cook an evening meal for the crew, my heart sank a little.

Bumble is a very kind lady, and she was as determined as I was, to turn me into a little chef, if only for one day. So before we set off to Shropshire, we put our heads together to come up with a meal that could be prepared in limited circumstances and with even more limited experience.

You might have thought, that having lived alone for a couple of years, I would have honed my culinary skills to perfection. Sadly that is not the case. I am fine at the simplest meals, beans on toast, the odd pasta dish, but nothing more taxing. That just wouldn’t cut it with the SAS, Steve is a rather fussy eater, as he’d openly admit, so we had to be a little creative.

B helped me make the choice. I had chicken breasts, soft cheese, a choice of herbs and spices and some rindless bacon. So I decided to make something tasty, a dish that would tickle the taste buds, and a sweet and spicy mix that would be easy, if not quick to prepare.

My chicken breasts, filled with soft cheese and diced chilli, glazed with mango chutney and wrapped in the bacon rashers turned out perfectly. Bumble was fair but firm with me, making sure that the timings were spot on, so the meat and the roast vegetables came together perfectly. The choice was decided and I was feeling much more confident, it tasted fantastic and B was very complimentary.

So tonight I had my chance to shine, but equipment failure looked set to scupper my efforts. The propane gas oven just wasn’t up to the challenge and stubbornly refused to get up to temperature. So with a lot of help from all concerned, the chicken was cooked using the tiny microwave and then finished off in a vaguely warm oven.

But though I say so myself, the dish turned out perfectly. The chicken, that could easily have come out as dry as a bone, was simply delicious. The parma  ham, that had been substituted for the bacon, held the parcels together as intended and the mango chutney worked wonderfully as a sweet glaze, contrasting and complimenting the spicy filling.

The whole experience was a bit of a trial, the equipment failures had put a lot of stress on the process. But with a great deal of help from Bumble, as well as very welcome support from Sue and Steve, it turned out well in the end.

So having met the challenge head on, having kept my cool, at least for some of the time, I’m rather proud of the outcome. We all experience challenges in life. Many, if not most of them, far more important than cooking a meal. But the lesson learned today was one of perseverance, determination, team work and self improvement, and it will serve me well, way into the future.

Disappointment

27 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Determination_BoulderThe people who are closest to us are the people we can hurt the most. With the best will in the world and with the very best intentions, a wrong word or deed can sometimes cause them a whole world of pain.

Being in the position of being responsible for supporting someone is a full time role, there’s no time off, no period during which one can let things slide. So when a conversation suddenly goes awry because of a thoughtless comment or reaction, the disappointment can be felt by both sides.

The result is like someone who is distracted whilst trying to push a boulder uphill. They have worked tirelessly to get it higher and higher up the hill. But the instant they relax their effort, or take their eye off the ball, the boulder starts back down to the bottom again.

In the same way, the trust and relationship you have worked so hard to nurture can suddenly takes a U turn and you can find yourself back where you were. Not only is that disappointing, but it’s quite possible that the damage caused could change things forever.

So be mindful. If you are putting yourself in a position where your support is important, be aware of the responsibility it entails. Be self-aware, show determination, compassion and resilience and be prepared to keep on giving, no matter what the circumstances.

No Room For Complacency

21 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

DeterminationWhen we work hard at something, be it a task, a goal or personal trait that we wish to change or improve, we get satisfaction when we see results. Making the causes to see effects is not a one off action. Generally we need to keep the pressure on until the goal is met.

It is easy to let the feelings of euphoria, when we reach a target or goal, get the better of us. We may feel that the effort needed to complete a task can now be eased. This may be true in certain circumstances, where a material goal has been met, but that is not the case where we are striving to maintain an objective, such as compassion or courage.

Being compassionate in one instance, being courageous in a certain circumstance does not make us suddenly compassionate or courageous. We must continue to monitor ourselves, to be mindful, self-aware and to continue the effort that brought us to this point. Reaching a goal can be difficult, but maintaining that status can be just as difficult.

So next time you find yourself bathing in a self-congratulatory glow of satisfaction, take stock. It is the determination to continue the effort, to stop ourselves from back-sliding and to maintain the newly found goal that keeps us on the path to enlightenment and to greater happiness.

Marvellous Monday

18 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

TranquillityHands up all those who never thought they’d see a post of mine saying that … but today has been pretty awesome too. Ok, so I’ve just had a perfect weekend, but this is Monday after all. But it has been a really great day, simply because there is a new calm over everything.

You know the calm I mean, at least I hope you do, when slowly everything starts to come together, to fit into place and there’s a soft and easy feel about things. At work, at home, in my practice, in fact in life, I seem to have turned some magical corner and tranquillity is the result.

No that tranquillity itself is necessarily a good thing. It can make us lazy, complacent, stop setting ourselves goals or making the causes for the effects we want to see. But the tranquillity that accompanies the calmness of a balanced situation is magical indeed.

Sometimes we have to go through a rough ride to reach the place we want to be. During the ride it’s tough, tranquillity is a million miles away and sometimes appears to be receding fast. But if you stick with it, learn from the pain and make the necessary causes, you will reap the benefits of the effects when they arrive. Today has been one of those days for me.

So stick with it. If you have confidence in your goals, remain determined in your quest and have the courage to withstand the pain, you too will see the benefits. It’s marvellous.

Be Gentle On Yourself

14 Jun 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Be Gentle On YourselfWhen you start changing things through practice or self-awareness, you may well encounter something that feels like a negative reaction. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction and they can sometimes be rather unexpected in nature.

As we try to improve ourselves, we change the way we react with the world and those around us. Sometimes the world isn’t quite ready for that change and it can make for uncomfortable situations. Sometimes we aren’t quite as well prepared for the changes as we would like to think we are either.

The most important thing to remember is, that as you change, your environment must change too. The two fit each other exactly, like a hand in a glove. So even though the ride might get a little bumpy at times, those times can be seen as confirmation that the changes in you are really taking place, so be resolute and determined.

Just remember to add a little wisdom and compassion into the mix too. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you find aspects that cause you pain, the recognition of our faults is the starting point for improvement.

Still Swimming

17 May 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Jack Russell with a stickThis little software issue is taxing the best brains in our partner company, it looks like a really simple problem, but it’s more tenacious than a Jack Russell with a stick.

So another full on day in Newbury and determination is the key to solving it. I am driving up there again in the morning, determined and full of life-energy from all the on-road chanting I’m doing en-route.

It is a well known Buddhist saying that our problems are not the real problem, it is the way we perceive them that is the problem.

Don’t have problems, have a series of challenges. Challenges are just problems that we are confident that we can overcome. Our problems come and go, nothing lasts forever, so view them with an open mind, look on them as challenges and remember, you are turning poison into medicine.

Even places that have been shrouded in darkness for billions of years can be illuminated by a simple lit candle. Even a stone from the bottom of the deepest river can be used to produce fire.

Our present sufferings, no matter how dark, have certainly not existed for billions of years, nor will they linger forever.

The sun will definitely rise, in fact its ascent has already begun. With determination, we can all overcome our problems, so look on them as challenges and enjoy the victory when it arrives.

Lumps And Bumps

15 May 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Lumps and BumpsIf you ride a bicycle on UK roads, you’ll know how lovely it can be to find yourself on a stretch of nice smooth new tarmac. The lumps and bumps of our older repaired roads really can rattle your bones, so the new surface is a real treat.

Life is like that too. It’s the lumps and bumps of everyday life that make you realise just how comfortable the smooth untroubled times are. But without the rough times, we would never recognise the comparison and enjoy the easier times all the more.

We all know that as we move through life, it is impossible to stay on the smooth untroubled path. The bumpy times are a simple fact, just as they are out on the road. So when they come along, just be determined, hold on tight, keep pedalling and look forward to the smoother times ahead.

Our Little Helper

13 May 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Robin RedbreastFeeling a little the worse for wear after last night’s party, I was grateful for all the help I could get digging the vegetable plot. I say vegetable plot, but that is overstating the fact just a little. In fact when we started digging the ground over, it was simply another part of a cottage garden, thick with all manner of flowers, weeds, herbs and trees.

Some of the larger plants, a Sage and a Lavender in particular took some shifting, and there was a lot of chopping and hacking needed to move the roots and stems that had been growing there for decades. The scent of the herbs filled the air as the work progressed and the sun beat down. Naturally, Bumble got stuck in, undaunted by the physicality of the work, despite protestations for her to stop before her neck got injured again.

As the patches of dark earth started to appear from under the morass of tangled foliage, a little flash of brown and red caught my eye. There, on one of the branches of the blossom laden Crab Apple tree, was a tiny little Robin, eagerly scanning the soil for worms, grubs and other tasty morsels.

At first we stood motionless as the little bird flew down and started gathering up a crop full of goodies. But he, or she, didn’t seem at all bothered by our presence and, after a few minutes, we got back to our digging. For the rest of the afternoon, and into the early evening, the tiny creature fluttered and hopped around between the ever growing patches of soil, being most attracted to the freshly tilled earth, with its recently unearthed pantry and coming within inches of us, over and over again.

Each time it had gathered as many goodies as it could carry, it flew off in the same direction, presumably towards its nest. Now I’ve had Robins ‘help’ me in the garden before, but this episode was so rewarding, a real privilege to be allowed to interact so intimately with a beautiful part of nature in such a bond of trust. It all served to make an afternoon of toil into a very pleasant chapter in the growing story of Greystones.

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries