The story of my path to Buddhahood through the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
08 Nov 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Criticism, Feelings, Negative, Point Of View, Positive, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
It is very easy to be critical of others, particularly when they are out of earshot. It is, however, valuable to also look for their strengths, as you gain nothing by only criticising others imperfections.
In fact, it is helpful to take a step back, even for a moment, each day, and try to consider the feelings and positive qualities of those of whom you are critical.
04 Nov 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Bodhisattva, Buddhist Practice, Canals, Challenges, Feelings, Happiness, Open Mic, Open Minded, Poetry, Veganism
Tonight should be interesting, it’s my second appearance at the Open Mic Night, arranged by The Platform at the Mad Cucumber in Bournemouth.
Yes, the very same Mad Cucumber we frequent with our vegan chums, though tonight the audience will not be comprised entirely of veggie / vegan folk. This presents both a challenge, and an opportunity.
With luck, I’ll get time to perform four poems. One about the buzz that public performance gives you, much like chanting actually. One about how we are slowly destroying the Earth, another about our recent narrowboat holiday and the last about a certain single vegan female.
So rather varied subjects and topics, but the chance to broadcast my views about everything from Buddhism to veganism, overfishing to canal holidays. I’m sure some people will like some of the poetry better than others, some may not like it at all. But if I make one person think about things, and in some small way, change their lives for the better because of that, I will be pleased with the outcome.
01 Oct 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Criticism, Feelings, Positive, Qualities, Strength, Weakness, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
It is very easy to be critical of others, particularly when they are out of earshot. It is, however, valuable to also look for their strengths, as you gain nothing by only criticising others imperfections.
In fact, it is helpful to take a step back, for just a moment each day, and try to consider the feelings and positive qualities of those of whom you are critical.
22 Sep 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddhist Teaching, Challenges, Destiny, Family, Feelings, Happiness, Karma, Robert Frost, Sadness
At times it is all too easy to be led by your heart, hoping that the happiness you gain will offset the unhappiness of others. On the other hand, the unhappiness you may cause to others could easily put a dark cloud over your own feelings, not just for the immediate future, but for eternity.
In the end, the final decision may not even be in the individuals own hands, making it doubly difficult. We are all keen to having our destiny under our own control, so relinquishing it to someone else just adds to the feelings of angst.
My gut feeling, and my Buddhist teaching tell me that, in general, we should sacrifice our own feelings so that others do not have to, but time will tell how it is resolved.
Mulling it all over and over in my mind, knowing that whichever way things turn out, we will never know whether it was for the best, reminded me of the poem by Robert Frost.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
16 Jan 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddhist Teaching, Challenges, Decisions, Determination, Feelings, Happiness, Nichiren Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin, Robert Frost, Sadness
Funny how Nichiren Buddhism, and the principle of Cause and Effect, keeps proving itself over and over again.
Having decided to take a completely different tack, career wise, once my time at Stanley Gibbons is over, you will know that I’ve already started my teacher training.
Giving up 40 years of IT experience, for a new, though exciting new path is, on the face of it, a bit of a gamble. But just as I should have expected, causes put in place some little while back are just now beginning to take effect, and opportunities with amazing possibilities are already starting to make themselves known.
Mulling it all over and over in my mind, knowing that whichever way things turn out, I will never know whether it was for the best, reminded me of the poem by Robert Frost.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could; To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
19 Dec 2013 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Criticism, Feelings, Negative, Point Of View, Positive, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
It is very easy to be critical of others, particularly when they are out of earshot. It is, however, valuable to also look for their strengths, as you gain nothing by only criticising others imperfections.
In fact, it is helpful to take a step back, even for a moment, each day, and try to consider the feelings and positive qualities of those of whom you are critical.
20 Oct 2013 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Criticism, Feelings, Point Of View, Positive, Self Awareness, Self Discipline, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
It is very easy to be critical of others, particularly when they are out of earshot. It is, however, valuable to also look for their strengths, as you gain nothing by only criticising others imperfections.
In fact, it is helpful to take a step back, for even a moment each day, and try to consider the feelings and positive qualities of those of whom you are critical.
04 Jul 2013 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddhist Teaching, Challenges, Family, Feelings, Happiness, Robert Frost, Sadness
There are times in one’s life when a situation presents you with a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ decision.
Such a dilemma has been around the family for the past few months, where no matter which way the outcome goes, somebody is going to be unhappy.
At such times it is all too easy to be lead by your heart, hoping that the happiness you gain will offset the unhappiness of others. On the other hand, the unhappiness you may cause to others could easily put a dark cloud over your own feelings, not just for the immediate future, but for eternity.
In this situation, the final decision will not even be in the individuals own hands, making it doubly difficult. We are all keen to having our destiny under our own control, so relinquishing it to someone else just adds to the feelings of angst.
My gut feeling, and my Buddhist teaching tell me that, in general, we should sacrifice our own feelings so that others do not have to, but time will tell how it is resolved.
Mulling it all over and over in my mind, knowing that whichever way things turn out, we will never know whether it was for the best, reminded me of the poem by Robert Frost.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
The Search For Enlightenment 
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