13 Dec 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Christmas, Friends, Friendship, fun, Happiness, Life-State, Party
What a wheeze, the company Christmas bash, held in the Village Urban hotel, Bournemouth was everything that we expected tonight. Not being one to over imbibe, I guess I was one of the more sober ones tonight, and what fun!
Of course, to start with everyone was sober, but as time rolled on, and the wine, beer and spirits flowed, inhibitions were slowly eroded and a few home truths surfaced. We are not the largest company in the world, and a little like a family run business, where everyone knows everyone else by their first names.
Observing, whilst not exactly being stone cold sober, I was in the perfect position to watch the fun and games. Not that there was too much to report, but people do say and do the funniest things when they get a bit squiffy. As far as I know, no videos or photos have made their way onto the social networking sites, yet, but it is a good feeling to be able to let, what little hair I have, down, whilst being in total control of my faculties.
I’m sure there will be a few tales told on Monday, but apart from me being an observer as well as a participant, I’m sure none of them will be about me.
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07 Dec 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Compassion, Friends, Friendship, Happiness, Healing, Health, Love, Partnership
Another blissfully happy weekend is nearly over, but let’s not get complacent.
Being happy is not something that we can take for granted, problems can derail our happiness at any time.
But we can take steps to ensure that we are aware of the causes and take steps to resolve and correct the effects.
Sensei summed it up perfectly …
Buddhism teaches that we are each responsible for our own happiness or unhappiness. Our vitality—the amount of energy or “life-force” we have—is in fact the single most important factor in determining whether or not we are happy.
True happiness is to be found within, in the state of our hearts. It does not exist on the far side of some distant mountains. It is within you, yourself. However much you try, you can never run away from yourself. And if you are weak, suffering will follow you wherever you go.
You will never find happiness if you don’t challenge your weaknesses and change yourself from within.
So if you are happy with life at present, be mindful of where that happiness comes from. If you are unhappy, challenge the causes of that unhappiness and make the changes you need to make.
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19 Nov 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Birthday, Faith, Family, Fortune, Friends, Friendship, Love, Nichiren Buddhism
Birthdays are funny things aren’t they When you are little, they are the best thing next to Christmas, you count down the days and they take ages to arrive.
Then you become a teenager and your life changes almost overnight. Shortly after, one day you are a child, the next you are an adult, and so it goes on.
Certain birthdays are real milestones in life. 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, 65, the list goes on. However, 60 isn’t on any list that I subscribe to, so today was really just another day, albeit a very nice one. The last twelve months have been life changing for me, my strengthening faith in Nichiren Buddhism being one of the most important aspects of that.
But now it’s nearly over, and tomorrow will literally be just another day. So it is only left for me to thank all my family and friends for the presents, the cards and the nice greetings on Facebook and the like. I am grateful that I have chalked up another year. When you see the news, every day there are many, many people who don’t. So I should really be most thankful for my good fortune, life in all it’s glory, should never be taken for granted.
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21 Oct 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Canals, Cause And Effect, Changes, Friends, Friendship, Holidays, Wisdom Courage and Compassion, Work
The holiday is well and truly over and the crew are suffering. A week of not having to be anywhere at any time is a true luxury, but one to which one can quickly become accustomed.
Like a fool, I made the huge mistake, last night, of looking at narrowboats for sale online, knowing full well that now was not the time. Sadly I found several that fitted the bill, beautiful, well equipped and (relatively) cheap.
So today I am busy getting my mind back into ‘sensible mode’ and dealing with the problems that every day life brings. Though I have to admit that I keep drifting back to last week, and an afternoon spent in the Cotton Arms in Wrenbury with Richard, a retired IT professional, now living full time on narrowboat Sarah Pay with his Welsh Collie Megan.
We all set ourselves goals and we are all guilty of looking over the fence to the greener fields, but we must use Wisdom when we navigate through these mental flights of fancy.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, at least for now, I have to concentrate on performing the role for which I am paid. The holiday is gone, albeit that the memories are still fresh in the mind. To make changes we must make causes, and to make causes we need to use our wisdom and courage. We will see, time will tell … again.
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15 Aug 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Determination, Friends, Friendship, Happiness, Life-Energy, Life-State, Vegan, Veganism, Vegetarian, Vegetarianism
Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be able to announce that the much anticipated weekend is upon us, so make the most of the opportunity.
In terms of recent weekends, this one promises to be rather quiet. No pirates or fun fairs, but there is a BVV meal tomorrow at the Mad Cucumber in the Triangle in Bournemouth and a strong possibility of a trip to the cinema too.
The weatherman is promising a temporary end to summer, with the jet stream bringing some cold air from the arctic on Sunday, but after the recent heat wave, I know a few people who are looking forward to cooler days and more comfortable nights.
Whatever you get up to in the next couple of days, make the most of the time, for surely you will never get the chance to live it again.
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04 Aug 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Compassion, Friends, Friendship, Happiness, Healing, Health, Love, Partnership
I have to say that I haven’t been quite this happy for quite a long time. Being happy is not something that we can take for granted, problems can derail our happiness at any time. But we can take steps to ensure that we are aware of the causes and take steps to resolve and correct the effects.
Sensei summed it up perfectly …
Buddhism teaches that we are each responsible for our own happiness or unhappiness. Our vitality—the amount of energy or “life-force” we have—is in fact the single most important factor in determining whether or not we are happy.
True happiness is to be found within, in the state of our hearts. It does not exist on the far side of some distant mountains. It is within you, yourself. However much you try, you can never run away from yourself. And if you are weak, suffering will follow you wherever you go.
You will never find happiness if you don’t challenge your weaknesses and change yourself from within.
So if you are happy with life at present, be mindful of where that happiness comes from. If you are unhappy, challenge the causes of that unhappiness and make the changes you need to make.
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01 Aug 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Determination, Friends, Friendship, Happiness, Life-Energy, Life-State, Vegan, Veganism, Vegetarian, Vegetarianism
Well it’s taken a whole week to get here, but finally Friday has arrived again. I know we should fill every minute, of every day, with sixty seconds of gainful employment, but doing that doesn’t stop me being pleased that, arguably, the best day of the week has put in a much appreciated appearance at last.
The weather looks like it’s going to be pants over the weekend, but that can’t stop us having fun if we are determined to make the most of our days off. Cycling looks to be off the to-do list, due to the heavy rain predicted, but there’s plenty more to occupy our time.
With a full agenda already pencilled in for both Saturday and Sunday, tonight is going to be a post birthday drink with Mishy, with the added promise of a vegan pizza thrown in for good measure. Tomorrow is a BVV lunch at the Salad Centre in Boscombe. That was to be followed by a BBQ on the beach, but that too has fallen foul of the predicted inclement weather.
It has been a funny old week, but having realised that I was wishing the days away, put me in a good place to boost my life-energies through chanting and that raised my life-state. Being in one of the higher worlds really does put a sunny outlook on everything and everyone, so I hope you managed to join me, and that you too are going to have a really great weekend.
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27 Jul 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Buddhahood, Cycling, Earthly Desires, Friends, Health, Lotus Sutra, Nature, Nichiren Daishonin, Reincarnation
I’ve been out cycling with the boys all morning, surrounded by the beautiful nature of The New Forest, just wonderful. So here is a snippet of wisdom from Nichiren Daishonin, about letting go of worldly desires, and a couple of images from the ride …
Now, if you wish to attain Buddhahood, you have only to lower the banner of your arrogance, cast aside the staff of your anger, and devote yourself exclusively to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Worldly fame and profit are mere baubles of your present existence, and arrogance and prejudice are ties that will fetter you in a next one.
~ Nichiren Daishonin
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12 Jul 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Daisaku Ikeda, Friends, Friendship, Happiness, Music, Relationships, Sensei
Following a magical sun filled Saturday which encompassed so many things, including a visit to the Grooves on the Green music festival in Ashley Cross, I could not have expressed this observation any better …
Partners in a relationship have different roles.
There are times when the burning intensity and power of the sun are called for, and times when the soothing luminescence and serene wisdom of the moon is what’s needed.
A complementary relationship in which the partners cooperate and work together is a beautiful thing.
~ Daisaku Ikeda
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23 Jun 2014
by Anupadin
in Buddhism
Tags: Anchor, Family, Friends, Gohonzon, Honzon, Practice
Having my Practice at the very core of my life, as my Honzon, as my anchor, is a very liberating state of affairs. As the focus of that Practice is my Gohonzon, making it the absolute centre and the pivot, around which my whole life revolves.
Of course, the centre of many people’s lives are their partners, their children, their families and that is perfectly acceptable, but does mean that their anchor is not fixed, it is ever changing. These changes can be a major source of unhappiness. How often have we seen the elderly couple, totally devoted to each other, that when one of them dies, the other goes soon after.
Having Buddhism and my Practice as my Honzon doesn’t mean that my family or friends mean any less to me, but it does mean that as situations change, as problems arise, my anchor remains firm and I can cope with those challenges all the better.
Maybe that’s not for everyone and it does take a conscious effort to make the change. But for me the effort is repaid many, many times over by the feeling of constancy and stability in my life. As with many things in life, that constancy also affects others in a positive way, ripples of stability benefitting everyone around me.
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