Nice Contrasts

14 Sep 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Reading - A Nice ContrastI’ve been out cycling this morning, and having enjoyed the cooler conditions that Autumn is starting to bring, I spent the afternoon with my nose in a book. It’s a contrast I enjoy, swapping muscle for mind.

Daisaku Ikeda, in his Buddhism Day By Day, says this about the act of reading:

‘Reading is dialogue with oneself; it is self-reflection, which cultivates profound humanity. Reading is therefore essential to our development.

It expands and enriches the personality like a seed that germinates after a long time and sends forth many blossom-laden branches.

People who can say of a book ‘this changed my life’ truly understand the meaning of happiness. Reading that sparks inner revolution is desperately needed to escape drowning in the rapidly advancing information society.

Reading is more than intellectual ornamentation; it is a battle for the establishment of the self, a ceaseless challenge that keeps us young and vigorous.’

We all know which book ‘changed my life’, and I can confirm that I understand the meaning of the happiness that this encompasses. Books transformed civilisation in the broadest sense when they became widely available via the printing presses of William Caxton and all those who have followed.

The advent of the world wide web and the internet has simply taken that process to the Nth level. The dissemination of information, and the written word has never been so widespread. Although there are associated dangers and we must be circumspect about the source of the information we consume, there has never been an easier time to read.

Class Dismissed

09 Sep 2013 1 Comment

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

Class DismissedWhen I sit down to write my blog, I try to relate to the circumstances surrounding a particular lesson I have learned that day.

Quite often a post has been rattling around in my head for hours, and it is simply my role to mould it into some form that might be more easily understandable to others.

However, I find that the lesson for today is, that there is not necessarily a lesson to be learned. Of course the day has been filled with the micro challenges of work, family, relationships, just the stuff of life, but there hasn’t been a focus on anything particular.

If anything has come out of today, it has been the realisation that some of the lessons of the past have actually been learned and the effect of that really does make a difference when I meet the situation again. And that has to be a good sign, another step along the path.

Wakey, Wakey !!!

01 Sep 2013 4 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

A Bright IdeaSometimes I surprise myself, or rather something, that in all truth should be totally ingrained by now, suddenly permeates my grey matter and comes as a bit of a shock. I’ve been writing my blog for nearly three years now, and over sixty thousand people have visited it in that time, but it is important that the whole purpose behind it is not to get attention, is to help me, and others, to reach a state of enlightenment.

Daisaku Ikeda says this of enlightenment, or the state of Buddhahood:

If we attain the state of Buddhahood in this lifetime, that state will forever pervade our lives. Throughout the cycle of birth and death, in each new lifetime, we are endowed with good health, wealth and intelligence, along with a supportive, comfortable environment, and lead lives that overflow with good fortune. Each of us will also possess a unique mission and be born in an appropriate form to fulfil it.

Quite a statement, but how amazing would that be? That was the shock. That my practice and my musings about it each day, are actually helping me, and hopefully you, along the path to the most amazing goal.

Maybe I am a bit dim, maybe I should remind myself more often, but I hope that my posts help others, even if it is only a simple thought that strikes a chord.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

I Love Monday !!!

27 Aug 2013 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

There's a kind of hushHands up all those who never thought they’d see that title on my blog … but today has been pretty awesome so far. Ok, so it’s Tuesday, and I’ve just had the perfect long weekend, but in work terms this is a notional Monday after all. But it has been a really great day, even though things have been a little hectic in the office, and all because I now have the ability to pour a certain 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.

Not that tranquillity itself is necessarily a good thing. It can make us lazy, complacent, stop setting goals for ourselves 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.

Fanning The Delicate Embers

04 Aug 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Spreading The WordMy own experiences with Nichiren Buddhism have shown me how powerfully it can change your life.

Whether that is simply making you a happier person or helping you see situations from a different perspective, that may help you solve your problems in a better way.

As with all good things, you want to tell people about it, so they can share the benefits.

So the greatest feeling, for me, is when someone actually comes straight out and asks. At that point, it’s important to offer as much, or as little as they request. Force feeding them will kill that spark as surely as piling logs onto a smouldering ember.

So be enthusiastic, but be reserved as well. Let them set the pace, be there for them to ask for more, and just see what happens.

Giving people a gift is a great feeling, that shining smile you see when they open it and are delighted by what they find. Giving people the way to find Nichiren Buddhism is just like that, only a million times better.

On Two Wheels

17 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Like Riding A BicycleDo you remember the day you mastered the art of riding a bicycle? Of course you do. For me, it was the culmination of a rather lengthy, and very frustrating process, and but for the perseverance of my father, I might never have learned at all.

I just couldn’t seem to get it. It looked so simple, but the harder I tried, the worse I got. Then suddenly it clicked, I had it nailed, and from that day on I have been able to ride a bike.

Ok, so it’s no huge revelation, but I think learning about Buddhism is a bit like learning to ride a bike.

Initially, it all seems rather difficult, but as you learn about The Oneness of Self and the Environment, about Karma, cause and effect, about Life-Energy or The Ten Worlds, you also learn to see yourself, life and the Universe in a different way. And just in the way that having learned to ride a bicycle, you never unlearn the skill, once you learn to see the world through different eyes, you never unlearn that either.

Deep in my heart, I know that I am different for having Buddhism at the centre of my life. Other people have noticed that change, others ask what has changed and how I know that it’s a real change, not just a fad, or ‘a phase I’m going through’. Well as I say, once you see the world differently, you just can’t unsee it that way. It’s a wonderful change, and I’m very confident, not to say delighted, that it’s permanent.

Get It Sorted

24 May 2013 2 Comments

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

Rubik's CubeSorting out our life can be a bit like solving a Rubik’s cube, each aspect is like one of the faces, separate but all connected. We work to get one face, let’s say Blue sorted out. On it’s own that task is pretty easy and we complete it quite quickly. So we move on to to the Red face, again it’s pretty easy, in isolation, so we get it sorted and we feel a satisfaction in that. But then we turn the cube back to the Blue side, and it’s all messed up again, because it is connected to the Red side.

Life is just like that. Every aspect of life is connected, to our family, our friends, our work. Just like Rubik’s cube, unless you know the rules for arranging the sides, it can be pretty impossible. The only way to get our lives sorted, is to learn the rules governing how they fit together. I say rules, but there’s nothing written down anywhere that will teach you. So it’s often a case of trial and error, to some degree. Hopefully our parents teach us the ground rules, but every situation is different, so it’s necessary to modify or adapt the rules so they fit.

There are two big differences between life and Rubik’s cube. The first is that unlike the cube, life is no game, obviously, and second, life is nowhere as simple as getting six coloured faces sorted out. So whether you are playing with a Rubik’s cube, or trying to sort your life out, I wish you good fortune. Wisdom, courage and compassion in huge and equal measure will go a long way in many respects. From my point of view, the news is mixed. I’m getting better, but still learning to do both.

Suffer Not Little Children

01 May 2013 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Every Child Is PreciousListening to an article on Radio 4 this morning, attacking the tutoring of pre-school children, I was reminded of this explanation, by Daisaku Ikeda, of a relevant parable from the Lotus Sutra.

Every child is precious. The Lotus Sutra tells the parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees. There are many different kinds of plants; their shape, size and nature come in myriad varieties. Some plants grow fast while others take time to mature. In this parable, however, the heavens rain upon all the plants equally, nurturing their growth. And the plants blossom and bear fruits according to their own unique character.

This parable symbolizes the Buddha’s vast compassion to nurture all living beings despite their differences. All children are different; each possesses his or her wonderful unique quality. We must pour upon all children our great love and compassion so that each child can blossom, true to his or her unique quality.

~ Daisaku Ikeda

Whilst we should nurture children’s’ growth, we should also give them all the opportunity to remain children as long as possible.

The Love Of Learning

13 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

The Reluctant BuddhistWith the weather being the way it is, I spent much of the morning finishing The Water Road, a great book about a four month, event filled, narrowboat odyssey around the extensive British canal network. I then started re-reading William Woollard’s The Reluctant Buddhist, a superb book if you are looking for a good grounding in Nichiren Buddhism.

The great thing about William’s book, is that he explains his own path into Buddhism in such a way that you can easily relate it to your own journey. Sixteen chapters of beautifully explained Buddhism principles, all annotated with his own feelings of doubt and reticence as he slowly grows into the philosophy.

My own path started with many years of Buddhist study into New Kadampa Buddhism. Although the ideas of quietening the mind and removing feelings of desirous attachment were very interesting, the deities never sat well in my mind. It was only when I discovered, if that is the right term, Nichiren Buddhism through Jason and Karen Jarrett’s A Buddhist Podcast and the serialisation of William’s book, that I realised I had found the right life philosophy for me.

Every time I read, or listen to The Reluctant Buddhist, I get a little more from the book. Of course, many of the aspects covered are common with those in The Buddha, Geoff and Me or The Buddha in Daily Life, but each book covers them in a slightly different way. I think that by comparing and contrasting the different views gives me a better and more complete understanding of the principles.

I love reading and the World of Learning. It gives me a great feeling of academic satisfaction as well as the joy of expanding my knowledge of the anchor of my life, my own Practice.

A Yearning For Learning

27 Mar 2013 2 Comments

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

A Yearning For LearningFollowing on from yesterdays looks at books, the rhymes just keep coming. As we all strive for Buddhahood, the life-state of Learning is a wonderful place to be. I love reading and listening to instructional podcasts and devote as much time as I can to these every day.

Understanding the principles behind our practice is so important. If understanding is missing, chanting and working towards enlightenment is a largely futile exercise. But help is at hand. So much is available on the internet that you can always find the information you need to take your knowledge to the next level.

To make the most of every minute of every day, I often download podcasts from Karen and Jason Jarrett’s website, A Buddhist Podcast. There are dozens of topics covered, as you would imagine, they have been online since 2005, though there has been a slight lull since they moved to Canada.

There are also podcast versions of The Reluctant Buddhist and Buddhism and the Science of Happiness, both read by William Woollard himself, and The Buddha, Geoff and Me, all of which are hugely inspirational.

Learning is not just the way forward, it is the insurance against going back to where we have come. If we stop learning, we stop living, at least living to the full.

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