Don’t Leave It Too Late

08 Apr 2013 7 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Don't Leave I Too LateOn the day that saw the passing of Margaret Thatcher, it might be a good point to remind ourselves to make the most of our time.

If you think about it, although we may not be destined to die five minutes from now, we are all, without exception, going to die at some point. We can count on it 100%. There is nothing surer than this.

Victor Hugo said, “We are all under sentence of death, but with a sort of indefinite reprieve.”

Ideally, we should live every minute of our lives mindfully, as if it were the last moment of our lives. Those who live aimlessly are left with a sense of emptiness at the end of their lives, but those who live all-out, striving to achieve their goals right to the end, will die peacefully.

Leonardo da Vinci said “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death.”

One who is aware that death could come at any time, will live each day to the fullest. So don’t wait for something to happen, or someone to come along, before you start living, do it now.

Time For The Living

22 Jul 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Photo AlbumsHaving had a few hours to rest, and to settle our thoughts and feelings, it became clear that now was the time to devote our efforts to those remaining. We needed to concentrate on spending time with Jill, and as Ivor had spend the last thirteen years in care, finalise the arrangements to move his effects.

We had lunch at the care home, surrounded by the many of the people who knew and cared for him. Those who knew, took time to come and give their condolences. Sadly, of course, it is an all too common occurrence in such an establishment, but it was nice that people showed they cared so much.

Then, while Bumble and Sue went back to Ivor’s room and sorted out his belongings into those to be kept and those that could be donated to charity, Jill and I took a very leisurely stroll around the cricket pitch which forms the centre of the home, in glorious summer sunshine.

With everyone re-assembled back at Jill’s apartment, Steve cooked an evening meal and we sat and chatted about the forthcoming arrangements as well as reminiscing about times gone by. It was a very pleasant gathering, looking at pictures and family photos and remembering the good times. Although Ivor has gone on to better things, it was nice to take time to remember that there is still much for which to to be grateful.

A World Of Contrasts

26 Aug 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Torrential RainIf life was a continuous straight, even path, no highs, no lows, it would be very easy, but very boring. Today has been a day of wonderful weather contrasts, beautiful warm sunshine and massive torrential ran showers, both amazing in their own way.

This morning the rain came down like stair rods, the raindrops bouncing off the balcony and it was so heavy, it flooded the gutters and dumped all the lichens from the roof all over the terracotta tiles. The clouds were so thick that it looked like late evening, even though it was still late morning.

There’s a special feeling to the air after such a shower, there’s a little nip, caused by the rain having come from such an altitude, but there is also a wonderful clean smell about the place. Because the clouds were heavy, but separated by bands of blue sky, the contrasts were even more apparent. Literally pouring one minute and blazing hot midday sun the next.

Beautiful SunshineLooking to the west, I could see a nice break in the clouds, so decided to take the chance to walk into Poole. Strolling up to the lifting bridge, I was feeling quite smug about the fact that I had beaten the next shower. But pride comes before a fall, and the bridge was raised. In the ten minutes it took for the yachts and motor launches to pass, and the bridge to lower again, the heavens opened.

I managed to duck into shop doorways and under arches as I made my way into town, but it was getting heavier and heavier. So I admit I decided to pop in to see my friend Gemma at Waterside Properties, on the pretext that I wanted to discuss something about the apartment, but she knew why I was there, I was rumbled.

We chatted for a quarter of an hour, but when the rain stopped she booted me out and went back to work. I must have looked a little out of place walking up the high street in shorts, T shirt and flip flops, when everyone else was sporting umbrellas, cagoules and other various forms of rainwear, but by now the sun was blazing down again.

Having done my predetermined mini shop, I walked all the way back to the quay in bright sunshine. There was a bank of black cloud looming on the horizon, but I made home with ten minutes to spare before the next deluge.

So a day of contrasts, amazing by the speed of the changes, and a day made all the more interesting by those contrasts. It could have been annoying to have a rain filled day off, but by living in the moment and accepting these contrasts, life is all the more exciting.