A Right Pain In The Neck

07 May 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

A Right Pain In The NeckBy this morning we were supposed to have ticked all the boxes on the to-do list and had planned to take a trip to Bristol Zoo with Charlotte, Rob and the boys, if the weather was dry. So apart from the fact that there were still unfinished items on the list and that it was raining cats and dogs intermittently, Bumble had a very sore neck, the result of overdoing the manual work during the path construction.

A day that was going to be filled with the wonder of beautiful animals and the fun of being with C & R and the three boys, turned into one of pain and anguish. The neck problem is a legacy of a whiplash injury many years ago, but B, being B, just has to get involved with the lifting and carrying, despite being a bit prone to aches, pains and injuries.

Being the real trooper she is, she insisted on coming with me to get a few things from the shops, when she should really have been tucked up, snug and warm, in bed, being pampered by yours truly. Not a chance really, though I did manage to get her to rest when we got back home. and I think the toasted cinnamon and raisin bagel and mug of hot tea was pretty well received.

We can both learn lessons from the episode. B has to learn to take things a little bit easier when it comes to heavy manual work. She’s no old granny, although she is a granny, but nor is she the spring chicken she might like to think she is. I have to learn to look out for, and after her, though sadly I didn’t know about the neck injury until today.

Fortunately the pain is subsiding, with the help of a few painkillers. But the whole debacle could so easily avoided if we had both taken a large dose of wisdom before we started the project. It won’t happen again, I’ll see to that.

The Gravel Path To Enlightenment

05 May 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags:

The Gravel Path To EnlightenmentThe prospect of lowering the gravel path outside the cottage by 10cm, with the help of B’s son and the children’s father didn’t exactly fill me with glee. Not that I am afraid of a bit of hard physical work, or of meeting a significant part of her past, but putting both together had seemed like it could possibly be a step too far.

Of course I shouldn’t have worried, B is a very caring person and would never knowingly put anyone in a difficult situation. So several hours and thousands of burned calories later, B has a nice newly laid gravel path, Sam has found his car key and I have found I have quite a lot in common with a man I didn’t really expect to meet.

We had a good laugh, talked about psychology, philosophy, spiritual and new age things, shared a bacon butty lunch and really got on rather well. Funny how life can surprise you, and in a good way, when you let it.

A Little More Responsibility

03 May 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Be ResponsibleFollowing yesterday’s little incident, the topic of responsibility has been playing on my mind. Responsibility, they say, can weigh heavy on the shoulders of some people. But that need not be the case if we all accept that each and every action we take comes with automatic responsibility.

We all make mistakes from time to time, we are only human after all and mistakes are an all too human trait. The mistakes themselves are, quite often, easily forgiven, if we take the simple, and honest action of owning up.

Owning up is a bit of a strange saying, don’t you think? Owning means responsible for, owning a dog means being responsible for that animal, owning a house means being responsible for the upkeep of that building. So owning up to a mistake really means accepting that you are responsible for that mistake.

The big problem comes, it seems to me, when we refuse to be responsible for making, or refuse to accept that there is, any mistake we have made. Being a fully paid up member of the human race, I’ve made more than my fair share of mistakes. The problems have always come along when I’ve failed to own up.

So there are two simple ways to help with our mistakes. Think before you think, say or do anything, and if it transpires at a later time, that it was a mistake, take responsibility for that mistake before it causes any more problems.

Half Past Wednesday

25 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Time FliesSo here we are again, it’s Wednesday and the week is already half gone. It seems that I spend half my life wishing the time away and the other half trying to slow it down. That is rather sad and a real waste. So I’m going to put that to rights.

Being mindful and making the most of every second should be the primary objective of us all. It’s all too easy to find yourself wishing for some special event to arrive, but doing so, you are wasting half your life, which is tantamount to criminal.

As with most days, the tasks expand to fill the day. The trick is to cram in more tasks and keep busy. Not a huge problem here, as there is always more that can be done. So if you do find the day is dragging, and that special event seems to be getting further away instead of nearer, take stock of your outstanding chores, dive in and set yourself goals, and you will find that the time flies by.

Just Be Grateful

13 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Just Be GratefulWe all know one. The person you dread meeting by the coffee machine. The one who never has a good word to say about anything. Who when you ask them how they are, gives you a list of all the things wrong with them, never a positive word about anything or anyone. A proper drain on your energies.

We’ve got someone here at work, a lady who’s been here for ages, who’s part of the furniture, who thinks that she’s the cog that keeps the whole place running. She’s in sales, and when I was introduced to her a while ago said ‘Always remember, I’m the one who pays your wages’. I’m sure you know the sort.

As you might expect, she not the most popular member of staff, the one who is missed when she’s on holiday because the atmosphere in the office is that much more joyful. Nobody has a good word to say about her, and she’s avoided by everyone if at all possible.

But it got me thinking. She’s unhappy most of the time, unless she’s just made a large sale, and she’s intent on bringing everyone else down to her level. So there’s an expectation set, that she’ll be grumpy, or rude, or both when I have to deal with her. So I have decided to get my infinite compassion ray ready, to try to make her feel better about whatever she is complaining about. I smile when I’m talking to her, and always try to leave the conversation on a positive note.

I look at it this way. I have to cross her path once in a while, and that can be challenging. But she has to live with herself all the time, and she’s unhappy, so how does she feel about things? So I’ve been quietly putting the compassion idea around to see if we can’t all help her, help herself, to be a little more jovial, and with me at least, it seems to be working.

If you have someone you know who fits the same mould, maybe you might try a little compassion too. You never know, it might just change the way they view you, given the principle of oneness of self and the environment. A little extra love never goes amiss, so give it a try and be prepared to see the change, and just be grateful that it’s not you I’m writing about.

Inside The Mind Of A Genius

09 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

da-Vinci-Exhibition - The Royal Collection © 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIRetail therapy has never been my idea of fun on a Bank Holiday Monday, so skirting the queues for IKEA we made our way through the very wet and windy streets to the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, an exhibition of ten of the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci, from the Queen’s collection is being shown, so we joined the back of the small queue and looked forward to seeing the work of a genius.

As we reached the front of the queue we were instructed to leave all food and drink with the attendant, told to turn off our mobiles, and informed that it was forbidden to take photos. These drawings date back to the mid 15th century, and although they are in immaculate condition, are very sensitive to light and humidity. Entering the exhibition hall, it took a few seconds for our eyes to become accustomed to the dim lighting, and to see the throng of people amassed to take in this amazing collection.

The drawings covered a range of topics. There were costume designs, diagrams for war machines, maps, simple sketches of items of nature, portraits and anatomical diagrams. Although the topics were very diverse, the style of drawing was very recognisable as that of the genius. Each line was carefully positioned, the density and touch exact and precise.

The museum provided every visitor with one of those flat plastic lenses, so each line, each rubbed mark, each nuance could be studied in detail. The most difficult part was viewing the sketches without getting in other visitors way, the room really was rather full and some people were more aware of their opaque nature than others, but it was all good natured and polite.

Being able to get so close to such amazing works was a real privilege. Seeing the detail of each work gave you the feeling that you were almost in the presence of the great man himself and gave a real insight into the way he thought and how he transferred those thoughts onto the handmade paper of his time. A truly incredible opportunity to get within inches of priceless antiquities. If you get the chance to visit you should grasp it with both hands.

The World Of Learning

07 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

The Basket of Magical TreasuresAnother day, another grandson, today we were blessed by a visit from Zach and his Daddy Rob. Rob is a qualified chippy, and had very kindly offered to shave the bottom off two doors, so they would close after the carpet fitting.

It was the first time B had met either of them, so cordial greetings were exchanged in the customary manner. Zach was thirsty, so he was offered the chance to look in the special cupboard where all the squash and fruit juices live. A bottle of pink grapefruit squash caught his eye and he was soon guzzling a glass of it.

Rob and I needed to crack on with the doors, so B took Zach into the lounge to play. Zach was very interested in B’s Basket of Magical Treasures and he spent a lovely time learning all about the rocks and pebbles, crystals and horn, although the myriad of bubbles in a piece of lava was apparently described as ‘disgusting’.

Sadly, once the doors were finished, the two boys had to get back home, but I think the learning process benefitted all concerned, and Zach left with a bottle of his granddad’s pink grapefruit squash for later.

Pick Of The Weak

05 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Will Self For PMThe recent changes in tax allowances and other social benefits have highlighted the Government’s intention to increase the strain on the weaker members of society whilst putting yet more money back into the hands of the strong.

The change to the higher tax rate, from 50 to 45%, whilst being an understandable change if it actually brings more money into the Treasury, is a huge slap in the face for the less well off members of society. What ever happened to the ‘we’re all in this together’ way of looking at things.

In an economy that is struggling to offer any further employment, it beggars belief that the payment of Income Supplements should now be based on working 24 hours a week rather than the current 16. Companies are finding it hard to provide enough work for the employees they have now, let alone finding an effective increase of 50% for those most needy of the work.

I’m all in favour of making the Benefits System fair and just. We hear about the alleged scroungers who are milking the system. We never seem to hear about those who are living on or below the ‘bread-line’ and having real difficulties in making ends meet.

How can we expect a bunch of millionaire ministers to have the vaguest idea of how ‘the other half’ live? They are more concerned with lining their own pockets, and those of their cronies, with little or no regard to the millions of people who have no real voice in how the country is run.

Come on Cameron and Co. Let’s see a little more Wisdom, Courage and Compassion from you guys. We are paying your wages, and yet you are picking on the oldest and weakest in society. It’s high time we had a government made up of more people like Billy Bragg, Will Self and others who, although wealthy in their own right, at least have the gumption to stand up for the working and middle classes.

Look Before You Leap

03 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Look Before You LeapIt has been said, on several occasions, that I am impetuous. That I do things on impulse, without thinking them through as much as I should. It comes, I believe from being the eternal optimist and from seeing the good in something whilst ignoring any bad that might be lurking round the corner.

But being so impulsive can, and has been in the past, very damaging. Failing to weigh up all the pros and cons and not seeing things from every viewpoint can lead one into difficult and damaging situations from whence there is no easy return.

So when I read my latest post for Homophilosophicus to B tonight, I was all ready to send it off for publication. To my surprise, although she praised the piece, B asked me to sit on it for a day or two and to re-read it before I send it off. To me, this seemed rather un-necessary. After all, wasn’t I the one who had written it. Wasn’t I the one who had mulled it over in my head for the past month. What was there to think about?

Of course, through talking it over, it became clear that there were others in the piece who might read it, might react to it, who might, just might, be upset by it. So it’s sitting in my drafts folder at this very minute, ready for me to re-read it and re-read it again, until I’m absolutely sure it’s right.

Approaching things with wisdom, courage and compassion is a major part of my road to enlightenment. Now B isn’t a Buddhist, although she has many Buddhist ways about her, but having the courage to ask me to wait, to take stock, to rethink something very dear to my heart has been a good lesson for me.

Enlightenment is a long, long journey, and I have taken another important step forward on that journey tonight, thanks to the very wonderful B and her Wisdom, Courage and Compassion. Thank you Bumble.

Sun, Sea And Sand

29 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

Dorset SunsetHaving worked till after 10:00pm last night priming the woodwork in the hallway and then getting up at the crack of dawn to undercoat the same, we were both ready for a couple of days R ‘n R down in sunny Dorset.

The fly in the ointment came when those intelligent people in the Government decided to tell people ‘not to panic’ over the predicted petrol tanker driver’s strike. Brilliant !!! If there’s one way to promote panic in the population, it’s to tell people not to panic.

Coming down the A36 we were on the lookout for a filling station that had either some petrol or didn’t have a queue of cars half a mile long waiting to fill up with what was left. It was clear that the advice had been completely ignored, and panic buying was the order of the day.

Judging by the news coming out of the ACAS meetings, the drivers are looking to enter into talks to stop the strike happening, so was the panic a planned move to deflect our attention from something else?

Whatever the reason, people in such lofty positions should use a bit more common sense with regard to such issues. Not only have they put the country into fuel induced pandemonium, but their crass handling of the situation has resulted in a woman being severely burned whilst decanting petrol in her kitchen. A serious lack of Wisdom, Courage and Compassion all round.

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