Living a meaningful life in a busy world, we might try to understand the core principles of Buddhism and apply them in our daily lives. We could let go of attachment and craving, practice mindfulness and meditation, and act with compassion and kindness towards all living beings. By following these principles, we can live a meaningful and fulfilling life, even in the midst of the challenges of western society.
All well said, but the challenge is to continue when faced with adversity. Small external hurdles can upset the apple cart. Most of my adversity is internal.
Michael Behrens, in this beautiful short documentary, The Art of Life, is a living example of doing the best we can with what is presented in this precious human life.
The Art of Life
Spirituality and Finding God…
The inner journey and the search for ‘truth’ is a deeply personal one. It’s with a lot of trepidation that I expose some thoughts about what this journey is about for me. There is little chance of discussing this in much depth in short-form article writing, but it’s an interesting way to start a conversation.
How often do we get around to analysing what we think about God?
Many of you will have daily practises that keep the mystery of Spirituality foremost in your mind, and others will find the busyness of life blocks us from the mystery within.
Today, I urge you to take 10 minutes to pause and list, as I have, a few ideas to ponder for this week and reflect again next Sunday on how your mind has processed these prompts. What will you find, I wonder?
Call Me By My True Name
Please Call Me by My True Names – Thich Nhat Hanh
Don’t say that I will depart tomorrow —
even today I am still arriving.
Look deeply: every second I am arriving
to be a bud on a Spring branch,
to be a tiny bird, with still-fragile wings,
learning to sing in my new nest,
to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,
to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.
I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
to fear and to hope.
The rhythm of my heart is the birth and death
of all that is alive.
I am the mayfly metamorphosing
on the surface of the river.
And I am the bird
that swoops down to swallow the mayfly.
I am the frog swimming happily
in the clear water of a pond.
And I am the grass-snake
that silently feeds itself on the frog.
I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,
my legs as thin as bamboo sticks.
And I am the arms merchant,
selling deadly weapons to Uganda.
I am the twelve-year-old girl,
refugee on a small boat,
who throws herself into the ocean
after being raped by a sea pirate.
And I am the pirate,
my heart not yet capable
of seeing and loving.
I am a member of the politburo,
with plenty of power in my hands.
And I am the man who has to pay
his “debt of blood” to my people
dying slowly in a forced-labor camp.
My joy is like Spring, so warm
it makes flowers bloom all over the Earth.
My pain is like a river of tears,
so vast it fills the four oceans.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and my laughter at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart
can be left open,
the door of compassion.
Adieu
I’m on the road this week visiting a friend who is having some health treatment. I look forward to writing for you again next week.
love alwaz
mike
Mike, I'm pleased to "meet" you and to follow your writing here (and I also followed a few of your very good links - I liked the "Boomer" tips!) Though I have always attended Episcopal and Anglican churches - I'm a singer and the choirs there are good, for one reason - most of the important teachings that have actually helped me in my daily life have come from Buddhism and a meditation practice. I am not currently keeping up with it, other than swimming every other morning, which is a kind of meditation and does help. You remind me that getting back on the cushion would be a very good idea, since I'm going through a lot of changes and loss, and some of it has been very difficult. Honesty does help people: this I've learned through my years of writing and relating to others. So, thank you for your honesty, and for following me here and for your message. I look forward to reading your words and communicating.
Thank you to Heather and Brad for 'liking' my newsletter this week. I need the applause because I'm a flawed individual (and loving it!).