Do humans have a soul? Is there something perpetual and eternal, some enduring aspect of us which lingers on after we die? There is something so quintessentially me, something that makes me unique and unlike any other human that has ever lived – surely, whether or not we were created by some higher intelligence, that … Continue reading Soul
Tag: existence
Life’s potential
A famous middle-aged Buddhist monk, who was suffering from a terminal disease, was interviewed by the press. “How does it make you feel, knowing you are dying?” the interviewer asked. “How does it make you feel to know you are dying?” the monk replied. “I mean, soon, before your time,” came the reply. “Whenever we … Continue reading Life’s potential
Certainty
Human beings are very good at analysing and labelling, at categorising and filing things into manageable boxes. But what can we really know for certain? We know without a doubt that the sun rises and sets every day, without exception. We know now that we don’t have to perform sacrifices or rituals for this to … Continue reading Certainty
The Mundane
When we think of Enlightenment, we do not think of the mundane tasks of everyday existence. We do not consider that if we are poor timekeepers, or don’t get enough exercise, that we will never reach Enlightenment. Enlightenment is thought of as a lofty, otherworldly affair, connected to spiritual ideas, contemplation and reflection. However, the … Continue reading The Mundane
Significant insignificance
Winter solstice this year saw the great conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter. This close alignment had not occurred since 1623 and with the close proximity of Christmas, it was named by many as the Christmas Star, similar to the one which many believe guided the three wise men to the baby Jesus, two thousand and … Continue reading Significant insignificance
Appreciation
What is your normal habit when having a meal? At breakfast, do you eat with your family and discuss the day, or read a newspaper? At lunch do you chat with colleagues or stay at your desk working while you eat? In the evening do you visit a restaurant with friends or watch TV with … Continue reading Appreciation
Atman
In Zen there is no self. When we sit, we are concentrating on the self that doesn't exist, devoting ourselves instead to the everything. We all exist as part of the whole, as part of the oneness, and in sitting we are letting go of our ego, of our self and realising our part in … Continue reading Atman
Significance
If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven't spent a night with a mosquito.* We have talked before about how important each and every one of us is, how we are like grains of sand, which make the whole beach, droplets of water which make the flowing river. The whole … Continue reading Significance
Illumination
Imagine being a in pitch black room, of which you have no comprehension of its size or contents, or even if there are other people present. Then imagine you have a candle, and with this small light you are able to see pockets of what the room contains. As you move around, you light up … Continue reading Illumination
Labels
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." * Names help us to make sense of the world. Humankind has bestowed names for things as far back as history tracks and for the majority, this desire to label things, to give a unique identity, to categorize and organise, has offered some way of … Continue reading Labels
Zen musings 