In the Eleusinian Mysteries, the motto written over the door was Know Thyself. During the initiations, a student was placed inside a maze fraught with dangers, with the promise that if they were to reach the centre then they would find the truth, they would discover God. For those that made it through, the holy … Continue reading Eleusinian Mysteries
Tag: life
Soul
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
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
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
Reality
A well known saying states that love is blind. This can be true in the fact that people can fall in love with one another because of who they are inside, despite whether they find each other physically attractive or not. The idea follows that the more we fall for someone, the more attractive their … Continue reading Reality
Stillness
For many Buddhists, the world is seen as a difficult place, full of delusion and attachments, which in turn cause suffering and pain. This whirlwind, however, can be escaped through Nirvana, which is seen as a state of 'no wind', the ultimate attainment. Nirvana ensures no rebirth, a break from the wheel of life into … Continue reading Stillness
The Eyes of the Moon
We are all aware of cultural and social differences. We know that for some cultures ghosts are real, for others they are a fancy. Some believe in an afterlife, others think this reality is all there is. Some like to eat snails and insects, some are strict vegans. Some wear white at weddings, others wear … Continue reading The Eyes of the Moon
Change
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.* We change, every moment of our lives. Our skin cells renew, our hair and nails grow, our body ages - physically we are not the same person we were even a minute ago. The … Continue reading Change
Begin
All journeys, all lessons, everything in life begins with the first step, the first decision, the first thought, hope, realisation. It may seem impossibly hard, when looking at it from this side, as if it is insurmountable, ludicrous, beyond our capabilities, but that is when we look at the top of the mountain from the … Continue reading Begin
Trust
It seems to be a trait of the 'civilised' Western tradition that control is of upmost importance. Our days are timetabled and scheduled, down to the last minute and if we are not seen to be being efficient, then we are' lazy'. We fill our time with jobs and appointments, distractions and even time itself … Continue reading Trust
Zen musings 