What do we see when we look in a mirror? Do we see only the physical body looking back at us? Do we see further inside to what emotions we may be experiencing at that particular moment? Do the frown or smile lines make us consider what has happened to us in the past few … Continue reading Reflection
Tag: present
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
Negativity
We all experience reoccurring negative thoughts at some point in our lives. It might be when we replay an argument we have had with someone, or relive some past abuse which haunts us. When these negative thoughts arise, we are not living in the present moment any longer, but the past. How does this help … Continue reading Negativity
Mind imposed order
We are incredibly conditioned creatures, far more than we are consciously aware and our minds control almost everything we see, hear, experience and do. If we learn a new word, something unusual that has caught our interest, so we remember it, we begin to see or hear this particular word much more frequently in the … Continue reading Mind imposed order
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
Why do you sit?
This is a question many non-sitting people ask and a question difficult to answer. When sitting, no words are required, no explanation, no thinking, so to have to articulate why makes matters hard. When speaking to people who have never sat zazen, my answer varies, but the core is always the same. When I take … Continue reading Why do you sit?
Gift
It's no co-incidence that present and gift mean the same thing. What a joy it is to be truly present, not to be split in two with our head always half in some other place. To really be present and to live in the moment is the most peaceful and freeing experience we can have. … Continue reading Gift
Time
If we were locked in a small, pitch black room for an undefined period, we would doubtless experience a series of strong and varied emotions. Of course, if we did not know the reason, we would feel surprise, puzzlement and questioning what was happening would be our foremost thought. We may start to feel afraid … Continue reading Time
Looking beyond
How often have you been excited with a wrapped present, feeling its contours, shaking it, smelling it – only to be disappointed once it is ripped open? Conversely, there have been times when you have met someone who you did not find at all attractive, but as you have grown to know and like them … Continue reading Looking beyond
Zen musings 