Whether you class yourself as religious or not, whether you believe in sin or not, this quote from the Book of John holds an important message for all of us. Who are we to judge what another does, and what right does society have to decide what is good or bad? There do have to … Continue reading Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone
Tag: thought
I think, therefore the universe is.
As I entered the forest this morning, a myriad of experiences assaulted my senses. The bird song was prolific, the burbling chatter of the song thrush, the rich tones of the blackbirds, the rapid hurry of chaffinch notes and tweeting of the blue tits. The wind rushed through the swaying tree tops, roaring like a … Continue reading I think, therefore the universe is.
Reflection
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
Being
They say that Zen is a system of contradictions and that just when we think we are beginning to understand it, it turns things on their head and we are back to square one. This is a deliberate way of helping us to change our perspective and not to become trapped by our own thought … Continue reading Being
Thought
We have all experienced that one moment of pure clarity of mind, even if we can only see it retrospectively. It might have been when we were in a foreign country, driving on the other side of the road, through a busy city. It may have been when hanging over the precipiceof a mountain rock … Continue reading Thought
Power
Imagine something which makes you feel angry. Perhaps it's a memory of an argument you've had, or some injustice done to you or someone close to you. The more strongly you imagine it the angrier you feel. Your muscles start to tense and you feel your mind become clouded with negative emotions. This is both … Continue reading Power
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
Satori
The sudden and intuitive way of seeing into anything, whether it be remembering a forgotten name or seeing into the deepest principles of Buddhism. One seeks and seeks, but one cannot find. One then gives up, and the answer comes by itself.* We have all experienced this on some level or other, whether we were … Continue reading Satori
Mind-Body
Mind-Body We cannot separate mind from body nor body from mind in this realm within which we dwell. When we are hungry we feel it in both, just as when we are angry our mind flares with the emotion as our heart race quickens and our stomachs clench. When we train our bodies, we train … Continue reading Mind-Body
At your peril…
Why do we suffer? We love and lose, we toil and sweat blood, each experience brings with it an opposite and fear is the opposite of love. Fear is born of suffering, and we learn, like the child with a match. It is how we respond to the suffering that dictates if it brings fear. … Continue reading At your peril…
Zen musings 