30 July, 2014

True happiness...

“Awake and rejoice in watchfulness. Understand the wisdom of the enlightened.
By watching keenly and working hard, the wise one may build himself an island 
which no flood can sweep away. The thoughtless man does not care, but the 
attentive man looks on wakefulness as his greatest treasure. 
Meditate, and in your wisdom realize nirvana, the highest happiness.”

Dhammapada

28 July, 2014

Physics...


“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. 
Match the frequency of the reality that you want 
and you cannot help but get that reality. 
It can be no other way. This is not philosophy,
this is physics.”

Albert Einstein

24 July, 2014

Oneness...


“Sakka asked: "What is the cause of self-interest?" The
Buddha answered: "It is perception of the world as one's object." 
"How does one overcome this perception of the world as 
apart from oneself?" "By acting for the increase of goodness and happiness. 
It is in this way that the world ceases to be one's object."” 

Digha Nikaya 


22 July, 2014

Pollution...


“The pollution of the planet is only an outward reflection 
of an inner psychic pollution: millions of unconscious
 individuals not taking responsibility for their inner space.”

Eckhart Tolle

21 July, 2014

On wrong desires...

“Suffering chastens us and makes us remember. We are like the child who tries to pick up fire and is unlikely to do it again, once she has seen the consequences. With material things, seeing is easy; but when it comes to picking up the fires of greed, aversion, and delusion, most of us aren't even aware were holding fires at all. On the contrary, we misguidedly believe them to be lovable and desirable, and so we are never chastened. We never learn our lesson.”

Buddhadhasa Bhikku, 
"Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree"

18 July, 2014

The Dweller within...


"It is true the body is perishable, but within it dwells the imperishable Self. This body is subject to pleasure and pain; no one who identifies with the body can escape from pleasure and pain. But those who know they are not the body pass beyond pleasure and pain to live in abiding joy.”

Chandogya Upanishad

16 July, 2014

In gratitude...

Although I have already inscribed the names of our key supporters in our Honours Wall on this web site, I feel it really important to acknowledge once more the wonderful people that have recently after many many years AGAIN shown their commitment and untiring support.

TASHI SHOK, (Snow Lion Crystals)  have once again donated a consignment of beautiful T shirts with Dharma symbols for issue as prizes to students and teachers involved in any of the various projects. They also provided high quality discounted bracelets as supplementary prizes The amount of giving that they have done has been extraordinary. In addition to this they have provided behind the scenes logistical support almost continuously. Chris and May: you have been a blessing for this project and I cannot thank you enough.

11 July, 2014

Twain on teaching...

via Google images

“Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes 
your time and annoys the pig.” 

Mark Twain

09 July, 2014

Reflection by Rumi

Photograph by Francesco Resteghini

In generosity and helping others be like the river.
In compassion and grace be like the sun.
In concealing others' faults be like the night.
In anger and fury be like the dead.
In modesty and humility be like the soil.
In tolerance be like the ocean.
Either you appear as you are or 
...be as you appear.

Rumi

08 July, 2014

On the potential of a virtuous state of mind...

From a Buddhist point of view, the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn is generally dependent on karmic forces, our state of mind at the time of death can influence the quality of our next rebirth. So at the moment of death, in spite of the great variety of karmas we have accumulated, if we make a special effort to generate a virtuous state of mind, we may strengthen and activate a virtuous karma, and so bring about a happy rebirth.

HH THE DALAI LAMA










































04 July, 2014

Reflections and emptiness...

“One moon appears everywhere in all bodies of water; the moons in all bodies of water are contained in one moon. This is a metaphor for one mind producing myriad things and myriad things producing one mind. This refers to dream illusions, flowers in the sky, half-seeming, half empty.”

Hsueh-yen

02 July, 2014

Flashes


Myriad images:
faces, moments, feelings rise 
and die, Landscapes, colours, 
pictures fleeting by.
Valley of the mind, meadow 
of the heart,
Endless waves in motion, 
the senses part
All that shimmers is but a dream,
From which we've yet to wean
Retreating from this endless show
Is the only place there is to know
It is here, it is now, it is clear
The freedom path to which to steer
Therein all is peace, bliss, complete
No shifting sands beneath our feet
Impossible to grasp, recount or define
is the true being of our Eternal Mind.

Somwang (Book of Poems) Copyright