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May 2009 Blog Posts (24)

Music and Spiritual Practice - An Overview of Poligraf (part 2)

(Buddha the Conqueror by Nicholas Roerich)

Buddhism has been an essential part of my life since the mid-90s.

The adventure began when I stumbled upon a feature in an encyclopedic dictionary that highlighted the Four Noble Truths. That finding immediately sparked my curiosity and a few days later I was buying a copy… Continue

Added by Christopher Stewart on May 29, 2009 at 21:44 — No Comments

Thirty Thousand Days -How Are You Using Them?

We just finished a short video called

Thirty Thousand Days - How Are Your Using Them?

Thirty Thousand Days is the average number of days a person in Western society will live. Please take a look at this video and reflect on your life. Any feedback is welcome.

http://www.todoinstitute.org/30kdays.html

(scroll down on on the linked… Continue

Added by Gregg Krech on May 29, 2009 at 14:26 — No Comments

Listening to the Other out today!

Just got the first copies last night and today is the day! Listening to the Other is out.

Added by caroline brazier on May 29, 2009 at 11:30 — 3 Comments

Music and Spiritual Practice - An Overview of Poligraf (part 1)

Music has been an essential part of my life since the end of the 80s.

The adventure began during the second of my four years of studying electrical engineering at Université Laval in Québec City. Through various friends and contacts I reconnected with progressive rock, a form of music to which I had already been exposed to in my youth thanks to my older brothers and sisters. Hearing the music of bands such as Yes, Rush, Genesis, and King… Continue

Added by Christopher Stewart on May 28, 2009 at 21:49 — 2 Comments

Ceremonies at Amida Newcastle this week

I'm delighted to be able to confirm that:

1) on Tuesday 26th May, David Gardner took the 5 Refuges and the 10 Mahayana Prayers of Upasakas

and to tell you that:

2) on Wednesday 27th, Ixchel took the 3 Refuges.

On both occasions, Amida-shu member Rachel Abel was an excellent Bellmaster

I'm happy to say that there is likely to be another Refuge ceremony in a few weeks time!…

Continue

Added by Sujatin on May 28, 2009 at 9:17 — No Comments

PURELAND AND CHRISTIANITY

I responded to a post by Richard, but wanted to also post a somewhat edited version of my response on my blog so others can respond to me if they want without clogging up Richard's page:

I came across your post, Richard, rather belatedly. I am touched by what you say, and particularly the loyality you feel to Christianity. I felt I wanted to share a bit. Pureland Buddhism has brought me great peace in this respect. I went through periods of deep faith and profound doubt at… Continue

Added by caroline brazier on May 26, 2009 at 13:30 — No Comments

In the end

(another song that I've not finished yet)

and when the time comes for me to die
will I be ready to say good-bye
to all my friends
and all my loves
that I have placed on high

For Amida waits for me
in the place where all is free
Amida Buddha
is the one I long to see

Added by Susthama on May 25, 2009 at 18:57 — 3 Comments

Shattering the mirror of Self Reflection

Thank you Spirit...for peeling back the layers to reveal your presence.

Thankful to the nagual for providing me with the minimal chance - the awareness of intent - and helping me to shatter this mirror of self reflection.

'The minimal chance consists of being made aware of the spirit.'

'Self reflection is what disconnected man from the spirit in the first place.'

'Silent knowledge is something all of us have'

Something that has complete… Continue

Added by Ras Danzen on May 23, 2009 at 20:31 — No Comments

Songs to Amida

Let the world fall apart

Let the system be corrupt

Let the winner take it all

I'll still have Amida in my heart

A song for you

is a song for me

to dance to the beat of the thunder clap

roaring and drumming to Amida's beat

See the sun behind the cloud

watch the fires burn underground

Amida's light lingers all around

this self so stupid and so proud

A song for you

is a song for me

Oh to be a cat in the… Continue

Added by Susthama on May 22, 2009 at 22:00 — 2 Comments

child

who wants to be protected in a way suitable for him
who wants to be safe and lazy
who wants to be in a control of the world, of the others

there is no future for this child

this is sad, this is not sad
this is disappointing, this is opening
this is me, this is not me

Added by Sumaya on May 21, 2009 at 16:01 — No Comments

?

Ive done something silly,

Ive done something worrying,

will it make me happy,

I cannot tell.

Ive made a blip,

And done a flip,

will it make it well,

I cannot tell.

Ive done something mad

Ive done something bad

is it worth the wait,

I cannot tell.

What have I done,

What can be won,

Is it going to work,

I cannot tell.

What will happen,

will it work,

whats the answer,

I cannot… Continue

Added by Emma on May 19, 2009 at 21:57 — No Comments

Faith and Other-Power

Last week, I was invited to be part of a panel of women to talk about our faith to a group of theology students at a multi-faith centre held at St.Philip's Church. I talked about Amida and the Quaker talked about the Light and the young Muslim talked about the project that she has started with a friend of hers.

She started by saying that she and her friend were starting to panic as they finished their studies and didn't know what to do after they graduated. They looked around and… Continue

Added by Susthama on May 19, 2009 at 16:00 — No Comments

Spiritual guidance for coping with economic crisis

The ToDo Institute recently put our journal:

Thirty Thousand Days: A Journal for Purposeful Living

in digital form for the first time using Issuu. There is something that I thought might be of interest to the Ning members. We asked several spiritual leaders to provide some guidance to people who are trying to cope with the economic crisis. We published their responses on pages 11 and 15. I think… Continue

Added by Gregg Krech on May 19, 2009 at 14:20 — No Comments

What is this??

No sé qué es esto ni qué va a pasar

Added by Fran Ayllón on May 18, 2009 at 16:11 — No Comments

Who would true valour see

Who would true valour see,

Let him come hither;

One here will constant be,

Come wind, come weather

There’s no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent

To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round

With dismal stories

Do but themselves confound;

His strength the more is.

No lion can him fright,

He’ll with a giant fight,

He will have a right

To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul… Continue

Added by Ras Danzen on May 14, 2009 at 21:21 — No Comments

Buddhist inmate in Texas wins religious lawsuit

A Buddhist prison inmate in Texas has won a lawsuit over rules for religious practice ::link

The prison system requires religious services to be performed by a chaplain or approved religious volunteers. Muslims were allowed to hold religious meetings, but chaplains had declined to lead Buddhist services because of lack of knowledge or because it conflicts with their own beliefs, according to Kelly Shackleford, chief… Continue

Added by Sujatin on May 11, 2009 at 10:42 — No Comments

All I really wanna do....

Spoken like a true master of his language. See the video on Utube Here.

Lyrics.

I ain't lookin' to compete with you

Beat or cheat or mistreat you

Simplify you, classify you

Deny, defy or crucify you

All I really want to do

Is, baby, be friends with you.

No, and I ain't lookin' to fight with you

Frighten you or tighten you

Drag you down or drain you down

Chain… Continue

Added by Ras Danzen on May 10, 2009 at 21:22 — No Comments

Review just published on Wildmind “Guilt: An Exploration” by Caroline Brazier reviewer Vajradevi (April 30, 2009) A leading Buddhist teacher writes about the knotty problem of guilt, but chooses to d…

Review just published on Wildmind

“Guilt: An Exploration” by Caroline Brazier

reviewer Vajradevi (April 30, 2009)

A leading Buddhist teacher writes about the knotty problem of guilt, but chooses to do so through a blend of fictional narrative, autobiography, and commentary. Vajradevi reveals all.

Caroline Brazier is a Buddhist practitioner and a psychotherapist of many years… Continue

Added by caroline brazier on May 9, 2009 at 21:04 — No Comments

A little bit lost!

For 7 year I was a member of the little, close, known sangha of Belgium: a group focused on buddhism, with Dharmavidya and Prasada as important teachers. This sangha gives support, love, friendship and power for the daily life: most of the members have a social job, that ask a lot. We have not so much connection with the international movement; only with Amida France. In our sangha, not very one is a 100% pure Amida-buddhist! There are different attitudes and choises, but the Buddhisme… Continue

Added by Katrien Sercu on May 9, 2009 at 10:15 — 4 Comments

Three Signs of Being

I have been asked about the formula in Buddhist teaching that is commonly called the Three Signs of Being. The full text, in Sanskrit, is

Sarva samskara anitya

Sarva samskara dukkha

Sarva dharma anatma

This is a very important text in Buddhism - a core statement of the doctrine. What does it mean?

'Sarva' means 'all'. 'Samskaras' are things that we construct, particularly 'mental formations'. D.T.Suzuki used to translate the term 'confections' which is… Continue

Added by Dharmavidya on May 6, 2009 at 22:16 — 7 Comments