What draws me to the Dharma -

In this blog I’m just musing around what comes up as I think about what has been a big focus of my spiritual life over the past 18 months or so.

3 words occur to me: Heart, Faith and Community.

What do I mean by Heart in this…

1. Today I started to set things in motion. Without motion nothing happens.

What I am talking about? Finding a job as a counsellor in…

I havent written here in a while. D'you mind if I stop off and offer a few words? This is a letter to my soon to be born child- my wife's first and my second. It goes like this:

'Dear little person

You don't know me yet - maybe you've heard what I hope is the comforting sound of your father's voice from the outside - but we'll meet soon enough. What I want to say is that you are coming into a strange world, and when you get here you may just wish that you'd…

Once again the sun is shining. It is chilly but not frosty today so I set out on my daily walk around the land with my camera. This walk has become my daily practice as much as any formal sitting - it connects me both with the moment and with the eternal.

BUDDHISM IN NEPAL

Rajendra Man Bajracharya,…

I've been reading Buddhistm and Psychotherapy Across Cultures editted by Mark Unno and just wanted to share some of my reflections and feelings that I've experienced when reading some of the essays in his book. The chapters that have caught my attention are the ones primarily concerned with pastoral care and Shin Buddhism probably because it relates to my current situation. I have been working as a chaplain in psychiatric hospitals for almost a year - but before that I have been…

(Album Cover for « Samsara » by Christopher Stewart)

Poligraf’s first album will be entitled « Samsara » in reference to the cycle of reincarnation in Buddhist culture.

Samsara is a Sanskrit and Pali term derived from to « flow together, » « to go or pass through states, » « to wander, » and which translates as «…

Our second day in France this trip. We are just clearing up from brunch when a car pulls into the yard. We have visitors - Derek's new neighbours - lovely people and have travelled in East so familiar with Buddhism. I practice my French and they invite us for a meal one day, petrol permitting. They will come and join us for meditation one evening. Robert phones to say hello. We agree we'll see each other either when petrol is available or wen pone or other of us is energetic enough to walk…

(Untitled Artwork by Fred Bonneau)

« Polygraph » is intended as a portrait of human relationships turning to the sour, hinting at the necessity of constant genuineness. The composition lasts a little over 10 minutes and is composed of the following four sections…

Just a few thoughts occuring to me as I lay in bed this morning. I don't 'believe' in Amida, but I do have faith in a higher power. As I write 'higher' I react to the phrase. It feels a bit too top down. Of course this is an egoic response and I recognise it as such. My preferance is toward a more horizontal power, one imbued within the whole of nature, not looking down upon it froma lofty vantage point. Somehow this feels more helpful and positive position, bringing dignity…

I wanted to say how much I enjoyed Dharmavidya's talk at the London Centre last week - what I like especially about Amida as I understand things - is the open heartedness, the welcome, basically the humanity inherent in what is taught. This is an approach that respects the spirituality of other traditions, as well as honouring the individual person.

While the Pure Land tradition whole heartedly matters, the ecumenism expressed here is such that being human, takes (it seems to…