They say you always find the teacher you need when you need them most.
Maybe this is only really true in yoga circles. By this, I mean in the sense of teaching and classes, and not some bizarre new posture for the extra supple to try. But I have a sneaking suspicion that we unwittingly stumble across key people to lead us at special moments. We might not even recognise them as such at the time even. It might well take the passing of time before we even see the guidance they gave us, and the impact they had on our lives.
I've been prompted to realise this by today's Buddhist encouragement. "Those who have a mentor in life are truly fortunate. The path of mentor and disciple is one that leads to personal development and growth. Those without a mentor may appear free and unbeholden to anyone, but without a solid standard or model on which to base themselves their lives will be aimless and wandering."
I guess it makes for a curious spool back to spot all one's wonderful people. I know I was lucky enough to listen to an extraordinary lady explaining Buddhism to me at the start of last year. She recalled this coffee with me yesterday, and it reinforced the moment as we had both experienced it. For her, she had been somewhat taken aback that her words had had such impact on someone. She had so dramatically connected with what I needed to hear, and she had so obviously reached an inner part of me, her captivated listener. Apparently my face was visibly changed at the end of our chat.
For my part, I think her words were like beautiful rain on parched earth. I was stuck in difficult circumstances and with draining emotions. Here was a lady explaining it all to me, and giving me astonishingly clear and simple solutions. I remember being enthralled, and realising I had to listen and absorb with every ounce of my being. I was vividly tuned in to the moment, as one is on such rare occasions.
Looking back now, I shudder to think how my entrenched problems might have escalated if she hadn't talked to me. It's almost imposible to imagine having pulled through without this wonderful life line. I am so deeply indebted to her and her impeccable timing. It's completely apparent that this gave me the strength and insight to get through the end of the darkest period of my life.
And today, I was back in the very same cafe when an acquaintance started to ask me about my chanting. I belive she is encountering great waves of stress and hardships in her family and professional life, and she's been doing yoga and meditating like a pro for years. But I shied away from giving her even the slightest spiel, and I wonder now whether I should have seized the moment. How does one know when to divulge and to encourage? It's a tricky one, and I did opt out this time.
Maybe next time I should just gulp my coffee for courage, and launch into my "beginner's cafe guide to Buddhism"?
Nam myoho renge kyo
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Monday, 2 July 2007
Holding up a mirror
I was signed up for my special scroll for chanting to today. It's the first really big step I've taken to commiting properly to this practice. It also means I'm serious about making chanting an enduring part of my life. Gulp.
But then I'm not really gulping that much. It's an honour to be approved for this very special representation in writing and paper of Nichiren's Buddhism. In receiving the scroll with the beautiful flowing characters inscribed on it, you are recognising and accepting the whole package. In effect.So it's like being offered an invite to the party of the year, but with no strings attrached and just the offer of a fantastically life-changing time ahead.
The scroll is typically the focal point for a Buddhist to sit and chant at. Twice a day, one should be on one's knees (or seated however most comfy short of slumped supine) belting out a good ol' session for all one's worth. Roaring like a lion as I mentioned before. What a beautiful analogy that is. For me, it conveys all the majestic power and energy of the king of beasts, and all focussed on lifting our lives and happiness by just our voices alone.
Naturally I'm itching to get equipped. One's very own Gohonzon, as the scroll is called in it's proper terminology, is said to function very much as as a spiritual mirror. Which means one can clearly see what one needs at any moment. It's a surefire way of getting to the nub of one's problems and perplextities, and seeing the best way through them. As those in the know say "Sitting in front of the Gohonzon and chanting, a person is able to recognize and reveal his or her own Buddha nature, the creative essence of life."
My home and heart are awaiting it's arrival with glee.
Nam myoho renge kyo
But then I'm not really gulping that much. It's an honour to be approved for this very special representation in writing and paper of Nichiren's Buddhism. In receiving the scroll with the beautiful flowing characters inscribed on it, you are recognising and accepting the whole package. In effect.So it's like being offered an invite to the party of the year, but with no strings attrached and just the offer of a fantastically life-changing time ahead.
The scroll is typically the focal point for a Buddhist to sit and chant at. Twice a day, one should be on one's knees (or seated however most comfy short of slumped supine) belting out a good ol' session for all one's worth. Roaring like a lion as I mentioned before. What a beautiful analogy that is. For me, it conveys all the majestic power and energy of the king of beasts, and all focussed on lifting our lives and happiness by just our voices alone.
Naturally I'm itching to get equipped. One's very own Gohonzon, as the scroll is called in it's proper terminology, is said to function very much as as a spiritual mirror. Which means one can clearly see what one needs at any moment. It's a surefire way of getting to the nub of one's problems and perplextities, and seeing the best way through them. As those in the know say "Sitting in front of the Gohonzon and chanting, a person is able to recognize and reveal his or her own Buddha nature, the creative essence of life."
My home and heart are awaiting it's arrival with glee.
Nam myoho renge kyo
Sunday, 1 July 2007
The roar of a lion
There is a well-written and easy to digest American website on my type of Buddhism. It contains a sweet section called "Daily Encouragements" - a bit like the fabulously quaint "Thought for the Day" aired on the National Treasure that is Radio 4.
I've got into the subconscious habit of checking into this for a dose of daily encouragement. Well, we can all do with a helping hand. And especially in something so new and difficult as Buddhism. Today's words were colourful in that chanting is described as being "like the roar of a lion". Of course.
Hmmmm. This wasn't quite the still, small snippet of wisdom I had been expecting. But I've had the words in mind all day, and I like them more and more. They make perfect sense if you let them just sit in your mental inbox for a while.
I had infact popped into see a friend on the way to the gym earlier. She is just beginning to chant as a newbie Buddhist, although already a survivor of strength and an all-round beautiful soul. I am but one page ahead of her in the manual, so to speak.
We sat and chatted about this and that. We laughed at how weird it can feel to start - reciting medieval Japanese out loud to oneself. Taken out of context, yes we could appear to be somewhat barmy, or even of the "talking to oneself" nutty brigade. But it's a comforting practice to feel the vibrations of the poetic words resonate in your throat and chest. It's a strengthening act to know your polishing your vision, and building your spiritual muscles. How apt that I was sitting there in my gym kit, on the way to hone my pyhsical body on the treadmill...
My friend was keen to download an MP3 to chant along to. So online we jolly well went, and fiddled about with her painfully clunky dial-up and old Window's interface. Seemingly aeons latter, we gave up but promised to meet tomorrow for a local group session.
Chatting to her with my tiny morsel of knowledge made me aware of how far I've come in only 6 months. I can actually get through both sections of chanting without humilating myself dramatically. My pronunciation won't win me any prizes - but I'm at least putting on a good show. And I've benefitted enormously from the inner strength and calm it confers already. I can't imagine coping with my drop-dead deadlines and financial pressures now without this powerful invocation. I so much want my friend to feel this empowering force too.
Induge me with the roaring lion encouragement, if you will. It's the simplest of instructions ever, but it has made the profoundest of all differences. "It is by chanting powerful daimoku, like a lion's roar, that we can move the Buddhist deities, the protective forces of the universe. The voice is very important-it has profound power. While naturally being careful not to disturb your neighbors, I hope you will endeavor to chant cheerful and powerful daimoku that reaches all the Buddhist deities and Buddhas throughout the 10 directions."
Nam myoho renge kyo
I've got into the subconscious habit of checking into this for a dose of daily encouragement. Well, we can all do with a helping hand. And especially in something so new and difficult as Buddhism. Today's words were colourful in that chanting is described as being "like the roar of a lion". Of course.
Hmmmm. This wasn't quite the still, small snippet of wisdom I had been expecting. But I've had the words in mind all day, and I like them more and more. They make perfect sense if you let them just sit in your mental inbox for a while.
I had infact popped into see a friend on the way to the gym earlier. She is just beginning to chant as a newbie Buddhist, although already a survivor of strength and an all-round beautiful soul. I am but one page ahead of her in the manual, so to speak.
We sat and chatted about this and that. We laughed at how weird it can feel to start - reciting medieval Japanese out loud to oneself. Taken out of context, yes we could appear to be somewhat barmy, or even of the "talking to oneself" nutty brigade. But it's a comforting practice to feel the vibrations of the poetic words resonate in your throat and chest. It's a strengthening act to know your polishing your vision, and building your spiritual muscles. How apt that I was sitting there in my gym kit, on the way to hone my pyhsical body on the treadmill...
My friend was keen to download an MP3 to chant along to. So online we jolly well went, and fiddled about with her painfully clunky dial-up and old Window's interface. Seemingly aeons latter, we gave up but promised to meet tomorrow for a local group session.
Chatting to her with my tiny morsel of knowledge made me aware of how far I've come in only 6 months. I can actually get through both sections of chanting without humilating myself dramatically. My pronunciation won't win me any prizes - but I'm at least putting on a good show. And I've benefitted enormously from the inner strength and calm it confers already. I can't imagine coping with my drop-dead deadlines and financial pressures now without this powerful invocation. I so much want my friend to feel this empowering force too.
Induge me with the roaring lion encouragement, if you will. It's the simplest of instructions ever, but it has made the profoundest of all differences. "It is by chanting powerful daimoku, like a lion's roar, that we can move the Buddhist deities, the protective forces of the universe. The voice is very important-it has profound power. While naturally being careful not to disturb your neighbors, I hope you will endeavor to chant cheerful and powerful daimoku that reaches all the Buddhist deities and Buddhas throughout the 10 directions."
Nam myoho renge kyo
Saturday, 30 June 2007
My home is a temple!
Gosh how can one blink and 3 weeks pass by so quick? It's good to be back to normal life again, and to normal problems. Rather than the particulary painful ones of getting domestically connected(cable and broadband related especially), bedding in a small child (much in the way of a tender young plant), and unpacking the clothes and clobber to some vaguely sensible places. It all takes up so much extra precious energy, and it really is about as much fun as a loo queue at a rainy summer festival. But hey..
My budding Buddhism has survived the move in very good shape. Not that it wouldn't. I'm also the blushingly proud owner of a beautiful dark wood Butsudan. It's a wooden cabinet basically. It's set to hold my soon-to-be-acquired "Gohonzon" srcoll for all my everyday chanting purposes. And like my flat around it, the cabinet altar has all the potential of becoming a beautiful little space. I'm fascintated about the rituals and symbolism of these exotic altars at the heart of a Buddhist home.
There's nothing even remotely British or European to compare them to. Our living rooms are so dominated by big TV sreens or computers, or a fireplace and pictures if we're less wired. We just don't seem to bring spiritual icons or images into our homes here. Unless we are passionately Catholic and South Mediterranen I guess.
But cabinets just like my burnished wood one are widely used in the East to house Buddhist scrolls. Imagine some weird parallel Britain with one in every home! Anyway, I'm all set to seek out some special objects for it. Apparently the form is to use candlesticks, incense burners, bells, and foliage or plants.
The word Butsudan apparently means "Buddha's House" in Japanese. Which is kinda cute, and descriptive of how is really a home within a home. It's used as the focal point for all-important daily chanting, so one doesn't end up foolishily blinking at a bare wall or worse.
Font of online wisdom Wilkipedia states is houses "a scroll with writing or pictures of the Buddha and can be found in the highest and central point. Water and food (usually fruits or rice) is served beneath the statue or scroll. An Incenese burner is also found beneath the statue also in the center. Candles and flowers or evergreens are found surrounding the incense burners. Below that can be found the Buddhist bell rung during recitation of prayers."
So I'm confident I'm on the right track with this. I'm eager to adorn my new Butsudan, and generally give it a great big hug. It's also a lot more inspiring than shuffling the old furniture around, putting up yet more Ikea pictures, and repainting the walls mentally.
Nam myoho renge kyo.
My budding Buddhism has survived the move in very good shape. Not that it wouldn't. I'm also the blushingly proud owner of a beautiful dark wood Butsudan. It's a wooden cabinet basically. It's set to hold my soon-to-be-acquired "Gohonzon" srcoll for all my everyday chanting purposes. And like my flat around it, the cabinet altar has all the potential of becoming a beautiful little space. I'm fascintated about the rituals and symbolism of these exotic altars at the heart of a Buddhist home.
There's nothing even remotely British or European to compare them to. Our living rooms are so dominated by big TV sreens or computers, or a fireplace and pictures if we're less wired. We just don't seem to bring spiritual icons or images into our homes here. Unless we are passionately Catholic and South Mediterranen I guess.
But cabinets just like my burnished wood one are widely used in the East to house Buddhist scrolls. Imagine some weird parallel Britain with one in every home! Anyway, I'm all set to seek out some special objects for it. Apparently the form is to use candlesticks, incense burners, bells, and foliage or plants.
The word Butsudan apparently means "Buddha's House" in Japanese. Which is kinda cute, and descriptive of how is really a home within a home. It's used as the focal point for all-important daily chanting, so one doesn't end up foolishily blinking at a bare wall or worse.
Font of online wisdom Wilkipedia states is houses "a scroll with writing or pictures of the Buddha and can be found in the highest and central point. Water and food (usually fruits or rice) is served beneath the statue or scroll. An Incenese burner is also found beneath the statue also in the center. Candles and flowers or evergreens are found surrounding the incense burners. Below that can be found the Buddhist bell rung during recitation of prayers."
So I'm confident I'm on the right track with this. I'm eager to adorn my new Butsudan, and generally give it a great big hug. It's also a lot more inspiring than shuffling the old furniture around, putting up yet more Ikea pictures, and repainting the walls mentally.
Nam myoho renge kyo.
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Back again shortly
Last days and goodbyes tend to be difficult I know. But in this case of moving home, I've been forced into seeming denial on my final day. In an extraordinary gesture, I've totally bunked off bubble wrap duty and allowed myself to be taken to a traditional steam fair. It all sounds frivolous and in fact borderline reckless, I grant you. But it does make perfect sense given the baking heat and my one-on-one child caring. The packing will have to wait. Probably for the dead hours of tonight and the crack of tomorrow's dawn.
I'm still contemplating the states of Buddhist being though. In between the dodgems and popcorn, the various different inner conditions have been flowing through my body. Rather like eating from a variety selection of family chocolates. I've been opting for the soft-centred tranquility cremes when I can, but I've come across a fair selection of nutty, hard anger and hunger chewy ones too.
It's just been too hot and sticky to aspire to a higher plane. Muggy weather and moving seem to block refined conduct. My innate desire for improvement is still there, much in the way I've harboured a secret wish list for the type of place I'm trying to move too. The local estate agents have been highly skilled in matching me to places bearing only a passing resemblance. So in this respect, I'm holding out for a place that's practical but not the best possible.
Meanwhile, over on the Buddhist ladder, I'm far more sure of moving up the inner world's scale. Given I feel largely past the lower, reactive inner states - see yesterday's post - I'm quietly aiming to sign for the more gracious settings of "Learning" and "Realization". To quote the Big American Boys, "people in these states have won a measure of independence and are no longer prisoner to their own reactions."
These more des res ways of operating require degrees of deliberate effort. They are the only way to really get ahead in Buddhism. They represent half of what is enticingly termed the "four noble worlds" and are truly worth working for. In Buddhist terms, "learning" is when we are actively looking for knowledge, from official swotty sources to those cosy chats over coffeee or a bottle of wine."Realization" kicks in when we start squaring up our new ideas in our own way.
So, back on the home front, I plan to take a week off posting. Not that anyone will miss me apart from my imaginary reader. I'm probably offline until I get settled again. And I may even come back as better on the inside...
Nam myoho renge kyo.
I'm still contemplating the states of Buddhist being though. In between the dodgems and popcorn, the various different inner conditions have been flowing through my body. Rather like eating from a variety selection of family chocolates. I've been opting for the soft-centred tranquility cremes when I can, but I've come across a fair selection of nutty, hard anger and hunger chewy ones too.
It's just been too hot and sticky to aspire to a higher plane. Muggy weather and moving seem to block refined conduct. My innate desire for improvement is still there, much in the way I've harboured a secret wish list for the type of place I'm trying to move too. The local estate agents have been highly skilled in matching me to places bearing only a passing resemblance. So in this respect, I'm holding out for a place that's practical but not the best possible.
Meanwhile, over on the Buddhist ladder, I'm far more sure of moving up the inner world's scale. Given I feel largely past the lower, reactive inner states - see yesterday's post - I'm quietly aiming to sign for the more gracious settings of "Learning" and "Realization". To quote the Big American Boys, "people in these states have won a measure of independence and are no longer prisoner to their own reactions."
These more des res ways of operating require degrees of deliberate effort. They are the only way to really get ahead in Buddhism. They represent half of what is enticingly termed the "four noble worlds" and are truly worth working for. In Buddhist terms, "learning" is when we are actively looking for knowledge, from official swotty sources to those cosy chats over coffeee or a bottle of wine."Realization" kicks in when we start squaring up our new ideas in our own way.
So, back on the home front, I plan to take a week off posting. Not that anyone will miss me apart from my imaginary reader. I'm probably offline until I get settled again. And I may even come back as better on the inside...
Nam myoho renge kyo.
Saturday, 9 June 2007
The way of the worlds
Given that I am on the cusp of moving home, to as of yet uncertain location, whilst also staging a scary large business event and negotiating my first complex commercial banking arrangement, I have been feeling stressed. Well probably a mixture of the six "lower states" actually. And quite understandably I'd suggest.
I'd hoped to stay in the calm, happy space my chanting has created. To a Buddhist, this might be recognisable as a state of tranquility. It's not a bad place to be in the scheme of things - about a C for effort in overall Buddha School marks. I do have fleeting moments in the zone, but they pass all too soon. Those big bad nasties creep right back up behind me.
All of which brings me to the spectrum of states you can be in as a Buddhist. Consciously or otherwise, and probably through the bottom of any empty glass, in my weak-willed experience. Looked at like this, I could just about say I have been to hell and back, and be able to justify the expression.
In Buddhism, there are ten inner ways of being. They are always with us, and we just shift from one to another. We're blindly getting on with reacting to what is happening to us. It's all about how we are in the moment.
There is also a hierachy in all of this. It starts with our lowest, darkest state of life coloured by pain. Ths is "hell". It's the hard rock of our genuine suffering and despair, and gives us that flight and fight urge. Moving up, we can feel "hunger" - the everyday desire for money, power and status. I'd put this as the spiritual triumphate of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. Not surprisingly, these can feel wonderfully glamourously and inordinately attractive. Austin Power's Yeah Baby attractive.
Up another step and we can be animal-like and ruled by our instincts. Reason and morals can go out of the window in the jungle. Up one step again and we can hit anger - the egotistic sort of selfish-centred, one-up type of hair flicking superiority. Miss Piggy barging through and demanding things.
Ah but then we can reach the welcoming flat plains of tranquillity. It's a sort of base camp on the assult to higher things. We might shift temporarily from this onto moments of bliss - well if you've got a good love life,won a lottery ticket, or just got lucky in the sales that is. You know the deal.
Put together as a package, we have the "six paths" or "six lower worlds" of Buddhism, all callously shoving us around. No wonder we rattle between them like a demented commuter on a wild rush hour. We're just trying to get somewhere, like everyone else, and having a rough ride on the way.
Which is pretty much where I've been at today. I've been pushed and pulled by my demanding little one, on the go since dawn. This is tiring enough, as all us moaning and middle-aged mummies will testify. But I've also had to squeeze in all the other practial bits as well - the moving out packing and planning, and the urgent business problem solving by email, text and phone. I've got a three-lane motorway running through my tranquility. It's tough not ending up in the state of lower world-ville, believe me! I need to chant and connect.
Nam myoho renge kyo
I'd hoped to stay in the calm, happy space my chanting has created. To a Buddhist, this might be recognisable as a state of tranquility. It's not a bad place to be in the scheme of things - about a C for effort in overall Buddha School marks. I do have fleeting moments in the zone, but they pass all too soon. Those big bad nasties creep right back up behind me.
All of which brings me to the spectrum of states you can be in as a Buddhist. Consciously or otherwise, and probably through the bottom of any empty glass, in my weak-willed experience. Looked at like this, I could just about say I have been to hell and back, and be able to justify the expression.
In Buddhism, there are ten inner ways of being. They are always with us, and we just shift from one to another. We're blindly getting on with reacting to what is happening to us. It's all about how we are in the moment.
There is also a hierachy in all of this. It starts with our lowest, darkest state of life coloured by pain. Ths is "hell". It's the hard rock of our genuine suffering and despair, and gives us that flight and fight urge. Moving up, we can feel "hunger" - the everyday desire for money, power and status. I'd put this as the spiritual triumphate of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. Not surprisingly, these can feel wonderfully glamourously and inordinately attractive. Austin Power's Yeah Baby attractive.
Up another step and we can be animal-like and ruled by our instincts. Reason and morals can go out of the window in the jungle. Up one step again and we can hit anger - the egotistic sort of selfish-centred, one-up type of hair flicking superiority. Miss Piggy barging through and demanding things.
Ah but then we can reach the welcoming flat plains of tranquillity. It's a sort of base camp on the assult to higher things. We might shift temporarily from this onto moments of bliss - well if you've got a good love life,won a lottery ticket, or just got lucky in the sales that is. You know the deal.
Put together as a package, we have the "six paths" or "six lower worlds" of Buddhism, all callously shoving us around. No wonder we rattle between them like a demented commuter on a wild rush hour. We're just trying to get somewhere, like everyone else, and having a rough ride on the way.
Which is pretty much where I've been at today. I've been pushed and pulled by my demanding little one, on the go since dawn. This is tiring enough, as all us moaning and middle-aged mummies will testify. But I've also had to squeeze in all the other practial bits as well - the moving out packing and planning, and the urgent business problem solving by email, text and phone. I've got a three-lane motorway running through my tranquility. It's tough not ending up in the state of lower world-ville, believe me! I need to chant and connect.
Nam myoho renge kyo
Friday, 8 June 2007
This time it's personal
I'm back on to the question of what Karma is again. I instinctively know it's of paramount importance - the sort of thing that makes or breaks. It's in my mind as I navigate my way through my stormy waters of house moving and business mananging.
Karma, in it's real non-hippie slang form, is the cumulation of "effects" (Buddha speak for outcomes I think) from all the good and bad "causes" (again technical BSpeak, for all our thoughts,words and actions) we've made in our lives. This shapes our present and our future. Karma simply means 'action' in Sanscrit - so no great mystery with that word fortunately. Our thoughts, words and deeds show themselves in everything about us, including our good and bad fortune. They pretty much make up the "us" of "us".
I've been wondering how my Karma has led me to where I am domestically speaking. I think I'm getting a handle on how I've been neglecting my personal affairs. My eye has been so trained on my business ball that I've let a whole fleet of personal admin stack up like planes holding over Heathrow. It's time these aero-babies landed. My strong and sneaky suspicions say I need to do clean up my less-than-perfect bills and paper-filing act.
As an insightful Amercian coaching friend of mine suggested over lunch earlier, I could try managing my personal affairs wih the skills I've carefully applied to my business. It seems pretty blindingly obvious now with hindsight, but she did have to say the words out loud. Although it was more of a honeyed whisper of a Southern American drawl from her sweet lips. I'm indebted to her clarity of thinking. She's an instinctively clever gal, and it's one heck of a help having her on side...
In Buddhist ways, we have the fortune of knowing our karma isn't set in some spiritial stone. We're no unfortunate prehistoric fly caught in amber. We're free to change our thinking, so we're free to change our pesky bad habits and destuctive ways. We're all given second chances - we all have the power to change by simply changing our minds.
So I'm busy setting up my new business approach to my home life. The new and improved BuddhaBelle Ltd is launching very soon, aiming to clean up its sister's act. I'm changing my whole karma, if you will, as to how I run the business of my life and my child's life. Not that I'm after a ruthlessly lean and mean set-up. More of an effecient operations unit working for the home and happiness that my little child deserves.
It's not a bad mission statement,I hope you agree. It's not a half bad line-up of talent and experience either. But you'll have to take my word on that bit.
Thank you Lizzy. Nan myoho renge kyo
Karma, in it's real non-hippie slang form, is the cumulation of "effects" (Buddha speak for outcomes I think) from all the good and bad "causes" (again technical BSpeak, for all our thoughts,words and actions) we've made in our lives. This shapes our present and our future. Karma simply means 'action' in Sanscrit - so no great mystery with that word fortunately. Our thoughts, words and deeds show themselves in everything about us, including our good and bad fortune. They pretty much make up the "us" of "us".
I've been wondering how my Karma has led me to where I am domestically speaking. I think I'm getting a handle on how I've been neglecting my personal affairs. My eye has been so trained on my business ball that I've let a whole fleet of personal admin stack up like planes holding over Heathrow. It's time these aero-babies landed. My strong and sneaky suspicions say I need to do clean up my less-than-perfect bills and paper-filing act.
As an insightful Amercian coaching friend of mine suggested over lunch earlier, I could try managing my personal affairs wih the skills I've carefully applied to my business. It seems pretty blindingly obvious now with hindsight, but she did have to say the words out loud. Although it was more of a honeyed whisper of a Southern American drawl from her sweet lips. I'm indebted to her clarity of thinking. She's an instinctively clever gal, and it's one heck of a help having her on side...
In Buddhist ways, we have the fortune of knowing our karma isn't set in some spiritial stone. We're no unfortunate prehistoric fly caught in amber. We're free to change our thinking, so we're free to change our pesky bad habits and destuctive ways. We're all given second chances - we all have the power to change by simply changing our minds.
So I'm busy setting up my new business approach to my home life. The new and improved BuddhaBelle Ltd is launching very soon, aiming to clean up its sister's act. I'm changing my whole karma, if you will, as to how I run the business of my life and my child's life. Not that I'm after a ruthlessly lean and mean set-up. More of an effecient operations unit working for the home and happiness that my little child deserves.
It's not a bad mission statement,I hope you agree. It's not a half bad line-up of talent and experience either. But you'll have to take my word on that bit.
Thank you Lizzy. Nan myoho renge kyo
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