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
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