the sensation of life
Being deaf, Beethoven could hear the music of the Universe, unheard by the rest of us. The String Quartet No. 14 in C# minor, Opus 131, played without pause, seems to gather the slow and steady rise of the sun, mixing it with the unyielding turn of the Earth around the fire in its center. … Continue reading Glimpsing Eternity
In meditative or contemplative practices, the advice on dealing with so-called 'distractions' is to come back either to your breath, or to a word, phrase or mantra. I want to write about attention to this body in contrast to, or in concert with, the breath or a word. I have just prayed. When I noticed … Continue reading Desire and this body
[You may wish to read Parts I, II & III first.] Moving from regret to life There are three kinds of regret: It's gone: sadness, loss, bereavement, for who and what is no longer here, or for what might have been; It's me: shame and guilt for who and what I have been and done; … Continue reading A few thoughts on how to release regret and learn to live (IV)
May all beings be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be; Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, The seen and the unseen, Those living near and far away, Those born and to-be-born — May all beings be at ease! Let none deceive another, … Continue reading The Buddha’s Words on Loving-Kindness
[You may wish to read Parts I & II first.] The Past and The Present O God, You know my foolishness, and my faults are not hidden from You. Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me… Psalm 69.6 I easily look back and feel shame about my past and … Continue reading A few thoughts on how to release regret and learn to live (III)
[You may wish to read Part I first.] Self-compassion A few weeks ago, a friend wrote: "I find it so hard to let the past be the past. It can churn away at my heart." I wondered what he meant but we didn't have a chance to talk about it. I sent him a piece … Continue reading A few thoughts on how to release regret and learn to live (II)
Change There are places I'll remember All my life, though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain All these places have their moments With lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I've loved them all But of all … Continue reading A few thoughts on how to release regret and learn to live (I)
O Lord, open our lips; and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Visit us with your salvation and sustain us with your gracious spirit. That shift in consciousness from "me me me" – selfish, self-obsessed, held tight, defensive – to "I and You" – relaxed, open, other-concerned. I am ok. I am safe. There's nothing … Continue reading Morning Prayer, flying over the sea to Málaga
You say you are lazy, but you're not. You go to work. You get lots done. You check you emails, update your FaceBook page and your Twitter account. You surf the Net looking up things of interest to you. You spend hours researching and cooking nice meals. If you want to do it, you do … Continue reading Oh no you don’t!
4. Prayer on retreat, July 2014 [Read parts I, II & III] Here I am again, looking for something exciting on the iPhone, doing everything I can to avoid prayer. It is addiction: anything to stop me coming home to myself, and the work of coming home to You. What am I doing? I am … Continue reading Evanescence (IV)