Friday, May 18, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Happiness, (collections from the Dhammapada).
image: Declan Mccullagh Photography
Happiness
197. Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! among menwho hate us let us dwell free from hatred!
198. Let us live happily then, free from ailments among the ailing! among men who are ailing let us dwell free from ailments!
199. Let us live happily then, free from greed among the greedy! amongmen who are greedy let us dwell free from greed!
200. Let us live happily then, though we call nothing our own! We shall be like the bright gods, feeding on happiness!
201. Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. He who has given up both victory and defeat, he, the contented, is happy.
202. There is no fire like passion; there is no losing throw like hatred; there is no pain like this body; there is no happiness higher than rest.
203. Hunger is the worst of diseases, the body the greatest of pains; if one knows this truly, that is Nirvana, the highest happiness.
204. Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches;trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana the highest happiness.
205. He who has tasted the sweetness of solitude and tranquillity, is free from fear and free from sin, while he tastes the sweetness of drinking in the law.
206. The sight of the elect (Arya) is good, to live with them is always happiness; if a man does not see fools, he will be truly happy.
207. He who walks in the company of fools suffers a long the way; company with fools, as with an enemy, is always painful; company with the wise is pleasure, like meeting with kinsfolk.
208. Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect; one ought tofollow a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars.
Translation by F. Max Muller from the splended website:
http://www.textlibrary.com/TITLE/dhammapa/index.htm
197. Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! among menwho hate us let us dwell free from hatred!
198. Let us live happily then, free from ailments among the ailing! among men who are ailing let us dwell free from ailments!
199. Let us live happily then, free from greed among the greedy! amongmen who are greedy let us dwell free from greed!
200. Let us live happily then, though we call nothing our own! We shall be like the bright gods, feeding on happiness!
201. Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. He who has given up both victory and defeat, he, the contented, is happy.
202. There is no fire like passion; there is no losing throw like hatred; there is no pain like this body; there is no happiness higher than rest.
203. Hunger is the worst of diseases, the body the greatest of pains; if one knows this truly, that is Nirvana, the highest happiness.
204. Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches;trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana the highest happiness.
205. He who has tasted the sweetness of solitude and tranquillity, is free from fear and free from sin, while he tastes the sweetness of drinking in the law.
206. The sight of the elect (Arya) is good, to live with them is always happiness; if a man does not see fools, he will be truly happy.
207. He who walks in the company of fools suffers a long the way; company with fools, as with an enemy, is always painful; company with the wise is pleasure, like meeting with kinsfolk.
208. Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect; one ought tofollow a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars.
Translation by F. Max Muller from the splended website:
http://www.textlibrary.com/TITLE/dhammapa/index.htm
Image: Declan Mccullagh Photography at http://www.mccullagh.org/image/d30-3/japanese-garden-buddha.html
Friday, May 04, 2007
Stress, Stress and even more Stress
Again I am at a loss as to how some people cope with all the stress in their lives, I find out about three men and their problems.
The first man went back to Greece with his wife and young daughter, after visiting his mother and father, (prior to the Easter celebrations,) he drove his wife and daughter to his mother in law and whilst he was there, received a phone call to say his father had just died. His holiday was spent dealing with father’s death and arranging a funeral, then had to jump on to an airplane and fly back to the UK 2000 miles away. Now back here he is racked with guilt, I should have gone home earlier, if I had seen a doctor he might be still living. He is now back at work in a very stressful job, doing part time study at university level and is not sleeping. How much will he take before he blows a fuse?
The second man is already about to blow his fuse, he is angry confused struggling with coming to terms with his past and is crying out for help, he says he’s ready to pack everything in and “bugger off”, but where does he run to? And what will he do when he gets there?
The third man I found in rather a tearful state reading a book from “Relate”, sounding as though things are already over between him and his wife. He desperately wants to keep things together and does not want his marriage to end, but who can he talk to? How does he release the emotional energy that is building up inside? Where can he go from here? I know that with Relate he will be in good hands and Marriage guidance is not my forte but helping him with the stress is where I am able to help in a practical way.
The first man went back to Greece with his wife and young daughter, after visiting his mother and father, (prior to the Easter celebrations,) he drove his wife and daughter to his mother in law and whilst he was there, received a phone call to say his father had just died. His holiday was spent dealing with father’s death and arranging a funeral, then had to jump on to an airplane and fly back to the UK 2000 miles away. Now back here he is racked with guilt, I should have gone home earlier, if I had seen a doctor he might be still living. He is now back at work in a very stressful job, doing part time study at university level and is not sleeping. How much will he take before he blows a fuse?
The second man is already about to blow his fuse, he is angry confused struggling with coming to terms with his past and is crying out for help, he says he’s ready to pack everything in and “bugger off”, but where does he run to? And what will he do when he gets there?
The third man I found in rather a tearful state reading a book from “Relate”, sounding as though things are already over between him and his wife. He desperately wants to keep things together and does not want his marriage to end, but who can he talk to? How does he release the emotional energy that is building up inside? Where can he go from here? I know that with Relate he will be in good hands and Marriage guidance is not my forte but helping him with the stress is where I am able to help in a practical way.
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