Jade Mountains - Practice Within the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives

New Banner?

Rev. Mugo — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:44:22 -0500

Potential new banner for Jade Mountains.
While I could continue on with the banner you see above I'm thinking of using this photograph and text instead. I've used the full original title too, Jade Mountains Buddha Hall. And in case this has been lost sight of Jade Mountains refers to all trainees. Sitting and walking as mountains.

If you have anything to say about the banner please drop me a line. I am loathed to switch on comments because of the flood of spam comments which will result.

Walking Onwards

Rev. Mugo — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:21:18 -0500

A path above Borrowdale, the Lake District.
Over the next few days Jade Mountains will pick up and walk into a new content management system. Comments will be enabled and Jade will be back to normal functioning.

_/\_ Hands together folks and fingers crossed _X_ everything goes smoothly.

Movement And Rest

Rev. Mugo — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 14:04:22 -0500

A bike of delight done out in crochet, Cockermouth, Cumbria

Small space for small people with brisk (AKA slide) escape route

Living willow hut for children.
Yes I was out and about yesterday on a trip to charming Cockermouth to attend a half day retreat at the Friends Meeting House. As I sat in meditation with the group a retreat location from years ago came to mind. It was particular to say the least! Set at the end of a swimming pool in a conservatory where we all got blasted by the heat of the sun! That was rural Leicestershire around the late 1990's. No particular reason for this to come to mind at this time.

Then we all got up and joined in a circle to have tea and for me to do a talk. And lo! A late arrival, a woman, smiled at me and I smiled back. We knew each other. From the retreat in Leicestershire! Such strange coincidences happen don't they. And regularly for me of late.

We talked about the importance of having a place in ones living space to 'land' for moments of repose between activities. Then we went out into the garden of the Friends Meeting House and found the two child shelters. Children appreciate small spaces, small enough to house their size and to play in. Later a woman told me her place to sit is in her greenhouse.

The bicycle just HAD to be photographed! I'm wondering if anybody actually rides it around town.

She Who Hears The Cries Of The World

Rev. Mugo — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:21:43 -0500

Big ear?

On Field of Merit website and on our Facebook page we have been talking about spiritual merit. If this is something you don't understand or simply think it is petitioning prayer by another name I'd suggest you take a look around and see that sincere daily life practice within the Buddhist Precepts and transferring merit are not two different practices. Or you might conclude otherwise. However I'd encourage keeping an open mind on this one.

Here is the finishing paragraph of a recent post on Field of Merit site.

....when we ask for merit to be given to a partcular person who is suffering, we are not making any judgment as to what the outcome should be. The purpose of offering merit is to support the person to accept difficult circumstances, to live, sometimes to die, skilfully within them, and for the compassion of the universe to find expression.

From Field of Merit Post on Transfer of Merit

You might also want to take a look at an article first published in Shambhala Sun called She who hears the cries of the world. It's a review of a book about Guanyin, known in our order as Kanzeon or Avalokitesvara.

Somewhere Else

Rev. Mugo — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:50:59 -0500

Imagine my delight when the postman knocked on the door

bringing this lovely book of poems by A.A.Milne. A gift.
A couple of weeks ago when visiting sangha in Norwich I was shown a piece of university work done by a daughter studying architecture. It was beautifully produced and very much a limited edition unfortunately because it was a book I'd love to pick up and read again. I've probably not quite got the description correct however I remember it to be about small spaces used for solitary contemplation, allotment sheds featured.

It was an inspired project full of incredibly useful references. One was to the A.A. Milne poem Halfway Down. I'm not at the bottom and not at the top; So this is the stair where I always stop. And in the second stanza, And all sorts of funny thoughts run round in my head: It isn't really anywhere! It's somewhere else instead!'

A theme I have been visiting is the importance of having a place, a chair perhaps, where one is between activities. Somewhere to land, stop, be still, pause before moving on. Somewhere which is somewhere else. One of the things about traveling, especially long distance on trains or 'planes' is the quality of being suspended between what was and what is to be with no possibility of being anywhere else. Forced by circumstances to quietly sit, look out of the window, allowing thoughts to flow by with absolutely no pressure to DO anything than be there.

Very many thanks kind donor for the book, it brought a yelp of joy to brighten up an otherwise dull grey morning. And to the young woman whose work I so enjoyed.

I can't leave without mention of another poem from the book which my father loved to read me. Bad Sir Brian Botany. I loved how outrageously BAD he was and then his karmic comeuppance when villagers took his battleaxe and round him with ironical salutes.

Set Free

Rev. Mugo — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:47:01 -0500

I saw the angel
in the marble
and carved until
I set her free.

Michaelangelo

Is that not beautiful?

Mt Shasta From Space

Rev. Mugo — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:08:20 -0500

This shot was taken from the ISS (International Space Station) on September 20, 2012, and shows the region around Mount Shasta, a 4300 meter peak in northern California. It’s technically dormant – it erupted last in 1786. In geologically recent history it’s erupted every 600 years or so, but that’s not a precise schedule, so geologists keep an eye on it, as they do many of the peaks in the Cascades. As well they should.

From A Refreshing Shasta - Bad Astronomy Blog

Shasta Abbey is in this photograph by the way. Amazing photograph. Thanks for the link J.

Being Out There

Rev. Mugo — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:06:52 -0500

Yesterday Field of Merit entered into the world of Facebook! In my post on the website of the same name I ponder on this step and on the use of the Internet to spread the word about Buddhist practice. My conclusion? The Internet can be used in the service of Buddhism if done with care and thoughtfulness.

Quietly I think to myself, Would Dogen have used Facebook to spread the word about Zazen, had it been available back then? Zazen was, as I understand, recommended universally to be taken up by lay and monastics alike. Another thought, or question, that comes to mind: Is being 'out there' - on Facebook, on this website, and elsewhere incompatible with being 'in here' which is the call of the Hermitage? To stop and be still, to reflect, to contemplate and to turn within. To turn the stream of Compassion within.

Left Foot Forward!

Rev. Mugo — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:07:22 -0500

Sometimes which ever way one looks it's not clear which direction to move in. And moving seems to be what's called for. There is a sense of being stuck, unable to move. This is not an uncommon dilemma and the standard advice is to just take a step. And possibly this might mean it's a step in in a direction that one ends up not ultimately going in, but at least it's a step.

What comes to mind are stepping stones across a river or stream. The stream needs to be crossed and there are so many options. Too many options. Stepping out onto the nearest rock, landing there and then looking around for the next best rock is a way to progress. And on and on. Sometimes retracing ones steps is necessary and even going back to the bank and finding another crossing point. At least there is forward movement even if it's a three steps forwards and two back.

Another way to deal with that stuck feeling is to do nothing! Wait, be patient. Conditions around and within each of us are constantly changing and it has been my experience that the next stable rock to step out onto presents itself in a timely way. I'd say at the right time.

Here's a post that talks about getting unstuck. Personally I don't hold with his advice to go down the wrong path because that implies there is a right path when in practice there are multiple choices opening up, constantly.

Hitting The Ground Running

Rev. Mugo — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:51:28 -0500

It struck me this morning at 11.04 am that today, in England, is Remembrance Day. At 11.00 am precisely people are encouraged to stop what they are doing for one simple minute in remembrance of those killed in war. This event stated after WW1 and continues on to this very day. Rare I think that the eleventh of the eleventh falls on a Sunday. People are out on parade, laying wreaths and sporting the Remembrance Poppy about their person. I was driving at 11.00, from North Norfolk back to where I am staying for the moment in North West England. So I am pausing now...and using this on-line timer.

Landing back after three days away it is so easy to hit the ground running. Unpacking, catching up, planning and preparing for the next away time. Tea? No, just this post, a moment to remember and then out for a brisk walk to iron out those traveling/driving wrinkles.

It really does take effort and a firm hand to slow down, and stop. And then start up again refreshed and renewed. Remembrance, deliberately bringing to mind with compassionate attention is to offer merit.

On this day remembering ALL killed in war or who suffered, are still suffering, from the consequence of war.