Dharma Blogger Dharma Blogger Buddhist meditation, the Dharma and life. Articles
On eating meat
2007-03-28 16:50:00 As I progress slowly on the path of Buddhism, the subject of whether I should eat meat has once again come up. I have an on-again off-again relationship with meat that started in my teens when I decided to be a vegetarian, a phase which lasted for about 6 months. Since then I've been a vegan a few times, and vegetarian a few times, and currently my family and I eat meat once or twice a month, fish a few times a month too, but mainly we stick to a vegetarian diet for environmental reasons. Having grown up a South African my particular weakness when it comes to meat is biltong, and this is usually where the meat creeps into our diet. Even my children who were born in the UK are biltong junkies, but we manage to keep our consumption down to about once a month.Now I'm starting to ponder the karmic issues surrounding eating animals, and feeling once again that meat is just not necessary for me. My sense of being one tiny part of the whole is deepening and with it the acknowledgeme... More About: Meat , Eating
My Mothers' Day
2007-03-24 18:17:00 I missed Mother s' Day last Sunday for various reasons, so my family decided to treat me to Mothers ' Day today. I've had a great day, starting with a lie-in until 8.30, a presentation of home-made cards and a bonsai tree in bed, served with a cup of tea. We all went down to the allotment to do some clearing up in readiness for spring planting, I cut back the raspberries, pruned the red- and black-currants, and planted some horseradish thongs. After that I was taken out for lunch at our local pub that serves Thai food. I feel very special and have had a terrific day.Today has special significance for me spiritually too because it was as a result of me being a mother that I discovered the teachings of the Buddha. I was searching for a way to help me control my temper and anger when I stumbled on meditation. I hardly ever shout at my kids anymore and I'm happier than I can ever remember being.I've hunted high and low for a Buddhist quote on motherhood to round off my day, but... More About: Other , Others , Mothers Day
Getting to the housework
2007-03-21 12:08:00 I'll admit to not being a naturally-occurring domestic goddess. I like to cook, love staying home with the kids, gardening is something I enjoy immensely. But the laundry, vacuuming, tidying up, just not me! I do it, but I don't enjoy it. I read a book called Buddhism for Mothers that said that you could practise meditation while doing the ironing. It probably doesn't have the same effect as sitting down to a solid session of nothingness, but it seems to be a good supplemental practice for me and a way to fit Buddhism into my life. I decided to "google" the idea of Buddhism and housework and came up with an Amazon link to a book called Sweeping Changes which is subtitled "Zen and the art of House hold Maintenance". I've ordered a copy hoping that reading this book may help change the way that I view housework. It's worth a try!Addendum: There is a post at Wildmind called "mindfulness in everyday life" which looks at the housework side of things as a practice of mindfuln... More About: Work , Ouse , The House , Ework
The writing on the wall (or in the book)
2007-03-20 10:40:00 I've become rather a Buddhist bookworm, not only devouring the educational stuff, but also thoroughly enjoying various novels with Buddhist themes. I'm finding the latter particularly interesting as a view of Buddhism practised in ordinary lives like mine. It helps put things into perspective, even as fiction they are valuable insights to how Buddhism can be applied to the everyday. More About: Writing , Book , Wall , E Book , The wall
The Buddha, Geoff and Me
2007-03-19 20:12:00 A lovely story of how a man's life is touched by an unassuming Buddhist he meets in a pub. This is one of those novels that can have a truly profound effect on your life. Nicely written, plenty of lessons woven into the story, and definitely not preachy. I've already passed my copy on to someone else to read, it's the sort of book that makes you want to share.About the author:Edward Canfor-Dumas is an award-winning TV scriptwriter and novelist. His television work has included The Bill, Kavanagh QC, Pompeii: The Last Day and Supervolcano. He branched out into novels in 2005 with The Buddha , Geoff and Me. The book is based on Buddhist teachings and Canfor-Dumas is a practising Buddhist and member of the lay group Soka Gakkai International.Synopsis from Amazon:"Ed is having a hard time - at work, in his love life and, well, generally. Then he meets an unlikely Buddhist - who drinks and smokes and talks his kind of language. Bit by bit, things begin to change... Ed doesn't al...
Practise, practise, practise
2007-03-19 14:25:00 My goal is to meditate daily, at present I'm only managing 2-3 times a week, but the difference to my life is already incredible. I am definitely a happier person, kinder and more tolerant with my husband and children, and less inclined to "lose it" when driving, in shops, on the telephone, etc. Medititation is changing my life!
A bit of fun: Belief-O-Matic
2007-03-19 14:22:00 I've just come across the Belief -O-Matic on the Beliefnet website. Thought it may give me a little insight ;) so I had a go. My results are: 100% Mahayana Buddhist. What are you? More About: Fun
A new start
2007-03-12 11:38:00 I'm going to be taking a break from The Little Green House, moving the emphasis of my blogging from the house to a more personal place. In the past 6 or 7 months I have experienced a shifting awareness since my introduction to Buddhist meditation. This blog is intended to be a place for me to explore my new found spirituality and to record my discoveries on this path. More About: Start , Star , Tart |
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