Still Clearing out/East Mids HQ Day

Ok ..progress on the big throw out .. errr there hasn't been any !! But ... inspired by yesterdays HQ Kick Off meeting, things will progress shortly .. honest !!

Good meeting yesterday despite most people being late due to the A52 being closed though we arrived exactly as Morning Gongyo was starting which was good .. would have been handy if someone had organised a microphone too though it did make me move to the front instead of hiding at the back like I normally do :-)

Good turn out and key points that I toook down below:

1. Chant to absorb guidance and put it into action in our own lives


2. Everything is determined by our seeking spirit


3. All struggles and challenges begin with prayer and gongyo provides the momentum for this (especially morning gongyo)


4. Decide we're going to win and be SPECIFIC in prayer .. very purpose of faith is to win.


5. Support other members one to one and support them in FAITH


6. Time for members to stand up and lead the way
   

There were other things too, but they're probably the most inspiring ones .. for me anyway ...

Oh ... and here's the group pic :-)

The Big Throwout

Having been busy this last week with work, I've neglected the flat somewhat and have got to the stage where I'm feeling pretty pissed off looking at the mess so I've decided that today is the start of a big throw out and clean. I'm anticipating it will probably take a week or two and I'm starting with a big throw out of irrelevant stuff I've horded .. You never know .. I might even find things to sell on e-bay !!

I'll let you know how it goes !

Quote, Quote & Quote

Well ... as usual, not a lot to report really but I've come across a few quotes, poems and short previews of an article that I thought were really good so I'll share them around ... here goes:

“Prayer is the courage to persevere. It is the struggle to overcome our own weakness and lack of confidence in ourselves. It is the act of impressing in the very depths of our being the conviction that we can change the situation without fail. Prayer is the way to destroy all fear. It is the way to banish sorrow, the way to light a torch of hope. It is the revolution that rewrites the scenario of our destiny. Believe in yourself! Don’t sell yourself short! Devaluing yourself is contrary to Buddhism, because it denigrates the Buddha state of being within you. Prayer is the effort to align the gears of our life with the movement of the universe. Our lives that have been passively embraced by the universe now embrace the universe in turn, make the entire universe our ally, and fundamentally redirect our state of life in the direction of happiness”

From Travels around the Globe – My home is the World. President Ikeda

then a poem by someone who I've forgotten

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
is our destined end or way,
but to act, that each tomorrow
find us farther than today

then a preview to an article in the American USA mag .. would like to see the full article really as this seems to summarise my attitude to this Buddhism (and often what I fail to do myself too !)

"So why choose passivity over action?" Sean Grover asks in his Perspective. "Bad habits like neglectfulness and indifference sneak into our lives because they're easy -- no struggle, no effort. Not paying bills on time, shunning bulging laundry hampers (laundry avoiders know what I mean), even ignoring problems in a relationship -- what could be easier?"

He also writes: "There is simply no passive way to bring forth my highest life-condition. No matter what my neglectful nature tells me, true happiness doesn't come about by accident. If I am to live without regrets, I must challenge negative life tendencies that stand in my way."

Thought I better ...

Post .. Well .. it's been a while since the last one though nothing really to report. Partly because I've actually been busy. After the 2 dead months before Xmas, it's all gone really busy. I know, when chanting, that one of my determinations this year was to be more financially better off but I was hoping for a lottery win .. not having to work hard lol.

Other than that .. mainly been Buddhist meetings ... Planning to go to the new Wakefield Street centre in London soon .. one Saturday maybe. In fact, was thinking of going today but have arranged to do some home visits with our HQ leader who's coming up from London today ... at least I should earn a lazy TV night anyway :-)

Anyway .. best get ready .. hope you enjoyed my most dull post .. ever :)