Ok .. finally got the photos from day one .. some pretty awful ones but here's a few anyway :-)
Without further ado
Pretty busy today and a bit tired from being out so much this week due to birthday and jazz so looking forward to a night in to give my liver a rest !
Good gig last night .. Helen McDonald and the London Bridge Ensemble ... must admit that I thought it might just be ok but actually worked really well so that was a plus .. and of course .. it's always worth going for local jazz hero Brian 'without further ado' Pearce :-)
It's my Birthday . Part Two
Well .... that's over for another year ... why do we celebrate getting older ? Though I guess it's more of an excuse to drink .. and who needs excuses eh !!
Pretty much took the day off really apart from essential work and just pottered around really most of the day. I had promised myself to chant for at least 2 hours but in the end, just fell short of one hour !! Need to really start catching up. Think from November I'm going to aim for a min of 2 hours a day until the end of the year !!
Anyway .. back to the birthday .. well it was the classic 'Mayfair' and what a veritable feast it was ... have to say that I thought the food was really excellent and I managed to take a bottle of wine that was excellent .. a Reisling that had that wonderful 'petrol' kind of taste that I love ... sounds bizarre but really works. Anyway .. a really enjoyable night though I did fall asleep on the sofa until 3am then went to bed and couldn't sleep for ages so ended up being a bit of a late start this morning so probably not going to be my most creative day ever !! But I am going to do a couple of hours of chanting today .... honest !!!!!
Pretty much took the day off really apart from essential work and just pottered around really most of the day. I had promised myself to chant for at least 2 hours but in the end, just fell short of one hour !! Need to really start catching up. Think from November I'm going to aim for a min of 2 hours a day until the end of the year !!
Anyway .. back to the birthday .. well it was the classic 'Mayfair' and what a veritable feast it was ... have to say that I thought the food was really excellent and I managed to take a bottle of wine that was excellent .. a Reisling that had that wonderful 'petrol' kind of taste that I love ... sounds bizarre but really works. Anyway .. a really enjoyable night though I did fall asleep on the sofa until 3am then went to bed and couldn't sleep for ages so ended up being a bit of a late start this morning so probably not going to be my most creative day ever !! But I am going to do a couple of hours of chanting today .... honest !!!!!
It's my Birthday . Part One
Well it's not really .. it's Tuesday but I went out with Emily, Laura, Patrick and Charmain last night as we've already got a biggish crowd at the Mayfair and it's easier to chat in small groups .. So .. off we headed to Yo Sushi ... Was a good night though I did think Yo Sushi wasn't as good as last time with less things on the belt .. I ordered a sampel sashimi with 3 different types of fish and they didn't have one of those .. OR the Eel Nigiri that I ordered .. so it didn't get off to a great start. Other than that though it was ok and the blackened miso cod was very nice .. easy to spend loads there if you're not careful though .. have to keep an eye on it .. anyway .. all in all a good night and I think the warm Sake helped :-) ... Charmain took some pretty hilarious pics so I'll post some of those here when I get them.
Part two tonight :-)
Part two tonight :-)
Oh we're still the ..........
MIDGET SUBMARINES !!!!
After an abscence of 16 years, the legendary Midgets .. well 3 of them, got back together for a rehearshal as we're doing a one off gig in November .. don't worry, we won't be reforming !!! I must confess I was reluctant to do it .. partly as I don't like nostalgia but it was good to meet up with Paul again .. especially as he's a LOT balder than me :-) ... and it was surprising how the old songs came back .. all sounds promising and we have two more rehearsals before we play which probably doubles the number of rehearsals that we ever did in our whole existence ... Age seems to have caught up a bit though as we did drop a couple of the faster numbers as we can't keep up any more ! I'm sure it will decend into the usual chaos though ... and I'm sure that some of that will surface here !!!
Keep an eye on us at http://www.myspace.com/midgetsubs
Anyway .. a couple of sneakily taken pics from the rehearsals ... especially like the 'fat Ken' one :)
Oh .. and I couldn't resist taking this one .. County fans .. get on your knees :-)
OH .. and if you're wondering what the Midgets sound like .. here's three songs that others have covered that we wrote (yeah right )
Shine a Lightsey !!
Well .. that was an interesting Jazz Gig last night. It was the Kirk Lightsey Trio ... Now I've seen Kirk before and it's always a great gig but this one proved interesting as it should have been Piano, Bass and Drums .. a fairly standard Jazz trio line up. However, the bass player was unable to play as his wife was ill, so rather than get a replacement session type muso, they got in a friend of theirs who plays sax .. so it was now Piano, sax and Drums .. which is a pretty unusual line up. Didn't help with the Sax player turning up late and in all truth the first set was patchy with the sax player a little unconfident in his playing except for on a Wayne Shorter number .. in fact Kirk thanked the audience for watching a live rehearshal which is did seem like at times.
Anyway after the break and obviously they'd chatted, the second set was a lot better and at times really excellent .. unfortunately as they'd started late, we had to leave before the end to catch the bus back .. though I'd had quite a bit of Whisky then so probably no bad thing :-)
Anyway .. here's a pic and I've just found a quote that applies to me:
"We must overcome our own inner weakness. This is what our Buddhist Practise is all about"
and my inner weakness is laziness so I'd better get on :)
Trip number 2
Well .. as I promised myself, I ventured to Leicester again to take one last look at the Picasso Ceramics exhibition before it finishes on the 28th October. I nearly didn't bother as I wondered if I would find it less interesting but it was quite the opposite and I also spent more time in their regular gallerys which has some really interesting stuff ranging from some 15th century woodcuts to more modern contemporary stuff from people such as Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore and a really nice simple, almost calligraphic (is that a word !) painting by someone whose name I can't remember. Apparently they have an ancient Greek exhibition coming soon so that might be interesting.
I'm planning to visit the gallery at Nottingham Castle soon though from memory, it's not a patch on theis place which is actually a disgrace for a major city .. still .. all seems to be about shopping these days here !!
Had a wander round Leicester again as last time it was raining really heavily .. got to say that I really like the place .. less pretentious than Nottingham .. but there again I still like Nottingham so I'm not about to move !
Anyway ... a few pics below .. couldn't really take any in the exhibition but it's a taster:
Leaving Hicksville and Herbie says Chant !!
I've just returned from a couple of days in Yokelsville ie Lincolnshire .. had the misfortune to spend an hour in Boston .. does me good though as it reminds me why I left !! It's also easy to see why it won the 'fattest town' award last year though and you can smell the lard at the local chippies .. honest !!!
Good to see my mum again though .. she's 78 on Sunday and is generally in good health so that's all good. Picture of the best bit of Boston at the end of the post.
Just found these audio links of Herbie Hancock talking about Buddhism which I thought I'd share too:
On Practicing Buddhism
Why Jazz Is Like Buddhism
Chanting a Buddhist Meditation
Buddhism Is Inclusive
Also .. had a good Buddhist meeting last night ... my last one with the Seven Hills district though I'm sure I'll pop back for a few of them in the future. There were a number of good experiences and one of the key things that came up was the question of what is Faith. The main thing that came from that is that Faith isn't blind faith as we often believe in our Christioan society but is the strong belief in our own potential and the perseverance to manifest it.
Oh .. and here's the best bit of Boston .. I think I'll just call this photo "Leaving" :-)
Good to see my mum again though .. she's 78 on Sunday and is generally in good health so that's all good. Picture of the best bit of Boston at the end of the post.
Just found these audio links of Herbie Hancock talking about Buddhism which I thought I'd share too:
On Practicing Buddhism
Why Jazz Is Like Buddhism
Chanting a Buddhist Meditation
Buddhism Is Inclusive
Also .. had a good Buddhist meeting last night ... my last one with the Seven Hills district though I'm sure I'll pop back for a few of them in the future. There were a number of good experiences and one of the key things that came up was the question of what is Faith. The main thing that came from that is that Faith isn't blind faith as we often believe in our Christioan society but is the strong belief in our own potential and the perseverance to manifest it.
Oh .. and here's the best bit of Boston .. I think I'll just call this photo "Leaving" :-)
Definitely a One Off !!!
Bit of a Rock night last night .. went to the Maze to see a few bands .. unfortunately they decided to stick an extra singer/keyboardists at the start who was something of a cross between keyboard psychedelia and Richard Stilgo !! Could have done without him as it meant we had to leave before the headline band though after Scott Biram (more later) doubt they could have topped that !!!
Next up were Old Basford a local band .... pretty good and professional .. Basically had two R&B styles .. one similar to Queens of the Stone Age and one more like Free .. a 70s rock band ... Found the Free numbers a bit lacking but the Queens of Stone Age style ones were excellent .. would have liked more of those .
Then came Scott Biram .. well .. what can I say .. this guy looked like he's just been changing the oil on an old pick up .. not sure if it was an act or not but he certainly pulled it off if it was. Using a 1950s Gibson and a radio mike and sometimes a Police loudspeaker !! He certainly could not be accused of being unoriginal .. and funny .. best line was "someone get me a whisky and don't ya'all spit in it or dip yer pecker in it"
Anyway .. crap pic below and a couple of youtube vids .. worth a listen.
Next up were Old Basford a local band .... pretty good and professional .. Basically had two R&B styles .. one similar to Queens of the Stone Age and one more like Free .. a 70s rock band ... Found the Free numbers a bit lacking but the Queens of Stone Age style ones were excellent .. would have liked more of those .
Then came Scott Biram .. well .. what can I say .. this guy looked like he's just been changing the oil on an old pick up .. not sure if it was an act or not but he certainly pulled it off if it was. Using a 1950s Gibson and a radio mike and sometimes a Police loudspeaker !! He certainly could not be accused of being unoriginal .. and funny .. best line was "someone get me a whisky and don't ya'all spit in it or dip yer pecker in it"
Anyway .. crap pic below and a couple of youtube vids .. worth a listen.
Quick Quote
Just read the guidance for today .. I like, therefore I quote :-)
It doesn't matter in what area, just keep working on your personal revolution to transform and improve yourself in the way most natural for you. The important thing is that you change in some positive way. There is surely no more exhilarating a life than one in which we write our own unique history of human revolution each day. And the growth and transformation we achieve in this way can convince people of the greatness of the Daishonin's Buddhism more eloquently than anything else.
It doesn't matter in what area, just keep working on your personal revolution to transform and improve yourself in the way most natural for you. The important thing is that you change in some positive way. There is surely no more exhilarating a life than one in which we write our own unique history of human revolution each day. And the growth and transformation we achieve in this way can convince people of the greatness of the Daishonin's Buddhism more eloquently than anything else.
The Purpose of Faith and Raw Fish !
Raw fish ? Ok .. well just an excuse to post about Yo Sushi really. I went there on Friday and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. Definitely not as good as the Higoi in Lenton which is excellent, but there again, Yo Sushi is basically a fast food place, though that would be my main quibble. You can take the plates of the conveyor belt but we decided that as we wanted a few hot ones we would order them and get them fresh. Have to say that the service was a bit on the slow side and it wasn't that busy !!
Funnily enough, the one thing we didn't have was sushi !!! We had the Miso soup which was excellent then a couple of hot dishes which were pretty good. I also tried the sea bass sashimi which was ok but I think sashimi should be finer and REALLY fresh. Don't get me wrong, it was reasonably fresh but was a bit chunky for me .. ok though. We them had some seafood and some tofu tempura ... cost just over a tenner each which wasn't bad, but you'd have to watch the cost oif you just grab the plates off the belt .. could soon add up !! All in all though, pretty good and will go again soon.
And the faith bit ? ... Well, we had Study on Friday which was pretty good, though the pints I had afterwards seemed to wipe my memory banks a bit so hoping to listen to a recording of it at some point, but I did read the hand out and was particularly struck by the last bit of it which I've copied below:
The purpose of faith is to freely realise our full potential and shine in our own unique way. That's why it's important to keep advancing and challenging ourselves, to have the spirit: "I will exert myself in my practise!" "I will deepen my faith!" "I will do my best as a member of the Soka Gakkai!" This is the certain path to attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.
That's a big one !!!!
I received my letter yesterday from Taplow saying that they would like to offer me the opportunity to receive Okatagi Tokubetso Gohonzon .. that's the bigger one.
On one level, I'm happy to get that as they definitely look nicer (though some of that is probably the light in the bigger butsudans), but there's a little bit of me that's concerned that others might see it as an 'elitist' thing .. which I know it isn't .. but I guess that's something I need to chant about.
It also means spending a couple of hundred quid on a new butsudan as it won't fit my current one .. could do without the expense .. especially as it's one of my determinations this year to be more secure financially !! Still .. on the other hand it's a contribution to Kosen Rufu I guess ...
dilemma dilemma lol .. but I'm sure I'll go for it.
Eye Eye Picasso (what a load of bulls)
After overdosing on Buffy DVDs and various other junk TV, I decided that I needed a dose of culture and having noticed a good review in the Independent, I headed off to Leicester yesterday to have a look at the Picasso Ceramics exhibition at the New Walk Museum.
I have to confess that I spent a little too long wandering around Leicester. It's a strange place with some horrible new development going on, but there are some great old parts too. One of the main things I noticed was that how many more smaller individual shops there are than 'corporate' Nottingham .. even in the centre. One of the best bits though is the Market .. vibrant and lively .. makes Nottingham's look shabby (which to a degree, it is !!).
Anyway .. on to the exhibition .. which was free !! All the ceramics were donated by Richard Attenborough from his personal collection and were nicely exhibited in 2 all white rooms. As usual with picasso there were lots of naked women and a lot of bulls !! My favourite (front view below) was a vase .. the front of which was a head on bull, but if you walked behind it, you saw the bulls rear legs .. with a massive pair of testicles hanging ... typical Picasso humour !
The exhibition has been extended until the 28th October now which is great as there were a few other exhibitions on which I would have liked to spend more time over (and mooching round Leicester), so I'm definitely intending to have another look before it finishes.
Details at http://www.leicester.gov.uk/picasso/index.htm
I have to confess that I spent a little too long wandering around Leicester. It's a strange place with some horrible new development going on, but there are some great old parts too. One of the main things I noticed was that how many more smaller individual shops there are than 'corporate' Nottingham .. even in the centre. One of the best bits though is the Market .. vibrant and lively .. makes Nottingham's look shabby (which to a degree, it is !!).
Anyway .. on to the exhibition .. which was free !! All the ceramics were donated by Richard Attenborough from his personal collection and were nicely exhibited in 2 all white rooms. As usual with picasso there were lots of naked women and a lot of bulls !! My favourite (front view below) was a vase .. the front of which was a head on bull, but if you walked behind it, you saw the bulls rear legs .. with a massive pair of testicles hanging ... typical Picasso humour !
The exhibition has been extended until the 28th October now which is great as there were a few other exhibitions on which I would have liked to spend more time over (and mooching round Leicester), so I'm definitely intending to have another look before it finishes.
Details at http://www.leicester.gov.uk/picasso/index.htm
And We're up !!!
After a long and fairly tedious weather hit season, Notts have finally got promotion. That said, there are warning signs ... such as being the ONLY team to lose to Glamorgan all year and the final match at Somerset, being beaten by an innings and 121 runs. In bothe innings, we started well for the first two wickets then collapsed badly ... just hope it's not a sign of things to come next year !!
Still .. we have got Stuard Broad next year ... let's hope he bowls better than in the video below !!
The jazz was pretty good at the Bonington last night with the Dylan Howe quintet .. unfortunately a couple of his band had dropped out and certainly in the first set they semed a little cautious and uneasy but warmed up nicely in teh second set .. or was that the whisky !!!
Still .. we have got Stuard Broad next year ... let's hope he bowls better than in the video below !!
The jazz was pretty good at the Bonington last night with the Dylan Howe quintet .. unfortunately a couple of his band had dropped out and certainly in the first set they semed a little cautious and uneasy but warmed up nicely in teh second set .. or was that the whisky !!!
Stan's The Man !!!
Just a brief post to say what a great gig it was last night at the Bonington in Arnold. It was the 10th Anniversary there hence the Octet. All superb musicians but the star of the show was still Stan Tracey ... Now in his 80s he's lost none of the dexterity and performed wonderfully and still shows a sense of humour (announcer when they were late coming on stage .. "Stan Tracey has not left the building" .. Stan - "Only because I couldn't find my way out" ;-).
Anyway .. here's a rather poor pic taken on my mobile:
Mens' Regional Course
Had our regional Mens course on saturday at the DeafBlind centre in Peterborough .. nice venue, though shame about the location which was in the middle of a building site ! I have to confess that I went with a certain amount of trepidation as the topic was the Mentor and Disciple relationship which is a concept I've struggled with over the years. Interestingly, as it turns out, so had pretty much everyone else and many still were. The course really did help to clarify it though and it wasn't rammed down our throats as I feared it might be. I suppose, in a nutshell, it is to practise with the same mind and determination as Nichiren Daishonin and in a more modern context, Daisaku Ikeda ... and certainly not to be like him or to hero worship him.
A few pics from the day
Anyway ... I took a few notes which I've summarised below:
- Each encounter in our life is important. An initial encounter could just be that, or it could be the start of a friendship/relationship or something very long term and important. Therefore it's important to consider this when meeting someone for the first time
- Struggles are just that, struggles, unless we have a mission and use our struggles to grow.
- The Mentor/Disciple relationship is probably better described as the 'Oneness of Mentor and Disciple' . ie we are no better or worse than our mentor.
- Do NOT harbour doubts. Doubts are natural in life but it's important not to let them dominate and take over us. We need to develop the type of faith to be able to deal with doubts when they arrive. We must confront and challenge our doubts not let them fester.
- Chant with an 'attitude of gratitude'
- Chant with the same attitude as Nichiren ie 'fighting' daimoku chant with the strong determination to fight and defeat our doubts, weaknesses and inner negativity.
- Buddhism isn't simply chanting and attending meetings etc but is determined by the INTENT which we have when we do these things. We can be chanting with teh same attitude as Niuchiren or not .. need to continuously check ourselves whether we are doing this or not .. check what the quality is.
- There are three keys to the above:
1) Stand alone spirit - ie to take action irrespective of whether others do
2) Never give up - chanllenge and win over our doubts/negativity
3) Have 'fighting' spirit - determine and re-determine until it becomes our predominant attitude
Think that's the main gist of it anyway .. came back quite inspired if knackered !!
A few pics from the day
G'day Sarah
Well .. that's what they say in Oz but probably not New Zealand.
My friend Sarah is back from New Zealand, though only on a fleeting visit so won't get to see her much before she goes back, which is a shame as she swears she won't be back for at least 3 years .. think she's enjoying the hippy/surfing lifestyle a bit too much out there. Anyway .. had a few drinks with her last night and going to the Mayfair next week so at least we can catch up before she goes back.
Me 'n' Sarah
What a pretty face :)
Bring me a frothy beer wench :)
Oooh look .. photos !!
Not really a post but last night I finally figured out how to get images from my phone to my PC so watch out for some proper pics !!
In the meantime here's a few to be going on with:
Taplow Building where Gohonzon is Enshrined
View of the Stand at Trent Bridge currently being demolished .. sob :(
And finally a view of the game on a hot day from the above stand
(with attractive Council Office Building !)
In the meantime here's a few to be going on with:
Taplow Building where Gohonzon is Enshrined
View of the Stand at Trent Bridge currently being demolished .. sob :(
And finally a view of the game on a hot day from the above stand
(with attractive Council Office Building !)
Chant Courtney Chant
Finally feel like I'm catching up with things and in a better mood .. feeling more positive generally. Decided quite a while ago that I had two key determinations to acheive by the end of the. One was to be in a relationship and the other to be financially secure. I also determined to see some progress by the end of August. Probably not surprising then that I had a shite month and felt miserable for most of it. Key thing though is that I didn't stop chanting (though I did chant less). This kind of ended up tying in with the Buddhist study that Robert Harrap gave in Lincoln on Friday where he said that one of teh qualities of teh Buddha is that a Buddha 'endures' ... but NOT in a passive way but an active way, so instead of just suffering, you would still suffer and struggle but continually determine to break through it and never give up and finally come out the other side stronger.
So, at the end of the month .. where am I on the determinations ?
Relationship.
No massive progress with this though probably no surprise there though I have re-subscribed to an online dating site for a month to e-mail someone who didn't bother to reply, however, another person did who seems nice ... mind you she's Japanese and hasn't replied since I mentioned the Buddhism that I practise lol .. so maybe that's a no go anyway .. still .. it's all a start :)
Finances.
I've been pretty busy web work wise but also, for some time I've been considering doing the web stuff part time and doing a part time job and I spoted an ad in the paper for part time 3 months Maternity Cover which I thought would be a good way to suss whether I really wanted to do that. Anyway .. to cut a long story short I've got an Interview on Weds ... main prob is that it's one hour a day too many really and it's minimum wage .. Having said that though, it would cover my rent and a bit more so it would at least take some pressure off .. Not sure yet though .. still chanting about it .. Oh .. and it's in an old folks home lol
Anyway .. Suppose I'd better get on, but a couple of things below ... A courtney Love Video which I thought had vanished off the net so posting here for my info ... If you go about 1min 40 secs in you see her chanting.
Also .. I've put the notes that I scribbled down at the Buddhist lecture the other day.
Here's Courtney >>
And here's the notes >>>
Brief notes from Chapter Study – September 07 – Lincoln
by Robert Harrap
Buddha is our inner potential/life force
Casting off the Transient and Revealing the True.
Easy to think that Buddhism can’t help in certain situations .. we all come up against that ‘immovable’ problem at various points in our life, but through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, we can activate our life force and break through these ‘problems’ This doesn’t mean however that it will be easy .. we need to persevere.
Buddhahood is our true and original nature and we should start from this point. Everything else has built up in our lives over the years and restricts us. A bit like a crust gradually covering us over time. We can break through this ‘crust’ by making a big determination and being confident in our often hidden inner potential.
A Buddha enjoys life, even through problems and ‘endures’, NOT in a passive way but by actively challenging our negative tendencies. It is ourselves that stop our own joy/happiness .. we make the choices.
Nichiren inscribed the Gohonzon as a reminder of our Buddhahood and can also be seen as a certificate of validation from Nichiren
We chose, moment by moment, whether we are ‘ordinary human beings’ or Buddhas.
Mentor & Disciple Relationship
This Buddhist Practise is transmitted from one person to another and grows in this way (eg Nichiren to Nikko Shonin and Makaguchi to Toda to Ikeda) to achieve Kosen Rufu which can be understood as a world where people reveal their full potential.
Nichiren was the initial mentor and Ikeda can be seen as the modern Mentor.
So, at the end of the month .. where am I on the determinations ?
Relationship.
No massive progress with this though probably no surprise there though I have re-subscribed to an online dating site for a month to e-mail someone who didn't bother to reply, however, another person did who seems nice ... mind you she's Japanese and hasn't replied since I mentioned the Buddhism that I practise lol .. so maybe that's a no go anyway .. still .. it's all a start :)
Finances.
I've been pretty busy web work wise but also, for some time I've been considering doing the web stuff part time and doing a part time job and I spoted an ad in the paper for part time 3 months Maternity Cover which I thought would be a good way to suss whether I really wanted to do that. Anyway .. to cut a long story short I've got an Interview on Weds ... main prob is that it's one hour a day too many really and it's minimum wage .. Having said that though, it would cover my rent and a bit more so it would at least take some pressure off .. Not sure yet though .. still chanting about it .. Oh .. and it's in an old folks home lol
Anyway .. Suppose I'd better get on, but a couple of things below ... A courtney Love Video which I thought had vanished off the net so posting here for my info ... If you go about 1min 40 secs in you see her chanting.
Also .. I've put the notes that I scribbled down at the Buddhist lecture the other day.
Here's Courtney >>
And here's the notes >>>
Brief notes from Chapter Study – September 07 – Lincoln
by Robert Harrap
Buddha is our inner potential/life force
Casting off the Transient and Revealing the True.
Easy to think that Buddhism can’t help in certain situations .. we all come up against that ‘immovable’ problem at various points in our life, but through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, we can activate our life force and break through these ‘problems’ This doesn’t mean however that it will be easy .. we need to persevere.
Buddhahood is our true and original nature and we should start from this point. Everything else has built up in our lives over the years and restricts us. A bit like a crust gradually covering us over time. We can break through this ‘crust’ by making a big determination and being confident in our often hidden inner potential.
A Buddha enjoys life, even through problems and ‘endures’, NOT in a passive way but by actively challenging our negative tendencies. It is ourselves that stop our own joy/happiness .. we make the choices.
Nichiren inscribed the Gohonzon as a reminder of our Buddhahood and can also be seen as a certificate of validation from Nichiren
We chose, moment by moment, whether we are ‘ordinary human beings’ or Buddhas.
Mentor & Disciple Relationship
This Buddhist Practise is transmitted from one person to another and grows in this way (eg Nichiren to Nikko Shonin and Makaguchi to Toda to Ikeda) to achieve Kosen Rufu which can be understood as a world where people reveal their full potential.
Nichiren was the initial mentor and Ikeda can be seen as the modern Mentor.
Another posting shock horror
Well .. only because I found this amateur you tube vid of one of my fave rembetika songs
Catching Up
It's been quite a while since I last posted, partly because nothing much has happened but also partly a bit of a reflection of my mood these last few weeks. I don't know why, whether it's the general grey and wetness of this Summer, but motivation has definitely taken a nose dive and that includes motivation to chant and go to Buddhist meetings. I guess you could say that Apathy rules .. well .. it would if I could be bothered !
Anyway .. a new month is only a few days away so I'm trying to get a bit of that spark back .. I'm sure it's there .. probably just hidden away.
Cricket season has now finished as far as Notts home gam,es are concerned as they finished home games early this year to enable them to knock down the old stand and build a new one .. shame in a way .. quite liked the old one .. though it was built in the 1930s so I guess was duet o be re-built. At least the last home County game was interesting and Notts won .. just !! Keeps them in with a very good chance of promotion now anyway.
Oh well .. that's got me back in the habit of posting anyway I guess .. however dull it was !!
More Soon >>>
Anyway .. a new month is only a few days away so I'm trying to get a bit of that spark back .. I'm sure it's there .. probably just hidden away.
Cricket season has now finished as far as Notts home gam,es are concerned as they finished home games early this year to enable them to knock down the old stand and build a new one .. shame in a way .. quite liked the old one .. though it was built in the 1930s so I guess was duet o be re-built. At least the last home County game was interesting and Notts won .. just !! Keeps them in with a very good chance of promotion now anyway.
Oh well .. that's got me back in the habit of posting anyway I guess .. however dull it was !!
More Soon >>>
Beating that Negativity Shite
Have been feeling kind of grumpy and negative the last few days for some reason. I'm increasingly thinking that complete self employment isn't my thing though I like some of the options of freedom that it gives. It does also, however, give me opportunities for idleness which I probably accept more often than I should.
I slipped in my chanting too yesterday doing only half hour so I'm getting behind on my schedule now so decided that today would be daimoku day.
Despite waking about 6.30am with something like hayfever .. all sneezy etc I slobbed around before deciding to chant around 9am and boy did I not want to .. really forced myself.
What was interesting was the change in attitude through chanting and I made a note of the process which went like this:
Why bother ?
What's the point ?
Nothing changes anyway
Starts daimoku
what's the point ?
see .. nothing happens
I suppose things could change
I suppose I could make the effort to make changes
I can change things
I WILL change things
It was quite subtle but also quite noticeable and the day was reasonably productive considering how tired I feel, though I should have chanted after lunch to keep the momentum going but it did dip somewhat after lunch.
Just about to start evening gongyo which will add probably 30 mins to my daily total ... plus maybe 3 x advert break daimoku of 5 mins each .. so another 45 mins to do today which will take the daily total to 2 hours .. that'll make up for yesterday a bit anyway .. slob night then .. knackered !!
I slipped in my chanting too yesterday doing only half hour so I'm getting behind on my schedule now so decided that today would be daimoku day.
Despite waking about 6.30am with something like hayfever .. all sneezy etc I slobbed around before deciding to chant around 9am and boy did I not want to .. really forced myself.
What was interesting was the change in attitude through chanting and I made a note of the process which went like this:
Why bother ?
What's the point ?
Nothing changes anyway
Starts daimoku
what's the point ?
see .. nothing happens
I suppose things could change
I suppose I could make the effort to make changes
I can change things
I WILL change things
It was quite subtle but also quite noticeable and the day was reasonably productive considering how tired I feel, though I should have chanted after lunch to keep the momentum going but it did dip somewhat after lunch.
Just about to start evening gongyo which will add probably 30 mins to my daily total ... plus maybe 3 x advert break daimoku of 5 mins each .. so another 45 mins to do today which will take the daily total to 2 hours .. that'll make up for yesterday a bit anyway .. slob night then .. knackered !!
Black Bush
Thought this was pretty funny. Seen a few Dave Chappelle bits and think he's pretty funny. Watch out for Black Tony Blair :-)
D Day
On Thursday I did something that I'm generally not very good at .. I made a decision.
I attended a Buddhist Discussion meeting in the evening and someone gave an experience about how they'd completely changed their job from one that they were good at but didn't feel was creating any value to turning it round to create a job at a social enterprise kind of job despite initially having the wrong qualifications.
This inspired me as, for some time now, I've been wondering whether being self employed suits me and with another month with money coming in late leaving me struggling to pay bills etc made me take the decision to get back out in the real working world. Basically I am going to look for some part time work .. most likely in the morning and continue the web work in the afternoons/early evenings. I don't quite know how this will pan out yet but should be perfectly viable.
Even though the part time employment is likely to be low waged, it should be sufficient to make sure that I can save a bit as well as paying my bills and that would fulfill one of my two determinations by the end of the year to be financially secure.
The day after I made this decision I mentioned it to someone who told me that there were jobs at their place .. one of which seems at first glance to be almost ideal. I don't have any real details yet so it's extremely early days but it's encouraging .. All I have to do now is to re-create my own CV .. something I haven't had for 10 years !!!
I'll keep it posted here with my progress and for now .. here's a quote I find really inspiring.
"Fearing hardships and bemoaning and resenting our environment is to live with the belief that the Law is outside our own life. So is losing confidence in our ability to overcome our circumstances and turning to others in the hope that they will save us, or blaming others for our problems, or giving in to hoplessness and resignation.
When difficulties beset us, no matter how trying they may be, we must clearly see them for the obstacles or devilish functions they are and battle against them without retreating. This is the way of life of those who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and dedicate their lives to the Mystic Law. The Daishonin says: "Nichiren's disciples cannot accomplish anything if they are cowardly" ( WND 1 - pg 481). In accord with these words, let us cast aside cowardice and make courage our foremost attribute".
I attended a Buddhist Discussion meeting in the evening and someone gave an experience about how they'd completely changed their job from one that they were good at but didn't feel was creating any value to turning it round to create a job at a social enterprise kind of job despite initially having the wrong qualifications.
This inspired me as, for some time now, I've been wondering whether being self employed suits me and with another month with money coming in late leaving me struggling to pay bills etc made me take the decision to get back out in the real working world. Basically I am going to look for some part time work .. most likely in the morning and continue the web work in the afternoons/early evenings. I don't quite know how this will pan out yet but should be perfectly viable.
Even though the part time employment is likely to be low waged, it should be sufficient to make sure that I can save a bit as well as paying my bills and that would fulfill one of my two determinations by the end of the year to be financially secure.
The day after I made this decision I mentioned it to someone who told me that there were jobs at their place .. one of which seems at first glance to be almost ideal. I don't have any real details yet so it's extremely early days but it's encouraging .. All I have to do now is to re-create my own CV .. something I haven't had for 10 years !!!
I'll keep it posted here with my progress and for now .. here's a quote I find really inspiring.
"Fearing hardships and bemoaning and resenting our environment is to live with the belief that the Law is outside our own life. So is losing confidence in our ability to overcome our circumstances and turning to others in the hope that they will save us, or blaming others for our problems, or giving in to hoplessness and resignation.
When difficulties beset us, no matter how trying they may be, we must clearly see them for the obstacles or devilish functions they are and battle against them without retreating. This is the way of life of those who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and dedicate their lives to the Mystic Law. The Daishonin says: "Nichiren's disciples cannot accomplish anything if they are cowardly" ( WND 1 - pg 481). In accord with these words, let us cast aside cowardice and make courage our foremost attribute".
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 20 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 25.25 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 23.75 hours
Excellent Study
At last .. something to post !!
Last night's Buddhist Study was really excellent and captured the main points of why we practise Buddhism really well. Really good turnout too ... I didn't count but a couple of us estimate 55-60 people. The lecture was given by Sanda McWilliam who came up from Taplow Court and gave the study on 'On Attaining Buddhahood'.
Anyway .. key points below .. copied up from my notes:
Last night's Buddhist Study was really excellent and captured the main points of why we practise Buddhism really well. Really good turnout too ... I didn't count but a couple of us estimate 55-60 people. The lecture was given by Sanda McWilliam who came up from Taplow Court and gave the study on 'On Attaining Buddhahood'.
Anyway .. key points below .. copied up from my notes:
- We attain Buddhahood as and where we are; NOT as a different person or in a different place. The key is inner change (Human Revolution)
- It is important to make the DECISION to change and to continue in the effort once we have made the decision.
- We should become the master of our own minds and not let our (negative) minds 'master' us.
- A Mentor teaches others to believe in the potential that exists in their OWN lives.
- To be a Bodhisattva means to give hope and fight negativity, which can often be very subtle. To fight negativity means to fight disbelieff in our own and others Buddha nature. It is essential to chant plenty of daimoku (nam Myoho Renge Kyo) to keep our energy levels high enough for this fight.
- Buddhahood exists only in our conduct as human beings (walk the walk, don't just talk the talk).
- It is important to INITIALISE our determinations and be active, not passive.
- Each morning, we have no idea what lies ahead for us during the day. It is therefore important to prepare for the day ahead with a strong gongyo and daimoku.
All good straightforward but key stuff !!!!
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 13 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 16.25 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 16.5 hours
Beg steal or borrow !
Ok .. for the lack of anything interesting to post right now, I've 'borrowed' a section of Peter (Newbuddha's) blog which is an article from the World Tribune talking about Kierkergaard a Danish religious philosopher ... it was the final section that caught my eye so I thought I'd re-produce it here. You can read the whole article on his blog here if you want to.
and for info ... my chanting to date (as last night)
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 12 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 15 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 15.25 hours
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Believing is seeing
Finally, if you want to look at yourself in the mirror…you must not promptly forget how you looked (p. 44).
Kierkegaard’ s final advice is his warning against our forgetfulness. When we study the Daishonin’s writings, we may intellectually understand that we are Buddhas full of courage and compassion. While chanting, we may feel confident that our lives are essentially no different from that of the Daishonin .
But minutes after we leave our homes for work or school, we often start acting in a manner unbefitting Buddhas. In the course of a day, we may also face one situation after another in which others disregard us as if we had not even an iota of Buddhahood. This is why our consistent Buddhist practice and study become important as powerful reminders of our innate Buddhahood, especially when our environment seems to suggest its non-existence. Our diligent, conscious efforts steadily transform our intellectual idea of Buddhahood into our action as Buddhas and our fleeting awareness of Buddhahood into our unmovable conviction in the face of great hardship. In this sense, seeing ourselves in the Gohonzon is often a process of gradual transformation, rather than an epiphany to attain once and for all.Kierkegaard’ s vision of an ideal Christian was a “doer of the Word” (p. 25). To this end, he set down those three requirements for Christians to see themselves in the “mirror of God’s Word.” By the same token, genuine Nichiren Buddhists must not be simply admirers of the Gohonzon who see it with awe yet fail to see themselves in it. Indeed what those admirers think of as their pious respect for the Gohonzon is a kind of fundamental disrespect that perverts its purpose. Nichiren Daishonin wished us to become “practitioners” of the Gohonzon who uphold this mirror of ultimate self-knowledge and appreciate their own reflections.
To this end, the Daishonin stressed the importance of faith, urging us (WND, p. 3) “to summon up deep faith that Myoho-renge- kyo is your life itself” . So the true value of this wonderful mirror lies in the heart of the beholder—the heart that knows believing is seeing .
and for info ... my chanting to date (as last night)
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 12 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 15 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 15.25 hours
...............................................................................
Believing is seeing
Finally, if you want to look at yourself in the mirror…you must not promptly forget how you looked (p. 44).
Kierkegaard’ s final advice is his warning against our forgetfulness. When we study the Daishonin’s writings, we may intellectually understand that we are Buddhas full of courage and compassion. While chanting, we may feel confident that our lives are essentially no different from that of the Daishonin .
But minutes after we leave our homes for work or school, we often start acting in a manner unbefitting Buddhas. In the course of a day, we may also face one situation after another in which others disregard us as if we had not even an iota of Buddhahood. This is why our consistent Buddhist practice and study become important as powerful reminders of our innate Buddhahood, especially when our environment seems to suggest its non-existence. Our diligent, conscious efforts steadily transform our intellectual idea of Buddhahood into our action as Buddhas and our fleeting awareness of Buddhahood into our unmovable conviction in the face of great hardship. In this sense, seeing ourselves in the Gohonzon is often a process of gradual transformation, rather than an epiphany to attain once and for all.Kierkegaard’ s vision of an ideal Christian was a “doer of the Word” (p. 25). To this end, he set down those three requirements for Christians to see themselves in the “mirror of God’s Word.” By the same token, genuine Nichiren Buddhists must not be simply admirers of the Gohonzon who see it with awe yet fail to see themselves in it. Indeed what those admirers think of as their pious respect for the Gohonzon is a kind of fundamental disrespect that perverts its purpose. Nichiren Daishonin wished us to become “practitioners” of the Gohonzon who uphold this mirror of ultimate self-knowledge and appreciate their own reflections.
To this end, the Daishonin stressed the importance of faith, urging us (WND, p. 3) “to summon up deep faith that Myoho-renge- kyo is your life itself” . So the true value of this wonderful mirror lies in the heart of the beholder—the heart that knows believing is seeing .
Just in front
Hanging on in there with my chanting determination ... just 1/4 hour in front at the moment which will be challenged over the weekend when there's 4 days of cricket so I can see me falling behind then .. could be interesting !!!
......................................................................
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 11 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 13.75hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 14 hours
......................................................................
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 11 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 13.75hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 14 hours
be patient I will post soon
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 10 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 12.5hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 12.75 hours
Time Chanted to Date (day 10 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 12.5hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 12.75 hours
Daimoku Update
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 9 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 11.25 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 11.5 hours
Time Chanted to Date (day 9 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 11.25 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 11.5 hours
A mixed weekend
Just about recovering from a mixed weekend and a bit of a grumpy mood generally .... Maybe it started with missing a Mayfair night out though I think it started before that .. Maybe it's my determination to chant 230 hours (1.25 hours a day) before the end of the year that brought out the negativity .. I honestly don't know but it's been a grumpy few days and I just feel that I'm starting to pull out of it now .. maybe it's because I decided to do absolutely sod all yesterday and watched daytimne TV under the duvet until mid afternoon before going for a leisurely stroll/coffee in town as the sun was out for the first time in nearly 2 weeks !!
I think my grumpiness peaked mainly on Saturday .. probably not helped by having to be up at 4.30am to get a lift to Taplow ... all in all not a bad day but not one of my more inspiring trips, but then again, negativity breeds negativity I guess ... I always looked for teh bad bits when I'm feeling grumpy .. I suppose it's a bit like trying to pull people out of their happiness so they are down to ours when we're feeling 'off'
Anyway .. one good thing came out of the trip at least in that I bought a Study Lecture on the 'Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime' gosho by Daisaku Ikeda and have just started reading it and it's a really good read .. takes the Gosho apart bit by bit in detail .. hopefully he'll do teh same with most of the major writings of Nichiren Daishonin.
Anyway .. bit of a slow start to the week as still feeling a bit tired but I've determined (as well as the 1 1/4 hours a day) to focus on my work more during the day so I'd better get on with it !!!!
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 8 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 10 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 10.25 hours
I think my grumpiness peaked mainly on Saturday .. probably not helped by having to be up at 4.30am to get a lift to Taplow ... all in all not a bad day but not one of my more inspiring trips, but then again, negativity breeds negativity I guess ... I always looked for teh bad bits when I'm feeling grumpy .. I suppose it's a bit like trying to pull people out of their happiness so they are down to ours when we're feeling 'off'
Anyway .. one good thing came out of the trip at least in that I bought a Study Lecture on the 'Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime' gosho by Daisaku Ikeda and have just started reading it and it's a really good read .. takes the Gosho apart bit by bit in detail .. hopefully he'll do teh same with most of the major writings of Nichiren Daishonin.
Anyway .. bit of a slow start to the week as still feeling a bit tired but I've determined (as well as the 1 1/4 hours a day) to focus on my work more during the day so I'd better get on with it !!!!
Chanting Determination Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 8 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 10 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 10.25 hours
I want to learn this
I bought one of these years ago from an old rembetist in Greece and though I've messed around with it, I've never been able to learn (not many baglama teachers in the UK !)
Wish I could play like this
or this
Sadly ... I;m more like this !!!!!!
Sponsored Chant Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 3 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 3.75 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 5.25 hours
Wish I could play like this
or this
Sadly ... I;m more like this !!!!!!
Sponsored Chant Update
Time Chanted to Date (day 3 of 184) >>>
Target to be chanted by end of day - 3.75 hours
Actual amount chanted so far - 5.25 hours
##### SPONSOR ME ####
Ok .... so here it is ... I've decided to encourage myself to chant more and to raise some money for Childline at the same time. Any sponsorship always appreciated and you can sponsor me online at:
http://www.justgiving.com/chantathon
I'll be posting my progress on here throughout the process .. initial post coming soon.
http://www.justgiving.com/chantathon
I'll be posting my progress on here throughout the process .. initial post coming soon.
Tozo Weekend - Day 2 (see yesterday for Info)
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
Daimoku Chanted so Far at 19:15 Sunday >> 3 Hours
Total Daimoku Chanted over weekend >> 6 Hours
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Good start to the weekend daimoku campaign today as it was Kosen Rufu Gongyo in the morning. Only 3 of us there for various practical reasons, but still a good gongyo. Hung back afterwards and did another half hour afterwards to get me going. Planning to do another half hour shortly and then if the weather holds out, pop into town for a coffee and read etc .. just to get out of the flat really.
Ended up a bit of a struggle as I spent a bit of time in the afternoon doing other bits before going into town late on .. Realised when I got back that I'd have to do an hour with only a 10 min break in the middle if I wanted to finish before the cricket started .. managed it though !!
Watch this space for sponsored event details tomorrow.
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
Daimoku Chanted so Far at 19:15 Sunday >> 3 Hours
Total Daimoku Chanted over weekend >> 6 Hours
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
Daimoku Chanted so Far at 19:15 Sunday >> 3 Hours
Total Daimoku Chanted over weekend >> 6 Hours
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Good start to the weekend daimoku campaign today as it was Kosen Rufu Gongyo in the morning. Only 3 of us there for various practical reasons, but still a good gongyo. Hung back afterwards and did another half hour afterwards to get me going. Planning to do another half hour shortly and then if the weather holds out, pop into town for a coffee and read etc .. just to get out of the flat really.
Ended up a bit of a struggle as I spent a bit of time in the afternoon doing other bits before going into town late on .. Realised when I got back that I'd have to do an hour with only a 10 min break in the middle if I wanted to finish before the cricket started .. managed it though !!
Watch this space for sponsored event details tomorrow.
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
Daimoku Chanted so Far at 19:15 Sunday >> 3 Hours
Total Daimoku Chanted over weekend >> 6 Hours
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Tozo Weekend
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
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I've been thinking about doing something like this for a while and the weather forecast for the weekend has encouraged me to do it.
I've basically decided to chant more or less half hour on and half hour off today or probably the weekend ... You can see the total so far at the bottom of the post.
Why ? Well ... I did once do a four hour chant and really felt it moved my life forward and I wanted to do that again. Last night I watched a thing on alternative rock and it talked a lot about Kurt Cobain and how he had so much potential but his inner demons ended up with him committing suicide. All this took me back to when I started .. long story but bottom line is after having been given a magazine ages ago i read about Cobain being a Buddhist (after he killed himself) and dug the magazine out and decided to give the practise a go and here I still am chanting away. Anyway .. watching it made me realise that though I have been chanting, I've not REALLY used the practise to move my life on that much .. a bit yes but not really as much as I should have. Also reading the Gosho study today about 'mastering our minds rather than our minds mastering us', I realise that is exactly my problem .. even on work days, I start off with the best of intentions and then get lazy and distracted and lose my focus.
So .. that's the reason and I'd better do other things now as I've got 15 mins before the next half hour starts. Oh .. and I'm thinking about doing a sponsored chant for a charity but more of that when I've decided more details.
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
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I've been thinking about doing something like this for a while and the weather forecast for the weekend has encouraged me to do it.
I've basically decided to chant more or less half hour on and half hour off today or probably the weekend ... You can see the total so far at the bottom of the post.
Why ? Well ... I did once do a four hour chant and really felt it moved my life forward and I wanted to do that again. Last night I watched a thing on alternative rock and it talked a lot about Kurt Cobain and how he had so much potential but his inner demons ended up with him committing suicide. All this took me back to when I started .. long story but bottom line is after having been given a magazine ages ago i read about Cobain being a Buddhist (after he killed himself) and dug the magazine out and decided to give the practise a go and here I still am chanting away. Anyway .. watching it made me realise that though I have been chanting, I've not REALLY used the practise to move my life on that much .. a bit yes but not really as much as I should have. Also reading the Gosho study today about 'mastering our minds rather than our minds mastering us', I realise that is exactly my problem .. even on work days, I start off with the best of intentions and then get lazy and distracted and lose my focus.
So .. that's the reason and I'd better do other things now as I've got 15 mins before the next half hour starts. Oh .. and I'm thinking about doing a sponsored chant for a charity but more of that when I've decided more details.
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Daimoku Chanted So Far at 20:00 Saturday >> 3 Hours
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Buddha Next Door
Thought I'd just plug this new book on the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin.
It's not an introductory book as such but contains a hundred or so experiences from people who practise which is a great idea as there are a wide variety of ways in which people have used the practise in their lives.
If you click on the book, it will take you straight through to the relevant page on Amazon.co.uk
It's not an introductory book as such but contains a hundred or so experiences from people who practise which is a great idea as there are a wide variety of ways in which people have used the practise in their lives.
If you click on the book, it will take you straight through to the relevant page on Amazon.co.uk
WOT no Neighbours !!!!!
Bloody Wimbledon .. grrrr no Neighbours for two weeks !!!
So for the meantime here's a clip of Alan Fletcher (aka Karl Kennedy from Neighbours) singing Sweet Home Alabama ... don't give up the day job Karl :)
So for the meantime here's a clip of Alan Fletcher (aka Karl Kennedy from Neighbours) singing Sweet Home Alabama ... don't give up the day job Karl :)
Bloody Dick Dastardly
Got me today ... Woke up with intentions of doing lots of work but despite sitting at my PC most of the day (avoiding the half decent weather too !), I've got sod all done .. though I did do gongyo in the morning at least ... !!! .. Going to cook some food now quickly then head to a meeting .. despite feeling too lazy to go !!
But I did kind of make the badge !
Kevin Costner was right shock !!!
I mean .. Waterworld .. the most expensive flop ever seemed to come true this weekend ... all that rain and all during a cricket match .. bahhhh. Finally managed to get the game started on day three at lunch time which meant an inevitable draw though Notts made a good go of it getting Derbyshire out for 108 in the first innings then declaring on 302 to try to bowl Derbyshire out in two sessions which looked very do able .. Sadly, with Sidebottom away, once Shreck and (Fat Legend) Ealham had bowled, we had little to offer and needed 7 more wickets after tea which was probably unlikely but possible .. but then the rain came again, and came and came and that was that .. God I hate this country sometimes !
And that's about it to report I think .. seems to be one of those Buddhist-less meeting weeks so I guess that must mean there's about 6 coming up all together .. seems to go that way.
Anyway ... decided on new focusses for my practise .. much based on Robert Harrap's recent lecture.
They are:
And that's about it to report I think .. seems to be one of those Buddhist-less meeting weeks so I guess that must mean there's about 6 coming up all together .. seems to go that way.
Anyway ... decided on new focusses for my practise .. much based on Robert Harrap's recent lecture.
They are:
- To reveal my Buddha Nature
- To live through my 'greater self' and not to restrict myself through my 'smaller self'
- To defeat my own negativity (my own personal Dick Dastardly !)
- To create value during each day
Blue Knees
Years and years ago in my stricter vegetarian days I was told by someone that vegetarian food would turn my knees blue .. well that hasn't happened and I suspect if he's drinking anything like the quantity of alcohol he was, that he probably can't see his knees any more !
Which leads me nicely in to my visit to a vegetarian cafe/restaurant last night in Nottingham Cafe Nomad. The main appeal I think was that we could take our own wine .. a definite plus. The cafe itself is nicely done and relaxing with a morrocan kind of style and the owners seems quite friendly. Prices are reasonable too.
BUT .. have to say that I was dissapointed with my meal. I orderd the veggie tagine which I presumed would be quite flavoursome but it was so bland that the salad was a lot tastier !! Big shame too as it was nicely cooked .. veggies just right and the cous cous was nicely flavoured with coriander. We joked before hand about taking a bottle of chilli sauce and I wished I had ! For desert I had yoghurt honey and nuts but even there I had expected greek yoghurt and it was more standard plain yoghurt.
That said, both of the people I went with who are meat eaters really enjoyed theirs and I had a taste of the stuffed marrow in a cheese and pernod sauce and it was a lot better than mine so maybe I just got unlucky .. and I so nearly had Moussaka instead ... I wish I had !!!
Anyway .. I'm craving scampi and chips tonight .. something tasty and unhealthy and I think my next meal out will be back at the tried and trusted good ol Mayfair .. yummmmm
Oh .. and a new blog by Peter .. another Buddhist > http://newbuddha.wordpress.com
Which leads me nicely in to my visit to a vegetarian cafe/restaurant last night in Nottingham Cafe Nomad. The main appeal I think was that we could take our own wine .. a definite plus. The cafe itself is nicely done and relaxing with a morrocan kind of style and the owners seems quite friendly. Prices are reasonable too.
BUT .. have to say that I was dissapointed with my meal. I orderd the veggie tagine which I presumed would be quite flavoursome but it was so bland that the salad was a lot tastier !! Big shame too as it was nicely cooked .. veggies just right and the cous cous was nicely flavoured with coriander. We joked before hand about taking a bottle of chilli sauce and I wished I had ! For desert I had yoghurt honey and nuts but even there I had expected greek yoghurt and it was more standard plain yoghurt.
That said, both of the people I went with who are meat eaters really enjoyed theirs and I had a taste of the stuffed marrow in a cheese and pernod sauce and it was a lot better than mine so maybe I just got unlucky .. and I so nearly had Moussaka instead ... I wish I had !!!
Anyway .. I'm craving scampi and chips tonight .. something tasty and unhealthy and I think my next meal out will be back at the tried and trusted good ol Mayfair .. yummmmm
Oh .. and a new blog by Peter .. another Buddhist > http://newbuddha.wordpress.com
Now and Zen
Noooooo don't worry .. I'm not following the Jack Kerouac route and starting to Ohmmmmmmm ... It's just that after my old cheapo mp3 player that looked like it had been designed by a Czechloslovakian Cartoonist died, I spotted a nice looking ZEN mp3 player which was under £30 with a gig of memory ... got good reviews too so why not eh .. I did buy it mainly to listen to Buddhist lectures but there's an easy to use ripping tool too .. so I've just copied my last Zoe Rahman CD onto it and it sounds great so as long as it doesn't break I'm well happy with it :)
Ok .. on with some work now .. beenfidling about with my new toy too much !!
Ok .. on with some work now .. beenfidling about with my new toy too much !!
Dick Dastardly will be Defeated
Ok .. bit of an odd title but all relates to the Buddhist Study last night which was given by Robert Harrap, national Mens Division leader of SGI-UK. Have to say .. one of the best I've heard. Unfortunately I was unable to make notes as I was doing the reading but it was recorded so hopefully I'll get a copy and will be able to go into more detail later.
I think what made it so good is that Robert was aware that there were at least 2 people there who knew virtually noting about this Buddhism and managed to combine an in depth study with a large introductory elemnt which was great .. we all need reminding about what the practise is for, no matter how long we've practised.
One thing that he said before the meeting which was simple but equally quite profound is that happinness is always just a second away .. which I guess means that by using the practise, we can change our problems into happinness by taking them on and winning .. easier said than done I know but it's a choice we have .. to suffer or to break through !
But onto the Dick Dastardly bit, this stems from when he was talking about the devil of the 6th heaven which is pretty much a mythological figure from the time of Nichiren Daishonin (1200s) who Robert portrayed as a Dick Dastardly like character who tries to prevent us from progressing by sowing doubts in our minds. Of course, this figure is actually ourselves and our own negativity .. the part of us that doesn't believe that we can change things and win in our lives. He's also portrayed on the Gohonzon (no not Dick dastardly) as one of the negative functions in life that we have to challenge to win.
I really liked that analogy as it helps to remind me when I'm feeling negative/lazy etc that it's Dick Dastardly that's stopping me from moving on, so I just need to chant to push him out of the way .. cartoon buddhism .. is that a good thing :-). Unfortunately for Robert, I refused to do a section of the reading in my Dick Dastardly voice (I do Muttly better :-)
I think what made it so good is that Robert was aware that there were at least 2 people there who knew virtually noting about this Buddhism and managed to combine an in depth study with a large introductory elemnt which was great .. we all need reminding about what the practise is for, no matter how long we've practised.
One thing that he said before the meeting which was simple but equally quite profound is that happinness is always just a second away .. which I guess means that by using the practise, we can change our problems into happinness by taking them on and winning .. easier said than done I know but it's a choice we have .. to suffer or to break through !
But onto the Dick Dastardly bit, this stems from when he was talking about the devil of the 6th heaven which is pretty much a mythological figure from the time of Nichiren Daishonin (1200s) who Robert portrayed as a Dick Dastardly like character who tries to prevent us from progressing by sowing doubts in our minds. Of course, this figure is actually ourselves and our own negativity .. the part of us that doesn't believe that we can change things and win in our lives. He's also portrayed on the Gohonzon (no not Dick dastardly) as one of the negative functions in life that we have to challenge to win.
I really liked that analogy as it helps to remind me when I'm feeling negative/lazy etc that it's Dick Dastardly that's stopping me from moving on, so I just need to chant to push him out of the way .. cartoon buddhism .. is that a good thing :-). Unfortunately for Robert, I refused to do a section of the reading in my Dick Dastardly voice (I do Muttly better :-)
Go Honzon
Finally, the sun is out and Summer seems to be here again ... for how long ?
Had another visit to Taplow on Sunday which involved an early start .. had to be up at 5.30am ouch !! One of teh guys in our district was receiving Gohonzon (the scroll we chant to) so a few of us went down to support him.
We got there in plenty of time and had a bit of a walk around the grounds before and after the ceremony. Unfortunately I've got a new mobile and can't seem to get images off it which is really annoying .. also think I've lost the lead. Me and technology don't really go that well together despite being a web designer !!
And last night, we headed over to Chesterfield for his enshrinement which was quite nice as he lives half way between Nottingham and Sheffield so there were several there from Sheffield too.
Couple of Pics below
Nice Quote and new book
Feeling pretty tired today .. think probably because I went swimming yesterday for the first time in about 3 weeks .. need to get back into that. 'Orrible weather too and I've been struggling to get out of bed in the morning .. in fact .. I've just watched Neighbours and I'm going to have a lie down for half hour before working again .. had hoped to pop out but looking outside .. no way !!
There's a new book due out I believe July which looks promising .. it's a book of experiences of members of SGI throughout the world .. should be a useful addition to the Buddhist library anyway ... CLICK HERE for more information and pre order if you want.
Finally ... was looking round for some guidance on teh smaller and greater self and found this .. really good:
The essence of Buddhism lies in developing oneself through one’s own determination and tenacious effort - not by depending on anyone or anything else. We need to have the spirit to stand on our own initiative without relying on anyone. We don’t need others’ sympathy or sentimentality. We have to stand up and advance, even if there is no one to encourage us. We resolutely and cheerfully take responsibility to change ourselves, our surroundings, society and the land where we live. That is the principle of ichinen sanzen, or three thousand realms in a single moment of life. What Buddhism teaches is not abstract theory; it is not a weak-kneed way of life of constantly clinging to something for support. At the same time, neither is it to be confused with the egoism to arrogantly suppose, ‘I alone am correct and respect worthy.’ To believe in the great life force within oneself is at once to believe in the great life force existing within all people. Buddhism teaches that we should treasure the lives of others just as highly as we treasure our own.
Daisaku Ikeda in: Wisdom Of The Lotus Sutra 27
There's a new book due out I believe July which looks promising .. it's a book of experiences of members of SGI throughout the world .. should be a useful addition to the Buddhist library anyway ... CLICK HERE for more information and pre order if you want.
Finally ... was looking round for some guidance on teh smaller and greater self and found this .. really good:
The essence of Buddhism lies in developing oneself through one’s own determination and tenacious effort - not by depending on anyone or anything else. We need to have the spirit to stand on our own initiative without relying on anyone. We don’t need others’ sympathy or sentimentality. We have to stand up and advance, even if there is no one to encourage us. We resolutely and cheerfully take responsibility to change ourselves, our surroundings, society and the land where we live. That is the principle of ichinen sanzen, or three thousand realms in a single moment of life. What Buddhism teaches is not abstract theory; it is not a weak-kneed way of life of constantly clinging to something for support. At the same time, neither is it to be confused with the egoism to arrogantly suppose, ‘I alone am correct and respect worthy.’ To believe in the great life force within oneself is at once to believe in the great life force existing within all people. Buddhism teaches that we should treasure the lives of others just as highly as we treasure our own.
Daisaku Ikeda in: Wisdom Of The Lotus Sutra 27
Nice Line
Flicking through the Guardian Review section today and came across a poem by Derek Walcott which had a line in which I thought was excellent and kind of relates to 'taking action' or more specifically what happens when you don't !!!
Time creeps over the patient who are too long patient,
Time creeps over the patient who are too long patient,
Re Determining
Been a strange week since coming back from Taplow ... have felt tired and lethargic and un enthusiastic. Maybe it was lack of sleep or maybe negativity.
Anyway .. seems to be waning now and have been thinking about new determinations from the Course. The theme of the course seemed to be about expanding our vision for our happinness and that of others so based on that, I've made new determinations .. though of course money/relationship ones still stand :)
New Determinations are:
Anyway .. seems to be waning now and have been thinking about new determinations from the Course. The theme of the course seemed to be about expanding our vision for our happinness and that of others so based on that, I've made new determinations .. though of course money/relationship ones still stand :)
New Determinations are:
- To live with the spirit of Nichiren and Ikeda but in my own unique way
- To establish a 'Golden Vision' based on respect for myself and for others
- To elevate the life condition of myself and others to enable them to reveal their full life potential.
More from Taplow Weekend
Challenging day today .. still finding it difficult getting going again after the HQ course and definitely got a few money challenges but they'll work out I'm sure .. just need to keep chipping away at them.
I've typed up notes from the course .. edited down here really to make sense for none Buddhists too hopefully .. so here goes.
Yas Hiriyama
The purpose of Study in this Buddhism is not an intellectual pursuit but to enable us to feel the life and spirit of Nichiren Daishonin and our own Buddhahood.
Everything depends on how we view life – as suffering or as a rhythm of life lived with joy.
This is a powerful yet simple practise and is ideally suited to these negative times.
Nichiren Lived as the Lotus Sutra described which is why he was able to establish Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for us.
The important thing in Nichiren Buddhism is ACTION – we must USE the practise in our lives.
The concept of the universe is ourselves and ourselves are the universe.
There is no separation between ourselves and others but we keep our own uniqueness
We cultivate and create our own Buddhahood
The Mystic Law is both within and outside us. Important to chant for both.
Nichiren revealed the powers of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo in his life by victories over his fundamental darkness
Not seeing Buddhahood in others is fundamental darkness and is a continuous battle
The ultimate purpose of this practise is happiness
“Before seeking happiness outside yourself, determine to establish a life state like the Ocean, then you can enjoy life. It’s all about life state”
Fundamental darkness means not believing in yourself, limiting yourself. Win by establishing a strong life state by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Continue this battle every day.
The Master Disciple relationship is the way to find our greater self.
Chant to have the same spirit as Nichiren Daishonin.
Susanne Pritchard
We are involved in a huge change for mankind. It is easy to become focussed on a small way of seeing things (ie ourselves .. Dick Causton always encouraged people to have an expansive (golden) vision. When people struggle, it’s usually because they have lost their sense of a larger vision.
Use current difficulties as a stepping stone towards our ‘golden vision’
When people struggle, it’s usually because they have lost their sense of the larger vision and have become wrapped up in their own difficulties. The closer we look at our difficulties, the more out of focus our larger vision becomes.
Honin Myo – Starting from now .. if we fail, we start again.
Ikeda said (paraphrased)
“What is the key to victory ?
- Make a great determination
- Determination Wavers
- Re determine
- Determination wavers
- Re Determine
The secret is always to finish on an odd number “
We should elevate our life state so that we can draw out the same heart and spirit as Nichiren.
The Gohonzon is a certificate of guarantee, signed by Nichiren, that we will reach the same state if we chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Kosen Rufu is the elevation of the life condition of all humanity. Nichiren left the Gohonzon as a tool to draw out this life condition.
We should focus on the big vision ..if we focus on our ‘failures’ we close our lives in.
Chant to see our Buddhahood every day and not our weaknesses
Shakabuku is to encourage others to see the greatness in their own lives.
We should attempt to raise our life state each day and not drag others down to ours when we are in lower state.
Daisaku Ikedas ability as a mentor is that he has never stopped being a disciple of Josei Toda
Summary:
- Establish a brilliant vision which encompasses your own life and that of the rest of humanity
- Establish a practise of shakabuku spirit for yourself and others
- Remind yourself as many times as you need to to achieve your goals this year and in thefuture.
Taplow Course this weekend
Just back from our HQ Buddhist course at Taplow this last weekend and what a great course it was. I think the only negative was lack of sleep as I woke at 5.30am and 4.30am respectively which was annoying but didn't feel too bad .. had hoped to catch up this morning but woke at 8.30 so not the lie in I expected.
The weather forecast for Maidenhead was pretty crap so I wasn't expecting the great weather that we had which is always helpful.
Everything seemed to run pretty smoothly and some great lecture from Yas Hirayama, Suzanne Pritchard, Robert Harrap and Robert Samuels .. my favourite probably being Yas's who constantly inspires me with his lectures, but Suzanne's ran a close second which I was pleased about as I'd heard one of hers before and it didn't do much for me so I was pleased with this one.
Group meetings weren't great for my group but I did get a good one to one (and a quite attractive one at that ;-) .. and it was also someone who was actually using the practise in her life rather than just theorising about it.
Strangest day was the last day when the guy who helps out in the kitchen didn't turn up leaving the chef in the lurch so I helped out by chopping veg for an hour or so which I quite enjoyed, though it did mean missing morning gongyo. However, the benefit I git was that I got to do it with one or two others leading gongyo in front of the big gohonzon at Taplow which I really enjoyed.
All in all a really good and inspiring meeting and if I got one thing I had to pick from the course it's the determination to reveal the kind of life state of Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda in my own life .... and in my own way.
More soon but must do some work now ... Oh .. and I saw the papers today .. Neighbours going to channel 5 .. shame but at least I can still watch it !!!
The weather forecast for Maidenhead was pretty crap so I wasn't expecting the great weather that we had which is always helpful.
Everything seemed to run pretty smoothly and some great lecture from Yas Hirayama, Suzanne Pritchard, Robert Harrap and Robert Samuels .. my favourite probably being Yas's who constantly inspires me with his lectures, but Suzanne's ran a close second which I was pleased about as I'd heard one of hers before and it didn't do much for me so I was pleased with this one.
Group meetings weren't great for my group but I did get a good one to one (and a quite attractive one at that ;-) .. and it was also someone who was actually using the practise in her life rather than just theorising about it.
Strangest day was the last day when the guy who helps out in the kitchen didn't turn up leaving the chef in the lurch so I helped out by chopping veg for an hour or so which I quite enjoyed, though it did mean missing morning gongyo. However, the benefit I git was that I got to do it with one or two others leading gongyo in front of the big gohonzon at Taplow which I really enjoyed.
All in all a really good and inspiring meeting and if I got one thing I had to pick from the course it's the determination to reveal the kind of life state of Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda in my own life .... and in my own way.
More soon but must do some work now ... Oh .. and I saw the papers today .. Neighbours going to channel 5 .. shame but at least I can still watch it !!!
Busy few days
No more bizarro dreams to report I'm afraid .. been too busy to dream. Must have been my determination to get rid of my debts by the end of the year but I seem to be really busy right now .... which is good. Also the course this weekend at Taplow seems to be taking up a lot of my time .. was up till midnight last night trying to get the booklet that Lucy is doing for the course to format properly .. nightmare .. but we got close enough in the end ... I think !!!
So just a tidy up day today really and hopefully a quiet night in and an early night as the next few nights will be spent in a shared room and I bet with snorers !! Still .. should be a good course and I'll hopefully post a lot about it here after the weekend.
So just a tidy up day today really and hopefully a quiet night in and an early night as the next few nights will be spent in a shared room and I bet with snorers !! Still .. should be a good course and I'll hopefully post a lot about it here after the weekend.
I had a dream/money woes
Ok .. so I know I need to do gongyo and I'm putting it off, but having woken at 4am I can't get my brain motivated at the moment. I suspect my early morning was partly the sound of shagging foxes outside and my sudden realisation of how much debt I have right now (so if anyone has got a few hundred they don't want, there's a paypal button in the right hand column :-) .... I've looked at various solutions, some better than others but all with catches and it looks like the only way to get out of it is to work more and earn more (yeah and I know ... chant more !).
A strange thing happened to me the other night .. I had a dream, something I don't often do, or at least can't remember, but this one was pretty vivid and not unpleasant. In fact .. I was in a soft porn episode of Neighbours (maybe they'll do that to increase thir rating). .. I've probably forgotten some of it but it was Christmas in Ramsay Street (except Ramsay Street was in Nottingham !) and I was chatting to Dylan Timmins who was moaning and moaning about Sky who had dumped him .. I seem to remember not being overly sympathetic. The next thing I remember is that Sky and Harold were getting drunk then Sky was in the town centre in some kind of tutu thing drunk and dancing. Then two gay guys came along and she started dancing with them and one went off in a huff and she then started to give the remaining one a blow job ! .. As if this wasn't weird enough, while she was doing this I was giving her oral .. EXCEPT .. she had some big trousers on ... I mean how weird is that .. The only thing I can figure is that I'd watched a documentary on Jennifer Lopez and was mightily impressed by her ass lol
Anyway .. I watched Neighbours the other day and I wasn't in it :)
Ok .. enough bizarro world and must do gongyo now !!
3 Meetings one depression and an inspiration
Catch up time again ... I must be the laziest blogger .. EVER !
So what's been happening .. well, last week was pretty good on the whole .. had couple of nice days ta the cricket where the weather was good though it was bleeding freezing on teh last day but at least Notts won convincingly .. a good start to the season so hopefully will go straight back up. However, on a sad sporting note, my old home town team Boston United dropped (not unexpectedly) out of the football league.
Thursday night was Jazz night and a great set from Renato D'aiello who had a great young drummer with him .. very promising and no real hangover on Friday amazingly enough !
Friday night, I was supposed to be going out for a drink but that got cancelled though I wasn't too bothered as Friday night is CSI night, but though I watched them, I didn't really get into them at all and on Saturday morning I realised why !
When I woke on Saturday, I felt truly awful and depressed and couldn't motivate myself to do anything .. just dragging myself round the flat .. I did manage to do gongyo but very very half heartedly and also walked into town to get some air but just sat in the square feeling very isolated and pointless and that continued through the evening too. To make matters worse, I checked my bank account inteh morning which had just about been hanging on and discovered that a cheque for £200 which I'd put in over 2 weeks ago had gone unpaid and also my current overdraft agreement had expired leaving me in debt. So in one fould swoop, I lost about £500 though I should get the cheque re-done and can sort the overdraft out hopefully but could well have done without it !!
On Sunday, I felt if anything even worse and 'what's the point' .. sometimes life really does feel like too much of a struggle to be bothered. I would have stayed in bed all day I think but I'd promised to go to Chesterfield in the afternoon to chant with someone and he was going to the Kosen Rufu meeting at Charmain's in the morning so I eventually dragged myslef out of bed (and I mean Dragged !!) and got down there before the end. I went to Chesterfield in the afternoon and had a chat and a chant then came home on the bus (with some annoying 'gel haired braying idiots' (description courtesy KP) who found it amusing to play with the sliding doors ALL the way home and bellowed each time they closed. Imagine cavemen coming into this era .. it was that kind of level.
To end the day I had yet another Buddhist meeting at Charmains which was to do with the course, so all in all, I was actually forced to do a fair bit of chanting that I definitely wouldn't have done and I have to say that by the evening, while I wouldn't say I was Mr Happy, my depression had at least started to lift .. unfortunately my bad back hasn't but I should be able to sort that by sitting better and not slouching at my PC !!
And so to today .. BankHoliday Monday ... Not planning to do much today which is probably why I'm writing this though I do have a few tidy up things to do before going to the Mayfair yet again for a meal so that will be good, though I'm afraid a cheap wine is in the offing today as I need to watch my cash at least until things get sorted.
Another piece of good food news is that apparently Yo Sushi are opening in Nottingham .. yay .. sashimi ;-)
I watched an Ikeda DVD this morning and picked up one really good bit of inspiration on it where Ikeda is talking about what Toda used to say to him so I'm paraphrasing here but you get the drift.
He often used to say "You can do it ! If you think you can't and give up, you won't acheive anything!" The important thing is to take action yourself and not leave it to others. ....... "Faith is not just going through the motions. You need to put your heart into it and pray to the Gohonzob with everything you've got. Never forget that basic point.
So, with that in mind, I'm re-evamping my determination to be by the end of the year to have cleared all my debts and earn a regular decent income and also to be in a realtionship by the end of the year. One thing which cropped up in my chanting is that I've been chanting to find a girlfriend (or at my age I guess it should be a womanfriend !), but that's kind of turned round now and Ilm chanting for them to find me :-)
And on that note I'm off to do some chanting, some course admin and do the washing up that's been sitting there for days !!
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