Welcome to my Blog. I'm a practising member of SGI-UK a lay buddhist organisation practising the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. It is often described as a practise of Active Humanism which I think reflects it perfectly. The basic practise is the chanting of 'Nam Myoho Renge Kyo' on a daily basis and putting the practise into use in our daily lives thereby making this a practical rather than esoteric form of Buddhism. For more information, please follow the Buddhist links on the right of this page

“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.”.
Daisaku Ikeda.

The land of Gilad

Had to post this because if you've never seen Gilad Atzmon then you really should.

They say that genius and madness are closely linked and this guy definitely falls into that category ! Before he played his set, there was support from Sarah Gillespie who, I have to say, I didn't really like much at all .. she just seemed to be a mix of other people to me .. looked like Courtney LOve with dark hair and influenced by Kate Nash, Mott the Hoople and the Cranberries amongst others ... I spoke to a few people afterwards and the suspicion was that there were 2 reasons she got the gig ... and they were both resting on her guitar as she sang !!!

But anyway on to Gilad ... An Israeli who hates Israel (and Tony Blair) and has a Palestinian Drummer Asif Sirkis ... this guy is a brilliant Jazz Musician .. and in my opinion, especially when he plays it with the Middle Eastern influences .. I just get lost in those .. or maybe that's the whisky. However .... Gilad being Gilad ... he'll suddenly meander off into an almost techno dance track (and dance like your favourite uncle !!) ... he also recently seems to have taken to pressing a few buttons on a keyboard to make it squeal too .. but it wouldn't be a Gilad gig without that ...

He's also a bit of a joker too .. referring to his band (The Orient House Ensemble) as 'the refuejews' .. claimed that he had a prostrate problem and a song was entitled 'waiting for peace' (get it ?) .. I guess it's the way that he tells 'em too :-)

Anyway .. great gig .. one I'd always try to see ...

Have a listen anyway .. not everyone's cuppa I guess but a definite one off !!




Or a three part documentary if you want more ....






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