Life Lessons from the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Contribution by Penny
This is a reflection inspired by a book I have read called: The Wisdom of Tea: Life Lessons from the Japanese Tea Ceremony. It was written by Noriko Morishita who studied Tea Ceremony for 25 years and she describes her gradual discovery of deep insights into life within the very rules that once seemed so constricting. It becomes a celebration of perseverance with spiritual practices even though we feel as though we are making no progress…..practice is all there is … More Life Lessons from the Japanese Tea Ceremony
R. Buckminster Fuller: Interconnectedness
Contribution by Richard
With the worldwide events of this year I’ve been reflecting on R. Buckminster Fuller, an American inventor and environmentalist of the 20th century, who had insights into interconnectedness, sustainability and nature. … More R. Buckminster Fuller: Interconnectedness
The Hummingbird Story
Contribution by Adrien
I wanted to share a story that I read to my son quite often. It was written by a group of people in France whose focus is on educating and building a more sustainable society – the hummingbird movement. … More The Hummingbird Story
Crafting Moments of Tranquility
Contribution by Anja
The Japanese expression wakei-seijyaku is made up of four characters – wa means harmony, kei is respect, sei stands for purity, and jyaku for serenity and appreciation. It means taking the time to deliberately ‘craft’ an experience of inner tranquility, to rest in the present noticing a moment of beauty. … More Crafting Moments of Tranquility
Resilient/ Fragile
Contribution by Richard
After hiding dormant through seasons of hot dry weather, from harsh and rocky ground this fragile plant emerged, flowering for two weeks before disappearing. … More Resilient/ Fragile
Finding Solace in a Devastating Summer
Contribution by Penny
People need to not react with blame and the usual assumptions, but be open to new ways of addressing climate change and healing the earth … More Finding Solace in a Devastating Summer
Wise Hope
Contribution by Anja
Zen teacher and writer Joan Halifax talks about ‘wise hope’, by which she means finding value in our efforts to make the world a better place, even as we understand there is no guarantee what we’re working towards will succeed. … More Wise Hope
Our ‘Just in Case’ Mind
Contribution by Anja
Our mind is often the same – storing old information and memories ‘just in case’. … More Our ‘Just in Case’ Mind
Sesshin 2019
Images and Poems from the Four Day Sesshin with Geoff Dawson, held in November 2019 … More Sesshin 2019
Trees, grass, dirt and earth: ancient wisdom and modern insights
Contribution by Penny
Just sitting is the essential Zen way to realising our connection with all things, but like many I find spending time in nature is also important to help me remain balanced when faced with personal challenges or depressing news about the state of our world … More Trees, grass, dirt and earth: ancient wisdom and modern insights
The Three A’s
Contribution by Tom
The Three A’s: Attachment, Aversion and Apathy … More The Three A’s
Extraordinary Mind
Contribution by Richard
This is a photo of the galactic core. It is the centre of our Milky Way galaxy in which we live. The Milky Way is of a scale that cannot be comprehended by the ordinary human mind. … More Extraordinary Mind
Alone on My Zafu
Contribution by Adrien
I attended my first Sesshin last year and that was a very important experience. The first word that comes to my mind is “intense”. … More Alone on My Zafu
Beginning Mind: Taking Refuge in the Buddha
Contribution by Tom
A cornerstone of Buddhist practice, including Zen, is the vow to ‘take refuge’ in the Three Treasures (or Three Jewels), which are the Buddha, the Dharma and the sangha. … More Beginning Mind: Taking Refuge in the Buddha
No Way: No Such Thing as Practice
Contribution by Tom
There is no such thing as ‘practice’ in the sense of standing apart from the rest of ‘life as it is’. Practice, after all, is just a concept and is thus is empty. So, just sit. No hurdles to jump. ‘Nothing to attain’ … More No Way: No Such Thing as Practice
