It's not what you look at that matter. It's what you see. (H.D. Thoreau)
What is ok in my life right now? What do I have access to that I take for granted? Is there anything I can direct my attention to which is unproblematic (birdsong, the sensation of feet touching the ground, a warm cup of tea in my hands...)? Do I have to check the news/social media …
Continue reading "Life Outside of Misery. 10 Questions for the Weekend"
Maybe you're right. Maybe I should get a proper job, settle down. Grow up, think about health insurance. Oh, and the pension, yes. I've just been so busy working out the terms and conditions of my heart insurance. For once I was sensible. Signed a life-long contract. Small print says: requires daily renewal. So I …
Do something radical today. Show up for the crispness of this morning offered so generously to you without a demand in the world. // Delete the word 'ordinary' from your dictionary. // Do you really believe this day is devoid of miracles just because it's porridge again for breakfast? // Amazement is a good swimmer …
Every morning Rebirth of the mind Daily life karma // Feed it bitterness today Get the bill tomorrow // Set out to learn to bake Got obsessed with the Big Bake Off hosted by Buddha master baker // This baking thing didn't come naturally and I only had this battered old oven // interrupted by …
Go on. Make your way to this club everyone is talking about. The bouncer looks scary, but the door policy is weirdly generous. All you have to do is hand over the What Ifs and Maybes. Then, enter. Surrender your 'self' to this stuffy mess. Dance to the beat of being. Let the base vibrate …
Continue reading "Dance to Songs You Haven’t Chosen. A Poem."
8 minutes reading time Relationship to Other Beliefs If we experience a particular teaching or religion as liberating then there is no cause for feeling threatened by other beliefs. We can rejoice in somebody else's faith, even if it is not the same as 'ours', when we see that the teachings they follow lead to …
5 minutes reading time Making Mistakes Whether we are on a 'spiritual path' or not, we all make mistakes. It is important that we can look honestly at these areas which need our attention. This honest examination however does not need thoughts like 'I am not good enough' or 'It is all my fault', which …
8 minutes reading time “Do not accept any of my words on faith,“Believing them just because I said them.“Be like an analyst buying gold, who cuts, burns, and critically examines his product for authenticity.“Only accept what passes the test by proving useful and beneficial in your life.” These are the words of the Buddha – …
Regular formal meditation (sitting, standing, walking or lying down) is a very beneficial and powerful way to practise mindfulness and I would encourage everyone to try it out, even if it's just for 5 minutes a day. However, if you really feel this isn't your cup of tea, there are many other ways to practise. …
Continue reading "Ideas to Practise Mindfulness With Nature"
Poems are precious. They inspire us to pause and can be powerful when we allow them to touch us. A good poem can remind us of something deep which we might already know but have forgotten in the business of our life. This is a list of ten of my favourite poems revealing something deep. …
Continue reading "Poems – Creative Gifts to Inspire Our Mindfulness Practice"
In the six meetings we will look at different 'nourishing' qualities / concepts and explore ways of cultivating them in formal meditation and in daily life. Over the 6 week period we will explore such questions as: What are ways of grounding oneself when feeling overwhelmed? What might be a fresh perspective of looking at …
Continue reading "Soul Food – 6 Week Online Course. Starting Wednesday 21/02/24."
Transcription of part of a talk given in Iona Village Hall, 16/08 I live on a small island which has been and still is an important place of pilgrimage for many. But what comes to mind for me, when I hear the word 'pilgrimage' is the pilgrimage of the heart, rather than a physical one. …
The word 'mindfulness' is used so excessively these days that there might be some confusion as to what it actually means. There are 'mindfulness' calendars,cups,T-Shirts,keyrings. I would like to attempt to give an answer to two frequently asked questions: "What is Mindfulness?" and "Why do you practice it?".Please keep in mind when reading this that …
Continue reading "What is Mindfulness? An Attempt of an Explanation"
SOMETIMES MINDFUL 