G G Paragati

The Buddha, Freedom from Suffering and Mind Training

aleksan — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:28:33 +0000

A wie man from the East (Buddha) analysed the causes of suffering and concluded that it is, in the main, due to us wanting what we can not have (e.g. youth, health, peace) or not wanting what we have got to have (e.g. ageing, illness death) – his solution was mind training so that we learn firstly to see things in their true perspective, and secondly so that we can live in the present not regretting the past or fearing the future. But it may take many years in a Buddhist Community to begin on this path and many lifetimes to become free of harmful cycles and freedom from suffering – unless anyone knows a quicker way?

Winter ride

aleksan — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:51:12 +0000

The Winter rides are always good – not to hot and sweaty, no insects, clear views and happy horses – great ride with Sarah who rode Estrella leading Luna, around the back of the downs – the sun had brought a lot of people out in the village on the way home – God was in his Heaven and all was very well – nice being away from FB and Twitter for a few hours!

Cameron is ignorant and lacks judgement – he should resign

aleksan — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:40:24 +0000

As a disabled person and as a Psychiatrist I am appalled by Cameron’s ignorant and abusive comment likening heckling by Balls in the Commons to being like having a person with Tourette’s Syndrome on the front row of the opposition benches. The ignorance, poor judgement and abusive nature of this comment makes me wonder whether this man should be Prime Minister any longer – surely this is a matter for resignation?

Gate of Light – Quoted by Marcel Messing

aleksan — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:10:47 +0000

Go through the gate of Light
Because you never know when
The gate will close
MARIA MAGDALENA

My many dream faces

aleksan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:50:48 +0000

I just woke from a dream – I was looking at my young female face and hair in a mirror or glass – my dark red curly hair was untidy and I thought I must brush it before seeing anyone – I made some faces at myself and laughed. I woke – I am a man of 67 with a little grey hair…I have had many dreams like that when I am me, but someone of either sex of any age. Even when I am just day dreaming faces regard me at close quarters head on – they often look curious or a little surprised but some times they too look like they are day dreaming and are staring away from me. They always feel very familiar, but when I come out of my daydream I dont know who they were. It is as though I have many faces and lives – maybe they were once me, or will be me, maybe they are others I am closely linked with. Or maybe they are just a disturbance in my brain! Has anyone else had these sort of dreams or daydreams?

A New Breath Resolution

aleksan — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:06:01 +0000

Thought is futile – I shall return to the eternal now, centered outside the Space-time contnuum – this is a resolution not for the new year but for each new breath! Smiling and breathing in a new day that has opened up…Life is curiously interesting, not to be grasped or repulsed…

Christmas Day 2011

aleksan — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:32:00 +0000

I overheard this conversation this morning…

aleksan — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:05:17 +0000

Sammy: Big White Horse, what are they on about – New Year? (Bares teeth) Don’t they know its is the 97th of Bonecrunch 15,642?
Sonadora: Rubbish Little White Dog – we all know it is the 23rd of Haymunch 13,799 (snorts, and wanders off to eat some more hay)
Sammy: (pees, sniffs gatepost and pees again)

The Mistletoe Bough – my granddad Bright would solemnly chant this or words similar at Christmas in his Wiltshire brogue

aleksan — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:25:31 +0000

The Mistletoe Bough

Thomas Haynes Bayley (1884)

The mistletoe hung in the castle hall
The holly branch shone on the old oak wall.
The Baron’s retainers were blithe and gay,
Keeping the Christmas holiday.

The Baron beheld with a father’s pride
His beautiful child, Lord Lovell’s bride.
And she, with her bright eyes seemed to be
The star of that goodly company.
Oh, the mistletoe bough.
Oh, the mistletoe bough.

“I’m weary of dancing, now,” she cried;
“Here, tarry a moment, I’ll hide, I’ll hide,
And, Lovell, be sure you’re the first to trace
The clue to my secret hiding place.”

Away she ran, and her friends began
Each tower to search and each nook to scan.
And young Lovell cried, “Oh, where do you hide?
I’m lonesome without you, my own fair bride.”
Oh, the mistletoe bough.
Oh, the mistletoe bough.

They sought her that night, they sought her next day,
They sought her in vain when a week passed away.
In the highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot,
Young Lovell sought wildly, but found her not.

The years passed by and their brief at last
Was told as a sorrowful tale long past.
When Lovell appeared, all the children cried,
“See the old man weeps for his fairy bride.”
Oh, the mistletoe bough.
Oh, the mistletoe bough.

At length, an old chest that had long laid hid
Was found in the castle; they raised the lid.
A skeleton form lay mouldering there
In the bridal wreath of that lady fair.

How sad the day when in sportive jest
She hid from her lord in the old oak chest,
It closed with a spring and a dreadful doom,
And the bride lay clasped in a living tomb.
Oh, the mistletoe bough.
Oh, the mistletoe bough.

Moral values, not “Christian” values – the Christians stole them from others….

aleksan — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:50:06 +0000

I am sick of people like Cameron pontificating about “Christian values” Christianity hijacked its values from preceding traditions including Greek, Late Roman Stoic, Ancient Egyptian, Jewish and of course Buddhist. All these traditions worked out the moral values most people value today long before the Christians came along and took them over – like they took over so many other things. (Even the Jewish Ten Commandments were nicked straight from the Ancient Egyptians)…in conclusion I like go by what Sophocles said in Antigone “Wise conduct is the key to happiness, Always rule by the Gods and reverence them” eg Respect the Gods (Nature) and your moral course will be clear.