Oh how awful Moira. I can imagine how anxious you feel. Sending you steadying energy and blessings to you, the residents and firefighters and all the living beings caught up in the fires.

Yes! A very warm welcome Phil. Do book all the live streams that inspire you. Even if you can’t make the live session, booking will ensure you get sent the catch-up recording. All best, Alistair

Hope you're recovering well Fran and that the procedure did what it was meant to. Sending loving healing energy your way. Ax

Hello Carol, What a good question. The Ngöndro (preparatory practices which include the 100,000 prostrations) is a secret practice. That is to say, practitioners do not advertise that they’re doing the practice and certainly do not proclaim their achievements. Obviously, Buddhists who are practicing the Ngöndro or who are helping others practice might discuss the details or the broad strokes. But generally it’s a private practice.

Welcome Laurie! So lovely to have you with us. All best, Alistair

Thank you so much @fran and @teena for you question and answer on this subject. It's a big one and I'll return to it in the Thursday sessions on Atisha's Lamp. But I wanted to put in my tuppence worth. It's true that Buddhism is not a theistic religion - it doesn't posit a supreme being or a entity that we would pray or prostrate to. And on an ultimate level, there is no separate self or 'other'. We are all part of the play of shunyata (emptiness). However, when Buddhism moved from the path of individual liberation, represented by the Theravadan teachings, to the Mahayana teachings of universal liberation and universal responsibility then the role of the Other becomes more and more central on a relative level. In the Mahayana, through the teachings of emptiness and interdependence, there is no separation between self and other. And this opens the door to universal compassion: there is an infinite web of suffering beings and we cannot just liberate ourselves but have to liberate all. That is the ground of Great Compassion, recognising that there is no separation. However, the good news is that there is also no separation from the enlightened beings in the web either. And this is the ground of Great Devotion. We are all connected in a web of interdependence to all the suffering beings AND all the enlightened beings. It is this "Field of Merit", (that is to say, the web of enlightened humans and non-humans in the Universe), that we connect with through prayer, supplication, appreciation, rejoicing, offerings and contemplation. On an ultimate level, there is no separation and everything is empty-clarity, but, unless we have reached full liberation, we are not living in ultimate reality so these more relative forms are celebrated and offered in the Mahayana to uplift the mind by connecting it to the enlightened forces of the universe. As Teena suggests, ultimately, all these forms, "Buddhas", "Bodhisattvas", "Gurus", "Protectors" are empty of permanent existence but their beneficial energy does exist in the conditioned world and we can lighten our individual path with the light of their existence. In short, the rituals of prayer, prostration, confession, rejoicing and offering remind us that we're not doing this on our own and that there is a vast ocean of support out there that counters the vast ocean of suffering. I hope that makes a little sense!

Indeed! Welcome Jennifer. ❤️🙏❤️

Welcome Melanie. Do come along to our 3x a week sessions. 😃 https://www.mind-springs.org/online-live

Oh, apologies to all the non-UK listeners. I should have given a translation! faff /faf/ (informal)intransitive verb (usu with about or around) to dither, fumble or fuss ineffectually noun 1. A fumbling 2. A troublesome fuss ORIGIN: Origin obscure

Yes, apologies everyone. Apparently the mic didn't work this morning - so no sound. Sorry 🫤

Oh that sounds amazing. Are you going to join, James? There are some incredible speakers. But I am weary of being online. It's a shame it's not a real-life gathering...

Hi Rosie, I haven't made a group but perhaps this might serve as a forum for that? Or perhaps asking KSD Scarborough directly? They'll have a better idea than me. A

Elegant and tough indeed!

Yes! I feel the same way. Simply noting it as “liking” and “not liking” feels quite revolutionary. There’s no “I” story that hangs on. It often flies through double speed. And I don’t hang on to “liking” or kick against “not liking”. Vedana becomes threaded through everything. When it’s a ‘foundation of mindfulness’, I see it everywhere on so many micro and macro levels. And, as the refrain has it, always coming and going, and therefore no ground for clinging.

Thanks so much for sharing Anne. That picture is wonderful. Is the Tantien the silver ball with the red baubles?

Happy 2025 Nancy! So wonderful that you've joined the Mindsprings gang. We're a friendly bunch and hopefully we'll be a boon in the coming year. Don't worry about the time difference if. you sign up to the live sessions we will send a recording so you can catch up if it's too early. Always wanted to come to Nova Scotia! Looks amazing. Alistair

hello Kerrie! How lovely that you took the time to write and introduce yourself. I hope you're having a nice break over Xmas and New Year and that we might see you in some capacity in 2025. All best wishes, Alistair

Thanks for posting @James Tennet 🙏

Ah. Can you also wish yourself free of the anger and resentment around your pain? That’s allowed too! 😀

My pleasure. And I now - by virtue of recognising the dog - I realise who Trev is. Are you flying under the radar? 😀🌊😀