FULL MOON - Awakening

Disciples of the Buddha
are fully awake,
dwelling both day and night 
in contemplation of Reality.

Dhammapada 297

What the Buddha and all his realized disciples awakened to, was the truth that was right in front of them. Like many other millions of seekers, the Buddha-to-be had been looking for the answers to his deep questions in techniques and belief systems. The rigours of renunciation had even driven him near to death; yet none of it had worked. What did work however was renouncing all effort to avoid suffering, either by way of indulgence in pleasure or indulgence in pain, and taking the experience of suffering itself as his teacher. The Four Noble Truths taught by the Buddha are his way of helping us not waste time. He wanted his disciples to awaken to the truth that exists here and now; to discover for themselves the joy and clarity which comes with Right Understanding.

18th Annual Buddhist Picnic!

It’s now just 2 weeks to go to the 18th Annual Buddhist Picnic! This year we will be back to the tradition venue of the Duver at St. Helens on Sunday 6th of September, 12:30 onwards. For those of you who have not been before , our picnic site is the other side of the road from the National Trust car park. Take the right hand turning by the signs showing the Duver and long stay beach front car parks, carry on a few hundred metres and the National Trust car park is on the left then just look for some Buddhists sitting under a very small oak tree!

Family, friends, children and dogs welcome. Bring vegetarian food to share (don’t forget the fruit juices).

NOTE - Audio Section Down

I was intending to upload the latest talk in the Rodney Smith series on the Noble Eightfold Path but our hosting site is down for scheduled maintenance and upgrades. As a result none of our audio talks are currently available - I'll let you know when they are.................

NOW O.K. (12:30 BST)

Note - Latest Vishvapani Talk Now Available

The latest "Thought for the Day" talk by Vishvapani on the "Good Children Report" is now available in our Audio Section.

Bomb attack on Erawan Shrine in Bangkok

There has been a large explosion close to a shrine in the centre of the Thai capital, Bangkok. According to early reports from Reuters, local media are reporting that five people have been killed and 20 wounded. The attack took place close to the Erawan Shrine in the capital's central Chidlom district.

Jonathan Head, a BBC correspondent at the scene, said there was a "huge amount of chaos, with body parts scattered everywhere".

The Erawan Shrine is a Hindu shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, that houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of the Hindu creation god Brahma. A popular tourist attraction, it often features performances by resident Thai dance troupes, who are hired by worshippers in return for seeing their prayers at the shrine answered.

One of the least known and least publicised current wars involving Islamic extremists is the ongoing jihad in southern Thailand. Muslim separatists in the southernmost portion of the country have been committing a seemingly unending series of terror attacks on Thai Buddhists, on other Muslims (apparently as punishment for not supporting the violence) and on the Thai police and military. This has been going on at least since 2004 since which time more than 5,000 people have been killed.

NEW MOON - Slow Down

Do not dismiss the effects of evil,
saying, "This will come to nothing."
Just as by the gradual fall of raindrops
the water jar is filled, so in time
fools are corrupted by evil-doing.

Dhammapada 121

The way things appear to be and the way things are can be completely different. For instance, we might travel the same ten mile journey to work every day and feel convinced we know the countryside that we pass through. But how would it be if one day we walked that same route to work, instead of going by car or train. When we slow down we see things differently. The Buddha wants us to slow down. Not because being slow is necessarily a virtue in itself, but by not seeing the way things actually are, we misperceive life and make mistakes.

A Good Admonition for All Meditators!