Oh my goodness - Spike! What an amazing difference! All beings really do want happiness don't they. Such a great article. Thank you David. I'm so grateful. 🙏
Thanks David. Really readable and clear. I’m really enjoying your posts as very approachable and understandable insights into to Tibetan Buddhism.
I really liked this: ‘And the extent to which we have widened the focus of our concern from only ourselves, to include the welfare of other beings, determines how easily our minds settle when we sit to meditate. One directly supports the other.’
Great that you zoomed into that point, Janet, which is subtle but vital point that has been lost in efforts to turn meditation practice into secular stress management tool.
Thank you David. Giving oneself up to careing and loving other beings seems to be what it is all about. If one practices this, there is no room for anything else. The immense feeling of peace one gets is all one needs to sustain us in this life.
Poor little puppy but shown such love in its final moments. Dear Spike, such a transformation for this little dog. She couldn’t have ended up in a nicer home.
The compassion shown, fills me with tears of joy and happiness.
Thank you David….resonating with Buddhism has provided a long life of therapy and happiness …taking care of family and animals is what I came for and I am so grateful everyday for my life and as I’ve said many times even around difficult life circumstances to me these are blessings as well and I welcome them as sacred messages to just keep moving forward and trust! The parvo pup I feel came into our view to open our hearts to LOVE so there is no sadness as her short life was well lived and Spike has come as well with this purpose to open our hearts to Love! 🐶🐶💗
The AI generated image made me laugh out loud and I really needed that today! This concise explanation of the therapy-spirituality question is most appreciated.
Thank you for this post, and for spike such sweetness is heart healing. May I ask a question ? I have always through my life been drawn to Buddhism, even as a little child. My question is this, can one be Buddhist while also being Orthodox Catholic? Or are they mutually exclusive? I would like both in my life, but does one diminish the other? To my heart the teachings of the Buddha and Jesus are so similar, I am really struggling with this question. Thank you in advance for your consideration of my questions. Most sincerely, Lauren 😊
Many thanks for your intriguing question, Lauren. You are by no means the first person to ask this question. The Dalai Lama's advice to Westerners is so stay with the tradition you were brought up with, but by all means incorporate those Buddhist practices which help enrich it. The core of these is meditation, and the wider, more contemplative approach championed by Christians like Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault and others. While there are many parallels, there are differences that need to be respected too. It is probably simpler, and more efficient to stick with the one practice. Perhaps I should address this in a future Buddhist Advioce Column. Thank you so much for asking it!
Thank you so very much for your thoughtful response. This has helped and I look forward to reading a future column on this topic. Be well, And God Bless 🙏
Thank you David. Love the line: 'the absence of evidence isn’t the same as evidence of absence’ and the idea of progressing with a working hypothesis of continuity. That works for me! Also loved hearing about and seeing Spike - how wonderful to see the difference love and care can make. Thank you as always.
Dearest fya . I read this with great interest and began to understand better the Buddhist therapy practiced by our Trish .As a trained systemic therapist, I can see how different it could be. And thought how much more comfortable you made my life by giving me the tools to manage what was a hurtful situation here in our village. Learning always. Thank you xxx Much love Eebs
You are far too kind Eebs. The Tara therapy developed by Akon Rinpoche was, I think, a very skillful way of packaging useful tools into a format to suit non-Buddhists - i.e. most people!
David, a lovely explanation, as always. The people at Twala would appear to have discovered the secret short-cut to enlightenment already. We could all benefit with a few shifts helping them out! Does enlightenment equal Buddhist sainthood?
Thanks Chris! Sainthood is not a Buddhist concept - a Catholic one, I think. But the other-focused attitudes we generally attribute to saints, so called 'saintly' behaviour, is certainly an aspiration shared by both traditions.
Oh my goodness - Spike! What an amazing difference! All beings really do want happiness don't they. Such a great article. Thank you David. I'm so grateful. 🙏
So glad you found the article helpful, Leesa and yes, the transformation in Spike is wonderful!
Thanks David. Really readable and clear. I’m really enjoying your posts as very approachable and understandable insights into to Tibetan Buddhism.
I really liked this: ‘And the extent to which we have widened the focus of our concern from only ourselves, to include the welfare of other beings, determines how easily our minds settle when we sit to meditate. One directly supports the other.’
Great that you zoomed into that point, Janet, which is subtle but vital point that has been lost in efforts to turn meditation practice into secular stress management tool.
What a beautiful piece.
Buddhism can be therapeutic and spiritual.
Like how you have them converge in helping others—looking outside oneself with the intent to reduce suffering.
This can be as simple as how we do what we do.
All of us can do this.
Thank you for updating on the very ill puppy. It makes a difference she was held in love and sent with love. ❤️🩹
Quite right too, Linda. Offering a loving, peaceful death to others is such a gift.
Thank you David. Giving oneself up to careing and loving other beings seems to be what it is all about. If one practices this, there is no room for anything else. The immense feeling of peace one gets is all one needs to sustain us in this life.
Poor little puppy but shown such love in its final moments. Dear Spike, such a transformation for this little dog. She couldn’t have ended up in a nicer home.
The compassion shown, fills me with tears of joy and happiness.
Thank you. P.
My thanks, Peter, for your heartfelt response!
Thank you David….resonating with Buddhism has provided a long life of therapy and happiness …taking care of family and animals is what I came for and I am so grateful everyday for my life and as I’ve said many times even around difficult life circumstances to me these are blessings as well and I welcome them as sacred messages to just keep moving forward and trust! The parvo pup I feel came into our view to open our hearts to LOVE so there is no sadness as her short life was well lived and Spike has come as well with this purpose to open our hearts to Love! 🐶🐶💗
Thank you so much, as always, Adrienne!
Love everything about this post.
I am so very glad to know this, Cyndi!
Thank you, David. As usual you have touched all the bases. Glad you've given us a share in Spike's good life.
My heartfelt thanks, Martha!
The AI generated image made me laugh out loud and I really needed that today! This concise explanation of the therapy-spirituality question is most appreciated.
Great, thank you Carol. And yes those AI images can be quite fun!
Thank you, David.
My pleasure, thanks Judy!
Thank you for a lovely, and on point, article ♥️
Glad it hit the spot for you, Rebecca!
Thank you for this post, and for spike such sweetness is heart healing. May I ask a question ? I have always through my life been drawn to Buddhism, even as a little child. My question is this, can one be Buddhist while also being Orthodox Catholic? Or are they mutually exclusive? I would like both in my life, but does one diminish the other? To my heart the teachings of the Buddha and Jesus are so similar, I am really struggling with this question. Thank you in advance for your consideration of my questions. Most sincerely, Lauren 😊
Many thanks for your intriguing question, Lauren. You are by no means the first person to ask this question. The Dalai Lama's advice to Westerners is so stay with the tradition you were brought up with, but by all means incorporate those Buddhist practices which help enrich it. The core of these is meditation, and the wider, more contemplative approach championed by Christians like Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault and others. While there are many parallels, there are differences that need to be respected too. It is probably simpler, and more efficient to stick with the one practice. Perhaps I should address this in a future Buddhist Advioce Column. Thank you so much for asking it!
Thank you so very much for your thoughtful response. This has helped and I look forward to reading a future column on this topic. Be well, And God Bless 🙏
I have had this question, too, although I am Lutheran.
Thanks Judy. Definitely a column on this coming up. I do have a piece on parallel teachings in the works also.
Thank you David. Love the line: 'the absence of evidence isn’t the same as evidence of absence’ and the idea of progressing with a working hypothesis of continuity. That works for me! Also loved hearing about and seeing Spike - how wonderful to see the difference love and care can make. Thank you as always.
My pleasure Gerry. I first heard that 'absence of evidence' line from a scientist during Covid and thought how appropriate it was to spirituality.
I echo everything said in previous comment. So beautiful and heart warming. Well done spike and and friends xx
My heartfelt thanks, Pat!
Dearest fya . I read this with great interest and began to understand better the Buddhist therapy practiced by our Trish .As a trained systemic therapist, I can see how different it could be. And thought how much more comfortable you made my life by giving me the tools to manage what was a hurtful situation here in our village. Learning always. Thank you xxx Much love Eebs
You are far too kind Eebs. The Tara therapy developed by Akon Rinpoche was, I think, a very skillful way of packaging useful tools into a format to suit non-Buddhists - i.e. most people!
David, a lovely explanation, as always. The people at Twala would appear to have discovered the secret short-cut to enlightenment already. We could all benefit with a few shifts helping them out! Does enlightenment equal Buddhist sainthood?
Thanks Chris! Sainthood is not a Buddhist concept - a Catholic one, I think. But the other-focused attitudes we generally attribute to saints, so called 'saintly' behaviour, is certainly an aspiration shared by both traditions.
I'm glad you quoted the verse about the shoe leather. It's one of my favourites.
MIne too, thanks Amod!