What a timely article! After your interview of Vicki McKenzie, I promptly read Cave in the Snow and the Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi and went on to Tenzin Palmo's The Heroic Heart and am now starting Reincarnation: the Boy Lama. After you study these people's lives, you do wonder how you can possibly progress toward enlightenment without giving everything away and moving to Dharamshala or at least somewhere in the Indian Himalayas! But Tenzin Palmo's book The Heroic Heart is also helpful in that respect because she explains how we can take the challenges of our mundane lives as precious ways to become more mindful and overcome our uncontrolled reactions. Keep up the great work. You always bring a welcome bright spark of dharma teaching to your emails and blogs.
Thank you so very much for your very kind message, Donna - I am delighted that you've found the same kind of inspiration in Vicki's and Tenzin Palmo's writings that I do! I't 's true that we often feel a tug Dharamshala-wards when reading these books. But as my kind lama, Geshe Loden used to say, touching his heart, "You don't need to go to Bodhgaya to find enlightenment. You find it here!"
Hi David, Thank you for this great piece of writing. We Westerners tend to concentrate too much on things. I suppose I did when I was younger. But now at this age I feel the most precious item to have is health. How I wish I was as healthy I was when in the army. I could enjoy my life more now at this age doing and giving. I also wish it for my dear wife as well. It doesn’t seem right that we should live to this age only to be too unhealthy to enjoy it.
I am happy that we have what we need, except health.
Many thanks indeed, Peter. I know that your thoughts about health will resonate with many. It is such an extraordinary quality and yet we have a tendancy to take it completely for granted until we lose it.
Thanks David for this insightful & interesting blog. I have great difficulty in the quandary of life’s treasures. Many years ago when hiking in remote parts of the Himalayas I came across a monastery, peaked over a wall to find a radio & other material things. It got me pondering their possession in their monastic lives of devotion. Today I question my own material things in life, however it’s a no brainer to me……everything I possess has meaning & sentimental value of my life’s journey. Hope this makes sense in relation to your blog!!
Thanks so much for all the music suggestions David which I will enjoy. I actually first heard the beautiful voice of Ani Choying Drolma (who you mentioned) wafting down one of the main streets of Mcleodganj whilst I was there many years ago, and just had to buy her CD "Inner Peace." Thanks again!
My dearest fya . Thank you for this as usual edifying and clarifying post. It is it seems a natural thought process re the what ifs and the so what's re the material and we know that non attachment is not easy but with practice becomes just part of how it is .As I read your words it does of course become one of those " of course " monmnets [ tee hee ] and also it is somehow reassuring to remind oneself of this . xxx
What an inspirational and informative post. A clear reminder that being mindful places these “things” that surround us in their proper place. Thank you!
What a timely article! After your interview of Vicki McKenzie, I promptly read Cave in the Snow and the Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi and went on to Tenzin Palmo's The Heroic Heart and am now starting Reincarnation: the Boy Lama. After you study these people's lives, you do wonder how you can possibly progress toward enlightenment without giving everything away and moving to Dharamshala or at least somewhere in the Indian Himalayas! But Tenzin Palmo's book The Heroic Heart is also helpful in that respect because she explains how we can take the challenges of our mundane lives as precious ways to become more mindful and overcome our uncontrolled reactions. Keep up the great work. You always bring a welcome bright spark of dharma teaching to your emails and blogs.
Thank you so very much for your very kind message, Donna - I am delighted that you've found the same kind of inspiration in Vicki's and Tenzin Palmo's writings that I do! I't 's true that we often feel a tug Dharamshala-wards when reading these books. But as my kind lama, Geshe Loden used to say, touching his heart, "You don't need to go to Bodhgaya to find enlightenment. You find it here!"
Hi David, Thank you for this great piece of writing. We Westerners tend to concentrate too much on things. I suppose I did when I was younger. But now at this age I feel the most precious item to have is health. How I wish I was as healthy I was when in the army. I could enjoy my life more now at this age doing and giving. I also wish it for my dear wife as well. It doesn’t seem right that we should live to this age only to be too unhealthy to enjoy it.
I am happy that we have what we need, except health.
I will just keep practicing.
Thank you
Peter
Many thanks indeed, Peter. I know that your thoughts about health will resonate with many. It is such an extraordinary quality and yet we have a tendancy to take it completely for granted until we lose it.
Thanks David for this insightful & interesting blog. I have great difficulty in the quandary of life’s treasures. Many years ago when hiking in remote parts of the Himalayas I came across a monastery, peaked over a wall to find a radio & other material things. It got me pondering their possession in their monastic lives of devotion. Today I question my own material things in life, however it’s a no brainer to me……everything I possess has meaning & sentimental value of my life’s journey. Hope this makes sense in relation to your blog!!
Many thanks for sharing this insight Sue - and your discovery in the Himalayas!
Thanks so much for all the music suggestions David which I will enjoy. I actually first heard the beautiful voice of Ani Choying Drolma (who you mentioned) wafting down one of the main streets of Mcleodganj whilst I was there many years ago, and just had to buy her CD "Inner Peace." Thanks again!
Pleasure, Jan! So glad that some of those suggestions resonate with you!
My dearest fya . Thank you for this as usual edifying and clarifying post. It is it seems a natural thought process re the what ifs and the so what's re the material and we know that non attachment is not easy but with practice becomes just part of how it is .As I read your words it does of course become one of those " of course " monmnets [ tee hee ] and also it is somehow reassuring to remind oneself of this . xxx
Many thanks indeed Eebs, and so glad you had an "of course" moment!
I enjoyed the blog too! On another note. As a new subscriber, I am wondering what some of your favourite music to listen to is?
Thanks for signing up Jan! Here's a link one of my two earlier posts on music:
https://davidmichie.substack.com/p/meditation-changes-the-way-we-hear
If you scroll down the Archive page you'll find another one with the sub-head of Flow Music. Hope you enjoy!
I needed that!
Glad to hear, Janey!
Very nicely put David
Thanks so much for commenting, Tom! Hope all is well in your world.
What an inspirational and informative post. A clear reminder that being mindful places these “things” that surround us in their proper place. Thank you!
So glad you found this so, Nimrod! And thank you for taking the time to comment!
Thank you for such a wonderful way to present this topic especially at this time of the year! 🌺
My pleasure, Kathy. I'm glad you find it timely!
Lovely article. You explain concepts so well. Thank you. 💟☮️🕉