Tag: Buddha

Dharma

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I’ve always had a soft spot for Ashoka who was an innovative Emperor in India over two thousand years ago.

He was the emperor who converted to Buddhism after regretting his army killing thousands in the battle to take over what is now part of the state of Odisha.

…

This week, I’m helping Kaveri with her revision and learning about the Dharma Mahamatras, appointed by the emperor to do good.

I like that

I’m feeling the connections

🤭

Look

We’ve even got our own copy of an Ashoka column, in the house. It was one of the ways he promoted good amongst his people.

So maybe I’m a reincarnated Dharma Mahamatras?

I quite fancy that.

Look at the evidence: social and community work, experimenting with participative democracy in England, radical work with disabled people, ‘Seeing is Believing’ events in India to establish community/business partnerships, facilitating the development of hundreds of community projects and groups, in the name of MAnjula helping young and old people and gifting almost 50 bicycles. I even helped design and deliver — for an Indian company — European-wide workshops on interpreting their ethical policies into appropriate daily business behaviour.

Ok ok, that’s enough of the trumpet blaring. It’s important to say we should be facilitators in helping each other.

Farrell factoid footnote.

What’s the difference between illness and wellness?

I and we, admittedly a joke but with a serious message. We should connect and cooperate to be kind to each other. As sapiens we’ve taken a wrong turning.

I’ve always looked for the ‘we’.

This is so obvious to me.

A top priority is ..

.. Kaveri and helping her develop and grow. When you meet her ask what BK is.

Eight Auspicious Symbols:

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Curtains on our guest room and library doors.

Here is the English translation of the Tibetan text , describing the Eight Auspicious Symbols:

  1. The Wheel: Symbolizes the teaching of the Dharma (the Three Baskets) and the transmission of the Three Trainings to disciples.
  2. The Parasol: Represents the dispelling of the heat of suffering and afflictions for sentient beings.
  3. The Victory Banner: Symbolizes the defeat of Mara and non-Buddhist opponents, and the complete perfection of the major and minor marks of enlightenment.
  4. The Endless Knot: Represents the complete perfection of all qualities and the possession of the five wisdoms.
  5. The Right-Turning Conch Shell: Symbolizes the melodious sound of the Buddha’s speech proclaiming the Dharma.
  6. The Vase: Represents being completely filled with the essence of good qualities and serving as a support for pure merit.
  7. The Lotus: Symbolizes being in the world but uncontaminated by it, untainted by the impurities of karma and afflictions.
  8. The Golden Fish: Represents the abandonment of all faults and obstacles.

The text also mentions a quote from the Mahayana sutra called “The Stacked Auspicious Ones,” which describes how these eight symbols relate to different parts of the Buddha’s body and qualities. It concludes with an aspiration for auspiciousness and well-being through these symbols.

Dorjee visited us in Mysore with a gift of a Buddhist flag and helped us better understand the auspicious symbols

The passage notes that while there are more detailed explanations and interpretations of these symbols available, this brief description should suffice as an introduction to their meanings.