A large female toad with a male suitor firmly attached quickly followed by another with 3 frustrated others, see below. Rampant wee beasties.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Toads North Fife 2012
Toads North Fife. About 25 years ago I created a garden pond that fills naturally from ground water. Frogs, Toads, Newts breed in abundance, as a consequence when the humidity and temperature are right at this time of the year, first toads appear littering the roadway, making their way to where they were born. Not the quickest of creatures many get squashed by passing traffic. The mating imperative springs into action with much croaking. I can feel the sap rising too.
A large female toad with a male suitor firmly attached quickly followed by another with 3 frustrated others, see below. Rampant wee beasties.
A large female toad with a male suitor firmly attached quickly followed by another with 3 frustrated others, see below. Rampant wee beasties.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Meditation
I am often asked about meditation. This book is an excellent support and will point the way.
Mahamudra
The Moonlight—Quintessence of Mind and Meditation
Tashi Namgyal, Author
Lobsang P. Lhalungpa, Translator, Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Mahamudra meditation is simultaneously the most profound of meditative disciplines and the most accessible for modern practitioners. Traditionally passed orally from teacher to disciple, mahamudra instructions point the meditator to the innate perfection of every experience.
When it first appeared in 1986, Mahamudra: The Moonlight—Quintessence of Mind and Meditation was the first presentation in English of a major Tibetan Buddhist work on meditation. This classic guide was composed in the sixteenth century by an eminent lama of the Kagyu school and is so comprehensive and practical that it is still widely used today as a manual. Divided into two major sections, it presents first the common approach and then the mahamudra approach to tranquility (shamatha) and insight (vipashyana) meditation.
RRP: £25.99
Price: £19.75 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £6.24 (24%)
It could be the best thing you ever did to buy now. Mahamudra: The Moonlight - Quintessence of Mind and Meditation
Mahamudra
The Moonlight—Quintessence of Mind and Meditation
Tashi Namgyal, Author
Lobsang P. Lhalungpa, Translator, Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Mahamudra meditation is simultaneously the most profound of meditative disciplines and the most accessible for modern practitioners. Traditionally passed orally from teacher to disciple, mahamudra instructions point the meditator to the innate perfection of every experience.
When it first appeared in 1986, Mahamudra: The Moonlight—Quintessence of Mind and Meditation was the first presentation in English of a major Tibetan Buddhist work on meditation. This classic guide was composed in the sixteenth century by an eminent lama of the Kagyu school and is so comprehensive and practical that it is still widely used today as a manual. Divided into two major sections, it presents first the common approach and then the mahamudra approach to tranquility (shamatha) and insight (vipashyana) meditation.
RRP: £25.99
Price: £19.75 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £6.24 (24%)
It could be the best thing you ever did to buy now. Mahamudra: The Moonlight - Quintessence of Mind and Meditation
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
North Fife Tuesday 21st February 2012
The sky from between Brunton and Luthrie 21st February, soft cloud forms with leafless beech trees silhouetted, 5-30pm and getting dark.
Meanwhile below fertilizer being spread on the winter sown grain. Rural life goes on come rain or shine.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
North Fife Tuesday 21st February
North Fife Tuesday 21st February, temperature about 10c and humidity having doubled overnight, misty with light rain and as I drove along an incipient rainbow was forming. Waiting for a good composition to emerge and 4 miles down the road it all disappeared. There's nothing quite like chasing rainbows.
Monday, February 20, 2012
The River Tay 19th February 2012
Sky over the River Tay 19th February, Oh how I really like them, each day different, not always powerful but lovely never the less.
Later more to the west, eye punching setting Sun.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Snowdrops North Fife
The common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis is the best-known and most widespread representative of a small genus of about 20 species. Snowdrops are among the first bulbs to bloom in spring and can form impressive carpets of white in areas where they are native as they have become here in North Fife.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
North Fife Sky February 14th
I just love these skies, quickly changing in their beauty and colour.
Sundown over The river Tay.
Sun setting over Newburgh February 14th.
Amazing colour, I never cease to be impressed and captivated.
Sundown over The river Tay.
Amazing colour, I never cease to be impressed and captivated.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
St Valentines Day North Fife
A traditional gift on St Valentines Day are roses. Below are pink ones for my lovers past, present and future.
Roses, wild ones. Grace and Gentility, the rose of sweet thoughts.
I'm sending pink roses to show my appreciation & gratitude; saying "Thank you". I enjoyed our time together, it's good to be on the wild side.
A red single red rose signifying Love at the first sight; you are the one. mmmmmmm.
A white Rose with a golden heart signifying "You are heavenly, I miss you" When will I see you again, when will we share precious moments?
A Peony. The traditional floral symbol of China and the 12th wedding anniversary flower, peonies are known as the flower of riches and honour. With their lush, full, rounded bloom, peonies embody romance and prosperity and are regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage. You'll know if it's for you honeybunch.
Well What Can I say. Happy St Valentines Day. XXX
Roses, wild ones. Grace and Gentility, the rose of sweet thoughts.
I'm sending pink roses to show my appreciation & gratitude; saying "Thank you". I enjoyed our time together, it's good to be on the wild side.
A red single red rose signifying Love at the first sight; you are the one. mmmmmmm.
A white Rose with a golden heart signifying "You are heavenly, I miss you" When will I see you again, when will we share precious moments?
A Peony. The traditional floral symbol of China and the 12th wedding anniversary flower, peonies are known as the flower of riches and honour. With their lush, full, rounded bloom, peonies embody romance and prosperity and are regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage. You'll know if it's for you honeybunch.
Well What Can I say. Happy St Valentines Day. XXX
Monday, February 13, 2012
North Fife Skies 11th & 12th February.
Always I'm aware or the skies, there's so much of it and it's always changing, often quite subtle in its beauty and colour.
Sky over Newburgh 11th February.
Sky over Auchtermuchty North Fife.
Sky from the same spot more to the North West.
Sky over Newburgh 12th February.
Sky over Newburgh 11th February.
Sky over Auchtermuchty North Fife.
Sky from the same spot more to the North West.
Sky over Newburgh 12th February.
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Losar Male Water Dragon 2012
Losar February 22nd 2012, New Moon. The year of the Male Water Dragon, here clutching jewels in its claws heralding all happiness prosperity and good health. What else can one wish for?
Happy New Year May all beings be happy, free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
Losar Greetings Card by Lama Thubten Kunsal, from a monastery in Derge, Eastern Tibet.
Losar 2012 Tibetan New year, This year starting 22nd February is Male Water Dragon, on this day, Losar is celebrated in homes and with friends, eating special food and drinking jugs of barley chang. On the first day in Lhasa pilgrims go to pay homage to the most sacred statue of Sakya Muni in Jokhang temple and burning incense all around Jokhang as well as at all Tibetan homes and Monasteries, every one dresses in his/her finest clothes to do holy circuit around monasteries and temples.
The last two weeks of the year in monasteries Mahakala prayers are offered to neutralise the negativity of the preceding year. These energies are directed into a coloured string edifice to be later consumed by fife.
Assembled around the burning mass locals grab at the imbued coloured string and in essence retain and perpetuate some of the negativity, such is non understanding.
Gyaltsap Rinpoche as Dorje Lopon making offerings prior to the Mahakala Torma being consumed.
Happy New Year May all beings be happy, free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
Losar 2012 Tibetan New year, This year starting 22nd February is Male Water Dragon, on this day, Losar is celebrated in homes and with friends, eating special food and drinking jugs of barley chang. On the first day in Lhasa pilgrims go to pay homage to the most sacred statue of Sakya Muni in Jokhang temple and burning incense all around Jokhang as well as at all Tibetan homes and Monasteries, every one dresses in his/her finest clothes to do holy circuit around monasteries and temples.
The last two weeks of the year in monasteries Mahakala prayers are offered to neutralise the negativity of the preceding year. These energies are directed into a coloured string edifice to be later consumed by fife.
Assembled around the burning mass locals grab at the imbued coloured string and in essence retain and perpetuate some of the negativity, such is non understanding.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Tayviews 5th & 6th February 2012
What amazing light in this Tayview on the 6th February.
Chinese Year of the Water Dragon
The Dragon personality. The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Therefore, those people born in Dragon years are to be honoured and respected.
Water has a calming effect on the Dragon's fearless temperament. Water allows the Dragon to re-direct its enthusiasm, and makes him more perceptive of others. These Dragons are better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation because they understand the art of patience and do not desire the spotlight like other Dragons. Therefore, they make smart decisions and are able to see eye-to-eye with other people. However, their actions can go wrong if they do not research or if they do not finish one project before starting another. Louise.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
West Lomond Sunset Feb 3rd
Setting Sun over West Lomond North Fife. Fife's equivalent of Mt Fuji with just as many varied views.
New Age: A Guide
New Age: A Guide. 40 odd years ago I was shocked into a search for more Knowledge and understanding. These were pre-internet times but never-the-less libraries and bookshops offered relatively cheap paper backs, amongst the many religious/philosophical/ spiritual publications. I read G.I. Gurdjieff.
All and Everything - Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson (First published 1950; reprinted Penguin Arkana 1999)
Meetings with Remarkable Men
Views from the Real World.
In Meetings with Remarkable Men I found some of Gurgieff's ways uncomfortable, however that is a reflection of how my mind was at the time.
Gurdjieff.
Gurdjieff was born in Armenia around 1870. Although his first tutor was a priest, he received a scientific education, but in surroundings and a way of life that had changed little for centuries. To his questions: Who am I? Why am I here? he found no answer either in religion or in science, but suspected that the truth lay hidden behind what had come down from the past in religious traditions and those strange myths and legends which he learned from his father, a traditional bard or 'ashokh'. Inspiring like-minded companions, he set out to find in Asia and Africa the truth he sought, learning many languages, and acquiring many practical skills to earn the money for his journeys.
In 1912 he brought to Moscow an unknown teaching, a teaching that was not a religion, nor a philosophy, but a practical teaching to be lived. To follow the way he proposed, nothing is to be believed until verified by direct experience and life in the world is not to be renounced. It is a way in life, on which - gradually, for it cannot be done all at once - everything has to be questioned - one's beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, one's whole outlook on the life of man on this Earth.
Man is asleep, said Gurdjieff, he has no real consciousness or will. He is not free; to him, everything happens. He can become conscious and find his true place as a human being in the creation, but this requires a profound transformation.
Gurdjieff calls us to awaken, telling us:
"Man's possibilities are very great. You cannot even conceive a shadow of what man is capable of attaining. But nothing can be attained in sleep. In the consciousness of a sleeping man his illusions, his 'dreams' are mixed with reality. He lives in a subjective world and he can never escape from it. And this is the reason why he can never make use of all the powers he possesses and why he lives in only a small part of himself."
In his a time a powerful influence in alternative ways of understanding. His book "Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson" the bone is buried so deep few if any have found it. Peter D Ouspensky, a peer, promulgated similar views and support amongst which was a fundamental understanding of an enneagram. The Law of Three and seven. This is an example, all else fits.
"Man's possibilities are very great. You cannot even conceive a shadow of what man is capable of attaining..."
New Age: A Guide
Review
This guide to the New Age is a helpful introduction that not only provides insightful descriptions of practices and beliefs, but also reviews a wide range of academic and nonacademic perspectives. For the serious student or researcher! Kemp provides an excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. Concise but challenging. An excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. This is a very good book. Indeed, as a basic introduction to the many facets of the 'New Age' phenomenon, it would be hard to beat. It manages to combine descriptive accounts of various aspects of New Age spirituality with reflection on its wider significance, and to do so in a highly readable format. Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is the way it offers summaries of a vast number of existing studies, both published and unpublished, demonstrating a remarkable ability by the author to combine large amounts of material into a readable synthesis ... a well written book that deserves to be widely read and appreciated.
See or buy now. New Age: A Guide
.
All and Everything - Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson (First published 1950; reprinted Penguin Arkana 1999)
Meetings with Remarkable Men
Views from the Real World.
In Meetings with Remarkable Men I found some of Gurgieff's ways uncomfortable, however that is a reflection of how my mind was at the time.
Gurdjieff was born in Armenia around 1870. Although his first tutor was a priest, he received a scientific education, but in surroundings and a way of life that had changed little for centuries. To his questions: Who am I? Why am I here? he found no answer either in religion or in science, but suspected that the truth lay hidden behind what had come down from the past in religious traditions and those strange myths and legends which he learned from his father, a traditional bard or 'ashokh'. Inspiring like-minded companions, he set out to find in Asia and Africa the truth he sought, learning many languages, and acquiring many practical skills to earn the money for his journeys.
In 1912 he brought to Moscow an unknown teaching, a teaching that was not a religion, nor a philosophy, but a practical teaching to be lived. To follow the way he proposed, nothing is to be believed until verified by direct experience and life in the world is not to be renounced. It is a way in life, on which - gradually, for it cannot be done all at once - everything has to be questioned - one's beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, one's whole outlook on the life of man on this Earth.
Man is asleep, said Gurdjieff, he has no real consciousness or will. He is not free; to him, everything happens. He can become conscious and find his true place as a human being in the creation, but this requires a profound transformation.
Gurdjieff calls us to awaken, telling us:
"Man's possibilities are very great. You cannot even conceive a shadow of what man is capable of attaining. But nothing can be attained in sleep. In the consciousness of a sleeping man his illusions, his 'dreams' are mixed with reality. He lives in a subjective world and he can never escape from it. And this is the reason why he can never make use of all the powers he possesses and why he lives in only a small part of himself."
In his a time a powerful influence in alternative ways of understanding. His book "Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson" the bone is buried so deep few if any have found it. Peter D Ouspensky, a peer, promulgated similar views and support amongst which was a fundamental understanding of an enneagram. The Law of Three and seven. This is an example, all else fits.
"Man's possibilities are very great. You cannot even conceive a shadow of what man is capable of attaining..."
Review
This guide to the New Age is a helpful introduction that not only provides insightful descriptions of practices and beliefs, but also reviews a wide range of academic and nonacademic perspectives. For the serious student or researcher! Kemp provides an excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. Concise but challenging. An excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. This is a very good book. Indeed, as a basic introduction to the many facets of the 'New Age' phenomenon, it would be hard to beat. It manages to combine descriptive accounts of various aspects of New Age spirituality with reflection on its wider significance, and to do so in a highly readable format. Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is the way it offers summaries of a vast number of existing studies, both published and unpublished, demonstrating a remarkable ability by the author to combine large amounts of material into a readable synthesis ... a well written book that deserves to be widely read and appreciated.
See or buy now. New Age: A Guide
.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
East Lomond North Fife
I never cease to marvel at the skies here in North Fife, I frequently record the evenings, the mornings can be equally beautiful though these I usually miss as it's not my time of day.
Sunset East Lomond North Fife January 30th.
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