To the Glory

May

Just a tribute to the glory of May. The month dedicated to the mother of Jesus. When the cloak of blue adorns the corners of the wooded wilds, and fondly lays a royal carpet at the foot of every standing tree.

The month is almost over, and the bluebells will fade from view; but their beauty is eternal, and there is a blessing in the knowing that they will return again next year. And hopefully, I will return again next month. Until then, remember every day to shut out the raging cacophony as often you can. Truly there is peace to be found in silence.

May tooDo you see yourself, abiding within yourself, in pure solitude? Does nothing now remain to shatter that interior unity, nor anything cling to your authentic self? Are you entirely that sole true light which is not contained by space, not confined to any circumscribed form, not diffused as something without term, but ever immeasurable as something greater than all measure and something more than all quantity?

Plotinus.

 

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

Advertisement

Be Prepared

 

Here we are with part two, gazing once again at sleek and shiny machines. Mercedes Benz World is located in Surrey, England. Here you can learn how cars work, take advanced driving courses, or just have a go in a fast car. You can even step inside a grounded Concorde and look around.

Because I am housebound, Amanda holds the keys to the family car. That’s her in the red jacket. I haven’t been able to drive since I became disabled, and I miss it a lot. During the work and school runs, every red light was an opportunity for a silent prayer. Every long traffic jam, a chance to catch up on some reading. Phone calls were private, and I always got to choose the music that best suited my mood – bonus.

When I was a boy scout, a very long time ago, I was told a story about a boy who took the trouble to ask himself how he might respond if he should witness an accident. It happened that one day, when he was riding in a bus, it crashed, and although he wasn’t hurt, many elderly passengers were. It was he who ran immediately to the nearest telephone, and called 999. He then administered first aid to the injured passengers – using shirts for bandages, and neckties for slings, etc. He worked until the emergency services arrived. Tributes aside, I feel that this boy’s greatest reward was in the satisfaction of knowing that he had successfully marshalled an effective, and well prepared response to the emergency.

In my job, I worked with injured and disabled people every day. I met many good folk whose active lives had come to an abrupt end. And, as I mentioned some time back, I grew up with a severely disabled brother, (who is coming to see me later today to celebrate my 66th). Therefore, and not that I don’t complain aplenty, I do endeavour to face my own trials perhaps more stoically than I otherwise might have.

Ok, I hope you enjoyed our two parter, and that you are also enjoying things in general. The world may be a sad place today, but nothing lasts forever. ‘For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave’ – and universal balance will return. We know this because circumstances have called us to stand firmly in the light of humanity’s highest values. The darker the shadow, the brighter the light. Those who know that heaven is real, can love their way across the battlefield, and then we, as one family together will light up the skies of dawn.

I think I’ve written enough for now. Thank you to all who read, follow, and comment. I hope to return soon. Until then, peace from Amras.

Do not place treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moths and corrosion disfigure and where thieves break in and steal. But place treasures for yourselves in Heaven, where neither moths nor corrosion disfigure and where thieves neither break in nor steal. For where your treasure is, there is your heart also.

Matthew 6 – 19

 

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

The Amazing Secret

I hope our readers are well today. These pics were taken in June, by our regular guest contributor, Chris. He took them on his home stomping ground, somewhere in the mystical hills of Staffordshire. In ancient days a stone circle stood here; but in later times, sadly, it was destroyed by vandals.

The following text is from an inspiring Tibetan meditation. I completely forget where I found it, but I hope very much that you enjoy reading it. The complete text is to be found on our 2012 post “A Lofty Alcazar”. *

“Can you see the words on this page? Then 100% of Spirit is present, looking out through your eyes. Can you feel the book in your hands? Then 100% of Spirit is present, taking the world in its hands. Can you hear the sound of that bird singing? Then 100% of Spirit is present, listening to that song. 

You cannot look for this Spirit, for it is doing the looking. You cannot see this Spirit, for it is doing the seeing. You cannot find this Spirit, for it does all the finding. If you understand this, then Spirit is doing the understanding; if you don’t understand this, Spirit is doing that. Understand it or not, just that is Spirit. 

Hence the amazing, secret, ultimate truth that slowly starts to dawn: the enlightened mind-pure Spirit itself-is not hard to attain but impossible to avoid. How could you ever be without that Spirit which is reading this sentence right now?” ~ Tibetan.

Until next time, and beyond – I hope you live in peace.

I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:

Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew.

JR Tolkien.

* https://amras888.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/a-lofty-alcazar/

Photography ©C.H.

Turn Off – Tune Out.

Namaste to all our readers, we return with pics taken this time somewhere in the English Midlands. These calm waters lie within the boundaries of the city. Defended by riparian trees. So calm and beautiful, yet close to industrial estates. A space perhaps coveted by uncaring developers, but a safe place to turn off, and tune out, (if not to drop in as well.)

Some working folk come here to fish, and enjoy the tranquility, and sheer contrast away from the fumes and concrete close-by.

For those inclined, this oasis can mirror the state of inner stillness, and reflect the potential of the mind to reveal its true nature – which is clarity.  Inner stillness grants clarity, silences the world’s all-encompassing cacophony, and is our victory. If this part of us is not worth defending with firm personal boundaries, then nothing is.

May you hold firm your sacred boundaries, and swim daily in the cooling stillness of the borderless lake.

Peace from Amras.

When a long train of abuses and usurpations, all pursuing invariably the same destructive goals, threaten the very fabric of organic life and the serene harmony of the planet, it is the right, it is the organic duty to drop out of such morbid covenants and to evolve new loving social structures. ~ Dr. Timothy Leary.

 

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

Heartfelt Truths

Greetings this day to you. In a few days it will be February, yet barely a blink has passed since Christmas. Interesting times indeed. I am having some difficulty keeping up with the pace of things, so once again please forgive me if I am a little slow to respond to your visits. With so much happening in the world at large, it is vital to remain centred in our deepest, most heartfelt truths. This is how our daily spiritual practise will empower us to become more willing and capable of seeking and honouring those living truths in the face of any and all adversity.

The above pics were taken in December, in Matlock Bath, England; along with the colourful fish seen in our older post,  In The Waiting. The keen-eyed amongst you with a few seconds to spare, might spot a couple of tweaks I added to one or two of todays pics. Good hunting.

Before I leave you, I would like to request your prayers for my brother Philip, who has fallen quite ill very suddenly. I mentioned him last April in the post “Strictly Speaking” https://amras888.wordpress.com/2016/04/. He has a strong spirit, and our fingers are crossed tight for him. The next few days should tell.

With that it’s leave-taking time for me. Until next time, and as always, Peace and Namaste from Amras.

“All good counsel begins in the same way; a man should know what
he is advising about, or his counsel will all come to nought. But
people imagine that they know about the nature of things, when they
don’t know about them, and, not having come to an understanding at
first because they think that they know, they end, as might be
expected, in contradicting one another and themselves. Now you and I
must not be guilty of this fundamental error which we condemn in
others.”

Socrates to Phaedrus.

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

%d bloggers like this: