
On the course with Ani Pema where we learn to “live purposefully and die fearlessly”, I learned this chant that one can also use when dying. Another way is to close meditation or retreat with it. We chant it at the end of every class.

Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.
The Eight Realisations of Great Beings Sutra says, “The human mind is always searching for possessions, and never feels fulfilled. Bodhisattvas move in the opposite direction and follow the principle of self-sufficiency. They live a simple life in order to practice the Way, and consider the realization of perfect understanding as their only career.” In the context of our modern society, simple living also means to remain as free as possible from the destructive social and economic machine, and to avoid stress, depression, high blood pressure, and other modern diseases. We should make every effort to avoid the pressures and anxieties that fill most modern lives. The only way out is to consume less. Once we are able to live simply and happily, we are better able to help others.

I have not ever signed up for a course this fast. I am beyond excited and so glad that it was recreated for those of us who were not there (or born) in 1974! Ram Dass talks about Bhagavad Gita in the context of our purpose, karmic role and devotion, and coming out of this winter I definitely could do with some guidance on all of the above. If you are interested, click on the picture above to sign up. It’s on a donation basis, like always, meaning you pay what you can or you can also do it for free.

I am preparing for a home retreat on impermanence with Pema Chodron (Buddhist nun) and these are the five reminders we were told to keep with us daily. I relate.

My little one has not been to London for a while, 2 or 3 years. His favourite place in London is the Natural History Museum. Whenever we go, it is top of the list. We went and it was lovely. Here is a high five from an iguanodon for you. The winter is almost over. There is hope. There is silliness 😊 Spring is coming. Hang in there ⭐️

via tricycle.org

It’s the little things sometimes that help us emerge from the depths of darkness, finally take a breath and see the light of hope. Like making this chap out of a loo roll and inspired by this TikTok video. Happy New Year of Tiger, fellow wanderers, may this year bring us much needed respite and hope!
I am making sure I live a little bit this weekend, hope you do too! 🎡 Sun is shining, birds are singing, flowers are blooming 🌸 We don’t know how much time we’ve got left. I am writing this from a cottage by the lake somewhere in the farm lands of Norfolk. My plans include visiting one of the beautiful local beaches 🐚, stuffing myself with guilt inducing food🍦 and doing as few things as possible 📚. I hope you have a good one.


At some point during my first psilocybin trip, I’ve looked at a couple in front of me sat under the blanket, quietly coming down from their trip. Reality underneath and around them was transparent, shimerring with molecular grid connections, blue and yellow fractal lines permeating the space. Even their human edges were fraying, exposing the underlying grid behind everything.
Matter as energy, reality not as solid as it seems. Everything a pulsating fractal, an energy wave stopped by mind perception.
I can’t draw or paint so I did the best I could with the collage. I could not find an image of a couple under a blanket that I liked but I found this wonderful lady, a drawing model, posing God knows how many years ago. Her energy seemed to fit just right. So this is what the Universe is made of. Happy weekend.

Why We Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Suffering by Thich Nhat Hanh

My cat has left her body this morning after a short illness. It was unexpected, happened too fast and it broke my heart. I love you, my beautiful fur baby, my wonderful friend, my dear Tata 💔 You’ve brought more joy, happiness and meaning to our life than we ever expected. At peace finally. See you on the other side. Ram Ram.
Taking a few deep breaths, feel the body you breathe in.
Feel the body expanding and contracting with each breath.
Focus on the rising and falling of the abdomen.
Let awareness receive the beginning, middle, and end of each inbreath, of each outbreath expanding and contracting the belly.
Note the constantly changing flow of sensation in each inhalation, in each exhalation.
And begin to soften all around these sensations.
Let the breath breathe itself on a softening belly.
Soften the belly to receive the breath, to receive sensation, to experience life in the body.
Soften the muscles that have held the fear for so long.
Soften the tissue, the blood vessels, the flesh.
Letting go of the holding of a lifetime.
Letting go into soft-belly, merciful belly.
Soften the grief, the distrust, the anger held so hard in the belly.
Levels and levels of softening, levels and levels of letting go.
Moment to moment allow each breath its full expression in soft-belly.
Let go of the hardness. Let it float in something softer and kinder.
Let thoughts come and let them go, floating like bubbles in the spaciousness of soft-belly.
Holding to nothing, softening, softening.
Let the healing in.
Let the pain go.
Have mercy on yourself, soften the belly, open the passageway to the heart.
In soft-belly there is room to be born at last, and room to die when the moment comes.
In soft-belly is the vast spaciousness in which to heal, in which to discover our unbounded nature.
Letting go into the softness, fear floats in the gentle vastness we call the heart.
Soft-belly is the practice that accompanies us throughout the day and finds us at day’s end still alive and well.

I am reading “Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” by Shantideva, the Indian Buddhist master who lived centuries ago. It is a treasure trove of amazing perspective shifts and reframes. For example, here are some of his quotes on anger from the chapter titled “Relying on Patience.” He reflects on the role of anger in liberation, its emptiness (conditioning), its karmic determination:
Continue reading