Tag: karuna

Digging into the Trench!

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Feeding Squrrels & Pigeons! (21.9.2025)

We visited the Church-yard of St Nicholas Church on the 14.9.2025 – a pleasant Saturday afternoon in South-West London (formerly East Surrey). At the moment we are experiencing what we use to call an “Indian Summer” – providing this is still an acceptable analogy (who knows – the ground upon which we stand keeps dissolving into loose sand). Either way, communing with wild animals teaches children empathy, sympathy, and kindness. This is inter-species communication – a very important aspect of a civilised upbringing and education. From a superstitious Buddhist view – all life is karmically inter-related following endless cycles of rebirth (bundles of life-habit living through all different life-forms until the realisation of enlightenment breaks the cycle). Is this real? I have no idea – but the Buddha seems to think rebirth is a Brahmanic myth – but it is a myth which he uses to convey his teaching and make his point, etc.

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Buddhist Swastika

China: How to Read the Buddhist “卍” (Swastika) Symbol Currectly! (17.10.2024)

Empress Wu Zetian (武则天) of the Tang Dynasty was attracted to Buddhism very much and often invited Ch’an Masters to the palace to explain Buddhist Sutras to her. It was under the promotion of Wu Zetian that Huayan (华严) Sect became a major Buddhist school during the Tang Dynasty.

At that time, there was still no consensus on the pronunciation of “卍” within Buddhism. Some people insisted that it should be pronounced as “万” (Wan4) or “The Ten Thousand Thing” – but others opposed this interpretation – and believed it should be pronounced as “万”(mo2) or “Scorpion” – referring to an Oracle Bone Inscription which refers to a non-Chinese primitive tribe (during the Shang Dynasty) that worshipped the “Scorpion” whilst mimicking its movements in a ritualistic dance (perhaps implying the “foreignness” of India).

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Buddhapadipa Temple - Wimbledon

Wimbledon: Buddhapadipa Temple & the Family of Geese! (29.5.2024)

It possesses a modest park with a small body of water, a mansion house and a temple complex. Indeed, we have visited here many times in the past. As with all such temples – it is free to enter – and no-one interferes with acts of private meditation. On occasion, the robed-clad monks (Bhikkhu-Beggar) might be seen walking through the grounds. As all animal cruelty is strictly forbidden, the local wildlife tends to behave in a much more relaxed and content manner – as if each animals perceives the “Dhamma” (Teaching) that is being practiced. Whatever the case, such an environment allows children to develop a caring attitude of respect for all animals – just one of the reasons we take our children to such places!

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