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.

Buddhist Heritage in Laos!

Laos Buddhist-Socialist Republic – Preservation of Theravada Culture! (21.3.2024)

Phra Sombath Somepanno, Abbot of Wat Longkhoun Srikhounnaram, expressed that Wat Longkhoun holds a significant place in the Buddhist heritage of Luang Prabang, and it fills the people of Laos from various regions with pride.

The temple has a deep historical connection with Laos, and the monastic community, along with the lay followers, is dedicated to developing Wat Longkhoun into a beautiful and culturally rich Buddhist heritage site.

Football: Thailand Emerges Victorious in (Two-Leg) ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup! (17.1.2023)

This is the new approach. We used to let just anyone into the squad, but we really struggled in defence! Higher-up the decision was taken to ensure that every eligible player has at least 12-months living in a local Wat – including full ordination! Meditation practice of this length of time has really improved our ‘first touch’ of the ball, not to mention our running up the pitch and our creative passing! Although in Buddhism we are taught to ‘give everything away’ – this is not the case on the pitch! When we have possession of the ball – it is our time – and we will only give it away when the time is right – this is the result of developed ‘panna’. This is why before each half we have a team huddle and generate ‘metta’ (loving kindness) which permeates the changing rooms, the pitch, the stadium, country and universe! Dhammic-football will eventually become a worldwide phenomenon when Thailand lifts the FIFA World Cup! Of course, before that happens, we might have to teach the Thai people to read and write, build modern and safe housing, schools and hospitals, and develop a sustainable economy not premised upon Western religious fetish or sex tourism, but if our King can have sixteen wives due entirely to the good kamma he has generated in previous existences, so can we!” 

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