‘Some notes from and about Qici the Sack Monk’ by Douglas Colston

[tabby title="Poem"] 'Some notes from and about Qici the Sack Monk' Qici (契此和尚),who was also known as 'the Sack Monk' (布袋和尚),is said to have left a note -now recorded in Chinese as follows: 彌勒真彌勒,分身百千億,時時示世人,世人總不識. That might be interpreted as noted...

Fanciful mysticism or grounded philosophy? by Douglas Colston

[tabby title="Poem"] “Shiva and Shakti,”some say,“are indistinguishable.They are one.They are the universe.Shiva isn’t masculine.Shakti isn’t feminine.At the core of their mutual penetration,the supreme consciousness opens”. Energy, ability, strength, effort, power and capability(शक्ति [śakti])and happiness, welfare, prosperity, bliss and liberation(शिव [śivá])are...

How the crow goes: naturally by Douglas Colston

[tabby title="Poem"] Why the crow? It is natural. The ideal way to live one’s life –whether referred to as मार्ग (Mārga: ‘the eight-fold noble path’),道 (the Dào)or Λόγος (Logos: the ‘Word’) –crows concerning all manner of things …including the Sun,...