Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, we are not alone.
On 21st January 2020 by SatyaThis weekend eighteen Buddhists from different traditions came together in your name, dear Earth. We are all members of Extinction Rebellion and we wanted to feel less alone. At the start of the first day I led an exercise where we all stand in a circle facing each other. Someone calls out a category they
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, I woke to a dance.
On 16th January 2020 by SatyaOur Little Dog was poorly last night, and so for the second time this week we counted the hours until morning. “And?” I hear new mothers and insomniacs say. I salute all those who function on little sleep. I am feeble when it comes to needing decent chunks of it, and sleeplessness leaves me feeling
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, are we a cancer?
On 15th January 2020 by SatyaThe word is so loaded with anguish and dread, I hesitate to use it. And yet, we people have been likened to a cancer on your body, dear Earth, and the metaphor makes sense. We have plundered your resources, exterminated other species, and duplicated ourselves into craziness. I’d rather think of Others as the plunderers,
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, I was awake in the night.
On 14th January 2020 by SatyaAfter a heated conversation I was stuck awake with my brain fizzing until 3 a.m. Either that, or it was the big chocolate caramel brownie, and I’d rather give up triggering conversations than sugar so… I was triggered into a complicated combination of thoughts and feelings, including whether I was safe, and whether I was
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, why bother?
On 11th January 2020 by SatyaThis morning I gave a talk here at the temple called ‘Introduction to Buddhism: Why Bother?’. In it I explained why I (sometimes) prioritise spiritual practice over watching Netflix. Life is often a whole lot of bother. Most of us are already stretched. It would be better for you, dear Earth, if I made my
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, we tie ourselves in knots.
On 8th January 2020 by SatyaWe have a furry blanket to snuggle under when watching TV, and when it’s not over our knees we fold it and rest it on the back of the sofa. Roshi, pictured, has deemed this a fine place for a morning nap. This reminds me of butterflies, charging up by spreading their wings and basking
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, I am not the forest.
On 7th January 2020 by SatyaFrom here I can see the buds on the naked magnolia tree. They tip every branch like a frozen flame – silvery white, small, quiet. Each of them is busy gestating a single bloom. I’d love to be the whole tree. I’d love to exude all that sweet perfume. I’d love to be frothy with
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, gently does it.
On 6th January 2020 by SatyaToday is my last day off before work begins again. As usual, parts of me have ambitious plans for the year. Become super-rich-and-famous, single-handedly save the world – that kinda thing. My word for 2020 has been travelling with me – a constant companion in a way no previous word has been. It crouches delicately
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, what six things do you need from us in 2020?
On 1st January 2020 by SatyaOne. You need us to enjoy you. You need us to lean into your soft brilliant mosses and watch the flamingo-pink cyclamen pirouette up from your dark skin. You need us to be wowed by your star-blanket and your talking trees and your luminous deep sea creatures. You need us to know that your raindrops
Love Letters . ֎
Dear Earth, I’ve got a New Year’s gift for you.
On 29th December 2019 by SatyaI’m going to offer you a daily pause. Rituals contain magic. They don’t have to be complicated. There are only two rules – that they are repeated over and over, and that they are inspired by love. I already have a daily nembutsu practice – ten minutes of calling out to the Buddha of Infinite