True heart
It was a bit of a surprise to return back to the UK after some time in India and see all the advertisements about Valentine’s Day. I had completely forgotten about it (not being the most romantic person in the world)!
So it was a good reminder that the ‘norm’ is different depending on your location/conditions. But perhaps more subtly, it was a prompt to look more closely at what love, affection and connection truly means. Not just the ‘hearts and roses’ of Valentine’s Day marketing. It is our friends, colleagues, family, neighbours, ourselves, indeed all beings – even those we find difficult, appalling, frightening. Those with us now and those who have left this realm. For those who have preceded us on that mysterious path of transformation, of death, of non-being are still having an impact in this lifetime – in our memories, our hearts, our practice, the very fact we are alive (if the late being is our parent).
On Sunday, 16th February, we’ll spend the afternoon (2-6pm) remembering these beings in our lives on the Buddhist festival of Parinirvana Day. Our time together will include a retelling of the parinirvana (death) of the Buddha, meditation, reflection, ritual and more. See here for programme.
With a bow
Maitripushpa
