To begin by quoting the magnificent Shantideva;

 

Guarding alertness

 

Those who wish to guard their practice

Should very attentively guard their minds,

For those who do not guard their minds

Will be unable to guard their practice.

 

In this (world) unsubdued and crazed elephants

Are incapable of causing such harms

As the miseries of the deepest hell

Which can be caused by the unleashed elephant of my mind.

 

But if the elephant of my mind is firmly bound

On all sides by the rope of mindfulness,

All fears will cease to exist

And all virtues will come into my hand.

 

To my heart now these words have been for a while, so satisfying to my mind. It’s good to get things correct. What What?!

Moving right along. I forgo or donated $80,000 per year for four years of a graduate salary to work for on a pension allowance for my teacher, a qualified, authentic spiritual guide and doctor to understand and master Buddhist training, the training of the heart and mind, the body, speech and mind, to avoid and abandon the causes of suffering and to master the causes of happiness, and health.

These are the jobs I performed as Centre Manager of a very excellent Buddhist Institute:

Real Estate Manager,

Chef

Bookkeeper, Banker, Accounts Manager

Receptionist

Teacher, philosopher.

 

Copyright ©  Vanessa Anne Walsh 2019