Chuang and earlier Zen living

 Even if Heaven and Earth were to collapse he would not be disturbed. He truly understands the primary things in life and is not moved by mere things. He understands that some things are predestined and he therefore holds true to the unchanging. Only what is still stills things and holds them still. He made his own life an example and so guided others' lives. One who simply uses his body as a place to dwell, whose ears and eyes he knows only convey fleeting images. He seems to be caught up with the search for homour and reputation, without understanding that the wise person sees these as chains and irons. See that death and birth are one thing and that right and wrong are one thing. He never took the lead, just agreed with whatever was suggested. Death, birth, existence and trouble, wealth, poverty, value and worthlessness, glory and blame, hunger and thirst, cold and hot - all these are the way the world goes and the result of destiny. Don't allow the existence of these and no...

This temporary thing called human life is a gift. Accept what is given by the flow of the universe, including loss and death. Don't react against it. Death is as much part of life as life itself. Sickness is as much part of life and being well. If you accept and go with the flow of the universe then sorrow will not touch you. Don't get involved with the junk of this world, or the transient issues that seem so pressing in the moment. Try to stay on the true, simple, narrow path. With many paths comes confusion. Struggling for fame people destroy each other. They also destroy themselves. Have nothing to do with it. Knowledge is used for argument. Have nothing to do with using it for selfish or evil ends. Keep your advice for yourself and for those who want to learn. The powerful already assume they are right and won't listen to you. The wisest cannot manage these people. Don't try. Shun them. The Way is found in emptiness, in simplicity, in the mundane. Learn to bear what...

We are all part of something much bigger: life, and the universe. Live as part of it. Try to see the whole, not just the tiny part that is you and your immediate surrounds. Live for the whole, not the shallow, small you. Light shines through the chaos. This is the true path. Be guided by it. It's hard to know what is true and right and what is not. Learn to be comfortable with uncertainty and not knowing. People simplistically say that the best succeed, and that they do so through sheer talent and hard work. But this is junk. Luck and timing play a huge part in all life. Some people have immense talent and work very hard but do not succeed. Other people have little talent and don't work particularly hard and still succeed. There is no hard and fast path to success, however one defines success. Wise people don't judge or express partisan views about the past. They see the bigger pciture of flow and change, and human nature, chance and fate. Less wise people argue incessantly...

 People - and all life forms - can only perceive or envisage from the limitations of their mind, which is itself limited by genes and experiences. So to nurture the best in people, expose them to experiences that hone the finest qualities of mind. Be clear about what your life is for. Then don't care about the world's opinions of you. Move forward with certainty in your life. Avoid being tempted by status or glory. They are the wrong path, leading you away from your true self. Shun any offers that are false paths, however attractive financially or for recognition. Remain close to nature, true to the ordinary. Our world today spins lies about ambition and success as paths to happiness The truth is the opposite. That way lies depression, twisted minds, temptations to ignore your values for money or ego. Of course if you happen to be one of the lucky whose true path leads to fame and fortune, accept it with gratitude for the latter and perhaps misgivings about the former. Fame com...

When I was about ten the local Catholic priest started taking me to Celtic football games, and the occasional international featuring Scotland, at the national stadium, Hampden Park. During Scotland games against England the fans would chant "If you hate the fucking English, clap your hands." All the Scottish fans sang it, and all clapped. and "We hate Jimmy Hill, he's a poof, he's a poof." (Jimmy Hill was one of the foremost football pundits at the tine, and English.) At Celtic games the fans sang "Fuck the Queen and the UDA" Later in my life one of my best friend's brother was a Rangers season ticket holder, but sometimes because of his work he would be away when a home match was on. He'd give his other ticket to my friend. One time my friend asked if I wanted to go, so we went together. This was in the late 1980s or early 90s. I don't remember who Rangers were playing. What I do remember is at one point the fans started singing ...

I have decided to stop promoting my poetry, as poor use of my limited time alive. A major part of that decision is therefore to stop publishing any books or pamphlets of my poetry. I will still write it and post it on my poetry blog, and also in my notebooks, whatever is most handy when I feel the need to write poetry. If poetry was ever to have been a healthy financial earner for me I'd continue to promote and publish it, as I quite enjoy that side of it. But on its own, without the financial incentive, it's just not the best thing I can be doing with my time. I have two collaborations going on, one long-standing with John Guzlowski, the other agreed but not started, with Tim Heerdink, and I'll keep these going but will not promote them. They are fun and good use of time. If they choose to promote and publish I'll happily agree to it but play no part.

The way to be happy, sane, and mentally well is not to become unhappy, insane, or mentally unwell in the first place. But given that no one manages to do this, the next best thing is to look for things that work to bring you to greater happiness, sanity, and mental wellbeing, then do those things. The practices of Zen, including mindfulness, achieve these goals, but you have to actually do them, and do them often enough and rigorously enough for the cumulative effect of your efforts to result in what you want to feel - namely, happy, sane, and well. It is simply a matter of committing to the task.