Dreaming of a world that could be?

Don’t accept the world as it is. Dream of what the world could be - and then help make it happen. - Peter Tatchell

Unity - Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 3, 'Water Night'

Virtual Choir 3, ‘Water Night’, received 3746 videos from 73 countries around the world and launched on April 2nd 2012 at a live event at Lincoln Center, webcast on Lincoln Center Website, and revealed online.

The directors, Cake, developed creative solutions for this volume of material to a brief, working closely together with Eric to develop the final film inspired by the Virtual Choir community and the text from Water Night by Octavio Paz:

If you open your eyes, night opens doors of musk, the secret kingdom of the water opens flowing from the centre of the night. And if you close your eyes, a river, a silent and beautiful current, fills you from within, flows forward, forward, darkens you: night brings its wetness to beaches in your soul.

Following the online reveal, VC3 will be mastered for bespoke projections and audio-visual installations at venues across the world with HD video and surround sound to create an immersive and visceral audience experience.

The Onenes of self and environment - Esho Funi - How being in a hell state can be reflected in your environment

Something very interesting happend a few days ago.

Whilst trapped in my hell state, I witness clear oneness of self and environment - (Esho Funi in Japanese) - I was in a restaurant and had an agressive, man sat behind me swearing and cursing at the waitress.

He was seething with anger and rage.

Shortly after we left the restaurant and walked home, just as we were about to cross the road, two cars, were sparing in the circle, the occupants screaming at each other, waving fists and shouting profanities.

I took a moment to realize just how dangerous it can be to be trapped in a hell state, how the environment around you can reflect this back to you. Causing all sorts of potential hazards. Being Buddhist I am very fortunate enough to be able to see these connections, and I took time to realize that I needed to "snap out of it"

Earlier that day I was almost run over by a large van in the city, as I was too preoccupied with being in this hell state. All sorts of things can go wrong, if our minds are clouded by anger, rage and revenge. 

It's very important to work towards a higher life state where we do not allow ourselves to react with anger.

Read more about Esho Funi here: http://www.sgi.org/buddhism/buddhist-concepts/oneness-of-self-and-environment.html

Dealing with Anger - Trapped in a hell state.

It's so hard to let go of anger sometimes.
It is so easy to sit with it, to stew in it.
To bubble and fight.

But sitting and letting go couldn't be simpler.

At this very moment I am trapped in a hell state. Every minute of my day, I am consumed by it. My connection to my true self smothered by the illusion of these emotions.

To be Buddhist does not mean, we shy away from anger and emotion, it means that we are brave enough to see our selves as we truly are. Good points and band points and realise there is something that needs to change.

Most of the time it is us that needs to change.

But  change is hard and it is painful, but I know that I am going to get through this.

If you are suffering in a hell state, or you are angry, realise that being in this state is more damaging to you, then it is to the other person.

Together we can breath in and out and let it go...

Namaste. Bobby XXX

The Life Of The Buddha [Full BBC Documentary- HQ] with English/Greek/Catalan Subs

This BBC documentary covers the life of Siddhartha Gautama, a young prince from India who went out to find the reason for "Dukkha" [problems] of human life. He later found the reason of Dukkha and teached a way to live life. He was later known as the Buddha, the founder of "Buddhism". 

Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal.

What matters most is love, compassion and friendship.

I am constantly bemused at how many people become so obsessed with the unimportant; in the process, missing the whole point of Buddha's teaching.

The Buddha taught love, compassion and understanding. Yet human beings constantly fight over how to practice correctly, where the Buddha was born and which school is the correct school, and which Gohonzon is the correct Gohonzon. 

The principles of happiness and peace are simple. 

Why must we constantly overcomplicate our lives?

Bobby NMRK

The Flying Lotus

The people are dying.

The children are crying.

What, what, what, what...

What will become of our world?

If we don't stop for a minute. Make our love, unlimited.

When will we become one?

Lost in this hell, chained in this cell. We created.

What will become of our world?

When will we stop? When will we see the damage we are doing to ourselves, to our children.

When?

Watch the World Premiere in HD now of Flying Lotus

Inner Prisms - Everything is Changing

Listen to the sublime sounds of Mr Gerald Penilla in Inner Prisms. Gerald will take you on an uplifting journey of sound and expression. Inner Prisms projects a message of love and respect across the multiverse for all to enjoy. A truly gifted man thats inspired me with his videos and music.

Thanks Gerald!

Everything is changing by the amazing http://innerprisms.com/
Download and share this wonderful album here - http://innerprisms.com/album/synchronicity released

22 May 2010 Lead Vocals/Guitar - Gerald Penilla 
Bass/Back Up Vocals - Ruben Ruvalcaba
Percussion - Husni Abu Bakar, Nick Rumancik
Additional Musicians - Carlos Andres Baron (Sitar - Meditation Track), Adam Elabd (Guitar/Vocals - Meditation Track), Husni Abu Bakar (Percussion, Back Up Vocals - Meditation Track), Sam Marsey (Harmonica - Young Man)
(Additional Guitar - Every Is Changing/Dusty Road)(Final Meditation - René Lysloff)

Around and Around we go...

Round and round we go.
On this little circle of rock, air, fire and water.
Together we spin.
Together we twirl.
Round and round we go.
- Bobby

Chanting for Material things

Treasures of the heart are the priceless jewel in our lives. 

Can you point in a direction where I could find more information on the practice of Nichiren Buddhism? I'm new to the practice and I'm specifically trying to understand what Nichiren taught (first hand) about chanting. I've met some people in SGI that talk about chanting for "things" like financial gain, cars, jobs, girlfriends/boyfriends, etc., which I found a little shocking. Is this part of the practice?

Thanks in advance! - M


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Hey M, thanks for your message. SGI is a lay organisation tasked with keep the teachings of Nichiren alive.

Chanting for things (Treasures of the storehouse) is not wrong. There are many things in our lives that can support us and help us get by and aid our path to happiness.

Happy and fulfilling Relationships, money, good health etc

However, Nichiren and SGI always stress that treasures of the heart are the jewels of our lives. Friendship, love, compassion and family and these alone should be our priority over all else.

There is nothing wrong for asking for things that you want, but we are encouraged to think about, how this will lead to Kosen Rufu or world peace.

If you want a car for example, dont just ask for a car for the sake of it, think about how you could bring value to your life and the community with this car.

Its all about learning to create value. This is what Sokka Gakki means, to create value.

Older forms of Buddism have taught people to shun material things.

Nichiren Buddism says that the law of cause and effect is in your hands, you make your own choices, your life is in your own hands and you must be free to make those choices.

Noone else should tell you what you should and and shouldn't pray for. It is your life.

As you chant regularly your Buddhanature flowers and you realise what is really important in life. People, love, compassion friendship.

We are all human, we are not perfect and sometimes we want things that we think will bring us happiness; the perfect job, the perfect partner, the perfect body.

Often when we get these things, we still dont find this elusive happiness and in-fact when we loose them we feel worse.

In Buddhism we call this rapture, its a temporary happiness that does not last as it is based on external things.

SO what I am saying is that do not feel guilting for chanting for material things, just ask your self, why am I chanting for this, am I really asking for the right things to help me establish a strong and lasting happiness from within.

Does that make sense?

SGI is a group of people, SGI is what we make of it and we are all many parts of a whole rather then some pyramid shaped group.

Each one of us has the power to shape the organisation or family.

Hope that helps.

Bobby