Airport Thoughts

Hi everyone

I’m writing this sitting on a plane in Glasgow airport waiting to take off. We boarded 2 hours ago but, due to fog at Heathrow we can’t get going.

I’m on my way to Mexico so hopefully I’ll make my connection. I did book with quite a long change over (4 hours) as I hate rushing. If we take off soon I should be ok. Travel can be quite stressful though I’m lucky enough to be a fairly chilled traveller. Just as well as trains and planes can be very unpredictable.

There was no blog last week as I was on retreat in adhisthana. It was a fantastic retreat. I enjoyed it for a number of reasons. Nagabodhi and I were co leading it and the theme (for a wee change) was Buddhism for Today and Tomorrow. Nagabodhi was at the original talks so he was able to talk about what that was like and generally how things were in the FWBO (as we were then) in the 1980s. He is a wonderful raconteur and brought the times alive. I came along the year after those talks so I was able to paint a picture too of the late 70s and 80s.

Folk really enjoyed hearing of the ‘old days’ and appreciated getting a sense of Bhante. Some people said that they hadn’t really had much sense of why he is such an important figure for us in triratna but that changed for many of them.

The retreat was what’s known as a Sangha retreat. That means folk can go along with others from their local sangha and, while we are all together for meditation, puja and the talks, you study with your local group.

That’s another reason why I enjoyed it so much. It was delightful to be with the Glasgow contingent and getting to know them all better.

I’m now in Mexico City. I’ve been on the go for 24 hours and I’m going to leave it now and e mail this in the hope it can go on the website with a link.