Christopher Titmuss. E News September 2022. Information. Links. Social Media, Blog updates, Audio library, Memoir and more.
they always know best, and then try changing you
so then beware upon those judges whim to fix your fate
as though they can offer real security
then deceive you with their maturity.
Poems from the Edge of Time by Christopher Titmuss
Dear Friends,
A warm welcome to every one of our 7300 subscribers of the current issue of the Christopher e-News.
In the previous e-News, I mentioned I have divided the e-News into two sections.
The e-News has expanded in recent years to over 35 pages. The two sections will reduce the length of each news.
This edition of the e-News includes information about social media, blog updates, audio library, books and more.
To reduce length, the next e-News published next month will only contain my international teaching schedule for residential and zoom programmes.
THE PRECISION OF PALI LANGUAGE (language of the Buddha).
Past. Present. Future. Hope
Explore the subtle meaning to change your view of such concepts as past, present, future and hope.
The teachings make clear our view of what we view matters as much the viewed including past, present or future.
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
We can refer to these three concepts of time as if each category had its own existence.
Pali shows nuances in the original meaning
Scholars translate:
• Pali word for atita as past
• Pali for paccuppanna as present
• Pali agata as future.
There is an active tone to the Pali rather than something fixed. The Pali invites inquiry into conditions.
A precise translation of the three Pali words
• That which did arrive or did arose
• That which has arrived or is arising
• That which has not arrived or will arise.
HOPE
Western culture regularly uses the language of hope.
The English dictionary definition says hope means to cherish a desire with anticipation.
Western Buddhists will claim the Pali word apekkha means hope.
The Pali-English Dictionary of the Pali Text Society does not translate apekkha as hope.
The Pali Dictionary states apekkha means expectation/waiting for/longing for.
The Pali does not put a positive desire on might or will arise, as in the word hope.
The stronger your positive desire for a future arising the stronger the disappointment if your cherished anticipation does not bear fruit.
A monk, Desaka said to a gravely ill monk. “We hope you are bearing up. We hope you are getting better. We hope that your painful feelings are subsiding.”
Khemak responded, “I am not bearing up I am not getting better, Strong, painful feelings are increasing.
Desaka dropped saying again his positive desire to the monk to bear up and get better.
Instead he asked him a question. Are you clinging to body, feelings and perceptions?!
Khemak responsed: “I do not regard any of these experiences as belonging to myself. I do not regard any of this as This I Am.”
The monks delighted in his words.
ANOTHER PALI TERM
The Pali terms nappatikankhe anagatam gets translated as ‘on the future build his hopes.’
A literal translation: Being certain about what has not yet come.
Both apekkha and nappatikankhe anagatam encourage us to take care in the ways we think and talk about the future.
Our view influences what arose, is arising, not arrived or will arise – sometimes far more than we realise. The view reveals an activity and so does the viewed.
A SELECTION OF BLOGS BETWEEN LATE MARCH AND EARLY JUNE 2002
- Low self esteem high self-esteem why on earth do we think like this
How to save money on energy bills rough cost of use household items - While uk energy companies set to make 170 billion
- I do not believe mental tiredness holds any inherent-reality
- Some questions to christopher on emptiness and wisdom
- Have you applied mindfulness to the extent necessary-
- 2600 years ago Prince Gautama woke up meaning
- A question on practice liberation in dharma teachings
- Questioning of authority the buddhas charter for enquiry-
- The buddha on kindness and compassion for all-beings all-creatures
- Sex-identity lgbtq non-binary animals rights and dharma
- The fading of the pink roses a poem
- The power to act three examples a poem
- Quirky text messages from a grandfather to his granddaughter
I have received many kind words from readers worldwide after they read the Memoir. The book offers an exploration of experiences, insights and can provide inspiration for others to engage in a lifelong interest in life on Earth.
The book and Kindle version with photos is available on Amazon books in many countries.
The Memoir of 10 years on the road includes a hippy life, mind-altering drugs, romantic encounters and brushes with death. The book covers travels through 20 countries, the discipline for three years in a strict Vipassana monastery in Thailand, nine months in a cave and meetings with leading spiritual teachers in Thailand and India. I met and talked with some of the finest spiritual/Buddhist/Hindu teachers in Thailand and India.
Besides the letters, I also drew upon 30 diaries and notebooks, plus my memory of events from 1967 to 1977. The freedom to explore confirms an infinite potential for discovery.
TEN YEARS AND TEN DAYS
ISBN 978-1-5272-8274-2
Published June 2021.
£14.95. 528 pages.
£6.95 Kindle e-Book.
Memoir is easily available via Amazon (the publisher) websites in many Western countries.
I have three Facebook Pages
1. Christopher Titmuss.
Link to Christopher Titmuss Facebook Page
3.4K Facebook friends. Many Friends have connection with Buddhist practices, Meditation, Mindfulness, Vipassana, Yoga, Advaita and more. There are also plenty of Friends, who give priority to outer change – social/political/enviromental/global issues. Others have a thoughtful interest in topics touched upon on the Facebook page.
2. Christopher Titmuss Public Figure Page
Link to Christopher Titmuss Public Figure Page
5.6K Followers.
I recently started to reuse this Facebook page after an absence since last year.
I often place a link from an item on the blog on the above Facebook pages. Some people post a Comment on the Facebook Friends or Facebook Followers page or put a comment on the blog.
3. Christopher Titmuss Teachings
Link to Christopher Titmuss Teachings Group
Around 760 Members. You need to send a request to join.
This Facebook Page started in July 2022.
I post a question weekly. Members can respond in the Comment section.
I collate many responses so Members can read through. I then add in the post a response from myself after the Comments.
HERE ARE THE WEEKLY QUESTIONS from late July to early September
- Who am I?
- Four Kinds of Action: 1. Skilful Action. 2. Unskilful Action. 3. Neutral Action. 4…?
- Is insecurity related to the desire to control and/or other factors?
- What are the benefits and limits of stepping into the unknown?
- Is building up self-esteem an exercise in futility?
- Is tiredness a state of mind dependent on the view of it?
- What is the difference between compassion and pity?
- What is the difference between need and greed?
I have around 1200 contacts on Linkedin and around 600 followers on Twitter.
A link from the blog often goes to Linkedin and Twitter to notify contacts.
While rarely looking at these platforms, I plan to develop more contact.
Talks and interviews available on SoundCloud 1280 Dharma talks, inquiries and interviews freely available.
Link to Soundcloud Recordings from April 2022 Retreat in Waldhaus Germany
Talk, inquiries and interviews also on www.archive.org. Archive.org holds makes 451 talks freely available.
Interviews include Ajahn Buddhadasa, Meichee Patomwon and Poonja-ji.
Some of the most popular Dharma talks are:
The Buddha And His Dysfunctional Family
Mindfulness, The Self and Emptiness
The Power of Truth
The Spirituality of Mindfulness
Sri Ramana Maharshi and The Buddha
Flickr is an online photo management and sharing application. There are 200 albums on Flickr containing my 18,600 photographs, starting 2006.
Photos include Sangha, Totnes, India, Australia, Europe, Dharma Yatras in France/Germany, nature, family, upbringing, monkhood and travels.
Dharma Channel Christopher Titmuss 1. 92 videos. 595 subscribers.
Link to Dharma YouTube Channel
Themes in videos include Intro, Guided Meditation on Loving Kindness, short talks on love, intimacy, fear, dana (donations), reading, shopping etc.
A second Channel. 23 videos. 688 subscribers.
Link to Christopher Titmuss YouTube Channel
Themes included Guided Meditations on breath, body, states of mind, dharma, global pollution of mind, being a vegetarian, a 65-year pilgrimage (7 mins. Photos from babyhood to age of 65 with commentary)
WELCOME TO THE WISE LOTUS CENTRE IN LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY, HERTS, UK
Do join our classes and courses held in The Wise Lotus Centre, 35 minutes on the train north from Kings Cross station in central London, UK.
TWLC has a rapidly expanding programme throughout the week. The Centre keeps as affordable as possible to support adults and children. Centre offers evening meetings/classes. The programme includes mindfulness, meditation, yoga, holistic therapies, self-care, public talks, classes for families, children and businesses. Nshorna teaches mindfulness and other classes/workshops for adults and children in the Centre. She sells a range of wellbeing items and beautiful gift sets on Etsy and in her shop: www.thelittleshopofmindfulness.com. Every package is plastic-free as much as possible, and includes a mindfulness practise leaflet.
Email. support@thewiselotus.com
www.thewiselotus.com
Different Ways to offer donations(dana) to support Christopher
https://www.christophertitmuss.net/donations.
• You can make donations via your PAYPAL, STRIPE or Credit/Debit Card
• You do not need a PAYPAL account.
Inspired by his years as a Buddhist monk (1970-1976) Christopher depends upon donations rather than charge for teachings. Christopher only teaches in centres where he considers the daily rate affordable.
You can also make a bank transfer to my bank account in Devon, England. I will email you my bank details.
christopher@insightmeditation.org
Thank you for your kind support.
LOVE
CHRISTOPHER
www.christophertitmuss.net
christopher@insightmeditation.org
