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Alistair Appletons Mindsprings @agappleton
Joined January 2011
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In response to a question about Buddhism and sexuality, I jotted down where I think Buddhism stands on these things. Just my thoughts, of course. Buddhism doesn't have a Holy Book or scripture, so its stance is much more fluid. #sexuality #Buddhism wix.to/CEE1tWl

What does Buddhism have to say about sexuality and gender?

New member Fran, coming from a progressive Islamic mosque in Canada, was interested in Buddhism’s stance on gender and sexuality and so I started scratching my head about this issue.I did give a talk...

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We had a great discussion this Tuesday about worrying in our anxiety-busting Zoom. I copied out the transcript. Worrying is NOT caring: wix.to/qQ94BuJ

Worrying is NOT caring

This is an edited transcript of a lovely discussion we had this Tuesday in our anxiety/stress class on Zoom. We were discussing the various myths around worrying: that it shows we care; that it is...

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January Resurrection Mindsprings Mandala. Our monthly round-up of bright, shiny things. wix.to/NoL3gXg

Mindsprings Mandala

The web of wisdom we've encountered this month.

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Every Thursday, we take a little dip into the world of Buddhism. And lately we’ve been looking at the six perfection or the paramitas. tomorrow morning, we come to the fifth: meditation or dhyana buff.ly/3URVTXC Or link in bio : meditate with Alistair #paramita #dhyana
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After my lovely 5-day solitary retreat at the Cliff, I’m back tomorrow (Monday) at 8am UK for our first live meditation of 2024. Monday is Beingfulness- a great start to the week. Use code MEDITATE2024 to get half a year half price. buff.ly/3URVTXC see link in bio ⬆️
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My mail-outs are fun. One newsy one. One sharing good things to read, listen to or watch. And one with a free meditation. Sign up in a trice. #connection #inTheKnow #meditate buff.ly/3RXR3sa Or check link in bio. ⬆️
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The fourth paramita is Viriya or joyful effort. And as we crawl to the end of the year it’s good to plug into the motor of our practice and recognise the joy that fuels it. #livesessions #Thursday
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if you’re in Sussex and wanted some fresh air on Boxing Day, Daniel and I are opening the deck and the pottery to festive walkers on the 26th from 11am till 4. So stop by for some hot chocolate and mulled wine. Donations for the Cuckmere sea defences. #boxingday #CuckmereHaven
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Yay! #Scarborough
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Check out my blog post wix.to/Vx1IhRn wix.to/Vx1IhRn
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Tomorrow morning we start looking at the third paramita of patience or Khanti. As with all these transcendental actions - what happens when we take 'staying with' to its ultimate destination? #livesession #zoomdharma #thursdaymorningmeditation buff.ly/3URVTXC
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A pungent Auden poem. "Beautiful, happy and perfectly pointless" wix.to/m4VfR94 wix.to/m4VfR94

The Sabbath / W.H. Auden

Some pungent Wystan in this moment when it's hard to remain very positive about humanity's inherent goodness. It's such a lapidary poem. And the rupture in the rhyme scheme in the last two stanzas is...

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Daniel was about to bin these odd mugs from a firing. But I decided they looked like Roman vases hauled up from the sea. And then planted them up with Christmas cyclamen to offset their beautiful barnacles. I love them. #potterymagic #misshapes #serendipity
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We’re moving on to the 2nd paramita this week. It’s Discipline or Shila which sounds onerous but is actually the most delightful of these “transcendental actions”. No more regret, emotional hangovers or labyrinthine lies! Thurs 8am or pick up recording buff.ly/3URVTXC
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After a break over the summer, the Mindsprings Mandala Mail is back. It's a rattle bag of music, books, documentaries and podcasts that I and the Mindsprings community have been listening to and reading this month. Dive in below. buff.ly/49Lw1E0
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From our first week looking at the 'transcendental' version of generosity, Dana. What makes it different? And what is the difference between dana and dzinpa? And how might that help avoid the pitfalls of generosity? #newblogpost wix.to/CJAJV9m

Generosity 1: dana and dzinpa

 From the first of two live sessions dedicated to the "transcendental action" of generosity, in November 2023. A recording of the practice can be found in the Mindsprings Video Library.We began with...

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Been re-booting some of the very early blog posts - this one from 2012. It's some reflections on dissociation and savouring after a retreat at Sutton Courtenay. #dissociation #savouring #mindfulness wix.to/s6MvtG7

The bittersaltsweetsour of life: mindfulness, dissociation and tastebuds

This is a reboot of a blog I wrote back in 2012 (which seems like another world) after a weekend retreat at the Abbey in Sutton Courtenay. But it still seems - excuse the pun - salient. Another...

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NEW BLOG: So after a few technical issues, we're starting our 12-week exploration of the six paramitas. What does that word even mean? And why might these be the key to moving our life from the cushion into the world? #newblogpost wix.to/bbUtXUY

The Paramitas: where the rubber of practice hits the road of reality

If you've been following our Live Sessions of late, you may have noticed this word paramita cropping up again and again. Apologies if it seems jargony and off-putting, but I can't think of a really...

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Thursday mornings these months ahead, we’ll be looking at the “paramitas” or perfections in Buddhism. The qualities that elevate and sanctify our presence in the world. Tomorrow we start looking at generosity or “Dana” • buff.ly/3tWyBXv •
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Thursdays’ Zoom meditations focus on Buddhist themes. And tomorrow we start a new cycle of sessions looking at the “paramitas” or transcendental behaviours that transform a human life: generosity, discipline, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom. buff.ly/3URVTXC
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