A Return

Greetings one and all,

I originally began this blog in March of 2005, but due to the everyday events that seem to cascade down upon us at times, had to take a respite. Though, that makes it sound much too serious.

I've returned now, and along with the changes that blogger has made recently, I have also given the blog a facelift. Without further todo, I'd like to christen the new site with the following introduction from the original. Following that, I intend to incorporate many of the original posts from the original.

Introduction (Originally posted March 5, 2005)

Greetings to all fellow seekers! I know I'm not alone on the path, trying to find meaning and understanding. And why not talk with fellow travellers about this journey?

While I'm a practicing Buddhist, I also believe that Buddhism is just one of many paths available to find truth. I believe strongly in spiritual freedom, as religion is just a tool used to realize truth. In the words of Nêng Hai:

As evidence of the truth of all this, consider how many men of different faiths have wrought marvels and achieved sainthood through the power of their God or gods, all attained through fervent prayer and contemplation. What is that God but another name for the Centre, those gods but other names for the Transformers? Names are unimportant. Have you not met Buddhists groping in the outer darkness and Mussulmans or Christians whose faces shine with Truth? Just as many Mongols here regard Manjusri as a god, rather than the personification of Divine Wisdom, so do Christians mistake the Divine Forces for angels, the Centre for God; yet what does it matter? All prayers, rites and methods of concentration which open up the inner man must bring forth the inner Light, whereon their purpose is achieved. I am a Vajrayanist only because I conceive, rightly or wrongly, that the Vajrayana Sages have mapped the road more completely and better understood the methods of harnessing the Transformers than people of most other sects and faiths. I have met Christian missionaries at Kokonor who are laughable in their ignorance; I have also met two missionaries of the Heavenly Lord (Catholic) Sect who are fully Enlightened Bodhisattvas! Let those Buddhists who are still lost in darkness kneel before them in all humility (The Lost World of Chinese Buddhism, John Blofeld - taken from Adventures with the Buddha, Jeffery Paine).

So, perhaps I can help illuminate someone's path just a bit more. At the very least, maybe I can just help keep them company on the journey.