Hi Everybody,
Sitting here at my desk with the evening sun streaming through the windows after a beautiful midsummer's day. The grass in Richmond Park is bleached golden with the sunshine and Gatsby just disappears when he runs into it. OK so today's episode runs on from the last sentecne of the last one, ' The point is that we are undoubtedly spiritual animals, however much we may try to convince ourselves that we're not!
Madonna once told us most persuasively that this is a material world and that she is very much a material girl. That may indeed be so, but ther'es a powerful line from Bruce Springsteen that brings us a completely different message and one that reflects perhapsa growing change in social sentiment.
' It's time to start saving up ' he tells us...' for the things that money can't buy...'
The things that money can't buy...what can he possibly mean other than a deeper and more meaningful spiritual life beyond the bounds of mere materialism? What is remarkable I think is just how close that sentiment comes to something that a great and influential Buddhist teacher called Nichiren Daishonin wrote to his followers all those years ago.
' More valuable than the treasures in any storehouse..he wrote... that is to say more material stuff..' are the treasures of the body'... that is to say good health...' and the treasures of the heart... that is to say an active and meaningful spiritual life...are most valuable of all. '
And in our deepest selves we know that to be true don't we?
That's it. short and I hope sweet!
See you next time.
Keep reading
William
PS The Case for Buddhism is available on Amazon and as a download on Kindle.
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