tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18413731053319024372024-02-21T09:46:34.467+05:30SepticPen ... Poetry, Book reviews and Meditations.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-66241817391198009052017-08-20T00:10:00.000+05:302017-08-20T00:18:42.115+05:30Is DaryaGanj Sunday Book Market just over hyped?
Daryaganj(abbreviated as DG else where in the article) is an area on the fringes of 'Purani Dilli' area of New Delhi. Every Sunday, since many decades, its streets from Delite Cinemas on Asif Ali Road through to Delhi Gate, and onward to and beyond Golcha Cinemas, convert themselves into a large chaotic and seemingly unorganized( but looks can be deceptive) market of the strangest kind; its Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-85292947422774559232015-12-04T13:26:00.001+05:302016-02-02T22:44:00.806+05:30Retreats in India: Karmapa's Annual Meditation Course 2015-16
KIBI organizes a public meditation course every year, in winter at its New Delhi KIBI campus. The Karmapa himself will be teaching a few sessions. This is a perfect venue to learn about the Meditation as taught in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
http://www.kibi-edu.org/public-courses/public-meditation-course/public-meditation-course-2015-2016/
http://Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India28.6139391 77.20902120000005228.1680166 76.563574200000048 29.059861599999998 77.854468200000056tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-13755203335601662292015-11-30T07:41:00.000+05:302016-02-02T22:45:49.434+05:30Retreats in India: Buddhist Meditation at Sarnath
42 YEARS OF SERVING THE DHARMA IN INDIA
(1975- 2016)
Offered on Dana (by donation)
in the Thai Monastery, Sarnath (near Varanasi), north India
Join one or both of our 7 day retreat on the theme
FROM INSIGHT MEDITATION (Vipassana) TO LIBERATION
CHRISTOPHER TITMUSS
February 19 - 26, 2016
CHRISTOPHER TITMUSS AND ZOHAR LAVIE
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-74974914682536235662015-11-30T07:34:00.000+05:302016-02-02T23:00:03.919+05:30Retreats in India: Anantha Niketan - Thiruvannamalai
Located at Thiruvannamalai, in Tamil Nadu, India. Thiruvannamalai is a sacred hill in India, A place of residence of Sri Ramana Maharshi. The Anantha Niketan is a retreat center at Thiruvannamalai where retreats are conducted throughout the year by various Teachers and Meditators from around the world.
In 2016: Some of the upcoming retreats are:
Open Dharma - Silent Meditation Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-33734832836844901442015-10-26T23:58:00.001+05:302015-11-30T07:47:09.037+05:30Retreats in India: Zazen Retreat at Bir by Ven Sudhamacara
A zazen rertreat will be conducted at The Deer Park Institute at Bir, Himachal Pradesh India. The retreat will be headed by Ven Sudhamacara from November 19th 2015 to November 24th 2015.
Please Deer Park Institute website for more info.
As Zen instructions are often hard to find in India, this would be
very enlightening experience to visit and learn from a true master. If you decide to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-40209376268077133402015-10-26T23:44:00.000+05:302015-10-27T00:04:21.401+05:302015 Dalai Lama's Jangchup Lamrim Teachings new dates announced
The
Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee announced that His
Holiness the Dalai Lama will continue teaching on the 18 Treatises of
the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment – Jangchup Lamrim – 23 December 2015 to 2 January 2016 at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, in Karnataka State of southern India
A
rare opportunity to hear from H.H in South India(5 hours from
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-65781112395113992712014-05-04T01:58:00.001+05:302014-05-04T01:58:31.917+05:30Dalai Lama’s Jangchup Lamrim 2014 schedule announced!  The Jangchup Lamrim Teaching Organizing Committee announced that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will continue teaching on the 18 Treatises of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment – Jangchup Lamrim – 23 to 29 December 2014 at Drepung - or - Gaden Monastery, both of which are in Doeguling Tibetan Settlement, Mundgod, Karnataka, South India. A rare opportunity to hear from H.H in South Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-92133038637188015152014-05-03T23:27:00.001+05:302014-05-03T23:28:46.501+05:30The Awakening of Silence : Verse 19
Not to be thought about by the mind Nor to be discussed by the mouth. Although Noise permutes it, only stillness transmits it.
The Awakening of Silence Series
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-49947201411267024102014-04-28T01:10:00.001+05:302014-04-28T01:19:22.641+05:30The Awakening of Silence : Verse 18 The flower was raised. Never has there been anything given to another. Never has there been anything received from anyone. Knowing this treasure of the eye of reality, He Smiled in Silence. Know more about his smile . The Awakening of Silence Series Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-73563691930907208502014-04-26T02:48:00.001+05:302014-04-26T02:52:49.424+05:30The Awakening of Silence : Verse 15, 16, 17
The note from a flute exists, because the flute is hollow, because its holes are empty, because the wind is silent.
~
If the Flute isn't hollow, If the holes aren't empty, If the wind isn't silent, The note from a flute cannot exist.
~
Even when the note ceases to exist, The flute is still hollow, Its holes are still empty,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-84114991535062299472014-04-01T00:41:00.001+05:302014-04-01T00:41:48.045+05:30Dromtönpa and the practice of Dhamma If we are not careful, we could end up not practicing dhamma even without knowing that it is so. The various rituals, vast texts , prayers, objects are all a reminder of dhamma and do not themselves constitute as a practice of the dhamma. what is important is a never-ceasing alertness to recognize these are all reminders of the essence of the jewel, and not the precious jewel itself. Here is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-46334860592559068622014-03-31T01:38:00.001+05:302014-03-31T01:38:25.998+05:30Going for refuge.Going for refuge is a preliminary step in our journey with Buddhism. But though it is a preliminary step, it is by no means a fundamental step. I think that going for refuge is indeed quite an advanced step, for going for refuge in the truest sense is a serious commitment to the faith that the three jewels will help liberate you from suffering. The reason for liberation comes from a slightly Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-83335460616485898112012-01-20T19:19:00.000+05:302012-01-20T19:27:16.725+05:30Encounters with a forgotten shadow… Prologue I watch drops of water fall from the ends of my hair. They streak down my face, puddle in my hands. My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my ears. Rain. I look up to see the smoke-stained skies cry. All heavenly things disappeared, behind the grasping veil of thick clouds. I dint feel like running for cover, cause  I was in the middle of the running Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-5044942257476800142011-12-02T05:14:00.001+05:302011-12-02T10:22:48.208+05:30On a cold December morning… I woke up dreaming of music. A faint echo of the final chords, of the dream, fades within me.  I feel old. I am suddenly afraid of the aloneness I trusted so dearly only yesterday. I try to squint and focus on the hue of brightness around me. I had fallen asleep under the table lamp. I realize morning would be a while. In the windows there is no light so I am sure waiting Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-60819795337442081722011-07-14T02:51:00.003+05:302011-07-14T03:02:36.179+05:30The Tree Sutta The wild winds weep, And the night is a-cold; Come hither, Sleep, And my griefs enfold! …William Blake Glimpses of reality fade away, as I slip into gentle sleep, But what I see at the other end, is just as sad and deserves a weep. Sleepless night. I hear the leaves rustling in the trees Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-37847098925156427712011-07-14T02:26:00.001+05:302011-07-14T02:28:27.000+05:30A Dirge to an illumination I am back from my retreat. I am busy typing and editing a few new posts to be published here soon. Quite sad to know that Buddhist Torrents(BT) is closing down. Over the few years that it was active, I had grown fond of the site, its moderators and members.  The SepticPen(SP) blog received a lot of visitors form BT for a few months, and some of them have become regular and active Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-81756776266013339442011-07-07T02:08:00.000+05:302011-07-07T02:09:44.745+05:30Into the rain.. I am taking a few days off, for a retreat.  This isn't exactly a ‘rains retreat’. Its just rains a lot these days, a nice coincidence. I am reminded of the rain sutra. Mu-shin Gassho. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-34207628039566510442011-06-29T11:50:00.000+05:302011-06-29T12:02:01.130+05:30Square one.. Know that in life there is suffering. There is cause to this suffering. There is a cessation to this suffering. There is path that leads to this cessation. One can be sure of only these, sickness is inevitable, old age is inevitable, death is inevitable When ignorant, Sickness is suffering. Old age is suffering. Facing death is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-84218513532216621162011-06-26T21:11:00.004+05:302011-06-26T21:58:48.781+05:30Every Step...This is a really short post.I came across this verse today, and it just overpowered my restless mind(?) and lazy body(!). Every breath you take is a breath closer to death.Every step you take is a step closer to death. Its not meant to be life-negating or pessimistic. On the contrary, it is life-affirming in the truest sense.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-74574818017157866062011-01-09T11:37:00.001+05:302011-01-09T11:37:00.952+05:30What is the truth? What to Believe? Kalama Sutta    References: 1. Four Translations of the Kalama Sutta http://oaks.nvg.org/kalama.html 2. Kalama Sutta - The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-29840603013836638162011-01-01T00:13:00.001+05:302011-01-01T00:13:46.091+05:30The Mindful way – Ajahn Chah  I came across a nice documentary about the Thai forest tradition of monasteries, based on one led by Ajahn Chah. http://www.watnongpahpong.org/videomfw.php The video link is given above, it is hosted by the website of Wat Pah Nanachat (WPN) Wat Pah Nanachat is a Buddhist monastery in Northeast Thailand, in the Theravada Forest Tradition. It was established by Venerable Ajahn Chah Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-72693206110515614092010-11-27T22:47:00.001+05:302010-11-27T22:47:35.354+05:30Little Boxes "Little Boxes" is a song written by Malvina Reynolds in 1962, which became a hit for her friend Pete Seeger in 1963. The song is a political satire about the development of suburbia and associated conformist middle-class attitudes. It refers to suburban tract housing as "little boxes" of different colors "all made out of ticky-tacky", and which "all look Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-89666126744205980272010-11-26T21:51:00.002+05:302010-11-26T22:57:20.086+05:30Flipkart is great. I tried running around the city a couple to days ago to find a fairly common book, and to my misfortune i was unable to find the edition i wanted. So i decided to try flipkart.com the online book store service of India. And i have to say i am terribly impressed by their service. :) I ordered two books Yesterday (midnight) Morning at 1:30AM I received a Shipment confirmation of one of my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-9939547046056872452010-11-15T22:35:00.001+05:302010-11-15T22:35:35.370+05:30Columba AspexitHildegard of Bingen's sequence, 'Columba aspexit', is an interesting work both as music and as poetry. It is a Plainchant but Hildegard's musical genius did bring into it a almost heavenly melody. It is a personal favourite of mine. I tried searching for many versions on the web. and the best one i found was performed by Emma Kirkby on a for Christopher Page’s Gothic Voices production. The Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841373105331902437.post-38954526452188170792010-11-10T19:15:00.001+05:302010-11-10T19:15:49.878+05:30My favourite Hymn: Holy God we praise thy name…  Hymn: A derivative of the Latin hymnus, which comes from the Greek hymnos, derived from hydein, to sing. A Hymn is usually a Praise/Prayer to God which is sung. This is my favourite hymn.  Its a very moving to experience to hear a choir sing it. Since there isn't any proper choir version i could download on the net, I found a few choir videos on YouTube. I was going through one of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1