Fire Alarms, Art and the Wheel of Life

It's my fourth trip up to London for my course 'First Steps in Buddhist Practice'.   I haven't writen about my last three visits as I have been up to my neck in being a Parish Councillor, more of that some other time.  Today I have a break!  Phyllis the Bike and I head off to the station and as ever I feel uplifted as I cruise down the hill. Climbing up it seems easier as a result of the course too.  The sight of me at the station provokes a heated discussion between the Brexiteer and the Remainer.  I am left speechless by the comment 'If we don't get out I am never voting again'  
I emerge at Paddington to a brighter than expected day and decide to walk to the Royal Academy of Arts to meet my Art Historian. 
I'm feeling like a hot drink to have on the go and am delighted to encounter a new cafe just inside Lancaster Gate.   Italian Gardens Cafe provided a very affordable decaff cappuccino; regrettably I am not carrying my portable cup.  Libdems would introduce a 20p tax on disposable cups.  How brilliant is that? 

I arrive at the RA, having taking a few wrong turns just in time to meet the AH leaving to meet me.  Check out her new shoes.

Lunch is at Zedel, https://www.brasseriezedel.com/
We have been here before and have found the atmosphere to be peaceful, the service brilliant and the food really good.  The price is suprisingly reasonable and the ambience seems intially rather OTT but actually it is authentic and fun.  Parisienne! 

We have just finished our meals, omlette for her and goat's cheese salad for me when the fire alram goes off.  We are evacuated.  The History Girl needs to leave but I investigate how to pay and am given the card of a grateful manager, Ben.  

It is back to the RA and the Exhibition 'Intrigue' which features the work of James Ensor and is curated by Luc Tuymans.  https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/james-ensor-luc-tuymans.  I am impressed with the varied and rebellious work of this little known late 19th/early 20th century genius. 

The above reminds me of my medical schol days!  The painting below of the Nordic painter Hammershoi of the same era

After tea at the ICA cafe, Pall Mall, I head to my course at The Buddhist Society near Victoria Station.  The area is a confusing maze in the dark of the November rush hour.  But I have plenty of time and stay in the human realm without descending to hell!

 

On arrival I ask my question.  'It's nice being mindful, skillful,  but don't we need some thoughts to plan our lives, get here today etc?'  I am told, of course, there is no problem with thinking but it's about moderation, you don't go fishing with a hammer.  So said a famous master.  Today we look at the wheel of life. Affective states of consciousness or realms. We can be in any of the six.  I realise I am often a 'hungry ghost' ie in the craving realm, but some times I am human, sometimes animal. I am rarely in heaven, hell or fighting demons. Thee realms are great metaphors and I can work with them.  

I have learned some resilence on the course and head for the Lion Quiz on arrival back in town.  J suggests it was not my role to seek out the manager at the brasserie.  I identify my guilt as being in hungry ghost territory. !!   I like to think that supplying the word pathogen makes me instrumental in our win by 0.5 points but I think it was really down to J kicking off the last round with Michael Palin. 

Home up the hill in the human zone by being mindful. A great day.

Facts and Truth in the Post Truth era

'NOW, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children. Stick to Facts, sir!' The scene was a plain, bare, monotonous vault of a school-room, and the speaker's square forefinger emphasized his observations by underscoring every sentence with a line on the schoolmaster's sleeve.  This is the beginning of Hard Times by Charles Dickens.  It was read today in the service at Harris Manchester Chapel for the Oxford Unitarians of which I am a member.  We have no creed and people of all faiths or none are welcome.  It's a chance to take time out to consider our spirituality.  There was also a reading from Embers by Sandor Marai.  This is a more complex work which tells us there is something fundamentally unknowable about people, about the essential truth of who they are. For their intentions are often hidden or unclear or uncertain.  The address was very interesting, especially in our current era. It was given by Alan Ruston, Vice-President of the Unitarian Historical Society. What I can conclude from it is as follows.   A fact is a consequence of intentions.  The truth in the intentions is wider and harder to define. ( I immediately think of the Archers.  Helen stabbed Rob but the truth is she was not guilty of wounding.  People voted to leave the EU but their individual truths were complex. Did they really want what they voted for? They were lied to as well; more later.)   Alan continued by saying that religions present fixed and unchanging truths.  The Enlightenment of the 18th century challenged this and looked for a universal truth.  But everything comes from our senses (Now we are on Buddhist territory.)  All truth is contextual and context is inescapable. We are bounded by culture, gender and partial interpretations.  In the post modern world there is no certainty and no ultimate truth.  Liberal religion calls us to strength without rigidity, conviction without ideology, openess without laziness.  We must pay attention with our eyes open wide.  Faith is without certainty.  We must have our own truths and not hanker after universal truths.   I conclude by thinking untruths or lies are simpler and easier to understand.  Usually.  And they are immoral.

Visitors from Northern Scotland

They arrived last night via Gatwick Airport and GWR.  Unimpressed with both!  They slept soundly, and were given a hearty breakfast followed by elevenses, at the Crown and Garter, Inkpen.  

Next to the Swan for a pre lunch half for some. 

The Leek and Potato soup at the John O Gaunt, Hungerford was absolutely delicious.

Next I am concerned by the state of the Phoenix Roman Mosaic at Littlecote House, a private hotel near Hungerford.  Why no glass cover, why so much pigeon poo?  Read about the house which is now a hotel and the Roman villa here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littlecote_House

I will contact the Warner Chain about conservation issues.  

Next to the Wonderful Ramsbury brewery.  Clean, tidy and welcoming.  Darren has plenty of time for us even though we arrive at closing time.  The Ramsbury Brewery is on the Ramsbury estate.  

http://www.ramsbury.com/

Then it's home in the dark for Pasta and Spinach.