Findhorn Flower Essences Summer 2014


other words, a saint). The Dalai Lama considered Mother Theresa and Jesus to be bodhisattvas, so bodhisattvas are not necessarily Buddhists.


There are two levels in the development of bodhicitta; aspirational – which is the aspiration to overcome our emotional afflictions and delusions and to realise our full potential in order to help other beings, and engaged bodhicitta – which is engaging in the practices and behaviours that bring about this goal. The difference between the two is similar to the difference between wanting to achieve something and actively engaging in achieving it. Aspiration arises from within us and requires action on our part. (www.viewonbuddhism.org)


* Comment 2 Just prior to Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, Mara, the tempter, attacked him. Buddhism utilises the concept of Mara to represent and personify negative qualities found in the human ego and psyche such as unskilful emotions, unwholesome impulses, cravings and seduction. The psychological forces of Mara are seen as distracting humans from practicing the spiritual life by making mundane things alluring, or the negative seem positive. (wikipedia.org)


Bereavement


I recently attended the funeral of my partner’s mum. It was one of the nicest funerals I have ever been to. Mavis had left everything ready for her passing, (at the age of 88), in such good order, so that her two sons didn’t have to second-­‐guess anything.


She let them know what hymns and readings she wanted, what kind of coffin, (a beautiful willow one, which was great because I just happen to have a friend who makes them), which church, which minister and who to use for the funeral services. She carefully recorded her wishes as to who was to receive items of furniture and jewellery, why she wished them to have them and where these items had originally come from, to give a sense of their history.


Apart from the actual organising of these things, which was very graceful thanks to Mavis’s forethought and love for her sons, there was little else for us to do.


Without the worry of wondering if we’d made the right choices, this left a wonderful space for the wider family to come together and share our thoughts and emotions as we celebrated her life and really acknowledged how she had touched our lives and those of the people who joined us that day – and there were lots of people – the church was packed! There were even 40 comments on facebook from past pupils that she had taught over the years as a swimming instructor!


This brought me to a place of reflection about my own life. About how much I love my children; how important family is, and good friends and colleagues, and to


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