Tag: chanting

Day 2

'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing 2026

I decided this year to make a white chocolate Christmas cake instead of a traditional fruit one, that I’ve made in previous years.

I’m glad that I did as it turned out very well, with a fruit compote filling and icing that included cream and ground almonds – delicious😋. I had some for my breakfast this morning, as I did on Christmas Day.

Lydia enjoyed her usual breakfast ball after our walk and I did a bit of tidying up in the lounge before heading out to visit a friend who now lives in a care home.

I had a bit of a chat with my friend and a couple of the other residents who were in the lounge with her, staying for about an hour before heading for home.

Our lounge is now looking a lot clearer, with Trev having done a tip run the other day and I had a good run round with the vacuum cleaner.

As I write, Lydia is crunching her way through a raw lamb rib – quite a chunky one – and I can relax as Trev’s cooking the tea tonight.

Although I’m still a bit tired, I feel that I’ve had quite a constructive day, which has included some meditation and also some chanting of prayers. The prayers do, I think, help a lot, and I find them very beautiful.

Day 16 – Praying

'A Poetic Potter & A Potting Poet'Leave a comment

Writing into Life

After each meditation at the Buddhist class that I go to in Pontefract, or the Centre that I go to in Pocklington, we are invited to listen to or participate in the chanting of ‘The Liberating Prayer’[1].

I choose to chant and I love the words of this prayer.  I also often say it to myself at other times, when I wake, for example, or when I feel a sense of anxiety surging. Saying the prayer, combined with practicing some breathing meditation, takes me into a better place mentally.

 

 

 

[1] Composed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche and recited at Kadampa Buddhist Centres throughout the world.