Articles

they always know best, and then try changing you

so then beware upon those judges whim to fix your fate

as though they can offer real security

then deceive you with their maturity.

Poems from the Edge of Time by Christopher Titmuss

Dear Friends,

A warm welcome to every one of our 7300 subscribers of the current issue of the Christopher e-News.

In the previous e-News, I mentioned I have divided the e-News into two sections.

The e-News has expanded in recent years to over 35 pages. The two sections will reduce the length of each news.

This edition of the e-News includes information about social media, blog updates, audio library, books and more.

To reduce length, the next e-News published next month will only contain my international teaching schedule for residential and zoom programmes.

THE PRECISION OF PALI LANGUAGE (language of the Buddha).

Past. Present. Future. Hope

Explore the subtle meaning to change your view of such concepts as past, present, future and hope.

The teachings make clear our view of what we view matters as much the viewed including past, present or future.

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

We can refer to these three concepts of time as if each category had its own existence.

Pali shows nuances in the original meaning

Scholars translate:

• Pali word for atita as past

• Pali for paccuppanna as present

• Pali agata as future.

There is an active tone to the Pali rather than something fixed. The Pali invites inquiry into conditions.

A precise translation of the three Pali words

• That which did arrive or did arose

• That which has arrived or is arising

• That which has not arrived or will arise.

HOPE

Western culture regularly uses the language of hope.

The English dictionary definition says hope means to cherish a desire with anticipation.

Western Buddhists will claim the Pali word apekkha means hope.

The Pali-English Dictionary of the Pali Text Society does not translate apekkha as hope.

The Pali Dictionary states apekkha means expectation/waiting for/longing for.

The Pali does not put a positive desire on might or will arise, as in the word hope.

The stronger your positive desire for a future arising the stronger the disappointment if your cherished anticipation does not bear fruit.

A monk, Desaka said to a gravely ill monk. “We hope you are bearing up. We hope you are getting better. We hope that your painful feelings are subsiding.”

Khemak responded, “I am not bearing up I am not getting better, Strong, painful feelings are increasing.

Desaka dropped saying again his positive desire to the monk to bear up and get better.

Instead he asked him a question. Are you clinging to body, feelings and perceptions?!

Khemak responsed: “I do not regard any of these experiences as belonging to myself. I do not regard any of this as This I Am.”

The monks delighted in his words.

ANOTHER PALI TERM

The Pali terms nappatikankhe anagatam gets translated as ‘on the future build his hopes.’

A literal translation: Being certain about what has not yet come.

Both apekkha and nappatikankhe anagatam encourage us to take care in the ways we think and talk about the future.

Our view influences what arose, is arising, not arrived or will arise – sometimes far more than we realise. The view reveals an activity and so does the viewed.

A SELECTION OF BLOGS BETWEEN LATE MARCH AND EARLY JUNE 2002

I have three Facebook Pages

1. Christopher Titmuss.

Link to Christopher Titmuss Facebook Page

3.4K Facebook friends. Many Friends have connection with Buddhist practices, Meditation, Mindfulness, Vipassana, Yoga, Advaita and more. There are also plenty of Friends, who give priority to outer change – social/political/enviromental/global issues. Others have a thoughtful interest in topics touched upon on the Facebook page.

2. Christopher Titmuss Public Figure Page

Link to Christopher Titmuss Public Figure Page

5.6K Followers.

I recently started to reuse this Facebook page after an absence since last year.

I often place a link from an item on the blog on the above Facebook pages. Some people post a Comment on the Facebook Friends or Facebook Followers page or put a comment on the blog.

3. Christopher Titmuss Teachings

Link to Christopher Titmuss Teachings Group

Around 760 Members. You need to send a request to join.

This Facebook Page started in July 2022.

I post a question weekly. Members can respond in the Comment section.

I collate many responses so Members can read through. I then add in the post a response from myself after the Comments.

HERE ARE THE WEEKLY QUESTIONS from late July to early September

• Who am I?
• Four Kinds of Action: 1. Skilful Action. 2. Unskilful Action. 3. Neutral Action. 4…?
• Is insecurity related to the desire to control and/or other factors?
• What are the benefits and limits of stepping into the unknown?
• Is building up self-esteem an exercise in futility?
• Is tiredness a state of mind dependent on the view of it?
• What is the difference between compassion and pity?
• What is the difference between need and greed?