China Execution

This is a shocking indictment of China's lack of compassion and disregard for life. Yes, China has a greater degree of material prosperity, for some, and a more sophisticated economic network of links with international trade organisations. But their modern demeanour masks an underlying willful arrogance that points to a dangerous and reactionary character, lacking any real concern for humanitarian principles.

China still has a severe and punitive mentality. No matter how modern and sophisticated China becomes, this fundamental quality of harshness will remain a stumbling block to improved internal and international relations. Read more and check out the link re Antonio Riva

Diet and Fitness on a Budget

How to Lose Weight Without Losing Money

Dec 27, 2009 Alister Gillies

Would you like to get fit and healthy following Christmas over indulgence, but don't want to exceed your budget? Do you want to make fitness your New Year resolution?

Money might be as tight as your waistband just after Christmas, but it doesn’t have to stop you from fulfilling your New Year promise to yourself. It’s easy to get fitter without breaking the bank. You can eat well, exercise and save money all at the same time. Just follow these few weight loss tips for a trimmer shape and budget. Read More

Mortal Games - by Alister Gillies

Part of my upbringing was spent  on a remote Hebridean island.

Every year, in late spring or early summer, our Croft would be subject to a noisy hoard of 'strangers' who would shoot anything that rose up from the ground.

Apparently the Estate was owned by a conglomerate of Dutch or Arabs - don't recall which - and they had 'shooting rights'.

Shooters would arrive unannounced, spread out in a long skirmish line, then proceed to dispatch anything that flew up in front of them. When the massacre was over they would leave, driving off in several vehicles.

My grandfather would observe all this without comment, all the while puffing on his pipe. Then he would spit and get on with his work. As a child I felt outraged. Who...? What...? Shower of...!!! This is a poem inspired by that event.

Mortal Games

Here they come again
It's that time of year:
Those latter-day young aristocrats
In fashionable sporting gear.

Pealing laughter and frequent kills
Echo through the air
As they trample the scrub,
Scaring out gamey quail or snipe -
Trophies to boast of at the local pub.

When at last the killing is over,
Off to the local
In large range rover,
To brag to each of hunting skill,
And what a life it is to kill.

And left behind
On the killing ground
A littering of dead lapwing,
Lark and starling;
But those chaps are happy now,
Having bagged a brace or two
To show to darling.

Hara - The Vital Centre of Man

This is a difficult book to get to grips with, but well worth the effort. Read More

Swine Flu - The Profits of Doom

All over the world governments have used taxpayer's money to buy a drug that (a) has proved ineffective in tests (b) is useless against a virus that continually mutates (c) develops resistance within the body to other anti-virus drugs (d) has reported undesirable side effects (e) targeted at a non-existent Pandemic (f) has done little more than generate massive profits for pharmaceutical companies - some of which have politicians serving as board members - at a time when other sectors are recession struck.

In the UK, for example, you can get a vaccination shot costing the NHS £6 a hit. The cost of production for the drug company £1. Do the arithmetic. The first reported death of someone who had been vaccinated was just a few days ago, in Korea.

We had the same nonsense with Bird Flu, but it seems that we're powerless to do anything about it. The message that we are getting from the government, health services, and the media is that 'if you don't take this you could die' - who wants to take that risk?

In reality we are more likely to die from falling out of bed, and there is no vaccine for that eventuality! Read More

Reason for Life

What is wrong with attachment? It’s not possible to live without love, affection, relationships and a whole gamut of needs and desires. It is precisely the satisfaction of these needs and desires that provides the motivation to live a full and happy existence. Read More

Swine Flu - A Global Community Issue

The history of Swine Flu can be traced from 1918 to the present. Although we have more sophisticated means of investigation at our disposal, our reactions are still quite primitive – fight or flight – and not necessarily aided by increased scientific understanding. For some, this information goes completely over their heads, while for others – including those with specialised knowledge – the potential for harm is incalculably lethal. This understandably generates fear. Just how vulnerable are we? Read More

Home Going - by Alister Gillies

As the summer's evening sun
Seeps beneath the western margin,
Casting amber shades skywards
From the burnished sea,
A corncrake cracks hoarse cries,
Racking silence
Until melting into evening sky.

Occasionally on such evenings,
Heedless of time
And homeward heading,
A solitary car plunges sight into darkness;
And in its wake,
Leaden clouds of stale exhaust.

Tourists, too,
Will often pause
To politely enquire the right road,
Adding in plaintive tones
Condemnation of early rain.
As if the weather was a failing
Of fabled highland hospitality.

Calling Card

Keichu, the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era, was the head of Tofuku, a cathedral in Kyoto. One day the governor of Kyoto called upon him for the first time.

His attendant presented the card of the governor, which read: Kitagaki, Governor of Kyoto.

"I have no business with such a fellow," said Keichu to his attendant. "Tell him to get out of here."The attendant carried the card back with apologies. "That was my error," said the governor, and with a pencil he scratched out the words Governor of Kyoto. "Ask your teacher again."

"Oh, is that Kitagaki?" exclaimed the teacher when he saw the card. "I want to see that fellow."

Buddhist Joke 3

Q. Why did the Buddhist refuse to fill in the job application?

A. Because Form is Emptiness and Emptiness is Form.

Buddhist Joke 2

Q. How many Buddhists does it take to change a light bulb?

A. Three -- one to change it, one to not-change it and one to both change and not-change it.

On Writing Poetry

I have never written poetry on a full time basis, and I can only describe my versification as an eratic pastime at best. Although some might say neurotic best describes the poetic sensibility, I would have to disagree - there are many more non-poetic neurotics than poeticising neurotics.

There are even poets who poeticise neurosis. William Empson, one of my favourite poets, wrote very few poems in his lifetime - pehaps this is why I admire him so much. It's remarkably easy to go on and on. Somehow the idea of being a serious poet seems intrinsically absurd. I'm not sure why, and I'm sure I don't really want to know why, short of undergoing protracted psychoanalysis. Who knows what might be unearthed, and I could end up taking myself very seriously indeed.

Haiku is a very interesting form, but can be pretentious if not handled properly. By properly I mean with delicacy. The Japanese have a strong leaning towards nostalgia - I think it could be down to the clash between two different ethical systems, Confucianism and Buddhism. While the former lends itself to a productive and useful social life, the other is more retiring. The Japanese are so busy, that they miss a lot in their haste to satisfy social and group obligations.

When they drink they get maudlin over things that have gone and 'will never come again'. Then it's back on the bus and back to work! To avoid being oppressively nostalgic, Haiku limits the number of syllables you can use, and forces the Haikuist to be very crafty and creative. It is, when successful, a beautiful form. On grieving:

In the morning mist,

the call of a pheasant.

How I miss my parents!

As you may gather I am inclined towards minimalism in poetry - and not just as a justification for my own lack of poetic productivity - it just stikes a chord with my own disposition, which is inclined to laziness and reflection following periods of productivity. Is there an ideal balance? I'll let you know when I find out! After all, as the great Lao Tsu - or someone - said:

When studying the Way, everything accumulates. When carrying out the Way,
everything reduces.

A tutor of mine, when I told her that I had stopped writing poetry, commented happily:

"Yes, more people should."

Bless you Dorothy, I'm at it again.

On The Beach - by Alister Gillies

A rising beach to rushing tide
sliding down to greet each glide,
each grain of me begins to dance
and interjingle with each stirring
foam-flecked surge of you, until
in sweet confusion land and sea
bubbles with laughter to construe,
as full of me as I am of you.

Buddhist Joke

Q. What did the Buddhist say to the Hot Dog Vendor?

A. Make me one with everything

Intimacy - By Alister Gillies

Like the underside of new mown hay
with just a hint of Chardonnay,
swelling like ripened melon,
an opening purse of molten pearls
spilling its liquid heat in a wet caress,
welcoming the strength of silken insinuation
slipping in as easy as expelling breath,
and out like news of sudden death.

Open Your Own Treasure House

Daiju visited the master Baso in China.
Baso asked: "What do you seek?"
"Enlightenment," replied Daiju.
"You have your own treasure house.
Why do you search outside?" Baso asked.
Daiju inquired: "Where is my treasure house?"
Baso answered: "What you are asking is your treasure house."
Daiju was delighted!
Ever after he urged his friends:
"Open your own treasure house and use those treasures."

Departures - A Beautiful Film

This is a profoundly moving film, and one that will make even the hardest of souls reach for the tissues. It has just come out in the UK. Please read this review: http://foreignfilms.suite101.com/article.cfm/departures_exploring_loss_and_transformation

I know I am not a great reviewer of film - this is my first ever - but I felt moved to write about it. It is an important film with an important message. We really need to be much nicer to each other. Life is short. Take some time out today and be nice to someone. Try and have a charitable thought for someone you really dislike.... I know, it's hard. If it was easy we'd all be doing it!

Constructive Dismissal

This is something that I feel people should be aware of - you know fools rush in where angels....

It's one of those 'dammned if you do and dammned if you don't' dammned situations. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.

Our employment laws are still Victorian in many respects. Why is it that Britain, with its rich heritage and history, is so slow to modernise its employment laws - don't employers understand that you get better results from people that feel valued?

The Public Sector is the biggest culprit when it comes to spending huge sums of public money fighting cases of constructive dismissal, then offering settlements at the 11th hour when they realise that they can lose. Read More