I had a real treat this weekend when a friend of mine took me to her health club & spa in central London. I have an afternoon of swimming, soaking in the jacuzzi, the steam room and a dry sauna that left me feeling utterly relaxed and refreshed.
The chain of health clubs has a very nice atmosphere. Staff is friendly, there is a coffee shop area where you can have tea and coffee for free, watch TV and read the papers after your exercise and spa experience. The changing rooms are spacious and there are plants everywhere. All the clients are friendly and chatty. It is easy to become friends with people there. Perhaps the friendly atmsphere of the place itself attracts certain kind of people, or perhaps people are influenced by the atmosphere and are willing to socialise once at the club....
Definitely worth exploring if you are in London and looking for some relaxation. The prices are cheap-ish too for what you get. Find out more on their website:
I recently participated in a Buddhist puja ritual. I have been intrigued by the religion, or rather their philosophy to life, for many years and studied it extensively. I have been practicing meditation and attending talks and events about Buddhism, but never before participated in their ritual.
I found the experience cleansing and invigorating. One does not need to do anything than simply sit and watch as the ritual unfold, equally one can join in the chanting, prayers, giving offerings and reciting of mantras. What I found most empowering about this ritual is that it essentially acknowledges that we all have the Buddha nature in us and can aspire to be the best we can during this lifetime.
In essence, the ritual encourages everyone to aspire to be the kindest, humblest and loving people that we can. It reminds all of us of our true nature and how we can return to our natural state of being.
Here are the mantras that were recited during the ritual:
‘We reverence the Buddha, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Shower of the Way.
We reverence the Dharma, the Teaching of the Buddha, which leads from darkness to Light.
We reverence the Sangha, the fellowship of the Buddha’s disciplines, that inspires and guides us.’
We reverence the Buddha, and aspire to follow Him.
The Buddha was born, as we are born.
What the Buddha overcame, we too can overcome;
What the Buddha attained, we too can attain.
We reverence the Dhrama, and aspire to follow it,
With body, speech and mind, until the end.
The Truth in all its aspects, the Path in all its stages,
We aspire to study, practice, realise.
We reverence the Sangha, and aspire to follow it;
The fellowship of those who treat the Way.
As, one by one, we make our commitment,
An ever-widening circle, the Sangha grows.’
‘Reverencing the Buddha, we offer flowers-
Flowers that today are fresh and sweetly blooming,
Flowers that tomorrow are faded and fallen.
Our bodies too, like flowers, will pass away.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer candles.
To Him, who is the Light, we offer light.
From His greater lamp a lesser lamp we light within us:
The lamp of Bodhi shining within our hearts.
Revernecing the Buddha, we offer incense,
Incense whose fragrance pervades the air.
The fragrance of the perfect life, sweeter than incense,
Spreads in all directions throughout the world.’
By VEN.SANGHARAKSHITA
The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green (East London) is a museum for what its name implies...childhood. It is a special museum that forms a part of the V&A museum located in South Kensington. It holds a permanent collection of toys, books, games and other objects from the past four centuries. It is an interesting place for seeing the evolution of children’s stuff form the 16 century to modern day. One can get lost in reminiscing one’s childhood and in seeing the characters and stories from one’s early life. It is an intriguing and nostalgic place for adults to visit, and an exciting place for children to explore.
The museum also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions that are changed every couple of months. At the moment, there are several interesting exhibitions worth visiting:
* Finally, in the corridor leading from the temporary exhibition to the permanent collections, ‘The Imagination of Children‘ presents pencil drawings of children when they are lost in their imagination with their eyes closed. The pictures depict the active imagination of children effectively and highlight the importance of it in childhood.... as well as the fact how adults often lose their ability to imagine as they grow older.
The exhibitions make the visitor reflect on how our lives are like stories that we are the lead characters in and can control. It hist the essence of life in the words from Shakespear’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ - ‘It’s all but a dream’. So dream on and dream a dream that you want to dream. Go and remind of yourself of your dreams in this exhibition!
www.vam.ac.uk/moc
During my recent trip to Uganda, I had a chance to spend a couple of days at a beautiful lodge located on the hills of Kampala. The lodge is in tranquil surroundings with a splendid swimming pool and gardens around it. The rooms are spacious and there are not too many of them, which helps the lodge to maintain its intimate character. It is also well resourced, ranging from a business centre where clients can use internet to a restaurant & bar that serves local delicacies but also more western style foods.
Anyone in Kampala should definitely check the lodge out - even if you don’t need a place to stay, you are welcome to go and use the pool or eat at the restaurant and admire the beautiful view over Lake Victoria.
http://www.cassialodge.com/home.html
