Magpie caw morning

In this magpie caw morning, just before dawn's early light, I await the distant land gulls.

Yesterday, staying in the now, I walked the 20 minutes to the Colchester Buddhist Centre, fascinated by Winter sun, shadows of trees, branches stretching into the sky's blue, still green grass, textures on doors, walls, brickwork.

It was the third of six weeks, I didn't want to miss any time despite a morning with disconcerting dizziness, courtesy of either hypertension or blood sugar levels, maybe both. Seventy is a dangerous age (Cynthia).

That morning we were introduced to a whole host of Buddhas. Yes there are more than one. Usually we might concern ourselves with Gautama Buddha often called Siddhartha (he who has found meaning), but I am told that there maybe at least 28 Buddhas including Taṇhaṅkara Buddha, Medhaṅkara Buddha, Saraṇkara Buddha, Dīpankara Buddha, Koṇdañña Buddha, Maṅgala Buddha, Sumana Buddha, Revata Buddha, Sobhita Buddha, Anomadassi Buddha, Paduma Buddha, Nārada Buddha, Padumuttara Buddha, Sumedha Buddha, Sujāta Buddha, Piyadassi Buddha, Atthadassi Buddha, Dhammadassī Buddha, Siddhattha Buddha, Tissa Buddha, Phussa Buddha, Vipassī Buddha, Sikhī Buddha, Vessabhū Buddha, Kakusandha Buddha, Koṇāgamana Buddha, Kassapa Buddha, and ending with Gautama Buddha.

In Malaysia, I'd be in car, stopping at traffic lights, noticing the word Amitabha on a car sticker normally 'I  Amitabha'. I knew that it must mean something religious, but I had no idea what, or the phrase's significance.

Amitābha, (Sanskrit: “Infinite Light”) is also called Amitayus (“Infinite Life”), Japanese Amida, Chinese Emituo Fo, in Mahayana Buddhism, and particularly in the so-called Pure Land sects, it refers to the great saviour buddha or the Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life. Or so I am told.

Amitabha Mantra
This mantra means “To overcome all hindrances and obstacles.” It is said to protect the chanter from harm and help them to overcome obstacles standing in the way of Enlightenment. One’s loving, compassionate nature is enhanced, and many blessings await those who chant this mantra. Om Ami Dewa Hrih Om: I invoke the Universal sound Ami: Infinite, limitless light Dewa: Deity, Buddha nature Hrih: With conscientiousness and self-respect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSMyHcI0aAg

The land gulls are here. My candle's flame is no longer the only light.