Features

6am: wake, wash, meditate

In between settling into a new home, working and daily life John makes time to practice Buddhism.  He doesn't wear robes, has a full head of hair and likes the odd beer, so is he really a Buddhist?

John spent 18 years living and working with other Buddhists from the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO). Now he's in Carlisle he says it's sometimes a challenge for him to be alone as a Buddhist and channel his thoughts in a certain way.

He continues a daily ritual which begins with writing down anything on his mind as soon as he wakes. Then he spends the next three hours in deep thought.

9am - 7pm: work, gym, meditate

John, who's Sanskrit name is Lalitavajra meaning playful determination, says meditation is something that helps him to stay calm in his sales and driving jobs, but his compassion towards other people is put to the test when he has to be on the road every day.

John fits his faith into his daily life

Not having an FWBO group in Carlisle doesn't deter John from meeting other Buddhists  in the area. In fact, John prefers to read stories from a mix of Buddhist writers with Japanese or Thai backgrounds.  But, eventually, John would like to introduce FWBO meditation classes of his own in Carlisle.

Buddism? It all began with a party...

John was 19 and travelling across the world when he first became interested in Buddhism. He was living and working in a Kibbutz in Israel which he described as one big party that lasted six months. Not really knowing what to do next, John read a book by Dogen, one of Buddhism's most important figures.

John's Buddhist name is Lalitavajra

Dogen's message had been written hundreds of years ago, but it was strong enough for John to dedicate the rest of his life to the religion. Now, he's one of around 1500 ordained members of the FWBO.