22.5.62.

Dear Mrs Spencer,

                              the rosary is used by some Buddhists as an aid to recollection. For example, when reciting “om mani padme hum” will mask off each time it is repeated by touching a head. It is also used in counting the breathes. In itself it has no intrinsic value – but some people find it helps to concentrate by keeping the hands busy. The great thing to remember is that all these things are aids, to be used if found useful + put away when they are no longer needed.

I was re-reading Marco Pallis’ “Peaks + Lamas” (worth getting from the library). The first librarian he met impressed him because of his compassion which was completely detached, without emotion, indeed more intellectual in that it was based upon his views of the universe. I think sometimes we confuse non-attachment with indifference. So be non-attached is to be beyond any flavor of “liking or disliking”. Not so easy!

You’re on the way,

                     Martha Vaughen.