This blog post is about the book “Journey - Big Panda and Tiny Dragon” written by James Norbury

The book carries Buddhist aphorisms that helps us all to live better. The highlight of the book is the appealing visual conversational narrative between big panda and tiny dragon. The book traces their journey from one home(old ancient temple on a hill) to another home(another ancient temple on a different hill). Their conversations along the journey are the imbued with Zen principles.

Some of the aspects that come up in their journey are :

• We are all unhappy from time to time. The important thing is that you to notice and do something about it
• Problems should not stop us. They are simply nature’s way of letting us now that we need to explore a different path
• Change even if you don’t know where it will lead, is better than stagnation
• In some ways, the mind is much like a garden. It needs your care, attention and effort. Left to its own devices, it will soon become overrun with weeds. And where there are too many weeds, flowers cannot grow
• We cannot just sit here and hope the weeds will go away on their own. We must take action
• Our thoughts can lead us away from ourselves. When you are young, the task of gathering sticks probably took all your attention. When you are focused in that way, your mind tends not to wander and that creates a sense of inner stillness from which arise feelings of joy and peace
• Stillness is always there to be found. And int hat peace you may start to find yourself
• Fear will not stop you dying but it may stop you from living
• Great change will need great effort. If making the change was easy it probably won’t make very much difference
• The raft is a little like us; Where it’s been doesn’t have to determine where it’s going
• The past is like a story that tells us how we arrived where we are - but you can start writing a new story right now
• Even the greatest storm will pass
• Nothing is under our control, little one… not really. I just trust in life to take us where we need to be
• Simple things when seen with fresh eyes, can often bring the most happiness
• You see the way the water travels around the rock. The obstacle is there, but the water is flowing around it, taking the gentlest path to its destination
• What is the universe ? I like to think it’s our friend if we allow it to be
• The less I try to control the world, the freer I am watch it play out in all its untamed wonder
• We all have wisdom inside us, my little friend, but it’s a very quiet, gentle voice, so you might need to be very still to hear it
• I have been through a tough time and I feel like I have been damaged. But these little cracks are what let the light shine through

Takeaway

Depending on how slow you read this book, there are many aspects that you can reflect as you read along, situations that are similar to what have been faced by big panda and tiny dragon. The book has a calming effect on a restless mind and reminds us all about some of the ways to live our own lives in face of many internal and external changes.