Author Archives: John Barter
Spring Newsletter 2023
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Spring!
Yes, another Spring, yet always a new Spring, never quite like the last nor the same as the next!
Spring is only possible after a Winter, it is the natural and normal way of things. Certainly, Spring is a season much appreciated as a significant change from the season that was Winter, unlike Summer that tends to flow on from the warmth that is Spring.
Certainly, here in the Southern Hemisphere, Spring reminds us that we are beyond...
Read More
Read More
Winter Newsletter 2023
Dear Friends
Welcome to Winter 2023.
Whilst Winter comes around each year, and certainly we have had many of them, each Winter is unique and special! Hopefully we are a little more mindful, kind-ful and wise-ful as each Winter comes to our life.
This is because Winter can be a time of more inner Meditation and Contemplation, more introspection and reflection; as we spend more time at home and inside.
Certainly Nature, flora-fauna and fungi, are quieter during the Winter period. As we...
Read More
Read More
Autumn Newsletter 2023
Dear Friends
Welcome to Autumn 2023
Whilst we all love some Summers warmth and the end of the year with its holiday season; certainly Autumn is a wonderful season, appreciated by people and flora and fauna!
Whilst Autumn In Australia does not display the amazing Autumnal shades of colour that nature expresses in the Northern Hemisphere, it does still have its soft beauty and delight.
Autumn for us in Australia, is a season that designates getting on with the business of running our...
Read More
Read More
Welcome to the New Year 2023
Dear Friends
Welcome to our New Year 2023.
I do hope that this past year of 2022 has ended well for you and that the New Year has been engaged with openness, anticipation and joy.
For many it may feel like we are still breathing out the old year and letting it go, which certainly needs to happen before we can fully feel into, open-up to and breath in the New Year.
Sometimes the first month of the New Year can be a...
Read More
Read More
Summer Newsletter 2022
Dear Friends
SUMMER CAME TO OUR SHORE
Trusting that this note finds you well as we move towards the ending of this year.
Certainly with the arrival of Summer on December 1st here in the Southern Hemisphere,
we are reminded that our year is almost over.
Here, Summer connects one year with the next as we flow from December through to March when again Autumn begins.
The ending of yet another year in our life can be a good vantage point to pause and ponder,...
Read More
Read More
I LOOKED TO THE TREES
Dear Friends
I recently attended a gathering of the 24th Annual Big Scrub Rainforest Day at Rocky Creek Dam.
Together with Venerable Pannyavaro from Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery, we had been invited by Lismore Council to give a presentation to participants on Mindfulness and Coming to Our Senses in the Forest. We spoke about Mindfully Being in Nature, Letting Go of the Ways of the World, Finding a piece of Peace in Nature and the Therapeutic Value of Spending Time in...
Read More
Read More
OUR DAILY RECKONING
Dear Friends
One of the most precious things that we have is this very Life!
Given that, it becomes important, even imperative to live our life in the most conscious, mindful, wise and caring way we can.
Since our Life is but a matter of time; moments that become minutes, that become the hours of the day, that become the weeks, months, years, decades of our Life; it seems important to be considerate particularly in each day of our Life.
When I was...
Read More
Read More
A WAY TO WALK AND WANDER
Dear Friends
Mindfulness Meditation, in the context of Buddhist Practice (CITTA BHAVANA – Mind-Heart Development) is a practice purposed towards the development of Mental Calm, Clarity and Insight Wisdom; leading to the Minds Liberation – Freedom from stress and suffering.
Whilst Mindfulness Meditation is most appreciated and practiced in the sitting posture; it can if fact be practiced in all of the four main postures – Sitting, Walking, Standing and Lying down.
Whilst Winter may find us more inclined to sitting still...
Read More
Read More
Spring Newsletter 2022
Dear Friends
Welcome to Spring 2022.
Certainly, with the passing of minutes, hours, days, weeks and months, we find our selves’ in the
Season of Spring.
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, when Spring arrives it means that we are already two-thirds through the year, with just four months before our year ends!
Whilst all the Seasons of the year have their particular beauty, worth and wealth; Spring has a special
attraction for us all with the blossoming of Nature. As we appreciate our own fundamental...
Read More
Read More
TAKE A SEAT AT THE CENTRE OF YOUR LIFE
Dear Friends
At this time in the World, Buddhist Monastics – monk and nuns have taken up residence for the three month Vassa Retreat. This is the traditional Asian three month ‘Rainy Season’ or ‘Monsoon Season’ retreat that provides a special time to commit to staying in one place and spending time developing and deepening Meditation while also being more attentive to ongoing Mindfulness in daily life. It is also a time for study and learning of Wisdom Teachings for...
Read More
Read More