Author Archives: John Barter
Spring Newsletter 2021
SPRING COMES
Dear Friends
The beginning of a new Season reminds us that time is passing.
This is particularly so for the Season of Spring, especially here in the Southern Hemisphere, reminding us that the year is now half over.
Spring is a beautiful Season with the warmth that it brings after the cold of Winter, and the great flush of colour and fragrance, calling us to our senses.
Spring is a hopeful Season, reminding us to connect with Nature and that which is...
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MEASURE MEANING AND MAKE
Dear Friends
Our life certainly can feel more worthwhile when it has meaning.
Difficult situations and difficult times can be more easily dealt with and got through if they have a particular worth and meaning to us.
Whether there is any implicit meaning in Life, in events in things certainly can be questioned.
However, for the most part we do know that we ourselves can give meaning and make meaning of things. As humans we are meaning making creatures and this fact does...
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TROUBLING TIMES
Dear Friends
We live in troubling times, but how frequently do we feel troubled?
Sometimes the ways of the World and the lessons of Life can be quite tiresome and troubling.
The Challenge here is to appreciate that while things can be troubling, we don’t necessarily need to become troubled!
Life is what we make it, for better or for worse and for the most part, Peace of Mind is an inside job!
This is the work of our ongoing Mindfulness and Daily Meditation...
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NEVER A MOMENT NOT HAPPENING
Dear Friends
We now find our selves Mid-Winter and Mid-Way through this year.
Whilst Winter might feel like a slow season to while our way through, it is still happening!
In fact there is never not a moment that is not happening!
Please stay well and warm and give some thought to my reflections below.
Kind Regards
John B.
NEVER A MOMENT NOT HAPPENING
There is never not a moment that is not happening.
These moments move into minutes and minutes move into hours.
These hours move into a...
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MAKE GOOD THIS DAY
Dear Friends
Trusting this note finds you well and warm as Winter makes her way into our lives and routines.
This week we are being reminded to not take certain freedoms potentials and possibilities for granted, as the COVID-19 Pandemic increases its presence here in Australia. This has resulted in again restrictions and limitations on where we can go, what we can do and how many people we can have in our home and work-place.
Having led and taught a Long Weekend...
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Winter Newsletter 2021
‘A healthy mind is the greatest gain.
Contentment is the greatest wealth.
A trust-worth friend is the best of kin.
Unconditional Freedom is the highest bliss.’
The Buddha: DHAMMAPADA, V.204
Dear Friends
As we move further into Winter, I trust this note finds you well and warm.
Winter in Australia and certainly in other countries has that special feel and mood of calming and quietening down – a going into ‘Retreat’!
Far from the warmth and vibrancy of Spring and Summer, Winter beckons us to spend more...
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WISDOM TEACHINGS ALWAYS FRESH AND ANEW
Dear Friends
This week finds us with the Full Moon on May, which is celebrated in the Buddhist Calendar as Vesakha Puja – the occasions of the Birth of the Buddha, his Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree and his Death or Final Passing. Because of the Buddhas great effort to realise complete spiritual freedom with the state of Full Awakening – Enlightenment, then his birth and death become meaningful.
The Buddhas legacy to us all is the Dhamma, a complete set...
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NO WHERE TO BE
Dear Friends
We have all come across the statement – ‘it is what it is!’
This is not just the case for things and events but also the whole thing and event that is Life and particularly our own Life! Yes, our Life is what it is!
However often we want, wish and even will it to be otherwise!
This is particularly the case when Life is difficult, disturbing, distressing and depressing.
Fundamentally Life can be stressful, due to the various ongoing issues and...
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THINGS THAT KEEP US RIGHT
Dear Friends
What inspires and motivates us to stay on the Right Path, the Way of Purity, Peace and Wisdom?
Much of the ways of the world can attract and distract us into ways that are the opposite of bringing the lasting Peace and Happiness that the Buddha spoke about.
It can be most helpful to ask ourselves this question and to remind and re-enforce what works for us to stay on track.
Certainly, wholesome qualities, virtues, words and actions can be a...
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SEEKING TRACTION FOR LASTING SATISFACATION
Dear Friends
Particular times of the year are dedicated to various pursuits, purposes or perspectives. Certain times or occasions are for the purpose of Spiritual Reflection and Practice.
This is so in all the worlds Spiritual / Religious Traditions.
‘Easter’ is one such time of the year, particularly with the coming of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. However, no matter what the Spiritual Tradition is or the occasion celebrated, we can all make use of such times for Wise Reflection of Wisdom...
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