Blog
Summertime Newsletter 2020
Dear Friends
Welcome to Summer.
Summer is a special season for us here in the Southern Hemisphere, as it is a season that transcends the Old and the New Year.
We begin the year with Summer, and we end the year with Summer.
As an out-door loving nation and culture, we move through the year and into the long warm days of Summer which take us out into the outdoors and nature for our end of year and New Year Holiday Season.
This year, ...
Read More
Read More
MINDFULNESS BRINGS
Dear Friends
Small things, seen, felt, known and practiced can make a huge difference in our self, in others, in our life and in our world.
Mindfulness, this quality of attentive awareness and knowing, is one such thing.
Mindfulness practiced both in Meditation and daily life, can bring us to what the Buddha spoke about as the Ultimate Happiness – Nibbana.
Mindfulness is the practice and path from stress and suffering to our ultimate ease and satisfaction.
Please find some inspiration in my collection...
Read More
Read More
SIMPLY KNOWING
Dear Friends
Our life can appear incredibly complex and confusing at times; often more of the time than less of the time!
Much of this relates to how we conceive, perceive and then receive our ongoing experience.
If we bring attention back to our fundamental sensory experience without the ongoing mental comment, commentary, critique, concern and complaint; we may find a Simple Peace from Simply Knowing! Here lies the insight into the Reality and Truth of existence beyond the mentalising and stressing...
Read More
Read More
MIND ALIGNED
Dear Friends
Sometimes a few words can go a long way in motivating us to maintain our Mindfulness and Meditation Practice.
We all need inspiration and encouragement at times, especially when we might be missing our usual support group and network that we would otherwise meet up with on a regular basis.
The challenging times of COVID-19 remind us to stay connected and close to what is most important and not be attracted and distracted into ways that take us off in...
Read More
Read More
I FOLLOWED FORWARD
Dear Friends
This weekend just passed with the full moon of October, marked the ending of the Vassa (Rains) Retreat.
The three months Retreat period from the full moon of July to the full moon of October, has been a time of special practice designated by the Buddha, for over 2,500 years ago.
Each year Buddhist Monastics and lay practitioners make use of this special period, to enhance their practice of Mindfulness, Meditation and Insight Wisdom.
For myself and a group of people,...
Read More
Read More
Springtime Newsletter 2020
Dear Friends
FIND A FOREST
We have arrived in Spring, a most wonderful season of the year that resonates and expresses so much of nature.
While the issues of men, women and humankind can be confusing and distressing; nature can express something perennial in its own cycles and seasons of ebb and flow.
This last season of Winter has been challenging for many, particularly psycho-emotionally in wintering through change and uncertainty.
However, Spring offers forth the blossoms and blessings of hope in the fruition...
Read More
Read More
ATTENDING TO ATTENTIVENESS
Dear Friends
Sadly, much of our direct and correct experience of life is missed due to our lack of Mindful Attention. Not only do we miss out on what is happening always and only now, but we also miss out seeing the truth of things through the cause-effect relationship particularly with regards to the mental making of the sense of self. The mind’s continual mental comments and self -commentary of critique, concern and complaint; creates the illusion of a self-somebody...
Read More
Read More
Mid-Winter E- News Letter
Dear Friends
Trusting this message finds you well and warm at this time of Mid-Winter.
Our Year 2020 is certainly passing by as we now find ourselves in August.
Because of the COVID-19 situation, it is very easy to feel that our year has not quite happened or been put on hold or held back!
At a certain level with regards to activities and events this is the case; however from another perspective, our year is still happening.
Our moments keep passing, turning into...
Read More
Read More
STILLNESS, SILENCE AND SPACIOUSNESS – THE THREE ‘NON-THINGS’
Dear Friends
All that is thought, sensed and savoured is only possible because of what I refer to as the Three Non-Things!
These three ‘Non-Things’ surround, support and allow us to discern distinguish and know all that we experience.
The three ‘Non-Things’ are Stillness, Silence and Spaciousness.
We can only know Movement because of Stillness.
We only hear Sound because of Silence.
We only recognise Objects because of Spaciousness.
This is not just the case for all things physical and external to us but also things...
Read More
Read More
EQUANIMITY IS THE WAY
Dear Friends
Of all the qualities and traits that can help us through the highs, lows and plateaus of life, Equanimity is superbly supreme!
Equanimity is the alliance of Compassion and Wisdom, forming a balanced approach of Wise-Kindness, so helpful in dealing with challenge and change, with disappointment and distress.
In the Buddha’s Teachings, Equanimity is appreciated and practiced as one of the ‘Four Spiritual Abiding’s; one of the ‘Seven Factors of Awakening’ and one of the ‘Ten Spiritual Virtues’.
Equanimity is a...
Read More
Read More