Category Archives: Message From John
A Message From John
Dear Friends in Meditation,
Trusting this note finds you well with the warming weather of Spring.
Our Vassa Retreat period for 2025 has now ended.
Of this period from the Full Moon of July to the Full Moon of October, a period of 3 months (12 weeks), we had four monthly Sunday Retreat Days, the last being Sunday 5th October.
I trust that this period of time for those that were part of our Vassa Retreat, found it a helpful period of time...
Read More
Read More
SPRING Newsletter 2025
Buddha head above handmade by John B. in school aged 15 years old.
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Spring 2025.
The season of Spring brings such a contrast from the cold days and long nights of Winter.
It is little wonder why most people and creatures do appreciate and celebrate the arrival of this wonderful season!
Whilst Spring is in many ways a call to our sensors to experience the world outside – especially through the changes in Nature both flora and fauna; it still...
Read More
Read More
Welcome to Winter 2025
Dear Friends in Meditation,
Whilst only a week into the calendar reconning of Winter, we certainly find that the days are cooler and the nights are colder.
Winter has its own special charm and its own particular challenges; there are those amongst us that do love and desire the coming of Winter and there are those that loath it and find it very disagreeable!
Yet to be sure, Winter is here for a while and we might as well enjoy the respite...
Read More
Read More
Happy New Year 2025
Arōgyā paramā lābhā
santuṭṭhi paramaṁ dhanaṁ
vissāsa paramā ñāthi
Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ sukhaṁ
A healthy mind is the greatest gain,
Contentment is the greatest wealth,
A trustworthy friend is the best of kin,
Unconditional Freedom is the highest bliss.
(The Buddha: Dhammapada verse 204)
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year – 2025!
Welcome to another year in our life where we have the opportunity to develop our Mindfulness, depth of Meditation and clarity of Insight, Wisdom and Compassion.
To be sure, the more mindful that we are, the more we have the ability to choose how we...
Read More
Read More
Summer Arrives!
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Summer!
The Season of Summer is special around the world.
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer brings a Mid-Year welcome relief from the grey clouded sky and stark cold that is Autumn and Winter.
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, Summer is the Season that connects the Old Year to the New Year. It is the reward of having got through the year and then venturing forth into the New Year with warmth and light.
As usual, I like to...
Read More
Read More
Vassa Retreat for 2024 – ends.
Dear Friends
The Eight-Fold Path,
Is the most honourable way.
The Four Noble Truths,
The most honourable utterance.
Freedom from craving,
The most honourable state.
And the all-seeing Buddha,
The most honourable being.
The Buddha: Dhammapada V. 273
Trusting this note finds you well as we move further into our season of Spring with the weather warming towards Summer.
As many of you will be well aware, we have now finished the Vassa Retreat for 2024!
This wonderful retreat period of 3 months (12 weeks) from the Full Moon of...
Read More
Read More
Welcome To Spring
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Spring!
Certainly a season of the year that many people look forward to, not to mention all the flora and fauna that express their beauty at this time of year.
The changes in the temperature, the different light that Spring brings in the sky compared to Winter and the sight and sounds of Nature are all expressive of this time of the year.
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, the arrival of Spring is a statement that our year is...
Read More
Read More
Vassa Retreat 2024
Dear Friends,
The Vassa Retreat period for 2024 began on Sunday 21st July.
Many of you have attended the Vassa Retreat Days that I have offered over the last few years, finding them most beneficial for developing and deepening our Meditation Practice.
The Vassa Retreat period from the Full Moon of July until the Full Moon of October – a period of 3 months (12 weeks) becomes a time to dedicate more care and attention to developing our Meditation Practice, our understanding of...
Read More
Read More
Welcome to Winter
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Winter 2024.
When Winter comes to us, it is a reminder that here in the Southern Hemisphere that the year is nearly half over! Certainly, Summer which ends and also starts the year can create a feeling of time moving fast, however Winter with its cool days and cold nights can cause us to feel time slowing down.
The passage and passing of time was recognized by myself with our last Meditation Retreat Day on Sunday 19th May. This...
Read More
Read More
Next Meditation Retreat Sunday 19th May 2024 & John’s Birthday
Dear Friends,
Trusting this note finds you well.
The last couple of months have been special at Ratanagiri – with the visits of Venerable Mettaji from Bodhinyana Monastery in Perth WA, and this month with Ajahn Tiradhammo visiting from Wat Buddha Dhamma near Sydney.
During the visit from these two Buddhist Monks – we received wonderful teachings and guidance which was both clarifying and inspirational, especially Ajahn Tiradhammo's insights from his new book ‘Beyond I – Making’.
Through the support of Brendon we...
Read More
Read More