New Year Message
Dear Friends
Trusting this message finds you well and mindfully engaged into this New Year.
Certainly our Year 2017 is moving forward, we have moved beyond Australia Day – 26th January and have also now had Magha Puja – the full moon on 11th February this year, which marks the occasion that the Buddha gave a significant teaching. This Teaching of the Ovada Patimokkha – is an essence summary of teachings stating ‘Refrain from all that is unskillful, develop all that is skillful and purify ones mind – heart’. This teaching is both the foundation and whole practice path of living consciously, reducing stress and confusion and realising Ultimate Reality and Freedom.
This teaching is one that I continue to remind people to practice for developing Peace and Freedom.
If we engage such an approach and practice for our year – we are very likely to find that our life becomes less complicated, less confusing, less distressed and we experience more clarity, calm and contentment.
Whilst I have been slow to connect this year with a ‘Message from John’, I have been busy setting up and settling into my new – full time life on the Tweed Coast.
It is now 2 months since I moved WELL-AWARE-NSS from its base in Sydney, to my home base on the Tweed Coast.
The move went smoothly, very much due to the wonderful support and help from so many people that come to WELL-AWARE-NESS.
Over several days we had a great cleaning and packing party of Mindful Dhamma Helpers. These included:
Juanita, Tiffany, Phillip, Kylie, Stephen M., Andrew, Kirsty, Hannah, Bavara, Peter, Stephen B., Jane, Tony, Liza, Elizabeth, Catherine, Rebecca, Glenda (please excuse me if I have left anyone’s name off).
A very special thank you to Kerri – for her amazing help and support, care and attention to detail in organising everything.
The Land Lord of the premises was impressed with how clean and tidy the building was left.
My removalists, Mullumbimby Removals – did an excellent job, and Hanna received the contents of WELL-AWARE-NESS Sydney at our home the following day. It is amazing how easy it is to collect objects and books over the years, let alone the mental content of images, ideas and memories that we continue to take from place to place, situation to situation.
Certainly as my life develops on the Tweed Coast, I hold many wonderful memories and experiences of the rich friendships and support from people in Sydney, including clients, colleagues and meditation group participants.
As you are aware, the Thursday morning Meditation Group continues to function under the care of Stephen M., so feel free to contact him if you have not connected and wish to do so.
Some of my Sydney based clients continue to access me for Psychological Counselling through phone and Skype sessions, and I’m very happy to engage other clients this way as well, if you’re missing my presence in Sydney.
Here on the Tweed Coast – I welcome Suzi who is now working as my administration assistant, you may get the chance to connect with her as we move towards organizing Meditation Retreats, both in Sydney and in the Tweed.
Please let me know – expressions of interest – if you would like to be part of a Meditation Retreat, either in Sydney or the Tweed.
As many of you know, I have written a book which is a collection of my Wisdom based Teachings. I am now focusing on editing and seeking a publisher for this work, so please let me know if you have any experience or ideas of how I can go about this?
Feel free to take a look at a recent newspaper article about myself in the Tweed Daily News: https://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/how-life-as-a-buddhist-monk-helps-heal-minds/3142627/
Metta Regards
John – Javano
