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 the purpose of Insight and Understanding, Clarity and Freedom.
Many of you may also have engaged this period of time from the Full Moon of July to the Full Moon of October as a special time to engage a Non-Residential Retreat Period, as part of our ongoing Mindfulness and Dhamma Practice.
There is a Great Joy in being part of a living tradition of the Vassa Retreat which has been happening continuously, every year for the last 2,600 years!
Whilst we may not live in a Buddhist Monastery or Retreat Centre, or even have one close to visit, there are so many online websites with wonderful Dhamma Teachings that are available to us.
Certainly, the Internet does have its issues and concerns – but it does also offer us a great wealth of worthwhile information that we can connect with.
As our World continues in uncertain times, I encourage you all to make good use of Wise Teachings and Guidance while also developing our Mindfulness, Meditation and Insight Practices; helping to free our Minds from fear and frustration, anxiety and anger, conflict and confusion, distress and despair!
Take time to retreat a little during this Vassa Retreat period; step back from the stress of the ways of the world and come back to the centre of our life; to see and sit in the point of existence!
My verse below is an offering to this point.
Kind Regards
John B.
TAKE A SEAT AT THE CENTRE OF YOUR LIFE
Take a seat at the centre of your Life;
Far from all the stress, struggle and strife.
Don’t be sidelined by distracted thinking;
How can you see if you’r always blinking?
Develop Mindful-Receptive Attentive ‘Knowing’;
See the fundamental fabric of experience as ‘Flowing’.
Be Mindful of the experience of the Senses;
Without engaging the minds Psychological Defences.
Clinging and Condemning, Reacting and Resisting;
As well as Denying and Distracting!
Our Mindful Meditation – Sitting and Walking;
Stops the incessant Mental-Self-Talking.
Meditation, our mental mechanics it does show;
While with Insightful-Wisdom , the Mind does grow!
Reducing Anger, Confusion and Fear;
Through keeping Attentive Awareness always here!
