Summer Newsletter 2023
‘Meditations & Reflection –
Lessons & Learnings from the Year’
Dear Friends,
Another year in our Life is moving towards conclusion.
Another year ends as a calendar date, allowing a New Year to begin.
This is the process that occurs continually through the passage of time that we call our Life!
Whilst beginnings are very important; the beginning of a new life, the beginning of a new decade, year, month, season, week, day, hour, minute, and moment; yet the value and worth of the new event may well be the result of how we lived and ended the last one (Life, year, season, month, week, day, hour, minute, or moment).
Given this appreciation, it becomes important even imperative, to always end well!
Ending well, could mean many things, however for me I feel that ending well is about having learnt and grown from our experience.
Certainly, in the midst of a difficult, distressing, disheartening and disturbing experience, it may be very difficult to be looking to learn something from that.
However, after the situation, event of experience, it can be most beneficial to take the time to reflect on what has happened.
Whether the experience was pleasant or unpleasant, positive or negative, we might ask ourselves particularly of our year:
1. What happened in my year?
2. What did I experience?
3. What have I learned from that?
4. What would I like to learn from that?
5. What do I need to learn from that?
6. Can I make a point to remember this important learning, especially for next time and into the next year?
Life, our life, and any one’s life is a matter of two most precious elements, Time and Energy.
We certainly don’t want to waste any of our precious Time or Energy.
With Wise-Reflection – ‘YONISO MANASIKARA’, we can both ‘recycle’ and ‘up-cycle’ experience transforming the issues and pains of the past into wisdom and great learnings for the present and future.
By taking the time to pause and become present we can reflect on our experience of the past, particularly the year that has been. Here we are not indulging in the past, getting caught in negativity and the downside or wallowing in self-pity or sentimentality; but recycling – re minding, recollecting, reflecting experience (Time – Energy spent).
Through Wise-Reflection we can then up-cycle that experience into great learning, even finding meaning in what might have been a very difficult, distressing or even disturbing experience.
A year in our life is significant. A year is a huge cost of our precious Time and Energy. It is a cost to the planet of great resources to keep us going for a year, especially food, water, fuel, countless consumables and so much more!
So, what is the worth to us, to others to humanity and to the planet of our life over the course of the year?
It has been said, ‘that as human beings we are the unfinished creature!’
Whilst we have these fully grown adult bodies, there is still so much more psychological and psycho-spiritual learning and development to occur, both individually and certainly as a species!
We are all business owners, running and operating the business of our life. For our life (Life Business) to be successful, in the green and not in the red, moving forward and not becoming bankrupt, we need to appreciate it, operate it and direct it well. If this year of (Life) business was no better than the last one, maybe even worse, then it calls in to question how the business is being operated?
Like any business, our life needs to be meaningful, worthwhile, viable, and useful both for ourselves as also for others – loved ones, family, friends, colleagues, and others.
From a Buddhist perspective, the worth of our life is about developing Mindfulness, Focussed Attention, Mental Composure, Deep Calm and Clarity, Insightful Understanding, Wisdom, Compassion and Care. This is a process of practicing the Buddhist Path of Practice – The Noble Eight-Fold Practice Path.
This is the Practice Trinity of: Morality (SILA), Meditation (SAMADHI), Wisdom (PANYA).
Our practice of SILA, SAMADHI and PANYA, is the way to Full and Final Freedom!
In this process we are reducing the degree of the Three Ills: Greed, Anger, Ignorance – Delusion; manifesting as the Five Hindrances (NIVARANA) of: Desire, Aversion, Dullness, Agitation, Doubt.
Whist the passage of time we call a year involves many comings and goings, happenings and doings, experiences both pleasant and painful, woeful, and wonderful, options and opportunities, obligations and responsibilities, choices, and challenges; the worth of the year can be appreciated in the growth and development of our Spiritual / Meditation Practice.
I continue to appreciate my own personal learning from my decade spent as a Buddhist Monk of the Theravada Forest Tradition. I still use many of the learnings and wise reflections and Buddhist Chanting from that important period of my life.
One reflection that was and continues to be helpful is the ‘Ten Subjects for Frequent Recollection by One Who Has Gone Forth’. Two of these ten, I mention here for our reflection.
1.The days and nights are relentlessly passing, how well am I spending my time? This should be reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth.
2.Has my practice borne fruit with freedom or insight, so that at the end of my life I need not feel ashamed when questioned by my spiritual companions? This should be reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth.
Whilst we certainly hope that the end of our life is a long time away, many years away; it can be most helpful to reflect both regularly and at the ending of the year on our experience of the year and of our learnings and insights; like a student that learns each year and builds on the learnings of the past year. This can be an important time to pause, reflect and learn from what has been another year in our life.
We can ask ourselves, what learnings, insights and understandings, practices, precepts, protocols, and procedures do I need to take with me into the New Year ahead?
What might be a summary statement, ‘the take home learnings’ of our life over this last year?
This is the practice of Mindful and Wise Living.
For those that have been able to attend some or a number of the Sunday Retreat Days through 2023 and / or our Thursday evening Meditation Group, I thank you for your attendance and support. I also hope to see you and others here at Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill in the New Year 2024.
Please have a listen to John in this recent podcast with a local business here on the coast, “From Monastic Life To Modern MINDFULNESS” :https://www.gavinmcgahey.com/podcast/episode/7efb3dac/from-monastic-life-to-modern-mindfulness-a-journey-with-john-barter
And a previous talk with John in a Meditation group in Sydney “From Blight To BLESSING” :https://youtu.be/A0t5x5iIANg
I encourage you to continue with your ongoing Meditation and Mindfulness practice.
I wish you all a wonderful end of year and good start to our New Year 2024.
Please have a read of my Summer Reflections verse below.
Metta Regards,
John B.
SUMMER ARRIVED INTO OUR YEAR
Summer arrived into our year,
That Spring had left was certainly clear.
The ending of the year now near.
So many days are in the rear.
This time to all that is quite dear,
Yet flood and fires we do fear.
Outdoors in cooler clothes and gear,
More insect and bird sounds we do hear.
To Truth, Wisdom and Peace we do revere,
To all others be kind caring and sincere.
And before the New Year does appear,
Give yourself some praise and good cheer!
MEDITATION GROUP – THURSDAY NIGHT
Our Thursday night Meditation Group at ‘Ratanagiri’ – Farrants Hill will resume on Thursday 25th January 2024.
SUNDAY MEDITATION RETREAT DAYS FOR 2024
- Sunday 25th February
- Sunday 5th May
- Sunday 16th June
- Sunday 21st July – Vassa Retreat Day 1.
- Sunday 18th August – Vassa Retreat Day 2.
- Sunday 15th September – Vassa Retreat Day 3.
- Sunday 20th October – Vassa Retreat Day 4.
- Sunday 1st December
