Summertime Newsletter 2019
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Summer, a wonderful season that connects the end of our year with the New Year 2020. Summer can bring about a mood of relaxation and recreation especially as the year ends with a period of holiday and festivities over Christmas and New Years Day. Whilst the ending of the year can be a busy time, we need to remind ourselves to slowly ‘wind-down’ and not get ‘wound-up!’
The best way to ‘wind-down’ and not get ‘wound-up’ is through maintaining our momentum of mindfulness, which was the theme of our last Half Day Retreat for the year occurring last Sunday the 1st of December. I thank all of you that were able to make the time to attend our Retreat and support each other in the practice of mindfulness for calm and insight.
Our Retreat reminded us to keep our practice of mindfulness and meditation happening on a regular basis to maintain our health, well being and wisdom-insight.
Inspiration may get us to practice meditation but routine will help keep us continuing the meditation.
Attendees from our Gratitude Half Day Retreat in October
Our next Half Day Meditation Retreat will occur on the Sunday the 9th of February 2020 on the theme of ‘Mindfulness for Making the Moment Meaningful. We have already started taking registrations for this so please register your interest before places fill up.
Simply register via email to: info@wellawarness.com.au
Half Day Retreat Mindfulness for Making the Moment Meaningful Flyer
Monday Night Meditation Group – Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill
Our Monday Night Meditation Group has continued through the year and has accommodated the daylight saving time changes. It has been wonderful to develop a group of regular meditators that attend each week, but also to see new people coming along as well. Our group sessions involve 30 minutes of Mindfulness Based Meditation, followed a tea break then Dhamma teachings and time for questions and discussion. People new to meditation are most welcome as part of the meditation is guided to help give instructions and also a reminder for those that have been practicing for a while.
Venue ‘Ratanagiri’
11 Double View Road, Farrants Hills
6:30 pm – 7:30p m
Cost by “Dana”
(Your expression of generosity for the Teachings and Guidance)
Confirm your attendance by emailing: info@wellawareness.com.au
** Last meditation group for the year is the 23rd of December 2019 **
** First meditation group for 2020 is Monday 20th of January 2020 **
Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery
Through 2019 it has been wonderful to connect and spend time at Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery at Tullera, near Lismore. Many of us from our Monday Meditation Group have been able to do Meditation Day Retreats and help in tree planting at the Monastery. We have appreciated receiving teachings and practicing meditation under the guidance Venerable Pannyavaro who has offered great explanation and teachings on Satipatthana-Vipassana Meditation. He was also able to give a Full Day Mediation Retreat at Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill, and we have invited him to return for a similar Retreat in 2020.
Venerable Pannyavaro and workshop participants walk to lunch
Rainforest trees about to be planted at the Bodhi Tree Rainforest Monastery
The new Shwedagon Pagoda Replica at the Bodhi Tree Rainforest Monastery, near Lismore.
Venerable Pannyavaro leading the Mindfulness for Insight Meditation workshop in October 2019.
We had a wonderful occasion at Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery attending the auspicious and unique occasion of the Dedication Ceremony of the Shwedagon Pagoda Replica on Sunday 17th of November. This was a big occasion celebrated by many people from many places and the first of its type in Australia.
As we continue to connect and support Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery I encourage you to find some time to attend a Meditation Retreat with Venerable Pannyavaro or even spend a few days at the Monastery on your own personal retreat. https://bodhitreemonastery.org
I wish you all great joy and well being as we end this year 2019 and a great beginning to our New Year 2020.
Kind Regards
John B.
