Summertime Newsletter 2020
Dear Friends
Welcome to Summer.
Summer is a special season for us here in the Southern Hemisphere, as it is a season that transcends the Old and the New Year.
We begin the year with Summer, and we end the year with Summer.
As an out-door loving nation and culture, we move through the year and into the long warm days of Summer which take us out into the outdoors and nature for our end of year and New Year Holiday Season.
This year, now moving to the fulfilment of 2020, has for all of us, both personally and as a humanity been a most interesting and challenging year. On reflection it has been a year like no other for most people and for many it has been particularly distressing, disappointing, depressing and even devastating.
Because of this, particularly with the multiplicity and varieties of loss that we have all experienced in some way, this year of 2020 becomes of year that beckons – pause, ponder, reflection and contemplation, with the possibility of great insight and a wealth of wisdom to be gleaned and gained.
Like the Buddha’s Teachings of the Four Noble Truths of Dukkha (Stress and Suffering), there is much that we can learn from the problems and stress of our life.
The Four Noble Truths of Dukkha
1. The Truth of the Experience of distress, disappointment, pain and suffering.
2. The Truth of the Cause of our distress, disappointment, pain and suffering.
3. The Truth of the Ending of our distress, disappointment, pain and suffering.
4. The Truth of the Path of Practice, leading to the ending of our distress, disappointment, pain and suffering.
The Four Noble Truths of Dukkha can be a helpful template to apply to any experience of upset and distress as it poses the possibility of Acknowledging, Understanding and Ending the distress by following prescribed practices (The Eight Practice Factors).
Certainly as we move to the end of our year of 2020, I recommend a Mindful ‘wind down’ rather than getting stressed and wound up!
Find some time between now and the ending of the year to pause and ponder, consider and contemplate what this year has been for us.
We might ask ourselves the following questions.
Questions for Consideration
1. What has this year involved for me?
2. How did I accommodate or deal with these happenings?
3. Could I have dealt with these things differently or even better (more mindfully and wisely) if so how?
4. What have I learned about myself, others, Humanity and Life through this year?
5. What could I or do I need to learn about myself, others, Humanity and Life from this year?
6. Of this Learning, Insight, Understanding and Wisdom; what can I take with me in approaching and engaging the New Year 2021?
7. Anything else for consideration or contemplation?
It is sad that unsettling, upsetting, disturbing and distressing things happen; however what is most sad and disappointing is when we either personally or as a collective humanity do not learn from these.
Certainly I feel that our year of 2020 has offered up and will continue to be a great resource of insight and learning for us all in many ways.
One of the major features and experiences of 2020 has been the restrictions and limitations of meeting with others in real space. This has resulted in the weekly Meditation Group that I run and the monthly Meditation Day Retreats, being on hold.
I do hope that we can resume early in the New Year if the space restrictions on gatherings indoors is gone. Please keep an eye on my website for updates on this possibility.
In the meantime, do continue with your regular (daily) Meditation Practice and ongoing Mindfulness in Daily Life activities.
There are plenty of wonderful YouTube etc teachings available for ongoing inspiration and learning. Here are a couple that you might find useful, with Stephen Proctor introducing Mindfulness Meditation for Insight Practice:
Meditation – Awareness, Mindfulness & Concentration
Understanding Mindfulness in Daily Life Practice
Please enjoy my simple verse below:
SIMPLY KNOWING
Make good this day;
And make your way;
To Peace and Calm;
A healing balm;
For the distressed mind;
Worries left behind.
Mindful clear sight;
Allowing Wisdom Insight;
Freedom from fear;
With good friends near;
Life is always just flowing;
Reality Truth in Simply Knowing!
Wishing you a Mindful ending of 2020 and Wonderful beginning to our New Year 2021.
Kind Regards
John B.
Psychology Sessions with John
For those people that have been seeing John as a Psychology Client or for those that would like to, Medicare is now offering up to 20 sessions with a Rebate if you obtain a GP Referral and a Care Plan. This is an increase of 10 sessions. To book a session at either Kingscliff or Farrants Hill call 0400 022 048.
