Autumn Newsletter 2021
Dear Friends
This is the first main Newsletter for our New Year 2021.
Given that I send out a Newsletter each Season, this new season of Autumn is the first full season of our New Year, as Summer is a connecting Season from the old year to the new at the beginning and ending of each year.
Autumn is a wonderful time of year, particularly with regards to Nature.
Autumn brings a quietening down, a slowing down, a calming and cooling down from the heat and busyness of Summer which can be intense both in the ending of the year and the beginning of the New Year.
Autumn allows us to connect into the year more fully beyond the time of holidays and various happenings.
I find that particularly due to the softer light, the cooler weather, the calmer feel of Autumn, it brings a certain reflective-ness and meditative feel. Certainly Autumn is a wonderful time to spend extra time being Mindful and engaging our Meditation Practice. This might also include reading and listening to Insight Wisdom Teachings, as wonderful food for the Mind-Heart as we journey into the year.
This February just passed I led a group of people from my Monday Night Meditation Group on a Weekend Retreat at Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery. Given that we have not been able to meet as a group for our weekly Monday Meditation Group, due to COVID spacing issues; it was wonderful to connect and share a Weekend Retreat together. Over the weekend we had a structure of both Sitting and Walking Meditations with some time for Questions and Discussion. All that attended very much appreciated this great opportunity to practise in such a lovely space. We are looking to hold another similar Weekend Retreat in May / June this year.
Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery – Easter Retreats
For those of you are interested Venerable Pannyavaro is offering two separate Meditation Day Retreats at Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery on either Saturday the 3rd of April or Sunday the 4th of April 2021. Information and registration for either of these Retreat days.
Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery – Gardening Volunteers Welcome
Venerable Pannyavaro welcomes those with an interest in Gardening to lend a hand with tree planting and mulching. Please email Venerable Pannyavaro for further details venpannyavaro@gmail.com
Monday Night Meditation Group
Our Monday Night Meditation Group is still in waiting for the restrictions on spacing to relax so that we can meet at Ratanigiri – Farrants Hill again. Hopefully this will happen soon due to the COVID Vaccine rollout enabling people to feel safer to commune in smaller spaces. We will let you know as soon as we feel this can take place. In the meantime do maintain your daily Meditation Practice and ongoing Mindfulness.
Insight Wisdom Teachings by Venerable Yuttadhammo
Whilst we await the return of our Meditation Group please enjoy some Wisdom teachings from Venerable Yuttadhammo.
As we now move further into out year through Autumn make some time to pause – ponder, consider and contemplate what and where we are directing our attention.
We all know that, ‘where the attention goes – the energy flows!’
Autumn is a great time to ask our selves some important questions, this allows us to mindfully make ‘life by design rather than by default’.
Some questions to pause and ponder might be along the lines of:
What is really important for us? What is really Real? What is Reality, Truth, Freedom and Profound Peace?
If it might be, that what we feel is really important and are ultimately seeking, is Profound Peace; then my verse below may offer inspiration. The Mind free from the conflict and confusion, distress and disappointment of being caught up in the World!
Kind Regards
John B.
PERFECT-PROFOUND PEACE
Perfect Profound Peace is the result of;
The Mind’s, Full and Final Freedom.
Full and Final Freedom is the result of;
Liberation through Letting-Go of all Clinging.
Letting-Go is the result of;
Intensive Insight into Reality.
Intensive Insight is the result of;
Underlying Understanding of the Truth of things;
Underlying Understanding is the result of;
Conscious Contemplation of the nature of things.
Conscious Contemplation is the result of;
Calm and Clarity of Mind.
Calm and Clarity of Mind is the result of;
Maintaining Mindfulness.
Maintaining Mindfulness is the result of;
Mindfulness based Meditation.
Mindfulness based Meditation is the result of;
Practice and Persistence.
Practice and Persistence is the result of;
Meaning and Motivation.
Meaning and Motivation is the result of;
Realising the Reality of the Uncertainty and Insecurity of All Things.
Realising the Reality of All Things is the result of;
Seeking Satisfaction, Security and Safety.
Seeking Security, Safety and Satisfaction is the result of;
Appreciative Awareness of the possibility of Perfect-Profound Peace!
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.
