Category Archives: Newsletter
Go to the Trees
GO TO THE TREES
Dear Friends
There are many suitable and sustaining refuges that we can source or seek out when life becomes difficult and distressing, when we feel depressed or despairing.
One refuge which is increasingly becoming appreciated both by contemplatives and the common person, written and spoken about by sages, saints, scientists, psychologists and philosophers; is that of the Trees and the Forests.
We are learning more about the importance of connecting and communing with nature. This is both the...
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Life is Limitation
LIFE IS LIMITATION
Dear Friends
In the context of receiving and relating to a particular Spiritual – Psychological (Psycho-Spiritual) Teaching, we may find that we connect with the concepts used or not!
This is very much the case with the use of the Pali Language word ‘Dukkha’ in the Buddha’s Teachings.
The Buddha has stated; “Two things only do I teach; the Truth of Dukkha and the Truth of its end to reach!”
However, when Dukkha is translated as ‘Suffering’, we may not quite...
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Not all of the same sense!
Dear Friends
How do we sense what we sense and what sense do we make of that?
From what is senses through our senses – is that sensed with common sense; even an uncommon common sense or is it sensed with mental non-sense. All of what is sensed and known does go to create our sense of self or self-sense!
Enjoy my verse below and make what sense of it you will!
John B.
NOT ALL OF THE SAME SENSE!
Of sensory experience;
Received through the...
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Live With, For and As
Dear Friends – our life abounds with continually alarming information about distressing events and happenings all around our world, this planet that we share.
We are surrounded with examples of how not to be, but find it difficult to discern and see what is an example of the Good, the Great and the Gracious.
At this Religiously Significant time of year; lets get Spiritually Significant by living and being an example both to our self and others; be they our partner,...
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COME AROUND AND COME DOWN
Dear Friends
Sometimes we need to remind our selves as to where it is at, with regards to some peace and quiet, some calm and clarity. Sometimes we need to invite our selves to come to that place, not as a demand or command but as a caring invitation. Enjoy my verse as an invitation to do just that!
John B.
COME AROUND AND COME DOWN
Come around and come down;
Drop by and drop in;
Come in and get close;
To that place of peace...
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Knowing the Unknown
Dear Friends
We live our life in the realm of change and
uncertainty. Whilst this includes the known, it also creates the unknown; like
the two sided of the one coin; like the back and front of the one hand.
Whilst we may feel okay with the known; maybe we can
also become comfortable with getting to know the unknown and not filling it
with fear and trepidation.
The unknown can be acknowledged, accepted and allowed
into our life as my verse below expresses.
KNOWING THE UNKNOWN
How do...
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STEP OUT OF VIEW
Dear
Friends
It is so easy and so often that we become caught in and caught up as a particular limited view or perspective. Such a view excludes other views and other people. Being caught in and as a limited view becomes a source of separation, division, confusion and conflict.
Our Meditation Practice is a way of helping the brain and mind move
from the particular to the universal and from the exclusive to the inclusive.
My verse below expresses this point...
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Always and Forever – Ever Leaving and Arriving
Dear Friends
How long do we ever spend in one place?
So often we may be here but thinking about going there; and in being there we have thoughts about being else-where.
Life is a process of ongoing flux and flow. Becoming more aware of this we can find flow in the flux without so much stress and struggle.
My verse below expresses the wonder and the mystery of the ever arriving and leaving.
John B.
ALWAYS AND FOREVER – EVER LEAVING AND ARRIVING
We are...
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‘Coming to our Senses’ The Art of Receptive Knowing
Dear Friends
This Sunday we held another Half Day Meditation Retreat here at Ratanagiri on the Tweed Coast.
Below are the Retreat Reflection Notes for your consideration, especially if you did not have the chance to attend this Retreat.
Kind Regards
John B.
Retreat Reflections: ‘Coming to our Senses’ – The Art of Receptive Knowing
Sunday 10th February 2019: with Buddhist Psychologist & Meditation Teacher John Barter
Being alive to life as the most important thing!
At times we may well wonder, what life is all about...
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Life-Story and Love-Story
Dear Friends
Much of our mental ‘self-talk’ does become the role and script that we live our life from. The stories that we tell ourselves continue to cultivate and create the person that we are. Seemingly subtle yet psychologically solid, we strengthen and sustain a someone that is our self. Please enjoy my verse about this process.
John B.
LIFE-STORY AND LOVE-STORY
We all like and love a story;
and we all are but a story.
And of that story, we are both the story...
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