Welcome To Spring
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Spring!
Certainly a season of the year that many people look forward to, not to mention all the flora and fauna that express their beauty at this time of year.
The changes in the temperature, the different light that Spring brings in the sky compared to Winter and the sight and sounds of Nature are all expressive of this time of the year.
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, the arrival of Spring is a statement that our year is now three quarters over, with just four months until it ends.
Certainly a time to consider what we have achieved so far during our year and also what more we wish or need to get done before it ends!
What is Life but the experience and expression of Time and Energy, two most precious resources, that sadly are often wasted!
The passing of measured time in the year through the changing of Seasons can herald and hold for us the meaning to be motivated to make good use of our precious Time and Energy!
Our Mindfulness aids and supports us in both being more present for our experience of life as time passes and also being more conscious of how we are using our Time and Energy.
Our Meditation Practice also helps us to conserve and preserve Time and Energy by developing a more calm and composed disposition that is not given to distraction or distress.
THE VASSA RETREAT PERIOD
(FULL MOON OF JULY TO FULL MOON OF OCTOBER)
Here at Ratanagiri on the Tweed Coast of NSW, we are now 2 months into our 3 month Vassa Retreat period.
The Vassa Retreat which is held each year around the world in Buddhist Monasteries and Centres marks a time for developing, deepening, defining and refining our Meditation and Dhamma Practice.
Here at Ratangiri, we have engaged our yearly Non-Residential Retreat for those interested in this special period of time to enhance our Meditation Practice.
With our four monthly Sunday Retreat Days, the previous two of these have been well attended with participants embracing the idea of a special period of time to develop more meaning and joy in our life through Meditation.
Our Vassa Retreat theme for this year is Meditations and Reflections on Early Buddhism. Here we are looking into the fundamental teachings and practice of the Buddha before the various Schools of Buddhism that developed a couple of hundred years following the death of the Buddha.
It is fascinating to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the Buddha’s Teachings and Way of Practice, especially with regards to Meditation in that early period, before Buddhism became more Sectarian and complex with various Philosophical Modifications and expanded ways of Practice.
You may appreciate that the fundamental purity and simplicity is both fresh and enlivening to a more radical approach to the possibility of realisation of profound freedom.
NEXT VASSA RETREAT DAY
Our next Vassa Retreat Day is Sunday 15th September 2024 – in 2 weeks’ time and then the last Vassa Retreat Day for this period is Sunday 20th October 2024.
For those of you that have not joined us for the last 2 Retreat Days, do feel free to join in for the next.
We have also been filming these Retreat Day sessions and also having those that cannot be here physically to join in through ZOOM – with the ZOOM Link available on the website and see link below: www.wellawareness.com.au
VASSA Retreat ZOOM link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82020665739?pwd=JPNtDW7SQder6vomcWj0eZTjDaQ7Gz.1#success
Similarly we have been filming our Thursday Night Meditation Group Sessions, with links available for those that live too far way to be here physically to join via ZOOM or Live Streaming. Please send us an email if you would like to join in via video and we can send you the link weekly.
YouTube Sammasamadhi Meditation Sangha
Thursday Night Meditation Group On YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/live/lV22naqRRuE?si=2tqHliAnYuUFghr7
THANKYOU FOR YOUR DANA
I thank you all for your generosity expressed in your Dana – (Generous Donations) in attending the Retreat Days and also the Thursday Night Meditation Group, including those that attend Online and giving Dana through internet banking. Your ongoing support helps to keep things going, especially in maintaining our Venue, Tea / Coffee / Milk and biscuits as well as Admin and Website fees, – thank you kindly for your support.
I do encourage you all to continue to maintain your Meditation and Mindfulness practice, finding meaning and joy in the beauty and richness of a Calm, Clear, Composed Mind.
I offer my verse below as inspiration for Meditation and the best season of our Life.
Kind Regards
John B.
THE BEST SEASON OF OUR LIFE
The cool shade of a Tree in Summer.
The warming sun in Winter.
The array of coloured leaves in Autumn.
The sweet smell of Jasmine in Spring.
Yet if our mind is calm and composed,
Not caught into distraction or reaction,
This then is for us all,
The best season of our Life!
