Winter Newsletter 2023
Dear Friends
Welcome to Winter 2023.
Whilst Winter comes around each year, and certainly we have had many of them, each Winter is unique and special! Hopefully we are a little more mindful, kind-ful and wise-ful as each Winter comes to our life.
This is because Winter can be a time of more inner Meditation and Contemplation, more introspection and reflection; as we spend more time at home and inside.
Certainly Nature, flora-fauna and fungi, are quieter during the Winter period. As we become more mindful and aware of the natural environment, Winter can be a time to become more Meditative as we grow inwardly rather than engaging so much outwardly.
Meditation Retreats are a wonderful way to engage, especially during the Winter season.
Certainly here at Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill, we have had our usual Meditation Retreat Days over the last few months. We had a Meditation Retreat Day on Sunday 26th February: ‘Mindfulness Appreciation and Practice’; Sunday 30th April: Meditation and Reflections on the Four Miracles’; Sunday 14th May: ‘Meditations on Metta for your Mind’ presented by Venerable Mettaji from Bodhinyana Monastery Perth WA; and Sunday 18th June: ‘Meditations and Reflections on a Life Well Lived’.
VASSA RETREAT PERIOD 2023
Our Meditation Day Retreats will continue with the yearly Vassa Retreat for 2023.
The Vassa Retreat is traditionally the ‘rainy season’ in Asia where Buddhist monks and nuns spend the 3-month period on Retreat. I have adopted this idea to offer a Non-Residential Vassa Retreat over the 3-month period, with a Sunday Meditation Day monthly, as a way of developing and deepening our Meditation Practice. Those that have attended these Vassa Retreat sessions have found them most useful for their Meditation Practice.
The theme for this years Vassa Retreat period is: Samma Samadhi (Right Meditation) which is the eighth factor on the Buddhas Eight-Fold Path of Practice.
The dates for this year 2023 are:
Sunday 30th July
Sunday 27th August
Sunday 24th September
Sunday 29th October
These Retreat Days are all at Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill NSW and from 9.30am – 3.00pm (unless otherwise specified). Whilst it is good to commit to doing all of the Retreat Days, you can miss some if needed. The main commitment is to your Meditation Practice on a regular basis. I will send out web links to articles to support you over the 3-month period in your Practice.
Please let me know by email if you would like to be part of the Ratanagiri – Vassa Retreat 2023?
WEEKLY MEDITATION GROUP
Our weekly Meditation Group continues at Ratanangiri Farrants Hill on a Thursday Night at 6.30 – 7.30pm. Please let me know if you are attending for the first time?
See details on the website https://www.wellawareness.com.au/events/category/meditation-groups/list/
As Winter develops I wish that you be well and warm. I hope that you use this season to develop and deepen your Meditation and Mindfulness Practice.
Please have a read of my Winters Verse below!
Metta Regards
John B.
THE MIND IN WINTER
Winter, finally showed her face;
Of Autumn,
She came to replace.
Her presence felt all around,
A cool to the air, water,
Rock and ground.
A time of soft light,
Slow shadows;
And the cool of night.
Wildlife a hush,
A change from Spring, Summers,
Outward noise and rush.
Now is the time to quiet away!
Into the calm and peace,
Of a Winters day.
Move the mind from cogitation.
Attend to the Breath,
Developing and deepening our Meditation
Time for the minds inner Peace,
Letting-go;
To realise inner release.
Meditative Coalescence;
Our inner Samadhi-Home,
Of Perfect Presence.
.
