i was lucky enough to be invited by the BSV to attend their Vesak celibration which was led by Ajahn Brahm. I had a great time and really enjoyed the time there.
While i was in Melbourne i had the chance to catch up with one of my old friends and also so my great Ant. Suroo and Ravi were also ther, so nice to see them there.
so what is going on in my life at the moment? It is getting closer to the rains retreat and we will be having the ASA conference in July and also there will be the Mirta conference just before the Vassa starts. Things are generality busy here at the moment but as one always does hope every year that with the rains retreat coming soon that there will be a rest from work and a time to be able to delvelop mediation deeper, however one has to make a strong effort in that time and to get caught in the habits one has developed!
Santi now has 7 Anakarikas, the most it as had at one time. There will be about 22 people coming for therains which will be the most we would of ever had, so it will be interesting to see how things go and hopefully that which such a large amount of people here that we can all get along and and that there won't be any disharmony, one can only hope.
I will be going to the Dalia Lama's teaching this week about mediation in Sydney. In a way it is going to be challenge for me because i don't follow Tibetan Buddhism and also because of the Dalia lama's views on homosexuality. So i will have to use these teachings as a time to see if i can learn from people even though i think their ideas are wrong. trying to learn from someone from a Fundamentalist Christian when you are gay is not something easy to deal with inside, or learning from the person who has killed a family member is difficult, so i guess that i still need to come to understand that although religious people hold ideas that hurt people there are still some good things that can be learn from them, so i guess that i need to focus on them.
Dalia Lama Dalia Lama
What bad Karma
To hold hurtful views
that make people blue
please have compassion
for gays passion
non-discrimination is now the fashion
Who is worse the Pope or you
Please give them hope
So that they may cope
Give them a safe place
Of refuge free from fear
So that they will have no tears
What bad Karma
To hold hurtful views
that make people blue
please have compassion
for gays passion
non-discrimination is now the fashion
Who is worse the Pope or you
Please give them hope
So that they may cope
Give them a safe place
Of refuge free from fear
So that they will have no tears
