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People often ask me why I choose to live in Australia and choose to live where I live. Like many democratic countries like the US, Canada etc, Australia is a flexible, self corrective society that is based on a sense of balance and fairness. It is a country in which the injustices of inequality generally brings forth corrective and sympathetic responses from the people free to express themselves.
There is practically no cause that lacks supporters. It is limited only by the size of the population (The causes draw greater support in larger democracies like the US). Everything has an opportunity to be healthily debated and the social reality can be seen to have integrity.
Many happy blessings to Ron today on his birthday – may the year ahead be filled with music, laughter and the many joys and blessings of the Divine powers!!
Q.How does the concept of planning fit in with the concept of living in the here and now?
A. Do what you have to do now, if something comes up, do it instead of carrying it around in your head. The story is told of two Buddhist monks who were walking together, going about their business. They came across a stream where there stood a beautiful young girl attempting to cross the stream by herself. One of the monks seeing the young girls plight offered to carry her across the stream, and he did so by carrying her on his shoulders. As they came to the other side the girl thanked the monk and they were on their way. After a while the monk who watched his fellow monk carry the girl, said to his companion,. “What you did to the young girl is something never done by monks, you should not have done that” etc. The monk replied I carried her across the stream and left here there, you are still carrying the beautiful young girl in your mind”. Planning is part of living, same as memory, it is there to be used. When memory starts to use us it is self destructive, the same as planning.
Krishna reminds us in the Bhagavad Gita 3.35. “ It is better to perform one’s duty imperfectly, than to perform anothers perfectly.
“Do not speak unless it improves on silence” Buddhist saying As his devotees waited patiently for the Buddha to speak one day, he arrived with just a flower in his hand. He said nothing that day, silence ……that was all he had to say.
Who could not admire the great sporting achievements by the Australian Test cricket team in the recently concluded Ashes victory (5/ nil ) against England. It has been 86 years since the last clean sweep of the Ashes) a huge achievement in the cricketing world. What we are applauding was an incredible demonstration of what the word SPIRIT really entails for us. To be inspired is to be filled with SPIRIT, whilst to feel dispirited is to feel dejected, hopeless and defeated. At various times in our lives we have all felt what the dejected Englishmen were likely going through. When we ponder the Spirit of the true sportsmen or sportswomen, the great heroes of the sporting world, they have symbolized for us what the essence of Spirit means to most of us. They have shown us the possibilities of courage, determination, commitment, respect and dignity, all qualities of true spirit. What moves the crowd is an intuitive recognition of these qualities that are required to overcome human limitation and achieve unprecedented levels. Didn’t we see this in the Australian cricket team? True champions exhibiting excellence and at the level of the champion, mastery.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with having pride. We are talking of a different kind of pride; it is an honouring of human achievement that transcends personal pride. All great sporting achievements are achievements of great human striving that captures our hearts. The whole process inspires the losers as well as the winners. The true spirit honours the losers as well as the winners, for both their dedication to the same lofty principles. The losers were perhaps just not good enough on the particular occasion. We celebrate the champions because we see how they have overcome personal ambitions through sacrifice and dedication to their team, country and to the highest principles.
The true stars go onto become legendary when they teach by example. It is not what they have done on the field, or what records they have broken it is what they have truly become that is inspiring and what we honour them for.
If we recognize the humility of the true champions we should seek to protect them from the forces of exploitation. The public needs to be educated that their great sporting performances are gifts to the world, to all mankind to be respected, honoured and protected from abuse by the media and the corporate world.
The great sporting spirit resides within the hearts of all of us. Great sportsmen and sportswomen can by example awaken these principles of greatness that lies within all of us.
Following a very fortuitous meeting we had with Aboriginal elder Bob Randall a private viewing of his film “Kanyini” was arranged with Q and A session with Bob after the film. The little place was filled to capacity with standing room only and the audience was moved to hear Bob’s compelling story. For those who haven’t yet seen the film we encourage you to do so,details are on www.kanyini.com.
KANYINI is a story told by Bob, who lives beside the greatest monolith in the world, Uluru in Central Australia.
Based on Bob’s own personal journey and the wisdom he learnt from the old people living in the bush, Bob tells the tale of why Indigenous people are now struggling in a modern world and what needs to be done for Indigenous people to move forward.
A tale of Indigenous wisdom clashing against materialist notions of progress, this is not only a story of one man and his people but the story of the human race.
Namaste all our wonderful readers and may your New year be blessed. After over twenty five years of playing and producing New Years eve nights in Australia, over a couple of years ago we decided enough was enough and it was time to create a more meaningful (to us), sacred New years eve ceremony. There wasn’t much time to plan it and get the word out as we had only just got back from the US a couple of weeks earlier. But the word did get out and a special blessing and thanksgiving ceremony was held for a small gathering of like minded souls at Ulli Hansen’s place in Cremorne, Sydney. It was a night of sacred song, and much enjoyment shared with kindred spirits who also feasted on yummy South Indian/Sri Lankan vegetarian food that truly nourished the soul and tummy that Vicki and I had specially cooked up. The little place was full with everyone having a delightful time and vowing for more next year. Many thanks to Ulli Hansen for hosting this event and to all who participated. We will keep you posted, although a bigger venue may well be needed next time with more seemingly wanting to share a more meaningful way of bringing in the New year.
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