Posts filed under 'Australia'
In a world of fear and upheaval, there is a voice that speaks out for peace.
In a world where power and privilege dominate, there is a man who is revered for his humility and wisdom.
How many of us have happiness as a goal in their life??
How many of us achieve it???
The Dalai Lama will speak on these and other important subjects. You have an opportunity to hear him. It could change your life.
The Dalai Lama 2007 Australia Tour
http://www.dalailama.org.au
The Holiness Line up
Larger than Life in Person
July 16th, 2007
Over the last few years I’ve been so lucky to meet so many amazing people in my travels. Today I share one of those special people with you. The following is a mail that I recently received from Tam, a Vietnamese girl who I first met in Burma at a guesthouse and then randomly met again 2 years later while doing my meditation retreat at Wat Rampoeng in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She became very fluent in English while working as a tour guide in Vietnam, but has remained more dedicated to her passion of learning Buddhism and exploring the realms of mediation. She is an inspiration.
Dear friends,
Two years ago, I sent you an e-mail talking about my wish to see vipassana practice develop in Vietnam. It appears that I was not the lone owner of that wish, many hearts have murmured the same. And the devas (protectors of the Buddha’s Teaching) must have heard: We’ve just finished 20 days vipassana retreat held in Nguyen Thuy pagoda, lead by my teacher Ajhan Suphan, from Wat Rampoeng, Thailand. There were 130 people who attended the two retreat, one ten days (from june 2nd to june 11th), the other 7 days (from 12th to 19th), 20 of them did the combined retreat from 2nd to 19th.
Many of the students were monks and nuns from different traditions who already have experience to various degrees, in different techniques. The rest (50-60 percent) were lay people, some with experience, some totally beginners. When the retreat started, there were many difficulties: problems resulting from living conditions (they have to live in big communal rooms, sleeping on the floor and use shared toilets as well as all other facilities), doubt and resistance to new technique, to the teacher. Step by step, these faded by, meditators developed more faith and effort and we could notice progress in many. One of the major obstacles most yogis had was the lack of right attitude: in vipassana practice, calmness is not the aim, neither psychic powers (although they can be a by-product), we practice just to understand the reality as it is, and from this understanding, detachment from all becomings occured as a result… Anyway, at the end of the retreat, most expressed their joy and faith and many would like to have the chance to practice again under Ajhan’s guidance, wether in Wat Rampoeng or in Vietnam.
The main factor of the success comes naturally from Ajhan Suphan’s loving kindness and wisdom. Throughout the retreat, he worked very hard every day from 4.30 a.m to 8,9 p.m, just some breaks for meals. Two Dhamma talks were delivered daily: one short (15mn) in the morning, and one longer (1 hour) in the evening.The rest of the time was for reporting (students relate their practice to the teacher): about 8-9 hours each day. From the first student to the last, Ajhan was always in good mood, patiently giving them the time they needed to talk about their problems in pratice, and gave them advices accordingly. His loving kindness to encourage students to put more effort, his wisdom to put them on the right track, this of course depends on each student ability and willing to listen.
Being one of the translators, I have the privilege to stay long time near by Ajhan. Before the retreat, like most, I had always been moved by his loving kindness and felt transformed by the power of his being in the present moment. However, I hadn’t appreciated to its value his verbal wisdom, due to my own ignorance and expectations. This has changed after the retreat though. As one saying goes: The wise understand the fool but the fool can not know the wise. Well, one can deduct that I have growed a bit in wisdom 
… Being in the presence of a true Master is like seeing one-self in a clear mirror. It reflets all your imperfections, but without any feeling of guilt or shame, only gratitude and bliss (and also laughing)…
After the retreat, we organize a short trip to show Ajhan Hue, Hanoi and Halong bay. Again, it has been another non-verbal lesson about enjoying without attachment. We, students, feel we still have a long way to go.
In Hue, we met with a monk who lives in a forest monastery, very beautiful setting and atmosphere. The monk him self is a great artist and calligrapher, and has a good heart. He is trying to build up a meditation center in the forest for vipassana pratice and has invited Ajhan to come and lead retreats. However, there is still much to do since the monk is relying on his own to get funds…One thing I am sure of is that when finished, it will be a really good place.
In Hanoi, we organized a day trip to Halong bay with some of our friends, so that they can have the chance to meet Ajhan. In a cave in Halong bay, Ajhan even gave a small Dhamma talk !!!
Ajhan and his Thai followers have left yesterday, leaving us with much happiness and gratitude, and full motivation to continue the work. We hope that similar events can be organized soon, for the benefit of many.
Well, that’s quite enough for reading… I hope my e-mail will reach you in good health and spirit. I would like to share with you the happiness and merit I could have from the retreat…
I hope that the inspiration we feel here can also reach your hearts….
Your friend,
Tam
July 4th, 2007
Margaret River is definitely not a bad place to be in the world…life is pretty cruisey down here….if you are stressed out in this town then there is definitely something wrong with you! At a population of just over 10,000 people, it’s a small town but still quite cultural and hip with a great music scene and so many nice people. Some Aussies say that this town is what Byron Bay was 10 years ago, and having been to Byron, I can see it.
The time has flown by - I’ve been here nearly a month now! The job is going well and I’ve managed to score free accommodation which is great because that means more chance to save!! Did I mention the great music scene here? Ok I know I was starved for good live music in Asia, so I am especially enjoying being able to see a live acoustic or dijareedoo set. There are bargains abound in this town as well - last weekend I found a Breville juicer plus 4 tupperware container plus a tea strainer PLUS a cooler bag, all for $5!!!! How happy was I just to even land the juicer!!
In addition to that, they have a soup kitchen here on Mondays and Wednesdays where you can get a huge meal for $4 and all of the proceeds go to charity; they have a $5 pub meal on Tuesdays and then free live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There are only 3 pubs in town so there’s not much to choose from - basically that means you are bound to run into someone you know! All of this becomes pretty important when the weather is crap, because there isn’t much else to do…and lately it has been pretty cold and rainy, so yes…time has been spent at the pub!
But I’ve also gotten into the yoga classes in town and I’ve been running in the mornings, so I’ve got a pretty busy schedule all things considered. I’m really enjoying having a social life outside of the Thai-farang-sexpat culture, that is for sure! Stay tuned….more info on Australia’s southwest to follow!
Prevelly Beach, Margaret River
Lake Cave, Margaret River
Doing the wineries in style - lunch at Leeuwin Estate
Gotta love the Western Australia beer fridge
May 4th, 2007
Well…the winds seem to have taken me to just the right spot this time - I’m in Margaret River, a beautiful little beach town full of surfers, artists and hippies on the south western coast of Australia, about 4 hours south of Perth. A very big change from Thailand!!! The air is so clean here, the beaches are incredible, the people are so very friendly and genuine and the energy here is just right. Before a week ago, I had never even heard of this place….I just flew to Perth from Thailand on a whim thanks to a very cheap airfare special. I landed in Perth with no job and no plan (as usual), but somehow knew it would all fall into place. Especially because my first day in Perth I was welcomed to Australia with the West Coast Blues and Roots Festival…to see Xavier Rudd and Cat Empire and John Butler after 10 months in Asia - wow! I was so happy! And I got to enjoy it with my friend Tamara who lives in Beijing and Shaz, one of my Lizard Island pals…. It was a great time.
I stayed with Shaz for a week in Perth, exploring the local area and amazing beaches and trying to deal with the culture shock of being back in oz…Shaz suggested that we drive down to Margaret River for the weekend and said, well I might as well bring all my stuff - in case I like it - and that’s how it all came to be. We arrived on Saturday after taking our time exploring our way down from Perth…ended up in the local pub for a great night out …Sunday we recovered on free chocolate and cheese from the local factories (leave that bit out of the raw food website!!), and then Shaz left me here at the backpacker and she made her way to Perth.
Monday I had no plan but decided to explore the area on my own - wound up getting a great hitch with Wayne, an Israeli guy living in Perth - we spent the day checking out some caves and getting down to Augusta to see the merging of the Southern and Indian Oceans. Pretty cool! Thanks Wayne!!
Tuesday I hit the pavement on my job search - found work at the 2nd place I tried - doing housekeeping at some very nice holiday apartments about a 6-minutes walk from where I am staying. So lucky! And I needed to find work right away - it’s much more expensive here than in Thailand!!!! I needed some work clothes for the cleaning, so I then headed to the Red Cross shop where they told me it was $5 bag Tuesday, and promptly handed me a bag saying whatever you can fit in there is $5. Are you for real!!!! I got 4 pairs of pants, 3 shirts and 2 heavy fleeces - all for $5!!! I love this place!! I started my new job the next day and have been enjoying my hours - every day I’ve finished btween 2 and 4 where I thereby walk straight out to the road and hitch the 8km to Prevally Beach - one of the best surfing spots in the world to those who are into it - and laying on the beach in the sun is a great end to any day I reckon! It’s a great little town here - the people are so nice and helpful and I’ve been meeting all the locals while hitching around…stay tuned for some good stories there!
Xavier Rudd at the West Coast Blues and Roots, Freemantle WA
Driving south to Margaret River
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Augusta, WA
Wayne and I are masters using camera timers
April 13th, 2007
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