The past four months have been very hectic for me with unpredictable events and mere nuisances raining down like hot ash from a bush fire. One of the more minor nuisances is a stalker on one of my other blogs so I have not published any more posts relating to our now distant but wonderful camping road trip. He'll [ or they'll - I think it is a well organised campaign] get bored before long when the realisation that despite my age and gender I am wide awake to scammers. I suspect my follower/stalker to be part of an organised Nigerian type scam which targets older vulnerable women, giving them a false hint of friendship or even love in return for all their savings.
In a serious life crisis I, like many other women, function very well - thanks to heightened adrenalin and the female ability to juggle many balls at the same time - for however long it takes to manage the situation. Of course, after the resolution of the problem comes the "flop". My "flop" invariably leaves me feeling sluggish both mentally and physically. So, when a post informing me of a Meditation course at the Chenrezig Institute at Eudlo popped on to my faceboook page I didn't hesitate and registered immediately. A couple of days later I was on my way to Eudlo.
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| Chenrezig Institute, Eudlo |
I have previously visited Chenrezig, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, well nunnery, set in the hills behind the Sunshine Coast several times. My Buddhist studies have been of the Theravadan school of Sri Lanka and Thailand, however I am more attracted to the Mahayanan school, that of the Dalai Lama and Taiwan and the Tibetan region. [This is mainly because the Mahayan practice has a focus on helping others. At the same time I find the number of Bodhisattvas and different rituals quite confusing. ] I find the environment at Chenrezig very peaceful and beautiful, the people gently friendly and kind and there is, to me at least, an air of serenity. Just the place to go to give myself the gift of time to relax and work on my mind!
After checking in at reception and ordering my vegetarian lunch I walked up the hill towards the Gompa where the course was to be held. I took myself past the prayer wheel, turning it to centre my thoughts on why I was there and then continued to the Gompa.
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| Prayer Wheel, Chenrezig Institute |
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| The Gompa, Chenrezig Institute, Eudlo |
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| The Gompa, Chenrezig Institute |
The day long course, Meditation for Beginners ie Meditation 101, was well attended mostly by women, especially those in the [ estimated] 30 - 45 age range. It was a secular course with attendees coming from Tweed Heads to Gympie. Our teacher, Thubten Damcho, took us through twelve different meditations, giving me confidence to continue my learning at home.
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Avatokiteshvara
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As I said, I am confused with the many Bohisattavas in Mahayana Buddhism. There are more than twenty Tara deities with the Green Tara being the one I know best.
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Green Tara
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Twenty five years ago my daughter gave me a picture of Green Tara with the following verse:
Green Tara
Like the sun which emits countless rays, compassion is
the source of all inner growth and positive action.
Its power can transform ourselves and others
so that our lives become radiant and light.
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| Chenrezig Institute, Eudlo |
May All Beings Be Happy
Thats an interesting way to regenerate your batteries. It is a coincidence that you used to visit Whitfield Av in Springwood. It is 30 years since we lived there. Your grandson must have fun on those boats. Sorry to hear you have been bothered by a scammer. I had one of those too that would comment on about 6 posts at a time with almost sensible type comments, as you say to suck you in, but i checked their blog and it was rubbish stuff so I just continually deleted their comments.
ReplyDeleteI have been bothered by "scammers"? too, I am not " sure if they are Nigerian"? But these people want money in the form of films, songs, music videos, ideas for clothing designs, furniture designs, porcelain designs etc, the hacked my system/s and have said very mean things to me, my family and friends, they threatened me and my family to hurt me if do not do these show Bizz/design assignments: Some of them are well known in films, movies :Producers etc, Songwriters, Music Video Directors, experts and people in Show Bizz in the West and other places. They say it is " expert advice" that they give so they keep pushing their "scams".
ReplyDelete