[Edited extract from public address]
Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Roman Calendar Year MMXXV otherwise known as Gregorian Year 2025.
Sharing a timely aspiration:
“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by enemies, angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”
– Attributed to the Buddha (c563-c483 BCE)
If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 4 prepared earlier:
- 3 May: World Press Freedom Day (International)
- 3 May: Victorian United Nations Day of Vesak (Victoria)
- 12 May: "Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon (International)
- 17 May: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) (International)
If time is short, save the email for later. Come back for when the time is right.
Here we explore Seven Factors of Enlightenment. Specifically, a Theravada view of the Seven qualities to awaken in any relationship:
- Sati/Mindfulness (Pali/English)
- Dhamma vicaya/Analysis
- Viriya/Persistence, which leads to
- Pīti/Joyfulness, then to
- Passaddhi/Serenity, which in turn leads to
- Samadhi/Concentration and then to
- Upekkhā/Equanimity.
Remember: information may contain misunderstandings, deliberate omissions and complete fabrications. Accept nothing blindly. Test for usefulness: if useful keep; adapt for personal circumstances if necessary; or if unuseful discard. Be your own guiding light.
Read on intrepid Mixers, and let's see what is to discover this edition. Subscribers decide if anything is useful.
Topics List
1. Guest Sings
Approx 5 min presentation
2. Street Jives
Approx 2 min presentation
3. Wisdom Reconciles
- He Huang | 2025 Cheeky Business (8 mins)
- ABC iview: The Lesbian Experience | OK Boomer, OK Zoomer: Episode 1 (16 mins)
- Knowledgia: How did Indonesia become Muslim? (13 mins)
- Aussie English: 9 Reasons Australia is SUPER WEIRD to Vietnamese People (21 mins)
- The Daily Show: ALOK - “Biology!", Jokes About Death & Humor as a Practice of Resistance (12 mins)
4. Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsIntro
Kerrie O’Brien explores healing, discovery, journey and how "These artists first picked up a brush in prison. It changed their lives” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Melissa Fyfe explores patience, perseverance and pragmatism when "Ryan accidentally swiped ‘no’ to Nell on Tinder. It took him three years to find her” via The Brisbane Times
Fenella Souter explores connection, belonging and familiars recounting why "‘It gives me goosebumps’: The graduation gift from the woman Yung calls ‘Mum’” via The Age
Intra
Elli Jacobs explores reconnecting, regularity and team work recounting "‘There’s nothing better’: In her 30s, Emily reignited her teenage passion” via The Age
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Sex, Death and Politics with Rhoda Roberts in "‘Honey, we’re not doing it for you’: on the welcome-to-Country backlash” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Lou Sweeney explores gender, aptitude and being constructive when "Glenda was a teacher who made a schoolgirl cry. Then she tried one change” via The Age
Inter
Bridget McManus explores creativity, process and expression in "‘They’re sick of doing the interview’: How Virginia Trioli gets famous faces to open up” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Andrew Leigh explores motivation, journey and destination in "How uncertainty and risk-taking can make us better people” via The Brisbane Times
Benjamin Law explores dicey topics Death, Politics and Bodies with Colm Tóibín who says "‘If you need cancer to tell you how to live, there’s something wrong with you’” via The Age
Multi
Karl Quinn explores identity, connection and belonging in discussion with "The woman who mistook a stranger for her dad, and made a film about it” via The Age
Lauren Ironmonger explores birth, childhood and familiars recounting how "‘It was surreal’: Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins’ search for her birth parents” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Janice Breen Burns explores identity, gender and understanding when "They’ve been photographed hundreds of times but never like this” via The Brisbane Times
All
Nina Karnikowski explores mortality, precious nature of existence and awakening gratitude after "I left this retreat ‘reborn’. All I did was focus on one scary thing” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Deborah Frances-White explores life, passing and finding joy when recounting how "You’d be shocked by how much my siblings and I laughed when our father died” via The Age
Joel Day explores people, place and position as "Ghost cities and stranded ships: Inside a country that doesn’t exist” via The Brisbane Times
Togather
Chantal Nguyen explores difference, diversity and discipline recounting how "Kayah was bullied and ignored but people took notice when he danced” via WA Today
Shona Hendley explores gender, cooperative and engaging and other reasons why "At 75, Shirley moved more than 500km to live in a share house” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Jessica Yun explores business, sustainability and team work in "‘Not going to stand for this’: The IKEA exec emboldened by Donald Trump” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Nobly
Jane Albert explores identity, connection and belonging in "‘Transformative’: How a remote WA town, population 20, inspired Bangarra’s new show” via WA Today
Kate Geraghty and Michael Ruffles explores place, people and perseverance in "The hunted and haunted outcasts who changed their new country forever” via The Age
Caroline Schelle explores education, engagement and enthusiasm as "Building planes a model program to help students’ English, science skills take off” via The Age
Kerrie O’Brien explores healing, discovery, journey and how "These artists first picked up a brush in prison. It changed their lives” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Melissa Fyfe explores patience, perseverance and pragmatism when "Ryan accidentally swiped ‘no’ to Nell on Tinder. It took him three years to find her” via The Brisbane Times
Fenella Souter explores connection, belonging and familiars recounting why "‘It gives me goosebumps’: The graduation gift from the woman Yung calls ‘Mum’” via The Age
Intra
Elli Jacobs explores reconnecting, regularity and team work recounting "‘There’s nothing better’: In her 30s, Emily reignited her teenage passion” via The Age
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Sex, Death and Politics with Rhoda Roberts in "‘Honey, we’re not doing it for you’: on the welcome-to-Country backlash” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Lou Sweeney explores gender, aptitude and being constructive when "Glenda was a teacher who made a schoolgirl cry. Then she tried one change” via The Age
Inter
Bridget McManus explores creativity, process and expression in "‘They’re sick of doing the interview’: How Virginia Trioli gets famous faces to open up” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Andrew Leigh explores motivation, journey and destination in "How uncertainty and risk-taking can make us better people” via The Brisbane Times
Benjamin Law explores dicey topics Death, Politics and Bodies with Colm Tóibín who says "‘If you need cancer to tell you how to live, there’s something wrong with you’” via The Age
Multi
Karl Quinn explores identity, connection and belonging in discussion with "The woman who mistook a stranger for her dad, and made a film about it” via The Age
Lauren Ironmonger explores birth, childhood and familiars recounting how "‘It was surreal’: Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins’ search for her birth parents” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Janice Breen Burns explores identity, gender and understanding when "They’ve been photographed hundreds of times but never like this” via The Brisbane Times
All
Nina Karnikowski explores mortality, precious nature of existence and awakening gratitude after "I left this retreat ‘reborn’. All I did was focus on one scary thing” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Deborah Frances-White explores life, passing and finding joy when recounting how "You’d be shocked by how much my siblings and I laughed when our father died” via The Age
Joel Day explores people, place and position as "Ghost cities and stranded ships: Inside a country that doesn’t exist” via The Brisbane Times
Togather
Chantal Nguyen explores difference, diversity and discipline recounting how "Kayah was bullied and ignored but people took notice when he danced” via WA Today
Shona Hendley explores gender, cooperative and engaging and other reasons why "At 75, Shirley moved more than 500km to live in a share house” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Jessica Yun explores business, sustainability and team work in "‘Not going to stand for this’: The IKEA exec emboldened by Donald Trump” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Nobly
Jane Albert explores identity, connection and belonging in "‘Transformative’: How a remote WA town, population 20, inspired Bangarra’s new show” via WA Today
Kate Geraghty and Michael Ruffles explores place, people and perseverance in "The hunted and haunted outcasts who changed their new country forever” via The Age
Caroline Schelle explores education, engagement and enthusiasm as "Building planes a model program to help students’ English, science skills take off” via The Age
5. TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Chloé Hayden: Why autism portrayal is one-dimensional—and how to change it (13 mins)
- Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo: What it takes to be racially literate (14 mins)
- Aimée Eubanks Davis: How your unique story can get you hired (6 mins)
- Allan Guggenbühl: How do family secrets affect our lives? (12 mins)
- Emilie Wapnick: Why some of us don't have one true calling (14 mins)
6. Music Challenges
Approx 30 min presentation + reflection timesIf desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection.
For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.
Get ready to Reflect!
Choose your playing level:
Be introduced at 1.
Be soothed at 2-4.
Be shocked at 5.
Be inspired at 6.
Fuller illumination 1-6.
You be the judge. Or not.
Cryptic Clue:
What is a logical reason to accept difference as deserving of equal opportunity, equitable inclusion and loving acceptance?
diversifying
[dye’ver’sih’fye'ing]
From late Middle English = showing diversity: via Old French from medieval Latin diversificare = making dissimilar, from Latin diversus, past participle of divertere
verb
reconcile
[reh’kon’syle]
From late Middle English: from Old French reconcilier or Latin reconciliare, from Latin re- back, concentrate, focus + conciliare = bring together.
verb
denigrate
[den’ih’grayte]
From late Middle English (in the sense ‘blacken, make dark’): from Latin denigrat- = blackened, from the verb denigrare, from de- = away, completely + nigrare; from niger = black.
verb
commemorate
[com’mem’or’rayte]
From late 16th century: from Latin commemorat- = brought to remembrance, from the verb commemorare, from com- = altogether + memorare = relate (from memor = mindful).
verb
diminish
[dih’min’ish]
From late Middle English: blend of archaic minish = diminish; based on Latin minutia = smallness; and obsolete diminue = speak disparagingly based on Latin deminuere = lessen; from late Latin diminuere), from minuere = make small.
verb
extol
[ex’toll]
From late Middle English: from Latin extollere, from ex- out, upward + tollere = raise.
verb
enlighten
[en’lite’ten]
From Middle English = ‘make luminous; formerly also as inlighten; in early use from Old English inlīhtan = to shine
verb
- Inspire
- Perspire
- Collaborate
- Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
- Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
- Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
This challenge is diversifying reconcile, denigrate, commemorate, diminish, extol & enlighten.
diversifying
[dye’ver’sih’fye'ing]
From late Middle English = showing diversity: via Old French from medieval Latin diversificare = making dissimilar, from Latin diversus, past participle of divertere
verb
- making or becoming more diverse or varied. Ie, the trilobites diversified into a great number of species. Ie, installing new plants will diversify the habitat.
- (business) enlarging or varying its range of products or field of operation. Ie, the company expanded rapidly diversifying into computers. Ie, we're confident that the new owners will grow by diversifying the company globally. Ie, stocks of large companies diversifying have been among the most popular with investors this year.
reconcile
[reh’kon’syle]
From late Middle English: from Old French reconcilier or Latin reconciliare, from Latin re- back, concentrate, focus + conciliare = bring together.
verb
- restore friendly relations between. Ie, the leader and the committee were publicly reconciled. Ie, the child wanted to be reconciled with the parent.
- settle (a quarrel). Ie, advice on how to reconcile the conflict.
- make or show to be compatible. Ie, the agreement had to be reconciled with the city's new international relations policy.
- (reconcile someone to) make someone accept (a disagreeable or unwelcome thing). Ie, the retrenched employee was reconciled to leaving with a severance package.
- make (one account) consistent with another, especially by allowing for transactions begun but not yet completed. Ie, it is not necessary to reconcile the cost accounts to the financial accounts.
denigrate
[den’ih’grayte]
From late Middle English (in the sense ‘blacken, make dark’): from Latin denigrat- = blackened, from the verb denigrare, from de- = away, completely + nigrare; from niger = black.
verb
- criticize unfairly; disparage. Ie, doom and gloom merchants who denigrate the economy.
commemorate
[com’mem’or’rayte]
From late 16th century: from Latin commemorat- = brought to remembrance, from the verb commemorare, from com- = altogether + memorare = relate (from memor = mindful).
verb
- recall and show respect for (someone or something). Ie, a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the war dead. Ie, an annual commemoration marking equal rights for women.
- Make or celebrate (an event or person) by doing or producing something. Ie, the victory was commemorated in songs.
diminish
[dih’min’ish]
From late Middle English: blend of archaic minish = diminish; based on Latin minutia = smallness; and obsolete diminue = speak disparagingly based on Latin deminuere = lessen; from late Latin diminuere), from minuere = make small.
verb
- make or become less. Ie, the new law is expected to diminish bias in determining election results. Ie, the pain will gradually diminish.
- cause to seem less impressive or valuable. Ie, the season has aged and diminished their lead player.
extol
[ex’toll]
From late Middle English: from Latin extollere, from ex- out, upward + tollere = raise.
verb
- praise enthusiastically. Ie, the coach extolled the virtues of spending time outdoors. Ie, the doctor extolled the benefits of regular exercise. Ie, we praised all efforts, extolling how great the suppers were.
enlighten
[en’lite’ten]
From Middle English = ‘make luminous; formerly also as inlighten; in early use from Old English inlīhtan = to shine
verb
- give (someone) greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation. Ie, the long lost cousin enlightened the group as to their relationship.
- give (someone) spiritual knowledge or insight. Ie, the teacher explained one of the ways to free one’s mind from suffering.
- (archaic) shed light on. Ie, the sun enlightened some such clouds in the morning sky.
7. Acknowledgments
Reconciliation
Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira are the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savor and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully with less effort in our place called home.Invitation to Support Content Creators
The music/stories/videos have been sourced from public domain. If you like any of the content, please consider buying directly from online marketplaces to support creators and truth telling in the public interest.Caretaker Disclosure
Words and concepts are conditional things that point to a 'reflection of experience'. They are limited and do not adequately describe the 'full lived experience'. Like the moon's reflection on a lake's surface, it is not the moon, nor the experience of gazing up at the darkened sky transformed by the presence of a full moon. It is in the eyes/ears/nose/mouth/touch/cognisance of the beholder.This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy) or bodhicitta (Sanskrit = Awakening Consciousness). This email invites a sharing of countless thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across the 3 times and 10 directions. Or not. As each case may be.
It is not personal, it is just the way things are.
