[Edited extract from public address]
Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Gregorian Calendar June 2025.
Sharing a timely aspiration:
"It has perhaps always been the case that the waging of peace is the hardest form of leadership of all.”
Elizabeth II, British monarch and former Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms (1926-2022)
If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 3 prepared earlier:
- 3 June: Mabo Day (Australia)
- 20 June: World Refugee Day (International)
- 21 June: International Day of Yoga (International)
This edition, we visit an Ancient Indian concept of Dukkha/Samsara and different ways to look at it.
Being alive has an inherently closed loop nature with an unlimited demand, production and supply of Dukkha/Unsatisfactoriness (Pali/English) or Samsara/Suffering (Sanskrit/English). Subject to Impermanence and Khamma/Karma/Causality (Pali/Sanskrit/English).
The Third of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths is the Noble Truth of the End of Suffering.
- When we remove all ignorant craving and desire from our heart, all our suffering and dissatisfaction will come to an end.
- We experience a happiness that is far greater than our ordinary pleasures and a peace beyond words.
- Buddhists call this stopping-of-suffering state Nibbana/Nirvana/Enlightenment (Pali/Sanskrit/English).
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
- Noah Szto - 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (4 mins)
- ABC Science Listen Up: Being Diagnosed As OCD Doesn't Make The Doubt Go Away (6 mins)
- ImFromDriftwood: Joseph Harris’s shares Being Black And Gay In The Workplace: “Be The Best You As Possible, But Also Just Be You.” (5 mins)
- ZULA ChickChats: Dealing With One-sided ‘Love’ (11 mins)
- CNA Insider: Inside Myanmar's Notorious Scam Centres In Myawaddy (23 mins)
4. Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsIntro
Bridget McManus explores people, nurture and nature when overcoming historical reasons why "It took 13 years, but Claudia Karvan finally said yes to this hit show” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Jane Sullivan explores identity, connection and belonging when reflecting upon how "Forty years on, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit still tells a radical truth” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Liam Mannix explores gender, education and learning with "What the evidence says about sending your kids to single-sex v co-ed schools” via The Brisbane Times
Intra
Sarah Clutton explores paternity, parenting and presence recounting how "I thought finding my father would be a TV-style reunion. Far from it” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Maida Pineda explores identity, connection and belonging in "For years, I rarely saw my culture in the media. The Wiggles helped change that” via WA Today
Jamila Rizvi explores partnering, parenting and pulsing in "Can two career-driven parents both make it work? This could be the solution” via The Age
Inter
Henrietta Cook explores disease, unease and vaccination in calling "‘A catastrophe of a disease’: Doctors sound alarm on spread of measles” via The Age
Gabriella Coslovich explores identity, connection and belonging when reviewing "This show changes everything you think you know about Indigenous art” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Dani Valent explores identity, connection and belonging when recounting how "‘I’d be cruel’: Thi tried to push JY away, then the reason came out” via The Brisbane Times
Multi
Steve MinOn explores identity, connection and belonging when "‘Identifying one’s difference should be a journey of self-discovery’” via The Brisbane Times
Benjamin Law explores dicey topics Money, Sex and Religion with Giridharan Sivaraman who recalls "He was made Australia’s race discrimination commissioner. But his dad had questions” via The Age
Konrad Marshall explores parenting, passion and partnering when "Clara had two reasons not to date soccer star Katrina Gorry – now they’re engaged” The Brisbane Times
All
Erna Walraven explores gender, position and play recounting how "At my dream job in the ’80s, the chauvinism surprised me: I blame early zoologists” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Peter Mousaferiadis explores humanity, history and hazards when asking "AI Without Culture? The Risk of Losing Our Most Human Advantage” via Diversity Atlas
Lauren Ironmonger explores challenges, attitude and enjoyment in "What is ‘lemonading’ and why should we embrace it?” via The Age
Togather
Danielle Norton explores familiars, business and supportive relationships when "‘She left quite a legacy’: The mothers and daughters with the same job” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Saman Shad explores place, people and purpose recounting when "Pregnant in a new country, weeks before my birth the unthinkable happened” via The Age
Will Cox explores pride, prejudice and purgatory when reviewing "These works by Sidney Nolan have never been displayed. Now they’re heading to Melbourne” via The Age
Nobly
David Rising and Valerie Komor explores place, people and purpose recounting "How a can of Coke and day-old cake led to iconic photo that went around the world” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Matthew Knott explores identity, race and authority when reasoning "Why two men from opposite sides see Donald Trump as a ‘saviour’” via The Age
Brooke Boney explores place, purpose and potential when reasoning why "Welcome to Country is not an election issue, so why are we talking about it? I think I know” via The Brisbane Times
5. TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Joshua Schachter: How my (slightly annoying) art went viral (6 mins)
- Kat Cole: The "hot shot rule" to help you become a better leader (8 mins)
- Coleman Hughes: A case for color blindness (14 mins)
- Michael Vazquez and Sarah Stroud: The ethical dilemma of deathbed wishes (6 mins)
- Julian Schilliger and Youssef Nader: How AI is decoding ancient scrolls (16 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 an attitude to addressing challenges, obstacles and diverse views?
considering
[con’sid’er’ring]
From late Middle English: from Old French considerer, from Latin considerare = examine, perhaps based on sidus, sider- = star.
preposition
confer
[con’fer]
From late Middle English (in the general sense = bring together, from Latin conferre, from con- = together + ferre = bring.
verb
conniptions
[con’nip’shens]
From mid 19th century, probably an invented word.
noun
converse
[con’verse]
From late Middle English = ive among, be familiar with; from Old French converser, from Latin conversari = keep company (with), from con- = with + versare, frequentative of vertere = to turn. The current sense of the verb dates from the early 17th century.
verb
consistency
[con’sis’ten’see]
From late 16th century (denoting permanence of form): from late Latin consistentia, from consistere = stand firm or still, exist, from con- = together + sistere = stand (still).
noun
complement
[com’pleh’ment]
From late Middle English = completion: from Latin complementum, from complere = fill up, finish, fulfil, from com- = (expressing) intensive force, together + plere = fill.
noun
- 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 considering confer, conniptions, converse, consistency & complement.
considering
[con’sid’er’ring]
From late Middle English: from Old French considerer, from Latin considerare = examine, perhaps based on sidus, sider- = star.
preposition
- taking (something) into consideration; in view of. Ie, considering the circumstances, the victim was remarkably cheerful.
- taking the specified thing into consideration; in view of the fact that. Ie, considering that the player was the newest on the team, this was not reflected in the match.
- taking everything into account. Ie, they weren't feeling too bad, considering.
confer
[con’fer]
From late Middle English (in the general sense = bring together, from Latin conferre, from con- = together + ferre = bring.
verb
- grant (a title, degree, benefit, or right). Ie, the Minister worked within the powers conferred by Parliament.
- have discussions; exchange opinions. Ie, the officials were conferring with allies.
conniptions
[con’nip’shens]
From mid 19th century, probably an invented word.
noun
- a fit of rage or hysterics. Ie, this client was having conniptions over the phone.
converse
[con’verse]
From late Middle English = ive among, be familiar with; from Old French converser, from Latin conversari = keep company (with), from con- = with + versare, frequentative of vertere = to turn. The current sense of the verb dates from the early 17th century.
verb
- engage in conversation. Ie, the playing child was withdrawn and preoccupied, hardly able to converse with the parent.
- (Archaic) Conversation. Ie, the teacher's converse at the end of session was always elevating. Ie, It will be difficult in these converses not to talk of secular matter.
consistency
[con’sis’ten’see]
From late 16th century (denoting permanence of form): from late Latin consistentia, from consistere = stand firm or still, exist, from con- = together + sistere = stand (still).
noun
- consistent behaviour or treatment. Ie, the consistency of measurement techniques.
- the quality of achieving a level of performance which does not vary greatly in quality over time. Ie, we know we have the playing ability in the team – what we need is consistency.
- the way in which a substance holds together; thickness or viscosity. Ie, the sauce has the consistency of creamed butter.
complement
[com’pleh’ment]
From late Middle English = completion: from Latin complementum, from complere = fill up, finish, fulfil, from com- = (expressing) intensive force, together + plere = fill.
noun
- a thing that contributes extra features to something else in such a way as to improve or emphasize its quality. Ie, local hospitality provide the perfect complement to fine food.
- a number or quantity of something, especially that required to make a group complete. Ie, at the moment we have a full complement of staff.
- the number of people required to crew a ship, Ie, almost half the ship's complement of 322 were women.
- (Geometry) the amount in degrees by which a given angle is less than 90°.
- (Mathematics) the members of a set or class that are not members of a given subset.
- (Grammar) one or more words, phrases, or clauses governed by a verb (or by a nominalization or a predicative adjective) that complete the meaning of the predicate. Ie, In generative grammar, all the constituents of a sentence that are governed by a verb form the complement.
- (in systemic grammar) an adjective or noun that has the same reference as either the subject (as mad in he is mad) or the object (as mad in he drove her mad or manager in they appointed him manager).
- (Physiology) a group of proteins present in blood plasma and tissue fluid which combine with an antigen–antibody complex to bring about the lysis of foreign cells.
- contribute extra features to (someone or something) in such a way as to improve or emphasize their qualities. Ie, a classic blazer complements a look that's smart or casual.
- add to or make complete. Ie, the proposals complement the incentives already available.
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.
