[Edited extract from public address]
Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Kali Yuga Hindu Calendar Year 5126–5127.
Sharing a timely aspiration:“Relations are like electric currents. Wrong connections will give you shocks throughout your life. But the right ones will light up your life and lighten the load.”
– Attributed to Buddhism (since 483 BCE to present)
If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 3 prepared earlier:
- 7 August: Aged Care Employee Day (Australia)
- 9 August: International Day of the World's Indigenous People (International)
- 12 August: International Youth Day (International)
This edition, we reflect upon an Ancient Indian story Jātaka Tale: A Rude Man.
One day Buddha was walking through a village. A very angry and rude young man came up and began insulting him. “You have no right teaching others,” he shouted. “You are as stupid as everyone else. You are nothing but a fake.”
Buddha was not upset by these insults. Instead, he asked the young man, “Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to whom does the gift belong?”
The man was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, “It would belong to me, of course, because I bought the gift.”
The Buddha smiled and said, “That is correct. And it is exactly the same with your anger. If you become angry with me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you. You are then the only one who becomes unhappy, not me. All you have done is hurt yourself.”
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
- Marcello Hernandez: Cuban Mom (8 mins)
- Midnight Sun: The Secret of Dreaming – An Australian Aboriginal Myth of Creation (10 mins)
- Stephan's History of the World: Why only ONE ancient CIVILIZATION invented the true number ZERO! (25 mins)
- Amanpour and Company: Ocean Vuong on War, Sexuality and Asian-American Identity (20 mins)
- SBS On Demand: Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties - Part 2 | Australian citizenship (7 mins)
4. Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsIntro
Marc McGowan explores place, passion and perseverance in "How tennis’ world No.16 became an Aussie – and will soon call Melbourne home” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Jessica Dettmann explores wanting, regrets and acceptance in why "I missed my chance at a gap year, so instead I tried a ‘gap week’ in my 40s” via The Age
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Politics, Sex and Death with AFL star Travis Boak in "‘I’ve been driven and selfish’: on staying single” via The Brisbane Times
Intra
Margaret Raffle explores place, passage and prosperity when reasoning how "No one knew where my suburb was. Then one store changed everything” via The Age
Katie Cunningham explores childhood, parenting and loss when "‘I’m with you, mate’: Days after Rob’s son drowned, so too did Adrian’s daughter” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Anonymous explores parenting, finances and working recounting how "‘I have no regrets’: My husband the escort” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Inter
Chip Le Grand and Daniella White explores place, people and purpose in "Yoorrook commission split over findings on injustices against Indigenous people” via The Age
Bianca Hrovat, Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy explore overseas recruitment, sponsored work visas and exploitation in "Mexican chefs were sold the Australian dream by Merivale. It was all ‘smoke screens and make-believe’” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Wendy Tuohy explores feelings, frustrations and fraternity in "Relationship breakdown a key risk for male suicide, but many men often given unhelpful advice” via The Brisbane Times
Multi
Matt Wade explores place, people and passion extolling how "Asia is flush with ancient marvels, but nothing matches these caves” via The Age
Millie Muroi explores home, housing and affordability in "How Canberra’s most popular book might influence my hunt for a first home” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Bianca Hall explores environment, sustainability and driving "The growing problem electric vehicles are fuelling” via The Brisbane Times
All
James Button explores humans, rights and privilege in how "‘We need to find common ground’: Hugh de Kretser’s human rights challenge” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Lachlan Abbott explores place, passion and paint in "This trio has mapped hundreds of murals in Melbourne. Here are 15 of the best” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Sophie Aubrey explores place, purpose and position in "Let there be light: Lessons from Melbourne’s first apartment high-rise” via The Age
Togather
Lisa Marie Corso explores vision, home and community revealing "The 1936 blueprint for modern apartment living: Inside Fitzroy's Cairo Flats” via domain.com.au
Nicole Precel explores gender, potential and opportunity are just some of the reasons "This Melbourne school is one of the best in the world for overcoming adversity” via The Age
Nell Geraets explores story, engagement and transformation in how "Drawn from the experiences of a former prison guard, this play crosses an invisible line” via The Age
Nobly
Kerrie O’Brien explores place, people and passion when reviewing "Love, solidarity, resilience: Why this extraordinary exhibition is a must-see” via The Age
Alexandra Sangster explores place, purpose and perseverance revealing "The courage of those suffering can be devastating” via The Age
Jane Cadzow explores supply, demand and generosity revealing how "Just like a real store, but everything is free for people doing it tough” via The Age
5. TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Rogier van der Heide: Why light needs darkness (17 mins)
- Sangu Delle: There's no shame in taking care of your mental health (9 mins)
- J. Marshall Shepherd: 3 kinds of bias that shape your worldview (12 mins)
- Carole Cadwalladr: Facebook's role in Brexit — and the threat to democracy (15 mins)
- Eve Pearlman: How to lead a conversation between people who disagree (9 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:
How to come together in peaceful coexistence?
- 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 assembling specious, moderate, celebrate, argot & putative.
assembling
[ah’semb’ling]
From Middle English: from Old French asembler, based on Latin ad- = to + simul = together.
verb
specious
[spee’sesh]
From late Middle English = beautiful: from Latin speciosus = fair, from species = appearance, form, beauty, from specere = to look.
adjective
moderate
[mod’eh’rayte]
From late Middle English: from Latin moderat- = reduced, controlled, from the verb moderare; related to modest; from French modeste, from Latin modestus = keeping due measure, related to modus = measure.
adjective
celebrate
[sell’leh’brayte]
From late Middle English; from Latin celebrat- = celebrated, from the verb celebrare, from celeber, celebr- = frequented or honoured.
verb
argot
[arh’go]
From mid 19th century (originally denoting the jargon or slang of criminals): from French, of unknown origin.
putative
[pooh’tah’tiv]
From late Middle English: from Old French putatif, -ive or late Latin putativus, from Latin putat- = thought, from the verb putare = think.
adjective
assembling
[ah’semb’ling]
From Middle English: from Old French asembler, based on Latin ad- = to + simul = together.
verb
- gathering together in one place for a common purpose. Ie, a crowd is assembling outside the gates.
- causing (people or things) to gather together for a common purpose. Ie, rthe Guide assembled the surviving members of the group for a tour.
- (Entomology) of male moths, gathering for mating in response to a pheromone released by a female. Ie, the males assembling and hanging by their front legs within a yard or two of the female. Ie, assembling of male moths around a freshly emerged female.
- fitting together the separate component parts of (a machine or other object). Ie, the team are assembling all the ingredients to commission the new machine.
- (Computing) translating a program from a higher-level programming language into machine code. Ie, assembling the program to produce a file suitable for inputting into the simulator.
specious
[spee’sesh]
From late Middle English = beautiful: from Latin speciosus = fair, from species = appearance, form, beauty, from specere = to look.
adjective
- superficially plausible, but actually wrong. Ie, a specious argument.
- misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive. Ie, the music trade gives Golden Oldies a specious appearance of novelty.
moderate
[mod’eh’rayte]
From late Middle English: from Latin moderat- = reduced, controlled, from the verb moderare; related to modest; from French modeste, from Latin modestus = keeping due measure, related to modus = measure.
adjective
- average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree: we walked at a moderate pace.
- (of a person, party, or policy) not radical or excessively right- or left-wing. Ie, a moderate reform programme.
- a person who holds moderate views, especially in politics. Ie, an unlikely alliance of radicals and moderates.
- make or become less extreme, intense, rigorous, or violent. Ie, I will moderate my criticism. Ie, the weather has moderated considerably.
- (British English) review (examination papers, results, or candidates) in relation to an agreed standard so as to ensure consistency of marking. Ie, the dependability of an examining system rests on those who set, moderate, and mark the papers.
- (academic and ecclesiastical contexts) preside over a deliberative body or at a debate. Ie, a panel moderated by a Harvard University law professor.
- (especially in the Presbyterian Church in Scotland) act as a moderator; preside. Ie, it is the Presbytery that moderates.
- (online forum or social media platform) monitor for inappropriate or offensive content.
- (Physics) retard (neutrons) with a moderator. Ie, the neutrons causing fission are not moderated but react at high energies.
celebrate
[sell’leh’brayte]
From late Middle English; from Latin celebrat- = celebrated, from the verb celebrare, from celeber, celebr- = frequented or honoured.
verb
- acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity. Ie, they were celebrating their wedding anniversary at a swanky restaurant. Ie, on the way home the promoted worker celebrated with a glass of champagne. Ie, wildlife campaigners celebrated after their victory.
- reach (a birthday or anniversary): the programme celebrates its 40th birthday this year.
- perform (a religious ceremony), in particular officiate at (the Eucharist). Ie, the Minister celebrated holy communion.
- honour or praise publicly. Ie, a film celebrating the actor's career.
argot
[arh’go]
From mid 19th century (originally denoting the jargon or slang of criminals): from French, of unknown origin.
- the jargon or slang of a particular group or class. Ie, teenage argot.
putative
[pooh’tah’tiv]
From late Middle English: from Old French putatif, -ive or late Latin putativus, from Latin putat- = thought, from the verb putare = think.
adjective
- generally considered or reputed to be. Ie, the putative author of the book.
[Practice]
7. Acknowledgments
Reconciliation
- Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of City of Port Phillip are the Boonwurrung, Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions.
- Services and program delivery is culturally safe to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, aesexual and questioning (LGBTIQA+).
- 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.
