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GEIFN | MIXING | Media | September 2025

[Edited extract from public address]

Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Islamic Calendar 24 Safar, AH 1447.


Sharing a timely aspiration:
"In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction."
Audre Lorde, American writer, womanist, radical feminist, professor, and civil rights activist (1934-1992 CE)

If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 3 prepared earlier:

This edition, we reflect upon an Ancient Tibetan teaching of the Vajrayana Buddhist 3 Mind Poisons.

All of life’s Suffering can be attributed to living beings’ minds being afflicted by 3 poisons*. 

Generally, the name of these poisons differ depending on culture, time of translation and translator. Here is one translation:

  • Ignorance = confusion, false view and apathy depicted sometimes as a snake
  • Desire = greed, tendency and uncontrollable urges for earthly pleasures, depicted sometimes as a pig
  • Anger = unpredictable, fast acting and self-centred, depicted sometimes as a rooster

The snake, pig and rooster are often depicted chasing each other in a circle, depicting the unbroken loop of suffering we usually find ourselves in. Until we choose something different.

Specifically, an illusory, changeable and changing compound of: 

  • cravings (unpleasant or pleasant imaginations with a judgement: we think we are unaffected by others' situation, unable to effect positive change, or choose to do nothing)
  • illusions (pleasant imaginations with a judgement: we are the victor)
  • delusions (unpleasant imaginations with a judgement: we are the victim)

*Poisons = harmful attitudes/behaviours/things that detract from being liberated from worldly cravings, illusions, delusions in a circular loop called Dhukka/Samsara/Unsatisfactoriness or Suffering (Pali/Sanskrit/English).

This can also be taught as:

  • 5 Disturbing Emotions: the above 3 poisons + 
    • love-child of Desire and Anger = Envy (I want what you have AND/OR you want want I have)
    • love-child of Ignorance and Anger = Pride (I am better than you AND/OR you are better than me)
  • 6 Perfections: perfecting is equivalent to realising a state of mind where the poisons/disturbances no longer have hold on the individual. When this gets easier, the individual has gone from being an unwilling servant with difficult masters of their minds. With practice changing the subservience to equitable co-conspirators with a shared goal. When this gets easier, with practice until it is the prevailing state as a lasting embodiment.

These things are naturally occurring phenomena in the mind that we mistake, misunderstood or manufacture Suffering. Those who wish to work with their minds and have access and the capacity to do so transform the fuel of the poisons/disturbances into the mirror-like wisdoms and freedom from Suffering.

For example: 

  • the mind-poison of Ignorance is transformed into the mirror-like wisdom of Insight
  • the mind-poison of Desire is transformed into the mirror-like wisdom of Non-Selfish Generosity.
  • the mind-poison of Anger is transformed into the mirror-like wisdom of Compassion.
  • the mind-poison of Envy is transformed into the mirror-like wisdom of Trustworthiness.
  • the mind-poison of Pride is transformed into the mirror-like wisdom of Equanimity.

Realising one mirror-like wisdom is an Awakening of mind. Realising all in a lasting way is Full Awakening of Mind. This lasting state is called 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
  2. Street Jives
  3. Wisdom Reconciles
  4. Media Writes
  5. TED Talks
  6. Music Challenges
  7. Acknowledgments


1. Guest Sings

Approx 5 min presentation

 

2. Street Jives

Approx 2 min presentation

 

3. Wisdom Reconciles

 

4. Media Writes

Approx 5 min reads

Intro
Bunny Banyai explores connection, belonging and familiarity in "How a cat named Horse came into my life when I needed him most” via The Age

Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Sex, Death and Politics with Comedian Urzila Carlson in "‘I’m super-cute’: struggle to stay single” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Bridget McManus explores identity, connection and belonging recounting how "It took a song about a ‘confused female friendship’ to bring ABC host Zan Rowe to tears” via The Brisbane Times


Intra
Nicole Elphick explores self, camaraderie and journey in "How Nazeem Hussain and Melissa Leong turned ‘hot girl walks’ into a TV road trip” via WA Today

Robyn Doreian explores honesty, fidelity and familiarity in "‘My father cheated on Mum’: Adam Courtenay on his famous dad” via The Sydney Morning Herald

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 exhibition explores potential, place and provenance "‘They’re going to see who I am’: Top shots from the National Photographic Portrait Prize” via The Sydney Morning Herald


Inter
Christopher Harris and Christine Lee explores education, fraternity and sustainability revealing "The university courses where students make friends – and the ones where they don’t” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Dwyer explores childhood, parenting and playing for laughs when "Comedian Alan Davies’ career changed once he admitted, ‘I’m one of those’” via The Age

Caroline Schelle explores learning, education and productivity as "These students are ditching screens for boots and garden tools to dig up VCE success” via The Age


Multi
Nicole Precel explores education, adventure and discovery in "‘Damn, is this my kid?’: The unique snow campus that costs a lot less than Timbertop” via The Age

Peter Hartcher explores truth, engaging and perspective with "Good journalism reveals problems and just asks more questions” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Nicole Abadee explores love, life and endurability when "Comedian Anh Do can’t joke his way out of one situation with wife Suzanne” via The Age


All
Jess Kitching explores existence, mortality and love recalling how "Losing James was devastating, but it gave me a road map for a better life" via The Age

Susan Horsburgh explores longevity, camaraderie and celebratory in "‘She knows the younger version of me’: When two friends reunite after 50 years” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Bridie Smith explores learning, education and engagement in "This sporty school changed its tune and danced its way to VCE stardom” via The Age


Togather
Chip Le Grand explores place, people and presence as "Treaty negotiations complete, a historic agreement is within reach” via The Age

Helen Pitt explores artistry, expression and meaningful when "The discarded outback road signs that became a prize-winning artwork” via The Age

Michael Lallo explores passion, craftsmanship and the secret world of good vibrations in "These images have one thing in common. Can you guess what it is?” via The Brisbane Times


Nobly
Bridie Smith explores initiative, collaboration and endurance when "Making the cut: Why students’ side hustles are big business” via The Age

Alice Uribe explores affordability, household and socially are some reasons why "Melissa moved into a share house in her 50s. More people are doing the same” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Cassidy Knowlton explores knowledge, learning and understanding that "‘Your failures are just as important as your successes’” via The Age

  

5. TED Talks

5-20 min presentations

  

6. Music Challenges

Approx 30 min presentation + reflection times

If 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 makes us collectively realise peaceful coexistence?
        1. Inspire
        2. Perspire
        3. Collaborate
        4. Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
        5. Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
        6. Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
        This challenge is wangling angle, angles, tangle, triangle, rectangle, quadrangle, entangle & eudaimonic.

        wangling
        [wan’gool]
        From late 19th century (first recorded as printers' slang): of unknown origin; perhaps based on the late 16th century verb waggle = move or cause to move with short quick movements from side to side or up and down.

        verb
        • managing to obtain (something) by persuading or cleverly manipulating someone. Ie, wangling an invitation to the party, I wore my new outfit. Ie, wangling it so that we can start tomorrow.
        noun
        • an act or an instance of obtaining something by persuasion or clever manipulation. Ie, a rather clever wangling on the part of some of the folk at the office achieved a party to lift team spirits.

        angle
        [an’gool]
        From late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin angulus = an angle, corner.

        noun
        1. the space (usually measured in degrees) between two intersecting lines or surfaces at or close to the point where they meet: in any triangle, the longest side is opposite the largest angle | spring-loaded hinges open the doors to any angle up to 90°.
          1. a corner, especially an external projection or an internal recess of a part of a building or other structure. Ie, a skylight in the angle of the roof.
          2. a measure of the inclination of one line or surface with respect to another. Ie, sloping at an angle of 33° to the horizontal.
          3. a position from which something is viewed or along which it travels or acts, typically as measured by its inclination from an implicit horizontal or vertical baseline. Ie, from this angle the audience could see the speaker's face.
        2. a particular way of approaching or considering an issue or problem. Ie, discussing the problems from every conceivable angle. Ie, they always had a fresh angle on life.
        3. (Astrology) each of the four cardinal points of a chart, from which the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses extend anticlockwise respectively.
        4. (Architecture) angle iron or a similar constructional material made of another metal. Ie, the supporting frame is usually of aluminium angle bolted together.
        5. (Fishing) a fish hook. you will be pleased too, if you find a Trout at one of our Angles.
        verb
        1. direct or incline at an angle. Ie, the Guest angled the chair to watch the speaker.
          • (with adverbial of direction) move or be inclined at an angle. Ie, still the rain angles down.
          • present (information) to reflect a particular view or have a particular focus. Ie, angle your answer so that it is relevant to the job for which you are applying.
        2. fish with a rod and line. Ie, there are no big fish left to angle for.
        3. seek something desired by indirectly prompting someone to offer it. Ie, the Visitor had begun to angle for an invitation.

        Angles
        [an’gool]
        From Latin Anglus, (plural) Angli = the people of Angul, a district of Schleswig (now in northern Germany), so named because of its shape; of Germanic origin, related to Old English angul

        noun
        • a member of a Germanic people, originally inhabitants of what is now Schleswig-Holstein, who came to England in the 5th century AD. The Angles founded kingdoms in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia and gave their name to England and the English. Ie, the Angles and Saxons from modern-day Denmark and Germany began landing in eastern England.

        tangle
        [tan’gool]
        From Middle English (in the sense ‘entangle, catch in a tangle’): probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish dialect taggla = disarrange or Norwegian tongul.

        verb
        1. twist together into a confused mass. Ie, the broom somehow got tangled up in my long skirt.
          • make (something) complicated or confused. Ie, a ploy to tangle matters even further.
        2. (informal) become involved in a conflict or fight with. Ie, they usually come a cropper when they tangle with the heavy mobs.
        3. (Norwegian) any of a number of brown seaweeds, especially oarweed.
        noun
        1. a confused mass of something twisted together. Ie, a tangle of golden hair.
          • a confused or complicated state; a muddle: the home team's defence got into an awful tangle.
        2. (informal) a fight, argument, or disagreement. Ie, the Guest got into a tangle with staff.

        triangle
        [try’an’gool]
        From late Middle English: from Old French triangle or Latin triangulum, neuter of triangulus = three-cornered; from from Latin and Greek, from Latin tres, Greek treis = three + angulus = an angle, corner.

        noun
        1. a plane figure with three straight sides and three angles. Ie, an equilateral triangle.
          • a thing shaped like a triangle. Ie, a small triangle of grass.
          • a musical instrument consisting of a steel rod bent into a triangle and sounded by being struck with a small steel rod.
          • a frame used to position the pool balls in snooker and pool.
          • (North American) a drawing instrument in the form of a right-angled triangle.
          • (triangles) historical a frame of three halberds joined at the top to which a soldier was bound for flogging.
        2. (also eternal triangle) an emotional relationship involving a couple and a third person with whom one of them is also involved.
        3. a small brownish Eurasian moth of oak and beech woods.

        rectangle
        [rek’tan’gool]
        From late 16th century: from medieval Latin rectangulum, from late Latin rectiangulum, based on Latin rectus = straight + angulus = an angle.

        noun
        • a plane figure with four straight sides and four right angles, especially one with unequal adjacent sides, in contrast to a square.

        quadrangle
        [kwad’ran’gool]
        From late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin quadrangulum = square, neuter of quadrangulus, from Latin quadri- = four + angulus = corner, angle.

        noun
        1. (Geometry) a four-sided plane figure, especially a square or rectangle.
        2. (Architecture) a square or rectangular space or courtyard enclosed by buildings.

        entangle
        [en’tan’gool]
        From Middle English (in the sense ‘entangle, catch in a tangle’): from French, from Latin in- = put into, on, do + probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish dialect taggla = disarrange or Norwegian tongul.

        verb
        • cause to become twisted together with or caught in. Ie, fish attempt to swim through the mesh and become entangled.
          • involve (someone) in difficulties or complicated circumstances from which it is difficult to escape. Ie, they were suspicious of becoming entangled in the protest.

        eudaimonic
        [heh’don’ik]
        From mid 19th century: from Greek eudaimonikos, from eudaimōn = happy.

        adjective
        • conducive to happiness.

        Optional
        -- Chant Mantrastyle

        Why? Why not?
        Start today. 
        As the case may be.
        Or not.



        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.

        Jane Hutcheon, contemporary Hong Kong born Australian journalist & author


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