NAVIGATION

NAVIGATION

HOME | CONTACT | ABOUT US | GATHERS | RESOURCES

GEIFN | MIXING | Media | July 2026

[Edited extract from public address]

Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Myanmar Calendar year 1388 Ku.

Due to GEIFN Caretaker's family leave 3-31 July 2026, there will be no August 2026 edition. Thankyou for the patience, received with gratitude. Next scheduled edition September 2026.

Meanwhile, sharing a timely aspiration:
“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.”
Spencer Johnson, American physician and author (1938-2017)

If having no reason to celebrate, here are some prepared earlier:

There are many ways to liberate oneself from Suffering, here is another one.

This edition, we explore the Ancient Indian Buddhist concept of  Pāramī/Paramitas/Ten virtues and skilful actions (Pali/Sanskrit/English) . 

Often translated as perfections, skilful action and morals arise from the practice of these virtues, and lead to precepts where practitioners take vows to avoid harmful conduct. 

The Pāramī/Paramitas are positive virtues that are practised to guarantee happier trouble-free living and supporting the development of the Awakened mind.

Here they are explained simply: 

  1. Loving kindness (Pali: metta) can also be compassion. All positive and moral conduct is a form of kindness to self and others. 
  2. Giving or generosity (Pali: dana) does not always mean material aid. Giving can be in the form of good conduct, such as care and patience, and wishing benefit to others. 
  3. Equal love or joy with others is also related to equanimity, being even tempered and learning to love all creatures as dearly as oneself.
  4. Renunciation or finding the Middle Way by not going to extremes and not holding tightly to fixed ideas, objects and people. 
  5. Patience is about remaining calm and good tempered in annoying and difficult situations. It is a form of being kind to oneself and to others. 
  6. Effort is maintaining energy to learn and do things well, but with kindly and mindful application according to the Middle Way. 
  7. Wisdom is apparent in all the Buddha’s teachings. It is about understanding the way things are and the way the world works. It is based on interconnectedness and cause and effect relationships.
  8. Honesty requires courage to seek truth, uphold what is true and to value truth and honesty in personal conduct, with others and society. 
  9. Perseverance is the will to keep going and not to give up. 
  10. Right action is moral conduct by avoiding harmful actions. It can also be viewed as forms of kindness to oneself because harmful results from actions are also avoided. For lay Buddhists the first precept is to avoid killing, and then to avoid lying and stealing. The fourth precept is interpreted simply  here as avoiding disloyalty or unfaithfulness or non-sexual harm, and avoiding intoxicants can also be linked to avoiding extreme behaviours and the Middle Way. 
We do not need to know Pali or Sanskrit or be Buddhist to use this way. The concepts will exist in some way or another in whatever language and whereever you are right now.

It is simple, if one wants less-Suffering, think, say and do things that cause less-Suffering. It is not important what causing less-Suffering is called. What is important is that less-Suffering is chosen, caused and the consequence. Starting with the individual, growing in surpluses, sharing with a greater number of beneficiaries until including all. Or not.

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
Nicola Redhouse explores refraining, training and raining when "I was deeply embarrassed by my school mistake. But heart rates were normal without this madness” via The Age

Benjamin Law explores dicey topics Politics, Death and Sex with Tasma Walton "‘He’s keeping himself in very fine form’: How Rove McManus and her keep the spark alive” via WA Today

Carolyn Webb explores life, living and loving in "‘Sylvia Plath stole my boyfriend’: This fun-filled 95-year-old comedian is just getting started” via The Age


Intra
Myffy Rigby explores gender, aging and wisdom "On paper, Heather Mitchell’s career looks flawless. In reality, there have been huge lows” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Kerrie O’Brien explores life, art and public presentation as "The fantastic Ms Fox rises to the occasion” via The Age

Benjamin Law explores dicey topics Religion, Death and Sex with Anisa Nandaula who recounts "‘Yo, you’re going to hell!’: on culture shock in a new home” via The Brisbane Times


Inter
Jenna Price explorers relationships, equity and sharing "Two homes and a baby: How politicians Josh Burns and Georgie Purcell manage the juggle” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Shona Hendley explores life, living and loving in why "Liz and Lauren were born 30 years apart. This is how they became the best of friends” via The Age

Benjamin Law explores language, living and longevity recounting when "‘He left without a word’: How a family secret shaped a cinema icon’s career” via The Sydney Morning Herald


Multi
Tim Biggs explores childhood, online and accountability as "Search giants must protect children from harmful content or cop $50m fine” via The Age

Waleed Aly explores identity, difference and diversity as "Few would have expected this One Nation MP’s maiden speech. There’s a subtle shift in Hanson’s movement” via WA Today

Jane Rocca explores talent, tribulations and timing in "What punk icon Malcolm McLaren told Kate Ceberano in just four brutal words” via The Age


All
Benjamin Law talks dicey topics Religion, Money and Bodies with Tony Albert in "‘I know how to live poor’: The highs and lows of an artist’s life” via The Brisbane Times

Katrina Strickland explores gender, history and accomplishing revealing "The 30-minute timer trick: The productivity hack behind Natasha Lester’s 12 novels” via WA Today

Vince Rugari explores identity, fashion and diligence in "‘I don’t know how to stop scoring bangers’: Is this our next football superstar?” via The Sydney Morning Herald


Togather
Ariana Eunjung Cha explores anger, forgiveness and empathy in "How the ‘empty chair technique’ helped Steve forgive his dead mother” via The Brisbane Times

Anson Cameron explores identity, history and freedom when "My best friends and I have history. Sometimes it’s better not knowing” via WA Today

Kerrie O’Brien explores history, empire and curation in "If you’re obsessed with ancient Rome, this is the exhibition for you” via The Sydney Morning Herald


Nobly
Fotis Kapetopoulos explores courtesy, common and communication recounting when "I was about to launch into faux politeness. A $1.50 gesture from a stranger changed my mind” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Stephen Brook explores purpose, effectiveness and sustainability "I was too busy for the charity vendor. But he said something that stopped me in my tracks” via The Age

Josephine Grieve explores life, living and livelihoods in "‘Is this what you really want to be doing?’ Why one man left the city for life on a sheep farm” via The Sydney Morning Herald

  

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 is a starting point in shaking off gloom, doom and soon?
        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 accomplishing ephemeral, albeit, abiding, discombobulated, proverb & quest.

        accomplishing
        [ah’com’plish’ing]
        From late Middle English: from Old French acompliss-, lengthened stem of acomplir, based on Latin ad- = to + complere = to complete.

        verb
        • achieve or complete successfully. Ie, at final quarter, the players are accomplishing their mission.
          • (Southeast Asian English) fill in (a form). Ie, once you’ve finished accomplishing this form, secure supporting documents.

        ephemeral
        [eh’fem’er’rule]
        From late 16th century: from Greek ephēmeros = lasting only a day, short lifespan + -al = suffix relating to; of the kind of.

        adjective
        • lasting for a very short time. Ie, fashions are ephemeral: new ones regularly drive out the old. Ie, works of more than ephemeral interest.
          • (chiefly of plants) having a very short life cycle. Ie, chickweed is an ephemeral weed, producing several generations in one season.
        noun
        • an ephemeral plant: ephemerals avoid the periods of drought as seeds.

        albeit
        [owl’bee’it]
        From late Middle English: from the phrase all be it = although it be (that).

        conjunction
        • Though. Ie, they were making progress, albeit rather slowly.

        abiding
        [ah’bye’ding]
        From Old English ābīdan = wait, from ā- = onwards + bīdan = wait, remain or stay somewhere.

        verb
        1. (abide by) accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation). Ir, I said I would abide by their decision.
        2. (can/could abide) be able to tolerate (someone or something). Ir, if there is one thing I cannot abide it is a lack of discipline. Ie, they enjoyed socializing and could not abide being alone.
        3. (of a feeling or memory) continue without fading or being lost. Ie, at least one memory will abide.
          • (archaic) live; dwell. Ie, many unskilful citizens do abide in our City.

        discombobulated
        [dis’com’bob’you’lay’ted]
        From late 19th century (originally US): from discombobulate = disconcert or confuse (someone) + -ed = suffix forming the past tense and past participle of weak verbs; or forming participial adjectives.

        adjective
        • confused and disconcerted. Ie, the newest arrival is looking a little pained and discombobulated, please make them feel welcomed.

        proverb
        [pro’verb]
        From Middle English: from Old French proverbe, from Latin proverbium, from pro- = put forth + verbum = word.

        noun
        • a short, well-known pithy saying, stating a general truth or piece of advice.

        quest
        [kwest]
        From late Middle English: from Old French queste (noun), quester (verb), based on Latin quaerere = ask, seek.

        noun
        • a long or arduous search for something. Ie, the quest for a reliable vaccine has intensified.
          • (in medieval romance) an expedition made by a knight to accomplish a prescribed task.
        verb
        • search for something. Ie, the student was a real scientist, questing after truth.
          • literary search for; seek out. Ie, they quest wisdom.
        [Practice]

        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.



        Labels: , , , , , ,