Thanksgiving

Today is the last Thursday of November, the day set aside in North America as Thanksgiving Day. It is a national holiday and people tend to spend the time with their family and loved ones around a shared meal.



The tradition has it's roots in the religious beliefs of the early Pilgrim settlers who gave thanks after surviving a rather bleak first winter and benefitted from the bounty of a bumper first harvest in their new land and home. The gift of a new life in a new land certainly was considered worth celebrating as they endured tremendous hardship including the loss of loved ones.



And so I wish everyone who may be reading this on Thursday 27th November,"Happy Thanksgiving"!!

Blog Usage

How is everyone finding the blog? Is it something useful? How do they find the usability and maneouvrability(?) within the blog?

I find it a little cumbersome trying to follow posts via comments. It requires a certain amount of guessing as to where a new response comment was added.

Could we perhaps explore the possibility of a more forum-like site if people think they will use the internet as a medium for online discussions?

Visit to Blackburn for awesome books!

Hi everyone

I've made a time with the people over at the Pure Land Learning Centre in Blackburn to get some of their books on really good teachines. I plan to be there this Sunday morning. They're open from 10am - 3pm, so we can discuss the time we want to be there this Saturday.

Please follow this link for their location and possible public transport. Please also note that the numbering on Eley Rd is a little funny so there's a number 85 which is a residential house. The actual centre is in a community centre between Middleborough Road and Blackburn Road.

Cheers,

Jonathan

Gratitude # 2

The session offered participants the opportunity to look at a model and use three different stories from 3 different traditions to see if they could use the model in a practical way.



There was also discussion about the topics that were to be put forward for selection for next year's discussion and consideration with an open invitation to any member of the group who wanted to facilitate the sessions.



The topics put forward so far:

• Patience
• Karma
• Virtue
• Justice
• Truth

We are also going to trial the suggestion that we have the session from 10.30am-12noon without a half hour break and then have our refreshments at the conclusion of the session. We will allow flexibility for people to feed meters and visit the bathroom of course!!! We'll see how this works for the remaing two sessions so that those planning next year can be clear what is required of them.



As we wind down towards the end of this first 12 week block of sharing and reflection, I'd like to express my gratitude for the generosity that those who come along regularly to share their ideas and to learn freely from each other. The group is exceptionall willing to listen and learn from each other and that in itself has immense value for us as we share our journey through life!



I look forward to sharing with you more gifts of wisdom next Saturday.

World Philosphy Day 20Nov2008

Dear all,

Wrap your thoughts around some of these condundrums to celebrate!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7739493.stm

Ann

Gratitude #1

This session enabled us to consider the complexities relating to giving and receiving at different levels. It generated good discussion as individuals looked at their own perceptions and understandings and maybe even clarified some issues within themselves.

There was significant discussion about the emphasis on "currency" and how else gratitude can be measured.

It was delightful to have our guest from the country Karen to join us and share her valuable insights. And Marcello as always blessed us with his kind and generous gift of wonderful wonderful Italian delicacies...look forward to seeing you next Saturday when we continue our reflection on the topic of gratitude...

Receiving

On the other side of giving is receiving.

Is it wrong of a person to keep giving if the other person is not comfortable receiving?
I guess this then requires people to self-reflect why they may be uncomfortable with receiving. But if they are not ready for this self-reflection, then is it still the givers right to give? Especially if the receiver is actively resisting?
Or does it then becomes the giver's responsibility to determine what it is they should give to best help the person receiving?
Is all this consideration counterproductive to an earlier quote on this site from Mother Teresa about what people may think, and doing it anyway.

Regardless of which, in the words of Mother Teresa, "I believe it is not what we do, but how much love we put into doing it." May 1982, address in Rome

Giving

There is much to think about 'giving and generosity'

Perhaps that's a problem in itself - the 'thought' behind the giving

Generosity is about giving without any thought or constraint behind it

In other words, giving unconditionally and with only one thought - the
thought of giving itself

Quite simply, I give because I wish to give...

But what makes me 'want' to give - well, it's kindness

I believe that generosity and kindness go hand-in-hand

One cannot exist without the other

Remember... it doesn't matter if your gift is taken for granted or
that you're not thought of, or appreciated as you would like - it's
about yourself in the giving and not the recipient and how they
receive the gift

Don't let thoughts or doubts hold you back when the time arises
and don't expect anything in return, for it's more noble to
give than it is to recieve

Marcello

time to consider altenative venues

I have been advised that from next year our group will no longer be able to use the Deakinprime boardroom. Our CEO was happy to supply it to kick-start the group, but the reality is that as an on-going proposition, we will need to find a venue for next year. Preferably in the city. Preferably cheap or no cost.



Put on the thinking hats and send out those networking tentacles...someone will come up with a brilliant solution..remember the universe is abundant.



It would be helpful for the group to have a venue finalised by the last session on the 6th Dec 2008.



I wish to express my gratitude to Kean and Deakinprime staff for all their generosity and assistance which has assited us to create a marvellous group of deep thinkers.

Generosity # 4

This was our last session on reflecting on the concept of Generosity. We reflected on what we had learned so far, and was introduced to the Greek myth relating to the concpet of hindsight.
There was ample discussion on the gift of hindsight, and whether the tough times that we are going through enable to appreciate the gift that is being given..most of the time were are only mindful of coping with the circumstances we are presented with. Trif shared with us a wonderful quote from Shakespeare.
Next time we begin our discussion and reflection on the concept of Gratitude..we welcome the pleasure of your company.

the business of philosophy

"What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? to get rid of self-deceit. for it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows"
Discourses www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Epictetus accessed 06Nov2008

Generosity # 3

This week the class looked at the difference between the concepts of "freedom" and "licence" and how this may impact on generosity... there was interesting discussion about the actual definition of these two words, and whether mindfulness had a role to play.
The session also covered our ability to make a choice and how we interpret the choices that are given to us in our lives...where we actually choose to invest our time and energy and how that impacts on ourselves and others. This lead to discussion on the application of knowledge and wisdom concerning generosity.
The reflection centered on the beautiful quote from Mother Theresa, and several pearls of wisdom resulted!! A delightful gift to us all to complete the session..thank you everyone for sharing so generously of yourselves! I look forward to seeing you next Saturday!

Session 3 Generosity: Reflection

“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway…

You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.”

Mother Theresa
Christian missionary
Winner 1979 Nobel Peace Prize