art and dharma

dear Brothers and Sisters,

Although we have a film crew from Bollywood invading the beach near the ashram, life is running smoothly here, we have a lot of time to practice devotional artwork, including painting or drawing dharma material, making tsa-tsa and plaster stupas which help to create merit (anybody seeing them purifies their 5 negative karmas of heinous crimes), and also serve as a very good devotional single-pointed meditation.
But also, we enjoy days out volunteering at the monkey house or at the International Animal Rescue centre in Assagao to walk puppies and give much love to poorly treated animals. Dharma in action !! Reciting the right mantras will help purify the negative karma of all these sentient beings we come into contact, and also by being seen in public like John when singing in bars, you can help and practice Dharma in your everyday life.

Keep the Faith, and practice everyday is the key to a happy life.

with love and prayers .....................

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We had a full house again all through february with the visit of two monks from Sera-je.What a blessing to be able to accomodate members of the Sangha here !! and share with them our practice, get some meditation tips; and singing tibetan prayers was very enriching.
Now there are two permanent residents, ie staying until the end of the season, and we share many insights and inspiring moments. We also expecting at the end of march from Russia, and the young couple from Moscow staying here at the moment is finding a place to rest from their travel, enjoying meditations for the first time, et looking ater their spirit practicing generosity (thank you Ann for your delicious russian homemade porridge !!!)
Yesterday was the end of the colour festival (many people got coloured against their will !!!) but peace remained at the ashram throughout the madness around. Full moon celebration was a very powerful moment with a nightwatch meditation for John on sunday in Chapora fort.
As Father Maximilian said, facing his lethal injection from his Nazi torturer: "Evil must be met by Love."
So keep the Faith in doing and cultivating good, this is the only way to fight against our demons and to know our minds.
Peace will prevail on Earth, and in the heart of all sentient beings.

With love and prayers.............

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The house is full again, lovely people from all over the world, and we are enjoying the sunsets, lovely vegetarian food and many karma yogas together. Tom from Germany has rebuilt the outside hut under the trees, The Hut of Truth as I like to call it, where guests can come to meditate under the green roof of nature (and snakes ?...), and also enjoy a private, deep and sincere conversation with me about their spiritual path in all openness. 'whatever happens in the hut, stays in the hut'.

Also, music is on the list of new activities (outside the ashram). In the library, we listen to Vivien from France, practicing tablas everyday, and John is playing acoustic guitar in a local bar in Anjuna beach (SAN FRANCISCO's) every wednesday to promote the ashram , with opportunity to play a big venue on the open stage at the famous Saturday Nite market of Baga.

So I wish you all happiness and the causes of Happiness,

and may all your wishes be fulfilled according to the Holy Dharma,

With Love and Prayers

Peace to you Brothers and sisters,

Honour to Zen Buddhism this year with a new zen garden in the courtyard made with sand from Vagator beach (ten bucket loads carried with Shiva !!), a beautiful small green boulder found in the garden and a Gong brought by John from Bodhgaya. Now you won't be able to say you didn't here the call for meditation after that !!

Also, we have finally openned the library and Tibetan gift/surf shop, beautifully decorated

by Shiva, you will find encense, book, money bags, 'OM MANI PADME HUM' necklaces, wall hangings, prayer flags and handmade Tibetan friendship bracelets.

We have now 2 guests, and two more to come, people stopping at the library are now coming to meditations, and volunteering at the animal rescue, so it is really a good link between the ashram and the local community. Every little helps !!!

keep checking the news ;) love and light, john

Medicine Buddha House: New Year starting

Medicine Buddha House: New Year starting

New Year starting

Welcome back Brothers and Sisters !!!

A new year is unfolding, full of surprises and changes, you know what they say: everything is impermanent right ?

I had the great opportunity to participate in the 21st Nyngma Molen World Peace celebration in Bodhgaya this year, what a blessing !! Inspiring and revitalising before coming back to the ashram.

So here are the news:

This year, I am the only one in charge it seems, Sonam being busy with a new taxi business. Good news is that Shiva is back with us for more yoga lessons, and we enjoy the cooking of Sunyata and the excellent house keeping of 'Milcha', Sonam's brother.

.........Reiki treatments are still available and now also reiki training as I have finally passed the final step towards reiki instructorship.

.........Meditation twice a day as usual (7am/7pm) , and dharma readings twice a week (thursdays and sundays).

.........The non-dharma library is now re-open outside the ashram, and within we have the tibetan shop (waiting for more items) and anyone is welcome to stop for information and relax there. We have books, chess, dharma and non-dharma videos viewing, and surf coaching.

We hope to see you there, and wish you peace and happiness,

With love and prayers,

John

A new beginning

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Many news and updates in this post. So let's take it in order:

Firstly, the centre is re-opened this year, thanks to Sonam's help and private donators' charity. There will be a young tibetan boy who will work as a part-time cleaner this year, which should help us to concentrate more on our visitors, and Sunyata, Sonam's wife, will be cooking for us this year.

Second, is that John (= me!) will not be here until january due to an injury to his knee early in september. That will teach him a lesson in skydiving! Now I am better, recovering from minor surgery. I shall be with you for the rest of the season.

Third, reiki teaching will be available (John received his attunement to level 3&4 in August) at the cost of $100 for level 1 or 2, and minimum of $200 for level 3 & 4. We have good hope that Gonpo, our wonderful tibetan masseur, will join us this year, and Shiva agreed to come with John in january.

Finally, let me wish you happiness and love in your life, and hope you find means to live it in the most meaningful way. Here's a quote I love from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama:

"We are visitors on this planet.

We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most.
During That period, we must try to do something good,
something useful with our lives.

If you contribute to other people's happiness,
you will find the true goal,
the true meaning of life."


With Love and Prayers,

John