Spread your religion with love.

My foot in on a wonderful world.

Tolerance and respect..

On Newtons recommendation I am off to see the sea.

I am not as clever as some may think so writing my blog is a challenge. Everything I write has been picked up from other people. Throughout my working career I took notice of those with the knowhow. Also I learned the value of nonfiction books. In recreational activities every skill that would help me in what I was trying to achieve, I would swat up on. No one can claim to be a self-made man.

There are plenty of shells.

Here is a nice one, all for free.

As Sir Isaac Newton in 1679 is quoted as saying in a letter to Robert Hooke, “If I have seen further than others it was by standing on the shoulders of giants.” A similar observation was made earlier in 1159 by John of Salisbury in a book, written in Latin translated as. “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants.”

I am so fortunate.

So we have a lot to thank those that showed us the way. Lau Tzu showed me one Way, Buddha showed me another Path. My belief is, whatever religious differences we have, we must practice tolerance and respect for others beliefs. Even if we cannot accept it all, there will be a lot we can agree on.

Who wants a chlorinated pool this needs no upkeep.

For peace and harmony in the world today we need to meet on this neutral ground.

Looking from Burleigh Headland to Surfers Paradise.

All major religions preach loving kindness, morality and generosity. If we have faith in a God we should show our faith by keeping his commandments and not take over the divine reins of life and death. If you have faith and trust there is no need to take over this responsibility. Let your God do the driving, you have not got a licence to kill. This would be the right way to promote your religion.

Looking south to Coolangatta.

Writing my blog required me to revise my ideas and rethink everything. This gave me a clearer understanding in my own mind. Owing to practically no schooling the English language was another learning curve. A blog is a lot more difficult than a job report. Even then I always had a dictionary on hand.

Clear water at Tallebudgera Creek bridge.

There is an incident that demonstrates this. At a meeting one of the engineers criticised my spelling. I immediately replied “I will scribble my report in future then the spelling will be less of a problem.” His writing was as difficult to decipher as a doctor’s prescription.

Everything changes look at the sky.

My blog helps me improve in more ways than one. Everything I decide to do is a benefit to me. If reading my blog inspires others to follow what I have found beneficial, that is a bonus.

No rush if it rains before I get home, it is not cold.

That prompts another quote, from Little John Salisbury.”One who comprehends truth is wise. One who loves truth is good. One who orders his life by truth is happy”.

Selfies are in fashion.

Buddhism reminds us of a universal truth “Everything is subject to change.” Aware of that truth will help you improve your happiness. As you will accept change and not cling to passing things.

A gift from our garden, a Walking Iris grows easy from a cutting.

There is a lot I still have to pick up, while wandering along the vast ocean seashore. That is a more enjoyable pass-time than blogging. The sun is shining the surf is rolling in I am on my bike to enjoy these gifts of nature , have a nice day see you later.

Back home just before the rain.

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How to slow down decay.

Book Inn..

Slow down don’t slow up.

Lately I have been absorbed reading instead of writing. The books I have been reading have made me realise how little I know. And yet I am far more knowledgeable than I used to be, at least I now know how to enjoy life.

What else is it for?

Knowing the unsatisfactory changing nature of life. I do not cling to things and am contented rather than happy. My lifelong goal is self improvement, acquiring knowledge rather than possessions.

 I went to the library to read it again I gave my copy away.

I would describe this as contentment rather than happiness. Learning to appreciation the good in my life.

To make you smile.

Ignorance is the cause of unhappiness. To enjoy life one must be disciplined in doing what is necessary to stay healthy in both body and mind. The one thing we should not be ignorant of is nothing lasts. Everything has a use by date.

You may not buy this one it is a gift, complements of Buddhist society Malaysia. 

We can prolong the life of things by maintaining them properly, then they will serve us well. To care for things we need the knowledge to know how. Over the years I have learned a few life skills.

It is no secret any more.

I try to pass them on, but you can find better qualified writers than me. You just need to be very selective in sorting out whose opinion to follow. Is it fact or fiction, is it rubbish I am feeding my mind on? Both body and mind need wholesome nourishment to stay healthy.

1932 the bridge the hands and hope I had to be in this photo.

I am pleased how I am doing, keeping fit and inspiring others. They made me ‘member of the month’ at the Burleigh, World Gym. I was requested to write this comment. I now am fitted out in really smart gym cloths all part of the honour.

The matador, no bull.

“Who is the old bloke sweating on the x trainer?”world gym

“That is Jack he used to be a construction worker, a rigger to be precise.”

Great game for a young bloke to earn a crust. Plenty of exercise climbing up on the steel purlins, riding the crane hook. Man those were the days before the safety regulations took all the buzz out of it.

The problem is if you do a good job they promote you. Most of the fun goes out of it and it can get stressful.

Tim wants to be like me, when he has been 83 years at the gym.

The way around that is go to a gym and get rid of the stress. Get the endorphin circulating, it is better than chocolate. Oh! You see eye candy everywhere in a gym, a treat for every taste, the blokes and the girls. The great people that you become friends with in a gym like World Gym, Burleigh, is another incentive to workout.

Note the caption on the wall.

I am 83 but when I am mixing in with all these positive, fit people I can forget I am past my use by date. Three score and ten I never put too much faith in ancient writing and doctors are ok in an emergency but do not leave it up to them to keep you fit. You are better of at the gym.

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Get your motor running.

Outback off the beaten track.

The way to go.

Could be by the sea is the place to be.

Get your motor running on motivation it is the fuel for living.

Music, dance, take a chance on romance. Getting in natures flow is the way to go.

Don’t be late don’t stagnate time don’t wait.

The day has begun with the rising sun.

Fishing in stead of in bed wishing.

 What ever gets you going. Listen to my words. Be up with the birds. Ready to roll go for a stroll. Jump on your bike or go for a hike.

Don’t stagnate the day won’t wait.

I really do wish you were here.

 The sun rises each day with a great display.  The breeze in the trees caresses the birds and the bees.

Mother Nature loves you, if you love her too.

 Ration T V, it is mostly evil you’ll see.

Technology is ok if used in the right way.

But it can be an addiction, a dreadful affliction.

You will stagnate and stay up too late.

Love is for giving, life is for living.

Especially for you.

The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love and to be loved in return.

With  nature’s gifts, your attitude shifts.

The clouds disappear you are glad you are here.

You don’t need drugs whisky or beer.

All you need is the air you breathe.

Food with wonderful flavour, nature provides for you to savour.

A warm bed at night and you are alright.

A cosy corner at Bondi for little Jack Horner.

I know there is more you can buy at the store.

That is ok if you don’t get carried away.

There is a difference between wanting and needing.

It could just be your ego you are feeding.

It can be tempting and hard to resist..

Mindful is consciously aware, so you should take care.

To be mindful of the path you are traveling on.

When you’ve spent your money and your time is gone.

You realise hoarding and greed, for all those things you did not need. Were impermanent and passing pleasure, costing you your time and leisure.

No rush just do it.

Then you will know, this was not the way to go.

Spending the gold in the morning.

 

 

 

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Beneficial Breathing Meditation.

This is better than seeing me stretching.

Beneficial Breathing Meditation.

A stretching demonstration in a shop window.

After doing my morning exercises a mix of Pilates, Tai- Chi and yoga. I do not do this routine as regularly as I should. Why fight the inevitable. I try to be accepting of the prevailing circumstances. Balance and flexibility are not only a physical concern.

You will have to put up with me for this one.

I usually finish off in the lotus position then meditate on the breath. Actually the whole exercise session is meditating on the breath as the breath is an important part of exercise. Expansion  and contraction, inhaling and exhaling in co-ordination with the movements. Relaxing into a stretch, using the breath helps further the range of movement.

A panting by Elioth Gruner Spring frost, to get over the last photo.

Focusing on the breath for a few minutes settles me down. Breathing is the most basic and important thing in life, it simply is life. Sportsmen especially swimmers know the importance of coordinating the breath with actions. Speakers and performers know a few deep breaths calms the nerves before going on stage.

Ox herding sculpture, taken in a watt in Bangkok.

Concentrating on the breath is a perfect focus for meditation practice. When the mind is calmed by focusing on counting each breath, you can progress to other methods of meditation. There are many ways to practice breathing meditation.

One of the 10 ox herding pictures on a temple in Korea.

One may think, ‘one, inhaling with love’ and on the exhale, ‘out with hate.’ ‘Two in with good,’ then ‘out with bad, continuing in this way to six. Then repeat these steps. Using any positive word on the ins and a negative for out. You will find your mind wanders, when this happens do the same as you would if disturbed when reading a book.

Reading an E-book in a quiet place.

We can develop our own method of meditation once the basic breath method is mastered. You will know  this when the invasive thoughts die-down. Like a radio tuned in properly there will be no static  or what is called the monkey-mind stops its monkey business. Like the ox in the ‘ten ox herding pictures’ the beast is trained it will no longer stray. The mind is still and concentration is not difficult.

This picture shows the trained ox will not stray.

Some days you are focused, other days are difficult the mind wanders and you lose count. Do not let this upset you just return to your chosen focus. If things are too disturbing it is like with reading a book, either put it away till later or move to where there is less distraction. When the mind is calm and under control. Advanced meditations can be practiced to further your understanding of the true nature of things. This is the ultimate goal of Buddhist meditation to reach a state of perfect understanding.

The monkey mind up to mischief.

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We Are One.

Weight for it or wait for it.

We Are One.

Is beauty only skin deep?

Taking the time to look after our own health and welfare rather than leaving it up to doctors and drug companies.

Number one or number 5 keep smiling.

Our first concern should be for our own welfare.

He has a date with Mother Nature.

This is not a selfish attitude because a healthy person can help others instead of being a sickly burden on the community.

Knees up and this is not mother Brown.

It takes effort and willpower to maintain a healthy body and wholesome outlook. Restraint is needed on the amount of food and what we drink. Balancing, exercise activity against the intake of calories consumed. Learning what is beneficial for us and how to cope with the stress of modern life.

Or father Time.

People respond positively to a smile. When we are in pain or suffering in any way it is not easy to smile and a stressed look is often interpreted as unfriendliness. So it is very important not to look dejected but smile and not complain. Do not burden other people with your problems.

It is Jack kicking up his heels.

An unsmiling face is not always a sign that a person is unfriendly. People in unfamiliar surroundings, amongst strangers, can feel pressures the locals are unaware of. They need a friendly smile and a kind word of reassurance. Vary rarely will this bring a negative response.

Some think I am unbalanced.

To travel in foreign lands makes one realise simple things like shopping for groceries can be stressful. It is easy to get lost or commit a faux pas in a foreign land. So a traveller is cautious and can look unfriendly.

Keeping in balance is important to prevent falls.

A smile can transform an old wrinkly face into a charming beautiful one. A smile makes the whole interconnected world sparkle. We realise we are one in the cosmic creation and all the silly differences vanish.

Especially for old push bikers.

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Animal Lovers.

Animals love people raw.

 MOST PEOPLE LOVE ANIMALS, WHEN COOKED.

You are well liked regardless of race, colour or creed.

This food for thought is not in good taste, you will find it not fit for human consumption.

Pig by any other name would smell the same.

 Do you love rare animals raw or would you rather them well done?

No Bull.

Venison is deer, barring lamb is more than dear it is expensive.

Lamb looking sheepish.

Pig can be disguised as pork, ham or bacon. Your best buy is fruit and vegetables at any price.

Spiders eat flies cows attract them.

Health statistics show,

vegetarian is the way to go.

Cows and sheep would agree,

 this is the way to be.

If you think animal lovers are sentimental.

You can just try this out as experimental.

Try to look a cow in the eye,

while eating a steak and kidney pie.

This has nothing to do with piety.

Could you eat dog or horse?

 Then eat a cat for second course.

People may think pigs dirty and unclean,

 but not worry where a pork chop’s been.

People may think me very rude,

 turning them off their favourite food.

Duck into Mc Donald’s..

  Are you over weight at all?

How is your cholesterol?

My words are quiet humane,

 what you’re eating is insane.

Eating dead bodies does not sound healthy or nice;

Say abattoirs instead of slaughterhouse and you won’t think twice.

You probably will not like what I have said,

if your stomach’s a grave yard for the dead.

To eat this dog would rock you.

 

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Read the Book.

Australian Hibiscus grows on this coast.

An Inspiring Book.

Surfers Paradise from N. Burleigh headland.

This post is from a book that impressed me. The words are exactly how I try to live. But I could never convey them as well as, the book “Blossom,” by Michelle Merrifield. The author is a beautiful lady from the Gold Coast, Queensland, which accounts for her love of surfing.  The sample below may prompt you to read to the book.

Dietes saying good morning.

“Blossom.”

The words are Michelle’s but the photos are mine.

Watching the action from S. Burleigh Headland.

I always say that, as a teacher I am merely a messenger passing along what I have learnt from all the incredible gurus I have been blessed to work with.

The entertaining action.

Breath, bend, blossom is my humble interpretation of what they have taught me over the years and how I have come to apply lessons of yoga in my life;

Everyone can enjoy.

That it starts with the breath, the life-force, the union between our individual spirits and the divine universal energy.

That our body is the temple that houses the spirit, so we bend and stretch and twist and fold to keep that temple healthy and strong;

The watchful eye in the sky keeps everyone safe.

It is only when we have trained the body, mind and soul that we can truly blossom and use the lessons of yoga to make the world a more beautiful and peaceful place.

S. Burleigh from Ambience Apartment building.

The first thing we do when we are borne is inhale. Last thing we do is exhale. In-between is life.

Gold Coast Highway and beach front apartments.

Like a find tuned woodwind instrument, our bodies need oxygen in order to sing and play. You will find the sweeter the quality of the breath the sweeter the harmony in our lives.

Our family often meet at Burleigh Beach.

If you desire to live your life in a state of peace and serenity take control of your breath and inhale slowly, deeply, with deliberate conscious thought.

Jasmine being kind to the Sea Gulls.

Notice too all the emotions associated with fast breathing, stress, anger, fear, uncertainty and panic.

Jason gives us a song.

The quality of your breath is directly related to the quality of your posture. By lengthening of the spine you naturally lengthen the breath. By rolling your shoulders back and down opens a clear passage to inhalation.

Jade looks mischievous with a bucket of water.

Maintaining good posture takes concentration and self-awareness at first, in time it becomes natural.

Pauline and Jason wrapping while James gives a tune.

Every breath is a connection with the universal life force. The air we inhale has been purified by trees and vegetation. We breathe out all the toxins and negative waste.

Thanks to the Indigenous People.

Living meditation is about being totally president in everything I do and making it a sacred experience. When eating a meal focus on smell, flavour, texture and savour every morsel. Imagine how your life would change, if you could just be aware and present in every moment. Breathe in the sweet fresh air. Smell the perfume of flowers. Hear the birds sing. Look up to the clouds. Let go of thoughts and just breathe.

Respect is not much for what they gave up.

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Looking After Number One.

If you want to rock, do it yourself.

Number one.

The Buddha never meditated like this.

I am number one; everything I do is for me. If you think I love myself you are right. You could think reading this I am selfish, self opinionated and not a nice person.

One of my admirers.

Let me explain why it is good to love yourself.
No one likes despicable undesirables. So for me to love myself I must respect myself. To respect myself I have to be respectable and also have respect for others. Respect has to be earned no one admires a worthless, useless, lazy fool. So I must try to be worthy, useful, energetic and wise to be able to truly love myself.

More admirers.

With this understand of loving myself it takes effort and awareness and is not a vain or easy issue. I have to be honest and true to myself. With measured zeal I work to improve myself in every way.

Achieving a goal takes perseverance and effort.

I look after my health to enjoy life and not be a burden on society. In this way I can help less fortunate people. I must be honest to gain people’s trust and respect. Taking pride in my work I not only enjoy the satisfaction from a job well done but the admiration of others.

Clearing the mind .

Not polluting my mind with rubbish but following noble examples of inspirational wisdom. In this way I improve my knowledge and my mind.
Putting me first is a win-win situation to everyone’s benefit.

A capable carer.

There is nothing better than loving yourself.  So long as you are not so absorbed you topple into the calm water, making waves and destroying your beautiful reflection. If this happens you will know you I’ve got this loving yourself thing all wrong.

Loving your self is also hard work.

Words can be misleading, Loving is not pampering, giving is not surfeiting and wanting is not the same as needing. One must listen carefully and ask questions to make sure we understand correctly the true meaning of a message. Loving yourself and others in the right way, is what is known as tough love.

Accepting and appreciating what we cannot change.

Life is a balancing act and I sometimes lose my balance but no one is perfect. Knowing this makes me more forgiving of myself and others. To be able to forgive is a blessing to hold onto grievances is a source of sorrow. Love is the most important thing in life. Love yourself and all creation with all your being.

It is all beautiful with the right attitude.

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Restless Night.

Things don’t look right.

Restless Nights.

Which ever way you look at it.

This morning I woke up or was I actually asleep or in a sort of stupor. I had one of those restless nights caused by reading a disturbing book just before bed time. It is not a good idea to fill our head with negative input, especially before bed. I usually avoid things like that not eating a heavy meal or doing anything to hype me up. I never watch those TV programme full of violence and disasters. I did not find the book was disturbing while reading it.

Too good to be good for you.

I found the book interesting because of the stories of how men build monopolies to become rich, disregarding the welfare of others. “A fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser, on how America has influenced the worlds eating habits. Except for stressing the statistics in places, to a point bordering on boring, it is easy reading. I skim over those parts and parts I was already fully aware of. But it was not a bed time story to induce a good night’s sleep.

A little cafe in Busseltin W A.

How I cope with restless nights is to remind myself, if my brain needs rest I will sleep, if I am only physically tired then all I need is to shut my eyes and take a few deep breaths and relax.  Usually I drift off into the land of oblivion or, as last night, into dreamland. Last night the dreams reflected on the dark side of what I had been reading.

Busselton is a nice town..

This morning I did not feel very enthusiastic, mindful of my mood, I normally would have put on what I call my ‘get up and go music’.  I have music selections to encourage any mood. Unfortunately my music collection is 3,777 km that is 2,347 miles as the crow flies. At 600 m/p hr. a jet takes about 4 hrs. from here to the east coast of Australia.

With a nice atmosphere and food.

So I fell back on my old friend Will Power to get me to the Gym. Just take it easy, but do it, I thought. I climbed up on the cross trainer and as the cadence built up, the heart started pumping it was like the sun had come out from behind a dark oppressive cloud.

This crocodile was not a man-eater.

Pauline and I had lunch in town, not in a fast-food franchises but a little designer sandwich place. I had a nice salad on whole grain bread, with avocado instead of butter. Pauline has the same, adding turkey to hers. She said it is very good for you I agreed but even this shop had reconstituted meat. “Not for me sweetheart,” I said, recalling that book, “I will stick with mostly vegetarian.”

This is the best food.

The sun is shining bright. I will sleep tonight. Looking out over the sparkling ocean a gentle breeze making the Buddhist prayer flags flutter and the little bell tinkle. Everything is pristine I do not need other music to lift me up. Nothing remains of this morning’s mood.

Sunset over Indian Ocean.

I wrote this post in Geraldton but because there are so many things to do and see when visiting new places blogging has a good deal of competition. Finally I am posting, there are not enough hours in the day that may be why I do not need as much sleep as doctors recommend. It is said, ‘Sleep when you are sleepy, drink when you’re dry, but don’t forget to breath or you will die’.

Happy Buddha has been eating fast food.

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Aware.

Conscious.

Getting a little help from my friends.

 How conscious are we of what is happening around us and to us? As we go about our daily lives are we aware of the air we breathe. Deprived of air we immediately realise its importance, till then we leave that to what is known as ‘the reptilian’ brain.  Unconscious of the importance of air we fail to breathe deep unless our activity compels us to breathe deep. This is why physical exertion is important. Our body and mind need activity, we were intended to work for our needs. Up until the last hundred years the majority of people had to work to get their Food and other necessities.

Free as a bird should be.

Like birds man rose with the sun and after the camp fire died down it was bed time. There were many challengers but life was in tune with nature.  Pleasures were simple and life was slower but never boring.  It took over 500,000 years for man’s way of life to gradually changed. Over the last few hundred years an exponential increase in man’s way of living has happened.  Our life style has outpaced our ability to adapt.  We are on an exciting rollercoaster ride unless we realise the dangers of such a ride. The price of the ride could outweigh its benefits. There are things we must be aware of to avoid a sickening end to our wild rollercoaster ride.

Do not disturb.

.Unmindful we watch television, its distraction leads to our destruction. Consumer society’s high-tech, never-ceasing stimuli, dictating to our emotions, creating desires. Causing wants without a real need, status symbols, to feed an ego hungry for attention. We stagnate like a polluted pool without movement. Our mind polluted by advertising and   our body deteriorating from lack of movement.  We are unconscious of the garbage our mind and body is being fed, rubbish we are told we must have. Are we really tired, or bored and listless? Sometimes we just need to get the blood circulating and some fresh air to shake off the listless feeling.

A gifts from happy hens.

To get in tune with your true feelings and be aware of what you really need. Barefoot, earth-out, get intimately rooted in nature, at one with the world, as a young child, see things afresh, not second-hand from a lounge chair.  Make your own decision about what you need and do not be told a luxury is a need. We may want luxuries but we do not need them. Are they worth all the precious, irreplaceable time they cost in working, to keep the wheels of commerce turning? Be conscious of the manufactured unnatural environment. This is the cause of many ailments and complications in the modern world.

Home cooked and organic.

In the past without refrigerators and modern transport man needed stored body fat to carry him through droughts and cold winters. Today one of our most prevalent health problems, in the affluent countries, is obesity . The highly processed foods are not our natural diet. Fast-food full of fat, salt and sugar are served up in giant size helpings. Sugar saturated soft-drinks have become accepted as a replacement for water, pure water is the best health drink. The meat we eat is often reconstituted and the way the animals are confined in factories, force-fed often on steroid. People take more care of the fuel they put into their car than what they fuel their body on.

Fine fuel fish Mornay.

 Life is a gift to be enjoyed by spending it manfully. Consciously aware, immersed in the task at hand.  Life is passing and the sand of time never stops. Do not waste it on an illusion, hurrying to some imagined future that may never be as you envisaged.  It must be spent aware of the present moment as life is lived in the now. The most important thing is the thing you are doing now. The most important person is the one you are with now. Dreaming of the future, fretting over the past or mindlessly being fed a diet of desire from TV commercials. You are unaware of the present, life passes you by, you lose contact with the present, and the gift of life is a present.

Picked ripe, locally grown.

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