"KOSMOS" goes to DANDENONGS
Wurundjeri are the people who have been living here for the past 40,000 years. 20,000 years ago was the time of the Ice Age! An ancient history of hunting and fishing and gathering and story-telling.
Stories of raids by seal hunters who stole the women for sex-partners, tales of small-pox epidemics, tales of the meetings with the new people.
Stories about the times for profit. A chance to get rich quick. A good time and place to unload the convict ships. And that is what colonials did, at the expense of local people and creatures and Mother Earth. And all this is only in the last 200 years. And we are still doing it.
And stories of the "Tanderrum:" a ceremony of hospitality for any people (native or European) desiring to pass trough their lands, allowing them safe passage and permission to use the land and all resources. This freedom of the bush ceremony was finalized by an exchange of gifts.
"Tanderum" was the practice of the Warunjeri; "Terra Nullius" on the other hand,was the official British colonial statement, that before the arrival of the British there was no land-ownership. Aboriginal peoples could not sell the land, because it did not belong to them. It simply belonged to the British Colonials by right of taking it. At one such place where squatters drove-out the native people, we offered a "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions." Squatters needing land for their sheep could just do such things. By the time
of the founding of Melbourne there were only about 28 living Wurunjeri people. Today there are about 100 Wurunjeri. Some very small settlements were granted to the Aboriginals, but only at safe distances far away from the white settlement of Melbourne. Later even farther away.
"Dream-time" is the age of stories. Stories from long long ago when the first ancestors travelled over the land, creating everything, naming everything. From these old stories comes a reverence for the land. "Dreaming" is the stories from both ancient times and the present time. "Dreaming." Past and present are drawn into a single moment of Now-ness. Timeless-ness. In this forest known as the Dandenongs, nine people from six countries found a place of natural beauty, a place of sacred beauty,
and sat down under this giant eucalyptus tree. Long ago, lightning struck this tree from the very top branches, and bored out the centre of the tree all the way to the ground. Here on this spot of "The Lightning of Blessings," the primordial stroke joining heaven and earth,
Aine from Ireland offered the traditional "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions." There was a strong feeling that our tea offering was accepted into the opening of this chimney-like tree and carried skyward high into the heavens.
To this Good Man Michael, we say thank you. He prepared all this for us, and for countless others. May we quickly return to the Heart of Basic Good-ness. The heart that knows reverence for this land and all who walk on it. The heart that is not trapped by territoriality and therefore knows generosity practices like "Tanderrum." A heart that has somehow not forgotten the ancient practice of "Dreaming." And, thank you to Harry from Poland, Joann and William from Melbourne, Sharon from Queensland, Talas from Ukraine.
KINGDOM of SIAM
There seems to be an ancient longing in the human heart for good society. And there seems to be proof that such societies have existed in the past and even in the present. For example, the Kingdom of Wa-no-Kuni of Shotoku-Taishi in Japan, the Kingdom of Gesar of Ling in Tibet, Queen Guinevere and King Arthur's Round Table at Camelot, the Kingdoms of Ashoka and Shambhala and Bhutan. Maybe such a place of inspiration for others is your own house.
Maybe even your garden.
Places founded on the qualities of loving kind-ness and the happy-ness of others first. Persuasion rather than aggression. Places founded on the simple truth that people all have basic good-ness. Perhaps one such country in our human history was the Kingdom of Siam.
There is evidence that even in the 1300's there was a buddhist king in the Kingdom of Sukhothai who did not rule by force; relying instead on virtue to care for both the spiritual and material needs of the people.
All this was destroyed by invasions from outside, but a new kingdom grew-up at Ayutthaya (now a part of Bangkok). Since the 1500's Ayutthaya has been described as beautiful, even as the most beautiful city in the Asia. Even more beautiful than Paris, according to some French travelers. Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam--home to fabulous temples, gardens, Thai national arts and crafts, royal monasteries. The home of great kings and queens, and one million people in 1700. A great spiritual centre in the world. Known to the Portuguese as Siam-- a name that lasted until 1949. Threatened and over-run by neighbours, Siam was the only south-east Asia kingdom to not become a western colony.
Destruction by neighbours is still visible. Repairs are hindered by "no available funding," advancing tourism, urban encroachment, and flooding. Once the place of a peaceful buddhist nation, now the place of blackened brick and plaster, ruins, head-less statues. And on their way home to Australia, at this place of sacred beauty in Thailand, Amrita and Ben offered
"A Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
Long long ago, invaders lopped-off this head of a buddhist statue. Somehow it was picked-up by the roots of a tree and somehow sheltered for all these many years. May this natural shrine from the past be our inspiration to protect the vision of good society in our lifetime, for all the children of the next 10 generations. 100 generations.
We are all Earth-Protectors.
Maybe even your garden.
Or your work place.
There is evidence that even in the 1300's there was a buddhist king in the Kingdom of Sukhothai who did not rule by force; relying instead on virtue to care for both the spiritual and material needs of the people.
All this was destroyed by invasions from outside, but a new kingdom grew-up at Ayutthaya (now a part of Bangkok). Since the 1500's Ayutthaya has been described as beautiful, even as the most beautiful city in the Asia. Even more beautiful than Paris, according to some French travelers. Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam--home to fabulous temples, gardens, Thai national arts and crafts, royal monasteries. The home of great kings and queens, and one million people in 1700. A great spiritual centre in the world. Known to the Portuguese as Siam-- a name that lasted until 1949. Threatened and over-run by neighbours, Siam was the only south-east Asia kingdom to not become a western colony.
Destruction by neighbours is still visible. Repairs are hindered by "no available funding," advancing tourism, urban encroachment, and flooding. Once the place of a peaceful buddhist nation, now the place of blackened brick and plaster, ruins, head-less statues. And on their way home to Australia, at this place of sacred beauty in Thailand, Amrita and Ben offered
"A Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
Long long ago, invaders lopped-off this head of a buddhist statue. Somehow it was picked-up by the roots of a tree and somehow sheltered for all these many years. May this natural shrine from the past be our inspiration to protect the vision of good society in our lifetime, for all the children of the next 10 generations. 100 generations.
We are all Earth-Protectors.
RASA
Rare...... Rare indeed is such a place as Rasa. In Cento Vallee, in Ticino, in Confederation Helvitia, in Switzerland, on this Mother Earth
.
Under your feet is EARTH only for people. Walking on unpaved surfaces that do not really go anywhere. Cars are unknown; in fact they never existed here for the last 600 years.
WATER cold and clear flowing directly from the mountains into your room, into your kitchen, into your kettle for preparing a delicious Bowl of Tea for your guest sitting opposite you.
FIRE only for cooking most simple delicious feasts, for firing handmade tea bowls, for boiling water for a Bowl of Tea.
AIR so delicious you can actually enjoy breathing it, surviving only on it, existing on not much more than this. Magico, outside the norm of GNP, a step back and out of this world of materialism and convenience, GNH, a place for retreat, a place of inner peace, good fortune, secretive, genuine, la Dolce Vita, not theatre, not show. Boring. A place and time for smile and good cheer. And good grappa.
Come to Rasa in Switzerland this summer.
Make one or two beautiful Tea Bowls by only your own hands.
Take these Tea Bowls from the fire with your own hands.
Then make a delicious "Bowl of Tea for Peace." A Bowl of Tea for your guest. For your self.
For Evi who showed you how to make such a beautiful piece.
It will be my great pleasure to show you how to make such a beautiful and delicious Bowl of Tea, according to the ancient Japanese tradition of Chado, the Way of Tea, the Way of Peace.
Or.....just fall in love. With the place. With the quiet. With yourself,
With each other,
With Mother Earth.
We call this one week retreat the TEE-ART SEMINAR. In Rasa. One week together from August 19-25. For more information please contact Evi Kienast, at www.raku-art.ch or Jack Convery Soko 宗好, at www.shotoku-an.org or shotoku.an.kyoto@gmail.com
.
Under your feet is EARTH only for people. Walking on unpaved surfaces that do not really go anywhere. Cars are unknown; in fact they never existed here for the last 600 years.
WATER cold and clear flowing directly from the mountains into your room, into your kitchen, into your kettle for preparing a delicious Bowl of Tea for your guest sitting opposite you.
FIRE only for cooking most simple delicious feasts, for firing handmade tea bowls, for boiling water for a Bowl of Tea.
AIR so delicious you can actually enjoy breathing it, surviving only on it, existing on not much more than this. Magico, outside the norm of GNP, a step back and out of this world of materialism and convenience, GNH, a place for retreat, a place of inner peace, good fortune, secretive, genuine, la Dolce Vita, not theatre, not show. Boring. A place and time for smile and good cheer. And good grappa.
Come to Rasa in Switzerland this summer.
Make one or two beautiful Tea Bowls by only your own hands.
Take these Tea Bowls from the fire with your own hands.
Then make a delicious "Bowl of Tea for Peace." A Bowl of Tea for your guest. For your self.
For Evi who showed you how to make such a beautiful piece.
It will be my great pleasure to show you how to make such a beautiful and delicious Bowl of Tea, according to the ancient Japanese tradition of Chado, the Way of Tea, the Way of Peace.
Or.....just fall in love. With the place. With the quiet. With yourself,
With each other,
With Mother Earth.
We call this one week retreat the TEE-ART SEMINAR. In Rasa. One week together from August 19-25. For more information please contact Evi Kienast, at www.raku-art.ch or Jack Convery Soko 宗好, at www.shotoku-an.org or shotoku.an.kyoto@gmail.com
BLAUTOPF
"Lau"
She is the lovely and beautiful spirit of the water, and she protects the precious and clear spring of the Blautopf that rises-up from deep inside Mother Earth.
From here in Schwabenland in south Deutschland, this amazingly blue water then quietly overflows to form one of the smallest and shortest rivers on this earth. 14.5 km later, the Blau flows into the Donau, then into the Black Sea. Here at this place of natural beauty, Hiromi and I first greeted "Lau" (the spirit or kami or drala of the Blautopf) and then offered our traditional "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
Once long long ago (before convenience society, before the Christians, before the Romans, even before history), the local people naturally showed respect for the spirits of earth-water-fire-wind. They greeted these spirits and invoked them into their lives and offered fruits and drink to them. Today at the Blautopf, the people give nothing. Just take. Take a smoke break, take a walk, take a picture, take a coffee break. Take a swim.
Let's return back to the ancient traditions of showing respect for our Mother Earth and all the elements. Wherever we are, let's just offer simple simple bowls of tea into the four directions. Let us do nothing to harm this earth and all creatures above and below.
She is the lovely and beautiful spirit of the water, and she protects the precious and clear spring of the Blautopf that rises-up from deep inside Mother Earth.
From here in Schwabenland in south Deutschland, this amazingly blue water then quietly overflows to form one of the smallest and shortest rivers on this earth. 14.5 km later, the Blau flows into the Donau, then into the Black Sea. Here at this place of natural beauty, Hiromi and I first greeted "Lau" (the spirit or kami or drala of the Blautopf) and then offered our traditional "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
Once long long ago (before convenience society, before the Christians, before the Romans, even before history), the local people naturally showed respect for the spirits of earth-water-fire-wind. They greeted these spirits and invoked them into their lives and offered fruits and drink to them. Today at the Blautopf, the people give nothing. Just take. Take a smoke break, take a walk, take a picture, take a coffee break. Take a swim.
Let's return back to the ancient traditions of showing respect for our Mother Earth and all the elements. Wherever we are, let's just offer simple simple bowls of tea into the four directions. Let us do nothing to harm this earth and all creatures above and below.
GUERNICA
(Condor birds are better known for not attacking living creatures. They generally survive by scavenging and cleaning-up the environment). Then only seven years later, the atomic bombings over Japan in August 1945. In all cases, the target was women, men, and children. Only the German government has offered a formal apology for these terrorist air attacks on the citizens of the Basque Homeland, today a world symbol of the horrors of war and a world capital of peace.
Guernica was made famous because of Picasso's large mural; but it was also made famous by Paz and Kike who went to that place of great human suffering, that black spot on the pages of good human history, and just offered
"A Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
"This is a place of the White Hands peace symbol. Just a quiet feeling, making tea here. We were bringing and giving something from all the students at Shotoku-an. Blue sky and sunny day after a long month of rain. At the same time we were offering 'A Bowl of Tea for Peace,' one person was standing there and singing a traditional Basque song of freedom, a song of peace. I really appreciated this chance to make tea at Guernica. It was a new place for me, and I am very happy you asked me to go there."
VIET-NAM
"The war is in everyone. Sit like a mountain and breath like a flower. Become your best."
Thich Nhat Hahn said this. His lineage stretches back to the first teacher in Viet-Nam, Tang-Hor, in the years 200-250. Thang-Hor went to study in China and came back with his simple teaching called "throw away." "Throw away" is stronger than release or letting-go. Throw away all notions of self and other. Become less arrogant. Throw away all notions of life-span, of birth, of death. All this is the foundation of fear. Not who am I, but rather what am I? I am this body. This body is me. Throw away the extremes, the extreme notions of birth, of death, of being, of non-being, of same-ness, of other-ness, of coming, of going.
Today about 1,800 years later, Thich Nhat Han's famous words are "Peace is every step."
When Imamura-san and Kenji-san went to Viet-Nam, they carried a scroll with these words brushed by our youngest student. At that time Yui was eight years old and her words in Japanese were "Ho-Ho-Kore- Heiwa."
And they carried the permission certificate for Thu-san to teach Cha-do. And they carried a letter to all the people of Viet-Nam, expressing my deep apology for the terrible things done to ordinary children and women and men by my generation during the Viet-Nam War. And they carried "KOSMOS" chawan and they offered the first "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
This was the beginning of the story of a tea-bowl on a mission of peace in the world.
Thich Nhat Hahn said this. His lineage stretches back to the first teacher in Viet-Nam, Tang-Hor, in the years 200-250. Thang-Hor went to study in China and came back with his simple teaching called "throw away." "Throw away" is stronger than release or letting-go. Throw away all notions of self and other. Become less arrogant. Throw away all notions of life-span, of birth, of death. All this is the foundation of fear. Not who am I, but rather what am I? I am this body. This body is me. Throw away the extremes, the extreme notions of birth, of death, of being, of non-being, of same-ness, of other-ness, of coming, of going.
Today about 1,800 years later, Thich Nhat Han's famous words are "Peace is every step."
When Imamura-san and Kenji-san went to Viet-Nam, they carried a scroll with these words brushed by our youngest student. At that time Yui was eight years old and her words in Japanese were "Ho-Ho-Kore- Heiwa."
And they carried the permission certificate for Thu-san to teach Cha-do. And they carried a letter to all the people of Viet-Nam, expressing my deep apology for the terrible things done to ordinary children and women and men by my generation during the Viet-Nam War. And they carried "KOSMOS" chawan and they offered the first "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
This was the beginning of the story of a tea-bowl on a mission of peace in the world.
Thich Nhat Hahn's root temple in Viet-Nam is Tu-Hieu-Pagoda. www.findingkatherine.com