Hey there Mike(*smiles*)
MIKE: Actually, I'm more of a 'bar room Buddha' if anything.
MEL:....*giggles/laughter*...Bar room?...
Seriously, that translates for me as a man who speaks his mind, and/or tells it
as it is...dualistically-speaking. A very good quality, but then again, I
myself came from farming/peasant stock..so I'm biased(*grin*)
I have come across devotees from the various Buddhist SE-Asian backgrounds down
here in Melbourne, and I'm disappointed to say that they seem to be more
concerned with appearances, procedures, and/or ceremonies. One Rumanian
'convert' of sorts(formerly, a Jew) I came across in Sydney seemed to be more
concerned with the scholarly stuff. Not a very inspiring individual
I go to the Jikishoan Soto temple here in Melbourne as much as I can..in
downtown Brunswick, and they have a resident Japanese Soto priest there
MIKE: Hey, you're an Aussie, aren't you?
MEL: My blood is actually Filipino, but I've been in Australia since '75, when
I was only 11 years old. I've spent most of my growing years here, and so
consider Australia as my only native land
MIKE: I lived in Perth for 17 years. I used to occasionally sit at the Zen
centre in Fremantle (Ross Bolletor Roshi was the teacher - a student of Robert
Aitken). do you know it?
Sorry, I don't really know anyone from that side, or anything of the state or
city.
Buddha be praised
Mel
PS. Yes, I certainly enjoyed your previous posting
