Mel, mate! Yeah, I'm just as comfortable in a sleazy biker bar as I am walking around the temple gardens here in Kyoto. "Tell it as it is" - is there any other way for an Australian! Never got to Melbourne myself, but will one day. Keep up with your posting, I find your 'rough 'round the edges' style really refreshing and honest!
Mike ________________________________ From: Mel <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, 9 March, 2011 15:18:18 Subject: [Zen] Realization(to Mike) 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
