Calamity

We have had a very troubled time these last two weeks. Robert Palmer, who was living and working here at Emoyeni since February, has disappeared, together with our bakkie and about R12 000 cash. 

On Wednesday 9^th May, Robert took our bakkie to fetch some building materials from Alberton (south of Johannesburg). He did not return that evening, and at about 7.30 on Thursday morning he called to say that he had some trouble the previous night, but was returning to Emoyeni. He never arrived back here. Later we found out that he had withdrawn cash from our bank account with a debit card for which he had the PIN code.   

Last Friday morning (18 May) we had brief cellphone contact with him and he gave us some information about where the bakkie could possibly be found. By that evening he had severed contact again, and we have not heard from him again. It seems that whatever happened was volitional on his part. At the moment we have no idea where he might be, or in what state he may be. 

We have reported the case to the police, and have been in regular contact with Robert’s parents in East London.

The bakkie has not been recovered. It is insured and we expect to get a settlement of about R30 000 from the insurers. Because it was so old (1994), we’ll have to add at least another R30 000 of our own cash in order to buy a half-decent second hand one. 

Robert’s cheerful personality and willingness to get on with any job that came his way, make his disappearance and subsequent actions a very sad experience.  We hope that he can emerge from this spiral of destructive actions and reclaim his life.

Compassion

Most of us find it easy to feel kindly towards the defenseless, but not towards those who intentionally cause harm.  Yet these people need our compassion.  The Buddha taught that, because each of us experiences the consequences of our own acts, those who behave with cruelty and malice will reap the greatest misery and pain.

From “No time to lose” by Pema Chodron.

**********

There is something very similar in the Bible, about how it’s easy for anyone to love their friends and family members, but loving one’s enemy take a lot more spiritual strength.

Sue

Butternut Soup

serves approx. 5

Butternut         : 4 cups cubed

Carrot             : 1 cup cubed

Onion              : 1 large – diced

Tomato           : 2 medium sized - diced

Honey             : 1 tablespoon 

Butter  (or oil) : 30 gram (2 level table spoons) 

Fresh ginger  : 1 teaspoon finely chopped 

Spices            : ground nutmeg; ground cloves; ground cinnamon; caraway seeds 

Sauté onion, chopped ginger & tomato in butter / oil. (add the honey & a pinch of salt)

Add 3 cups water (less for a thicker soup).

Add all vegetables; add salt to taste (approx. 1 ½ teaspoons) 

Bring to the boil & add spices

Turn down heat & simmer for about ½ hour until soft.

Liquidize to taste, but leave some chunky bits for texture. 

Variation        :  Add sour cream or yogurt to taste (just before serving) for a creamed version.

Commercialising the Dharma ?

NEW MEDIA OFFERINGSDownloadable Ringtone
Please enjoy the sound of Rinpoche laughing!  

I don’t know what others think about this, but I personally have a problem with commercialising the Dharma to this extend! ??? 

Maybe it is just old fashioned me? 

Submitted by: Peter G Just

The Lam Rim Buddhist Centre

His Eminence Jangtse Choeje Rizong Rinpoche will be visiting South Africa from Ladakh, India on the 22nd August until 14th September, 2007. 

The Teachings that HE Rizong Rinpoche will be giving will be based on the following texts:

• Atisha’s Lamp For the Path to Enlightenment;

• A work by the First Panchen Lama, entitled A Root Text for the Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition   of Mahamudra: The Main Road of the Triumphant Ones

• Geshe Chekawa’s Seven-Point Mind Training.

It is significant to mention that HE Rizong Rinpoche is the lineage holder of Atisha’s Lam Rim, which is the source of all the Lam Rim practices.  Therefore it is a great blessing for us to receive Teachings from someone who holds this important title. 

The details of HE Rizong Rinpoche’s programme are on our website:  www.lamrim.co.za.  

We encourage you to book now, and to receive a booking form or to answer any queries, please contact the relevant person dealing with the bookings as follows: 
 

Johannesburg Teachings:  Neil at:neil@urbanforest.co.za   or tel:  082 467 5735

Durban Teachings: Elizabeth at cormkt@mweb.co.za or tel: 031.7014307 (after hours)

Annual General Meeting

Emoyeni’s AGM is scheduled for Sunday May 20^th 2007, in Johannesburg. Please diarise this date if you are able to attend.  Details will be circulated by email closer to the time.

Vipassana 10 day retreat

The Vipassana Association of SA is very pleased to announce that a venue has been secured for the first Vipassana course to be held in Gauteng. The course will run from 18-29 July at the Max Stibbe School, near Pretoria.  

The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.  

There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit. 

Gauteng contact person: Chantel Oosthuysen.Cell no: 082 514 9658Email: eastchantel@yahoo.com  

Vipassana Association of South Africa - Dhamma Pataka
Email: info@pataka.dhamma.org
Website: www.pataka.dhamma.org 

International website: http://www.dhamma.org 

Two Qualities

A quote from What the Buddha Taught

by Walpola Rahula :

According to Buddhism, to be perfect there are two qualities that should be developed equally: compassion on one side, and wisdom on the other. Here compassion represents love, charity, kindness, tolerance and such noble qualities on the emotional side, or qualities of the heart, while wisdom would stand for the intellectual side or the qualities of the mind. If one develops only the emotional neglecting the intellectual, one may become a good-hearted fool; while to develop only the intellectual side neglecting the emotional may turn one into a hardhearted intellect without feelings for others. Therefore, to be perfect one has to develop both equally. That is the aim of the Buddhist way of life: in it wisdom and compassion are inseparably linked together. 

Looking for a home

Free to good home. A loving and adorable 18month old German Shepherd cross. (short hair) Honey is a spayed stray dog and I am desperately looking for a loving home for her. If you are interested please contact Helen on 0825570648

More rain fell

We had another shower at daybreak this morning of 8mm. Every drop now counts and we hope for more as the overcast seems to hang around still.