SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

The Sangha Kommune (僧伽公社) – A Place of Spiritual and Physical Growth! (Founded 16.2.2010)

28/03/2017 Adrian (釋大道)

The Chinese Buddhist monastic community is referred to as a ‘Sangha’ (Sanskrit for ‘spiritual community’), whereby men and women form a voluntary association premised upon following a strict set of rules known as the ‘Vinaya Discipline’. Within this community, there is ‘equality’ between all members, with the leaders being those who have followed these rules for the longest times. This is because such people are thought to have more experience at adhering to the Vinaya Discipline (which includes celibacy and vegetarianism), and are therefore able to effectively advise all others through the difficult times they my face in their practice. As those with little experience have less to share, they are not considered leaders whilst more experienced practitioners live in the vicinity.

Surrey: Visiting Farnham Museum! (27.5.2026)

27/05/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

These former workers adopted the mannerisms, culture, and dress of their social betters (the “aristocracy”) and were even able to “purchase” an education for their children. This new bourgeoisie (the “Merchants”) were even able to stand for election in Parliament. After purchasing weapons and raising armies – the bourgeoisie eventually seized control of the means of production (following the English Civil Wars). They now comprise one of the most conservative strands in UK society – and certainly maintain this air of elitism in Farnham. A local book-dealer even tried to sell me Das Kapital Vols I, II, & III (printed in the USSR in hardback) for £100 – claiming they were “rare”. In fact, a full set is usually four volumes and I often find them on the bottom shelves of old book-shops – usually attracting dust – as no one cares for their content. I do collect them and usually spend around £5 per copy. Imagine that – a bookseller in Farnham attempted to reduce Marx’s critique of capitalism to yet another vehicle of that capitalism! But that is the way capitalism works and is exactly how Farnham has attracted its wealth and conservativism. Florence Nightingale gets a mention – Gee trained as a Midwife at St Thomas Hospital (London) – which maintains a Museum recording the life of Florence Nightingale. Indeed, Gee is designated as a “Florence Nightingale Midwife”.

Surrey: Visiting “Jane Austen’s House”! (26.5.2026)

27/05/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Indeed, Jane was only 42-years old when she died (despite never marrying or having children of her own) – but she lived through the heady days of French Revolution, the rise of Napoleon, and the Battle of Waterloo. Despite the political class of Britain opposing the French Revolution (and opposing all the Socialist developments that arose from it) – many middle-class, literate British individuals found the times to be inspiring. Although I do not know for certain with regards Jane Austen – she was one of those literate British women who trailblazed in a man’s world via her written works (Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, etc) – which are still best sellers today. Many of her works are performed as plays, and have been adapted for TV and the big screen. Whatever the case, on Tuesday May 26th, we headed out up the road to a nearby place called “Chawton” – where one of the houses owned by the Austen family is located.

Biblical Studies: Who Wrote the Four Gospels? Not Who You Think! (27.5.2026)

26/05/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

If this actually had happened we would have incredible eye-witness accounts penned by Jews, Romans, and followers of Jesus (reformed Jews) – but no – there are no records of any of this occurring and many in the Church find such claims to be embarrassing for their faith. I suspect a group of non-Jewish Greeks wanted to be associated with the otherwise xenophobic and racist Jewish theology (which had evolved out of Babylonian philosophy and history) and concocted a miraculous story of a “magic-man” that no one outside the movement ever met or independently verified as existing. Jesus the “magic-man” made it acceptable for non-Jews to pretend to be Jews – and the Jews hated it just as much as the gentiles loved it! Whatever the case, no one knows who originally wrote the four gospels included in the received Bible (there are many more discovered in the 20th century which are now available for you to study).

Joseph McCabe: Soviet Red Terror Debunked! (26.5.2026)

25/05/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

This is an excellent piece of reliable history written by a British man who has been a Catholic monk prior to developing an interest in Marxism. He maintained a worldwide communication and has important links in many vital areas – including the Catholic Church. A British journalist concocted the lie that the Bolsheviks killed thousands of priests. I was surprised to learn that the Vatican had good relations with the Bolsheviks until 1924 – when Lenin died. Someone said to me that the Vatican thought Stalin might be a Muslim or sympathetic to the Islamic cause. Whatever the case, despite the capitalist West inventing all kinds of lies regarding supposed Soviet atrocities – the Vatican actually denied any such atrocities ever took place. Interestingly, Trotsky was always trouble – whilst Stalin was at the forefront of the fighting whilst being in charge of all the non-Russian areas!

Surrey: Tilford Local History – Village Hall & Medieval Bridge! (25.5.2026)

25/05/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

The temperature rose to 32 degrees today – and I believe this is the highest recorded temperature for May on record for the UK. It is said that when the Romans occupied Britain – 1st century BCE-5th century CE – it was much hotter in Southern England than it is today. Indeed, so hot was it that the Romans regularly cultivated grapes. Since those heady days – the temperatures have cooled in the UK – and 32 would be more usually experienced for a few days in mid-August – not late May. We waited to late afternoon to take the dogs to a nearby woods near Tilford village – so as to not overheat their paws on the overly hot ground. We stayed in the shade – but I did get photographs and footage of a village hall built in the 19th century – and an old bridge – which looks medieval to me! Cricket was being play on the Green – and I like a good game of cricket. It is complicated and very Confucian in nature!

UK: “Bewick’s British Birds” – a Classic Masterpiece! (26.5.2026)

25/05/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Bewick was the son of a farmer from Tyneside (New Castle-Upon-Tyne) yet he became one of Britain’s greatest and most popular engravers of his time – a true master. His farming parents were wealthy enough to have their son educated (instead of working from an early age) so he was fully literate. As he was not properly middle-class (perhaps a well-off peasant-farmer) he did not attend University, but instead became and Engraving Apprentice at Ralph Beilby’s engraving business at aged 14. This apprenticeship lasted seven-years – permitting him to master every aspect of this trade. Indeed, he became an expert in “woodcut printing” which can be dated back to the 1440 printing-press of Johannes Gutenberg. His masterpiece featured here was first published on October 14th, 1797 – although I think later editions were enlarged and improved. We were lucky in that the cover price is £12.99 – but this copy was on sale for just £4.99!

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