metta – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Feeding Squrrels & Pigeons! (21.9.2025)

21/09/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

We visited the Church-yard of St Nicholas Church on the 14.9.2025 – a pleasant Saturday afternoon in South-West London (formerly East Surrey). At the moment we are experiencing what we use to call an “Indian Summer” – providing this is still an acceptable analogy (who knows – the ground upon which we stand keeps dissolving into loose sand). Either way, communing with wild animals teaches children empathy, sympathy, and kindness. This is inter-species communication – a very important aspect of a civilised upbringing and education. From a superstitious Buddhist view – all life is karmically inter-related following endless cycles of rebirth (bundles of life-habit living through all different life-forms until the realisation of enlightenment breaks the cycle). Is this real? I have no idea – but the Buddha seems to think rebirth is a Brahmanic myth – but it is a myth which he uses to convey his teaching and make his point, etc.

Shi Da Dao - Caodong Lineage - Fly-Whisk

China: Old Master Xu Yun [1840-1959] is Still Sat in Meditation! (17.10.2024)

17/10/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

I once saw a Westerner (a German) living in China. He could read, write and talk the Chinese language – and had been accepted as a Disciple by a Daoist Master (this is not easy to do – even if you happen to be ethnically “Chinese”). He was able to perform a secret Daoist gongfu Form -where he used the fly-whisk as a self-defence implement. There was no violence – just lots of spiralling movement. All I can do with my fly-whisk is lift it up and down occasionally. I suppose it all comes down to timing.

China: How to Read the Buddhist “卍” (Swastika) Symbol Currectly! (17.10.2024)

17/10/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

Empress Wu Zetian (武则天) of the Tang Dynasty was attracted to Buddhism very much and often invited Ch’an Masters to the palace to explain Buddhist Sutras to her. It was under the promotion of Wu Zetian that Huayan (华严) Sect became a major Buddhist school during the Tang Dynasty.

At that time, there was still no consensus on the pronunciation of “卍” within Buddhism. Some people insisted that it should be pronounced as “万” (Wan4) or “The Ten Thousand Thing” – but others opposed this interpretation – and believed it should be pronounced as “万”(mo2) or “Scorpion” – referring to an Oracle Bone Inscription which refers to a non-Chinese primitive tribe (during the Shang Dynasty) that worshipped the “Scorpion” whilst mimicking its movements in a ritualistic dance (perhaps implying the “foreignness” of India).

Wimbledon: Buddhapadipa Temple & the Family of Geese! (29.5.2024)

29/05/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

It possesses a modest park with a small body of water, a mansion house and a temple complex. Indeed, we have visited here many times in the past. As with all such temples – it is free to enter – and no-one interferes with acts of private meditation. On occasion, the robed-clad monks (Bhikkhu-Beggar) might be seen walking through the grounds. As all animal cruelty is strictly forbidden, the local wildlife tends to behave in a much more relaxed and content manner – as if each animals perceives the “Dhamma” (Teaching) that is being practiced. Whatever the case, such an environment allows children to develop a caring attitude of respect for all animals – just one of the reasons we take our children to such places!

Laos Buddhist-Socialist Republic: Youth Centre Celebrates International Children’s Day and National Tree Planting Day! (7.6.2023)

07/06/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

The Laos People’s Revolutionary Youth Centre organized various events to celebrate International Children’s Day and National Tree Planting Day – on May 30th, 2023 – held at the Lao-ITech Shopping Centre (old building)! Mr. Kikeo Thikhampithun – Deputy Prime Minister – and relevant parties participated in and watched art performances and other (related) activities performed by the young people of Laos! This included such activities as singing, dancing, playing sports, reciting kapkorn and playing the duliang drum, etc!

Laos Buddhist-Socialist Republic: President Wishes Happy Buddhist New Year (2566)! (13.4.2023)

13/04/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

The New Buddhist Year of 2566 is about to start – it is another year in which we still have to face obstacles and challenges! Therefore, I would like to call on the entire Communist Party, the State, the Armed Forces and all the People of Laos to preserve and enhance the good (Buddhist) heritage of our nation, to enhance the unity that is a already strong bond, to focus all our strength through encouragement and intelligence in the mission of protecting and developing our nation, and to push the implementation of the two National Agendas (Buddhist and Socialist) into a more formal and integrated order as a means of self-strengthening – in this way we can create a strong and deep transformation in all fields of work in the coming year!

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