oxford – Page 3 – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

My Shakespeare “Complete Works” Editions! (10.3.2024)

10/03/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

The first was in 1992 – purchased from a local WH Smiths in a place called ‘Tiverton’ in East Devon (I believe during the time that my Irish grandmother – Gladys Kilmurray – was very ill and when her British daughter and American grandchildren were visiting the UK from Seattle, US) – whilst the second was acquired from The Works in Torquay High Street in 2007 (five-years after my family had uprooted and migrated to the South Coast). Both are superb editions with the first being easy to carry around whilst the latter is a very large, impressive and “Grand” Limited Library Edition – designed as a “Reference” copy only NOT to be borrowed or moved about (it is far too heavy for that)! The first is compact – whilst the second is lavishly illustrated and easy to read.

Richard Hunn’s Portable Buddha-Statue! (2.3.2024)

02/03/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

As it stands, Oxford University is the pinnacle of Bourgeois opulence, class distinction, grace and favour! Indeed, my mother’s family used to live in Lewisham (the East End of London) – before Hitler’s Luftwaffe bombed the area during September, 1941! Thousands of our bombed-out neighbours were moved into the Chislehurst Caves – where they created an underground City for the duration of War (in fact, until the incumbent Labour Party had finished building thousands of decent Council Houses in 1947) – whilst my family (the ‘Gibson’ Clan) were given a Train Pass and relocated to Oxford – where some of our relatives had been sent for work during an earlier bombing.

Lewisham: Locating the Now Lost “Horton Street”! (25.11.2023)

25/11/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

During September, 1940, Nazi Germany unleashed its ‘Blitz’ attack on London! The Luftwaffe dropped thousands of tonnes of bombs on East London – as Hitler sought to destroy the physical bodies of the British working-class (thus preventing them from joining the British Arm Forces) – and to destroy the morale of those who were left! Not only this, by bombing various targets in the UK – using conventional Bomber-Aeroplanes and unconventional Flying Bombs (the fabled ‘V’ or ‘Vengeance’ weapons) Hitler attempted to rip the infrastructure of the UK from beneath the feet of its inhabitants! In the 18 months of intense blanket-bombing – a tactic Hitler had perfected in Spain during the Civil War (1936-1939) in that country – around 70,000 British people were killed!

The Clan Gibson of Sutton! (9.11.2023)

09/11/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

Our branch of the Gibson family is recorded as having been ‘rope-makers’ and are believed to have originally migrated out of Scotland hundreds of years ago – and to have ‘walked’ down through England until they eventually settled in East London. This is a journey that took decades and involved small clusters settling here and there. Featured is out Scottish Tartan – but as ‘Gibson’ is of Viking heritage – the Vikings settled in both England and Scotland at different times and during the centuries prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066 CE. As the Normans were Vikings who had settled in France – this adds yet another level of transmission. The ‘Son of Gibb’ was thought to have been a mighty Viking warrior!

Kent: Chislehurst Caves! (7.10.2023)

08/10/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

As something of a hobby that its becoming ever more prominent and important as I get older – I have penned an article about the local Home Guard Unit (the 54th Kent Battalion) which operated in the area – that will be published shortly on a dedicated historical website. This Home Guard Unit had the unexpected duty of ‘Policing’ the exterior of the caves and ensuring that law and order was maintained by the thousands of evacuees who turned-up. There was also the issue of ensuring that there was no trouble between the locals and the newly arrived – as Britain is rife with regional conflicts! A positive gained from this influx meant that there was plenty of men and women available to join and assist the Home Guard – making this area one of the best manned of the Civil Defence Authorities! Remember – the Home Guard was premised upon Socialist principles!

Dr John Wilkins (1614-1672): Revolutionary Thinkimg & England’s 1640 CE Moon-Shot! (30.9.2023)

30/09/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

The point is that the external Revolutionary conditions of British society that led directly to the English Civil Wars (and the overthrow of absolute monarchy) – not only emerged from changing attitudes within – but served to further condition the human mind to think beyond the boundaries set by previous generations without! Changing times led to changing thoughts – and changing thoughts led to the eventual advancement of science and society. John Wilkins is to be applauded for his diplomatic skills and his scientific vigour! This very much encapsulates the spirit of the English Revolution!

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