Dharma Fri 12 May 06

Well - since Nam is on holiday in beautiful Thailand (lucky guy!), I've been asked to send this week's email to let all of you know about this week's Dharma Friday.

This Friday evening we have invited a very special guest to run a workshop for us, Miss Hsiao-Wen Wang. Hsiao-Wen is an artist and a qualified counsellor. Her main interests are in exploring the multi-faceted healing benefits of the creative process. She's been running art therapy workshops for young people for the last 3 years, and in that vein she has graciously agreed to lead our group this Friday for a workshop on Gratitude. If you've thought about coming along to Dharma Friday and you haven't come along yet - here's your chance!

Gratitude:
"Gratitude" is an important concept in Buddhism. Are you aware of the many factors that make you into the person that you are today? Do you know about all the causes and conditions that caused you to be? If your mother hadn't carried you in her tummy for 9 months, given birth to you, nursed and fed and clothed you and given you love.... where would you be today? This Friday we will be having a workshop on Gratitude, with a bit of a mother's day theme (seeing as Mother's Day is this Sunday).

What: Workshop on Gratitude with special guest: Hsiao-Wen Wang
Where: FGS Temple - 281 Guildford Rd, Maylands
When: 7pm-9pm (we also usually meet in a nearby coffee shop for a coffee afterwards as well)
Transport: For Transport, please email or call/sms Lay Yoke Ng (karope34@hotmail.com / 0422 574 624) and state your name, address
and any other details that would be important for us to know... i.e. if you need to leave early or late, get picked up earlier. We're very happy to give you a lift if you need one!
Questions: If you have any questions about this event, please contact Ga Vin on 0413263355 (three) or email me at gavin@mosaic.net.au)

and now... for a trademark zen story sign-off ;-)

Just Two Words
--------------------------

There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has been ten years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"

"Bed... hard..." said the monk.

"I see," replied the head monk.

Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"

"Food... stinks..." said the monk.

"I see," replied the head monk.

Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?"

"I... quit!" said the monk.

"Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All you ever do is complain."