Tuesday, 30 June 2009

IHEU July 2009 update

It's been a busy month!

In this issue, we have reports from the General Assembly and other conferences in London, including the First World Conference on Untouchability; reports, statements and videos from the UN in Geneva, where the Human Rights Council has been in session and IHEU's representatives have been much in evidence despite attempts to gag them; and lots more. There are 28 items in this month's update -- Ithink that's a record.

JUNE CONFERENCES

IHEU concludes General Assembly in London

IHEU's 2009 General Assembly of Member Organisations was held in London on 5th and 6th of June as part of a week of events, including a Conference to mark Darwin's anniversary year and a Global conference on Untouchability. The important news of the GA was that the proposed new IHEU Bylaws and Internal Rules were passed unanimously. This is a landmark for IHEU as one of the goals of making these changes is to give national Member Organisations from developing countries more influence at the General Assembly. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3548>

Global initiative against untouchability launched in London

The first "World Conference on Untouchability" concluded on 10 June with the launch of a global initiative against caste discrimination. The conference, organized in London by IHEU, brought together politicians, academics and grass roots leaders to share successful strategies to combat caste discrimination and help the nearly 250 million victims of Untouchability. The conference declaration, passed unanimously, proposes expanding successful grass roots programmes, improving national legislation, and strengthening UN enforcement mechanisms. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3546>

Superstition kills: new film premieres at World Conference on Untouchability

In a new 30-minute film, Swedish film maker Henrik Thome tracks IHEU's International Director Babu Gogineni as he and his colleagues visit a village in Andhra Pradesh state, where an independent minded Dalit woman was murdered on the pretext that she was a witch. After meeting the victim's family, they start an educational and media initiative in the region to bring the killers of Bhuvanagiri Somamma to justice. The team travels to the neighbouring Karnataka state where they join Prof. Narendra Nayak, President of the Federation of Indian Rationalists Associations, and rationalists from Tamil Nadu for some spectacular action. Watch this film, which premiered at the IHEU's World Conference on Untouchability in London on 10 June 2009, here. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3545>

BBC features IHEU World Conference on Untouchability

The BBC has reported on the First World Conference on Untouchability. The report quotes IHEU's Babu Gogineni: "There are Dalit politicians in India, but nothing has changed. The answer is to educate Dalits and empower them." Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3544>

Parliamentary questions precede first World Conference on Untouchability in London, June 9 & 10

The first "World Conference on Untouchability" has prompted questions in the House of Commons and the House of Lords about government policy towards the global human rights problem of caste discrimination, which afflicts almost 250 million people in countries from Japan to Nigeria. The questions were raised by Jeremy Corbyn MP and Lord Avebury. Both parliamentarians spoke at the conference. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3540>

Darwin, Humanism and Science

A full report on the "Darwin, Humanism and Science" conference held in London on 6 June 2009 has been posted by blogger Edward Spencer. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3539>

Humanists award Richard Dawkins for promoting reason and science across the world

Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and internationally renowned atheist, sceptic and humanist received an award for his 'work in promoting reason and science worldwide' on 6th June during an international gathering of humanist organisations from all over the world. The award was given by the British Humanist Association and IHEU following a conference during the day on 'Darwin, Humanism and Science', at which Professor Dawkins was a key speaker. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3538>

IHEU Bylaws

The General Assembly (GA) in London in June 2009 adopted new Bylaws for the organization. The need for revision of some parts of the IHEU Bylaws had been apparent for some time, and at the GA in 2007 it was decided to prepare a major revision in time for the GA in 2009. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3564>

IHEU SPEAKS OUT (MOST OF THE TIME) AT THE UN

IHEU questions Chinese membership of UN Human Rights Council

20 years after Tiananmen Square, IHEU has criticized China's human rights record and urged the international community to consider again the criteria for membership of the Council. The strong criticism was voiced in a written statement to the June 2009 11th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3660>

UN adopts resolution on preventable maternal mortality

The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution on Preventable Maternal Mortality. The text, and the speech given by Anthony Grayling on behalf of IHEU in support of this resolution, are available on the web site. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3659>

UN begins to move on caste discrimination

Caste discrimination "clealy falls within my mandate" claimed the newly-appointed UN Special Rapporteur on Racism Mr Mugai, speaking on 16 June 2009 at the end of a short debate on his first report to the Human Rights Council. One week after the landmark conference on untouchability held in London under the auspices of IHEU, an official of the Human Rights Council has finally taken this issue on board.(video added) Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3658>

IHEU challenges the view that "defamation of religion" is a form of racism

On 16 June, during the general debate on racism at the Human Rights Council, the Pakistani delegate Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, speaking on behalf of the Islamic States, claimed that the defamation of Islam under the guise of freedom of expression is a new and contemporary form of discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia. When the adjourned debate continued on the morning of 17 June, Roy Brown responded on behalf of IHEU: Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3657>

IHEU denied the right to speak on Sudan

In a travesty of democratic debate, only six non-governmental organizations were allowed to speak in the debate on the Sudan at the Human Rights Council on 16 June, and the first three selected to speak were organizations funded by the government of Sudan. Despite having registered to speak when the list had opened on 2nd June, IHEU were pre-empted by the apologists for the Sudanese Government under a UN rule giving preference to NGOs "not represented" in Geneva. Read what we would have said: Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3656>

A.C. Grayling speaks for IHEU at UN Human Rights Council

In a speech to the Human Rights Council on 16 June on behalf of IHEU, Professor Anthony Grayling called upon the international community to give far greater attention to the 1,500 maternity-related deaths that occur every day - the vast majority of them preventable. "We believe that wider recognition that this is indeed a human rights issue will provide additional momentum to efforts to reduce this appalling death toll." (pictures added) Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3565>

IHEU criticizes Chinese record on human rights

IHEU has criticized China's human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva. Particular points mentioned were China's interpretation of human rights concepts, freedom of expression, capital punishment and freedom of the press. We have a video and the full text of the statement available. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3563>

IHEU defends freedom of expression at the UN Human Rights Council

IHEU representative Cathy Buchs defended Freedom of Expression during a general debate at the 11th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. IHEU applauded the report to the Council by UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Frank La Rue, in which he had advised the Council and the UN General Assembly to desist from further statements regarding defamation of religion. Video and the full text of the IHEU statement are available here. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3541>

AND MUCH MORE...

Gay & Lesbian Humanist June 2009 out now

George Broadhead writes: The latest issue of G&LH is now available free at http://www.gayandlesbianhumanist.org Read more
<http://www.iheu.org/node/3666>

Terry Pratchett OBE speaks to British Humanist Association about assisted dying, ahead of potential reforms to the law

Speaking exclusively to the British Humanist Association (BHA), award-winning author and BHA Distinguished Support Terry Pratchett OBE discusses his views on why it is ethical to allow people to be able to choose to have assisted death, 'when medicine cannot do any more'. Mr Pratchett recorded his thoughts on film for the BHA, ahead of a vote in the House of Lords on part of the law on assisted dying which, if passed, would remove the threat of prosecution of friends and relatives who those who compassionately accompany terminally ill loved ones abroad to die in a country where assisted dying is legal. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3665>

IHEU meets European Union leaders

European Commission President Manuel Barroso and President of the European Parliament Hans Gert Po"ttering hosted a lunch in Brussels on Friday 26 June 2009 with philosophical non-confessional organizations in the Commission's efforts towards strengthening European values. IHEU representative Keith Porteous Wood was among the guests. Porteous Wood spoke of the worrying trends prevalent at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. His greatest concern was the undermining of Universal Human Rights by the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam being strongly promoted by the Islamic states. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3664>

IHEU calls on President of Lithuania to stop gay education ban

IHEU president, Sonja Eggerickx, has urged the president of the Republic of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, to refuse to sign a law that would ban information on homosexuality from schools. Update: the deadline for signing has passed and the bill did not become law [27June 2009]. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3663>

The battle of Conway Hall

New Humanist reports that hardline Islamists were ejected from the home of British Humanism on Wednesday night [17 June 2009]. The planned "debate" on Sharia law at Conway Hall in London was in fact, according to The Guardian, an attempt to relaunch the extreme Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun. Conway Hall is the historic home of British secularism, Humanism and freethought, and was where IHEU held its General Assembly and the First World Conference on Untouchability earlier this month. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3661>

World Humanist Day -- 21 June

The Dutch humanist broadcasting service, HUMAN, and the broadcaster VPRO have worked together with the humanist NGO Hivos to create five short films in which Humanism, as a practical, life-affirming philosophy takes centre stage. The films will be shown on Dutch national TV on Saturday June 20th and Sunday June 21st, and they are available on Youtube and here.... Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3562>

Swedish Humanists: God probably doesn't exist...

IHEU member organization Swedish Humanist Association has launched a major advertising campaign with an eye-catching take on the Swedish flag and the slogan "God probably doesn't exist". We have pictures. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3561>

IHEYO Youthspeak - June 2009

IHEYO's newsletter Youthspeak has been published. The new edition includes: A thought for the Untouchables; Speaking Out: Can we help it?; Thanks to Victor Kay, IHEU is $2.5million richer!; Homophobic Mayor popularizes Russian Gay Campaign; Nigerian Sharia Council Condemns Move On Death Penalty; Suspected abortion provider killer jailed; Peru set to ban gay police officers. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3550>

IHEU International Representative on BBC World Service

The BBC World Service has interviewed Leo Igwe, IHEU's International Representative for West Africa, on its popular radio programme Weekend Network. We have a link to a recording of the interview. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3549>

May 2009 IHN published

The May 2009 issue of International Humanist News has been published. This edition includes features on Humanist ceremonies; and Democracy versus Theocracy. We have a PDF version with full layout and pictures (now in new easy-reader format) and back numbers from the last 15 years available. The full text is also available. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3508>

IHEU and NSS propose work programme to European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

In a remarkable document, IHEU and its member organization the National Secular Society have proposed a wide-ranging list of modern-day human rights issues for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in 2010. IHEU and NSS have proposed specific actions in three main focus areas: religious, race and cultural practices; the rights of children; and disadvantage to the non-religious. The full document is available for download. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3537>

Media zero to media hero -- IHEU free webinar now available online, on demand

IHEU's popular free webinar for Humanist leaders on how the media works and how to work the media is now available on this web site as a streamed Internet recording, including both the visual materials and the interactive soundtrack. Read more <http://www.iheu.org/node/3512>

--

International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is the world umbrella organisation for Humanist, ethical culture, rationalist, secularist and freethought groups. Based in London, it is an international NGO with Special Consultative Status with the UN (New York, Geneva, Vienna), General Consultative Status at UNICEF (New York) and the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), and it maintains operational relations with UNESCO (Paris).

Its mission is to build and represent the global Humanist movement, to defend human rights and to promote Humanist values world-wide. IHEU sponsors the triennial World Humanist Congress.

You can find out more about IHEU on our web site <http://www.iheu.org>

Fwd by
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm>

PicoSearch

The Advayavada website http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm has a handy
PicoSearch device at the bottom of each page.

Monday, 29 June 2009

Karma (from Advayavada website)

Karma, we must stress, is, in our view, pratityasamutpada or dependent origination at our sentient level, including personal choices and responsibility - it is the immanent universal dynamic principle of existence as it also operates incessantly within the human being, in the relations between all sentient beings and in their interaction with the environment. Wholesome human activities are necessarily those which are in agreement with the overall otherwise indifferent pattern and direction of existence. It is, indeed, for this reason that they are experienced by us as such. You will no doubt agree that there cannot be two sets of rules at play, one for totality and one as devised by humankind itself for its own affairs only.

QUESTION What do you mean by 'indifferent'?

ANSWER The same idea of the indifference of Nature to the concerns of humanity is, for instance, also treated in chapter 5 of the Tao Te Ching ("Heaven and Earth are not humane, they regard all things as straw dogs, etc."), which please see in your copy of this important book.

Nature (from Advayavada website)

QUESTION I wonder what your support for this interpretation of humans experiencing Nature as progress might be. There's abundant evidence in media of various sorts -- good, bad, or indifferent in quality -- of people who contrarily do not experience the overall course of Nature as progressive at all, but instead as destructive and teleologically negative, especially today in conditions of global warming, cyclones, tornados, earthquakes, oceans rising, meteorites, and so on.

ANSWER If you look closely, all those unpleasantnesses you mention do not pertain to overall existence at all but are the result of mistaken views, immorality and mismanagement. When we say how man experiences the course of Nature we of course mean man unencumbered by these contingent shortcomings and mistakes that impair his vision, understanding and accomplishments - the reference standard is overall existence and not failing mankind.

Master your senses (Beliefnet)

Master your senses, what you taste and smell, what you see, what you hear. In all things be a master of what you do and say and think. Be free. Are you quiet? Quieten your body. Quieten your mind. By your own efforts waken yourself, watch yourself, and live joyfully. Follow the truth of the Way. Reflect upon it. Make it your own. Live it. It will always sustain you. (from the Dhammapada)

Advayavada Study Plan - week 27

Friends,

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing, autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time.

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized and firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world.

By following the Noble Eightfold Path thus you get in tune with wondrous overall existence advancing over time; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new impetus.

Last week's ASP subject was the Eighth Step on the Noble Eighfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi.

This week's preliminary ASP subject is again the First Sign of Being, i.e. the first fact of life: omnia mutantur, everything changes, the impermanence and changeability of everything, of all existents, including ourselves.

Actual and potential change are the most important aspects of pratityasamutpada, interdependent origination, the universal dynamic principle of existence meaning that 'all causes are effects and all effects are causes'.

The purpose of the ASP is that we study and discuss the meaning and implications of the weekly subject in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

Tip: Write down this week's subject ('impermanence') in your pocket diary!

John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan>

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Progress and evolution

Evolution is an ontological fact and progress is an epistemological concept. What we say is that human beings experience as progress that which accords with the overall course of Nature, including, of course, evolution. (From the Questions and Answers section of our website)

True doctrine (Beliefnet)

I prostrate to Gautama
Who through compassion
Taught the true doctrine,
Which leads to the relinquishing of all views.

(Nagarjuna, "Mulamadhyamaka-Karika")

A true part of the whole.

To realize what in Advayavada Buddhism we term 'to become a true part of the whole' one must follow the Eightfold Path. In Advayavada Buddhism the Path is interpreted dynamically as a fully autonomous process of progressive insight and, let us clarify further here, as strictly non-dual and non-comparative, this in the sense that it bears no reference at all to anything predetermined by others or oneself. A prescriptive method with preset demands and expectations is antithetical to all progress, both of the individual and the group to which he or she belongs. The Path is moreover not seen in Advayavada Buddhism as a means to become something in the future, but as the way to become as something rightaway in the herenow. It is seen as the way to become oneself herenow as existence interdependently becoming over time now in its overall right direction - it is by becoming herenow as the whole of existence as it is beyond our commonly limited and biased personal experience of it, that we free ourselves from suffering. Nirvana is when we experience our own existence as being completely in harmony with existence as a whole becoming over time... (From the Questions and Answers section of our website)

Monday, 22 June 2009

4,000 weeks.

Human beings live about 4,000 weeks.

Advayavada Study Plan - week 26

Friends,

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing, autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time.

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized and firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world.

By following the Noble Eightfold Path thus you get in tune with wondrous overall existence advancing over time; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new impetus.

Last week's ASP subject was the Seventh Step on the Noble Eighfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) observation, reflection or evaluation and self-correction of our efforts.

This week's ASP subject is the Eighth Step on the Noble Eighfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi.

samadhi = total concentration (of the mind, cf. enstasy); non-dualistic state of consciousness in which the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object; total absortion in the object of meditation; transcendence of the relationship between mind and object; merging of subject and object; to contemplate the world without any perception of objects; suspension of judgement; satori; bodhi; rigpa; realization of the sameness of the part and the whole, of the identity of form and emptiness, of samsara and nirvana, of the immediate and the ultimate; mystic oneness; perfect attunement with wondrous overall existence; oceanic feeling; wonder, awe, rapture; essential purity; deep love and compassion; awareness of our common ground.

The purpose of the ASP is that we study and discuss the meaning and implications of the weekly subject particularly in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

Tip: Write down this week's subject (e.g. 'meditate towards samadhi') in your pocket diary!

John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan>

Thursday, 18 June 2009

Total relinquishment in Zazen [Ekeson]

Seigaku Kigen Ekeson writes in Tricyle (Summer 2009) that

"Zazen comes to us from our teachers as the practice using all forms and all awareness as vehicles for the relinquishment of all forms and all awareness. This relinquishment must be total and does not allow for some detached, aware perspective to continue at all, much less be owned or cultivated. Through zazen, we don't seek to become 'fully functional human beings [Genpo Roshi, in Introducing Big Mind]', we seek to die to our human condition and be reborn as bodhisattvas: agents of compassionate impermanence."

It will be clear that in Advayavada Buddhism we do not share this understanding of enlightenment at all.

John Willemsens.

Twitter

Advayavada Buddhism and I are now on Twitter.
/\ John.

Monday, 15 June 2009

Advayavada Study Plan - week 25

Friends,

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing, autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time.

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized and firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world.

By following the Noble Eightfold Path thus you get in tune with wondrous overall existence advancing over time; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new impetus.

Last week's ASP subject was the Sixth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) effort or commitment in carrying out our intention.

This week's ASP subject is the Seventh Step on the Noble Eighfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) observation, reflection or evaluation and self-correction of our efforts.

The purpose of the ASP is that we study and discuss the meaning and implications of the weekly subject particularly in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

Tip: Write down this week's subject (e.g. 'evaluate and correct') in your pocket diary!

John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan>

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

A Bull of a Man, by John Powers.

John Powers. A Bull of a Man: Images of Masculinity, Sex, and the Body in Indian Buddhism. Harvard University Press, June 2009
ISBN-13: 9780674033290, Hardcover, $45.00

From the front flap and back cover:

The androgynous, asexual Buddha of contemporary popular imagination stands in stark contrast to the muscular, virile, and sensual figure presented in Indian Buddhist texts. In early Buddhist literature and art, the Buddha's perfect physique and sexual prowess are important components of his legend as the world's "ultimate man." He is both the scholarly, religiously inclined brahman and the warrior ruler who excels in martial arts, athletic pursuits, and sexual exploits. The Buddha effortlessly performs these dual roles, combining his society's norms for ideal manhood and creating a powerful image taken up by later followers in promoting their tradition in a hotly contested religious marketplace.

In this groundbreaking study of previously unexplored aspects of the early Buddhist tradition, John Powers skillfully adapts methodological approaches from European and North American historiography to the study of early Buddhist literature, art, and iconography, highlighting aspects of the tradition that have been surprisingly invisible in earlier scholarship. The book focuses on the figure of the Buddha and his monastic followers to show how they were constructed as paragons of masculinity, whose powerful bodies and compelling sexuality attracted women, elicited admiration from men, and convinced skeptics of their spiritual attainments.

A Bull of a Man is one of the most creative and remarkable manuscripts on an Indian-Buddhist related topic that I have read in the past quarter-century. No other publication on embodiment in Buddhism even approaches its sophistication. It is an exciting, essential volume for all in Buddhist studies.
--Charles S. Prebish, Utah State University

Whereas for years Western scholars have propagated a disembodied view of Buddhism, John Powers makes a powerful case for the Indian tradition's obsession with gender, sexuality, and the body. Engagingly written and packed with fascinating details, A Bull of a Man is a major contribution to Buddhist studies and a must read for anyone in interested in the interaction between gender and religion.
--Christopher E. Forth, author of Masculinity in the Modern West

Fwd by
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm>

Monday, 8 June 2009

International Humanist News

This update from International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU)
is to let you know that the May 2009 edition of
International Humanist News is now available at:

<http://www.iheu.org/ihn-may-2009-pdf>

This edition includes features on Humanist ceremonies;
and Democracy versus Theocracy.
Both text <http://www.iheu.org/taxonomy/term/456>
and PDF <http://www.iheu.org/ihn-may-2009-pdf>
versions are available.

We also have over 15 years of back numbers at
<http://www.iheu.org/ihn>

Fwd by
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm>

Advayavada Study Plan - week 24

Friends,

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing, autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time.

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized and firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world.

By following the Noble Eightfold Path thus you get in tune with wondrous overall existence advancing over time; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life soon gathers new impetus.

Last week's ASP subject was the Fifth Step on the Noble Eighfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) implementation or realization of our intention.

This week's ASP subject is the Sixth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) effort or commitment in carrying out our intention.

The purpose of the ASP is that we study and discuss the meaning and implications of the weekly subject particularly in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

Tip: Write down next week's subject (e.g. 'my very best effort') in your pocket diary!

John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan>