April 2008 The theme for this month: impermanence. Buddha emphasized the transitory nature of all creation, and April 9 saw the completion of the first 3-year Tibetan Buddhist retreat ever held in Australia, at the Vajradhara Gonpa, Kyogle [http://www.siddharthasintent.org/VajradharaGonpa.htm], under the direction of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, a.k.a. Khyentse Norbu, who is perhaps best known around the planet for his films The Cup and Travelers and Magicians. The retreat crescendoed into a final week-long practice intensive based on the “Heart Essence of Deathless Arya Tara”. I went up for final day, which synchronistically happened to fall during the spring Nava Ratri; it was well worth the drive. Spirits were high, despite the incessant rain; I particularly enjoyed the attitude of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, who offered several pithy down-to-earth comments in his closing homily, including, “Now that the ritual is ended, I am no longer a god,” and “please remain hippies!” (this last because the general area in which the gompa sits is known for its well-developed counter-culture).

Movie of the month (for me): "The Diving Bell & the Butterfly," which offers an excellent reminder of just how quickly things can change in our world, it being the true story of how an editor of a major French magazine is felled in the prime of life by a stroke, leaving him in “locked-in syndrome,” in which he maintains his ability to receive sense perceptions but cannot communicate in any way, except by moving one eyelid. He painstakingly used this eyelid to write an entire book, and his life ended ten days after the book appeared in print, to intense acclaim.

Video of the month: “My stroke of insight” [http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/229], in which brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor describes her experience of having a stroke, and what it taught her about life & living.

All manifestation will inevitably disappear, and nothing can be relied upon to remain unchanging for any length of time; these three experiences compellingly offered a reminder that one lives best by living each precious moment of life to the fullest. May all sentient beings live happily!

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