Assaji's Journal

This thread started out as a celebration party for Assaji and has evolved to being a journal where we can journey with Assaji who has just moved to the West from the East
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Ven Assaji has worked long and hard to actualize his dream to continue his studies in London. He has always been a top student and this attained him a scholarship at a university in London. But there were still many hurdles to cross and challenges to overcome. Up until just a week ago we didn't know for sure - but now the door has swung wide open! Assaji is on his way to London! May I invite you all to celebrate with us.

I feel this is an appropriate group for this celebration because Assaji holds a very special place in my heart and also I have been wishing that one of the precious monastics in our network would join us as in so many ways a monk just IS Love and we can learn so much from them. I am going to invite Assaji to join us here to celebrate and hope he will join us shortly!

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on Assajis profile page he says -

About Me:

“I am awake”

                                                                                ~BUDDHA

Namaste, I am Assaji and a monastic. My early days were spent mostly in a Buddhist Institute learning the daily pujas, meditation and the classical languages of Pali and Sanskrit . I also studied Information Technology for a while. To cut the story very short, while walking several years on this material-spiritual-complex path, I completed my Bachelor Degree with First Class Honours (for which I am happy). I then applied for a Masters Programme at SOAS, University of London for further broadening my knowledge and I got accepted. At the moment I am still making preparation to go there. Education, as I feel, is a powerful tool if we want to change the world.
 

~ May all beings be happy.

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

my dear ones - Natalie, my daughter with her husband, Jay and Assaji in Thailand.

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Much love and warmth to beloved Assaji on this new exciting adventure! Please keep us posted, Anna.

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Yay! Yahoo! That is just wonderful! Onederful! Congratulations, Assaji! Much Love and Blessings to you! :)

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Celebrating your success, and no doubt hard work too, may you gain much happiness and joy from your studies, sending love and a virtual hug.

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

I received a quick note from Assaji that he's traveling and will be receiving mail tomorrow morning again. In the mean time would anyone like a looong cool fresh mango juice?
 

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Enjoying the mango juice and the wonderful news of your success, Assaji. You will be spreading your light in more places now!

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Assaji!  I'm sooo happy for you :)  You must be thrilled =D  Enjoy London!

Love,
~Matthew

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Congratulations Assaji!  I wish you great success in your schooling.

Namaste
Kala

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

congratulations Assaji,

I'm sure life will continue to be your greatest teacher
as you travel to this new part of it

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Hello hello Everyone, big Smiles and thanks for all your beautiful posts!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

I've just arrived at my place this morning after 12 hours drive. I am tired, but I can't wait to tell about my lucid dream on the way. Just recently, Anna asked me if I have lucid dreams and I told her that I rarely dream and I am happy with the way it is. But guess what, just around the dawn this morning, I had a clear dream about a thoroughbred I was riding. By the way, I never rode a horse in real life, but it felt so real. So it took me on its back and traveled me to a far off place. As I rode, I saw beautiful places, landscapes, lakes, trees and mountains and I was so grateful to my thoroughbred for leading me this beautiful place. At first I didn't know where I was going, neither did I ask, but I knew it must be somewhere very special. It is like scenes I saw as a kid from Robin Hood movie-series on TV crossing landscapes and jungles on horse's back. I rode on. I felt wonderful. Then all of a sudden, my thoroughbred lifted itself and jumped from a edge of a cliff far down to the bank of a river. I found myself in the water. It was soft and cozy. Then I heard a sound. It was my cellphone ringing, but it is not to be seen around. It has dropped somewhere when landing. Then someone there in the water found it and gave it to me with a smile. Immediately, I received the call, however, the voices were unfamiliar… then I woke up.

Can I call this a lucid dream? I don't know, but this felt so real and wonderful to ride on the back of a thoroughbred :) I remember Natalie (Anna's daughter) once told me that she used to ride horses in SA and how amazing and liberating it feels to ride horses :)
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Anna for opening this thread and everyone for participating in it.

Love and joys,
Assaji

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Welcome to your party dear Assaji!! Now you have arrived we can put some music on!

What an amazing dream! Speaks of the powerful and sacred flow of the time you're in. …. and the call -  not known yet, but to be revealed…
perhaps you can share more if more is revealed.

Lucid dreams usually mean one is aware during the dream that one is dreaming, in a sense one is conscious in the dream.

love

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Ok :)  I am not sure in what languages these two posted below songs are sung, but they are lovely and I am just enjoying them at the moment, without having to know their meanings.

Anyone knows in what language these songs are sung?

Today I was doing some Sanskrit reading with a teacher and we came across a section on what constitute a sentence? Is it the names, words or syllables? While neither of them constitutes, it is in fact the completion of a meaning that constitute a sentence (Vasubandhu, Abhidharmakosa) - just adding some philosophical excitement here!

:)

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

thank you Assaji for bringing more music to your party. Mmm I wouldnt want to hazard a guess - anyone here know what languages these are?

Thank you too for giving us a peephole into what you were studying today. LOL Reading your words

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Assaji you have been living in Thailand recently and before that Shri Lanka and were born in Bangladesh - please correct me if I've left anything out or got my facts wrong. Now you're going to London which is such a different place! It would be wonderful if you share pictures about where you've lived and the differences you sense you're about to experience.
 

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Yes, congratulations and celebrations!
We look forward to your arrival :D

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Yay Natalie has joined Assaji's party! Nat you were recently in Thailand with Assaji, what would you say are the most striking differences between Thailand and London - anyone else who has insights are welcome to share too!
Oh Natalie, while you're sharing could you also please share a little about Assaji - I know from the precious times he's given me a call, he has the gentlest sweetest laugh and voice ever!

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Hmm, such a big question mom!
Thailand and London are worlds apart … more than can be described … but I suppose one can say that about areas within a country too, as Bangkok, Songkhla and the islands are also all worlds apart. It's hard to compare a country to a city.
One thing I will say though, with the exception of sales people … and the majority of Bangkok, there's an amazing amount of respect in Thailand and lots of tradition and I found a lot of the people had a calm, welcoming friendly nature (once again, Bangkok and sales people excluded … as I have never felt so overwhelmed and felt like so many people were trying to take advantage of me as I did in Bangkok … although big cities are always more hectic than the rest of the country).
You just can't compare, when everything is totally different from the religeon, culture, food, climate, history, dress, language, toilets, laws, driving, houses, water  … where would I even begin.
Religeon is much more a part of life there, and there is one main religion. Anything and everything goes in London, and Christianity although strong in some groups I'm sure, is certainly not a nationwide bond.
You can't drink the water.
They don't use toilet paper, instead they have a high pressure spray, which took some getting used to and is quite  environmentally friendly, but would never work in London, coz you'd never dry here, so you'd be wet … and then an icycle.
Architecture is different due to differences in climates, economy and culture.
And everything else is different too, when Assaji comes, he can tell you all about it :)

Assaji is lovely, as we all know. He is sweet and gentle and caring and kind, with an air of calmness … and I think he enjoys being surrounded by calmness. He has a naughty sense of humour … and like Jay, enjoys a good sleep in the car :) lol

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

aah thank you Natalie for sharing!

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

lovely, how perect to clebrate with you on this day, 9/11, my 50th birthday.
i am sorry i have been away, have been bust transforming my life in prep for a radical lifestyle change:

http://maryandkeith.blogspot.com.

it is a dream coem true and a way to meet any of you who feel so moved to have us roll into your town. we are self-sufficient travelers.

much love and joy and gratitude,

mary

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Two of my early photos (1999, Rangamati, Bangladesh)
Me (right) and a Dharma brother (left)

:)

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Merry Mary, I'm about to do a day of teaching yoga and other classes now, but I'm dying to read your blog and will as soon as I return!

Assaji, those photos are gorgeous! You were so little then. Thank you for sharing. We'd love you to share more of your journey

love and hugs

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Aw look, it's a mini Assaji :D how sweet and little … and just like you but smaller!

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

I'm just chatting to Assaji who is on his way to London! Now at Doha airport waiting for the next flight - tonight he steps on London soil for the 1st time - 1st entry to the West! Assaji I'd love it if you could share your 1st impressions!

love and hugs

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

1st Impressions

Well the very 1st impression was at the airport itself. The immigration officer has been very nice, this is especially impressive considering immigration in the UK is much stricter now and usually there will be lots of interrogation before one enters UK. I had an smooth transition. The officer even asked me to bestow blessings upon him and I gave lol.

The next thing was Jay has been waiting for me at the airport for almost 4 hours, since there was a flight delay, poor Jay, i was delighted to see him. We drove home and met Natalie at home with another delight. I had shower, then took something. We chatted until 3 am in the morning, then went to bed. I had a very sound sleep. With the air bit cool, it was just lovely during the night.

The next morning, we went to London's Eye, the one place where everyone hopes to visit I think. We walked along that street, I was very impressed by the street performers there, I had lots of fun there.

Still feeling very excited, at the same time nervous, as I am new and this part of the world is very different, I look for more surprises in the coming days.

Oh before I forget, I should mention my new family, Sandra and Peter, together with Nats and Jay are lovely people, very kind and friendly, I am so grateful to them.

I am going to go to down-town with Peter tomorrow, so hope to see more exciting things. 

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

oh thank you for this sharing, Assaji! What a lucky officer to receive a blessing from you! I was chatting to you just now on the internet and am soo enjoying hearing about your adventures! I am happy to hear your new family is taking good care of you!

love

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

sharing a picture of an educational trip during my studies in Sri Lanka, probably in 2002?

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

aah! I just want to HUG you all!

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Bro, thank you for posting this picture and it reminding me if not all at least some sweet moments that we shared during this educational trip. It also shows that you are still holding the memories that you shared during your stay in Sri Lanka. But, i can't see myself in the picture, may be i was sitting at the back or it's because the picture is small.

With Metta 

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Thank you dear Anna for creating and nurturing this thread. Well, about the moving thing, it's up to you to decide :)

Peacehunter, you are sitting in between Jnanananda and Priyaratana, you are very little man back then :)  

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

thank you love - in this case I'll move it to the Journals room - it will have more longevity this way I feel as it transforms from Assaji's celebration party to Assaji's Journal where those fortunate enough to share can walk with you

love and hugs

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

By the way, me and nats went to this park with our bikes and hung around a bit on the swing thing, here is a picture of nats>>>

Re: CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS!!! True Eloquence - Assaji

Aaw reminds me of when Nat was about 5 years old - just shes not all dimpled and chubby any more! I'm sure you were also being a wild kid having fun on the swings! Yay!