- newsletter number six, September, 2011

Mabuhay everyone,

Welcome to our sixth newsletter for friends of, Parks of Study and Reflection – Banahaw. We recently held our School of Silo formal meeting, 24 and 25 September. The huge storm that swamped lower Manila had us cautioned into not using the Park on this instance.

Other venues were quickly sorted out.

The general programme is presented below for other’s information but of course it’s the content and camaraderie that counts and that cannot be reproduced here.

Main aims at the moment are to continue fixing what needs fixing at the Park and to continue to install the ‘elements’ – the items that go to make a classic Park as originally devised with a Fountain next on the list. The list includes Centre of Studies building and Meditation Hall, as the major installations, but a workshop space is also planned for such as the Fire Craft practices.

In answer to a friend’s repeated queries on what the Parks are about I am reminded of something that was said of the Movement itself from ages ago and that is – unless you are part of the Movement you will never understand it… Despite that, we present here comments exchanged between friends overseas on their experiences with the Parks so those friends in a looser connection will have to just do their best.

Your editor for today

Tony

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Hi Everyone

I came across a very nice long interview of Silo in La Reja that has English sub-titles as well as other languages. If you read Spanish, you might want to see the sub-titles in Spanish if you can’t understand the words so clearly. Silo speaks about many different things such as personal change, violence, the Humanist Party, The Message, transcendence, how he would define himself, etc.

It was done by an Argentine TV station in 2006 and the reporter is very amiable with him. I highly recommend it and I think it also might be good for newer people to see him in such a relaxed environment of the Park, etc.

I had never seen this interview, nor have I heard of it so I am glad I happened to come across this jewel.

hugs

Nicole

September 24 & 25, 2011: Meeting of School Masters of Parke Banahaw

Day One Saturday: SLV Barangay

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Some interesting points that I reflected on from an earlier meeting:

“One starts to see other people from profundity….listen to other people in their profundity, for this we have to be connected with our interiority. If I connect with this experience, problems are seen in a different way”

“Parity, diversity and affection. Affection as central in making harmony …the register of Affection as what allows one to enter in the best of oneself in the moment of relating to each other…

Karina

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Hi Karina,

The way I look at it, that’s the Ascesis – letting go of everything from before and launching oneself onto the platform of life – no more studies necessarily… (well, you know what I mean…) The intuition as imperative… Doing things…

Hug

Tony

Hi all,

Maybe we can have a personal “situationer” or “current placement” as an introduction (or a prelude) to any formal discussions on what we need to do over the next 6 months after September, 2011.

Warm hugs to all!

Osbi

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCHOOL MEETING

Among Members of the School of Parke Banahaw

Date: September 22-23, 2011

Present: Tony Henderson, Gemma Suzara, Boldy Tapales, Karina Santillan, Osbi Santillan, Boy Guttierrez.

The second formal meeting of the School was held in Makati and Alabang respectively, instead of in the Park due to an impending storm. Highlights of the meeting as follows.

Day One Saturday: SLV Barangay

Service

The School Meeting opened with a Service to set a good tone for the whole group. As part of the Service Ceremony was a short reflection from the Book, The Message of Silo Chapter x, Evidence of the Meaning, which reads:

“The real importance of an awakened life became evident to me.

The real importance of eliminating internal contradictions convinced me.

The real importance of mastering the Force in order to achieve unity and continuity filled

me with joyful meaning.”

The experience helped each one to get into a mental ambit for the meeting.

Reading of two day agenda:

Group Interchange regarding one’s personal situation in relation with the Works and School (queries or points where sharing experiences is needed). Talk about our activities that relate and of our personal disposition, resistances, tendencies and /or discoveries.

A freewheeling discussion with everyone sharing their personal situations, starting off with a discussion on Pain, since a number of Members were experiencing physical pain. Notably, a comment on how we could incorporate even a situation of pain in our personal works. (i.e. Karina, since she is experiencing back pain, is using it to pay more attention to her posture, Osbi to his breathing due to his asthma and respiratory problems).

Osbi noted that in his case, he observed a strong emotional reaction to situations (not intellectual) which was related to his ego or I.

Gemma shared that she wants to put strong intentionality on surpassing her limits instead of a tendency to escape from them.

The question of: Do I really want to evolve? Not just as an intellectual thing but as a strong desire and with fitting was raised.

Boldy mentioned the importance of trying to be kind and compassionate in daily life, paying attention to the simple things.

With a clear purpose, there would be more focus and would help in maintaining the work. (Many noticed that being able to maintain activities and work was one of things observed in our history in the Philippines. We start out very enthusiastic, do big projects but afterward lay low

Tony shared that he would like to have a group like this but how to do this is his question. What form of meditation would it be, since there is already a Buddhist environment in Hong Kong? He has made contacts but so far nothing solid.

Meeting of School September 2011 Manila.

Discussion about Style of Life, significant registers in the Discipline, configuration for Ascesis, works of Ascesis and its relation to daily life and our activities, interchange points of view.

There was a discussion on how the Ascesis was understood and being practiced. For Tony, he saw it as something integral in every day life, using action in the environment as the means. Gemma shared that for her, it was a short practice integrating the most significant “registers” from her work with the Discipline as a means to make contact with the Profound. Others were more focused on configuring a “style of life”, trying to decipher the Purpose and trying to put it as a focal point for their lives.

What’s happening in other Parks, we can share what we know. We share our aspirations for Parke Banahaw, how things are at present, how we see it and would like it to be.

A short discussion on the condition of Parke Banahaw since no one has been able to visit the Park lately. The roof in the Center of Studies is badly leaking and needs to be fixed. The group noted though that our Park is in good condition compared to some other Parks that have been in place longer, like the Red Bluff Park which needed to rent tents whenever there is an activity [update - they now have a fixed accommodation unit, a container - and lacking in some basic necessities like water.

The whole group agreed that there was a strong need to bring the Park alive with more people over and above the current group

Camaraderie: dinner in a restaurant keeping in theme by chatting about the School, Parks, etc. ended the first day.

Day Two Sunday: Alabang Hills

Service and Well Being

The second day started with a service and a well being ceremony. The theme/passage selected by the officiant was:

" Remember what I have said, and learn to discover the truth behind the allegories, which on occasion lead the mind astray, but at other times translate realities that would be impossible to grasp without such representation."

Individual Reflection, note making etc./ Making of plans for future as individuals regarding Works, Activities and the School.

Each Member took time out for individual reflection.

Making of plans by the whole for Parke Banahaw from the point of view of irradiation (The Message, Fire Craft and/or Organisms, etc.)

The need to clarify our vision for the Park. Consensus on the need to invite more people to our activities in the Park. Gemma and Boldy felt that opening a Salita for the Message was a real need and that it might be easier to invite the people contacted to our Retreats in the Park. They had found a possible place in Bangkal Makati. Ways to support the place financially could be by asking friends to make pledges and donations.

The need to really define oneself and to act on one's definition. For Gemma, Boldy, Karina and Boy, clearly they want to focus on The Message. Osbi is active in the World Without Wars Organism.

Clarification on whether other people could use the Park for conducting other workshops and seminars that they are personally developing. The guideline was reiterated that the Park was for the use of the School, The message and the organisms, for our things and themes and even if a School Member was working on themes on a personal level doesn't mean that he/she could use the Park as a venue.

Lunch

Park Commission meeting: Agenda to be made on Sunday

1) Finances. Gemma sent out the summary of expenses to everyone. Was agreed that the monthly contributions of Members would be first used for the monthly needs, i.e. paying of the rent, wi fi etc., before using the funds for repair and construction.

2) Repair of the Roof. P20,000 was raised from Gemma and Boldy to put a metal roof. The thatch roofing material there could be used to reinforce the roof at the Multi-purpose Hall. Osbi and Boldy to schedule a visit to the Park to get the repairs going. Tentative Date for start of construction October 17.

3) Setting up our Symbols. Boy to look into how to put up the fountain, inexpensively, i.e. making use of an existing "kawa". Initially to go to the Park to mark out the space, and to see the size of Fountain that we could use. Tony to send him the information about how to get the water flowing based on aquaponics that his friend has built in Hong Kong.

4) "Widening the Circle" One idea was to have an email barrage to friends to invite them to the Saturday Message Meeting.

5) Monthly Day at the Park. To set a schedule of Monthly Retreats so we can invite people/friends via Facebook, email etcetera. More or less, every third Saturday of the Month was designated as a monthly rhythm.

• Oct 23: Retreat on Valid Action
• Nov 19: Human Spirit
• Dec 10: Workshop on The Force.

Another idea was to do Workshops of Non violence for the local people in Dolores as a means to get in touch with them.

6) Gemma interested in continuing The Craft of Fire.

7) Printing of The Book. Shelved for now as priority is in opening a Salita in order to get in touch with more people. In the meantime, just to photocopy when needed.

The Message in Tagalog. Draft translation to be circulated so that the text could be "finalized and photocopies could be made (care of Boy)

Closing Ceremony with an Asking

The meeting ended with everyone doing an Asking for what each one truly needed.
“Go back to our daily life environment with our forehead and hands luminous!”

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Friend Hugo Novotny says - in reference to Silo’s speech:

His final words rang out audacious and prophetic in that moment:

“We will see no full dialogue on the fundamental questions of today’s civilization until we, as a society, begin to lose our belief in the innumerable illusions fed by the enticements of the current system. In the meantime, the dialogue will continue to be insubstantial and without any connection to the profound motivations of society.

“When the Academy notified me of the distinction it had conferred on me, I realized that in some latitudes of the world something new has begun to move, something that, beginning in a dialogue of specialists, will slowly begin to move into the public square.”

Eighteen years after that day, the non-violent revolutions undertaken by the youth of the Arab world, the radical denunciation of the neoliberal system by the indignant people of Spain and Israel, the courageous confrontation by students in Chile of whole society, demanding a fundamental change in education, today are making an inspiring reality of this prophesy.

The winds of the new times, which Silo foretold in Russia in 1993, have begun to sweep the world, transforming everything in their path.

Hugo Novotny, 2011

from Trudi - N. America:

August 5, 2011.

Hi everyone - just ruminating about the past week, and wanted to share this little experience about the importance of helping each other, from the Fire Workshop:

“I had been working away alone for an interminable length of time, when Mary came over to help me, and everything changed. Suddenly I was no longer mechanically whacking away with my stones, thinking I was doing everything "right," watching with disheartenment as my chunk of pyrite crumbled and the random sparks flew and vanished, never once landing in the tinder.

With Mary’s presence, her suggestions and instructions, I began to pay attention in a new way, and I realized that my attention before had been aloof and dry - lacking emotional charge. Now I felt an infusion of something new, a new life, a new encouragement (cour - from L. cor, "heart") - and my attention became careful and confident, curious, engaged...

And with that inner change of attention, things began to happen in the external world. A spark drifted down into the tinder - there, it’s landed, said Mary, don’t blow!! just let it be – and we watched, holding our breaths, while the spark kindled the tiny cells of the fungus one by one, til there was a miniscule bright orange jewel glowing with life, a little column of smoke rising from it. With utmost care, I gently fanned the tiny coal, and carried my precious plate fire to the fire pit, where I added bits and pieces of fluff and straw… until at last the flame leapt up!”

It was a humbling experience. How much we need each other. How the “I” can do absolutely nothing on its own. How something infinitely greater is at work here, and within it, we little people can relax and open up… And when we are open, the Spirit can come in, and then we can do what we want to do, and become who we want to be.

big hug.

Trudi

It really was a wonderful register, I strongly felt the help of Kate previously and wanted to share that sentiment with Trudi. It was a great experience of solidarity, friendship, caring, giving and Now this is active non-violence... opening up to another.... Very nice,

Hugs,

Mary

From Danny:

In a recent interchange with my friend Fulvio in Italy we were discussing our intuitions of what the Parks might become in the next years. I found his brief comments very interesting and inspiring. With his permission I'm sharing them with you.

My rough translation is included.

warmest greetings,

Danny

An Event in May 2011 at Hudson Valley Park

From: Fulvio De Vita

<fulviodevita@gmail.com>

Date: August 3, 2011

To: Daniel Zuckerbrot

<dzuck@rogers.com>

The images I have are at times a little wacky but they guide me in my actions. I imagine that since we began with the Ascesis this year the Spirit has been slowly growing in the Parks. This mental ambit, based in extraordinary experiences, has begun to irradiate into the world. I believe that the Spirit of the Parks is the School, a mental ambit.

In the measure that everything grows and the irradiation toward the world (by means of the organisms, Message, monographs and all the things that inspire us) the Parks grow as references in many aspects: spiritual, in terms of knowledge, profound experience, etc. They are like atomic piles from where irradiates a new civilization, totally different from the previous one, and as there are many Masters and an interesting number of autonomous and decentralized Parks, the forms in which everything irradiates is very diverse, related to many different themes, and with very different characteristics. From my perspective it is the only way to guarantee that the advance of the Spirit in the world is far reaching – much farther than we can imagine.

This, very synthetically is what I imagine. But, it is my translation and so I take great pleasure in interchanging with others who like these themes. In that way we can compensate the errors in the translation and strengthen the image.

Un muy fuerte abrazo

Fulvio

marc.grambert@gmail.com

Hi Danny,

Thanks for sharing Danny. Inspiring as you say. As far as irradiation of the Park, I am not sure if it is relevant but new people have expressed recently with the Message reunions a growing sense of feeling part of a “community”, of “having more comprehensions” thru I guess developing shared “felt” experiences mostly through the ceremonies and less with the Book so far or it seems. Something that took a few months to develop.

Several have mentioned what attract them to the group was something that is not shared by other groups: a perceived sense within the group of a “community” something that was mentioned in Red Bluff already , and also “that people in the core group – maybe 6-7 people now and growing – really put “their heart” into it; also the way people “treat each other” with the emphasis being in the group instead of individuals Of course the level of the ceremonies and the interchange in the meeting kept getting better and better, which may have helped and/or reflect the comfort and liking people felt within the group. Not sure what really comes first… Seems not to be what we think.

In these times it has been very interesting to see how the Park and the Message influence others in a very positive direction (this is why I wanted to share what new people noticed the most). A direction people are already looking for, as they mentioned. But that is so difficult to find “outside” at this level, to say the least…. The visit to the Park was a strong reference for people too and from that visit, 4 came to the weekly meeting. They all felt the Park helped them to get out of their habitual references and help to relax, reflect and be inspired.

At the same time all this seems still a bit fragile but more “anchored” than ever before in peoples minds and especially in their heart.

Hope this can useful, as I am trying myself to make the most sense of it…

Hugs,

Jean-Marc

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Silo’s Spiritual Dimension
by Pedro Raúl Noro

Silo’s spiritual dimension is inexhaustible, and his death in Mendoza one year ago leaves Argentines and all who knew him a teaching whose horizons, unpredictable and vast, are difficult to measure. This statement, made in these postmodern times that are so intricate and banal, sounds like the opinion of someone who gives his opinion about anyone and everyone. But this man, Silo, had nothing to do with the media, nor was he a person well known in the realms of politics, economy, literature, or show business.

In reality, he was a thinker, original and unusual, who dove into the abysses of heart and mind, configuring a work whose exact dimensions have not yet been well understood. Author of dozens of books, he was also a creator, in the sense that his ideas were presented to be configured by different study groups – true existential laboratories – where many of the young and not-so-young in different regions and cultures experimented and experiment with enthusiasm and wonderment.

He studied Ortega y Gasset, Edmund Husserl, Nietzsche, Sartre and Hegel. Of course, among many others he knew very well Marx, Darwin, C.G. Jung, Freud – whose notion of the subconscious he disputed, Wolfgang Köhler, Heidegger, Heisenberg, Kandinsky. Tireless, he also investigated the spiritual proposals of authors such as Gurdjieff, Krishnamurti , Mircea Eliade, and masters of Zen Buddhism. All of this fertilized the ground for the construction of a major work, which sought to become a kind of luminous guide to the inner roads.

Consciousness, for Silo, was an open phenomenon, a structure of perception, memory, and transformation of stimuli, whose twisting pathways, including those that were the most intimate, repressed or distanced from the rational world, could be revealed to anyone who knew how to find, with patience, the key to de-coding their manifestations. The mind he presented as a kind of greater realm: the infinite and inspiring ocean within which the consciousness and the world developed their daily and transcendental action. From this perspective, his original and liberating teaching has points of contact with Buddhism, although he does not disdain contributions from the Sufis, the Pythagoreans, the Alexandrian and neo-Alexandrian alchemists, or the Philocalia of the monks of Mount Athos.

Energetic investigator of the spirituality of Pre-Colombian cultures, he more than once made reference to the Mesoamerican myth of Qutzalcoatl, the man-serpent who became a god, as well as to the great Pachakuti, who gave new energy to the Incan state and humanized the social collective of that empire, as the Russian intellectual Semenov explains in his writing, “Humanism in Different Cultures.” On the other hand, Mount Aconcagua, the “roof of the west” in the locality of Punta de Vacas, where Silo began his mission, was a constant point of reference in his work as the majestic and symbolic protector of the Andes, and of Mother Nature.

Heir to Gandhi and Martin Luther King, he was the creator, successively, of the Humanist Movement and of organisms such as the Humanist Party, the Community for Human Development, the Convergence of Cultures and other associations. Silo’s Message is the synthesis of his doctrine, directed toward one end: to humanize the Earth, that is, to discover the meaning of human existence in the world.

A profound optimist with a remarkable curiosity, in his later years he put into practice, like a true Prometheus, what he called “fire workshops.” Interested in studying the leap of consciousness that illuminated the hominids and converted them into homo sapiens, he conceived different experiments to produce and control fire beginning in primitive environments, with elemental conditions of origin. In this way he wanted to observe and understand the effort and functioning of the human psyche that went into this task 50-60,000 years ago.

Shortly before Silo’s physical death, my daughter Maria Guillermina, a sensitive and receptive person, told me, very moved, that she had had a remarkable intuition. She dreamed that Silo, already thin, weak and haggard, was in a meeting with friends, when he fell to the floor. Everyone ran to help him, but Silo made a gesture to stop them, saying, “No, not me, take care of the work, take care of the work!” An extraordinary premonition that reminded me of the last part of Nietzsche’s Zarathustra, when, sitting on a rock, uneasy and meditative, he asked himself: “What is the Superior man’s greatest sin?” Then suddenly, says the poem, his face lit up and he said to himself: “Self-pity is my sin. Do I aspire to the lament of my self-pity? No,” he responded firmly. “I aspire to my Work.”

In all cultures special beings have appeared who knew how to go deep, to understand the problems of humanity’s darkest times, and to clearly propose the path toward an open and luminous future. Silo was one of them. He began advocating for peace when he was 30 years old, on May 4, 1969, at Punta de Vacas, at the foot of the Aconcagua, with a speech known as “The Healing of Suffering.” That was the beginning of the wonderful decade of the 70s, with the generational renewal, the May protests in Paris, and the collective yearning to transform the world. Silo was in Jujuy several times; he wanted to give a talk in Yala, on July 20, 1969, but was stopped by the military government of that time.

The development of Silo’s ideas – combated by military regimes from Ongania to the Argentine military process of 1976 – spread to all the continents. In 1993 he received a doctorate Honoris Causa from the Russian Academy of Sciences; not long before that he had been designated “Master” by the Buddhist Shanga of Sri Lanka, to the south of India.

His last public appearance was on November 11, 2009, in Germany, where he spoke before the Nobel Peace Prize Summit. The World March for Peace and Non-violence – carried out by the association “World Without Wars” (born from his inspiration) – had just arrived in Berlin after visiting different continents. This epic march began in New Zealand, covered five continents, and culminated at Punta de Vacas, where Silo, shortly before his death, received them with open arms in Punta de Vacas Park, one of the many Parks of Study and Reflection that have been built and are multiplying around the world.

Raul Noro is a journalist in Jujuy, Argentina, where this article was written.
Draft translation by Trudi Richards

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Godi Gutierrez quotes a previous moment:

“We need leaders, faces, the moment requires it. We need reference figures. But this leadership must come from below; it must be the expression of the Movement and go from below upwards, in a participative way. Our leaders, our public figures, the spokespeople, receive the leadership from below, from the Movement and represent it. To put Silo as our leader would imply a leadership that, on the contrary, descends from above downwards and this doesn’t help us. Besides, this would be interpreted incorrectly, as if Silo were orientating the Movement and it’s not like that, not at all. He is dedicated to the Message; he has left the Movement and in no way orientates it. On the other hand, if he were the leader of the Movement, what would happen in the moment that he “leaves”?

We mustn’t highlight the figure of Silo in any way, we mustn’t mention him in our things (speeches, public acts), neither quote him as a spiritual guide nor as the inspiration of the Movement, of Humanism or the organisms; neither as the founder of the Movement. The context within which he appears is the Message or as the author of his books.

We don’t have to worry about “placing” Silo on the television: on TV we have to place Humanism (and for this there are the faces, the spokespeople chosen by the Movements, the different leaders that may start to emerge from the actions that we implement). Neither is it interesting to link the websites of the Movement and the organisms with those of Silo and the Message. We are not saying that we have to “hide” things, just that there is no need to publicise Silo or relate him with the activities of the Movement.

We don’t have to put him as the leader of anything. He isn’t even a leader of nonviolence; he is not someone who is guiding a nonviolent social action. Better to avoid the images that relate him with Gandhi and Martin Luther King.”

- Silo, Grotte, Italy, 2008

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Interchange on meetings of experience under the weekly Message events.

‘I had the first meeting of my new Message group. I had been planning it for sometime and had been looking for a neutral ambit that people would feel comfortable with. Finally a friend who had never shown any interest in our things offered me some space in a adequate place just to be helpful.

When the time came none of the people I expected showed up for our meditation meeting. Three of us ended up in the meeting: My daughter Rachel – who’s never been to a meeting before and the woman who had given me the meeting place. We chatted for a while and did the meeting. After that no one was very communicative and I found it difficult to get any feedback or any sense of how they felt about the meeting.

It was odd and a little uncomfortable. Then they both started talking about who they were going to invite to the next meeting. I’m still a bit befuddled by their responses. I guess you never know…

warmest greetings.
Danny

“We have a similar experience with our monthly Well-Being Ceremony in a local park, where the people who come are very regular in attending and clearly like it and have had significant experiences with the Asking, but say little of their experience…”

hugs,
-Paul

Yes you never know Danny,

Reminds me of a comment from Silo that Isaias told me about, which seemed to me to be a testimonial in faith of the process of people. It went something like Silo saying “you never know when people are going to wake up and realize what they are here for”. It is something lately that I have been thinking about each day when I wake up. Am I going to endure the reality that I find myself in or am I going to create a reality that has some direction towards the future and beyond death.

Well at least it is something that I am finally asking myself for when I wake up

Thanks for sharing this and a big hug,
Ken

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International push to construct Himalayan Park

A humanist work camp is scheduled to start October 10, 2011, organised in Panauti, Nepal, as the initial efforts to establish Nepal’s Park of Study & Reflection. This is a small town 32km south east of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Panauti is renowned for its rich history, cultural activities, artistic buildings and year-round festivals.

http://pressenza.com/npermalink/international-push-to-construct-himalayan-park

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Mongolia

Dear friend,

The project team will expand with teachers of different Parks. In recent weeks had came Gemma S. of Banahaw, Monica F. and Harald Schlamau, Rita I. and Anita of Mikebuda, also and Henry Z, all with travel plans this year 2011 to Ulan-Bator.

The intention that unites us and drives us is to promote the spreading of the Message and Work of Silo in this geographical area: Russia – Outer Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, in principle. The image mobilizing for this year is the opening of Salita Message as interim milestone towards the creation of a new park in central Asia.

In Ulan Bator promote contacts and activities planned for three months, from early June to mid September, in which we go alternately, if possible by two “missions.”

Moreover, the extent of the possibilities, we would make a first visit to Inner Mongolia and Beijing to see the place, culture and future prospects.

A big hug and good wishes,
Hugo – Mongolia by the team.
hugonov@gmail.com

Message of Silo Meeting Ulan Bator, Mongolia

written September 1, 2011

Dear friends,

Here is some news of the first 5 days of our stay in Mongolia:

Besides the fact that we feel very well and happy to be here, we are advancing well. We talked with quite a lot of people from the list (maybe those whom we cannot reach are still out of town because of summer vacations) and they are all supposed to come to the book presentation this Friday and invite friends…

We personally met with Baynaa the taxi driver, with Uurtsaich (Monica’s street contact), Tseba, Teegi and Yanindulam (Message community) and tomorrow we meet Nasa (old contact).

We know that our friends did a “first” message meeting (they were 5), but then they decided to make a break in August and start again in September because of the summer holidays and travels…

Of course, we also have some new contacts, because during our “daily life” we meet people who are interested in our themes.

But now come the most relevant experiences we had until now :

1/ Ceremony in the center of the city :

Meeting with Yanindulam, she told us that her brother + family had a car accident and were all in the hospital, so we proposed to her to do a Well Being Ceremony. We went to a public garden, and there Yanindulam had to find another Mongolian to be her “assistant”! 3 young girls joined our ceremony (knowing about the urgent necessity) and one of them did the ceremony with Yanindulam. At the end, Yanindulam was very touched, especially because it was Message of Silo meeting Ulan Bator, Mongolia. the girls who thanked her…(certainly for having the opportunity to make a valid action). We were also very touched to hear the two young Mongolian girls doing the ceremony with such power in the centre of many people looking and listening…

2/ Rooted community in-formation :

We had the image to do something with our neighbours, so we invited some people we met in the “children’s playground” with a leaflet and a common ceremony between neighbours. We did the Asking first and then the Well Being with 8 neighbours and Yanindulam who came with her sister that lives in the countryside. The ceremony was very strong for everyone, there were a lot of “thanks”, and spontaneous testimonies, everybody wanted to have the Book and to meet again…

3/ Project of a new community in the countryside :

We had a very profound conversation with Yanindulam and Pogoo, her sister (a teacher), and in this talk they suddenly understood something important : “we have to respect ourselves because god is inside us! In religion people look for a god outside, in objects, in images, whereas we look for a god in ourselves…” Isn’t this nice? They both have the intention to diffuse the Message in the countryside (the Steppe) and form a community there…

Concerning the Friday’s book presentation: please do some Askings because we still don’t have a sure translator yet. We are waiting for the confirmation of Ulambayar (from English to Mongolian) and a confirmation of a new contact made today (employee in the university, working in the Spanish department and speaks very good Spanish because she spent some time in Mexico, Peru and Bolivia).

We have been leafleting and putting up posters yesterday and more today around the universities, coffee shops, small establishments and bus stops in the vicinity of Internom, the bookstore venue of the presentation…in addition 2 events have been placed – one on Facebook and the other one in a local website frequented by young people.

Big hug from Gemma, Benjamin, Ariane

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Bitipara Park Bangladesh – digging out the foundations work started.

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Welcome to our fifth newsletter for friends of, Parks of Study and Reflection – Banahaw.

Our people are all busy doing whatever as that’s the point these days, we’ve been scattered and left to our own devices. Yet, we know our connection. There are activities taking place among our friends in the Philippines – of course – but also in Australia and Hong Kong. News drifts in of more Asian Parks. Actually, news drifts in of Parks in other places on the planet but this editor tends to just look at Asia. Well, a really fine newsletter did arrive from the Park in France and it was most impressive so that link is provided (see below). It tells of the comprehensive possibilities of Parks in its programme of activities and reflects the number and diversity of its membership. We are humbled. Good. That’s our station – in that that’s where we get on, and get off…

PS: On a personal note, I have two new grandchildren this year – so far…

Your editor for today,
Tony

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Silo Speaks about profound experiences

The Explanation of the Profound (The Experience) by Silo
www.youtube.com
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Monolith at Parke Banahaw

May 9, 2011

We had a wonderful day yesterday at the Park to celebrate the Healing of Suffering. All in all, we were Gemma, Boldy, Rosalie, Girlie, Boy, Osbi, Karina plus two old friends from the past – Neng and his wife!

The Kitchen area is no longer leaking at all and of course the Monolith is up!

We did the Ceremony of Thankfulness and an Office. And in between, we watched Sage of the Andes and The Healing of Suffering.

Well, it was Signal No 1 and raining all day at the Park, really misty and foggy. The mountains were almost obliterated from sight. But all in all so inspiring!

Hugs,
Karina

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On July 3 we have a day retreat with participants of two Message Communities:
Open Space & Mensahe para sa Iyo.
Theme: Profound and Essential Change from the “Manual for Messengers”
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Have the Parks in the US Gone To Pot!

More-or-less overlapping events at Red Bluff and Hudson Valley Parks had many of our North American friends engaged in the works of Fire Craft, see Fernando’s photo album titled:

Raku with Karen at Red Bluff Park June18, 2011:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=fer.aranguiz&target=ALBUM&id=5620472395446917873&authkey=Gv1sRgCJvm8NuDqr6xYw&feat=email

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Pressenza News

“Human rights are completely emptied of meaning when they are used as an argument to justify the bombing of countries.” – Pía Figueroa Speaking at the 4th Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum in Bonn, Germany, this year focusing on the role of the media in the defense of human rights, Pia Figueroa, Director of Pressenza attacked multinational media corporation for their selective approach to defending human rights and spoke about the role of the media in attacks on human rights in Latin America.

http://world.pressenza.org/npermalink/human-rights-are-completely-emptied-of-meaning-when-they-are-used-as-an-argument-to-justify-the-bombing-of-countriesx

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Message – how we did it

“Within 24 hours, 100 people signed up…”
From the pen of Nicole, New York

We spent a lot of time designing the site adding links to pages with information about Silo, chapter I of Silo’s Message, the experience with the Force and The Path. We added a lot of pictures so people could get a lot of information visually. We realize that they don’t tend to read very much.

We uploaded the group site on May 22nd and we also planned for our first meet-up, June 12, http://www.meetup.com/Spirituality-Nature-Meetup-Day-trips-out-of-NYC/events/19354201/

We charged $20 to attend and that had to be paid up front in order to reserve a space.

Within 24 hours, 100 people signed up to be a member of the meet-up group and it has continued growing little by little, now it has 134 members. People also started signing up for June 12th and within a week we had 19 people including the 4 organizers. Within 2 days of the meet-up, 1 person withdrew because of work, and then within a few hours another person ended up in the ER and 2 more were worried about rain and didn’t want to risk it. So in total 15 people went. Some of the people we knew from our Thursday meeting, but 8 people were completely new. Several people had cars and we helped to arrange the carpooling, 5 cars ended up going. 2 cars came from New Jersey.

The day was truly wonderful. Our program was very simple, allowing lots of time for people to explore the Park, speak with one another, have a relaxed meal, etc. We basically worked with an intro and handed out the first chapter of the Inner Look, “The Meditation”, later we went over “complete relaxation”, did a Service and ended with the ceremony of Well-Being at the top of the Summit.

Right from the beginning the group synchronized and throughout the day their enthusiasm, openness and willingness to learn was very clear. People “wanted to be there”. They had a great disposition. They mentioned feeling replenished and got more and more relaxed as the day went on. The experience of relaxation was well received, several said they did not want to come out of it. One person had no idea that such a thing was possible since he had never done anything like this in his life. They “loved the Park, the meditations, the group.”

Several group reviews and descriptions have already been written, everyone giving it 5 stars. Several people are looking forward to future events and some are planning to go to the Thursday night meeting. Others also offered to help with the Park (some in landscaping, also there was an architect, etc.)

We are now planning to invite people to other events including a BBQ and a seminar. The idea is provide different kinds of activities, some structured, others not. It’s all an interesting experience from which we are learning.

a big hug
Nicole

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(this item is placed because our young people are so valuable and so fragile, just like our Planet Earth)

Soledad

Dear Messengers….

Please, this is request for an Asking for Soledad …she’s 14 years old, daughter of Maria, friend of mine, Master first camada from Chile…. Soledad had last year school bullyng problems, then change of School…. again problems… suspensions…. and on the last months suicide intents…. What she needs is a lot of affection…because she feel abandoned by her family, no father at home… no friends…… disoriented… etc… So, please keep Soledad in your Askings….

Abrazo for all …..Saul

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011, Mark Lesseraux <mlesseraux@hotmail.com> wrote:

Dear Soledad,

Please know that what you are feeling and going through right now will pass, and that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are here for you and rooting for you every step of the way. This phase of bad feelings is going to pass and you are going to look back on it as it were just a dream in a very short time. I feel certain about it.

Disconnect from any negative ideas you are holding of yourself, because I tell you – they are not true. You are not the state you find yourself in. Be certain of it.

I have been there. I have felt very similar feelings and I tell you, with full certainty, you will get through it and things will be VERY well.

A Very Big Hug,
Mark Lesseraux

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Music by The Good Science (Mark Lesseraux and Jeremiah Hosea)

This album contains talks and excerpts narrated by Jeremiah Hosea, from the works of Silo. The words are accompanied by ambient soundscapes created by The Good Science (Mark Lesseraux and Jeremiah Hosea). The music was inspired by Silo’s work and the remote Argentinian mountain region Punta de Vacas, where Silo gave his first talk.

Myself and my Earthdriver.org partner Jeremiah Hosea put together a collection of Silo’s words. Jeremiah did the narration. We are releasing it as a thank you and a tribute to Negro. Right now we’re thinking about ways to use it to help the Parks etc. So far responses to the material have been very favorable (many responses coming from people who had never before heard of Silo). Please listen to it, buy it if you wish, and certainly spread the word.

link – http://earthdriver.bandcamp.com/album/meaning-of-life-the-words-of-silo

All the Best, Hugs, Mark Lesseraux

PS: Almost all of the found sounds (animal/bird noises, radio transmissions, echo rates etc.) are from the Andes Mountains region, near Punta de Vacas. Also, all the instruments used, aside from the synthesizer, are (sonically manipulated) indigenous musical instruments from the region.

1. The Principles
2. Meaning Of Life
3. Coherent Behavior
4. The Healing Of Suffering

Credits
released 17 June 2011
Words by Silo
Narration by Jeremiah Hosea
Music by The Good Science (Mark Lesseraux and Jeremiah Hosea)
Engineering by Ivan Pokorny
Produced by Mark Lesseraux

*********************************************************

A really fine and telling newsletter from Park Belle Idee…

http://www.parclabelleidee.fr/newsletter/Newsletter4eng.html

and, Gemma writes:

Here is something from Mikebuda Park:

via Judit Eszter Szigeti: judit.eszter.szigeti@gmail.com

Dear friends,

We would like to share with you the great joy of celebrating the inauguration of our monolith on the 17th of September 2011. In all the parks of the world, and above all in Europe, we’d like this invitation to arrive. We ask that each one of you send this to Masters applied in your respective Parks.

With a big hug
Mikebuda Park of Study and reflection

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The recent translation of The Healing Of Suffering into Tagalog, by Enrique Gutierrez, brought a lively debate on the difficulties of translating Silo’s works.

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011, thel juarez <thelmarjuarez@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi Enrigue,

It is good idea to have a native Tagalog speaker like Elfleda take a look at this translation. Even though Rai is Aklanon/English speaker, surely he can be of help as well.

Best wishes and big hug,
m.thel

From: Enrique Gutierrez <cboyto@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: {komisyon ng liwasang banahaw: 404} addition to our site
To: banahawparkcommission@googlegroups.com
Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011,

Hi Everyone,

Could we send a copy of “Paghilom” to Ped, Rai’s wife. I don’t have their email address. They may have something critical say on this. They have been teachers from way back, and they are good in Tagalog. Let them review the material . Saki said it was a good translation. Let’s get other’s thoughts.

hugs,
enrique

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011, ok human <ok.human@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Thel,

I think it could be that the tone of the original can never be fully retained when translated to another language, we can probably just try our best to find the most appropriate words that can translate the world of meanings found in the original work.

Could be good to share the points that Danny thought we should consider when doing translations.

All for now, Karina

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011, thel juarez <thelmarjuarez@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi All,

When in the Philippines last time, a friend commented that the materials for the Disciplines which I was asked to translate into Pilipino “turned out’ harder to understand than the English version.

Just recently, while participating in a workshop on The Method, it turned out that some of the participants have been thru the same workshop, not just once, others for the 3rd time… and these are friends who not only are native Spanish speakers, but also have been with The Movement for a number of years. Which bring out this point: All of Silo’s works, and other materials require study and reflection.

Indeed, a lengthy discussion on ‘translations’ just recently took place among friends in The Message. I think Tony was also in that discussion. Danny Z. from Canada raised what I think are very important points to consider.

All the above are not meant to dissuade the publication/diffusion of this Pilipino version of The Healing of Suffering. However, from reading this version, Silo’s tone, and choice of language are hardly present. Of course, this is just an opinion from my part.. and perhaps a wrong one at that.

With best sentiments,
m.thel

Tony’s note:

The discussion on the Messenger list was largely about the word Service as ‘oficio’ is usually translated ‘Office’ and there were many points of view. What became clear was, people had different points of view.

*********************************************************

Bitipara Park Bangladesh – they have completed the financial campaign and by latest reports they got 20 Bangladeshis to donate 5000 taka each. With 100,000 taka they can start the building. The European donations have not been figured in yet. One contact from Hong Kong, a businessman, to give his donation of 5,000 taka.

*********************************************************

The latest proposal for a Park in India is at Ladwa (Hisar) Haryana. Ladwa is one of the villages in Haryana State and is 10 kilometres from a larger town and 206 km from the State main city Chandigarh.

*********************************************************

Contact Us

This newsletter is sent out in a general way to inform people about our Park and what’s being done.

Details of Other Parks and more on our website.
http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/other-parks/

Email of this Park: parkebanahaw@gmail.com
Email: Tony – tonyhen1@gmail.com

Welcome to our fourth newsletter for friends of, Parks of Study and Reflection - Banahaw.

Our website has been streamlined so do dig around it and send suggestions about how it needs to be further developed or refined.

We have a plan and the School is the centre of gravity of the process. We are not drifting or lost, the Parks are the visibly location of the process, the Venue.

Silo warned us all of dark clouds on the horizon What we are doing is related to this.

There is an urgency. The consciousness of the human being is under threat.

What we want to do will not be coming from the ego, that old “I”. We are seeking to translate the signals that arrive by contact with the profound. In times of crisis, this contact with those special spaces irrupts. Usually, these signals are ignored, unread.

The Disciplines are our instruments of contact, besides the Communities of Silo’s Message and the way of working in and through the Humanist Movement and its organisms.

However, not to impose on others – that’s pre-historic.

Now we are one, very diverse, converging in one common objective.

Your editor for today,
Tony

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The Park as Venue of School!

To assist in understanding what’s entailed in the Parks of Study and Reflection, wherever they may be placed, here are some notes extracted from a meeting held at friend Railesh’s home, Mumbai, a year ago.

Our friend Fernando, from Argentina, was speaking:
We are not to run away from the world; we are in favour of life, in favour of human being.

School works are related to the deepening of consciousness, and, in other ways, in other cultures, of how to get there.

School is different in its procedures from Humanist Movement and Message of Silo.

Geographic proximity decides allied Parks – [for us it’s Asia, also, considering the Pacific Rim, the California Coast, Ed.].

There is only one School, with joint interests and priorities.

We need to fully equip the Parks and deepen the work of the Disciplines. Also the Crafts, which are related to attitude, or disposition.

Anyone can get together and form a Park, they organise themselves freely under a nonprofit or trust charter. Not holding life appointments on committees; set up with funds from many people and not lump sums nor corporations; rather, individuals coming together.

The paranormal belongs to lower forms of consciousness.

Master, means I know my subject and I can teach my subject.

Any master is welcome in any Park

Seniority is not of importance; experience is…

Fernando

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CONSTRUCTION OF THE MONOLITH

Plans to erect the Monolith in time for an inauguration during the May 7 celebrations are underway. Gemma is the chief proponent of this project (so for more details, get them from Gemma)

WORKSHOP OF FIRE

April 17, 2011. Three participants started the Work on the Craft of Fire. (Details from Gemma.)

FILM SHOWING OF THE DOCUMENTARY ‘SAGE OF THE ANDES’

APRIL 16, 2011, several members of School organized a film showing of the documentary on Silo: Sage of the Andes, to whom friends and relatives were invited. Invitations were posted on Facebook and emailed to friends. The Film Showing is part of a project to share the Message of Silo to whomever may be interested. Plans are being made to host more film showings in the near future with an image of forming groups with people who may be interested in the Message of Silo.

Note: The Healing of Suffering is on our website:

http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/materials/

WE WILL NEED TO RAISE FUNDS!

The funds we have on hand are not all free to spend as we have a budget of almost P4,000 in the fixed monthly expenses. The cash on hand will be used for repairs and maintenance of the Park as well as the fixed monthly expenses (rental, Internet, grass cutting, electricity, a minimum amount for water) as was agreed upon.

There is a need to meet and discuss among us the Park’s security (as some of you know, the Center of Work was broken into and the refrigerator was stolen). Gemma says she has decided to take on the Monolith project: purchase of the wooden post (there is a suitable post lying nearby which can be purchased), filling damaged parts, painting (any preferences for the colour?), and installation. Any one interested to help out is most welcome.

Target date: Celebration on May 7th, 42nd anniversary of the “Healing of Suffering” harangue and the proposal is that we inaugurate the Monolith and the entire Park as well – inviting many people to join us on that special day.

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Luigi (France) to Sudhir (India) – Sudhir had proposed to: Lets do an Egypt in India.

“I tell you here what I think about the recent events…

Now the time has come, the time of our aspirations, the time of change for human beings and Humanity. We can continue to work with force and happiness and wish that necessity will blossom all over the world.

For all this I suggest you to forget the word “platform” as that is, for me, too materialistic. We are the sensibility, they are our sensibility, that is why I can see myself with us, and us with me.

It’s not like the people have to join the group or take a card of adherent. We are organized, yes sure , but our aspirations transcend our organization. Other parties are thinking they have to go there and act as ideologists to further the revolution and explain to them how to continue… this can’t be our way, because in a sense they have applied empirically what we thought… It is an education, a new formation landscape for the generations to come. We have to explain it from our point of view, with respect to other’s points of view.

Huge Force and inspiration in your comments to the media and your actions

Luigi

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Introducing: Convergence of Cultures

http://www.convergenceofcultures.org/index.php?option=com_acymailing&ctrl=archive&listid=31-ingles&Itemid=231&lang=en

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Contact Us

This newsletter is sent out in a general way to inform people about our Park and what’s being done.

Details of Other Parks and more on our website.
http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/other-parks/

Email of this Park: parkebanahaw@gmail.com
Email: Tony – tonyhen1@gmail.com

Welcome to our third newsletter telling news, views and giving insights from our members, friends of members, and possibly friends in other Parks of Study and Reflection elsewhere on this our planet Earth.

We have to give first place in our newsletter to the symbolic scattering of Silo’ s ashes (Silo: 6 January 1938 – 16 September 2010) at our Park. Friends from around Asia and Australia also took part. Here is the link to read what was reported on Pressenza:

http://world.pressenza.org/npermalink/philippines-bade-farewell-to-silo-with-a-deep-felt-thank-you

Yet again, friends from overseas have used the facilities at Park Banahaw, coming here for the works of the Disciplines. The Internet connection continues to provide invaluable service for inter-Park connections and to admit overseas participation in activities.

The accommodation is ready for occupancy and has served well to date for a number of retreats.

Your editor for today
Tony

******
Hello Friends,

The calendar of activities and interesting moments at the Park till mid January, 2011 (our previous newsletter came out November 2010):

• Fri/Sat. November 5/6: Continue with construction works of Park; visual inspection of the river regarding “primordial mud” for the clay bowls – for future Firecraft workshops.
• Wed. Nov. 10: arrival of Mukta from Dhaka to participate in the Retreat of Group 4 – 2nd Quatern.
• Fri. Nov. 12: Arrival of Norma from Argentina
• Sat. Nov. 13: Retreat of Group 4 – 2nd Quatern
• Tues. Nov.16: Departure of Mukta back to Bangladesh
• Fri. Nov. 19: Arrival of Tony from Hong Kong, and Decler from Australia same day.
• Sat. Nov. 20: Ceremony of Scattering of Ashes, Park Banahaw
• Sunday Nov 21: Work with Fire Craft
• Tues. Nov. 23: Departure of Tony back to Hong Kong, Decler the day before.
• Nov. 30: Departure of Norma who returned to Argentina
• Dec. 4: Entrance to the School of Group 2
• Dec.11: Retreat Group 4 – 3rd Quatern
• Jan. 8, 2011: Entrance to the School of Group 4.

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Highlights of Commission Meeting, December 18, 2010.

Agenda/Topics Discussed:

1. Review of Functions and Members of the Commission
2. Next Priorities of the Commission – immediate Tasks
3. Our Vision for the Park/Calendar for the Next Six Months
4. Use of The Park by People (How to “Charge” the Park)
5. Reservations and How Much to charge each person who comes to the Park for Retreats
6. Monthly Expenses (Projected)

Review of Functions and Members of the Commission:

• Current Members: Boldy, Gemma, Boy, Bertie, Karina, Osbi
• Functions and Responsibles:

1. Web: Bertie in charge but needs assistance due to nature of work. Boldy offered to assist. Need to put a corner there about reservations, who to contact in case any of the Organisms or the Message wants to use the Park for the day, and the cost per person.
2. Construction and Facilities: Boldy has thus far been responsible but is relinquishing but willing to assist whoever will take charge of the function.
3. Maintenance of the Park (i.e. Grass cutting, cleanliness, other needs like chairs etc.) No one directly in charge.
4. Finance/Economic. Gemma is in charge of the accounting and disbursement of expenses and is functioning as the treasurer.
5. Legal and Relationship with the Environment – Gemma (i.e. with the Barangay Captain and the nearby residents
6. Liaison with other Parks. Gemma – who will receive and circulate information from other Parks and vice versa to her peers and send appropriate information to Commission.
7. Reservation for Center of Work and facilities of the Park – Karina.
8. Newsletter/Diffusion: function volunteered by Tony previously.

• Vision for the Park/Next Priorities/Tasks:

1. Gemma brought up the need to start installing some of the symbols of the Park (Monolith, Fountain)
2. Karina volunteered to find someone who can make the Fountain and to get costings.
3. Bamboolito: Care of Gemma.

• Reservations for the Park and How Much to Charge:

1. After some discussion, it was agreed to ask P200 per person who will use the Park for retreats, workshops etcetera, inclusive of coffee and snacks (i.e. biscuits). P150 to go for the Park expenses and P50 as budget for coffee and snacks.
2. For now, staying overnight could be something that would not be encouraged considering that the expenses for water and as the persons who will take charge of the place while it is being used is not yet decided.

Current Monthly Expenses and Current Commitment in terms of Monthly Donations from Masters:

• Monthly Expense:

1. Rent: P 1,000
2. Internet: P 795
3. Meralco: P 250
4. H2O: P 250
5. Rommel P 350
6. Grass Cutting: P1,000 (monthly during rainy months and less during dry months)

• Committed Donations:

1. From Five Masters: P500 x 5= 2,500 (now there are 12 Masters – as of January 8, 2011)
2. Others to donate when and how much they are able.
3. This could basically cover the minimum monthly expenses
4. Karina to give quarterly.
5. Noted that it would cost a person about P700 each time they go to the Park: P300 for bus fare back and forth, P200 contribution for the Park plus lunch.

Notes prepared by Karina, these above are slightly abridged.

*************

Boldy came to Hong Kong and held an informal meeting with Tony on our Philippines Park and its website, among other matters.

*************

Karina suggests: Since people are using Facebook, why don’t we form a group there and ask our friends to subscribe? For events, news etc. that would be of interest.

********

For overseas visitors there are instructions on how to get to Park Banahaw on our website:

http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

Our website also gives general information on the park and a rolling photographic view of the facilities to date, namely, the very first multi-purpose construction where we have conducted the activities till now, a thatch roofed area near the top-end of the grounds. Bathroom facilities are also shown. Most recently, the Centre of Work was completed, which includes accommodation for up to 12 persons. It lies near the adjacent road and entrance.

For complete reference materials pertaining to the Parks and the Works:

www.silo.net

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Contact Us This newsletter is sent out in a general way to inform people about our Park.

Details of Other Parks and more on our website.

http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

Email of this Park: parkebanahaw@gmail.com

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to our second newsletter telling news, views and giving insights from our members, friends of members, and possibly friends in other Parks of Study and Reflection elsewhere on this our planet Earth.

Again, friends from overseas have used the facilities at Park Banahaw, coming here for the works of Discipline while the retreats of Levelling -as precursor to studying one of the Disciplines -have also been taking place. Again also the Internet connection provided invaluable, not for the works themselves but to continue building that important solidarity with those simultaneously engaged in the various works and the task to Humanize the Earth, the core aim of all that we do.

One part of the accomodation has been brought to a finish since the time of last writing, .

In light of that role our Park is playing in its location central to this part of the Asia–Pacific region -whereas our big sister Park in Kandharoli (the Asia Region Park) is better situated to serve Central, South and West Asia -we quote our friend Iván Novotny reporting on Pressenza press agency website on the function of the Parks of Study and Reflection:

“There the works of the Communities of Silo’s Message and of members of the Humanist Movement are developed, works that are related to the coherent development of the human being as well as works that allow the achievement of states of profound inspiration, states that allow us to gradually create the best conditions for the emergence of a new, truly human and non-violent civilization.

“The Centre of Work is also where the activities of the various organisms of the Humanist Movement and the Communities of Silo’s Message in relation to the personal development of their members take place, as well as activities of levelling open to all persons interested in postulating for the works of School.”

We begin this newsletter by informing intending visitors from overseas how to get here.

Tony

For overseas visitors

From Manila airport -take the airport yellow taxi that flags down with P70.00 . Ask the driver to take you to the Taft Ave, Buendia, JAM bus terminal. Take the LUCENA city bound bus that leaves on the half hour. It’s P150 one way. Two hours on the bus, going along the Maharlika Highway, seek the Dolores turnoff, just after that there is Tiaong Market, take a jeepney from there to Dolores. The Park is opposite the Electra Crushing Plant on the way.

The Banahaw Park

Our website gives general information on the park and a rolling photographic view of the facilities to date, namely, the very first multi-purpose construction where we have conducted the activities till now, a thatch roofed area near the top-end of the grounds. Bathroom facilities are also shown. Most recently, the Centre of Work was completed, as well as accommodation for 12 persons, quite near the adjacent road and entrance. There’s a map on the website too showing how to get there from Manila.

http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

The Park Commission

Our most recent meeting called by the Commission convened July 31 and resulted in the present 10-member organising group, which is a great beginning so early in the life of our Park. The very day this newsletter is being compiled an active group of eight friends are also busy, doing a general clean up on site -grass cutting, uprooting and planting, planning the landscape, among all the sundry practical tasks that go toward running a Park.

So what’s the idea at this very moment, what is this park destined to do right now? To answer that let’s dive straight into the Disciplines but besides those studies know that the park is intended to act as a reference in this day and age of failing references. In that ‘light’, the image of a lighthouse can be used, steering vessels to safety, acting a luminous guide in the dark night.

For information on the Four Disciplines see:
http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

also

www.silo.net

Here follows is an extract from a testimony of Nicole, Master, Energetic Discipline:

“I’m uncovering a tremendous energy that has a life of its own. I’m unveiling that part of my being that has a direction and it is moving me and has always done so. This seems to be a whole new configuration but its potency is extraordinary and it is connected with an absolute love.

I get close to it and I can barely breathe. It’s almost like I love this “spirit” inside of me … it has to take over and lead me to the Profound. It’s not the “I” that wants to go to the Profound; it can only get me nearby. I feel I’m on the verge of something totally new. ………………….. I feel like a “new being” is awakening in me with an incredible power that is capable of surpassing all of this dense life. Anything becomes doable from that space. Life wakes up, relationships heal, and everything has Meaning.”

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Figure 2: First gathering of Postulants at the Park, 2009.

Contact Us

This newsletter is sent out in a general way to inform people about the Park and its function but also, at this very moment, as we are approaching the 14 August, 2010, final date for registration for the levelling process for the Disciplines, those interested must very soon get in touch via their particular contact among us. Then, the respective Park can be informed as to the number of persons due to arrive on the day.

Registration is in person, person-to-person.

Details of Other Parks and more on our website.

http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

Email of this Park: parkebanahaw@gmail.com

Welcome to our newsletter telling news, views and giving insights from our members, friends of members, and friends in other Parks of Study and Reflection elsewhere on this our planet Earth.

Already, friends from overseas have used the facilities at Park Banahaw coming here for the retreats of Levelling as a precursor to studying one of the Disciplines, also for the Disciplines. On those occasions we were in Internet connection with other like Parks and this created that important solidarity with those simultaneously engaged in the task to Humanize the Earth, the overall aim of all that we do.

Figure 2: Looking towards Banahaw from the Park entrance.

Figure 3: Boldy quietly studies in the shade.

In light of that role our Park is playing in its location central to this part of the Asia–Pacific region -whereas our big sister Park in Kandharoli (the Asia Region Park) is better situated to serve Central, South and West Asia -we quote our friend Iván Novotny reporting on Pressenza press agency website on the function of the Parks of Study and Reflection:

“There the works of the Communities of Silo’s Message and of members of the Humanist Movement are developed, works that are related to the coherent development of the human being as well as works that allow the achievement of states of profound inspiration, states that allow us to gradually create the best conditions for the emergence of a new, truly human and non-violent civilization.

“The Centre of Work is also where the activities of the various organisms of the Humanist Movement and the Communities of Silo’s Message in relation to the personal development of their members take place, as well as activities of levelling open to all persons interested in postulating for the works of School.”

We begin this newsletter by informing intending visitors from overseas how to get here.

Tony

For overseas visitors

From Manila airport -take the airport yellow taxi that flags down with P70.00 . Ask the driver to take you to the Taft Ave, Buendia, JAM bus terminal. Take the LUCENA city bound bus that leaves on the half hour. It’s P150 one way. Two hours on the bus, going along the Maharlika Highway, seek the Dolores turnoff, just after that there is Tiaong Market, take a jeepney from there to Dolores. The Park is opposite the Electra Crushing Plant on the way.

The Banahaw Park

Our website gives general information on the park and a rolling photographic view of the facilities to date, namely, the very first multi-purpose construction where we have conducted the activities till now, a thatch roofed area near the top-end of the grounds. Bathroom facilities are also shown. Most recently, the Centre of Work was completed, as well as accommodation for 12 persons, quite near the adjacent road and entrance. There’s a map on the website too showing how to get there from Manila.

http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

The Park Commission

Our most recent meeting called by the Commission convened July 31 and resulted in the present 10-member organising group, which is a great beginning so early in the life of our Park. The very day this newsletter is being compiled an active group of eight friends are also busy, doing a general clean up on site -grass cutting, uprooting and planting, planning the landscape, among all the sundry practical tasks that go toward running a Park.

So what’s the idea at this very moment, what is this park destined to do right now? To answer that let’s dive straight into the Disciplines but besides those studies know that the park is intended to act as a reference in this day and age of failing references. In that ‘light’, the image of a lighthouse can be used, steering vessels to safety, acting a luminous guide in the dark night.

For information on the Four Disciplines see:
http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

also

www.silo.net

Here follows is an extract from a testimony of Nicole, Master, Energetic Discipline:

“I’m uncovering a tremendous energy that has a life of its own. I’m unveiling that part of my being that has a direction and it is moving me and has always done so. This seems to be a whole new configuration but its potency is extraordinary and it is connected with an absolute love. I get close to it and I can barely breathe. It’s almost like I love this “spirit” inside of me … it has to take over and lead me to the Profound. It’s not the “I” that wants to go to the Profound; it can only get me nearby. I feel I’m on the verge of something totally new. ………………….. I feel like a “new being” is awakening in me with an incredible power that is capable of surpassing all of this dense life. Anything becomes doable from that space. Life wakes up, relationships heal, and everything has Meaning.”

*********************************

Figure 4 First gathering of Postulants at the Park, 2009.

Contact Us

This initial newsletter is sent out in a general way to inform people about the Park and its function but also, at this very moment, as we are approaching the 14 August, 2010, final date for registration for the levelling process for the Disciplines, those interested must very soon get in touch via their particular contact among us. Then, the respective Park can be informed as to the number of persons due to arrive on the day. Registration is in person, person-to-person.

Details of Other Parks and more on our website.

http://parkebanahawphilippines.org/

Email of this Park: parkebanahaw@gmail.com