Meet Merelyn Tripolone

 

 

 

'If with kindly generosity

One merely has the wish to soothe

The aching hearts of other beings,

Such merit has no bounds.'

~ Kuan Yin

 

Hi Everyone,

 

My name is Merelyn Tripolone. I live on the Central Coast of NSW (Australia) with two cats “Ted” and “Tiny” and one dog “Hunter”.   I had previously studied aromatherapy together with two styles of yoga meditation and was looking for a local group to practice with. Quite by chance, became aware of a Zen Centre in our local area in 2011. I then contacted the teacher Hoka Matt Lawther and began a journey into Zen practice.

  

I found my home in Zen and have now been sitting with the Silky Oak Zen community for three years. I’ve become good friends with all the Sangha and have regularly attended weekly Zazen and Teisho, as well as incorporating Zen practice in my daily life.  I’ve also participated in all the Zendo activites including Zazenkai, “Mantras to Music”, weekly discussion meetings and other informal gatherings.    

 

In my first year at Silky Oak, we studied the basic tenets of Buddhism and I became particularly interested in how they relate to the study and practice of Zen. After regular Dokusan with Hoka, I had the wish become a student with The Boundless Mind Zen School. I now study and practice more formally and keep up with OBW activities.   

 

I also love art galleries and have become interested in Asian styles. There are so many beautiful representations of all the masters, Kuan Yin etc. I also love getting out in nature, walks along the waterfront, reading great books and watching interesting TV series. All of my activities now help me to understand the impermanence and interconnection of everything.   

 

It’s great to be part of our local and extended Sangha family, all over the world.

 

In the Dharma

Gassho

Merelyn



Recent Precepts Ceremonies at Silky Oak Zen- Australia

 

Our Sangha member Debbie-Anne, reciting “The Five Lay Precepts”

 

“To speak no ill, to do no harm, to practice restraint according to the fundamental precepts, to be moderate in eating, to live in seclusion, to devote oneself to higher consciousness, this is the Teaching of the Buddhas” ……………..Dhammapada, No. 185


Hi Everyone!

We would like to share some photos of our most recent “Five Precept Ceremony” held at Silky Oak Zendo on 3^rd August 2014.  Items within the Zendo were arranged especially for the event and the ceremonies reflected the main tenets of the Linchi/ Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.

Our table arrangement for the ceremony

Most of our Sangha were in attendance, as the taking of “The Five Lay Precepts” has now become a standard at Silky Oak Zen. The first to take them was Merelyn Tripolone in February 2013, followed by Patrick Hughes and Andrew McNee in May 2014.

We now welcome our dear friends Debbie-Anne Sergeant and Kay Podmore into the refuge of “The Three Jewels”, “The Four Noble Truths” “The Eightfold Path” and all the sublime teachings of The Buddha Dharma.

Members our Sangha who were there in support for Debbie-Anne and Kay

 

In Kindness and Friendship

 

Hoka Matt Lawther and the

Silky Oak Sangha – Aus.