G'day and welcome to my homepage. If you had told me in my mid twenties that I was to become an openly gay, vegeterian, sober and clean, practising Buddhist I would have thought you were mad. Yet this is exactly where I now happily find myself, a 42 year old Aussie guy living in a studio apartment in a trendy inner-city suburb of Sydney. My spiritual journey has been both a long and at times difficult one. From my early rejection of both Catholicism and Christianity, to the spiritual desert of active addiction, & my eventual spiritual awakening in recovery. It was an interest in the Eastern Traditions in the mid 1990's that eventually led me to Buddhism. In October 1998 I took provisional refuge and became fully commited to the Buddhist path, later taking more formal refuges and precepts in a simple but beautiful ceremony at a local Buddhist Centre. Spiritually, I finally felt I had come home. I am also a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. If you also happen to be GLBT and are seeking a recovery meeting in Sydney, be sure to get along to my current homegroup at Rainbow Recovery. And if your seeking a weekly meditation meeting, be sure to check out the 11th Step Group. I was in trouble right from the start and drank for 10 years. Drugs were to also play a part for 6 of those years, but alcohol was my drug of choice. Still full of denial, but also filled with desperation, I came to my first meeting of AA at the age of 26. A few months later, I was finally to gain my sobriety on the 15th July 1992. One day at a time I have remained sober and clean ever since. Although I now consider myself to be recovered, though not cured, of my addiction, I continue to attend meetings for both fellowship and for what little I can put back. Buddhism and a non-theistic approach to AA's 12-steps now provide the focal point for my spiritual life. I may no longer be in recovery, but I continue to be in transformation. My Buddhist and 12-step practise provide me a spiritual foundation for living that enables me to find contentment and peace in the here and now. A journey of discovery towards serenity and ultimate enlightenment. It was November 2001 that I got my first tattoos, I now have five. All were done by the Steel Lotus Body Art Studio at Darlinghurst here in Sydney, who I highly recommend. Three are tribals and two are Kanji. You can see a pic of each of my tattoo's by clicking here. I also have two piercings. A diamond stud in my left ear and a diamond-studded bar in my right nipple. Coming out as gay in January 2003 felt a bit like a final piece of a large puzzle falling into place, yet in many ways was an exciting new beginning. I now live with Ronald, my 28 year old Indonesian born boyfriend, along with our pet cat Oscar Today I have a full life of family and friends, and my Buddhist and recovery sangha. I love spending time with my teenage daughter, and enjoy movies, music, clubbing, shopping, eating out, reading, and exploring Sydney. I also like surfing the net, visiting my favourite blogs, updating Bebo, and chatting with new and old online friends. My long time internet handle "Bodhi" is a Buddhist term that literally translates as meaning awakened. Its a fitting description I think for my journey thus far, a gradual awakening to recovery, self and spirit. Please feel free to sign my guestbook before you go. May you be well and happy, and may peace and serenity be with you this 24. |
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| MY INFORMATION: Internet Handle: Bodhi Real Name: Michael Lives: Newtown, Sydney, Australia Horoscope: Leo and Snake Date of Birth: 19th August 1965 Sobriety Date: 15th July 1992 Refuge Date: 19th October 1998 Came Out: 17th January 2003 Picture: Yahoo or Myspace or Bebo Email: bodhi_01au@yahoo.com.au |
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