Labeled
Robert
Francis Plumtree I was born in 1945, grew-up in Ponsonby,
Auckland New Zealand, attended Ponsonby primary school and
Otahuhu Agricultural College. At a young age I played rugby
football and competitively sailed a P class yacht (P77)
(Sandy Mac) on the Auckland harbour.
At an early age I was employed on dairy farms near Okato in
Taranaki up-until joining the NZ army as a RNZASC driver in
March 1964.
Health wise after serving almost
thirteen months including through the early stages of the
Tet offensive as HQ transport driving about in and outside
Saigon most often unarmed alone throughout my entire active
service in South Vietnam. I clearly suffered war caused
mental injury, which subsequently NZ Defence Force disclose
they knew about and had attempted to cover up.
I became country-less in about 1977;
And then roamed the globe x 3 seeking happiness.
Visited New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands,
Bougainville, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia,
Thailand, Japan, India, Nepal, Switzerland, Germany,
Austria, Netherlands, Demark, London and the USA.
While in Nepal I met a Tibetan refuge
Tenzing who at the time was found laying sick on his
Restaurant (Tsering) floor in Kathmandu. From that meeting
on, I developed an interest in Tibetan culture and
eventually Dalai Lamas Mahayana Buddhist teachings.
Later I again (x2) re-met Tenzing at Batu Busty in
Darjeeling India.
By 1982 I found myself back in Australia, soon after arrival
I met another Tibetan named Karma Phuntsok, together we
camped on the banks of Murray River picking peaches near
Cobram in Victoria.
Soon after I became the thought I should stop traveling and
settle in Australia.
By karma, I again re-met Karma Phuntsok this second time in
Nambour in southern Queensland.
On the Nambour ranges I grew variety "Great lake"
lettuce eventually by market forces (only
one dud grew Brisbane's so called fresh lettuce)
which meant, (DPI required box
= $1.27, I could only fit 10 chemical free lettuce
per-box + freight +
commission, at a time lettuce
was selling for $0.10 each). Ploughed lettuce back
ground, think it's called free trade, my opinion is better
to utilize your impermanent human rebirth studying Dharma
and any food later grown, give it way for free. If lots of
folks did that, we wouldn't be continually paying for
harmful chemicals.
House sat a house on the grounds of Chenrezig Institute near
Eudlo Qld.
Over the next couple of years, I did my very best to
comprehend the true nature of Mahayana Buddhism.
Among others I have listened to: Karma Phuntsok, Chris
Burdett, Peter Horton, Tim Fischer, John Howard, Robert
Hill, Warren Truss, Peter Wildoats, Chrissie Dyson and Aisha
Luka.
In addition listened to Venerable Alex
Berzin, Venerable Peter McMahon, Venerable Adrian Feldmann,
and Venerable Rodger Mier, Geshe Doga, Venerable Choedak
Yuthok in Hervey Bay and attended three public
discourses given by His Holiness Dalai Lama.
I formally took teachings from Venerable Yeshe Khadro, Geshe
Thinley (brother of late Lama
Yeshe), Geshe Ngawang Dhargye, Geshe Sopa and Lama
Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
Receiving an invitation from Chris
Burdett, with Lama's consent, in company I later traveled to
Taree in NSW to assist the development of a Dharma community
in that area.
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Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche later appointed the writer
Director, and named the temple built on a 142-acre property
at Killabakh, Gyalwa Ensapa.
Gyalwa Ensapa being one of the names of the third Panchen
Lama.
By karma then everything turned custard. The temple was
build with the aid of collaborate partner Merelyn Saunders,
and Tony Windsor, an arrangement that lead to an ongoing
legal nightmare.
With sincere gratitude, but not limited
to, or necessarily in present tense, among others, I
acknowledge receiving support or exceptional assistance, and
or friendship from. Carol Phuntsok, Joanne Moulds, Peter and
Julie Williams, Geoffrey & Kay Griffin, Geoff and Dianne
Chambers, Bob & Narrele Wheeler, Steve Chadwick, Helen
Clark, Bob & Julie Merrison, Chrissie Dyson, Max
Simmons Vietnam Veterans Counseling Service, Mark
Cresswell Psychological Services, Elizabeth Knight (Padma
Dharma centre director), Stewart & Margaret Rook,
Cranston Wells and my Mum, to each and every one, I
sincerely express my gratitude and thank you.
In 1989, His Holiness Dalai Lama lit a
flame while sharing views in the Adelaide Cathedral. HHDL
then gave the flame to the Bishop, who in-turn handed it to
yours truly. By jolly gosh that got heavy...
For a number of years I have continually found myself
shuffling legal paper. I have appealed in full courts, and
constructed four UN documents (invitation
from HHDL), also made legal history here in Australia
in lawfully filing documents with the concurrence both
Houses of Parliament with the Governor General.
In addition, over the same period, I continued exchanging
correspondence in a conflict with the New Zealand army.
My other interests or activities
include, sailing, I have a
no-name computer: 98se, AMD 900 Duron(tm) Processor, Office
premium 2000, x2-40gig HD, CD-RW, DVD-RW, 384 RAM, Canon
bij2300 printer and N676U scanner and now also a new Toshiba
A200 laptop.
Interested in International affairs, growing exotic
subtropical fruit (sadly thus
far I've not been in place long enough to taste many of the
fruits of my labors) Continue an interest in
Australian politics, and though difficult, also have
continued an interest in the Brown Swiss dairy cattle breed.
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