Meeting others - a first visit to The Buddhist House

[Fiona Robyn]

(re-posted from my blog Planting Words)
I feel like I've just got back from several months on Mars.

I've only spent nine days away on my Buddhist Psychotherapy Training at The Buddhist House, but - oh my - what a nine days.

As someone else in the group commented, I feel like I've only let 1% of the learning from the past nine days soak into me so far. But it's been about so much more than the learning.

The theme of the 9 days was 'meeting others'. In our daily lives, how often do we really manage do this in an authentic way?

The people who've shared the past nine days with me have become special to me - every single one of them. Some of them have seen right inside me, and I've seen right inside them. Those kinds of connections don't fade once they've been made. Whether or not we refer to them, they will hang between us when we meet again, like golden threads.

This meeting others has been bloody hard work. There have been tears, anger, confusion, disappointments, pain. There has also been a LOT of laughter (some of it hysterical) and a LOT of joy. Oh, I can't avoid being soppy. There's been a lot of love.

In gassho to every single person who sat with us in our group, and to Jodo, Sharry, Moggy and Zen. In gassho to the cooks, the cleaner-uppers, the smilers on the stairs. In gassho to the sunlight on the sofa, and the golden Buddha in the shrine room. In gassho to Eamon's badly drawn ear, and to singing Taize. In gassho to all of us, and to all of you. Here's to the space continuing

[Fiona Robyn]

Thanks Karen. Yes, my head was ready to pop : ) but in a good way I think, like a seedhead... Hope to see you on a future block.

[karen cornell]

I was very happy to join the group for only one afternoon (the last i believe) But it was lovely, so interesting and thought provoking but I imagine my head would be ready to pop after a whole 9 days. Im sure much of the other 99% will be inside you somewhere and will return when you find you need it or read something related. Wishing you well with your continued learning. Karen

[Fiona Robyn]

Hello Katrien - yes, it was my first 9 day block of the psychotherapy training, and I'm joining at the diploma level but it was a complete beginning of something new...sometimes I feel it's a complete beginning every time I see a new client, but maybe some beginnings put us more in touch with beginning than others, if that makes any sense!

[Katrien Sercu]

This gives longing to come to the buddhist house and to join in an intensive way. Is this nine days part of the Buddhist psychotherapy Training? Wunderful for you Fiona, and for the whole group, full of inspiration for us, readers. Maybe good to begin too....once?

[Fiona Robyn]

Thank you Susthama, and thank you for our walk! : )

[Susthama]

Lovely!