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Hello everyone! I am excited to be part of this group, and looking forward very much to getting into a calmer less anxious headspace in 2023 in good company. I've dabbled in meditation before, and practised Sufi meditation for some time back in the 90s (long time ago!) but am now more than ready to get into a good meditative groove. (I also really liked Alistair's post this morning about sitting for hours in nature - am definitely going to try to find time to do that!) I've signed up for the Cliff House Weekend in May and can't wait, but before then I am going to try and join the Tuesday 18:00 live online session whenever I can, so hope to 'meet' some of you there soon (tonight!). This is my first toe in the forum pond . . . Lucy

...I came upon this moving video of the Dalai Lama teaching on Milarepa's last teaching to his foremost disciple Gampopa. Having shared all the most profound teaching he said he had one last teaching to pass on. He then lifted his robe and showed Gampopa the callouses on his backside from the years of meditating in caves. Even though there is no translation of what His Holiness is saying, it is a great example of teaching-beyond-words. As he describes that transmission he breaks down into tears - and then moments later is laughing again. Being moved by the great compassion of Milarepa - but also demonstrating how we as humans can oscillate through all emotions so beautifully. It is itself a profound teaching.

Hello from the Catskill Mountains of New York State

I'm so happy to have finally got the dates and details for our annual Yorkshire weekend in Scarborough. It's the 9-10th December and we're looking at "Thoughts That Harm. Thoughts That Heal" which promises to be a potent exploration! Here's the course page: https://www.mind-springs.org/scarborough-23 And my little intro video:

Daniel and I saw a great film the other night. Starting the amazing Michelle Yeoh as the flumpy Mrs Wang who becomes… well, something extraordinary. it’s wild and crazy but also quite profound. If everything is happening simultaneously all the time you can either become nihilistic or you can become compassionate. These are also the distinctions the Buddha made. Though he never made them like this!

Hi all - thanks so much to Mind-Springs for creating this beautiful meditation daily inspiration. I toy in and out with Meditation- always feel so much better for it. I could list many excuses why I am time poor and don’t make meditation a daily habit - but nothing of any great importance that I don’t allow this time for myself. I love that this series is bite size and doable.I enjoyed the first one⭐️ Photo is a recent wee hike with hubby at the Rotorua Redwoods - such a beautiful place and space. I guess you could call it a form of meditation walking with bird song and such graceful giant trees❤️

Hi everyone! I attended the lovely meditation last night. We focused on the Tan Tien, (also called the Dantien). I had an experience where the Qi, or energy, started to circulate up my back and down the front of the body. It was enjoyable and I was asked to post here a picture of the Microcosmic orbit - which is what was happening. In Chinese Medicine the body contains many landscapes - particularly you can see here mountains (in the head) and a reservoir (in the Tan tien). A healing practice is to circulate the Qi in this way (up the back and down the front) however, …. I’ll add a note of caution. Some Qigong teachers advise against this practice - personally if I do it for too long I get dizzy!.. so please be careful and if you are interested in the Microcosmic Orbit - its best to do it with a skilled teacher. But…. I love the image of landscapes within the body! … so please take a look at this pic!

After 10 years of studying with the MA, I've been studying and practicing with Alistair for 4 years. I bring many of his teachings into my work in mental health, trauma and addiction services. Recently meet with Alistair's group in Edinburgh's Salisbury Centre for Meditating with the Nervous System. A great weekend of learning and practice. Wishing all a very happy Tuesday

Greetings of peace, Alistair and wonderful community members! I am looking for your recommendations for a beneficial Mindsprings video, post or suggested reading about the topic of suffering. I am an Imana and coordinator of a Mosque in Canada (near Toronto), and I have recently found that many of my beloved Mosque members are suffering from life challenges, loss, grief and heavy burdens. I am happy to respond, support and bring love to all of these members, but I find that at the end of the day, I feel overwhelmed with sadness and the weight of human suffering. Would you mind recommending to me a Mindspring video, post, or a reading on suffering with a Buddhist or mindfulness perspective that you have found helpful? Thank you, and blessings! xx

It's lovely to meet you all, and I'm looking forward to creating some space for quiet and new ideas here. I took one of Alistair's sessions over the holidays and it helped. Can't wait to meet you in person (on Zoom)! Jennifer

During our session today @James Tennet recommended the excellent Pixar movie Inside Out for a good road map of emotions. I heartily agree - it's essential viewing! But he also recommended this article: