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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:

Mindsprings's member @Michael Gaffney kindly shared this interview between Gabor Maté and his daughter on the terrible events in the Middle East. Much as we might want to shy away from the atrocities committed by both side since October 7th, Gabor gives some heartfelt and well-considered and compassionate thoughts here. Gabor Mate is a world renowned speaker and writer on mental health, addiction and trauma. He is also a Holocaust survivor who lost his grandparents in Auschwitz. Yet he also has well-researched critical thoughts about the actions of the Jewish state. He speaks very movingly about the horrors that both sides have endured and are enduring. I recommend making some time to watch. The interview is 35 minutes long https://youtu.be/SHDBw-wx6w0(https://youtu.be/SHDBw-wx6w0)

I'm posting the teaching from early March which was explaining the shamata path using the old Tibetan teaching aid of the Elephant path. Here's the full teaching: https://share.descript.com/view/p5x3rKWNimY

Having just completed this module of the wonderful Beingfulness course it reminded me so vividly of how profoundly moved I was by the movie Nine Days, where unborn souls get to see and hear images and sounds of life experience in the ‘real’ world, but can’t truly feel anything before they are ‘born’. It is one of my favourite films, and although it can be a tough watch at times, it left me floored, heartbroken, grateful, and uplifted all at the same time. An incredible score too. I had the ‘luck’ of a health scare over 20 years ago that gave me the gift of truly savouring every moment, every sight, sound, feel, smell, and taste (which can drive those around me crazy sometimes if I bang on about it too much, and can makes walks take twice as long!), but Alistair’s superb course and this phenomenal film both serve as excellent reminders to really be in the moment. I highly recommend the movie, but be ready for a few tears!

I wasn't able to record our session which I led from a service station on the A12 near Colchester last night. But we did have a good discussion about grief prompted by a question from Margaret. I re-recorded an audio version of my answer below: https://share.descript.com/view/LJeRsVFOlgo

Hey folks, Thought this might be of interest.... an online event taking place next week (it's free to register) - Buddhism and Ecology Summit: Transforming Anxiety into Awakened Action. A bit of contextual blurb from their promo email: A week of free virtual events, including talks and interviews with leading Buddhist teachers, activists, and psychologists, dharma talks, meditation sessions, and workshops. This year, we’ll be focusing on eco-distress: the complex and dynamic constellation of emotions we feel in response to witnessing the destruction of the natural world. Join us to explore questions including: How can we channel our anxiety, grief, and despair into meaningful action? How can we not only stay healthy and sane, but also maintain a sense of joy and purpose in these times of planetary crisis? And how can the dharma support us in living with compassion, equanimity, and wisdom in the face of uncertainty? The week’s lineup of events includes: Meeting Anxiety with Loving Awareness: A Practice Session with Lama Liz Monson From Mindfulness to Movements with Michelle King, Bill McKibben, Dekila Chungyalpa, and Kristin Barker Ecological Storytelling: Cross-Species Collaboration for Navigating Eco-anxiety with Sophie and Clark Strand Not Too Late: Finding Hope in a Time of Despair with Roshi Joan Halifax and Rebecca Solnit … and much more