Great little two minute video animation of Brené Brown talking about how to be truly empathatic to other people's pain and suffering (as opposed to being sympathetic). Thought some of you might like this too (the comments under the video are also lovely - very rare for YouTube!).

Is it selfish to wish yourself free from pain? https://share.descript.com/view/QbHp2rz6xuV

I would just like to wish you. Alistair, and all the retreaters, heading for Holy Isle ,this weekend, a safe journey and a wonderful weeks practice in the best of settings. See you all on 24th zoom callX🙏

I really love this video and thought others might appreciate it too - https://www.instagram.com/p/DAgEXSvJPYO/ Miracles are happening all the time - you just need to think something new about old things! 😍

There's seems to have been a technical error for someone reason myself included havnt received the reminder email. Go to bookings, and press on the day today, and there will be a zoom link. This should take you to todays zoom session Also it will be on the booking email if you still have it.

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.

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 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!