The North of Scotland sanghas will be hosting a retreat in Newbold House, Forres, Moray from 31st January to 2nd February 2014 on the theme of From Darkness into Light. They would welcome COI members from other sanghas join at that time.
Download the full advert and application form here for more details.
At the recent Facilitators Retreat at Kinnoull monastery Lindsay Lumsden lead a powerful Touching the Earth ceremony where she used a version of the land section she had written a few years ago with Margo Henderson & Hugh Green for a North of Scotland Sanghas Retreat. Several of us asked for a copy and I thought I’d share it here:
I see that I am whole, protected and nourished by this land and all of the living beings who have been here and made life easy and possible for me through all their efforts. I see the hard-working farmers and fishermen, miners, labourers and shipbuilders, and I see the women – the crofters who held the hearths, the fisher quines who followed the boats, the women waulkers who wove the cloth and the culture of the people into song, the wise women and healers. I see the close family bonds of the clans, and the traveller folk, the ‘summer walkers’ who lived close to the earth and followed the rhythms of the seasons. I see Maire Mhor nan Oran (Big Mary of the songs), Robert Burns, George Mackay Brown, and all the poets, artists and musicians who have contributed to the rich heritage of this country. I see James Keir Hardie, Ramsay MacDonald and John Smith – champions of social justice; I see Alexander Fleming and Joseph Lister, whose discoveries of penicillin and antiseptics continue to save so many lives; I see Andrew Carnegie, who used his great wealth to promote learning, literacy and peace; and Queen Margaret, who ruled with such compassion that she was made a saint. I see the conservationist John Muir, considered to be the father of the environmental movement. I feel the power of the sacred places in this land – the standing stones of our earliest ancestors; Holy Island, now a centre for world peace; Iona, home to early Celtic Christianity; Findhorn, beacon of light. I feel the energy of this land penetrating my body and soul, supporting and accepting me. I vow to cultivate and maintain this energy and transmit it to future generations. I vow to contribute my part in transforming the violence, hatred, and delusion that also still lie deep in the collective consciousness of this society so that future generations will have more safety, joy and peace. I ask this land for its protection and support.
I also produced a copy formatted to tuck inside my Plum Villiage Chanting book. You can download the PDF below. You just need to print it on A4 paper and trim two sides off.
I really like this version but I also want to add more people. I think it is a good exercise in generosity to think about who has made our land and society capable of supporting our happiness. It is also a good practice to come up with a list short enough to fit the ceremony!
Many thanks to Lindsay for sharing this.
Just by chance I had an audio recorder with me when we had some bell practice at the recent Facilitators Retreat at Kinnoull Monastery. The sound scape created with twenty or more people are in a room mindfully inviting bells to sound is incredible. I have over thirty minutes of recording but thought I’d include just over four minutes here incase you were interested.
The recording starts with people inviting a new bell they have just picked up and never sounded before it moves on to us inviting the bells to sound in order, firstly from high to low and then from low to high. I guess this is a peal of mindfulness bells. At the end there is a peal of laughter as Pete sounds the final, high bell and the focussed attention is released – very much the lightness one gets at the end of a good practice session.
The facilitators retreat, held at St Mary’s Kinnoull Monastery, has just ended with strong positive vibes from all concerned. More reports to follow …
The Approach
People new to yoga and/or mindfulness practice and those with prior experience are welcome. Practice includes:
The Scottish Wild Geese sangha warmly invite you to join us at a weekend retreat for existing facilitators, and sangha members interested in facilitating or helping facilitate, Friday 7th to Sunday lunchtime 8th September 2013, guided by Murray Corke, COI Dharmachyara. Continue reading
Thanks to Paul for the photos.
Sunday 4th August at 9am – 10.15am
Meeting beside Henderson’s Café by St John’s Church
This silent walking meditation will be led by members of the Edinburgh Sangha of the Community of Interbeing, who follow the practice of Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Before the walk begins there will be a brief introduction to mindful walking as meditation practice. Children are welcome when accompanied by adults.
‘We walk just for walking. We walk with freedom and solidity, no longer in a hurry. Let us enjoy every step we make.’ Thich Nhat Hanh.
As part of my practice I have decided to do a Mindfulness walk in the botanics each weekday lunchtime. I have been doing it for a few weeks already and enjoy it very much and would like to share it with others. I’d like to invite anyone who wants to join me to come along and walk slowly, in mindful silence for twenty minutes. Continue reading
I just add some images from Gustaf to the Wiston 2013 gallery – take a look!
Edinburgh Wild Geese Sangha 