I’m just back from a week of family retreat at New Hamlet, Plum Village. I didn’t take many photos (I was on retreat after all) but I thought I’d share a few of the ones I did take.

Thay walks with 1,000 at Lower Hamlet

Thay walks with children

Discussion at bell tower New Hamlet

Plum trees at New Hamlet

Plub trees and bell tower at New Hamlet

After Thay’s talk at Upper Hamlet

Buddha Hill at Upper Hamlet

Orla wrote a poem that she didn’t quite get around to reading on the retreat but wanted to share.

Wonderful Wiston

A warm welcome
Beds lovingly made
Gathas mindfully placed
Smiling faces

Still morning sun
Heart-stopping bells
Mouthfuls cherished
Cosmic drum sounds

Sitting like a sunflower
Walking as a river
A powerful energy
Breathing as one

Blue tits playing
Woodpecker snores
Majestic trees
A solstice rainbow fire

Hearts opening
Caring glances
Friendships made & renewed
Dana lovingly given

Compassion & wisdom
“Aha!” moments
A middle way?
Heartfelt gratitude

Surrendering to the flow
Letting go
Going deeper
Faith in the path

Home now
Lively children
Mindful bedtime
A practice renewed

Orla Beaton
June 2014

And also that charity in Mozambique you were wondering about is IMAGINE Mozambique.

For those who appreciate classic (rather than classical) music Pete has kindly provided the improved words to the Abba classic “Knowing Me Knowing You”.

Letting Be; Letting Go
(to the tune of “knowing me; knowing you” by Abba)

Letting be;  letting go
A-ha-a
That’s the way to let life flow…
Letting be; letting go.
Why on earth do we strive and run?
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why?
Can’t you see that that just ruins the fun
Just be here right now.
Letting be; letting go then your love light will glow.

And here is Pete’s mindful version of “Simple Gifts” (An old shaker classic, often used at Thanksgiving time in America, and featured in Appalachian Spring and even during President Obama’s inauguration.  The tune was used (without attribution so far as we know) for Lord of the Dance, but let’s not dwell on that).

‘Tis a gift to live simply
’tis a gift to be free
’tis a gift to just allow ourselves to “be”
And, as the Here and Now comes to feel just right
We’re Home in the valley of love and delight

When true simplicity is gained
To be what we are we will not be ashamed
To grow, grow will be our delight
And while flowing, growing we’ll glow with light.

Here is a version with the original words if you can’t remember the tune.

Wonderful retreat held at the weekend. Click the image for larger version. Any other contributions from the retreat would be most welcome.

For those who were laughing at me trying to make it to the back in less than 2 seconds here is an action shot!

I also took a few of my people portraits. Not as many as I would like. Maybe I’ll get you next time. (Clicking on these opens in my gallery). Let me know if you want larger copies.

Since many of us will be at the  retreat at Wiston Lodge on Thursday 19 June – with the bell and mats and cushions etc – there will not be an evening session that night.

There will still be the usual Mindfulness at Lunchtime on Tuesday and on Tuesday evening there will be a talk by Br, Vu at St Marks at 7pm on Everyday Mindfulness.

Download the flier: Creativity and Joy Flier

The Wild Geese Sangha and its brothers and sisters in Wake Up Edinburgh warmly invite you to join us on our mindfulness day on Saturday, 14th June, at the Edinburgh Gillis Centre guided by Buddhist Monastic Br Chan Phap Vu who is visiting from the Blue Cliff Monastery in New York state.

Mindfulness is an inherent quality within every human being. With the Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness we find that freedom is possible not in the future but in the present moment. “Letting go gives us freedom and freedom is the only condition for happiness”. The only obstacle is our own mind.

Beginning at 10am and finishing at 5pm the day will include sitting and walking meditation. There will be discussion, sharing and a question and answer session. The Brother will give a talk on how to integrate mindfulness into our daily lives.

Mindfulness can be practiced by those of any faith or none. Prior experience of meditation is not required as guidance will be given.

Having enjoyed the atmosphere of practice within a group many people have chosen to bring more mindfulness into their daily lives.

Cost: £33.00 ~ includes a vegetarian lunch, teas & coffee in breaks. A limited number of bursary tickets are available at £25. Please contact roger@hyam.net for details.

More info: Contact Pete on petergisnow@gmail.com or Roger on 07590608016

Advanced booking is required. Please either:

• (small booking fee)
• Send a cheque for the full amount payable to “Edinburgh Interbeing Sangha” to Roger Hyam, 91/2 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1HB including your name and contact details (email and/or phone number). Download Booking Form
•  Download the Flyer

Please help us out

We very much look forward to seeing you on the day. Whether or not you can make it you can still help us out by spreading the word to people you think may enjoy a day of mindfulness. Please feel free to download the flyer and forward it to your friends or forward links of this page.

Freedom: Now or Never

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.

Thich Nhat Hanh.

The Wild Geese warmly invite you to join us on our Summer retreat from Thursday, 19th to Sunday, 22nd June, guided by Br Phap Vu of Blue Cliff Monastery USA.

Through the Buddha’s teachings we find that freedom is possible not in the future but in the present moment. “Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. The only obstacle is our own mind. With the practice of mindfulness, concentration and insight we are empowered to choose which path we take – going along with the same old habit energy or the path that leads to liberation and freedom. In this retreat we will examine some of the basic teachings of the Buddha in order to transform our obstacles and go down the path of liberation. So what are you waiting for? It’s now or never.

Click here to download further details and the booking form.

For further information contact Bryan on 07736 889 165
email: wing-prayer@hotmail.co.uk

Location of Wiston Lodge

Music & Mindfulness with Susanne Olbrich

Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th May 2014
Anam Cara Retreat Centre, Inverness
£210 (£170 concessions)

Intuitive Music Making & Meditation: Everyone with or without musical training welcome!

Update: This event has now been replaced by Mindfulness Day: Watering the Seeds of Creativity and Joy 

Sitting, walking and eating meditation are wonderful ways to refresh and renew body and mind. We will use mindful listening, sound and music to deepen the connection with ourselves and with nature. Indoors and outdoors, we will create music in the moment with percussion instruments from around the world and whatever instruments you bring. We will take time to discover the source of our inner music and explore the music of our hearts.

“Deep listening and improvising in nature were a profound and beautiful experience, helping me to connect with life on a very deep level.”
“Many thanks for a deeply inspiring and fun time!”
“I loved the freedom to explore my creative side with gentle encouragement. It was delightful!”

Susanne Olbrich is a pianist, composer and music teacher living at Findhorn. She has been studying and practising Mindfulness Meditation with Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh for many years and trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Her own music crosses boundaries between classical, folk, world music and jazz. www.myspace.com/susanneolbrich

Booking & information
Anam Cara Retreat Centre, Inverness.
www.anamcara.org
welcome@anamcara.org
Tel: 01463 711702
Sounds & Silence Flyer