The CENTRE FOR MEDITATIVE ARTS Project Open workshops - Autumn Season 2008 Sun 5th October, 10am - 1pm Sun 22nd Nov, 10am - 1pm Complimentary Copy The Newsletter of the Centre for Meditative Arts Project Issue Twenty YOGA February 2011 DANCE YOGA MEDITATION WITH
TIBET
with Anna McEvoy a flowing form of yoga aimed at developing a lightness and a gracefulness in your balance
While the Centre for Meditative Arts is firmly nonSun 5th October, 2pm - 5.30pm aligned, it has run a small number of support pieces and events for Tibet. Attempting to list our best workshops would be highly subjective, the one,an For beginners looking tobut establish a ‘Tibet Day’ special which ran several years ago, was understanding and basic practices certainly one of our longest, at around 10hrs – and almost everyone stayed right through the full, extended, Sun 19th October, 10am - 1pm multi presenter & teacher event.
MEDITATION BASICS*
CHI GONG
Caroline Scattergood spoke with passion at that event for Marcus Evans Free Tibet and as one ofwith the prime Free Tibet promoters a session of energising exercises — in Northampton, she has been part of Chinese a remarkable, municipally backed annual support event for oppressed suitable for most abilities Tibetans, possibly a unique event in Britain. Speakers over the years have included Monks and10am Nuns who have Sun 2ndTibetan November, - 2pm been imprisoned for years and tortured for such heinous offences as having a photo of the Dali Lama or singing a freedom song. Tibet, with its dramatic, hostile yet delicate eco system, its remarkable and gentle indigenous culture Janet Carter and people, all of it reallywith should be a UN protected world heritage site. suitable for all abilities, a non religious
MEDITATION IN A RETREAT STYLE
FOR STRESS RELIEF
with Mary Davis stress relieving meditation with warm up yoga, suitable for most abilities
Sun 7th December, 10am - 2.30pm
FESTIVE MIX
Various a special mix including energy exercises/stretching/ meditation and more also includes a light lunch - for this event, a priority is given to subscriber bookings * these two events are provisional bookings, booking ahead and confirming places is always advisable. A range is provided Inner Voices was set upof in teas 1996etc to support the Centre for Meditative Arts project working to create a ‘special’ place, one at–all workshops. unaligned to any particular teaching.
The ‘voices’ thosestated, of our contributing Unlesswere/are otherwise venue: writers & supporters and ‘inner’ refers to what some may refer to as listening their heart Centre, others as (top following their conscience, our ThetoChildren's of) London Rd, approach - the theme for this unique session is ‘true core’ or our ‘inner self ’. This year the Tibetan flag raising takes place on Tuesday 1st Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes MK11 1JH ’Travelling’ Inner Voices’ was/is an expression of Karma Yoga – action rather March at 12 noon outside of Northampton’s Guildhall. Teas confirm than To (empty) talk,available i.e. gettingplaces on andetc, doing something rather and speakers on Tibet will follow (inside) and this years Sun 9th Nov, 10am - 1.15pm than contact saying wouldn’t it be a good if someone keynote speaker is Thubten Samdup, his Holiness the Dali Neil Burnham on idea 01908 563433,(else) did... Lamas personal representative. People from in and around ‘Voices’ was set up independently and without any grant aid c/o 8 Church Street, Stony Stratford, Northampton will be ‘united in a shining circle of light for or advertising. A notional cover price was added to encourage Milton Keynes MK11 1BD Tibet and the Tibetan people’. some cash support but most copies are distributed without
YOGA WITH MEDITATION FOR STRESS RELIEF with Mary Davis
The Tibetan monastic tradition sets great store by the oral stress relievingover yoga meditation, transmission of teachings sayexercises the writtenplus word. If you most abilities have not experiencedsuitable why, here,for if you listen carefully, may be the chance to relate to that.
Sun 9th Nov, 2pm - 5-30pm
Show these oppressed peoples with a remarkable threatened culture your support – it can be a very moving day.
MEDITATION BASICS*
beginners only,sharp a 21⁄2hr introduction to the Tuesday for March 1st 12 noon outside of the whys and hows inside of meditating Guildhall - Northampton, moving – allow 11-45 to 1-45 ish. Written requests for further information on Free Tibet, Shine a Light on Tibet, or general Tibet support can be sent to Inner Voices and we will batch and forward.
Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the view of the editors. © Copyright ‘Inner Voices’, the editor and / or individual contributors - all rights reserved, except as below.
Tel 01908 563433
charge.
The Centre for Meditative Arts and The project is registered asInner I.S.F.,Voices have enjoyed support from as far afield as mainland Europe, the US and Asia, a company limited by guarantee but this particular issue recognises the very warm support i.e. from a Not-for-Profit received the NorthantsCompany area – especially over the past few years.
Registration No: 3661548
Our thanks go to everyone who has contributed an item to this extra sized issue, especially those Payments to be made to ISF.who have made special efforts and ventured out of their comfort zone… in fact the only full time specialist involved is David our graphics (page setting) wizard.
Inner Voices or the company may use contributions other than in this newsletter. Any reproduction in whole or in part of any article or item for any purposes is excluded without the prior approval of ‘Inner Voices’ and the
company, except for personal record. Unattributed copy and workshop photos are by Neil.
THE CENTRE FOR MEDITATIVE ARTS PROJECT A special project to create a special place The special place sought looked beyond any one teaching and intended a spiritual element without being tied to a religion or single teaching. A huge spread of teachings and activities are available now which were not easily available when the project began late in 1995 e.g. ‘alternative healing’ & yoga’s etc items can now be found in supermarkets – 2 for 1 Karma Yoga? My personal belief remains strong that special places – oasis – are still needed – more so than 15 years ago - e.g. for small groups and part time teachers. A fully funded bid of £750k was put together at the depths of the recession – sadly, despite intense input, it came 2nd, our third major property bid and third time 2nd! Many, many prospects have been considered and several other options were seriously pursued. There are no known viable properties left in MK (we are loosely based north Milton Keynes) and given other local MK factors, the property search is currently set aside as alternatives are considered. With a strong feeling of a wheel (or wheels) having come full circle, it seemed an appropriate time to revisit a few keystone parts of the start e.g. of early Inner Voices issues. But, when do things start – even the ‘Eureka’ moment is a culmination, it’s not the journey let alone the beginning? None the less, Eureka moments are very important points and do change things- are both an end and a beginning. ‘Moments’ can be a sudden flash, and yet, if set against the backdrop of universal time, even our full lives are a ‘sudden flash’. Over a period of three months,
YOGA YOGA EVERYWHERE by Marcus Evans In the less well known second part of “The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, Douglas Adams describes what he terms a ‘Shoe Event Horizon’. This is where Shoe shops become more and more prevalent, but the quality of the shoes themselves decreases as the availability increases, until every shop is a shoe shop, but everybody’s shoes are falling apart; taken to its illogical conclusion, everyone then evolves wings and takes to flying instead. Although you might say this is just a Douglas Adams flight of fancy, on my last visit to London, I was struck by how many Shoe shops there were there... So what, you ask, do shoes have to do with Yoga? Not so much the shoes themselves, I answer, as the general principle. The more Yoga classes there are around, I might contentiously suggest, the lower the average quality of instruction. To differentiate itself, each must offer some new take, thus ‘Dance Yoga’ ‘Christian Yoga’ and even ‘Laughter Yoga’ for goodness sake. But is this very differentiation not taking Yoga away from its original principles and intentions? The explosion of availability can be viewed from various angles. While I think we can more or less discount the 60’s fascination with all things Indian now, there is a growing interest in alternative therapies that Yoga fits into comfortably.
the real groundwork was laid for a ‘sudden flash’ of seeing as Nepal trek 1* directly led me to the heart concept of a ‘special place’, commitment as a ‘eureka moment’ came late in trek 2 and though the reprint article on pages 4 and 5 came from a relatively ‘old hand’ on trek 3, the background catalysts are clear to see. The drawings are by Cornelia Ziegler, a Swiss artist on the first trek. Kabir Saxena was one of several teachers we were taught by, as are Lama Lhundrup and the venerable Robina Courtney an Australian, a nun (and feisty individual) in a Tibetan order, who introduced the group to Buddhism. If eyes are the window to the soul, then mountains are the presence of an indefinable yet palpable spirit of something more, when felt, a something that touches and lifts the soul and can be seen in the eyes. Mountains could not be bought back but special elements could be bought in and with care, time and more ‘care’, a special place or indeed places, can be created. Of a wheel turning full circle? That’s a slowly gestated ‘Eureka’ arising from lessons received on those trips, teaching points from them coming around to points of understanding or of relevance being reached now. *Trek 1 included Taoist influences and touched on much of Hinduism including Yogis (real and pretend) – a 4 weekYoga intensive – Ancient Tai healing – 2 Meditation retreats, Bon – Muslim – Jain religions – and I guess we carried in something of Christianity. There is also the whole bandwagon of non traditional exercise regimes (Pilates, Boxercise etc.), which I am sure accounts for some classes. There again, there is the whole school ‘pyramid’ scheme teachers encouraging students to start up classes of their own (as long as they keep passing the money back up the chain pardon my cynicism). All these and others may be factors in the current saturation of the market. But I used the word “bandwagon” above, and I think that is exactly what it is; a flash in the pan. In a few years everybody will have moved on to something else, just like the Kung Fu boom of the seventies. Where are all the Kung Fu schools now? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying all Yoga classes are tarred by the same brush. Good teachers will always be good teachers, so I’d advise anyone considering joining a Yoga class now to actively seek out a good teacher, not just go to the closest and/or cheapest. Potential students should read up on the subject, think about what they want from the class, ask about the teacher’s level of experience and find out how closely the class sticks to a recognised established style. In fact, that’s good advice for any class, not just Yoga.
NO MONKEYING AROUND Have you ever stopped to consider that title “Inner Voices”? No, me neither until Neil offered me the opportunity to write another article. My first one (on Tai Chi) was easy, but I was temporarily stumped as to what subject to pick for article number 2, until I became aware of my ‘inner voice’, I don’t know what Neil intended to convey by his choice of that title, but for me, my inner voice is that internal dialogue we all have going through our heads pretty much all the time. Bob Klein, in his highly recommended book “Movements of Magic”* talks about our ‘Monkey Brain’ and our ‘Lizard Brain’. The ‘lizard’ equates to unconscious, instinctive, feeling, heart based thoughts, and the ‘monkey’ equates to conscious, considered, head based thoughts (the ego in other words). The monkey is the noisy one, and while that’s usually OK, I’m sure we’ve all sometimes felt we’d like to be able to turn it off. Also, when we make decisions that seem right in our heads, but we feel ‘deep in our heart of hearts’ are wrong (our language also equating head with thinking and heart with feeling), that’s the monkey drowning out the lizard, so that we can’t hear what it is telling us. So how do we quieten the monkey? Fortunately for us, the monkey is easily bored, always seeking new stimulation to keep it interested, so if we remove that stimulation, the monkey eventually shuts up. When we go to bed, although the monkey may initially be talkative, eventually the lack of stimulation (stillness, darkness and quiet) sends him (and so allows us) to sleep. It’s also a common claim that “I had a brainwave, just before I went to sleep” evidence that the monkey has gone quiet and allowed the lizard thoughts to be heard. Meditation is another obvious situation in which external stimuli are minimised and, when a repetitive action (such as chanting, counting breaths etc.) is incorporated, can serve to reduce the mental chatter. Indeed, in any actions we do frequently enough to be able to do them without thinking about them, we often ‘switch off ’ (again the vocabulary backing up the theme); what gets switched off is the monkey brain. Aside from the distraction of the internal dialogue, there are other benefits to removing the monkey from actions. To use a couple of examples from my background: in the Tai Chi form, it allows you to feel the energy flow, once you have got past having to think your way through the movements; and in push hands, it allows you to feel your way through the interplay, as there is not usually enough time to think it through. Actually, in all martial arts, the point of repetitive practise is to make the action instinctive (i.e. from the lizard brain), as the considered reaction of the monkey brain is too slow. But this transcending of the thought through extends beyond the martial arts. For instance, it is what allows feeling to be added to music once the mechanics of learning the notes has been achieved. You can probably think of other examples as well. So, in conclusion, for a quieter (mentally) and more harmonious (in terms of agreement between heart and head) life, recognise your inner monkey, find ways to quieten it, and allow the lizard to be heard. I said at the start that the theme of the article came from my inner voice the monkey. Perhaps it actually contributed something useful this time. Marcus Evans runs a Tai Chi class at the Springfield Community Centre and can be reached in the evenings on 01327 830685. If the monkey says stay at home and slob out in front of the telly but the lizard says go along and give it a try, listen to the lizard!
Marcus Evans *ISBN 0 85030 619 1
A Mind Body What? “A Mind Body What?” is a re-run feature from issue 5, a 1997 Inner Voices which explored the mind/body/(soul) relationship in two ways. ‘Unstructured’ Tai Chi had taken me on a trek which amply ticked all three boxes and led to much more, including a deeper involvement in a small number of ‘structured’ systems such as Tai Chi. Alas, good as this featured trek was, I have not managed one since. ‘Unstructured’ Approach - As you may have gathered, earlier this year I was off wandering in the Himalaya which means ‘Abode of the Snows’ - and snow it certainly did, with winter running several weeks late and producing some very changeable conditions. Rhododendrons that should have been in full bloom were barely buds, one trekker was hospitalised (eventually) with frost bitten fingers, others suffered degrees of snow blindness and altitude sickness. However, by following sensible guidelines, any problems were normally minor such as a soft muesli bar freezing so hard in my pocket that I cracked a tooth when I tried a bite from it. The trek region up to Everest is very remote, up to 100 miles from the nearest road head. Normal facilities became more and more basic as you went higher, indoor floors found included turf, some beds were turf topped stone with water mainly heated by dried Yak dung fires. While Yaks are industrious animals, if whistled at and prodded a lot they are primarily kept as beasts of burden and as a one animal farm, they are relatively few and have a low ‘end product’ calorific output! So use of hot water for washing was discouraged, few chanced ice melt water and thoughts of long baths and warm beds grew along with stubbly beards. I ended up with a salt & pepper job with rather more salt. It amused me for a while, this strange visage and the beard became part of a mixed and strange four weeks which appropriately ended in Lucknow. The very remote Lucknow village has a dramatic rough stone airstrip, a notably sloping ledge, hacked into the side of a mountain valley. Few would see it without a disbelieving and probably explicit exclamation, yet then, they would ignore their disbelief and fly out from it, however nervously, as the alternative was a lot more walking. Having pushed on hard, I arrived late and passed several lodges lit mainly by crude paraffin lamps, i.e. not yak butter lamps but those new fangled
paraffin filled jam jars or tins with a wick through the lid and possibly a few candles. Finally I entered one slightly better lit ‘tea house’, due, it turned out, to solar power! After a month of dirt floor basic, almost getting lost in snowfalls, low monastic chanting and reaching a totally inhospitable ‘edge of the world’, it presented one of the strongest culture shocks I can recall. In a totally bizarre contrast to all else in the region, that one tea house had chasing lights around a western style bar, its menu featured Yak steaks & Yak burgers. Adorning the walls, several large reproduction photos of serious looking turn of the century Red Indians plus some Iron Maiden posters, it was in effect, a Sherpa equivalent of a trendy theme pub. Later, as I ate, a group of Germans cheerfully celebrating the end of a trek with their porters etc added to the surrealism by launching into bier Keller songs, the local porters responding in turn with Sherpa singing and dancing, gradually it descended into a sort of contest, bier Keller versus Sherpa traditional - at the same time. If not bizarre enough, all of that ‘contest’ was overlaid with piped soul music! The culture shock when first arriving in the country, was to a degree expected, this shock delivered a huge and totally unexpected impact. The good days were few but spectacular, more than making up for the bad weather days. There were acclimatizing days spent at Lawudo*, a small and basic Sherpa mountain side monastery and site of remote retreat caves. One night a thick cloud smelling like steam engines and full of a light powder snow, densely blanketed the place as we joined the few monastic’s for supper. Unseen by us, the cloud cleared totally, leaving a moonless night, when we stepped out again, it was to the most amazingly clear Milky Way filled sky. The truly awesome view of the galaxy seemed to banish the intense cold & affect time. Our viewpoint was cupped within a surround of jagged icy peaks and we few passing visitors gazed long into the immediate, almost reachable presence of deepest space. Then there was the day I reached Kalar Patar. At well over 18,000 feet it is one of the highest ‘walkers peaks’, yet it looked quite insignificant with Plumori rising 6,000 ft higher behind and with Mt Everest to the front. People had been snowed in and stranded there for three days in extreme conditions and literally within an hour or so of conditions clearing enough for them to abandon the remote tea house and pull out, the rapidly changing weather had cleared enough snow to allow others and myself to hear their warnings as we passed, but to press on to do what we came a long way for. A mixed nation handful, we made our way to the top & enjoyed clear views over the Khumbu Glacier to Everest base camp below. Although stood way higher than any mountain in Britain, we looked up at some seriously deadly snow clad mountainsides. Then there were the so ancient sections of Himalayan forest, sections which were quite magical and left alone places where it was very easy to believe in and sense guardian spirits, special places that had survived the tourist trekker led demands for fuel to offer hot showers. My notes soon ran out of superlatives for all those mountain valleys, rivers and streams, especially when seen in the incredibly good light that often follows bad weather. The monasteries that could outnumber villages, the carved stone script of the many mani walls and cairns, passed always on the right, bright eyed children and people thinking nothing of a 5 plus mile walk to school or market. The Namaste’s and greetings, guides and porters passed going out who were old friends if you saw them coming back. In fact they had some very extended families, at times, almost everyone seemed to be related and I found myself
absorbed into that. In fact that was a very striking part of their mountain culture, all people are part of their extended family. Knowing that relatively modest trekking gear could still cost more than some of their annual incomes, it was both chastening and touching to see extremely poor people spending many hours with beads or prayer wheels sending their compassion out to all beings. Back in Kathmandu, I spent time in Kopan as well as Pullahari monasteries, both in organized retreats and simply in quiet time, writing, meditating and practicing tai chi in exotic surrounds. Kathmandu itself always runs at a frantic pace. If you think our festive season can get a bit much, in Kathmandu they celebrate the western new year along with two Hindu versions plus Tibetan, Moslem & Nepali new years (and probably a few others) are all celebrated, along with endless other festivals. Indeed one New Year I didn’t think I would last long enough to see in was 2054, but I already have, the Nepalese new year of 2054. No-one I asked knew where the system came from, what it was based on and none seemed to care much either. Strings of fairy lights are strung over central streets at around 1ft gaps. Guys on ladders, armed only with insulated pliers and screwdrivers, will optimistically jab the end wires into outside mains cables & boxes, sudden crackles and sparks bring laughter from below. As night falls, the streets fill to a blaze of starry lights. By nine, most of the celebrations are over, eight is a late night and by morning, nearly all the lights are gone and packed away as all too soon was I. Shivarati is a Hindu festival & business new year. In Kathmandu it adds a distinctive experience to passive smoking. Pashupatinath temple area in Kathmandu is Asia’s most important shrine for Shiva and at Shivarati, Sadhu’s (Holy men) gather from all over. The thick haze would do credit to some bars in Amsterdam, as they celebrate by smoking very considerable amounts of the free growing but otherwise illegal herb cannabis. Not inhaling of course. As the Sadhu’s celebrated on the one side of the sacred Bagmati River it was cremations as usual on the other, with bodies being prepared, pyres lit, embers being swept into the sacred river, black and oily looking the waters wended on their way. The belief there, is that water purifies, any water, hence the temples sited on the Bagmati’s banks, why the corpses are washed before the pyre and why people happily wash their pots and pans & draw water immediately (a few paces) below and along from the funeral Ghats. Pashupatinath is one of the very few temples in Nepal restricted to its devotees; most of the temples are open to all in a marvellous cross teaching mix. The incredible mix of cults and religions, their tolerance and respect of each other, their sharing of shrines and temples, has to be one of Nepal’s greatest treasures, something few who see it could fail to be affected by. The very poor give to the very poor and the very poor send their earnest prayers to benefit the west, along with all beings. The range of my impressions from Nepal is so wide and stimulating that I have skimmed over some, omitted others and probably not recounted those I wrote of that well. * In fact, a later issue covered the story of the ‘Cherock Lama’, a young boy reincarnate, his ‘predecessor’ was from a monastery just around the mountain from Lawudo monastery – featured above. Two books I have read and enjoyed on the Himalayas are ‘Foot loose in the Himalaya’ by Mike Harding (it includes some excellent photos) and ‘Dreams of the Peaceful Dragon’ by Kate Hickman.
“A MIND BODY WHAT?” – a structured approach There is a growing use of the catchall description ‘Mind body system’ (or exercises). This covers a group of exercises including Tai Chi, Yoga and meditation which usually work on several interlinked levels. The main link, or at least the easiest one to understand, and hence the catchall description is (healthy) mind (healthy) body or vice versa. As a brief example of this link, (excess) stress is primarily a problem of mind and attitude the way we let things affect us but mental overload or anguish churns the stomach, affects the heart rate and in the longer term, creates or provokes real physical illness. A variety of sources claim 50% to 70% of illness is stress related, and some even say it all is. Illnesses where this link between mind state and physical effect are particularly strong (tension headache, asthma, irritable bowel etc.) are termed psychosomatic from psycho = mind, soma = body. So, the theory behind one approach of mind body systems is to develop our mind and take more effective control of it. This better understanding and control in turn directs and benefits the body. Conversely, another approach says that if our body is made extra fit, our mental faculties usually become pretty sharp too and generally we feel good and positive in ourselves. Now that is just a brief outline of the two main approaches in what can be highly developed and complex systems. So where and how did they evolve? The origins of Eastern Mind Body Systems both of practice and treatment go back deep into mists of history and into conjecture over barely known or legendary lost civilizations, but in actual recorded history certainly over 4,500 years.
Many of these systems work with unseen energies, which are only slowly coming into the realms of scientific acceptance if not understanding. Two examples are acupuncture and reflexology these are now generally accepted treatments that work with and on energy channels in the body which no amount of dissection can yet find and which practices such as Yoga, specialised meditation, Tai Chi, etc. can maintain and develop. We won’t enter into a debate (here at least) on how much of the early development and history is handed on, shared, borrowed or independently discovered by different traditions, the important thing is that most Eastern treatment and almost all the Mind Body Systems agree on most of the fundamentals. The main differences tend to lie in the approach and style of practice. What suits one person, national trait, culture or even climate, does not necessarily suit another, and so not surprisingly it follows that these systems are being modified into Western forms with new approaches and interpretations. Some by a hybridising cocktail approach, others by an evolving, softer more individually interpretative or western adapted approach which followers of an evolved or ‘pure’ form may disdain or not recognise Both westernized and Asian approaches have their merits, but this is only intended as a brief outline.
There are in fact several traditional or ‘evolved’ main yoga paths to choose from and these include some very varied approaches indeed. Some sources list four main paths of which, Raja Yoga formed the base around 300 to 200 BC, for a collecting together and systemisation by Patanjali called the Eight Limbs of Yoga. In turn two of these ‘limbs’, pranayama and asanas, provide most of the practices of the West’s most taught version of yoga Hatha Yoga. Yoga’s roots are so deep, its branches so spread, its sections so often overlapping and inter¬penetrating that brief illustration simply cannot adequately encompass all its paths, offshoots and facets. A similar story is also found in Tai Chi & Chi Gong and other systems.
The fact is that the West has on offer a rich and wide range of approaches to Mind Body Systems even just within Milton Keynes!!!!! So where do you go? Which do you try? What’s the right system for you? Well, eventually this project aims to provide a specialist, purpose developed and non aligned centre both to improve facilities for practice and also to provide an obligation free means to explore and try out systems and teachings, to help the individual find what suits them. Perhaps it could be described as a dedicated one stop systems centre, if that doesn’t sound too much like a hi fi superstore. Anyhow, that is a lot of work and several years off yet. In the meantime via ‘Inner Voices’ feature spots and articles, we hope to explain a little of some of this wide variety of systems. A ‘what is’ feature is running on complimentary treatment systems The meditation network spot starts in this issue and starting in our next will be a regular feature on yoga. There are two main reasons to make yoga a regular feature spot, firstly there are far more courses (therefore participants) available here than any other Mind Body System Secondly, is its sheer scope. Taking yoga as a specific example; Yoga is often described as a path, it is however not a single track, it can operate as just a means, for instance, as a physical exercise system through to an end as a mystical system with many other levels and combinations.
A Gift From Nepal Pullahari Monastery was described by one high Lama as ‘a place where an ocean of yidams, dakinis and protectors gather like clouds - freely translated, it’s very, very special. In part this is attributed to the many precious Buddhist relics it contains. I photographed some of the temple features to add to the centre design melting pot. The office there took an interest and the Abbot most kindly blessed the project by making a gift of a small relic, a clay Buddha from the Gompa The Buddha was carefully picked in the mudra (pose) of teaching, considered as the most apt for the eventual centre and it comes with the following dedication. “This gift from the monks of Khyab Je Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche is given as an object of inner spiritual practice with the deepest wish that the blessings of the Buddha will fulfill the virtuous aims of those in quest and the Wheel of Dharma will continue to turn auspiciously for the benefit of and the ultimate liberation of all sentient beings” Then, helping in their special way, for three months the monks performed daily prayers and pujas to benefit the project and to help clear obstacles. It is typical of the generosity of spirit within these people that they would take interest in and bless a project so far away and it is with that spirit and many such kindnesses that all of us on the Steering Group hope the project will proceed. We thank them all for these precious gifts of figurine, prayers and in particular the example.
Writings
Form
We have run several interesting poems over the years - and four or so years back a poems-only issue was intended, was drawn together and..? Not everything goes to plan. I was asked if I could (should) include a ‘darker’ toned poem. Few query the concept shown in the Yin & Yang symbol, where dark begins within light and light begins within dark? Personally, some of the best things that I feel I have written have been from darker times – perhaps because when feeling the ‘light’, I can be too laid back to write whilst enjoying the ‘now’? Many of us will ‘see the light’ from a position of serious absence if not outright dark? The piece – be it hormones, the ‘black dog’, or anything else we do not fully control - realises what it is, where it is and where it would hope to be – a glass half-empty or half-full?
Ambition, perched at the front Just our of reach (he and ability weren’t allowed to sit together) Vanity, preened itself Looking for attention (while humour laughed) The senses sat together Pretending to be friends (like delusion has told them)
Riding the Cycle Don’t ask me to talk Or sympathise awaits a victim Convoluted pessimism For its barbed loquacity n amok Schizoid Hormones ru insecurity Like fat maggots fed on
Greed devoured moderation And went to the corner (looking for lust) Hope and despair fought savagely At the back (till indifference stopped them)
d
Bloated and embittere
against this heritage I growl like the womb I growl at the innocent l and destructive It is painful, intentiona Negative Vindictive Denigrating Verbal castration Talk to me tomorrow t When the sun comes ou
Fear was at the dentist Arrogance was giving advice (to humility and patronism) Memory and regret Had fallen out with knowledge (and accused her of lying) Virtue and lust were holding hands Passion was jealous (He had a soft spot for them both)
Elaine Roberts
Defying expulsion, Love walked in Late as usual… and the whole form With the exception of commonsense Offered her their chair
Résumé Sigh! All this emptiness Now I’ve forgotten wh at was worryin
g me
Gerhard B
The form Within the form Waited to be taught
Elaine Roberts
THOUGHT NEVER DIES As I reached the age that my beloved grandmother was when she died, 62, I felt a flutter of fear as I wondered what will happen to my possessions when the veil lifts and I pass over. A thought I am sure we all share but…. have you ever thought ‘what will happen to departed loved ones’ memories that perhaps only you remember and hold in your heart? This came to me as I visited an Old Peoples home; Edna, aged 99, told me of her only daughters death at the tender age of two. Edna was the only person left carrying that child’s memory. As I left her I felt that the memory had passed on to me, as her mother would soon pass on. Then I thought ‘WOW!!’ What will happen to my mind of treasured memories? My grandmother who adopted me at birth, died when I was just 16. She had left me with many of her memories. As a child I used to sit in front of the coal fire, listening to radio Luxembourg and playing dominoes, the room dominated by portraits of her departed children, and I always felt a sense of loss and yearning in the room for their childhood days. There was ‘Lily’ with the face of an angel surrounded by brown curls. She died aged 11 of TB. Next to her was cheeky faced Harry who drowned in the canal aged five. There was Fred who reached twenty, only to loose his life in the Second World War, and his photo sits behind me now as I write these words. Finally, young Ted, fostered and loved, then shot down by an enemy plane just as I was born. As an only grandchild I now see the anxiety I caused when I stayed out late during my adolescence. I did not realise it at the time. When I was just 14, a neighbours child, four year old Johnny, who I looked after, was killed in a tragic accident. I still hold the memory of him in his white coffin, so serene. It has never been lost in the turmoil of growing up. For forty eight years, I have carried these memories and felt their presence around me. Proof that the souls energy never dies, and we are all here to live our life as a bridge to mortality. When it is time to meet the souls I never met on earth, I am sure they will be my guides to heaven. I have yet to solve the dilemma of who will carry on the memories of Nannies children. Maybe some of you who read this and are younger than me, will find a small place in your heart for Lilly, Fred, Johnny, Ted and even ME!!! And of course, Edna, who has now passed over and her two year old daughter, now reunited after eighty years. God Bless them all. First published in ‘Healing Today’ April 2008 – and lightly updated. Caroline is a practioner of Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist meditation. She is a key mover of ‘Shine a light on Tibet’ an example of compassion in action. She is also a co-founder of The Caring and Sharing day centre in Cogenhoe, Northants, which brings music, art and laughter to people with learning disabilities.
Crystals Other inner Voices series included ‘complementary’ healing features and ‘Health care - Self care’. It is something of an omission that we have not carried anything on crystals for quiet some time. The earliest remains and burials show crystals have long been valued and a spiritual association is indicated that is probably as old as mankind’s decorative use of crystals. The oldest recorded healing uses are probably from early Ayurvedic records dating back 4,000 years and evening that era, the knowledge was probably already ancient . As it is such a huge subject, it seemed best to put forward an idea with a relatively limited focus – in this case, we asked a specialist what are your three favourite crystals and why. Rosie Beamish writes – A sparkly favourite of mine is APOHYLLITE from the Poona area in India. Its beautifully clear sparkly clusters are often combined with others from the ZEOLITE group such as Stilbite, Heulandite, Phrenite, Okenite and there are gorgeous green clusters too. Apohyllite is often described as ‘Celebration of Light’ - you can see why! The very powerful ROCK CRYSTAL - Clear Quartz is amazing. It holds ALL the colours and is the BIRTHSTONE for ALL birthsigns. Clear Quartz is often used for healing together with Rose Quartz and Amethyst which are gentle by comparison. It is available in wide variety of forms and price points from a small polished pocket piece through to Clusters and Points. Special forms include Elestials - which are crystals in a form so special and rare that they can also be referred to as master crystals and as ‘the gifts of the angels’. Rainbow effects are sometimes visible where the crystal has healed over a tiny crack, flaw or break inside. Pop clear quartz into your pocket if depressed. It is energy giving, good for pain and dizziness and it has many other good properties, a real all rounder. HEMATITE or other black (and red) crystals are needed for GROUNDING. Hematite is a distinctive silvery black which makes it great for jewellery, as it goes with anything! Hematite’s qualities include balancing for the mind, body and spirit. It can help change negativity to love and to help bring peace and happiness. I always have some crystals with me. If it’s possible, have a collection of crystals available in a glass dish or a basket, to choose from before you go out. You will intuitively pick which ones you need for your day. When buying they say that crystals twinkle at you if they want to come home with you. Certainly, people who like and respond to crystals do feel a strong draw and affinity for certain examples and yet can ignore a superficially identical crystal. CLEANSE your crystals in fresh water, dry naturally and programme. Leaving them exposed to Sunlight and Moonlight will recharge them. I think of crystals as ‘little gifts from ‘God’. Love and light
Rosie Rosie can be contacted at crystalrosie2003@yahoo.co.uk
The use of Sound for Healing and Transformational Practices A personal overview - by Roz Crampton Everything in the universe has its own sound, created by the vibrational frequency of each particle. Our physical/subtle bodies are no different - each organ, cell and atom has an optimal frequency at which it functions most proficiently, creating it’s own unique sound. Due to the constant bombardment of negative vibrational frequencies that our bodies are exposed to on a daily basis, such as electronic devices, disharmonic sounds, negative thoughts, trauma, etcetera, we are unable to maintain these optimal function levels – hence our energy (vibrational frequency) goes out of balance. We are a like a magnet drawing and repelling energy/ vibrational frequencies towards and away from us depending on what we need or do not need at the time. However, what we allow in and what we are able to keep out will largely depend on how centred/balanced we are, and, depending on our state of consciousness, what we will also allow ourselves to let go of. This is where the use of ancestral/ancient instruments - such as gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, tribal/shamanic drums, native American flutes, didgeridoo and the voice, to name but a few, can truly enhance ones energetic state - taking it to a new level, bringing a sense of peace, harmony and a tremendous feeling of well being and connectedness never experienced before. The sound vibrations created by these deeply resonant instruments will not only assist in enhancing and maintaining balance and centeredness, but will also move us closer and closer to our optimal frequency by way of magnetic attraction. When our energetic structure is exposed to the frequencies most optimal to them they will – through magnetic attraction – be drawn to operate through recognition at that frequency, hence their vibrational state will much improve. Just like tuning a piano, bringing every note into its perfect frequency. A good analogy is likening our energetic structure to a beach. At the end of a busy day the sand will have been vastly misplaced, holes dug here there and everywhere, debris left all over the place. This is similar to what happens energetically to us being exposed to all the negative frequencies we spoke of earlier. The sound waves act like the sea coming in and washing everything away, evening out and re-balancing the particles, bringing everything back into order. We all have an original blue print, an optimal frequency. The closer we resonate to our perfect blue print the more we become ‘fully resonant beings’. The more resonant we are, the more alive we are, resulting in a happier and more abundant life.
The best way to experience the power of sound is through a ‘sound bath’. A sound bath (which can be done in a group or as a one on one) is performed whilst you are laying on a comfortable, supportive matt, covered with a blanket or wrapped in a sleeping bag, just like a butterfly in a cocoon. The instruments are played intuitively, either separately or together (depending on how many people are involved in playing) and all the receiver has to do is surrender, let go and allow the sound to envelope them. The sound vibrations work very deeply with the cells of the body, working on all levels of your being - clearing trauma, moving stagnant energy, re-connecting to the true self and enabling negativity to be released, leaving the recipient feeling more alive, light and rejuvenated. Because of the nature in which sound works it is very helpful in assisting the healing process of all mental, physical and spiritual conditions - and I have witnessed many amazing such happenings. My experience in working with a very extensive range of people - from incredibly receptive believers to total sceptics has shown that the sound works anyway. I have had some very surprised sceptics experiencing a very powerful healing they were not expecting, as well as the more accustomed coming into a state of bliss they have never experienced before. Having worked for 24yrs with many forms of energetic practices, my work with sound has been the most powerful yet. Roz is the founder and director of ‘Earthdance’ - enhancing spiritual and personal awareness through transformational practices, including sound, ancient philosophy, yogic and shamanic practices, body work, personal health and fitness, the psyche and inner journey work. For further information about Sound Baths, please contact Roz on 01604 721881. “Ancient peoples knew that music and sound deeply affect the body, mind and spirit. We are just beginning to realise the profound scientific, medical, psychological and spiritual questions involved in the power of sound” – Don Campell
A contributor agreeing to submit an article which has been loosely defined will often ask for a more guidance on content and structure. Even relatively clear ideas can be passed back and forwards as they are developed. As facts and figures can be found in text books – we look for voices reflecting our readership. In ‘Letters to friend’, the concept was raised of writing not for a general audience but as if for a special friend or student (you are probably one or the other). We introduce such concepts as ‘occasional series’ – and the following groundbreaker for a series(?) - is from Mary Davies.
Parting Gift
your heart ch has been in hi w e ac pl a e to d, in Dear Helen in New Zealan d now is the tim a long time an tter you will be r le fo is th so al ad t re ar u ur he By the time yo so been in yo ally means. e. Yoga has al tim ts what yoga re ng lo en a ud st ch ur yo for su h ac eaning is to te d t its deeper m owledge an bu kn , ur ite yo un on to pass join or ns to yoke, to ord Yoga mea w e th at th You know e in fact spirit otions. We ar really are. u em yo ur ho yo w or to mind connect ur body, your e than just yo or m e ar u yo e You know that in order for th . althy condition human beings he g a in in be pt gs ke in be to be irit and needs mple of the sp te e daily life. th ur is yo dy to an hour once Your bo rough it in th e in sh to beneficial than e u) or yo m al be re n he ca ry simple spirit (t es a day ves so that a ve just ten minut el rs en ou ev e to tis in ac go with regular pr tures) we can As you know r asanas (pos ou t meditation. do es e w ep n de tion. This come the a week. Whe be or be so riods of relaxa al pe ly e si th ea r ry fo d ve n ut in retch an posture ca themselves. B e for a good st r awareness of ents will com te ud ea st ng – gr t ri a os ca d m d an at th ionate an ell being You will find a feeling of w more compass , er em le of rc th nd ci ki ve g , gi er in y dl slowly widen become calm a so will undoubte to al , ill rs w he ey ot t to succinctly th close ones, bu time and very eir immediate th or es lv se em gives not only to th ga breathing questions. Yo s e’ lif of to rt s . pa er rs y othe l the answ k on ever y gives you al postures wor ph ga so yo ilo se ur el ph Yo g ga e. in all lif noth the Yo As you know at place where gy that sustains ility to find th that vital ener ab e e th rc d fo e in lif m self. you the tions give your ngful and true d your medita ur most meani yo in ith ion of one of w your body an ep shortened vers g there – de a in u be yo pt ve ce gi ex I s here, matters ur Yoga friend urney and yo jo ur yo of r ht of As a reminde pure white lig meditations. d think of the an ly al ic hm your favourite ly, rhyt e gently, deep itation breath ed m t ur yo t ar To st derfully vibran being. d full of a won ng your whole an lli it fi g nl tin od su t G oa fl ye of light ol and peaceful, en see a still po , so quiet and rd ga en is ly rd th ga ow sl in ul d tif er an e... with a beau is perfect flow is special plac Now visualise Gaze upon th as it senses th y. ts lil this light, lif t er on ar at s w he cu te ur light... yo a pure whi s. As you fo e tu se lo , e er e th at w of t g d shinin light... I AM th e very hear on the still an ht... I AM the centre... at th lig its e th at ht am I lig . Light.. golden t... I am in the focus into the am in the Ligh ‘I lf se ur yo affirm to lous time. light’. y, have a fabu tr un co act ul tif that beau on please cont joy the stay in to Northampt en , ck em ba en e el th H m of l co e el W u in on hen you lovely to see yo ur yoga and w yo be y ld jo ou en , w it ng achi s and Enjoy your te ing my classe shall still be do I at th ct pe me. I ex again. .
Take great care
ar y (Davis)
s... M and blessing With my love 4 753057 Contact: 0160
Review While we would have expected the workshop previews to have been the most read regular feature, it was the reviews which had a surprisingly strong following. When ‘Inner Voices’ was forced from 3 x per year regular to occasional, the reviews were a casualty. The session on the 28th of November was relatively recent enough and general enough to be featured. Here, thanks to Silvia Robertson, we can offer you an example, a taster of what you have been missing. On a cold and crispy sunny morning several people attended an excellent workshop at the very attractive hall in the village of Grafton Regis just outside Northampton, the date was 28th November 2010. The workshop started with a very welcome cup of coffee/tea. Then Neil began to tell us about his experiences in Nepal, which covered a three month period. He told us about plans for a meditation centre and showed us various items which he bought back included carvings of various kinds (Goddesses and others which were beautifully carved). He had wall hangings and door covers too. Neil also had several types of perfumed oils which sadly we did not really have time to find out more about their beneficial properties for the mind and body. The whole talk was very interesting and informative. Marcus then took us for a lesson in Qi Gong which lasted for three quarters of an hour. This consisted of various hand and arm movements (always with knees bent – this exercises the muscles in the thighs) and in this way we moved the Qi energy around the body. The movements were precise yet flowing and rather elegant. Following this Mary then gave a very good lesson of Yoga which worked through all the Chakras in the body. We were by then feeling very relaxed and rather spoiled spending time just thinking of ourselves and trying to keep our thoughts in the moment. Everyone by then felt very relaxed and flexible, ready for a meditation which was all about colour and immersing ourselves in a sequence of red/orange/yellow/blue/green and violet. The workshop ended with a buffet lunch and we enjoyed talking one with another about the lovely time we all had ‘just being’ and how we felt privileged for the opportunity to have done so.
Silvia Robertson (the teachers were Marcus Evans and Mary Davis - see below)
The CENTRE FOR MEDITATIVE ARTS Project WINTER TO SPRING 2011 WORKSHOPS Although we had decided to step back and draw breath this year, it was then decided that a short series would be rather nice and be a good way to keep us all in touch. All three sessions will be led by Mary Davis, will run 10 to 1 and will cost £12.50 per session or £33 for all three block booked and paid in advance. Project subscribers will be sent their copy at least 3 days ahead of general distribution and after that, places are first come first served. Should a cash surplus be generated, a donation will be made towards a Tibetan cause. In this mini series, we hope to promote a deeper understanding & experience – this is not something you can set a clock by so the finish may overrun slightly. If a slight overrun occurs, a brief break will allow discreet exits by 1pm, before the concluding exercises or meditation. Beginners are welcome. Though the series of three is led by Mary Davis, each workshop will be supported by the inclusion of a small selection of relevant items from the project secretaries collection(s). This mix fired up our enthusiasms as the series concept first came together last year and it offers you an unusual and special series.
Sunday 6th March – ‘Sound in Yoga’ - is the first of the mini Yoga series based on the major senses. While most people are aware of sound as being vibration, so are light, x rays and atoms. Everything vibrates in some perhaps imperceptible way and the effects of certain sounds are said to trigger responses by, or a recharging of, parts of us. Chanting, singing and music form an important element of many religious services. While Mary will include a mantra or two, as a prelude to meditation or as a chakra link, mantra/chanting is not liked by everyone and this sessions main emphasis will be elsewhere. Examples of sound use in meditation will feature e.g. the sound of a large Tibetan bowl and smaller bowls will be available for you to have a go.
Sunday 10th April – ‘Aroma in Yoga’ - 2nd of our mini series featuring major senses and their effect within Yoga. The Aroma workshop will include an outline explanation of the origins, effects- physical and mental – which can be triggered by certain precious resins, herbs, flowers essences and spices. In yoga, aroma is typically generated via joss sticks but can also be from oils and other carriers. Examples of ‘carriers’ and ‘holders’ will feature in the display. The primary use of aroma in Yoga is to assist its spiritual and meditational sides and these relationships give us the underlying focus of both the Yoga and the meditation which will form the major part of this workshop. N.B. While we avoid overly heavy use, the workshop will feature burning joss sticks & aromatic oils.
Sunday 8th May – ‘Silence within Yoga’ – the 3rd and concluding session of our mini series. As with the previous two, this workshop features the major senses and their effect within Yoga. This sessions focus however majors on meditation and will feature Yoga primarily as a warm up (or ease down) for meditations. The sense to be dwelled on most is – awareness, awareness of a movement or position in Yoga, awareness of the space around us, awareness of our inner space and, from all of that, awareness of our need & inbuilt capacity for tranquillity. The project secretaries collection will be adding some contemplation supporting items. These will include special batiks, crystal’s, carvings and miscellania. N.B. - All workshops will run in the small but lovely Grafton Regis village hall, it’s immediately off the A508 Northampton Rd. As there is limited availability and groups are small, early booking is always recommended. Our workshops are often operated at below full costs and represent extremely good value for money. The value of the sessions is such that all places are effectively concessions - underwritten by our volunteers and all others involved. However, a few places with lifts may be possible for those without transport, please enquire either to Mary or to Neil.
To book – where possible, please book ahead and enjoy an attractive discount. Costs £12.50 per session (or series £37.50) down to £33.00 when block-booked and paid in advance. Cheques made payable to – ISF Send to: Neil Burnham, 8 Church Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK11 1BD Or for further information on either a workshop or on the project,
Tel : 01908 563433 (ISF is a not for profit company registration number 3661548)
These events require a mat & blanket, most need loose fitting clothing. Why not help our volunteers to promote our events? Copies and flyers are available on request.