the pathway to peace course

I realised that if I didn’t learn to ‘let Go’ of what gave me angst, I would not grow into the person I wanted to be. I would stay ‘stuck’ in pain and old tensions, constantly ruminating on the past, worrying about the future and neglecting the present. We all do this and I absolutely know that one cannot be peaceful if we are hanging onto dear life by our nails.

What do we do to ourselves when we don’t let go?  We need to turn our expectations into intentions thus eliminating constant disappointments. We need to use language that lifts us not degrades us. It is beneficial to understand the Buddhist concept of  Dukkha, {suffering}, and recognise the need to stop adding layer upon layer of stories to our initial suffering - making things worse than before. And it is important to take moments of pure stillness, thus allowing our ‘stuff’, our burdens’, our ‘worries’ to melt away. 

On this pathway to serenity, I realised that I needed to be truly courageous. Without feeling strong and powerful how could I be peaceful? Not having to look over my shoulder, no longer seeking approval, not worrying about what other people think, dropping the insecurities and changing my attitudes...I believed would free me.  And it is true....

In this lesson, we explore what fear is and how if affects us physiologically. We learn to  understand the difference between apprehension and the irrational triggers of fear. We learn to become aware of the underbelly of the agitation; to confront what causes us angst; to forge ahead leaving fears behind; to source our inner strength; and to make peace with our inner world and the world around us.

Sometimes the universe deals us some truly painful cards and life can be so unpredictable, so the game is never the same and often does not have the outcome that we desired nor expected. Sometimes things simply cannot be changed. Therefore we need to surrender, to learn to accept what is. 

Acceptance is the key to ascending above a great deal of life’s anguish and to transforming that which can be changed into something of greater value and worth to our existence.

We come to realise that every episode in our life whether good or bad, is a lesson. We need to accept, surrender and believe....and often meditative practices can be very helpful in achieving these states.  We shall explore further.

There is an expression that if you quiet the mind, the ‘soul’ will speak. Nothing can be more powerful than a state of stillness, a state of silence. Silence is healing, soothing, compelling and intoxicating.  

This lesson identifies ways to reach both outer and inner silence and looks at a collation of some of the things we do to sabotage finding this state of deep rest. It looks at the “gap-fillers” we go to, filling in the empty moments in the day, being too fearful to simply sit and be still.  For what might we discover?

It is true, that once one surrenders to silence, the senses become more astute.  ‘Listening’ becomes ‘hearing’; ‘observing’ becomes ‘seeing’; ‘learning’ becomes ‘understanding’; ‘touching’ becomes ‘feeling’.  And an understanding of who we really are and a sense of being whole’ emerges.

"Patience is a virtue."  There is no doubt. This proverbial phrase perhaps dates back to the 5th century.  I wonder if our ability to be patient has changed over time?  What actually triggers our impatience?  Perceived lack of time? Others Behaviour?  Feeling imperfect?  Feeling incompetent? Feeling superior? Not resting enough?

So what do we need to do? This lesson will give us some means to re-install patience into our busy lives such as returning to the moment, slowing down, taking some deep breaths when we are feeling overwhelmed; identifying the triggers that set us off and distancing ourselves from the disquiet whether it be real or imagined, physical or emotional! And why is being patient so important?  Well, let’s see.

In traditional Chinese medicine it is often sited that the greatest medicine of all is the breath.  The breath is a precious gift that heals us, soothes us and draws us inwards to come home to ourself - to that place that is inherently peaceful..

In this lesson we shall observe how we breathe and ascertain how healthy our breathing patterns really are and how these patterns affect us. So we shall observe how our breathing impacts us physiologically, mentally and emotionally, and what we need to do to rectify poor breathing habits. And we shall end with a simple breathing practice to quiet the mind.

It is considered by many that nothing is more attractive than watching someone enter the room with a beaming smile!  Someone who radiates a joyful spirit. 

In this class we question what joy is.....what to do when we are not feeling ‘joyful’....and how we can manifest this state at call.  Simple steps along the way such as being kind to oneself; giving to others; meandering not dashing; indulging in peaceful pleasures; living within our values; and giving ourselves space to enjoy the beauty that surround us...

A poem that is close to my heart is here too.

You may well ask the question ‘how is ‘kindness’ a pathway to peace?  Well, let’s look at this more intently.  In this class we ask how you feel when your action assists another person? Are we wired to be kind? 

What do we need to unload to be kind?

Is possible that kindness affects us biochemically?  Are there physical consequences when we are kind? What does kindness do for our heart and not just emotionally but on a physiological basis.  Is it contagious? Many questions to be answered.

How can any of us be peaceful if we don’t experience a deep connection with the human race and/or nature and most importantly ourself? How can we feel at peace if we are isolated and lonely? Being alone is one thing but being lonely is another.

Apparently social isolation has been recognised as a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality in humans for more than a quarter of a century. And yet, we don’t seem to be paying attention.

How social is social media? Do we connect with nature? What does chronic loneliness do to the body? Have we lost connection with ourself? What are some of the tools we need to re-introduce to our life to dispel isolation and to re-connect?  In this session, we observe these questions and more.

What is success?

Let’s take a simple definition...success is accomplishment.  When we accomplish anything at all, a sense of contentment sets in.  Many would argue that contentment is happiness.  I would say that when I feel content, I feel peaceful. 

In this session we ask some interesting questions.  What is our personal perspective of success? Can it be measured and by whom?  How do we recognise it in ourself?  Who inspires us? Does being peaceful hold hands with being ‘so-called’ successful? What type of ‘success’ does this planet need? So much to explore...