Through the Fire - Awareness Workshop

[Guest guest]

Through the Fire

Awareness Workshop

 

 

Samaya Retreat - Byron Bay Hinterland, Rosebank NSW

Friday, 25 August 2006, 4pm

to Sunday, 27 August 2006, 6pm

 

 

The Workshop is about transformation through awareness and allowing. It is

an invitation to consciously allow what is true for you to emerge.

 

Do I want to look? Can I bear to look? Do I want to stay comfortable? Can I

be free if I am hiding? Do I want to be free?

 

During the workshop you are invited to interact in pairs and in a circle,

and come face to face with aspects of yourself. Nothing is promised to you,

nothing is asked of you and nothing is expected of you. Yet in the haze

there is an offer on the table.

 

 

Although there is a $50 non-refundable fee by Samaya for the use of

facilities, the workshop itself is free of charge. Donations for the

workshop are gratefully accepted. Accommodation is in comfortable dorms or

you may call Samaya to arrange a private room. You need to bring your own

bedding, and food to share. Booking is essential as the workshop is limited

to 20 participants.

 

 

Workshop Details:

 

The Workshop is about developing awareness of what is true for you. It is

about awareness of what you feel, of what you are and of what you are not.

During the workshop you may experience intense feelings and emotions or you

may not. With open awareness intend to know and communicate your truth

directly.

 

The invitation is to discover through the apparent paradoxes of our lives a

deeper sense of reality and a deeper sense of kindness.

 

It is your inner journey and you will need to determine if pursuing a

particular thought, image or feeling in awareness is appropriate, feels

right or feels helpful. During the workshop you are neither asked nor

encouraged to explore or investigate any mental states. If you do so it

needs to be absolutely your own decision.

 

During the workshop koans and other interaction exercises may bring to the

surface long forgotten, intensely emotional and disturbing memories or

experiences. You may find even witnessing the experiences of other

participants intense or upsetting. It is therefore important that you do not

suffer from any mental or physical impairment and have not been diagnosed in

the past with any disorder, condition or injury, either physical or mental

that might make it inadvisable for you to participate. The workshop has a

focus of discovery; through awareness, contemplation and communication. It

does not claim any psychotherapeutic status.

 

 

The Workshop has clear boundaries:

 

* Confidentiality; refrain from discussing details of other participants

outside the workshop.

* Refrain from interrupting without agreement.

* Refrain from touching without agreement.

* Refrain from smoking and you may not bring illicit drugs to Samaya.

* Redirect the expression of strong feelings to harmless discharge.

* If moved to offer advice or solutions inquire also into your own wants and

feelings.

* Talking in the breaks is ok; however you may wish to observe silence.

 

After arrival and registration Samaya staff will show you the kitchen,

shower and dorm areas and will provide assistance as needed.

 

 

Schedule:

 

Friday evening:

4.00 - 5.00 arrival and registration

5.15 - 6.45 preparing and sharing a light dinner

7.00 - 9.15 evening meeting

 

Saturday:

7.30 - 8.30 preparing and sharing breakfast

8.45 - 9.00 movement and rhythm exercises

9.00 - 11.30 morning meeting

12.00 - 2.00 preparing and sharing lunch

2.15 - 5.00 afternoon meeting

5.15 - 6.45 preparing and sharing a light dinner

7.00 - 9.15 evening meeting

 

Sunday:

7.30 - 8.30 preparing and sharing breakfast

8.45 - 9.00 movement and rhythm exercises

9.00 -11.30 morning meeting

12.00 - 2.00 preparing and sharing lunch

2.15 - 5.00 afternoon meeting, feedback and finish

5.15 - 6.00 tea and good bye

 

For further details please visit www.byronevents.net

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Andrew

 

www.byronevents.net

Byron Bay - Rainbow Region Community Notice Board.

 

 

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The Secrets of Heaven and Hell

 

The old monk sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his legs

crossed and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep meditation, he sat.

 

Suddenly his zazen was interrupted by the harsh and demanding voice of a

samurai warrior. " Old man! Can you teach me about heaven and hell! "

 

At first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible response from

the monk. But gradually he began to open his eyes, the faintest hint of a

smile playing around the corners of his mouth as the samurai stood there,

waiting impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each passing

second.

 

" You wish to know the secrets of heaven and hell? " replied the monk at last.

" You who are so unkempt. You whose hands and feet are covered with dirt. You

whose hair is uncombed, whose breath is foul, whose sword is all rusty and

neglected. You who are ugly and whose mother dresses you funny. You would

ask me of heaven and hell? "

 

The samurai uttered a vile curse. He drew his sword and raised it high above

his head. His face turned to crimson and the veins on his neck stood out in

bold relief as he prepared to sever the monk's head from its shoulders.

 

" That is hell, " said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its

descent.

 

In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement, awe,

recognition and compassion for this gentle being who had dared to risk his

very life to give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in mid-flight

and his eyes filled with grateful tears.

 

" And that, " said the monk, " is heaven. "