photo by Annetta
PERSONAL NEWS
After a week when the weather was perfect for the humans - delightful early summer days - we had a big thunder storm and now several days of quite heavy rain for which the plants must be very grateful. It has refilled the water tanks so I can continue to water the garden without using mains water, when the sun returns so all is well on that front.
With summer upon us I put up my tent in the grounds and am pleased to find that it is still in good condition, sound and waterproof. The rain gave it a good test. My friends are all making summer plans. Angela has already been away and Iris is off to Africa. I shall probably take a break after the Summer School.
Summer has always been a good time for reading, reflecting and new thinking. Many of the innovations in our practice were born during summer meetings. Currently I am editing materials I have been writing in recent weeks and thinking about Buddhist analysis and psychotherapy. The second of the factors of enlightenment is "investigation of Dharma". Buddhist wisdom is all about looking deeply and not just being taken in by the surface appearance of things.
HAPPY OR NORMAL?
Geeta gave me a copy of the book Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson which I recently finished reading. It is a moving and stimulating autobiography in which the author describes a harrowing childhood in a poverty stricken and, in many ways, cruel family - certainly not what would be generally regarded as a good upbringing - that nonetheless produces a woman who gets to Oxford University and becomes a successful authoress. At the end of the book she reflects whether, if her upbringing had been more kind and normal, would she ever have been so successful. It raises many questions about common attitudes and, to me, says important things about how every life is a spiritual journey, whether intentionally so or not, and hardship (dukkha) can be a gateway, not just an obstacle..
Monday 7th to Friday 11th August 2023 - Eleusis, France
BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY SUMMER SCHOOL
-- Fully Booked --
David Brazier & Iris Dotan Katz - An in person meeting
The Summer School in-person Buddhist Psychology five day seminar in August is now fully booked. If you would like to be put on the reserve list, please contact Nuria via Jisshas.
Following the success of last year's Summer School, we are offering a five day residential workshop to explore Buddhist Psychology in theory and practice - especially practice. This is an excellent option for students on the BP programme, but the workshop is open to all who are interested.
The suggested donation for full board at Eleusis is 40€ per day, 250€ per week. Last year the students took over the catering and we thus had cuisine from a different country each day. As cooks often like to do their own shopping this can, of course, be taken into account when making a donation for the course and tutors.