August Retreat
August comes from the Latin word augustus, meaning consecrated or venerable. And truly, retreat space is consecrated. Every moment is holy. Always. But energetically there is nothing short of a miraculous opportunity for transformation when we come together with the intention of rest and restoration to our true nature.
 |
“The ultimate touchstone of friendship is not improvement, neither of the other nor of the self, the ultimate touchstone is witness, the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another, to have walked with them and to have believed in them, and sometimes just to have accompanied them for however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone.” - David Whyte |
This invitation not only helped restore me, but led me on a journey of rediscovering this Bodhisattva, or Angel of Compassion, within me (she's in you too...promise).
She became the guiding light for this retreat.
Namo Guan Shi Yin Pusa ~ Homage to the Being of Light who Cares for all the World's Cries.
When I went to China to study Qi Gong at the end of 2019, just as Covid was mustering momentum to change the world as we knew it, I visited the Summer Palace in Beijing. It is such a beautiful place, with a rich history and that day is vivid still in my senses.
Sticky heat, merry groups of families chatting amicably while watching an old man paint calligraphy with water that evaporated before he was finished, a smell of steaming dumplings, the fine details of the wooden painted pagodas and walkways.
 |
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy (or have the opportunity to travel), don’t hesitate. Give in to it." - Mary Oliver (italics my own) |
But of all the many wonders there, the one that affected me most was the story attached to the giant sculpture of Guan Yin at the very top of the hill of this sprawling complex.
The King has insisted that the monks treat her as a servant rather than a student. She is overloaded with chores. But her good heart entices the animals of the forest to help her -- birds dry the clothing, bears help break wood, a snake leads her to herbs. Eventually the temple elders cannot help but notice her goodness and allow her to study as her heart desires.
The King gets wind of this and sends arsonists to burn the temple down. But Kuan Yin smothers the flames with her bare hands, suffering no harm. He then sends a marksman to kill her, but the man's arrows fly away or fall down. Eventually he gets his hands around her neck and she sees in his eyes his great fear of her father. She takes pity on him and decides that not only is she willing to relinquish her life but she will take on his karma too.
In the Underworld her goodness helps the suffering souls calm their eternal shrieking, the flames are dimmed, rivers spring up and flowers bloom. The Head Demon is alarmed and decides to banish her and send her back to Earth on a Tiger.
On returning she lives on Fragrant Mountain and when people come for healing she sees in them all that is good and lovable and they in turn see this reflected in her and so are healed.
Meanwhile her King the father is deathly ill and a monk informs him that only a tonic made from the eyes and arms of someone without any trace of anger can save him.
The King scoffs and says he might as well die then, since surely no such person exists.
The monk mentions a Bodhisattva he's heard tell of on Fragrant Mountain.
When the monk visits Guan Yin, she realises that it is her father who requires this great sacrifice, the one who hurt her so deeply and indeed had her murdered. She looks deeply and finds no trace of anger in her and so she plucks out her eyes and offers her arms to the monk.
The King is healed and in gratitude decides to visit this Bodhisattva and offer thanks.
When he meets the mutilated Guan Yin, he recognises her voice and is overcome with remorse.
 |
| Kuan Yin in her thousand armed form at the Summer Palace |
This story filled me with deep discomfort.
It seemed yet another fairy tale to emotionally manipulate young girls into self-sacrifice and submission to the toxic masculinity that is so pervasive in our cultures throughout History.
But after my teacher suggested that I turn to Kuan Yin, I did some further research.
 |
| The first lily to open on the first day of retreat - Kuan Yin, then two bloomed simultaneously on the second day - Green & White Tara, the rest of us followed after close of retreat |
It was this story in particular that touched my heart. All Bodhisattvas vow to return again and again to help relieve the suffering of all sentient beings. Kuan Yin's name means "The One Who Hears the Cries of the World". But her further promise is (mark this) to never fall into despair.
And when eventually, after aeons of service, she does break down in despair at the state of the world and its suffering, her head explodes. Her beloved teacher, the Buddha Amithaba, helps restore it into many heads, looking in all directions and ascending to Chenrezig or Avaloketishvara, the great Buddha of Compassion. Which is really just Kuan Yin in male form. I love this gender fluidity too. Because as with all things, form is emptiness. When Guan Yin's student asks her why she is now a woman her response is golden: "Why not?"
To not give in to Despair.
This is it. But how?
While preparing for retreat I'm alert to synchronicity, guiding my path for the good of the whole. I saw two pea hens sitting on my neighbour's wall as I was contemplating the 21 Taras.
They reminded me of White Tara and Green Tara -- the former born of a tear from Avalokitesvara's left eye and the latter from a tear that fell from his right eye. Tears of compassion.
The peacock is also associated with Kuan Yin. On the palm of each of her thousand hands an eye (like a peacock's feather) to represent how many ways we can perceive the Truth.
This I have found to be one of the most liberating concepts in my own journey. That our truth is merely one version and that it can be relinquished. That the stories we tell ourselves are just one of at least a thousand versions of equal validity. That letting go of our stories can be tremendously freeing.
And so our holy trinity had made themselves known: Guan Yin (yes, she has more than a passing resemblance to Mother Mary), and the two Sisters that Kuan Yin deserves, White Tara and Green Tara.
 |
| Divine Feminine ~ Mother Mary, Green Tara, Kuan Yin, White Tara |
Quite the preamble. But it's all about the process....
On the first Friday of August we gathered together in a gorgeous beach house in Pringle Bay.
 |
| Our magnificent Retreat Home |
It was the first time since Blue Butterfly that Sandy joined me on Retreat, my dad was last with me on retreat at Hearth and Soul, just prior to the Big LockDown, and my mom just after at Temenos. Dearest Mel has been a regular since Bodhi Khaya a year and a half ago. Her lovely friend Tracey has been on several workshops, while Sally brought the gift of Beginner Mind. And my darling touchstone Trace who has only missed one retreat since my first four years ago.
 |
| At the foot of our Guru Hangklip in the arms of Love |
We grounded and let go of some of the holding on. I have found these simple Vagus Nerve reset techniques a real game changer and can highly recommend working through all of her videos. She explains very clearly, using the Polyvagal Theory, why anxiety might not respond to mindfulness techniques.
In working carefully with the elements in me for a few years, I
have been gobsmacked at what has been unearthed, pun intended. Beneath the archetypes we are all made up of magic.
We became more intimate with the elements within and without using Qi Gong and this beautiful form of the Wu Xing (5 element) Qi Gong as demonstrated by Master Liu De Ming.
Here's some Flow fun, or how to integrate your elemental being of Earth, Fire, Water, Metal/Air & Wood.
As always we danced, created, laughed, explored and lived every moment to the beat of our own true hearts.
 |
| Put your feet up & feel how you feel |
We discovered the profundity of a simple circle or Enso -- Form is Emptiness, Emptiness Form, as our own dear Kuan Yin expresses it in the Heart Sutra.
 |
| Play, it's good for you |
Here's my beloved Thay practicing enso meditation.
 |
| A revelation is at hand |
We practiced soothing Restorative Yoga together.
 |
| Beautiful Radiant Shining Hearts |
And enjoyed so many delicious meals prepared with great Bakthi devotion.
 |
“When you are washing the dishes, washing the
dishes must be the most important thing in your life. Just as when you
are drinking tea, drinking tea must be the most important thing in your
life. Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on
which the whole world revolves—slowly, evenly, without rushing toward
the future. Live the actual moment. Only this actual moment is life.” - Thich Nhat Hanh |
Everything is better when done in a community of compassion.
 |
| Go within, go without, connect |
How do we counter the despair that inevitably overwhelms us as we see the suffering in ourselves and one another? Through Gratitude.
Thank you for bringing Osho's Kundalini Shaking, Dancing, Sitting, Lying Down Meditation dear Mel.
Thank you for your wit and vulnerability darling Tracey.
Thank you for APRICOT Tracey (bubbles of giggles from the happy smiling heart).
Thank you for your Presence Sandy.
Thank you for your heart bursting generosity Sally.
And thank you to my parents for making me and showing up in every sense of the word.
(To name just a few of the gifts brought by this incredible healing circle)
What a beautiful opportunity for us, our ancestors and those to come. I am deeply grateful.
Of course I ended up with my dad in a deep listening practice. What a humbling unfolding this living is.
 |
| We are made in love for love |
Until we meet in the circle again. Much love.
Here's our Playlist which includes the stories & mantras we shared for your enjoyment & enrichment.
Comments