Kind Greetings Friends. 

I’m recently back from a retreat with my teacher Ajahn Amaro, still basking in the immense gratitude I have from his vast understanding of the Dharma, his generous spirit and simply from the blessings of knowing him for 29 years. It’s a long time to know someone but also a short time considering the fleeting nature of this precious life.

The retreat center where we were (IMS) has a profound sense of settled-ness from thousands of folks having practiced there for almost 50 years. When silence was lifted after on the evening of the 9th day, so many reported the literal felt sense of support for their practice just from all of us in the hall, even though we weren’t speaking to one another.

The Buddha spoke about Kalayana Mitta, or spiritual friends as being of the highest blessings and of the greatest support to us on the path. Our spiritual friends, mentors and teachers remind us of our innate goodness, they can re-ignite curiosity and awe, they’re those that we can have conversations about topics we find of value – conversations maybe we don’t have at a bar, or at work.

It’s not that these conversations or topics are any better than any other, they are just what we hold dear that isn’t commonly spoken about — like the profound feeling of refuge in the heart and reminders of the various practices that return us home. The mysteries of conscious awareness, how wild it is to be aware of awareness, how wonderful it is to be embodied and in the present moment. Or, the more esoteric unseen but directly experienced subtle body, or the energy of breath and how it bridges the heart/mind and body. 

The importance of spiritual friends goes beyond what we can measure especially when we take the time to get to know each other another. What a valuable asset it is as you know to feel at ease, listened to and actually understood.

It’s with this in heart/mind that I will continue to offer small mentoring groups centered around the somatic and subtle body, the Buddha’s philosophical, richly psychological and infinitely practical teachings. You’ll find more information about that here if you like, and you can also arrange to form your own group of professional colleagues and or friends, you can find out about that here.

I’ll be co-leading a retreat at Spirit Rock next week with Ajahn Amaro, Ajahn Nyaniko and Ralph Steele. The retreat is full, but it’ll be offered freely on Dharma Seed if you’re interested.

Please reach out if I can support you on your path. As I have so greatly benefitted from my closest spiritual friends, I hope I might offer you some of the same. 

  • The photo is from a few weeks ago when I had the honor to host Ajahn Nyaniko, Tan Hemako and Anagarika Sean from Abhayagiri Monastery for breakfast. The lightness of open hearts is apparent. 

Finally this message and it’s importance to me is especially current as I honor  the deep love of two of my most beloved spiritual friends recently passed, Janice and Cindy. I still hear you both everyday. 

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