From:
rhonda_g
Junior Member
posted October 24, 2004 09:11 PM
           
I'm sitting here, a week after getting home from the retreat, eating rice, squash, and spinach mushroom soup. A nice benefit from the retreat--learning to treat myself to good food. It is really noteworthy because I usually eat out and you can't find food out there that is as good as fresh food you lovingly prepare for yourself/family.

My other comments on the retreat are those kinds of statements that anyone not there might have a hard time swallowing. Wonderful? Awesome? Inspiring? Life-changing? I could go on. I really must say, however, that Master Chunyi Lin is beyond simple verbal description. What a treat finding that out was!

My experience while there has already receded into the background of my mind. With my reality of indebtedness and clutter and lack of focus to create the life I wanted, along with lots to do and learn at work, it's hard to remember that a week ago I was not concerned with any problems in my life--I knew I could work them all out in time. I know I was hoping I would come home and move through all this with the force of a tornado and be done with it--so I could start writing and painting--and whatever else. Ah, the universe had other things in mind! What I do have is energy to work with these problems--as long as they take. Energy was seriously lacking for quite some time. So, I'm cooking food and clearing one little bit at a time.

What else? Well, I have always known I was a very spiritual person--but in recent years that seemed to have slipped away and I was fairly proud of my new sarcasm, ability to hold my own on the commute, and righteous judgmentalism (ooooh we don't even like putting that one down!) The retreat was like a dip in a cool spring of life--I remembered what I was here for--or at least how I was supposed to BE here. Have all my old mental attitudes melted completely--no. I can still get into them if I want to. The interesting thing is, I'm feeling more and more "selfish" as Master Lin says--I prefer to hold onto the Joy. It's easy to get angry and anxious and clinging and grasping--but it's even easier to let go of it and entertain joy for a moment instead.

The best part of the retreat--besides the unique experiences and presence of Master Lin--was meeting so many wonderful people--including those that worked so hard to make our experience worthwhile. I hope to hear from them in this Forum to keep the sense of community going--and--if you're out there--I wish all of you the strength and fortitude to pursue your dreams--whether they are for health, happiness, joy, or growth! You all gave me so much while I was there--I will be sending you love in gratitude!

Okay, enough for now. I really need to go get busy--meditating!


From:
babayada
Member
posted October 25, 2004 03:40 AM
        
I consider myself a usually quite skeptical person, but I have to tell you I find the retreat accounts simply amazing.

I have had my own experiences with energy based healing, and I have had people tell me, willy nilly, that my experiences were due to the placebo effect. Maybe. There is a chance, but these individuals were not there. They do not have the benefit of witnessing first hand what occurred, so their statements are from their own beliefs rather than direct experience. Which is more scientific?

I really think that everything I have read here is simply wonderful. I see things happening for people, amazing events occurring, and magic, for lack of a better word, happening in people's lives.

I think it's great and wish you all the best.


From:
Iam2
Member
posted October 25, 2004 09:17 AM    
       
Great post rhonda_g, it's so nice that you've recognized and embraced that SFQ is more than just the meditations. Your heal is part of your ever moment and every choice.

babayada, scepticism is often a very valuable assest. Science is based on observations, but without the observations how can people modify their models of the universe. My attitude towards the Placebo Effect has changed, over the last year or so. The placebo effect is basically used as a catch-all for things that don't fit an observers model. The results in placebo cases are very real. So science would say that a model that predicts no result must be incomplete (incorrect), and needs to be changed. So why aren't the placebo effects being studied towards the creation of more accurate models?

Just a little food for thought. My original post was much longer and only slimly related to SFQ. This is one forum that stays close to it's core theme. Wonderings / wanderings like the ones I almost posted are better suited for forums like Beyond Human, but I could help but spit the above out.


You are perfection.
Iam2