Very brief blog entry as I head off in an hour! All packed and sorted - as sorted as I'll ever be. Believe it or not (despite the worries on this blog that I might come up against some hard emotions and feelings on retreat) I am more than anything just excited. As my mate Jay said...
Hmm... You seem very certain that there will drama and emotional turbulence - how on earth will you cope if it is just a nice week off of study, practice and fresh air?
Haha yes good point well made sir. I only got 2 hours sleep last night in the overly giddy excitedness of it all. Not just that it's my first solitary. Also the fact that I am well enough to be going away on my own. I've come a long way since this time last year. Ok so I've been to Amitavati in Valencia on my own and I always go to retreat on my own then meet up with people there and / or make new Buddhisty mates. This is the first time I'll have been away alone without adult supervision when this time last year I had psych staff checking me every 5 minutes to make sure I hadn't harmed myself. Muahahaha
Haha yes good point well made sir. I only got 2 hours sleep last night in the overly giddy excitedness of it all. Not just that it's my first solitary. Also the fact that I am well enough to be going away on my own. I've come a long way since this time last year. Ok so I've been to Amitavati in Valencia on my own and I always go to retreat on my own then meet up with people there and / or make new Buddhisty mates. This is the first time I'll have been away alone without adult supervision when this time last year I had psych staff checking me every 5 minutes to make sure I hadn't harmed myself. Muahahaha
So hmmm I'm not exactly travelling light by the look of it but that really is mostly just essentials plus food and bottled water. I love that my 'Harry Potter' tuck box has come out of retirement after 17 years and has proved to be a fantastic food carry case. I have kindling and fire lighters muahahaha. I have my three jewels pendant and Amoghasiddhi green double vajra pendant round my neck on my blue string 'chain'. (Blue = colour representing the Dharma with gold/yellow being Buddha and red being Sangha).
Loving the fact that my food looks so stereo typically multicultural British..... indian starters, vegan curry, and pg tips!
Right I must dash. Few last minute things to do. The next time I post on here will be a week today when I'm back :o)
Loving the fact that my food looks so stereo typically multicultural British..... indian starters, vegan curry, and pg tips!
Right I must dash. Few last minute things to do. The next time I post on here will be a week today when I'm back :o)
edit... thinking of Jay aka the dharma farmer and his family at this sad time. Him and his family will be in my metta bhavana
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